Synagogue Updates

Good morning, 

A lot to share this week, a lot going on in our world. First, a reminder, this morning is our scholar-in-residence at 9:30am. You can join the session here. I also want to share that I am really excited for our Purim activities. You can learn more and rsvp to the dinner here. The weekly email had a video of our first session. Rabbi Cooper's sermon spoke yesterday about this week's Torah portion and gifts from the heart. You can view the sermon here. It inspired much of this email. 

With so much going on in the world, it is easy to ignore what is happening outside of our line of sight, to block it out of our lives. From Covid-19, to Ukraine, to racist incidents and fights in our schools, it can be overwhelming. But Purim and Passover are coming up. Purim teaches us that we must be engaged and involved. Passover teaches us to remember that what it was like to be strangers. Or to quote a Bon Jovi song that I just heard for the first time yesterday, "When you can't do what you do, You do what you can"

So here are some ways to get involved and to give from the heart - large and small, locally and internationally. 

Locally - Sisterhood's Mishloach Manot Campaign is among the synagogue's largest fundraiser's each year. You can sign on to have your name added to lists going out to specific congregants at happypurim.com. Contact me if you need your login information. 

Join us in honoring Rabbi and Lori Cooper's years of service to our community. A save the date was mailed - please note, in order to be environmentally friendly, we did not mail to those that had opted out of receiving the Pharisee. The save the date is below. 

Sophia Glickman is collecting toiletries, paper towels, and toilet paper in our lobby until March 14th for the Delaware Abuse Project of Delaware County.

I shared this story last year - Erika and Josh Bauml are once again holding Ella's Pi(e) Day raising funds for the Social Work fund at the CHOP NICU. As I shared last year, this is a powerful example of turning a negative event and trying to create something positive out of it. Last year, thanks to this community's support, they raised over $36,000. 

Internationally - Obviously, I am focusing on Ukraine this week, but there are so many places that do need our help. There are many places to donate to Ukraine funds, but I am sharing the JDC fund since I visited Ukraine a number of years ago with the JDC and they will continue to do important work on the ground there.  Today, at 4pm, the Board of Rabbis invites all to a special gathering. Learn more here. 

Thank you all for doing what you can, it is one of the ways that our community is truly so special. 

Ken
513 503 9559