simhah

January 6, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

DAY 555: The Purpose of Community

Dear Hevreh, There are many purposes for being a part of a Jewish community -- to build a social network of friends, to have a place to celebrate and honor lifecycle events, to learn about and experience the wisdom of Judaism, and to experience a connection with God among others. All of these purposes were on display this past Shabbat morning as more than 20 members of our extended community us braved the cold and the snow to help Rachel and I bentsch gomel after last week's accident. As Rachel shared with me later, more significant than the act of reciting gomel is the community that came out to make sure that we could recite gomel. It was a special feeling[...]

Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Shabbat
Tag : community gomel kiddush purpose rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat simhah yahrtzeit

simhah

November 3, 2013
By bethmordecai
no comments.

DAY 491: This Is How It Starts…One Simhah At A Time

Dear Hevreh,   Today is a wonderful day because for the first time in recent memory, we welcome a teenage Bar Mitzvah boy and his family to mark this wonderful occasion for their family in our community. By partnering with the Hebrew Corner, a non-denominational Hebrew School run by Cantor Avima Darnov, we connected with Lyle and Robin Sandler who were searching for a venue to host the bar mitzvah of their son, Ben. After many conversations and opportunities for the Sandlers to experience our community (including participating in our Unique High Holiday Experience on the second day of Rosh Hashanah), they agreed to host this wonderful simhah in our Jewish home.   Being a part of the Sandlers' simhah is a wonderful privilege for our congregation and it[...]

Category : Bar and Bat Mitzvah Bar Mitzvah Rabbi's Journal Rosh Hashanah Youth Education
Tag : avima darnov bar mitzvah grow community hebrew corner jewish home Rosh Hashanah simhah unique high holiday experience