קישור שלום ~ Kishur Sholom

Staying Connected with the Temple Sholom Community

12 April 2024 ~ 4 Nisan 5784

Erev Shabbat Tazria

Chaveirim y'karim - dear friends,


When I started with the congregation back in July, we figured we would experiment with what Shabbat looks like in terms of scheduling.


And so we have been doing the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Friday evenings of the month in-person and the 2nd and 4th Friday evenings on Zoom. In-person has been great!! Zoom has been great!! That being said ... Zoom has not had quite the appeal (read here: very low attendance). NOW ... that is not to say they have not been outstanding moments of Jewish living for our community :) BUT in an effort to best use our time with one another, the Board has agreed to shift our program a little.


Do not worry. No one is taking away Shabbat!

Shabbat is, literally, God-given and God-commanded.


We are going to keep the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Friday evenings in-person at 6:30pm.


Starting in May, we are going to remove the 2nd and 4th Friday Zooms. And, beginning in May, we are going to ADD a Shabbat morning service (10:30am) on the 1st Saturday of the month.


So ... yes, I will stay the night on the first Shabbat, participate in leading Torah Study in the morning, and then offer a Shabbat morning service.


As always, my goal remains to be as connected in as many ways and times that will best suit the congregation and fill the needs of our community.


In the meantime, we will have a Zoom shabbat tonight and in two weeks!

Zoom link here (Meeting ID 876 2982 2282; Password: shabbat).


Shabbat shalom,


Rabbi Mark Cohn


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Getting ready for Seder (or just the holiday as a whole)? Check out In Every Generation: A Haggadah Supplement for 5784 from The Shalom Hartman Institute. There are incredible insights, artwork, and questions for your own reflection and family learning and discussion during Passover. This year's supplement notes with thoughtful design and structure the reality of Pesach post October 7th and includes historical and contemporary resources to help us mark this holiday with meaning and intention.

Recommended Resources from the Rabbi's Desk (or more likely laptop)


Constant and important updates, podcasts, blogs, and articles from The Free Press, Times of Israel and Tablet Magazine.


ARTICLES


"Western democracy's future depends on Israel," by Gerard Baker in Wall Street Journal.


"At antisemitism-focused Ruderman conference, rabbi whose son was killed on Oct. 7 focuses instead on halting internal Jewish turmoil," by Judah Ari Gross in eJP.



AUDIO


"Israel at War: The Victory Debate," on For Heaven's Sake with Rabbi Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi of the Shalom Hartman Institute.


"Bava Metzia 35: Righteous Groceries" - A delightful story from Tel Aviv on Take One: Talmud to Go from Tablet Magazine.


VIDEO


"Why have the Jewish people been able to survive despite centuries of discrimination?" A brief video with a clear explanation by Rabbi David Wolpe.


ON-LINE LEARNING


Learning with Melton. With classes running regularly, The Melton School offers remarkable opportunities for engaged and thoughtful learning. Go check it out!!


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A FEW UPCOMING EVENTS


Tues., April 30 (6:00 PM) at Temple Sholom. Breaking Pesach: Pizza, Beer, and assorted yeast-filled delights!


Mon., May 6 (6:00 PM) at Congregation B'nai Israel, 444 Main Street North, Southbury. Yom HaShoah Memorial Service and Speaker sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Western CT. See flyer.


Thurs., May 9 (7:00 PM) at Congregation B'nai Israel, 444 Main Street North, Southbury. Yossi Klein Halevi on "How October 7 Changed Israel and the Jewish World." See flyer.




"Lunch & Learn" with Rabbi Mark Cohn

NOON - 1:00 PM

Tuesdays

April 16, 30



April 16 ~ The layout of the Seder: how to stop, drop, and roll through each of the 14 (15?) sections so as to fulfill your obligation AND make sure to get out before sunrise. 


April 30 ~ The Moss Haggadah. David Moss is one of the great Jewish artists of our era and in 1983 received a commission to create a haggadah. We will examine an off-print of an off-print and review some of David Moss' artwork and extraordinary descriptions and meaning of his labors. 



A Month in Israel: Rabbi Cohn Reflecting and Reviewing

Weds., April 17 at 7:30pm ZOOM


MEETING ID: 865 4359 4143

PASSWORD: ISRAEL


What does the land(scape) look like and how does it feel to be in Israel?


From artwork to farming, I will share personal stories and moments to attempt to convey some of the reality and reflections for Israelis at this time.


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Shabbat

Services & Study


Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday Evenings - 6:30pm


VIA ZOOM - tonight!

April 12, 26


ZOOM LINK

Meeting ID 876 2982 2282 Password: shabbat


IN PERSON

April 19

May 3 , 17, 31


NEW: SHABBAT MORNING

MAY 4 ~ 10:30 AM


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Shabbat Morning Torah Study - 9:30am



IN PERSON w/ CJ Kelly


April 13, 20, 27

Temple Sholom

122 Kent Road ~ P.O. Box 509

New Milford, CT 06776

(860) 354-0273

Temple Sholom Website (www.tsholom.org)

Temple Sholom Facebook