High Holidays are EARLY this year!

The Blessing of Peace

When the blessing of shalom

Is lacking,

However much we have

Of other blessings –

Wealth or power,

Fame or family,

 

Even health –

They all appear as nothing.

 

But when shalom

Is present,

However little else we have

Somehow seems

Sufficient.

 

 

Herschel Matt from Kol Haneshamah: Shabbat Vehagim – our Reconstructionist Prayer Book

 

Saturday Morning Forum on Israel

Saturday, May 25th  Shabbat  Service  & Israel FORUM  10 AM Torah Study, then short service          and   continuing our series..... "The State of Israel: She is Young, Beautiful and Successful"        Is she really young or does she just look young? Historic overview presented by Nissim Yeheskel   Saturday May 25, 2013 following Services

Angels of Kindness

I love our prayer book.  After 6 years of membership I still manage to stumble upon jewels that I've somehow never seen before and they pierce my heart with their beauty.  This is one:

 

Angels are another name for feelings.

When we love and act with kidness

we create angels of love and kindness;

when we hate and act with violence

we create angels of hatred and violence.

It is our job to fill the world with angels of love:

messengers of kindness

that link people together as one family.

 

Rami M. Shapiro

 

from Kol Haneshamah: Shabbat Vehagim Reconstructionist Prayer Book (affectionately referred to as "The red book")

Hannah's Bat Mitzvah

Mazel Tov, Hannah!

 

We're so proud of you!!

 

Services 10am sharp on Saturday, May 18th

Open House - Cold Spring Harbor, NY

Heather Forest will be sharing stories for Shavout this Saturday, May 11th at 10am.

Here's a little something from Heather's website:

About Storytelling

Storytelling is one of humanity's oldest art forms and an enduring educational method. Telling or simply listening to a well-crafted story is a compelling, imaginative experience. As a folk art, storytelling is accessible to all ages and abilities."

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Shavuot - May 14th 7:30 pm

From the Rabbi:

"A Jewish wit informs us that any Jewish holiday can be summed up in nine words: "They tried to destroy us; We Won; Let's eat!" It works with most holidays: Passover, Hanukkah, and Purim etc. However, it doesn't apply to Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks which marks 50 days after Passover.

Shavuot was originally one of the three great agrarian pilgrimage festivals. Jews from all around the Mediterranean would come to Jerusalem and give thanks for the first fruits of spring. There they would offer up their sacrifices and pray for continued health and prosperity for the land.

When the community became urban, Shavuot was transformed into the anniversary of the giving of the Torah. Just as rain nourished the land making life abundant, so too the Torah was the Mayim Hayim, the very water of life, nourishing the soul and bringing blessings to the people. While Passover celebrates the "escape from" oppression, Shavuot celebrates the "escape to" freedom, self-determination and divine values.

On Tuesday evening everyone will each receive a copy of the Book of Ruth complete with commentary. (Yes, you may keep it.) We will review the highlights of this unique text which celebrates the wisdom, daring and strength of women. Then we shall discuss a two-page essay by Judith Plascow, "Attending Again at Sinai, Judaism from a Feminist Perspective."

Following our one hour study we will hold a Yizkor Memorial Service.

A paragraph from Judith Plascow's essay:

"The ways in which male God-language continues to legitimate male authority are difficult to demonstrate, for this language has become so familiar, it is simply taken for granted. Since we "know" that male language is generic, and we subject God-language to many layers of translation, it is difficult to imagine that the literal level of images has any effect. As Mary Daly argued years ago, however, the symbol of the father God-or the godfather as she calls him-is rendered plausible by patriarchy and, in turn, authorized male-dominated social structures by making women's oppression appear right and fitting.""

 

Snacks (milchik) are welcome!