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Rabbi's Ramblings......
Shalom Congregants and Friends.....
Yom Kippur services, I believe, were even "better" than those on Rosh Hashanah. The weather was wonderful -- attendance was very good -- Cantor Cohen reached out and involved the congregation with his davenning. We had some lighter moments with "Bubble Meiseh" and having Cantor Ken "feel at home" with Hawaiian leis. I would say that about 180-200 people were here for Neilah; we heard a resounding tekiah gedolah and then had a wonderful break-fast.
Mike Cohen and President Syd shared in giving the annual Kol Nidre appeal. If you weren't here, I hope you will still respond generously, esecially in light of the challenge-matching program by one of our "angels." Here are some of Mike's words:
"Stepping up to the plate doesn't mean the dinner plate or dessert plate. It is the batter's plate for those of us who follow baseball.
"Are you a member of this congregation who is ready to step up to the plate and help hit that home run that will keep us in shape to continue in our present location...."
Many congregants shared good feedback about my sermons, especially the one on Israel given Yom Kippur Day! Copies of my sermons are available in the office or by email for those who might be interested. My recommendations for Israel "activism" are included in this e-shul.
We ran out of Israel-America friendship pins. I will order another 100, and I let you know when they are here and available for you to pick up at any service.
Now on to Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah: The schedule of services is below; remember that the office will be closed at noon the Wednesday before the holidays.
Note that the special Sukkot oneg at BHS and our "Hop to our Sukkah" open house at our home on Sunday morning will be RAIN or SHINE. We certainly hope it will be the latter!! Iris and I wlould appreciarte RSVP's for planning purposes... but come if you can! I do hope that you will find some time to celebrate this special holiday with your congregational family.
Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sameach (a joyous holiday)
...... Rabbi Gary and Iris Atkins
"All it takes to study Torah is an open heart,
a curious mind and a desire to grow a Jewish soul." |
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Holiday Services & Candle Lighting Times
Wednesday, Oct. 12 (CLT NLT 5:54)
Erev Sukkot, 6pm..... Special Oneg in Synagogue Sukkah
Thursday, Oct. 13
Shaharit 9:30 A.M.
Mincha, Ma'ariv, 6:00 P.M.
Friday, Oct. 14
Shaharit 9:30A.M.
Mincha, Maariv 6:00 P.M.... leading into Shabbat (CLT NLT 5:51)
Sunday, Oct. 16 10:30-11:30am - Hop to the Sukkah, Atkins' Residence,
53 Vista Way, Bloomfield (phone:860-726-9312)
SHMINI ATZERET
Wednesday, Oct. 19
Erev Shmini Atzeret, 6:30pm
Thursday, Oct. 20
Shaharit 9:30 A.M., Yizkor about 11:15AM
Mincha, Ma'ariv, 6:00 P.M. ... start of Simchat Torah
SIMCHAT TORAH
Friday, Oct. 21
Shaharit 9:30A.M.
Mincha, Maariv 6:00 P.M.... leading into Shabbat (CLT NLT 5:41) |
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Jokes of the Week
How do you catch a unique rabbit?
Unique up on it!
How do you catch a tame rabbit?
Tame way, unique up to it.
How do crazy people catch a rabbit?
You wait until it comes down the psycho path and unique up on it..... |
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Social Action Updates
Make a donation to MAZON to help the hungry in our communities....
Be aware of those less fortunate than we are!! Carry out the mitzvah of tikkun olam!
A mitzvah we can ALL DO: Visit a friend in a nursing home or assisted living center or who otherwise can't get out! Or bring someone to a service here who couldn't get here on their own!
An appeal from Dr. Joe Olzacki...... "Dr. O"
Every year since 2005, we have provided needy families of our students with full turkey dinners for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Last year, we discreetly provided 25 turkey dinners for the holidays and this year, we believe the number of needy families district wide will be around 60 so this email is a call to action. We need your help to provide dinners to needy students and their families.
We have many proud families in Bloomfield. Mothers and fathers who work 2, 3 or 4 jobs to try to make ends meet but they just do not have money for "the extras". The government calls this subsistence living. Many are to proud to ask for help from social agencies set up for just this purpose so, we go to them.
