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December 6, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
In less than 15 hours, hundreds of little rubber ducks will be floating and racing in the pool at the YMCA of Raritan Bay for the 2nd Annual Perth Amboy Rubber Duck Race. As many of you recall, last year's inaugural race was preceded by much inquiry (what's a rubber duck race?) and fanfare as we attempted the first stand-a-lone fundraiser for the synagogue in years. It was a special experience with lots of fun pictures and (a video!) captured to immortalize the event in the annals of our synagogue's history. It was a day I will not soon forget.
This year, the feeling is different but just as significant. It's different because there has been less inquiry and less fanfare[...]
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Rubber Duck Race Tag : rabbi rabbi's journal rubber duck race ymca
July 30, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
This is the second of a 3 part journal series previewing different aspects of this Friday night's special Shabbat by the Sea -- Family and Community Edition. The theme for this journal is: partnership
Dear Hevreh,
In one of my journal entries from nearly nine months ago, I used the story of creation in which God created a partner for Adam to show that, according to the wisdom of our tradition, "the only way for humanity to fully enjoy and take advantage of all the potential imbued in creation is when we have partners to work with us because it's not fun to do things alone." This is a teaching that we've applied to much of our programming at Beth Mordecai[...]
Category : Ari-archive Tag : community God's Army Ministries partnership perth amboy rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat by the sea ymca
July 25, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh, There is nothing like Shabbat by the Sea. The view, the atmosphere, the singing and dancing. It's a very special time for our community, and though our first Shabbat was rained out I am looking forward to a wonderful season of making memories in the open air by the Raritan Bay. Being in the open air (i.e. outside of the walls of our building) means that while the experience of Shabbat by the Sea is meant for our community's benefit, we are exposing the elements of our ritual to onlookers and passerby in the local Perth amboy community. Dog-walkers, runners, children at play, even couples taking pictures before their wedding (according to a story shared by Rabbi Melinda Zalma during[...]
Category : Ari-archive Tag : bayside creamery Giddy's Pizzeria God's Army Ministries openness perth amboy rabbi rabbi's journal shabbat shabbat by the sea ymca
December 6, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh, I have yet to fully experience it as a father, but I've heard that there is nothing like the joy of a kid playing with his or her rubber duck in a bathtub. If you need any proof of this, just askErnie from Sesame Street. The smile that lights up on a child's face as their little toy floats on this incredible source of life substance we call "water" is priceless. In fact, it is probably the echo of this joy that inspired the popularity of Rubber Duck Race fundraisers like ours on Sunday beginning around 3 pm at the YMCA of Raritan Bay (357 New Brunswick Avenue). Rubber Ducks and water just go really well together. We'll[...]
Category : Rabbi's Journal Rubber Duck Race Shabbat Tag : bathtub ernie family shabbat nelson mandela rabbi's journal rubber duck race sesame street shabbat water ymca