PASSOVER!

Dear Haverim:

        As we light our Yom Tov candles this evening, and celebrate our Festival of Freedom, in light of the shootings at the Greater Kansas City Jewish Community Center and Shalom Retirement Home, we know that we must never take our freedom for granted.  May the memory of those who died be for a blessing, and may God speedily heal the wounded. We must also be constantly vigilant against hate-mongers and be prepared to speak out when such people make their presence known.  Constant vigilance is the best defense against such threats, for in every generation there arose those who sought to annihilate us ­–Passover Haggadah.

*Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 15^th, 9 a.m., 1^st Day Passover Service.

*Wednesday, April 16^th, 9 a.m., 2^nd Day Passover Service.

*Thursday, April 17^th, 7:30 a.m., 1^st Day Chol Ha Mo’ed- First Day of the Omer (begin count the previous night).

*Friday, April 18^th, 7:30 a.m., 2^nd Day Chol Ha Mo’ed.

Second Day of the Omer

6:30 p.m. Shabbat services.  Special darshan: Marv Cytron, presenting his Pesach commentary, titled: “The Pesach Goose, New Americans Preparing for Passover.”

*Saturday, April 19^th, 9:30 a.m., Shabbat services, 3^rd Day Chol Ha Mo’ed.  Special darshanit: Rabbi Shari Preston, who grew up at Congregation Beth Shalom, presenting her reflections on Pesach.  Shir Ha Shirim will be added to the service as a group reading, along with key passages chanted in a unique melody.

Third Day of the Omer

*Sunday, April 20^th, 9 a.m., 4^th Day Chol Ha Mo’ed.

Fourth Day of the Omer

*Monday, April 21^st, 9 a.m., 7^th Day Yom Tov Passover.  Special darshanit: Cantor Elisa, speaking on Passover Customs Around the World.

Fifth Day of the Omer

*Tuesday, April 22^nd, 9 a.m., 8^th Day Yom Tov Passover.  Yizkor.

Sixth Day of the Omer

Looking Ahead…

*Friday, April 25^th, 6:30 p.m. & Saturday, April 26^th, 9:30 a.m.  Special Shabbat Darshanit: Rabbi Ellen Bernhardt, former Head of School, Albert Einstein Academy.

My family and I will be out-of-town, April 17-27, visiting our parents/grandparents in Southern California.  Please enjoy the slate of speakers I have brought to educate you in my absence.  Please approach Cantor Elisa for your pastoral needs. I will very happy to help you upon my return to CBS on Tuesday, April 29.

Have a happy, health Passover!

        Chag Sameach!

                Rabbi Michael