Shul member Nancy Torchio started it all when she offered to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat to honor her father, Charles Bogen, on his first yahrzeit. The promise of socializing in the community room over coffee and cake and other goodies drew an eyepopping turnout to the sanctuary on Friday, May 26. Rabbi Gadi’s singing was particularly lyrical that evening, backed up with a chorus of singers in the sanctuary sounding more like a glee club than the usual sprinkling of individual voices.

Over refreshments, everyone was remembering the days before COVID, when spiritual enlightenment in the sanctuary, followed by chummy chitchat in the community room made for fun gatherings to welcome Shabbat. “We should do this again” was the tone of the evening. So we did…

On June 30, Suri Lan and Rob Brown stepped up to sponsor what was billed as the first of a
“First Friday” Oneg Shabbat idea, to be held on the first Friday of every month. Sure enough, another big  crowd turned out. In the sanctuary, the singing was robust. Later in the community room, coffee and conversation flowed with the cookies et al from a fab Jewish bakery (“…imported from Nassau County,” Rob said). Plus, the leftovers provided a real treat for the Saturday morning crew looking for some good nibbles after the Torah Service.

And we have volunteers. Elaine Goldman is sponsoring the Oneg Shabbat on Friday, August 4, and Francis DuBois and Paul Jeselsohn are doing the honors on Friday, September 1.

 

Are you next?

Shofar readers: Maybe it’s your turn to help us return to the days of noshing and socializing after Shabbat services. To volunteer, please call the shul at 631-477-0232 or email ctigreenport@gmail.com with a message for Adrianne Greenberg, indicating which First Friday you will host. Many thanks.