| December 2024
The quiet month of Cheshvan, the Jewish month with no holidays, has passed and we are back to having a holiday to celebrate every month. This month, we will be celebrating Chanukah on 25 Kislev, which falls on the evening of December 25, on the secular calendar. In the darkness of winter, the lights of Chanukah make it one of my favorite holidays at home and here at Temple Emanu-El. Watching the Chanukah candles flicker in the darkness of night, reminds me of hope. Hope for peace in our world, hope for prosperity for those in need, hope for the good health of family, friends, and those we don’t know personally. Though hope without action will just remain a hope, hope is the catalyst that helps us create what we are hoping for. Like the flame of the Chanukah candles, a candle is just a candle until we light it and illuminate the darkness. On page 85 of our siddur, Mishkan T’filah, there is a line that says, “I am a Jew, because at every time when despair cries out, the Jew hopes.” That hope is kindled by the flame of mitzvot, like helping those around us. Maybe it is collecting food for those who are food insecure, cooking and serving meals at the community meal center, or volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in restoring homes to help make them affordable to families who may otherwise not be able to afford one. My Dad could not always help physically, but he helped by making donations to organizations that he felt could help someone in need. We may only be one person and the problem may seem too big to fix, but we can make a difference not only in our lives by helping those around us, especially over the winter, but helping to make the hopes of others come true. Our Chanukah service will be celebrated on December 27, at our Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6:30. Bring your chanukiah and celebrate the 3rd night of Chanukah with us. It’s always a beautiful service with music and singing, so I hope to see you there. The one thing that we will be missing at our celebration will be Rabbi Marc, as he will be taking a much needed Sabbatical from December 21, until February 10. On February 14, Rabbi Marc will join us on the bimah again for the Kabbalat Shabbat Service. I will be leading Shabbat Services while Rabbi Marc is recharging his “spiritual” battery. This will be my third time leading services during a sabbatical leave, so not to worry. The only thing I will ask of you is to say yes, when I ask you to light Shabbat Candles, say the Torah Blessings, lift the Torah, or light the lights on the yahrzeit board. Many thanks in advance. OUR 10TH CABARET EVENING will be on February 1, so please put a big read circle around that date on your calendar so that you remember to join us. If you want to be in the 10TH CABARET as an act, please contact me or Armi Rowe and let us know what you would like to do. You can sing, play an instrument, do comedy, dancing, or poetry. Start thinking about it now, because next month will be calling for acts, having rehearsals, and sound checks. If you are interested in the behind the scenes set up, please let us know. Many hands make the work easier. Make sure to watch the bulletin for more details. If you would like to chant Torah this year, please let me know and I can give you the list of available dates You can reach me at Temple Emanu-El: 860-443-3005 or email me at: shirie3860@aol.com. Hazzan Sherry
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