Summer Shabbatot: Enjoy and Relax

Come this Friday June 26!

I love our 6:00 pm Shabbatot T'filot (plural of Shabbat and service) especially during the summer.  We try to have as many of our t'filot outside as possible and I love to come to unwind and then go home to Shabbat dinner.  My Friday afternoons usually include time to make a nice dinner so I can get to Lakeside on time.  You could also order Pizza or order your favorite take out for dinner.  Shabbat is a time to take it easy and enjoy.

Getting into the habit of coming to Friday night services is just that a habit.  If you have not been come and try it out.  Enjoy our music and lean back and relax. Not in my area?  Try out your local synagogue; I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised and I am happy to send some recommendations your way of synagogues to try.  

During the summer and especially on Shabbat I also look forward to reading for our Lakeside Book group or just fun.  This summer I have already read:  The Orphan Train, Boston Girl and for young adults: Ember in the Ashes and The Red Queen. I leave for  OSRUI in a few weeks where I have SOME time to read.  On my list is:  The Mathmeticians Shiva, The Museum of Ordinary Things and this is just the beginning.

Take a minute, take a breath and enjoy our summer.  I look forward to seeing you at services.

Shabbat and Halloween 2014: Challenge or Not?

Halloween and Shabbat

This year Shabbat and Halloween are on the same night.  This may not pose a problem for some families as they will trick and treat and then light Shabbat candles (or not).  At Lakeside we made a strategic decision to have T'filot at 7:30 pm and hope that more people will be in attendance.

There are many articles on this topic including a great article by Edmon Rodman in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.  How do I feel it is a complicated topic.

The first year I was an educator and Halloween fell on Hebrew school date I was determined have Hebrew school.  I had less then 10 students out of 100 attend that afternoon.   Thank goodness Halloween has not been on a Tuesday for a few years.  Now with the hours of Halloween not just strictly recommended by each local city but most families adhere to these hours.  I have watched Halloween over the years become not just a much bigger American celebration but it also heralds the beginning of the Christmas season as well.

Challah with Candy

We do not celebrate Halloween at Lakeside or at any synagogue or Jewish pre-school.  We don't come in costumes or give out candy.  We certainly acknowledge that our students trick or treat and are part of American culture in this arena.  Could we add a Challah filled with candy as seen in Tablet Magazine?

Purim 2014-5744

I hope that you remember that our holiday with costumes is Purim.  The rule in my house was whatever you wear for Halloween you wear again at Purim.  Enjoy Halloween and keep those costumes for Purim 2015!  If I don't see you at Halloween I will see you at Purim!

FAQ's for new bloggers:

 How often do you blog?

Sounds simple enough to answer but the answer is more nuanced then the question.  I believe I should blog enough that people stay interested but not too much that I am a pest.  As Shabbat approaches the best thing  for me is that there is no blogging on Shabbat and holidays.  So I am racing the clock to finish Shabbat dinner, blog a bit and then turn off, unplug and just rest and enjoy Shabbat.  I love Shabbat and not having the pressure to respond to everything electronic immediately is a real blessing.

OSRUI:
Chader Ochel, Dining Hall, Chader Ochel, (Clap)
ready for Shabbat

Can you ever have too many pictures in a blog?

Again I am going to say people love the pictures and as I am leaving for Israel next week I know there are many, many pictures in my future.

How do you bring other people into your blog?

First, thank you to everyone for all of your the kind words as you have encouraged me on this journey. It is fun to see the comments!

 When a teacher has inspired you and mentored you it always important to not only thank them but to acknowledge them publicly.  As we go into the last Shabbat of Adar and we approach the month of Nisan I want to thank Rabbi Phyllis Sommer, (Rabbi Phyllis's blog) and Deborah Stern Harris,(Debbie's blog) for their teaching all things tech and social media to me.  You have been my mentors and inspiration and I can't thank you enough, especially for answering all my questions with grace and patience.

On to dinner.  Shabbat Shalom,  See you on the other side.

And let me just say it would have been MUCH easier putting in these pictures AND their blogs if Rabbi Phyllis and Debbie were sitting with me....but I know they are proud that I did it on my own)

Belated Announcement: Todah Rabah to Daniel Shore for helping brainstorm the name of the blog!