Geisslers Supermarket in Bloomfield is giving us a deal for our turkey dinners.
For $24.00, each family will receive a turkey, potatoes, sweet potatoes, a green vegetable and a medium sized pumpkin pie. This is a great deal. Your gift and the presentation of the turkey dinners is completely anonymous and we assure that the dignity of the student / family is paramount. Your donations are needed by 10/30/2011. Please, spread the word!
Please send whatever you can spare (checks made out to BHS Performing Arts - Turkeys) to:
DR. O. 5 Huckleberry Lane Bloomfield, CT Thank you for your support and your love of our students. We really need your help. |
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Community Events
Monday, October 24, 7pm, Special showing: Nuremberg - Its Lessons for Today.... The Suppressed Film! Sponsored by Voices of Hope, JCC
Wednesday, October 26, 5:30pm, Women and Domestic Violence: A Jewish Issue, Federation Community Services Building |
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Beth Hillel Synagogue Library
Lots of new books and videos......
Read contemporary newspapers and magazines!!
New for this year: The Revised Edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica!
Donated to our Library by the Bloomfield Prosser Library.....
Coming October 28-29
Annual Library / Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat ......
Guest Speaker ..... Dr. Alfredo Roitman of the Hebrew University |
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Upcoming Synagogue Events
Sukkot first night Special Oneg Yom Tov, Wednesday evening, Oct. 12, 6:00pm (THIS IS THE CORRECT TIME!!)
"Hop to the Sukkah" - open sukkah at Rabbi and Iris' home, Sunday morning, Oct. 16, 10:30-11:30am
Saturday Sundaes, October 22 after Mincha (5:45pm)
Sisterhood Paid Up Membership Dinner, October 26
First Shmooze and Lunch, Thursday, October 27
Next Lunch and Learn, Thursday, November 3, 11am
Fall Adult Education Classes, Monday evenings November 7, 14, 21.....
after minyan
Brotherhood Meeting and speaker, Sunday, October 30 after morning minyan |
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News from Israel...
BEING AN ACTIVIST FOR ISRAEL - what can you do?
as promised in Rabbi Atkins' Yom Kippur sermon.....
First, educate yourself on the issues surrounding Israel. Do not rely on the American media to guide you. Read an Israeli newspaper or periodical. Either print or online!
Second, visit Israel. Our Israeli brothers and sisters welcome your presence; it gives them comfort and strength, and helps you better understand what is happening on the ground. And it will nourish your soul as well. Whether as a tourist or any of many service programs, go!
Third, buy Israel Bonds, and support organizations like Federation and JNF that provide Israel with crucial funds. And don't forget this synagogue. We have a well deserved reputation as a leading voice for Israel in our community. Your contributions help keep it so.
Fourth, whatever other pro-Israel organizations you choose to support, support AIPAC. There are many important pro-Israel organizations, but I put AIPAC at the top, and let me tell you why: AIPAC has the broadest constituency of any pro-Israel group in America, drawing a staggering 7-8,000 people to its annual policy conference to walk the Hill and lobby every single member of Congress. Those numbers - the largest single gathering of any group of any kind in Washington each and every year, register in the halls of Congress and have enabled AIPAC to ensure the preservation of critical US financial aid to Israel.
It is not that AIPAC is perfect, and it is not that AIPAC always gets things right. But there is one thing AIPAC indeed always gets right -- that is essential for any lover of Israel who does not live in Israel to learn: The duly elected government of Israel gets to set its own policy without being dictated to by anyone else, including the United States and including the Jews of the United States. We may not always feel it is the government we would have elected but we don't vote in Israeli elections and for good reasons. You and I are not living there, with our lives and our future on the line every day.
Fifth, wear an Israel-America friendship pin! Pick one up at the synagogue!
Sixth, speak up for Israel whenever you hear her unfairly criticized - at a meeting, a program, a conversation. Silence indicates consent!
GILAD SHALIT...... OVER 1921 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY....
NO CONTACT ALLOWED BY HAMAS...... |
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