December 2-3, 2022

9 Kislev 5783


Shalom AKSE Congregants and Friends of AKSE:


The Torah portion this Shabbat is VayeitzeiWe hope to welcome you at our in-person Shabbat services. The Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday starts at 6 p.m. Shabbat morning services are at 9 a.m. Saturday. Shabbat afternoon services (Mincha/Ma'ariv) are at 4:30 p.m. Saturday this week. Cantor Redfern is officiating at services.


Lisa Elliott will deliver the Torah Talk Saturday morning, Her topic is "Leah's gift."


This Shabbat's printed newsletter, which will be available at services, may also be viewed online here. You will find candle lighting, service and Havdalah times, service leaders, Torah and Haftorah readings, and this week's Yahrzeits there.


Our weekday schedule is as usual:

  • Tuesday afternoon service at the JCC in the Kehillah Lounge at 3:30 p.m.
  • Thursday morning service in our building at 9 a.m.

The Education Committee kicks off its Winter Film Festival immediately after Shabbat. See details below of the first film, "The Levys of Monticello," viewable Dec. 3-6, with a discussion via Zoom on Dec. 6. AKSE members received an email on Monday with access information. Another email with this information will be sent 6 p.m. Saturday, the beginning of the viewing window.


If you missed Rabbi David Grundland's class last week, you can view a recording of it. Also, the search committee welcomes feedback on his visit. See below.


Please note that we unfortunately need to postpone the visit of Rabbi Pinchas Pearl, scheduled for December 9 & 10. We are still working on rescheduling it.


Please take a moment to consider how you can help with AKSE's efforts to provide meals to the Emmanuel Dining Room. Volunteers are still needed to help with baking and/or provide donations to defray the cost of ingredients. See details below.


The December Shofar has been mailed to congregants. It is also available online here.

Shabbat Shalom!


Martin

Martin Cohn

AKSE President



RABBI DAVID GRUNDLAND CLASS VIDEO

 

As you know, Rabbi David Grundland visited last Shabbat as a candidate for Spiritual Leader of AKSE. We recorded his activities immediately after Shabbat, which included Havdalah, a Kumzitz (singing), and a class on the theme "Uniting for Holiness and Truth." If you missed it, you can view a video recording here. The class materials may be viewed or downloaded here.


Please note that the search committee invites feedback on Rabbi David's visit. E-mail your comments to us at search@AKSE.org . If you prefer to discuss your feedback, please leave your phone number in the email, and one of us will contact you. There will also be an opportunity to express your views at an open meeting of the Board of Governors on Tuesday, December 13 at 7:30 PM via Zoom.


Alan Goldberg   Mark Wagman

Co-chairs, Rabbi Search Committee­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

POSTPONEMENT OF THIRD RABBI CANDIDATE VISIT

 

Please note that unfortunately we need to postpone the visit of Rabbi Pinchas Pearl scheduled for December 9 & 10. We shall, of course, inform the congregation when the visit is rescheduled.

AKSE PRESENTS - A WINTER FILM FESTIVAL

Viewing Window December 3-6 for First Film


The AKSE Education Committee is pleased to present three exciting films to members--one in December, a second in January and a third in February. Each film will have a three-day viewing window for streaming online, followed by a discussion via Zoom. Access information will be emailed to members the week before the start of each viewing period.


The films with their respective streaming-viewing windows, discussion dates, and Discussion Leaders are: The Levys of Monticello, December 3-6 with Discussion December 6 - Scott Slomowitz; The Jews and the Blues, January 14-17 with Discussion January 17 - Irene Plotzker; The Women’s Balcony, February 4-7, with Discussion February 7 - Sylvia Wagman. 


Here are details of the first film:­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Levys of Monticello

The Levys of Monticello


Directed by Steven Pressman

US, 2022

Genre: Documentary

Language: English

71 Minutes 


Viewing window: 6 PM, Sat., Dec. 3 - 7 PM, Tues., Dec. 6 

Discussion: Tues., Dec. 6, 7 PM

Discussion leader: Scott Slomowitz


The Levys of Monticello tells the little-known story of the Levy family, which owned and carefully preserved Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, for nearly a century – far longer than Mr. Jefferson or his descendants. The remarkable story of the Levy family also intersects with the rise of antisemitism that runs throughout the course of American history.


An email with access info was sent to congregants on Monday. A second email with this information will be sent Saturday at 6 PM, the beginning of the viewing window.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

EMMANUEL DINING ROOM HELP NEEDED

Volunteers Needed for December 6 and January 6


On Monday, November 7, we provided a nutritious meal for over 100 needy individuals at Emmanuel Dining Room East in Wilmington. Feeding the hungry is such a basic mitzvah; for some of the people served by Emmanuel Dining Room, the meal we provide is their only meal of the day.


