Congregation Rodef Shalom

7th Day of Pesach is one of the sweetest moments in the cycle of our holidays. On Seder night, we celebrate our liberation from slavery, but it’s on the 7th day that we celebrate crossing the sea and embracing new possibilities. Each year, I imagine myself standing with my ancestors at the sea — facing the newness with a mixture of fear and yearning, hope and wonder.

This is a bit of an extra nudge to come to shul tomorrow and Thursday for a joyful celebration of the end of Passover!

Services will begin both days at 9:15 a.m., with babysitting at 10 a.m., kids programming at 11:00 a.m., and Tot Chag at 11:15 a.m.

Tomorrow, we will participate in the chanting Shirat Hayam — the song of the sea — and we will partake in a Hasidic water ritual that invites us to allow the story of our people to transcend time and space.

On both Wednesday and Thursday, lunch will be served. This is an opportunity to make the most of the end of the Pesach holiday by eating together and enjoying Lynn and Simone’s catering. On Thursday, we will enjoy our annual Pesach BBQ.

I am looking forward to being together, and to embracing all the feelings we have today, as we cross the sea.

We are excited to introduce Hannah, our March Volunteer of the Month. Hannah volunteers as a para-chaplain, helping to strengthen the connection between Jewish residents living in non-Jewish older adult residential facilities and the Jewish community by arranging and leading religious services for Shabbat, High Holy Days, Hannukah, and Passover.

Read more about Hannah's impact at the link in our comments.

We are sending a huge thank you to Ms. Haya’s Pre‑K class at Congregation Rodef Shalom, who chose us as the recipient of their school year tzedakah collection. These amazing kiddos donated more than $100 to help local students shop with dignity and joy. It’s amazing to see how small hands and small gestures add up to make a truly big difference. These little ones are already learning the joy of giving, and their generosity warms our hearts. Thank you, Pre‑K friends, for showing us what caring for your community looks like in action!

We were honored to host the Rodef Shalom community as part of our second “Get Smart-er” lecture, welcoming 40 guests for a powerful discussion centered on the extraordinary story behind a Stradivarius violin once gifted to Polish Jewish prodigy Bronisław Huberman.

The film explores not only music history, but courage...telling the story of how Huberman went on to rescue hundreds of European Jewish musicians during the Holocaust.

The conversation was thoughtfully moderated by concert violinist Sheila Reinhold, who brought a deeply personal perspective as a performer, as the child of Holocaust survivors, and as someone who has had the privilege of playing several Stradivarius violins herself.

Moments like these remind us that lifelong learning, meaningful dialogue, and shared history are at the heart of community living.

We’re grateful to Rodef Shalom and the Hazak community for partnering with us for this impactful event.

https://youtu.be/alWny8gJtmw?si=PhtUVG9IMjqnj6Zt
Link in comments.

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Living Judaism Class Begins Tomorrow!

Rabbi Kobrin will be teaching a basics of Judaism class from 4:30 — 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning next week. This class Is great for Jewish members who are looking for a brush-up on theology, history, liturgy, holidays, etc. It Is also appropriate for those on the journey towards conversion. Contact the office to register. s