To	From	Tribute
Sandy Bloch and family	Janice and Ellis Cohen	Condolences on the loss of Sandy's mother.

Friday, August 18th Summer BBQ Shabbat dinner 6:30 p.m. Mincha/Maariv; 7:30 p.m. Dinner Enjoy gourmet hamburgers and hot dogs and other delicious fare! Registration is closed.

Sunday, August 20th

Kayaking with Island Synagogue

Meet 3:30 at NWOC on Lake Union.  
2100 Westlake Ave N #1 Seattle, WA  98109. 

Singles $16 per hour; Doubles $25 per hour; Triples $30 per hour.  

Minimum rental 2 hours.   http://www.nwoc.com/

Bring credit card or cash.   

You will need to sign forms when you get there, so please be on time or early. 

Life jackets provided and required. Spray skirts option. Wear hat and bring sun screen.

Advance RSVP required today, Thursday, August 17th.

Questions? Email julie@islandsynagogue.org. 

Wednesday, August 23rd Rosh Chodesh Women's Event - Nurture Your Mind, Body and Soul 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the home of Julie Hirsch D'var Torah by Devorah Kornfeld Skin and Beauty presentation by Michelle Benisti Island Crust meal sponsored by Julie Hirsch.    Donation $18 to Children's Playground Equipment at Island Synagogue. Advance RSVP required by Sunday, August 20th  Questions? Email julie@islandsynagogue.org.

Sunday, September 10th Family hike to Snow Lake (7 miles, 1700 feet elevation gain) Led by Julie Hirsch Leave Island Synagogue parking lot after davening at 9:00 a.m.  Meet at Alpental.  Passes required. See details here. RSVP by Sunday, September 3rd Questions? Email  [email protected].

Sunday, September 10th Island Synagogue Annual Meeting 7:00 p.m. at Island Synagogue. Hear the latest about our synagogue and be a part of decision-making through your vote.

Monday, September 18th and 25th (and October 2nd) Holiday classes led by Rabbi Y. Kornfeld. More details coming soon. Save the dates!

As we approach the High Holidays, we are once again preparing to print the  Book of Remembrance,   Yizkor (memorial) book,  to be used during the Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Pesach, and Shavuot holidays in the coming year.  The book will contain the full Yizkor service, as well as the names of those to be remembered. 

Please click here to review the instructions for existing and new entries and the donation amount.

Contact [email protected] with questions. Thank you.

 

August 16, 2017

כ"ד אב תשע"ז

Dear Rav Kornfeld, 

 

The following two items will be released shortly to the press:

 

The Rabbinical Council of America Challenges

 Charlottesville Moral Equivalency 

 

The Rabbinical Council of America, the leading organization of orthodox rabbis in North America, condemns any suggestion of moral equivalency between the White Supremacists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville and those who stood up to their repugnant messages and actions.  "There is no moral comparison," said Rabbi Elazar Muskin, president of the RCA.  "Failure to unequivocally reject hatred and bias is a failing of moral leadership and fans the flames of intolerance and chauvinism. While as a rabbinic organization we prefer to address issues and not personalities, this situation rises above partisan politics and therefore we are taking the unusual approach to directly comment on the words of the President."

 

Rabbi Mark Dratch, Executive Vice President, said, "The RCA joins with politicians of all parties, citizens of all political persuasions, and people of all faiths calling on President Trump to understand the critical consequences of his words. We call on all the leaders of our country to denounce all groups who incite hate, bigotry and racism, while taking action and using language that will heal the terrible national wounds of Charlottesville."

 

The following letter was sent to the rabbi of the congregation in Charlottesville:

 

An Open Letter to the Charlottesville Jewish Community

 

To the Jewish Community of Charlottesville, VA:

 

As we usher in this Shabbat just one week after the violent and deadly racist and anti-Semitic events in your city, the members of the Rabbinical Council of America reach out to you in solidarity, support, and friendship.  Elie Wiesel once said, "Jews alone are vulnerable...but Jews must not be alone."  Know that you are not alone.

 

While you were on the front line of ugly manifestations of hatred and bigotry that led to death, intimidation, and fear; while there were calls to burn down your synagogue; and while you were eyewitnesses to the worst expressions of intolerance in our society, we were all under attack.  When you are threatened, we are all threatened.  When you are hurt, we all hurt.  Know that you are not alone.

 

We add our voices to yours in condemning these manifestations, supporting those in political and religious leadership denouncing them, and call on all leaders and people of good will and faith to name and reject unequivocally and without qualification  the views and actions of White Supremacists, neo-Nazis, the alt-right, and their supporters.  We mourn with you the victims of this domestic terrorism: Heather Heyer, Lt. H. Jay Cullen, and trooper-pilot Berke M.M. Bates. 

 

In fighting these prejudices we must learn an important lesson from the Jewish Shabbat herself:

 

Shabbat begins with the recitation of Kiddush, the blessing which sanctifies the holy day, and ends with Havdalah, the blessing which distinguishes the holy day that has passed from the weekday ahead.  In both cases we are asked to make distinctions, distinctions between the holy and the profane, between light and darkness, and, ultimately, between good and evil.  As the beauty and restfulness of this Shabbat descends on your community, we are all asked to raise our voices to distinguish between good and evil, and in so doing make our country more holy, more peaceful, and more godly for all of its people.

 

Rabbi Elazar Muskin, President

 

Rabbi Mark Dratch, Executive Vice President

Refuah Shlemah Registration 

During Shabbat morning services, Rabbi Kornfeld reads aloud the Hebrew names of those in need of a Refuah Shlemah.  If you would like to add a name to this list, please complete the form on our website.

Please visit our website calendar for the most current information on classes and events at our synagogue. 

You can also view a summary on the main page of our website. 

Island Synagogue Executive Director Office Hours

Office hours are by appointment only.