As we come upon the new year, we should reflect on what we have learned from the unusual nature of this past year. We look forward to a positive new year, with all its promise and possibilities. (more…)
I can’t believe it’s June – the end of our fiscal year. It seemed to go so quickly. I’m cautiously optimistic, because it appears we’re turning the corner on the pandemic. With vaccinations ongoing, even masks are coming off outside. Therefore, I feel comfortable in saying “WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.” Please just call the office at 203 288-7748 if you are coming in, so we know how many congregants to expect. (more…)
I have to begin this month’s message with a note about last month. We had a very successful Passover Dinner Pickup and Zoomed Second Seder. I want to thank David Margolis and his committee for organizing and distributing the 145 dinners and Passover necessities. It was very well received by those who participated. (more…)
As we heard last month from Jacqui Schulefand’s UConn Hillel students, there is an Elephant in the room that is demanding attention. We need to address this Elephant in the room. This Elephant has been around as long as the Jewish people, but it has gotten a lot meaner and obvious lately. The Elephant is anti-Jewish hatred. There is the familiar white supremacy movement that hates everyone who doesn’t look like them, the subtle I-don’t-really-mean-it-when-I-talk-badly-about-Jews kind and a relatively new and insidious form of hostility directed at Israel, which crosses the line to anti-Jewish hate many times. (more…)
During these unusual times, our synagogue continues to function on a positive level. Our daily minyans continue as well as our Shabbat services. And our Adult Ed Committee, Sisterhood and Men’s Club are continuing to have interesting programming. Hinda Piscitelli and her committee are hard at work making sure we have a wonderful Temple Beth Sholom 75th Anniversary Celebration. Make sure you get your memories in. It will add so much more to your decade Shabbat service. You can email them to: TBSHamden75@gmail.com. Passover is just a few short weeks away. Passover is the most observed holiday of all Jewish holidays. It is also my favorite holiday, with all its story, its foods and its songs. When I was growing up, we would go to my Grandmother’s house with all my aunts, uncles and cousins. My father and his three brothers would sit at one end of the table with…
Just as we have a hump day during the week, where we can see the weekend approaching after Wednesday, I propose a hump month – February. We might be sitting here in cold and dreary weather, but spring is well within sight. We also have Purim at the end of this month, where we are commanded to eat, drink and be happy. Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. (more…)
As we all know, COVID-19 is on the upsurge again in our area. It’s a fact of our present lives. Therefore, we must continue to suspend in-house services, and maintain our current approach via Zoom. However, please know, if you have a Yahrzeit or a special occasion for you or a family member and you want to come into the shul for a Shabbat service, please call the office and let them know, so the Rabbi is aware you are coming in. (more…)
Now that the distraction of the election is behind us, we can refocus on the issues of our daily lives. Our synagogue continues to adjust to current circumstances. Although there are few congregants in the building, we have a very active community with two and three remote events or meetings each weeknight. (more…)
Harry S. Truman was President, at the 500 Club in Atlantic City, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis took the stage at their first show as a comedy team, gasoline was 21 cents a gallon and Frank Sinatra, Kay Kaiser and Perry Como were at the top of the song charts of the day. The year was 1946. (more…)
The past four months have been unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes. New processes are in place to keep us safe and new words have crept into our language. Before COVID-19, no one spoke of “social distancing”. Happy Birthday was sung at parties instead of while washing hands. Zoom was a noise a jet made, not a platform for socially connecting. The changes have been profound and no more so than at Temple Beth Sholom. (more…)