J. Levenson, Principal
It’s hard to believe we’ve been in our synagogue for nearly a year! It’s been exciting and humbling to share in this first year of holidays and happenings at the first synagogue in Charles County. Our first congregation Purim party at the Temple was a great success and very well attended. The Women’s Group hamantaschen and Purim gift baskets were wonderful and gave us all a chance to fulfill one of the important mitzvot of Purim, to share gifts of food with friends and loved ones.
Another important Purim mitzvah is donating to the poor. A few half-sheckles were donated and will be passed on to one of several homeless people I encounter regularly on my way to work. Every little bit makes a difference in someone’s life. As Mordechi instructed us to do thousands of years ago, we read the Megillah and had a great feast.
A BIG thanks Madelene Weinberger for organizing the potluck, to everyone who came and shared and to all the parent volunteers who helped keep order for the carnival crafts and games. Thanks also to those who cleaned up after and those who gave ideas for what we can do next year. I am documenting comments on improving our Sunday School celebrations so please send your thoughts and ideas.
Like Purim, Passover also celebrates the miracles of Hashem that helped the Jewish people escape persecution, slavery, and death. As we will soon read in the Passover Hagaddah, any of these miracles would have been enough… dayeinu! Through the ages and generations Hashem continues to bless us with miracles every day.
The URJ provides some good age-appropriate resources for Passover and other holiday celebrations at home, the classroom, and synagogue at http://urj.org/learning/teacheducate/childhood/holiday
Shalom,
Jasha Levenson
Religious School Principal
shaareshalom@gmail.com
301-645-4606