From the Rabbi

Friday, December 9, 15 Kislev 6:00 PM
Please join Rabbi Marcia Plumbfor a HYBRID "From Our Home to Yours" Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Saturday, December 10, 16 Kislev, 10:00 AM
Please join Rabbi Marcia Plumb and CantorLorel Zar-Kessler  for a HYBRID Shabbat morning Service

PLEASE NOTE START TIME OF THE HYBRID SERVICE - SEE BELOW FOR TORAH STUDY INFORMATION
Join us IN-PERSON ONLY AT 9:00AM for Nosh and Drash Torah Study - SEE BELOW

If you have a simcha, please share it with us and receive a special blessing from Rabbi Plumb during an upcoming Shabbat service.
Sponsor a Kiddush by virtually inviting us to your home as you lead the community in Kiddush and HaMotzi prayers. (we will provide challah and grape juice!)
Please contect Rosalie Reszelbach, Janet Stein Calm or Toni Spitzer to arrange.

Genesis
32:4 - 33:20

Please click here for pages 10-62 of the 
Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Siddur Lev Shalem

Please click here for the link to the new Conservative prayerbook,
Siddur Lev Shalem:
Shabbat Shaharit Siddur Lev Shalem
The prayers will be the same as in our usual blue siddur,
so feel free to use that instead if you wish.

Please click here for the link to the page numbers for Shabbat morning prayers in Sim Shalom (Blue) and in Lev Shalem Page Numbers for Shabbat Morning

Please note: On Nosh and Drash Shabbats, our Shabbat morning service will begin at 10:00AM - in-person and on Zooom.
Torah Study will be in-person ONLY and begin at 9:00AM

Torah Study: Nosh and Drash
Begins December 10

We Remember:
This week's upcoming Yahrzeit Observances

Saturday​​​​​​​
Barry Gross
Hyman Shepatin

Sunday
Barbara Grant
Joel Cohen
Sydney Green

Monday
Sidney Schwartz
Elaine Kaplan
Celia Baer
Rose Alpert

Tuesday

Wednesday
Jean Rubin

Thursday
Ida Seidman

Friday

A Teaching from our Rabbi

Recently, two passengers flew aboard a Southwest Airlines fight wearing paper crowns with antisemitic statements written on them. No airline officials objected.

We all know of the openly flagrant antisemitism in the media, and that those who hold those views were welcomed by a former President. These are disturbing times, and it is easy to be frightened by the tide of hate. 

However, I was heartened by three recent incidents that reinforced my faith in American freedom and pluralism. Two were extensive national radio programs on NPR that investigated antisemitism in this country, and how dangerous it is for our society. Both put forward strong arguments for strengthening diversity, and decrying antisemitism, in America.  

I was struck by the research and clarity of the programs, plus the fact that they were brought by the highly respected national media company. NPR could have decided that antisemitism is a purely Jewish problem,and ignored it;  but they chose to highlight its dangers for all of us, Jew and non-Jew alike.  

The third event this week that helped reassure me about the place of Jews here was a meeting that Michael and I attended at Emerson College.  Emerson will be producing Cabaret in the spring. Michael and I are consultants for the production. In attendance at the meeting were the director, music director, choreographer, research historian, administration, and many students who were interested in auditioning for the play. Also present was the Director and Deputy Director of Emerson Stage. 

After reviewing the necessities for auditioning, the director and research historian talked about how important the play is for our times. It is a play that represents the darkness of fascism, homophobia and antisemitism barely hidden by burlesque comedy. The mostly non-Jewish students could easily have left after hearing what they needed to do to audition, but they stayed. They stayed to share their upset at the antisemitism and homophobia around them in Boston and beyond. Jewish students talked about how hard it is for them, and non-Jewish students were moved to hear the history behind Cabaret in Germany. The Emerson staff hope to build alliances with organisations in Boston to build a bulwark against antisemitism, using the themes of the play. 

It was powerfully comforting to hear all these students and faculty prepare themselves to challenge antisemitism. 

We are not alone. We have allies, and many who share our belief that all have the right to live peacefully in this country that was founded on the principle of religious freedom. 

May this country continue to be a stronghold for peace and pluralism. 
This Shabbat may your home be filled with confidence and trust, and may the sound of beautiful Jewish melodies add harmonies to the symphony that is America. 
​​​​​​​
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Marcia Plumb