Dear Haverim:

        *This Friday night, we will be jump-starting services 15 minutes earlier, at 6:15 p.m., in honor of New Member Shabbat  (expanded, Tu B’Shevat-inspired Happy Hour begins at 5:45 p.m.).  We will be giving every new member a mezuzah.  For my drash I will talk about From Our House to Your House: Creating Shalom Bayit.  I will talk about the bridges we must build from our own homes to the synagogue and back again.  A Judaism which exists only in the synagogue will not survive – only a home-based Judaism can be passed on to a next generation.  But the synagogue, from the Hebrew School to Adult Education can reinforce and strengthen the Jewish home.

        *This Saturday, 9:30 a.m., we will be celebrating both Shabbat Shira and Tu’ B’Shevat, plus learning about the Parashat B’Shelach.  For Shabbat Shira, Cantor Elisa will be leading us in Debbie Friedman’s version of Miriam’s Song and Hebrew School students will join her in singing When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt.  We will conduct a mini-Tu B’Shevat seder at each table during lunch, as we celebrate Mildred and Herman Cohen’s 65^th wedding anniversary.  For my drash, I will be focusing on the words from the parasha: “Ki Karov Hu:” Some times the Shortcut is Really the Long Path, and the Long Path is Really the Shortcut.” I will talk about the need to reflect back after suffering a disappointment so we can learn and grow.

        Spend this Shabbat at Congregation Beth Shalom.  Celebrate New Members! Celebrate Trees!  Celebrate Music!

        Shabbat shalom,

        Rabbi Michael