Wow! What a fabulous Seder last night! It was wonderful to see such a big turn-out! Rabbi Nancy led us through another uplifting service that included just the right combination of observance and humor. Buddy Bernstein and the Seder Committee (Howard and Jane Zeff, Emily Kelley, Karen Goldstein and Ken Wolf) did a marvelous job getting everything organized, purchased, decorated and generally prepared! Thanks to all of you for all your help – before, during and after.
I have heard nothing but glowing reviews about the food – our caterer, Jill Larson and her team from Jill’s Sweet Memories, fixed a delicious meal! She was assisted by Stephanie Coleman, Karen Goldstein, Liz Muhlendorf and Tara Warpup as they made the very tasty matzah balls while Emily Kelley and Jane Zeff made the charoset (always a favorite). I also want to thank Ray Cavadel for supplying the horseradish and Dick Peshkin for providing the shank bone. And thanks too to Scott Whitehead for adding that special instrumental touch to the night!
I expect I have missed someone in there so I hope you will forgive me…the point is lots of folks chipped in to make it a special event…and many thanks go to Buddy Bernstein for corralling all of us and ensuring the event was a success – even with lots of last minute changes!
NOTE> We do seem to have a good bit of matzah left over (unopened boxes) so, if you would like to purchase a box for $2.00, please let me know. While it is NOT Kosher for Passover, it can still be used to make a “mean” matzah brie!
Small Jewish Community Survey
You still have plenty of time to complete the Small Jewish Community Survey that I have mentioned in my last two notes. In case you missed my note…the purpose of this survey was 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. If you have not already done so, please logon and complete it before May 22.
The link to the survey can be found at: http://www.smalljewishcommunities.org/. Please be sure to use the unique community ID of THEAL03. They estimate that most people will be able to complete the survey in 10 – 15 minutes and they would really appreciate our help!
Soup Kitchen this Weekend
This is once again our weekend to provide desserts for the Soup Kitchen. Please plan on helping us meet the need by either baking up a batch of whatever dessert you would like to contribute or picking something up at the store and bringing it by the Temple no later than 9:30 this Saturday (April 15) morning. If you don’t have time to do either of these, finacial donations are also apprecited! Please let Fran Jacobs know if you will be making a donation. PS…because this falls in the middle of Passover, please consider making or purchasing something that takes this into consideration.
Services and Torah Study
The schedule for our upcoming services, as it currently stands, through the end of June, is as follows:
- 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:
- 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
