Dear members and friends, I am not a rabbi. At times like this, I wish I had at hand the depth of a Rabbi’s holy insight and the eloquence of a Rabbi’s spiritual vocabulary. With those special gifts, the better to express the joy and gratitude I feel at this moment, thoughts bestowed upon me by a simple act — a keystroke on my computer. Those of you who attend Saturday morning services may [...]
As I write this message, incidents of antisemitism are rising worldwide — in schools, on academic campuses, in synagogues, malls, gathering places. Thousands of miles away, Israel is at war. My friend Judith and I talk every day about Israel and the vulnerabilities of the people and the country itself. She tells me about the sirens, how little children race through the streets to safety in bomb shelters. “Even at their age, they know what [...]
To the editors: I thought our members would like to know about a program at the Floyd Memorial Library, sponsored by the Friends of the Library and Dolly Parton. The program, titled the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, sends free, age-appropriate books to Greenport, East Marion, and Orient kids, who are 5 years old and younger. If any of our members know of youngsters who would benefit from this program, please encourage parents to complete [...]
Dear members and friends, When I read Veronica Kaliski’s letter-to-the-editor reporting an initiative to provide free books to youngsters, I was reminded of an incident that had occurred while I was employed as an editor by SI Communications, publishers of a group of community newspapers. The catalyst for the incident was my friend Ruth. A lovely, intelligent woman with a pleasant sense of humor and an aura of style, Ruth played tennis, attended concerts and [...]
Dear members and friends, I am not a rabbi. At times like this, I wish I had at hand the depth of a Rabbi’s holy insight and the eloquence of a Rabbi’s spiritual vocabulary. With those special gifts, the better to express the joy and gratitude I feel at this moment, thoughts bestowed upon me by a simple act — a keystroke on my computer. Those of you who attend Saturday morning services may have [...]
Recently, I received a number of phone calls and email messages wanting to know the status of our shul, given the challenges to our leadership and disruptions within the shul family. All inquiries that were presented with thoughtfulness and insight were considered carefully, others dismissed. As president, I brought congregant concerns to the Board of Directors and to the Ritual Committee. Following protracted discussions, a letter was prepared and emailed on December 11 to all [...]
As we reflect on the past year and look to the coming year, we acknowledge this is a time for renewal and commitment to our community and to our traditions. As our New Year 5786 develops, let’s build a stronger tomorrow together. This is also a time to remember our shared responsibilities to our shul community. Your presence at services and programs and simchas helps to sustain our sacred community. Your gift now will ensure [...]
Families and dear friends of those killed by violence, or in the throes of wartime, or in acts of terrorism feel the pain of those tragic deaths every day. We may sympathetically mouth terms like “closure,” but for most who mourn in those circumstances, there is no closure. Growing up, I can still remember the story of the couple who lived not far from our house — on a quiet, residential street in a small [...]
New Vender Joins Gift Shop Artisans Just In Time For The Holiday As the chief buyer for the Gift Shop (actually the single display case in the lobby), I’m always on the lookout for something special to offer our members. With Hanukkah coming, these notecards caught my eye. Hand-drawn and painted by David Tamarkin, an artist I recently discovered at Peconic Landing, I learned that his drawings, with their simple lines and sweet subject matter [...]
Every morning for the last 15 years or so, I log-on to “Religion News Service,” an online publication with reliable, well-researched and documented coverage of global religion news. I learn about faith as practiced around the world by Islamists, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Jews and indigenous and folk tribalists living in the far corners of this earth. Through the years, I have passed on to readers of The Shofar many of these stories about Jewish traditions [...]
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