Dear friends, The pandemic has been long and trying for many of us. Some of us have been extremely isolated and stir-crazy. Others of us have been burning the midnight oil until we’ve burnt out. Each of us has had our own experiences of sickness and anxiety and sorrow. While the pandemic isn’t over yet, […]
Stones and Pillows
Dear friends, As you may have heard, I was in a bike accident on Thursday (11/04/21). I am not entirely sure what happened, but I crashed and ended up at Renown Hospital. I was wearing a helmet, which saved my life and lessened my injuries. After one night under observation, I was given the OK […]
To Be Oysgezoomt or To Be Otherwise, That is the Question
Dear Friends, One of our congregants, Judy Schumer, introduced me to a new Yiddish word last summer: oysgezoomt. For a fascinating article on the word’s etymology, check out the article “The Yiddish Word of 2020.” Simply put, it is the feeling of being utterly fatigued by online offerings. Friends, looking into a second virtual High […]
Shehecheyanu Moments
Dear Friends, There is a joke in the Reform community, that we overuse the Shehecheyanu. Whenever we do something for the first time, or have a big moment, we say the prayer. And while every occasion may not merit a blessing like that, there are truly times when thanking God is appropriate. Personally, I said […]
Endings and Beginnings
Dear Friends, As you know, our son Toby had his bar mitzvah earlier this month. While events with family are always a blessing, I can honestly be relieved at this moment that people have gotten safely home and Toby himself can relax because all that hard work is behind him. This feeling of relief got […]
Shavuot Pajama Jammy Jam
Dear Friends, Chanukah has latkes and dreidels, Pesach has charoset and raucous seders, Shavuot has cheesecake and… all night study sessions? Maybe not everyone’s idea of a good time, but for many communities, coming together and studying until daybreak is a much-anticipated event. Last year, we could not gather as a congregation, and certainly not […]
Why My, Is This Night Different!
Passover is one of our most creative holidays. The haggadah itself is an invention of our rabbis, tying together Torah stories, rabbinic texts, songs, blessings, and culinary delights. Each culture within Judaism has traditions that embellish the text – from Ethiopian Jews smashing dishes, to Afghani Jews swatting each other with scallions to stay awake, […]
COVID Vaccine Resources
Dear Friends, We are so thrilled to be seeing so many of our elders getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Each one gets us closer to getting back in our building safely and we miss seeing all of you regularly. If you are 70+ and need help getting signed up for all the different COVID vaccine sites, […]
Jewish Time
We often mark what we call “Jewish Time.” Secular holidays and events happen and we are pretty well attuned to them. But Jewish events are harder to track, especially when we are the only ones on our calendar. And yet, Jewish Time, the holidays, milestones, and other happenings that are unique to us, continue on. […]