Letter from Rabbi Ross

Dear TBS friends and family,

Welcome to the Hanukkah edition of our e-Megillah!

The days have been cloudy, bleak, short. Our national politics continues to be broken, divisive. The pandemic is roaring throughout the region. We can counter that doom and gloom, with the light of our Hanukkah candles, and the joy of our connecting as a community, and the holiness of our blessings and songs.

Hanukkah is a holiday of hope, rededication, and freedom. It is a time of celebrating our Jewish identity and our Jewish history and our Jewish traditions.

Each night of Hanukkah we are instructed to add more light to our menorah. Each night we are asked spiritually to add more light into our lives.

There is an Israeli folk melody called “Banu Choshech”. We will learn this song Friday night. The title translates to “banish darkness.”Join us for this precious opportunity to banish the darkness, and welcome the light!

This Friday also marks the Shloshim, or 30th day, since Maxine Shiffman’s funeral. We will acknowledge our loss this Friday as well.

Hanukkah begins tonight, 12/10. Please join us for a wonderful weekend of Hanukkah Zoom gatherings.

On Friday night, 7:30 pm, 12/11, we will have a community candle lighting and brief Shabbat service. Each family will have a minute to share something about their menorah or their home, so please bring your favorite menorah and 3 candles to light!

On Saturday, 4 pm, Rabbi Rachel and Deena Nyer Mendlowitz will lead us in Latkes & Laughs.

Sunday, at 7:30, James Field will lead us in the Brotherhood’s candle lighting.

Monday, 8pm, Robin Rosen Sharp will lead our Sisterhood gathering.

On Saturday, December 12 we will have our virtual Hanukkah party with Comedian Deena Nyer Mendlowitz!

During our time together, everyone will light their hanukiah (Hanukkah menorah), eat latkes, sufganiyot (jelly donuts) or other fried food, and laugh a lot. Please feel free to use the Hanukkah candles, Hanukkah plates/napkins/cups, and recipes that you received in your last Jewish@home delivery this past Friday. It helps to know how many people we are expecting, but even if you don’t RSVP you can still join in the fun.

Next meeting of Rabbi’s New Book Group, “Caste,” Sun 12/27, 1 pm

We had a wonderful discussion of the opening two sections of Isabel Wilkerson’s new book. Please join us on 12/27 when we discuss the third and fourth sections of this intriguing book that explores oppression and hate from an American lens, a Nazi lens, and an Indian lens.

Folks who couldn’t make the first gathering are welcome to join in for the second session.

Upcoming TBS Gatherings

Hanukkah Dates

• Fri. 12/11, 7:30 pm: Shabbat Hanukkah Service & Community Candle Lighting
• Sat. 12/12, 4 pm: Latkes & Laughter with Deena Nyer Mendlowitz
• Sun. 12/13, 7:30 pm: Brotherhood Hanukkah Zoom Gathering
• Mon. 12/14, 8 pm: Sisterhood Hanukkah Zoom Gathering

Other TBS December dates

• Fri. 12/18, 7:30 pm: Zoom Shabbat Service B’yachad
• Sat. 12/26, 9:30 am: Torah For Our Times
• Sun. 12/27, 1 pm: Rabbi’s Book Group, “Caste, part two” – new folks are welcome to join in!