WEEK TWO: Yesod (Foundation) and the Environment by Doug Calem For humans, the earth is the yesod — the foundation — that supports life. One might say that recorded history is also a record of our relationship with and attitude towards the earth. Most of the historical record reveals a belief that we are separate Read More
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Preparing for the 5784 High Holy Days of Awe: Week 1
R’ Alan Lew suggested that we need to prepare ourselves if we expect to embrace the full potential of the High Holy Days of Awe. Thanks to KSS Social Action Team Leader Debra Seltzer for spearheading our activities this season. This is your formal invitation to join Sukkat Shalom for another seven week cycle of self-reflective provocations in Read More
Making Space to Talk about Israel-Palestine
NOTE: I had been meaning to write this up for a while. Just happened I found the time yesterday, just before news broke of the Israeli Parliament’s vote to overhaul the country’s judiciary. – Jodi Kushins, KSS Board Chair For years, KSS has wrestled with how to host meaningful study and conversation amongst our members Read More
Meet Aviva Marchione, Our 5784 High Holiday Spiritual Leader
For the third year, Kehilat Sukkat Shalom is proud to welcome a Rabbinic Intern from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) to join us as a Spiritual Leader for the High Holy Days. Our Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur prayer services and social gatherings are enhanced by the presence of guest leaders who bring a new Read More
Prepared for Passover?
When I was a kid, Passover was a really big deal. My earliest memories are from my maternal grandparents’ house in Miami. They set up a long table around which four generations of family members gathered with my Great Grandpa Victor at the helm. Those seders lasted a very long time. He led the service Read More
Home is a Shelter of Peace
As we move into Adar, we are reminded to find those things in life that bring us joy. This month’s blog post, from longtime KSS member Yutan Getzler, highlights the joy we find at home – with our own families and when we invite community in to join us. I know now as an adult Read More
Becoming the Lay Leader I Was Raised to Be
I was raised in a Conservative home. I went to Hebrew school three times a week after school and on Sundays and services on Shabbat. I attended Camp Ramah where we prayed every morning (including Torah readings Mondays and Thursdays!) before breakfast and had Hebrew and history classes Monday-Friday alongside the fun stuff. I went Read More
A different kind of Chanukah Light. Tending Hope for Reparations
This past weekend, KSS Vice President Cheryl Lubow voted “yes” on behalf of our kehilah in a meeting of the Reconstructing Judaism Plenum, a group representing all the congregations and chavurot affiliated with the movement. The vote was in support of a movement-wide resolution calling for study, reflection, discussion, and action around reparations (click here Read More
In the Darkest Days, You are With Me
It’s hard not to feel despair when the weather drops 30-40 degrees overnight and we are confronted by a continuous stream of depressing news at home and abroad. Pick your special interest: public health, climate, gun control, antisemitism, Israel-Palestine… To say there’s a lot to be sad and anxious about seems beyond cliché at this Read More
Looking Back on the 5783 High Holiday Days of Awe
We did it! Our small but mighty kehilah made it through another round of High Holy Days of Awe. Thank you to everyone who lent a hand in this year’s celebrations. From those who organized and participated in leading services to those who organized meals, those who rolled the Torah into place and those who Read More