Staying Connected at RS
Having trouble connecting to Zoom? Contact Mindy Harris.
Click here to read the March/April eBulletin
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayakel, the people’s work to create sacred space is fueled by Ruach Elohim (the spirit of God). And in this year’s experience of pandemic, our work to reinvent sacred space is fueled by Ruach Elohim. This Shabbat, as we mark one year, we will dedicate our reinvention of the sacred, to the more than 2.6 million people worldwide, including many connected to our congregation, who have died of Covid-19. And from one another we will draw comfort and strength.

-Rodeph Shalom Clergy
TONIGHT! The Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl with Author Marra B. Gad
Thursday, March 11 at 7:00pm EST

Marra B. Gad will speak about her memoir, The Color of Love: The Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, winner of the 2020 Midwest Book Award for Autobiography. She is an independent writer/producer for film and television and an award-winning author. A grateful child of adoption, Miss Gad speaks internationally about her own transracial adoption in 1970, and her experiences being Black/White biracial and Jewish through the lens of her memoir.

Register here. If you have any questions, please contact Mindy Harris. 

Thank you to the Behrend Lecture Fund for sponsoring this event.
Celebrate Passover with Rodeph Shalom
NEW! How-What-Why Seder Training
Sunday, March 21 at 11:30am
Learn with the clergy to create a great seder this year (with resources), even during the pandemic. Share your creative seder ideas (for Zoom or in-person) so we can include them to clergyoffice@rodephshalom.org.

Families with Young Children & Buerger Early Learning Center Passover Seder & Celebration
Tuesday, March 23 at 5:00pm
Join for a family-friendly seder and Passover celebration. An interactive haggadah will be sent ahead of time. We’ll sing songs and share helpful tips on having a meaningful holiday with your family. Join the Zoom here.

Congregational Second Night Seder
Sunday, March 28 at 5:30pm
Celebrate virtually with your Rodeph Shalom community. Click here for a list of items needed for the seder so you can participate! Register here.

pRiSm hosts a Virtual Social Justice Seder
Thursday, April 1 at 6:00pm
Join pRiSm on the sixth night of Passover to reflect upon our moral obligation to fight for the liberation of all. pRiSm works to strengthen Jewish LGBTQIA+ life and identity at RS and in the world and strives to create an inclusive congregation through education, advocacy, and celebration. Register here.

Passover Festival Service with Yizkor
Saturday, April 3 at 10:45am
Join us virtually for the Passover Festival Morning Service with Yizkor.

ConnectRS: Help Wish Members a Happy Passover
Please help reach out to our community by making phone calls to RS members from March 22 through April 2. Wish congregants a happy Passover, check in to see how they’re doing, and ask what they might need from our RS community. A script and information will be provided. Contact Melissa Erlick.
Join Together for Shabbat & Torah Study
To enter the service, click the blue links below.
Friday evening Shabbat services are live streamed on the RS Facebook & YouTube.
Friday, March 12, 6:00pm
(with Rabbinical Student George Altshuler)
Saturday, March 13, 9:15am
Breaking Bread on Broad: Keep Food Cold & Hearts Warm--Need for a New Refrigerator
Donated perishable food is stored in the RS refrigerators. Because food is received in advance of distribution, BBoB is dependent on these refrigerators to provide fresh produce to our families. Unfortunately, one of these refrigerators must be replaced. If you are able, consider a donation toward the cost of the new refrigerator. Please make your donation to the BBoB Fund, indicating that the donation should be directed toward the cost of the new refrigerator. Thank you! 

Our diaper drive is on-going, because our babies' needs are on-going too! We have received only one third of the diapers we currently need. Please consider a donation to the diaper drive on our BBoB gift registry. No family should have to choose between diapers and food! Our goal is to help with both. Contact bbob@rodephshalom.org with questions.
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Jews of Color & People of Color in the Reform Movement Affinity Space Gathering
Thursday, March 18 at 7:00pm

This gathering provides a space for Jews of Color and People of Color who are Jewish Adjacent (those who are People of Color & do not identify as Jewish, and may be partnered with a Jewish person or part of a Jewish family) to have open conversations and to connect around their lived experiences.

