M'KOR MAIL
March 6, 2019
Thursday and Friday this week mark the New Moon of the Jewish month of Adar - actually, this being a leap year on the Jewish calendar, it is the month called Adar II. Adar is the month of the holiday of Purim, and it arrives with a rabbinic slogan: m'she-nichnas Adar, marbim b'simcha - "When the month of Adar arrives, we increase our happiness!"
 
To get Purim month off to a humorous start there is an online quiz from the Reform movement, where you can find out which Purim character you most resemble - Queen Vashti, Queen Esther, Mordechai, King Achashverosh, or (booo...) Haman. Click HERE to take the quiz!
 
In addition to revelry, Purim has a vital tikkun olam/repair of the world component, in the form of two traditions: matanot l'evyonim, donations to the needy, and mishloach manot (or, in the more familiar Yiddish version, shalach manos), the sending of gifts to family and friends. For a thoughtful reflection on how these customs can revive Purim, click HERE.

Mark your calendar for our M'kor Shalom Purim events on Wednesday night March 20 - The Meal Before the Shpiel, followed by our "Dis-service" at 7:00 pm and the Purim Shpiel at 7:45 pm.
 
This Friday at 6:30 pm we will gather for our Kabbalat Shabbat service. On Saturday morning, I will be leading Torah study at 9:00 am, and Scott Kushner will lead Spice Up Your Judaism at 10:30 am.
 
Also at 10:30 am on Saturday, we will celebrate the B'nai Mitzvah of Ava and Seth Bernstein at our Shabbat service. Mazal tov to Ava and Seth and their family!
 
Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard Hirsh
 

If you have the name of someone you would like to have included in our Healing Prayer (Mi Shebeirach) that is recited at our Shabbat services, please let us know by noon each Friday so we can give the name to the rabbis. 
In This Message

BUY A BRACKET  
(or more!)
We are excited to roll out our March Madness Bracket pool! Participants will predict the outcome of each of the games in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Points will be awarded for every game you pick correctly, and whoever has the most points at the end of the tournament wins.

Each entry (one bracket sheet) will cost $20. Payment will be accepted via cash or check (made out to Congregation M'kor Shalom), or Venmo payment to @Stephanie-Zinn-1 (the organizer of this fundraiser).

How it Works: 
If you are interested in participating, please email Stephanie Zinn by Friday, March 8 with: your name, your email address, method of payment and how many bracket sheets you intend to purchase. Payment is also due by March 8. Once we have a list of participants, we will send further instructions for completing the brackets online.

Thank You and Good Luck!
WE CELEBRATE
The B'nai Mitzvah of
Ava Bernstein & Seth Bernstein
children of Michael Bernstein & Elyse Dishler
THE WEEK AHEAD
Friday, March 8      
6:30 pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Sanctuary)  
Please join us for pre-service refreshments starting at 6:00 pm. 
 
Saturday, March 9                   
9:00 am Torah Study, led by Rabbi Hirsh (Chapel)
10:30 am Spice Up Your Judaism, led by Scott Kushner (Social Hall)
10:30 am Shabbat Morning Service (Sanctuary)
B'nai Mitzvah of Ava Bernstein & Seth Bernstein  
   
Sunday, March 10  
Daylight Savings Time Begins
 
Monday, March 11
10:00 am Blankets of Hope (Social Hall)
7:00 pm Education & Youth Committee Meeting (Chapel)
7:30 pm Membership Committee Meeting (Boardroom)
7:30 pm Scholar-in-Residence Committee Meeting (Library) 
 
Wednesday, March 13
10:30 am Uncovering the Hidden Meanings of the Prayerbook led by Rabbi Hirsh (Chapel)

Friday, March 15  
5:30 pm Tot Family Dinner (Oneg Room)
6:15 pm Tot Shabbat Service (Sanctuary) 
8:00 pm Erev Shabbat Service (Sanctuary; webcast)
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Please click on the event name for more information or to register for that event.    

PURIM!
Wednesday, March 20

Achim Softball
Registration Deadline: Friday, March 22

Sunday, March 24, 11:30 am

Sunday, March 31, 11:00 am

Community Yard Sale
Sunday, May 5, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Getting ready to do some spring cleaning? Save your stuff! De-clutter and help M'kor Shalom at the same time! Details on this fundraiser are coming soon.

Sunday, June 2, 5:00 pm
We honor Gail Donner & Merle Steinberg with a magical evening. Sponsorships & Tribute Book opportunities are now available!

Book Plates in our new High Holy Day prayer books may be purchased in honor of any simcha or in memory of a loved one. Click here to contribute.
For late-breaking news, please visit our website at www.mkorshalom.org.

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Michelle Bross
Executive Director
Congregation M'kor Shalom
850 Evesham Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
(856) 424-4220
(856) 424-2890 (fax)
ExecutiveDirector@mkorshalom.org