We will need bakers and financial contributions for our December and January dates. Please contact Karen Moss (302-478-4991 or Hamorahkeren96@gmail.com), EDR Co-chair, to volunteer your assistance for this important mitzvah.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

VIRTUAL EVENTS THIS WEEK


Tuesday, December 6 at 7 PM--Discussion of film "The Levys of Monticello," led by Scott Slomowitz


Wednesday, December 7 at 4 PM--Chug Ivri (Hebrew Speaking Club)



Connection to all AKSE virtual events is the same (unless otherwise indicated) - either of two options:

1) Video and Audio on PC, tablet, or smartphone

Click on this link to join Zoom meeting: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6280813362

2) Phone

Dial in to +1 646-558-8656 and input Meeting ID: 628 081 3362­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

IN-PERSON SHABBAT SERVICES

This Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2 & 3


PLACE: Our home at 2412 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19806. Find it on Google Maps here. Our building entrance faces the parking lot behind Immanuel Church. Park on the side of the lot in front of our building. In the rare instance that there are no available parking spots there, use overflow parking nearby in the areas described here.


SERVICE TIMES:

Friday at 6 PM - Kabbalat Shabbat, Ma'ariv

Saturday at 9 AM - Shacharit, Torah reading, Musaf

Saturday at 4:30 PM - Mincha, Study session, Ma'ariv

Saturday at 5:22 PM - Havdalah




IN-PERSON MINCHA SERVICE

Tuesdays at 3:30 PM


Join us for a weekly Mincha service. The services are in the Siegel JCC Kehillah Lounge (to the left of the JCC Lobby--formerly called the Senior Lounge). Thank you to our friends at the JCC for making this space available to us.


If the weather is nice, we will hold services outside in the courtyard adjacent to the Kehillah Lounge. Please note that face masks are required for indoor services.



IN-PERSON SHACHARIT SERVICE

Thursdays at 9 AM


We are holding Shacharit services with Torah reading on Thursday mornings, in our building at 2412 Pennsylvania Ave. Please plan to join us.




CHUG IVRI - Hebrew Speaking Club

Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 4 PM via Zoom


The next session of our popular Chug Ivri is Wednesday, December 7 from 4 to 5 p.m.


The Chug Ivri is composed of people who are at different levels in their knowledge of, and ability to speak, Hebrew. We help each other, so feel free to join us.


Zoom connection info - either of two options:

1) Video and Audio on PC, tablet, or smartphone

Click on this link to join Zoom meeting:    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6280813362

2) Phone    Dial in to +1 646-558-8656 and input Meeting ID: 628 081 3362


The AKSE Education Committee is continuing a new program on Shabbat mornings. Torah Talks are taking the place of sermons or Divrei Torah. These talks are being led by members of the AKSE community, as well as by members of the wider Jewish community.

 

A variety of formats are available to those who volunteer to lead Torah Talks: traditional Divrei Torah, short discussions of ethical or historical questions raised by the text, reflections on seasonal holidays and traditions, and talks that connect with the speakers’ personal interests and expertise in Jewish culture. Our goal is to bring variety, innovation, and creativity to Shabbat learning. Look for announcements of the speakers and topics for upcoming Torah Talks in future Shofars and email newsletters.

 

If you have wisdom to share, a favorite parsha to delve into, or a special interest to showcase, please get in touch with Lisa Elliott (lelliott50@comcast.net) or Harriet Ainbinder (haza@verizon.net) to schedule your Torah Talk.

 

Community Events

The December 2022 SHOFAR is now available online.


Click here to view it in its entirety

The Kol Nidre Supplement is available online.


Click here to view it in its entirety


Rabbi Gradofsky's High Holiday sermons may be viewed here.


AKSE Standard For Full Vaccination

(If necessary, please update your vaccination record with AKSE)


The Board of Governors has adopted a 3-shot standard for an individual to be considered "fully" vaccinated against COVID-19. This standard means that the vaccination database compiled in 2021 must be updated.


If you have not already provided AKSE with proof that meets this newer 3-shot standard, please do so as soon as you can by one of the following methods:

  1. Email bookkeeper@akse.org or a_bleier@verizon.net with an attached copy of your documentation.
  2. Mail a copy of your documentation to the Office at 2412 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilmington, DE 19806 (enough in advance that it will be on file when you plan to attend a service or other activity).
  3. Present your documentation, in person, to Kathleen Taylor during her office hours of 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday-Thursday.
  4. Present your documentation "at the door" when you arrive at a service or activity - Note that digital proof of vaccination cannot be reviewed on Shabbat or Yom Tov.


Currently, only Kathleen Taylor, Alan Bleier, and Alan's designate will review and accept proof of vaccination.

Office Hours


Our office hours are 10 AM to 2 PM Monday to Thursday (except holidays). During these times our Office Manager will be in the office and respond promptly to emails (office@AKSE.org  and  bookkeeper@AKSE.org) and phone calls (302-762-2705).

Bring Your Shoes to Shul

Our successful shoe recycling project continues. Clean out your closets and start looking under your bed for gently used shoes. Every pair you recycle means shoes for those in need, extra funds for us, and less landfill waste. A triple mitzvah! See details here.
Purchase Gift Cards and Support AKSE

It's FAST ..... It's FUN ..... It's EASY. AKSE receives 5% of the face value of the gift card and it does not cost you a penny extra!
 
Gift Cards Available
ShopRite, ACME, Super G ($50, $100 denominations), 
 
Please see details here.
ADAS KODESCH SHEL EMETH
email:  enews@AKSE.org
web site:  http://www.AKSE.org
2412 Pennsylvania Ave.
Wilmington, DE 19806

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