From Rabbi Dahlia Bernstein Friday, October 1, 2021
Dear CBO family,
Whoever grouped the High Holidays in such a cluster definitely was not a congregational rabbi, cantor, or president. There is a T-shirt that is favored among clergy. Mine says: “Rabbis ❤️ Cheshvan,” the Jewish month which begins on October 6th, this coming week. The month of Cheshvan has no holidays in it. While I may proudly wear my T-shirt, there is still an aspect of this sentiment that bothers me.
There is no other time during the year where the whole community is here like the High Holidays. Think of it like this. When during the year is your whole family all in one place? Maybe for you it is Thanksgiving, Chanukah, or over the summer. For a synagogue, that moment lies in the first day of Rosh Hashanah or during Yom Kippur day and there is something magical about this.
This coming weekend I will have one of those life moments at our wedding when the whole family is together. Covid-19 complicates this matter, but then again we know that when man plans, God laughs. This is not restricted to pandemics. While a great deal of preparation goes into the holidays as with a wedding, a bar/bat mitzvah or any other celebration, and you may enjoy when the stress is over, all you want is for the joy to linger, for you to feel the togetherness so strongly that it lasts until the next time you can be together like this again. There is a withdrawal that happens after these potent moments subside. So how do we take the joy and togetherness with us?
I propose that a fair bit of optimism is necessary. The optimism is that joy beyond your wildest dreams is in your future. You may not even be able to comprehend what lies in store, but there is a faith and a belief that we cannot predict the future. The human mind tends to catastrophize, but the Jewish tradition is cyclical for a reason. It tells you that while life can be unpredictable there will continue to be great reasons to celebrate beyond what you can conjure in your mind today. Celebrate today and know that there will be more celebrations in the future.
For those who will be joining us for the Auf Ruf, we cannot wait to celebrate this major life moment with you and may we all go from strength to strength.
Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Bernstein
CANDLE LIGHTING Friday, October 1 at 6:17 PM
CLICK HERE to check for upcoming events and services.
Friday, Kabbalat Service at 7:00 PM Saturday, Derash at 9:00 AM Shabbat Service at 9:45 AM - Auf Ruf of Rabbi Bernstein and Martin Yafe Havdalah Service at 6:00 PM - Bat Mitzvah of Jordana Kahn
Mazal Tov to Melanie, David and brother, Daniel Kahn on Jordana becoming a Bat Mitzvah Saturday, October 2nd.
CELEBRATIONS & GRATITUDE Mazal Tov to Rabbi Bernstein & Martin Yafe on their upcoming marriage, Sunday, October 3rd.
Mazal Tov to Nadine & Marty Kaufman on the upcoming marriage of Marty’s son, Justin to Dr. Jessica Kimmel on October 2nd.
Special birthday wishes to Michele Glodzik, Jamie Diamond nd Marty Kaufman.
A special thank you to Jared Belferder and his committee for a successful event at the Bellmore Street Fair on Sunday, Sept. 26th.
REFUAH SHELEIMAH (A SPEEDY RECOVERY)
As a community, we pray for those in need of healing. May they be granted a Refuah Sheleimah - a complete and speedy recovery.
Riah Cohen Cheryl Cohen Marilyn Finger Joe Fromkin Wallace Leifer Edward Steinman Arnold Tischler Lee Weisbord
If there is someone's name that you wish to add, please let us know and it will go on the next shabbat blast.
Junior Congregation for 2021-2022 starting Saturday, October 2nd at 10:30 AM In-Person Only
For more information, email Ellen Agulnick, Director of Learning & Programming at ellen.agulnick@cbohr.org
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism