September 17, 2021 | 11 Tishrei 5782
|
|
Included in This Week's Newsletter
Sukkot/Simchat Torah/Havdallah
This Week's Torah Portion
Rosh Chodesh Film and Book
Essential Jewish Conversation
High Holy Day Thanks and Photos
September Greenwich Jewish News
|
|
Parashat Ha'azinu
from the Book of Deuteronomy
Often translated as repentance, t’shuvah more literally means returning – returning to our truest selves, returning to connection with the Divine, or returning to make amends with those we may have wronged. Broadly, it’s the kind of work we do to realign our actions to our values – to return to our moral compass. We contemplate all the ways in which our actions of the past year have missed the mark, and we pray for the strength to do better in the year to come.
Please click here to read and discover more about this Torah portion.
|
|
Rosh Chodesh
Monday, October 4th 7:30 PM
Via Zoom
Please join us for our 1st Shir Ami Rosh Chodesh Group which welcomes both women and men this year! The Zoom class will begin on Monday, October 4, when we will discuss an inspiring film, Lives Well Lived. Encompassing 3,000 years of collective life experience, diverse people share life lessons about perseverance, the human spirit, and staying positive in the midst of life’s greatest challenges.
The delightful film, which has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, will make you laugh, smile —and feel great about growing older.
The film is available for you to watch free on PBS.org online during the month of September. Register to join our conversation using the button below. To learn more and see the video trailer here: https://www.pbs.org/show/lives-well-lived/
|
|
Consider the film the launch pad for this year’s monthly Rosh Chodesh which will base its discussions on Karl Pillemer’s book 30 Lessons for Living. The book relates life lessons learned, as he interviews older people and organizes their responses in categories to which we can all relate.
The wisdom gleaned from people who’ve lived and learned through their lives will often mirror our own experiences, confirm conclusions we’ve come to, and, perhaps, show us that ~ in spite of self-doubts ~ we’ve done our homework pretty well. We encourage you to read Pillemer’s book as we progress from topic to topic; but the reading is not essential. We welcome everyone, women and men, to join our monthly Zoom gatherings.
Book discussions will be on: 11/8,12/6, 1/3, 1/31, 2/28, 4/4, 5/2, 6/6
|
|
Essential Jewish Conversation
Monday, October 25th 7:30 PM
Via Zoom
Call it a symposium, a salon, a forum or a debate, Jewish life has long been centered around a vibrant exchange of ideas and viewpoints – a sacred conversation meant to bring meaning to our lives. This year we will continue our exploration of the Jewish perspective on a range of beliefs and values.
The first topic we will be exploring is the Jewish perspective on Abortion.
Future conversations will take place on: 10/25, 11/22, 12/20, 1/24, 2/21, 3/28, 4/25, 6/20
|
|
|
 |
High Holy Day Services with Shir Ami were really wonderful! We hope you all enjoyed them as much as we did. Cantor Abramson and our professional choir members sounded so clear and beautiful as they offered the music and liturgy live from Round Hill for you to enjoy at home. Shir Ami members participated robustly in the leadership of the service over Zoom. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making these services so special.
You may visit our High Holy Day website page to view recordings or read the Cantor's sermons by clicking here
|
|
|
|
We were so happy to have our new Eternal Light finally grace our bima during these High Holy Days. It was hard for you all to see it via Zoom, so here is a close view again. This colorful glass vessel comes from Italy and was purchased in memory of Harold Axe, husband of Rabbi Emerita Axe. We hope that sometime soon you'll get a chance to see this new ritual item in person at a future Shir Ami Service. |
|
|
|
|
Here is a photograph of the 4 singers who blessed our services with their voices.
Soprano: Michelle Rapella
Alto: Kathryn Whitaker
Tenor: Michael Kuhn
Baritone: Christopher DeVage
Thank you to Andrew Yeargin for playing the piano so flawlessly!
