August 6, 2020 • Volume 17 No. 6 |
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Dear chevrei (friends),
This week we witnessed the unrelenting power of nature, and deadly human error and seeming carelessness. Hurricane Isaias wreaked destruction through its wind, rain, and spawned tornadoes. Millions lost power and experienced Isaias’ fierce force. Many of us in Westchester were impacted by the storm…some of us still don’t have power. Trees fell throughout our neighborhoods and we escaped danger and are grateful that all we hold most precious was spared. And in Beirut, in the middle of a normal day, life was turned upside down, as explosions riddled the city, causing death and invoking fear and pain. In a matter of seconds, a city was turned to rubble. Human error, not nature’s force, appears to be the root cause of that catastrophe. The residual impact of both these tragedies is loss and dismay.
Our response must be one of empathy for those who have suffered loss through wind or explosion, and gratitude that, even though we may have suffered damage, our lives have been preserved. Our hearts go out to those who suffered loss of loved ones. May God grant them strength and healing. Jewish tradition teaches us to offer a prayer of gratitude when we escape danger. The one who escapes danger recites, “Praised are you, Adonai, Sovereign of the universe, who rewards the undeserving with goodness, and who has rewarded me with goodness.” The congregation responds, “May the one who rewarded you with all goodness reward you with goodness forever.” At our Shabbat evening service, we offer a variation of this traditional Gomel prayer, praising God who “bestows us with loving-kindness.” May we never take the gift and miracle of God’s love for granted.
Shabbat Shalom,
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Temple Topics News
Please note, there was not a July/August 2020 issue.
Stay tuned for the September/October issue arriving in your mail before the High Holidays.
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Summer Time at Temple Israel |
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While you're enjoying the Summer, check in with Temple Israel for Summer programming and Services. |
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NEW Again Next Week! Rabbi Hirsch will have a Zoom Check-In called "Wednesday Lunch Check-In With the Rabbi" beginning at 12 Noon for 30 minutes, weekly. Make sure you have your lunch with you also! This is an opportunity to have a one-to-one with Rabbi Hirsch and converse, ask questions, and join in with others for a mini-lunch session! This weekly session is available via Zoom: Meeting ID: 206 879 5603 Passcode: 3GAeKM
(Other Daily Check-Ins continue to be 3 pm for now, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. You can find the check-ins on the Temple Facebook or in Connections on the Temple Website).
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NEW Again! The Responsa Class is an opportunity to spend some study time with Rabbi Hirsch on Friday mornings, 9:00 am. The class will be thought-provoking, interesting, but better yet, YOUR class to ask questions and study issues. Connect via Zoom: Meeting ID: 206 879 5603 Passcode: 3GAeKM
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Kehillah Shabbat on Friday, 10:30 am via Zoom ON-GOING
Responsa Class and Kehillah Shabbat BOTH CANCELLED tomorrow Friday, due to problems in Internet connections.
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NEW Again! Shabbat Evening Service on Fridays at 6:00 pm continues to be available via the Stream Services Webpage on the Temple Website. But, join us a little earlier at 5:45 pm every Friday via Zoom for some "casual welcome and conversation" before the services switch to LiveStream.
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NEW Again! Torah Study and Shabbat Morning Services on Saturdays will be combined under a new name: Shabbat Torah Study and Morning Blessings. This will be a combined study and abbreviated worship which will include the Mourners Kaddish, giving you an opportunity for prayer and reflection, available through Zoom with Rabbi Hirsch or Cantor Schloss on alternating weeks. Zoom links will be available through the Temple Website on the Stream Services Webpage page, and here in the weekly eblasts.
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So join us this Saturday, August 8th for the Shabbat Torah Study and Morning Blessings with Rabbi Hirsch via Zoom: Meeting ID: 820 2427 9550 Passcode: 2uRykB, at 9:00 am ... and if you have time to join us a bit earlier at 8:50 am on this same Zoom link, we'll have quick Shabbat greetings before the service begins.
Remember, for all services, you can visit the Stream Services Webpage page and join through Streaming on Fridays, and/or Zoom on Saturdays. All the zoom links will be listed there.
For all prayer moments, you can use an online version of our siddur (download not available) Click here. For security reasons, in ALL Zoom meetings, please identify yourself by your first and last name so that the coordinator can securely invite you in from the "waiting room."
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Click for the Virtual Shabbat Leaflet
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By now, you should have received Temple Israel's Membership Support Packet.
Now is the time to join your fellow congregants in supporting Temple Israel as best you can for the 2020-2021 year.
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SAVE THE DATE!
"Momentum March" RESCHEDULED
The March has been set for next Thursday, August 13th.
More details to follow.
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Connect With Temple Israel |
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Connect with Temple Israel can be found on the Temple Website, and includes current events or activities. Please visit!
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Temple Israel's Oral History Project On-Going! |
Still Taking Interviewers and Interviewees!
One of the oldest human (and Jewish) traditions is story-telling. Now at Temple Israel, we are continuing a project to collect our stories.
Don't let your story be lost. Click here to find out how to keep your story alive for generations to generations–L'dor va'dor
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Spotlight on Temple Israel |
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Spotlight can be found on the Temple Website towards the bottom of the homepage, and includes past events, activities, tells of the culture, or highlights congregants at the Temple. Please visit!
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Social Action is holding a "last minute" book drive for The Sharing Shelf. Please look around your house, and help to share good books, and good words: in support of Backpacks to School.
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Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (as told to me) Story, by Bess Kalb. Recounting both family lore and family secrets, Bess’s grandmother Bobby brings us four generations of indomitable women and the men who loved them. Read more...
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To reach Temple Israel clergy or staff, click here.
Visit our website for more information.
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We are a community that adds meaning and purpose to modern lives through an inclusive approach to Judaism. We live our Jewish values in our worship, celebration, lifelong learning and Tikkun Olam–the repair of the world. |
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