We read in Megillat Esther that after defeating the wicked Haman (booo!) the Jewish people of Shushan observed the days of Purim "as days of feasting and gladness, and sending portions of food to one another..." (Esther 9:22) These portions of food, known as Mishloach Manot (or shalach manos in Yiddish) are traditional gift baskets that we send each other within our community. While we haven't yet vanquished all the evils of our world, we still have reasons to celebrate this year. As Purim approaches in just three weeks, consider sending your own Mishloach Manot to your friends at Rodeph Shalom - we have made it fun, safe, and easy to send them, all while supporting our congregation.
-Rodeph Shalom Clergy
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Celebrate Purim with Rodeph Shalom |
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Experience the Joy of Giving When You Order Mishloach Manot Gifts for Purim
Engage in the mitzvah of sending Purim gift bags filled with hamentashen and other delicious treats — “ mishloach manot” — to friends, children, and others in our community. Sending and receiving mishloach manot is inspiring and powerful. Look in your inbox for an email titled " Purim Mishloach Manot" from Jennifer James from January 15 with a personalized login code. Order by February 14. Contact Esther Troetschel with questions. Proceeds benefit Berkman Mercaz Limud.
Chant a Megillah Verse at Our Congregational Purim Celebration
All lovers of Megillah chanting, this is your chance to sign up for a Megillah verse for Purim. You might even get to sing out the name of “he who shall not be mentioned!” If you are interested in learning a verse of the Purim Megillah, contact Esther Troetschel and she will send a recorded Purim verse. See you in Shushan!
Purim Spiel & Congregational Celebration
Thursday, February 25 at 6:00pm
Enjoy singing, stories, dancing, the Megillah reading, and Purim Spiel. Bring a l'chaim, costumes, and your mishloach manot to nosh on during the program.
Torah Study with Rabbi Nikki DeBlosi: "It's a Drag: Purim, Gender Costumes, & Being Our True Selves"
Saturday, February 20 at 9:15am
Join Rabbi DeBlosi for a serious look at the concept: drag and gender. On the topsy-turvy holiday of Purim, we don costumes, sometimes playing with gender stereotypes. As conversations around gender multiply, we consider the ways in which living “beyond the binary” of “male” and “female” can liberate ourselves, and one another. Click here for the source sheet for this class. |
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Rodeph Shalom Gun Violence Prevention Events |
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Welcome to the Shiva House Play Reading
Saturday, February 6, 7:00pm & Sunday, February 7, 2:00pm
Created by professional playwrights and congregants Benjamin Behrend and Logan Schulman, Welcome to The Shiva House is a 45-minute virtual theatrical experience. This experience crystallizes the necessity of communal gathering and storytelling. Sponsored by the RS Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, as dealing with loss is connected with gun violence every day. RSVP here.
Discussion with CeaseFirePA
Thursday, February 11, 6:00pm
Learn about this organization and its current PA initiatives from Adam Garber, Executive Director of CeaseFire PA, the leading gun violence prevention advocacy organization in our state. Attend by clicking here.
Discussion with Heeding God's Call to End Gun Violence
Thursday, February 18, 6:00 pm
Bryan Miller, Executive Director of Heeding God's Call To End Gun Violence, a multi-faith gun violence prevention organization, will discuss the organization's initiatives and how to get involved. Attend by clicking here.
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Join Together for Shabbat & Torah Study
To enter the service, click the blue links below.
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Friday, February 5, 6:00pm
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and recitation of Kaddish
Saturday, February 6, 9:15am
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Cook & Connect with Chef Adeena Sussman While Supporting RS |
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Sunday, February 21 from 10:30am-12:00pm EST
Join world-renowned chef Adeena Sussman for a sensory-rich journey into Israeli and Arab cooking traditions. Learn how to make a delicious tahini smoothie, and discuss how food is a creative tool which can speak to our identity and bridge cultural differences. Sussman’s three most recent collaborations, including Cravings and Cravings: Hungry For More with Chrissy Teigen, were New York Times bestsellers. Sussman is the author of Sababa: Fresh, Sunny Flavors From My Israeli Kitchen, named a Best Fall 2019 cookbook by the New York Times. Support this philanthropic initiative and become a patron or register to join here.
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Breaking Bread on Broad Diaper Drive |
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Breaking Bread on Broad (BBoB) is the social justice program at RS that helps meet the needs of our severely food insecure neighbors for food, diapers, and menstrual supplies each Wednesday morning. BBoB currently provides these items to about 130 families each week.
Thank you to our donors for their incredible generosity in enabling us to meet our goal in our initial diaper drive in January.
The needs of our BBoB babies for hygiene and comfort did not end with the end of our first diaper drive. Diapers can be prohibitively expensive for families who are worried about putting food on the table. We plan to continue the diaper drive Target gift registry and hope you will continue to donate diapers and wipes from the registry, here. Or, take a look at the registry to see our current needs, and purchase diapers and wipes from any source you choose. If the method you select does not have a delivery option, you can drop the items off at the RS security desk and complete the donation form to let us know.
Thank you so much for this act of tikkun olam, repairing the world, by helping one baby at a time. If you would like to volunteer for BBoB, please contact us at bbob@rodephshalom.org.
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Upcoming Connection Group Events (Open to All) |
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Click the blue links to learn more about each event. |
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Thursday, February 4, 7:00pm
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Friday, February 5, 7:00pm
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Friday, February 5, 7:30pm
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Saturday, February 6, 9:30am
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Tuesday, February 9, 6:00pm
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Tuesday, February 23, 8:00pm
Hosted by Men of RS
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Upcoming Virtual Opportunities to Engage
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Click the blue links to join each Zoom event.
Thursday, February 4
Friday, February 5
6:00pm: Shabbat Evening Service; Conversion Blessing: Darya Jane Enlow; Computer password: 8mBtzy; Phone password: 036011
Saturday, February 6
9:30am: Tot Shabbat; Computer password: Mc7Cyw; Phone password: 578257
Sunday, February 7
9:30am: Berkman Mercaz Limud in session
Monday, February 8
8:00pm: Adult Beginner Hebrew
Tuesday, February 9
6:00pm: Torah Queeries; Computer password: jX7NEc; Phone password: 181922
Wednesday, February 10
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, February 11
Friday, February 12
Saturday, February 13
Sunday, February 14
Berkman Mercaz Limud not in session
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Pria Maderer Lipkin, daughter of Rabbi Jill Maderer & Len Lipkin, on her Bat Mitzvah. In honor of the Bat Mitzvah of Pria Maderer Lipkin, donations to the Breaking Bread on Broad Fund are welcome.
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Our Condolences to the Family & Friends of |
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Adele Kornfeld, congregant and mother of David Kornfeld, Robert Kornfeld, and Anne Westrom
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Alan Zuckerman, husband of Rita Bernstein, father of Seth Bernstein Zuckerman (Kelly) and Joanna Zuckerman Bernstein, and grandfather of Jacob and Leah
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For Congregants Experiencing Financial Distress |
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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.
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The Gershman Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival Presents: The Vigil
Streaming Sunday, February 14 at 7:00pm through Sunday, February 21
A BRCA Family Affair presented by The Basser Center's Parents Leadership Community
Tuesday, February 23 at 6:30pm
Join Susan Domchek, MD, in conversation with Ali Rogin (author of Beat Breast Cancer Like A Boss) and her parents. This virtual chat focuses on one family's journey after discovering they were BRCA mutation carriers. Register here.
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. |
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