April 3, 2018 18 Nisan, 5778

TODAY IS FOUR DAYS OF THE OMER

Gratitude. Awe. Reverence. Responsibility. History. Deep sorrow. Abiding Joy.

April D.

Announcements Every1Counts

April 2, 2018 17 Nisan, 5778

TODAY IS THREE DAYS OF THE OMER

It means I’m special. Despite millennia of hatred and venom directed against [Jews], I belong to a people who were bent but not broken. It is more than a religion. It is more than an identity. It is a state of being.

Steve G.

Announcements Every1Counts

April 1, 2018 16 Nisan, 5778

TODAY IS TWO DAYS OF THE OMER

Gathering! Community! Family! One of my favorite things about being Jewish is that we are called go join together. Our commemorations and celebrations are meant to be marked with others. Joining together, either at TBA, or around someone’s dining table to grieve a loss, to celebrate a new life or marriage or to celebrate a holyday helps us lean on each other and to raise each other up.

As a kid I looked forward to joining my extended family for Rosh Hashanah or Passover and now as an adult, with a family of my own, I love that our house tends to be a central place for our family to gather to celebrate these same events.

As we celebrate Passover we begin to count the Omer. Traditionally this was a counting of the harvest which would hopefully reap a good crop that would sustain the farmer and his family for the year. As we, who are not farmers, count our blessings we come together as an extended family and live the phrase “it takes a village” because that is what it takes to be a community.

Cantor Margot E.B. Goldberg

Announcements Every1Counts

March 31, 2018 15 Nisan, 5778

TODAY IS ONE DAY OF THE OMER

We begin Counting the Omer

We begin counting after sundown tonight, at the second seder.

(Since this is the Passover holiday, we are posting this prior to the first seder, so you do not have to use your computer on the holiday.)

Since 2012 we here at TBA have turned the Omer period between Passover and Shavuot into an amazing program called Every1Counts (E1C). This year, we’d are sharing the voices of our congregation. This year we wish to enhance our community by listening to each other, so we asked you to tell us, in 150 words or less, “What Does Being Jewish Mean to You?”

Now, for each day of the 49 days of the omer, we will share one response to this question.

Lox, Bagels, and Kasha Varnishkes. L’dor va’dor, Tikkun Olam, Mitzvahs. Dancing the Hora, Hiding the Matzah, Blessing the Challah. And, of course, Israel.

I feel blessed to be a part of a community that shares so many beautiful customs and beliefs, and cares so deeply about repairing our world. My synagogue is my “happy place,” and my clergy and congregation make me smile. I love “belonging,” and welcoming others.

Like the embrace of my Tallit, Judaism warms and comforts me. Like grandma’s chicken soup, Judaism nourishes and sustains me. With rich tradition and history, Judaism anchors and supports me.

My Judaism calms, centers and soothes me. For me, Judaism is that warm cozy knowledge that you are home.

Debra Drattell

Announcements Every1Counts

Every1Counts – Introduction

March 29, 2018 13 Nisan, 5778

We will soon begin Counting the Omer

The Omer is the period between Passover and Shavuot. Although we count in days, like all Jewish events, our day starts at sundown the evening before. This year, we count the Omer beginning after the second seder on March 31, and we will count each day through Saturday, May 19. The festival of Shavuot begins at sundown on Sunday, May 20. This year we will “count” by sharing a submission from a congregant each day of the Omer.

Because we know you will be busy with your Seders, and we do not want you to feel obligated to use your computer on Passover or Shabbat, we will post two submissions on Friday, just as God sent us a double portion of manna on Fridays to get us through Shabbat. Since the Omer starts on Saturday, March 31, we will post the first submission tomorrow, Friday, March 30.

There will be a counter on the sidebar of this webpage, so you can keep track of the days. If you would like blessings you may say to count the Omer, as well as the English, transliteration and Hebrew for each day we count, please email everyonecounts@tba-ny.org and we will send them to you.

Announcements Every1Counts

Every1Counts

Dear Friends,

It’s almost Passover. And that means that Shavuot is not far behind: 50 days from 2^ndseder to be precise. And in between, we have the period known as the Counting of the Omer. Since 2012 we here at TBA have turned it into an amazing program called Every1Counts (E1C).

This year, we’d like to share your voice with the congregation! Read on for more info!

The biblical word for measure is omer. In biblical times, the Jews used to take a measure of barley, called an omer, to the Temple in Jerusalem as a sacrifice to God to say “thank you” for giving them a good harvest. From the second day of Passover until the festival of Shavuot, we count each day for seven weeks, and each day in ancient times an omer of barley was brought to the Temple. This period between Passover and Shavuot is called the “counting of the omer”. At Passover we escape from Egypt and spend 49 days traveling across the Red Sea, through the dessert to the base of Mount Sinai where we receive the Torah. The journey from slavery to Sinai moves us as a people from slavery to chosen-ness and with chosen-ness comes responsibility.