Thank you to Kate Dillingham for playing the cello so beautifully during Kol Nidrei.
|
|
|
|
Thank you again to Jenny Lake who has been our High Holy Day Event Manager and to Jesse Molito from Woodside Productions, who is back with us for the 2nd year as our Sound Engineer.
Thank you for your hard work and for helping us to be able to hear the beautiful sounds from Cantor Abramson, our wonderful pianist Andrew Yeargin and our professional choir:
|
|
|
|
Thank you to all of you who have joined or rejoined for this year!!! We warmly welcome all new members who would like to be part of our congregational family.
Being a Member of Shir Ami, allows you to
- help shape our community
- support its mission
- find inspiration in our diverse offerings
- participate in rituals and events reserved for members.
- have access to our wonderful clergy
If you are interested and would like to know more
Click here to read our Welcome letter from Cantor Abramson and Shir Ami Co-Presidents Susan Nisinzweig and Marie Orsini Rosen
All are Welcome to Join Our Community!
|
|
High Holy Days Social Action Projects
There are a few days left to contribute to our Social Action Fund to increase the size of our High Holy Day Donation that we can make this year to reduce hunger. The two organizations that we've selected to support this year are:
The Supermarketing for Seniors program through which JFS- Greenwich offers free grocery shopping for home-bound Greenwich residents, aged 60 and up. Since 1986, JFS has been providing this unique, non-denominational grocery shopping service for those seniors unable to shop for themselves, with no nearby relatives to help.
The Freedberg Family Kosher Food Pantry which serves lower Fairfield County communities. Through JFS, It provides Kosher food and personal care items, including assistance for pharmacy and transportation, to members of our community experiencing financial difficulties who are unable to afford food and household items for their families.
These donations from Shir Ami will be made using the Social Action funds that have already been collected through donations made by Members as they filled out their Membership Renewal Forms. If you would like to donate more, or if you are not a member and would like to contribute to help us make a more meaningful donation to these worthy organizations that help make sure people have the food they need, please contribute to Shir Ami's Social Action Fund. Click here to donate.
|
|
|
- Opportunities to support and volunteer at Building One Community
- Ways we can each help combat racism
- Shopping for Seniors with JFS
- Dignity Grows supplies essential toiletries to people in need
- and more worthwhile activities...
Recruit some Shir Ami friends to participate in one of these projects with you!
|
|
|
September Issue of Greenwich Jewish News
You may have received a hard copy. Below is a link to the digital version. There are many interesting community events coming up this fall that are in this newsletter. There is a beautiful story about our new Eternal Light on page 5. Click here to read the September digital version.
|
|
CDC Covid Guidelines and our Shir Ami Guidelines - revised 9/14/21:
As the guidelines continue to be updated by the CDC and as local regulations change, we are taking them into account as well as considering the feedback from our congregants and current information regarding the rapid spread of the Delta variant.
For the safety of all of our congregants, friends and loved ones, we urge you to follow these guidelines whether you are at a Shir Ami event or any other event. It is our obligation as a congregation to be responsible and keep our congregants safe and comfortable. As time goes on, these guidelines may change but for now:
- For outdoor events, fully vaccinated people who get close to each other should wear masks. If you keep safe distances you can be unmasked outdoors.
- in order to keep everyone comfortable, healthy and safe, while at Shir Ami sponsored events, we request that you give air-kisses and air hugs only.
- If you attend indoor events anywhere else, the new regulations in CT require that even if you are fully vaccinated you should always be masked in indoor public spaces.
- Adults/Children who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks and social distance.
- Anyone who has recently traveled or been exposed should do a home test prior to going to a group gathering to confirm they have a negative test. (CVS sells a home test you can use).
- Anyone who isn't feeling well is still welcome to attend our services and classes via Zoom.
|
|
For a full listing of all local events of Jewish interest visit the websites for:
|
|
CongregationShirAmi.org
203-900-7976
shirami.info@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
