I know I have reminded everyone about getting your reservation forms in several times but, as this Friday (March 31) is the last day reservations will be accepted, I thought one more (BIG) reminder was warranted. Remember, the seating is limited so get your forms and payments in now! I will be getting a headcount from Emily tomorrow and, if there are any open seats, I will send out an email to everyone who gets this message along with instructions on what to do if you would like to reserve any additional seats.
Special Offer of Financial Assistance in Attending the Seder – A very generous family within our Temple has offered to pay the Seder registration fee for up to 10 members of Temple B’Nai Israel who may not be planning to attend due to their financial situation. If you (or anyone you are aware of) are in this situation, please contact me directly. All names of recipients will remain anonymous – as will the name of the benefactors. And, as with all reservations, I will need to have any requests no later than this Friday. Thanks to this generous family!
Still in need of Seder Plates – We have only had a couple of Seder Plates offered up for decorating the tables so far. If you have a family Seder plate or two that you are willing to allow us to use for the evening, please contact Buddy Bernstein and let him know asap. We will need these by Sunday, April 9 but will need to be aware of your commitment to bring one (or more) as soon as possible. Please don’t just assume everyone else is doing this…that isn’t the case! (And, if you live out of town, are planning to attend the Seder, and can’t get it to us until the night of the Seder, just let Buddy know and plans can be made accordingly…)
Your Help is Requeseted with a Small Jewish Community Survey from the University of Virginia
Rabbi Nancy has been contacted with a request to assist in providing responses to a survey on Small Jewish Communities in the United States. The purpose of this survey is to provide a first attempt at better understanding Jews in small communities, their values, their strengths, and their unique contribution to the American Jewish landscape.
Although there have been four major national surveys of American Jewry and over 200 surveys of local American Jewish communities since 1970, there has been a noticeable neglect of the smaller Jewish communities throughout the United States. The result of this deficit is an incomplete representation of the American Jewish landscape.
To help build the case for the importance of small Jewish communities in America – their historical significance, enduring vitality, and unique contributions to American Jewry – the Small Jewish Communities Project has launched a first-of-its kind survey specifically for residents of small Jewish communities to express their voice and make their presence known. The survey link is available at the following web site: http://www.smalljewishcommunities.org/. Please be sure to use the unique community ID of THEAL03. Most people will be able to complete the survey in 10 – 15 minutes. Your assistance in this project is greatly appreciated.
The survey close date has now been extended from March 31 to May 22.
Services and Torah Study
The Ritual Committee has outlined their schedule through the end of June and, while there will likely be a change in there now and then, the schedule, as it currently stands, through the end of June, is as follows:
- March 31 – Buddy Bernstein
- April 7 – Rabbi Nancy
- April 10 – (Passover) Rabbi Nancy
- April 14 – Buddy Bernstein
- April 21 – Rabbi Nancy
- April 28 – Rabbi Nancy
- May 5 – Rabbi Nancy
- May 12 – Rabbi Nancy
- May 19 – Rabbi Nancy
- May 26 – Buddy Bernstein
- June 2 – Rabbi Nancy
- June 9 – Ken Wolf
- June 16 – Rabbi Nancy
- June 23 – Rabbi Nancy
- June 30 – Buddy Bernstein
As always, congregants and members of the Shoals community, at large, are invited to attend the weekly Torah Study session which is held each Saturday morning at 9:30, at the Temple.
Reminder items:
- Board Meeting – Sunday, April 2, 10:00am-noon – at the Temple
- Community Seder – Monday, April 10, starting at 6:00pm – Reservation cut-off is this Friday, March 31.
- Next Soup Kitchen – Saturday, April 15 – please bring dessert items to the Temple no later than 9:30am that Saturday.
- Small Jewish Community Survey from the University of Virginia – please complete by Monday, May 22. Use the link: http://www.smalljewishcommunities.org/ and the unique community ID of THEAL03 to complete it.
If you are aware of something in the community that you would like me to draw some attention to in my message, please let me know! And, as always, if you have any announcements you would like for me to share with our membership, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you this Friday night!
Shalom!
Traci Welch