As Jews, we are taught that we all stood at Sinai and said, ”Naaseh v’nishma: we will do and we will listen.” This year we wish to enhance our community by listening to each other, so we are asking you to tell us, in 150 words or less, “What Does Being Jewish Mean to You?” Then, each day of the 49 days of the omer, we will share one response to the question.

Peace and Blessings,

Rabbi David K. Holtz

Cantor Margot E.B. Goldberg

Announcements

Meet Our Board Members – Kimberly Marcus

Kimberly Marcus has been a member of TBA for eight years. She has been on the Board for three years, first as a Trustee and now as a Tikkum Olam Committee co-chair. She became involved at TBA by volunteering in her son’s classroom and then by slowly joining committees. Kimberly helped to spearhead TBA’s Spiritual Walk with Rabbi Holtz. She became an adult Bat Mitzvah at TBA in 2009.

She is also a co-VP, 8th grade in Sleepy Hollow Middle School’s PTA and a member of the Steering Committee of SCBWI’s Metro NY Region. Through TBA, she is involved with The Community Food Pantry of Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow and the Community Coalition (C2).

Kimberly is married to Jonathan Gleit, a Civil Rights Attorney and member of Shekelvestors, the Israel Investment Club at TBA. He has also played guitar on different occasions at TBA, most recently at Beatles Shabbat.

Kimberly and Jonathan have two children. Kira became a Bat Mitzvah in April at TBA and their son Caleb was confirmed in June, 2014. Kimberly was a professional photographer, elementary school teacher, and is currently managing her spouse’s law office. She is also a children’s book writer. Kimberly and her family live in Tarrytown and have a dog, cat, and a fish.

Announcements

Shabbat Greetings from Rabbi David Holtz – June 27, 2014

On Sunday I’m headed to Poland, to participate in the bar mitzvah I wrote about in the June bulletin. I’ll be in Warsaw, Bialystock, Zamosc (site of ceremony) and Krakow. I’m hoping we’ll have a chance to stop in Chelm (between Zamosc and Krakow) just to take a picture. If you’re not familiar with the Wise Men of Chelm, look them up.
My plan is to post thoughts and photos each day. I’ll put them on the TBA Facebook page, and, technology permitting, on a blog created just for this trip, http://tbainpoland.blogspot.com/. I invite you to follow along. I’ll spend next Shabbat in Krakow with the Reform congregation. I’m looking forward to telling you all about it!

Announcements

Shabbat Greetings from Stuart Skolnick – June 20, 2014

Change is in the air. This is true literally as you read this on Friday, 20 June. It’s the longest day of the year and with tomorrow’s summer solstice we’ll have the “official” start of summer.

It’s been easy to follow the lengthening of days by watching Friday night candle lighting times. Tonight is the latest lighting time of the year. Going forward, lighting times will start to get earlier.

There are other changes taking place as well. This past Tuesday evening TBA held its Annual Congregational Meeting. An annual Agenda item is the Slate of Officers and Trustees and after the vote was taken the Temple has a new group of Officers and Trustees. Plan to attend services this evening at 7:30pm and watch as this new group is officially installed. I would also ask you to give them your support and constructive suggestions throughout the year so they have the benefit of your thoughts and input. Watch for the announcement of the monthly Board meetings and plan to attend one (or more!). These meetings are open to the congregation and any member is welcome to attend. Take an active part in the running of your Temple by volunteering to help out with an event or project or serve on a committee. There is something for everyone’s interest and new ideas and energy are always welcome. Take a moment to speak to one of the incoming officers or trustees and find out how you can participate. Everyone will be glad that you did.

Shabbat Shalom!

Announcements

Shabbat Greetings from Cantor Margot Goldberg – June 13,2014

Shabbat Shalom! It is a pleasure to welcome Tamara Reps Freeman, Benjy Povman, and Caleb Gleit to join Rabbi Holtz and myself on the bima this evening in music and prayer. Rabbi Holtz and I have worked together, along with the Ritual Committee, to explore what prayer at TBA might sound like. We have used our screens for a hands free service so that we can connect with those in attendance in a different way. We have tried services with fewer spoken words to see how music touches our souls and lifts our spirits. We tried a service where we set the prayers to Beatles’ melodies to see if the words might strike us in a different way if the melodies were different yet familiar. Tonight we welcome these talented musicians to enhance our familiar melodies and introduce us to new ones via violins and drums.

Tamara Reps Freeman, Jen Povman’s sister, is a talented violinist with a specialty in Holocaust music and education. She has been at TBA before as part of our Adult Education lectures and I know that this evening will be equally interesting, entertaining, and inspiring.

On another note, next Friday I look forward to welcoming Amanda Berkson, Olivia Berkson, and Hannah Monack to join Rabbi and myself on the bima as we thank our outgoing, and install our incoming, Board of Trustees. These talented pre-b’nei mitzvah students will add harmony throughout our service . It has been a wonderful year of music, prayer, and inclusion and I want to thank all who worked so hard to learn new music, share their talents with the congregation, and lift our spirits.

Shabbat Shalom, Margot