Shabbat Blast

Chaverim (friends),
 
There are so many ways to be Jewish. Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan boils down the different facets of religious identity to: “believing, behaving, and belonging.” We can have faith in the goodness of the world, or feel part of something greater, and then there is the middle portion, Jewish action. Behaving has the incredible ability to make memories for us and those around us. One of my strongest memories is feeling my parents hands on my head and hearing them say the words:
 
[May] Adonai bless you, and guard you –
יְבָרֶכְךָ יי, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
(Yevhārēkh-khā Adhōnāy veyishmerēkhā ...)
[May] Adonai make His face shine unto you, and be gracious to you –
יָאֵר יי פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
("Yāʾēr Adhōnāy pānāw ēlekhā viḥunnékkā ...)
[May] Adonai lift up His face unto you, and give to you peace –
יִשָּׂא יי פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
("Yissā Adhōnāy pānāw ēlekhā viyāshēm lekhā shālōm.")
 
I would get a kiss on the keppi (head). I could count on that blessing every week. No matter how hard the week had been, whether I got good grades or failed, I knew that I would get that blessing and feel that moment of belonging and love. It instilled in me a sense of peace. My parents made the active choice to incorporate jewish actions into their daily lives after they got married. It even led to them living in Israel and my father choosing rabbinic ordination.  Action has the ability to transform us in ways we don’t even know. Perhaps each of us, this Shabbat, could try one way of “behaving” in a Jewish way. Perhaps it is lighting candles, saying hamotsi over challah or any piece of bread, or giving tzedakah before Shabbat begins. Let’s make memories for ourselves and our families.
 
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Bernstein

REMINDER
Please remember to complete the Membership Package which includes the synagogue membership information and hebrew school registration forms.

If you have not already done so, it is imperative that you return the entire COMPLETED package to the synagogue as soon as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation.

SERVICES
Friday, June 14 - Thursday, June 20

Click the links below to view some of
our upcoming events!

Tot Shabbat at Newbridge Road Park  

Shabbat Celebration and Brunch with Temple Israel 

Carol Burnett "The Grand Dame of Comedy"

​​​​​​​Meditation at the Beach
 
Shabbat Under the Stars

As a member of CBO, you have a Shul Cloud Account within our Website.
Your login is your email (the email you use to receive this email).  If you don't know your login password, you can reset it HERE
Why do I need to login? 
By clicking on "My Account." You can view and update your information on your account. 

• Click on "Edit my profile" 
• Make sure that the information is your profile is correct, e.g. your Hebrew name and birthday, work and contact information.
• Add your family members and/or make sure that their information is correct.
• Add yahrzeits so you can be notified of future occurrences.
• Register for many of our exciting events and programs.  

We want to hear from you! Please send us your feedback and suggestions. 
​​​​​​​Your input matters to us.