Honoring Staff to Celebrating Purim

Dear Haverim:

*Tomorrow, Friday February 27^th, 6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat (6 pm Happy Hour).  We will be honoring and thanking Sarah Baker Andrus for her exemplary service to our synagogue as interim Executive Director.  Sarah will be sharing lessons learned on the job in her drash, The Ner Tamid: Preserving our Inner Light.  Please join us for a celebratory dessert oneg following services.

*Saturday, February 28^th, 9:30 a.m., Shabbat services.  My dvar Torah will be Parshat Tetzaveh: Serving as an Example.  I will be working in last week’s showing of Downton Abbey, where Lady Rose marries the nice Jewish boy, Ephraim Atticus Aldridge.  I am especially interested in exploring the portrayal of Atticus’ father, Lord Sinderby. Please check out this website for more Downton Abbey-Interfaith commentary http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/Downton_Abbey_Portrays_Reality_Interfaith_Relationships.shtml?

--12:20 p.m.  Following motzi and a brief nosh, Torah Study will be held in the Chapel.  If you wish to join in make sure you had a proper lunch first, and be prepared to move from the Atrium to the Chapel.  We will study for about an hour.  This week’s study will be facilitated by Josh Sacks.  We will be rotating Torah study facilitators each week.  Please join us.

-- 8 p.m. Havdalah followed by our Purim Masquerade Ball.  Tickets will be available at the door.  Please join me for this fun event.

*Sunday, March 1, 9 a..m. Morning Minyan plus Hebrew School

LOOKING AHEAD….

*Wednesday, March 4, 5 p.m. Veggie Dairy Purim Seudah Potluck in Lower Level.  6:30 p.m. Purim Celebration with a Taste of Megillah reading, followed by Purim Shpeil, “Cinder Esther,” costume parade, and mixed drinks for the adults.

*Thursday, March 5, 7:30 a.m., Purim Torah reading and FULL MEGILLAH READING.  We will follow the reading with the annual ALAN SCHOENBERG PURIM SEUDAH – entrance fee – one joke.

Be happy! It’s Purim.

Warmly,

Rabbi Michael

From Future Jewish Leaders to the Shabbatones

Dear Haverim:

* Tomorrow, Friday morning, 7:30 a.m., @ CBS. The 5th grade of the Albert Einstein Academy (the finest Jewish day school in the Brandywine Valley), is braving the cold to chant Torah at the Morning Minyan, and is helping provide goodies for a celebratory breakfast, as we celebrate Rosh Hodesh Adar.  This is the beginning of a new AEA effort to more deeply serve the surrounding Jewish community.  It is important that as many CBS congregants as possible attend services to encourage these young Jewish leaders (one being my own 10 year old Shira -- she came as a new-born to CBS, and now she is chanting Torah for you).

*Tomorrow, Friday, 6:30 p.m., Kabbalat Shabbat, (6 pm Happy Hour).  Drash: Rosh Hodesh: Celebrating Women in the Parashat Hashevuah – And Beyond! This Shabbat from the lighting of Shabbat candles through Birkat Ha Mazon for Sisterhood Shabbat, we will be celebrating the role of women in Judaism and at CBS.

*Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Sisterhood Shabbat services.  The talented ladies of CBS will be leading every aspect of Shabbat services.  Guest darshanit: Lior Ron, Shelicha.  Her topics: Changing Role of Women in ISRAEL. Kiddush lunch prepared by the Men’s Club!!

-Lay-led Torah study.  20 minutes after Motzi, Torah study participants will be invited to regroup in the Chapel for one hour of Torah study to deepen their Shabbat experience.

*Sunday, 9 a.m., Morning Minyan & Hebrew School

- 11 a.m. , The Shabbatones, UPenn’s premiere Jewish acapella group, fresh from their engagement at The White House, singing a potpourri of Jewish, Israeli and popular music, sponsored by the Kraft Education Comm.

Join us for great music, great learning, wonderful Jewish women, and Shabbat joy!

Shabbat shalom!

Rabbi Michael

Music, Love and Learning

Dear Haverim,

 *Tomorrow, Friday, February 13, 7:30 p.m., Shabbat Koleynu.  Please join us for this special service at a special time.  Featured will be a three-piece jazz combo, accompanying Cantor Elisa in wonderful melodies, for the entire family to enjoy, including a special rendition of the Ladino favorite, Ein Keloheynu.  We are indebted to the Kraft Education Committee for their support of this program.  Please bring new comers as well as those who normally do not attend Shabbat service – this service they are going to WANT to attend!

*Saturday, February 14, 9:30 a.m., Shabbat Services.  Special Darshanit Cantor Elisa. Her topic: LOVE and LITURGY.  They together like a horse and carriage (sorry, that’s Love and Marriage).  At any rate, what a treat to learn with Cantor Elisa. 

During Kiddush lunch, the learning continues, when Michele Weiner will facilitate a lay-led Torah study at a specially designated table, designed to allow all-comers to participate equally, with Michele moderating the group around key points she hopes to explore.

Please join us for love and learning this Shabbat at Congregation Beth Shalom!

Rabbi Michael