Click here for our Mission Statement

Enjoy and participate often.

Only you can make our events successful!

From the Presidents Desk (June/July  2009)

*** IMPORTANT ***                                   *** IMPORTANT ***

 Special Meeting, Wednesday July 15^th from 7:30pm – 9:00pm.  The topic of discussion is leadership and succession plans needed to avoid moving, merging, or closing.  I will be sending an official letter soon, but I thought this is as good a place as any to make a first announcement.

 This is not a financial meeting.  Finances are tight (as usual), but are currently manageable due to the financial commitment of members, the recent raffle fundraiser, the bingo game volunteers & players, and the continuing vigilance of the Financial Committee. A lack of enough new volunteers to lead the Board and Committees is the current threat to the survival of our shul.

 Exhausted from many years of leadership service to B’nai Sholom, there are several long-serving congregants who would like to “take a break” and turn-over the reigns to the next generation of leaders.

 Previously (in the last news-letter) I mentioned that Leadership roles are getting harder to fill and that this was a great opportunity to become an active participant in B’nai Sholom. This month I’m raising the stakes by announcing the July 15th special meeting to discuss the future of B'nai Sholom and and role of leadership.

 Up until recently B’nai Sholom members have risen to the occasion and signed up for whatever leadership roles needed to be filled.  However, this past year we have had open Board Positions and open Committee Chair Positions.  Other Board Members, Committee Chairs, Committee Members, and Congregants have filled in sometimes, but other times, there is important work that goes undone.

 Please don’t misunderstand me; everyone who is serving in volunteer positions is doing wonderful work and is greatly appreciated.  As well as everyone who has served in the past.  However, B’nai Sholom needs new faces to step forward to ensure the vitality and survival our Synagogue.  I look forward to seeing you July 15^th

 Shalom,

David Schwartz

RABBI’S MESSAGE

I opened my eyes, and looked up at the rain,

And it dripped in my head

And flowed into my brain,

And all that I hear as I lie in my bed

Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

- Shel Silverstein

 As I write this, the rain outside has slowed down to a soft patter.  I love hearing the drops hit the roof at night, while I’m warmly ensconced inside, drifting off to sleep.  When it pours in the middle of the day, as I’m running errands, soaked to the skin, winds whipping, the sky above me a dark blanket of gloom - that I’m not so crazy about.  

     The rainy spring is turning into a rainy summer here in New England, and and it’s been enough to dampen anyone’s spirits.  My husband, Jim, who hails from near Utica, in central New York, usually dismisses complaints about the weather here and trots out the old Utica motto: “It’s worse in Syracuse (not to mention Buffalo!)”  But even he is ready for some sunshine.  Herewith, then, some bright Summer Shabbat Happenings, courtesy of B’nai Shalom:

~ July 17^th-18^th  - You’ve heard of chocolate seders, right?  Well, how about s’mores?  Hershey bars? Anyway, be sure to join us for our first annual Chocolate Shabbat.  On Friday night, there will be a chocolate sermon (and a chocolate storytime for little ones), followed by a special Oneg.   The next morning, we’ll celebrate "Make a Sundae This Saturday"  and marvel at how the Children of Israel survived for 40 years in the Wilderness without ice cream.

~ August 14th-15th - Yep, this is the Shabbat immediately following the big game between the Yankees and the Red Sox.  Hopefully, the tension will have dissipated and we’ll all be able to daven together peacefully once more.  It’s Baseball Shabbat, so wear your team gear (caps, T-shirts, shorts, whatever - don’t worry about the dress code: it’s summer!)  Adon Olam will be sung to the tune of "Take me out to the Ball Game"; and Oneg/Kiddush treats afterward will include peanuts  and Cracker Jack.

~ August 28th-29th - The last blast of summer.  Fall and the High Holidays loom, so it’s time to have one more summer fling. We’ll celebrate Shabbat Hawaiian- style. Wear your most colorful shirts, sing to the strains of a ukelele and make Kiddush over a drink topped by a paper umbrella!

So let it rain.  Here at B’nai Shalom, the weather’s beautiful - hope to see you here!

Rabbi Debra Cantor

P.S.  If you’d like to help with any of the Summer Shabbat Happenings, call the office...or sign up at our congregation-wide meeting on Wednesday, July 15^th!

Congregation B'nai Sholom is affiliated with the United Synagogue.  Please click here for information on events and services available to our membership.

   Since April 30 2009