As Passover begins, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a warm and joyous Passover.
From Cantor Myerson
Dear Congregation Beth Ohr,
Perhaps, like me, you have a constant mental checklist running at the moment, of all of the things that have to be done before Pesah! Take a deep breath, sit down for a minute: no matter how much we do (or don’t do), the holiday will start tonight, and everything will be fine. We are hosting a seder in our home for the second night, and we still have some room to welcome guests from the community. If you would like to join us Saturday night, please let me know before Shabbes, or speak to me at services tomorrow morning. There’s a song that helps us remember the order of the seder, which makes excellent background listening for those last minutes of preparation today: CLICK HERE to listen to Kadesh Urhatz Text: paraliturgical Music: ancient melody of unknown (Babylonian?) origin Recorded by Cantor Sarah Myerson (voice, accordion, banjolele)
kadesh, we sanctify the act of drinking wine (or grape juice) urhatz, we wash our hands karpas, we dip green vegetables in salt water yahatz, we break the middle matzah magid, we tell the Pesach story rohtza, we wash our hands again motzi matzah, we eat matzah! maror, we eat bitter herbs korekh, we eat a sandwich of matzah and maror shulhan orekh, we eat the main meal tzafun, the search for the afikomen, our special desert barekh, the blessing after the meal hallel, we chant psalms praising God nirtzah, we conclude with festive songs
When I was 16 years old, I started working at my synagogue Hebrew school. We had just engaged a particularly musical rabbi who could accompany himself on the piano. When he led the kids in the above song during the Hebrew school community singing session, with piano accompaniment, my jaw dropped. I had been singing Kadesh Urhats all of my childhood, and not until that moment did I realize it was in a major mode. It’s not that I thought it was in minor, or some other musical mode. I just hadn't thought about what musical mode it was, I hadn’t thought about the melody in that way. Ever since then, I have loved this melody, because it now sounds so sweet and rich in my mind’s ear. This is how I feel about learning. There is so much that we know but don’t think about, and then something happens to spark a deeper appreciation of what we thought we already knew. May we be so blessed during our sedarim this weekend, to be open to that spark of learning, from wherever it may come.
Shabbat Shalom and Hag Pesah Sameah, Cantor Sarah Myerson
Gesher Scholarship: Any graduating high school senior who has been accepted to a college or technical training school is eligible for this award. The focus is on making a place for the synagogue in one’s life. Award has been $1000 to one student or $500 if split between two students. Harriet Goldstein Scholarship: Any student up to and including the age of 18 is eligible. The award is to be used to further the student’s knowledge, background, or interest in Jewish life. Maximum award is $500. Bloomstone Encampment Fund: Any student planning to go to Kadima or USY Encampment is eligible. The purpose of the award is to encourage the pursuit of Jewish learning through attendance at Kadima or USY end of summer encampment. Past award has been $50 to any student who goes to Encampment. For more information: CLICK HERE
Please note that our pantry does not need Passover food. However, we are always in need of staple foods. Suggested Items to Donate: Solid white tuna in water, peas, tomato sauce, string beans, corn, vegetarian beans, vegetarian vegetable soup, corn meal, flour, pancake mix, applesauce, sugar, canola or vegetable oil (small bottles), white or brown rice, jelly or jam, peanut butter, pasta, oatmeal packets, individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper. Cans should be small, not industrial size. All food items should have a Kosher symbol.
The pantry will be closed April 2 and April 5.
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Guarding the Flames for 24 Hours Begins Wednesday, April 11, 8:30 PM and Ends Thursday, April 12, 8:30 PM Sign up (as a pair or more) to sit vigil with 6 candles representing the 6 million Jews lost. You will sit and reflect in silence, read about the Holocaust, recite the names of those who perished.
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism