Shul News & Notes

Who could blame The Shofar for pirating the title of Luigi Pirandello’s play, “Six Characters in Search of an Author,” when the shul is planning a playreading performance for early spring, and the author of the play is looking for — yes — six characters?  The play chosen is “We Call It Whiskey,”  a one-act comedy by shul member Chuck Simon, who will cast and direct the work for a hybrid presentation — live at the shul and also on Zoom so that friends and family from afar can enjoy the show.

Note: this is a playREADING, a script-in-hand presentation, meaning no memorization of lines. (Wha-hoo!) No experience required, either, Chuck says — just the fun of voicing the characters and regaling the audience with fun and laughs.

Here’s the cast of characters:

• Rabbi Miller, a meek, somewhat withdrawn middle-aged man
• Julie, an aggressive, 20-something woman of Scottish descent, with visions of grandeur
• Israeli and American ambassadors, parts can be read by men or women
• A Scottish ambassador, to be read by a man
• The U.S. ambassador’s aide.

Interested? Here’s how you can release your inner thespian and participate: Contact Chuck Simon at cedwardsimon@gmail.com to discuss your availability for probably two rehearsals and to schedule an audition. Once the cast is chosen, rehearsal and performance dates will be set. So — this time appropriating from none other than The Bard himself — the play’s the thing wherein we’ll kvetch the conscience of the king, should one happen by and, for sure, zing the funny bones of all assembled.

Plans are well underway to launch a Saturday morning Hebrew School at the shul, tentatively set for February 25. “The restart of a Hebrew School has long been one of Rabbi Gadi’s goals,” said Ann Hurwitz, chair of the shul’s Education Committee and one of the driving forces behind the project.

“We’ve not had a Hebrew School here for at least the last 12 years,” Ann Hurwitz pointed out, “but over his tenure, Rabbi Gadi has attracted a group of young congregants to our shul, who have expressed interest in having their children learn together and participate in services.”

The new Hebrew School program will meet on Saturday mornings, from 9:30 to 10:30, in the classroom adjacent to the community room at the shul. Students will then join the Shabbat service in the sanctuary, where they will observe and experience Judaic practice and participate when appropriate.

Shul member Dawn Teyuca, an early childhood education professional, will lead the Hebrew School class, which will focus on experiences that prepare children to become active participants in Jewish life. Over time, the curriculum may include blessings and prayers, the celebration of Jewish holidays and observances, stories from the Torah, an introduction to Hebrew, and an understanding of Israel as the Jewish homeland. Projects may include preparation of holiday foods, planting etrog seeds, art projects, songs and dances — all designed to provide a positive and enriching Jewish education.

Fees for the program, to be based on materials required and the number of children attending, will be set in the coming months. In the meantime, families participating may contribute at will.

Parents and grandparents interested in enrolling the youngsters in their families are invited to speak with Rabbi Gadi. Email him at ctigreenport@gmail.com to request an interview.