Congregation Beth Mordecai
Congregation Beth Mordecai
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
April 1, 2015 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
There was a moment during this past Saturday's Cantor Showcase, there was a moment when I closed my eyes and the Cantor's voice filled them with tears. It wasn't just that she sang a beautiful piece, but that it was sung in our magnificent sanctuary. My tears reflected the sublime joy of the special kind of Judaism we experience in our shul.
So how do we create more moments like that? By coming together on a frequent basis to experience the joy of Judaism as a community. When we spend more time together we will inevitably think about, discuss, plan, and execute the kinds of programs that grow our shul. Programs like...
Passover "Shabbat" Seder on Saturday Evening at 5 pm
Category : Ari-archive Tag : adult education cantor showcase Cantorial Showcase Jewish muslim programming rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat by the sea weekly services
April 2, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
Today I will be headed into New York to meet with our cantor for the Cantor Showcase, some members of our Homecoming team, and a colleague who can provide some insight on ways to grow our community. Playing off of the wild success of sharing pictures of our Homecoming on Facebook that has generated many "likes" and "comments," I'll be "journaling" my experience in New York today via our Facebook page along with some short running commentary. Feel free to check www.facebook.com/CongregationBethMordecai throughout the day to see some of the latest pictures and share some of your thoughts on how to take our next steps to grow our striving Jewish Home for the Soul.
Kol Tuv,
Rabbi Ari Saks
P.S. For more commentary on today's meetings you can follow[...]
Category : Cantorial Showcase Homecoming Weekend Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : cantor showcase Cantorial Showcase community building facebook homecoming weekend pictures rabbi rabbi's journal
April 1, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
When I arrived in our community, one of my first experiences was to head to New York to meet with Cantor David Levine z"l about our high holiday services. It was clear from that initial meeting on the streets of New York that Cantor Levine had a special love for cantorialhazzanut and a penetrating passion for expressing the powerful themes of cantorialhazzanut on the high holidays.
When his untimely death occurred only a few months after he graced our bimah for the last time, I knew that his legacy would live on in the minds, hearts, and spirits of the members of our congregation he touched with his music. Yet, as a congregation we have to do more than[...]
Category : Cantorial Showcase Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : cantor david levine cantor showcase Cantorial Showcase legacy passover rabbi rabbi's journal
December 17, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Today we celebrate our unity.
Today we honor our diversity.
Today we glorify the beauty of Klal Yisrael (people of Israel)
- Day 295: Klal Yisrael
Dear Hevreh,
I shared the words written above last Spring when four Jewish institutions in northern Middlesex County -- Beth Mordecai, Neve Shalom, Temple Emanu-El, and the JCC -- came together to work on a program to celebrate our love for the Jewish homeland of Israel. I return to these words because this Sunday from 9 am -- 12 pm we have another opportunity to experience the glory of Klal Yisrael with an amazing Bible Family Fun Day program which we are co-sponsoring with the other three northern Jewish Middlesex institutions and Middlesex Federation and the Conservative[...]
Category : Middlesex Jewish News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : cantor showcase israel event klal yisrael middlesex jewish news one jewish people programs rabbi rabbi's journal unity white out friday night
May 31, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh, Who doesn't like exchanging gifts? Who doesn't like the excitement of opening up a box full of mystery and opportunity -- is it a toy? a book? a piece of jewelry? The anticipation of ripping through that wrapping paper can be thrilling, even if it's just for a moment. Yet there is also the other side of gift giving: the trepidation that we didn't get the right gift. As a giver, we are anxious to not disappoint our loved one with our gift-choice, and as a receiver, we are cautious that our reaction may hurt the feelings of the giver. From personal experience I can tell you that I've felt these disparate emotions -- excitement and trepidation -- at the[...]
Category : Cantorial Showcase Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : cantor showcase Cantorial Showcase gifts