Our religious school children learn so much from the Purim holiday. The first thing they learn is that it doesn’t always take an army to win a battle. In this case, it just took two individuals who loved the Jewish people to save them from elimination.
Bruce Black conducted Shabbat services on February 2, the Friday after Purim. I have heard the Purim story read many times but not the way Bruce told the story. I could envision every character as if watching a movie.
At first glance, when reading the title of this column you might have responded as follows:
“Of course not, I am married!”
“Of course not, I am single and have no intention of getting married or getting married again!”
Or, “Of course not, I am in a relationship, but marriage is not in the horizon.”
Yet, “engagement” has a more general meaning. According to the Merriam Webster app on my iPhone, engagement involves an emotional commitment. That means a commitment to a person, place, organization or a myriad of other entities. So why am I writing about engagement? Yes, I have an ulterior motive.
For the second consecutive year, CANDLES Holocaust Museum & Education Center and United Hebrew Congregation will partner to remember victims of the Holocaust with a Yom HaShoah program, featuring guest speaker Agnes Schwartz.
The event is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15, in the sanctuary at United Hebrew Congregation and is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Florence and Laurence Spungen Family Foundation.
Theme of the program is “Remember the Past – Transform the Present”.
United Hebrew Congregation celebrated a joyous Passover as families, students and guests from the community and out of town gathered for the Temple’s traditional Seder.
Herschel Chait led Shabbat services in the sanctuary before all moved downstairs to the Vestry Room, where Herschel and UHC President Betsy Frank led a spirited Seder service.
Take a look at photos from the event!