Our hosts for the calls are Yolanda Savage-Narva, the URJ Director for Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Deitra Reiser, Owner of Transform for Equity. To learn more about race-based affinity spaces, click here. Register here. This meeting is specifically only for People of Color, 18 years & older.

If you have any questions about this program, please email Aliza Greenberg. 
COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Information
We are exploring matching congregants who need help navigating the COVID-19 vaccination tregistration process online. To connect with a volunteer resource, or to sign up to be a volunteer, contact Melissa Erlick.

For Philadelphia residents: Sign up here to reserve your place in line for the vaccine. You can now get the vaccine at Fairmount Pharmacy. Click here for information.

For Pennsylvania residents: For vaccine information, click here

For New Jersey residents: To complete your vaccine registration, click here. You can find more information on covid19.nj.gov/vaccine.
Upcoming Virtual Opportunities to Engage
Click the blue links to join each Zoom event.

Thursday, March 11
7:00pm: The Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl with Marra B. Gad; Register here

Friday, March 12
4:30pm: Weekly Meditation; Computer password: 4ULVxX; Phone password: 060386
6:00pm: Shabbat Evening Service; Computer password: 8mBtzy; Phone password: 036011

Saturday, March 13
9:15am: Torah Study (with Rabbinical Student George Altshuler); Parashat Vayak'heil P'kudei; Computer password: DS9zSM; Phone password: 564723
9:45am: Shabbat Morning Service; Bat Mitzvah of Meital Frankel; Computer password: Meital; Phone password: 368761
11:30am: Shabbat Morning Service; Bar Mitzvah of Dylan Howe; Computer password: Dylan; Phone password: 565560

Sunday, March 14
9:30am: Berkman Mercaz Limud in session

Monday, March 15
8:00pm: Adult Beginner Hebrew

Tuesday, March 16
7:00pm: Congregational Check-In; Computer & phone password: 570426

Wednesday, March 17
7:00am: Volunteer for Breaking Bread on Broad; Contact bbob@rodephshalom.org
8:30am: Morning Minyan with Mourner's Kaddish; RSVP to Tomas Isakowitz for Zoom information
4:30pm: Midweek Hebrew
6:00pm: Introduction to Judaism

Thursday, March 18
7:30pm: Young Friends Torah Study; Computer password: N4L3kg; Phone password: 281563

Friday, March 19
4:30pm: Weekly Meditation; Computer password: 4ULVxX; Phone password: 060386
6:00pm: Shabbat Evening Service; Computer password: 8mBtzy; Phone password: 036011
7:30pm: Seasoned Solos Virtual Gathering; Computer password: u4U6Qg; Phone password: 780514

Saturday, March 20
9:15am: Torah Study (with recitation of Kaddish); Parashat Vayikra; Computer password: DS9zSM; Phone password: 564723

Sunday, March 21
9:30am: Berkman Mercaz Limud in session
11:30am: How-What-Why Seder Training; Computer password: RCrn43; Phone password: 909837
Our Condolences to the Family & Friends of
  • Marilyn Muchnick, congregant
Mazel Tov
  • Maddie Cohen, daughter of Jamie & Michael Cohen, on her Bat Mitzvah
For Congregants Experiencing Financial Distress
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has created a Congregational Rabbis COVID-19 Emergency Fund to provide aid to our congregants and community members who are in need of financial assistance. This is to aid those suffering from the current pandemic. The funds are intended to help those in need of food, medical assistance, rent/mortgage payments and/or medical expenses. If you or a community member is in need of help, please contact one of our clergy or Jeff Katz.
In the Community
Parkinsingers Virtual Rehearsals
Mondays from 4:00-5:30pm
The Parkinsingers Choir unites people with Parkinson's Disease, care-partners, and friends in a community dedicated to making music of the highest quality in a welcoming environment. Contact Marjorie Samoff.

Red Cross Blood Drive in Our Neighborhood
For information on nearby blood drives, click here, and contact Kristin McKale with questions.
Congregation Rodeph Shalom | rodephshalom.org