Weekly E-News 5786

May 1 - May 7, 2026


Kiddush Menu


Gazpacho

Grilled Cheese (+ Gluten Free)

Broccoli Slaw

Hummus & Pita

Watemelon

Cookies



Thanks to Linda & Steve Sacks for preparing kiddush!


Sunday, June 14th - Annual Board Meeting



Sunday, January 10th - Annual Gala


Mark Your Calendar!

Please attend the June 14th

 Annual Board Meeting



SLATE OF OFFICERS


President Tova Javetz

Vice-President Libby Waldman-Strugatch

Treasurer Diana Levison

Secretary Marvin Cweibel

Past President Morgan McGhie


AT LARGE


2027 Expiry

Lynn Berkowitz

Beth Bosman

Steven Smithberg


2028 Expiry

Ken Aaron

Stuart Klugler

Kim Meeroff


2029 Expiry

Fran Kaminsky

Julian Miller

Ed Bernard


Birthdays

Saturday, May 2nd - Edward Cohen & Douglas Goldstein

Sunday, May 3rd - Samuel Skidmore-Hess

Wednesday, May 6th - David Aronstein

Thursday, May 7th - Benjamin Mackowiak


Anniversaries

Sunday, May 3rd - Annette & Stephen Friedman

Monday, May 4th - Adelle & Ted Geffen


From the Desk of

Rabbi Cantor


GOD said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None shall defile himself for any [dead] person among his kin, except for the relatives that are closest to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, and his brother, and his sister … (Leviticus 21:1-2)


From these verses in Leviticus we learn for whom we are obligated to mourn, to put our lives on hold until they are buried, “sit” in our homes for seven days, observe at least 30 days of restrictions on “happy activities” and say Kaddish for twelve (or eleven) months.

But there is a second lesson that can be learned from it, in terms of psychology: when we are in a position of obligation to others, we sometimes need to suppress our personal emotional reactions for the sake of those we are serving.


When I am called upon to conduct a funeral for a family, and I have strong feelings or emotions of sadness over the loss, I need to put them on hold until after the funeral. For the sake of those I serve, I have to “keep it together” until their needs are met. That’s what I take from this instruction to the priests that they may “only” render themselves unfit for duty (“defile himself for any [dead] person) for their immediate relatives. The priest presumably feels bereft over the passing of his other family and friends, but it is only for his near relatives that he can recuse himself from service.


We all have this ability. When we need to “be there” for someone else, our children, spouse, friend, client, we can put our emotional response on hold. Sometimes after a death, a family member might be concerned over their own lack of emotional response, wondering why there are no tears. I suspect that that family member might be “keeping it together” to enable others to “fall apart”. We should never judge another over a lack of tears in the moment – when the time is right, and it is safe for everyone to do so, the tears will flow.


And when it is one of our near relatives, the Tradition gives us permission to fall apart, and provides safeguards: during your week of mourning, the community is expected to visit you every day, ensure that you are eating, and be there if you want to talk.


Here is a link to some recent guidance from the Law Committee on how best to be there for your fellow who is mourning: Shiv’ah Guide, by Rabbis Pamela Barmash and Elliot Dorff.



Rabbi David Cantor


The best part of Rabbi Cantor's Day is when he sits down to meet with congregants. To make an appointment with Rabbi Cantor:


Call: 912-352-4727


Email: rabbi@agudath-achim.com


Use this link: Schedule a Meeting


In Person Service Times


Tuesday: 7:30 AM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM

Friday: 8:00 AM

Shabbat: 9:45 AM


This Shabbat

Parashat Emor 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר


2 May 2026 / 15 Iyyar 5786

Candle lighting 7:47 pm / Havdalah 8:45 pm



Torah Portion: Leviticus 21:1-24:23

Emor (“Say”) opens with laws regulating priestly behavior, working in the Mishkan (Tabernacle), and consuming sacrifices and priestly food. It describes the biblical holidays of Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, and ends with a story about a blasphemer and his punishment.

1: 21:1-6 · 717

2: 21:7-12 · 718

3: 21:13-15 · 719

4: 21:16-24 · 719

5: 22:1-9 · 720

6: 22:10-12 · 721

7: 22:13-16 · 721 

M: 22:13-16 · 721

Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31 · 735


Service Leader Sign Up


Are you interested in leading services? Reading Torah? You can sign up on our service leader sign up sheet!

Donations

To make a donation to the synagogue in recognition of a birth, birthday, anniversary, bereavement, or yahrzeit, you may use the button below. The message box can be used to tell us who we should notify of your donation.

Recent Donations

From Rachel Israel to the Kiddush Fund congratulating Eva Locker on her retirement.


From Gale Hirsh on the Yahrzeits of her father, Julius Schmier, and her father-in-law, Larry Hirsh.


From Linda && Michael Zoller to the Kiddush Fund wishing Brenda Rosenberg a speedy recovery.


From Monique & Jeffrey Mayo for the yahrzeit of Monique's mother , Fernande Djian.


From Elise & Victor Shernoff to the Kiddush Fund in honor of Stanley Rosenberg's 80th birthday.



From Simone Wilker to the Kiddush Fund thanking Elise Shernoff for the Friday night family dinner.


From Linda Hoffman to the General Fund in memory of David Hirsh.


From Elise & Victor Shernoff to the Kiddush Fund in recognition of Eva Locker's retirement as Principal of Shalom School.


From Elise & Victor Shernoff to the Kiddush Fund, wishing Carole Cohen a happy birthday.


From Elise & Victor Shernoff to the Kiddush Fund, wishing Carole Cohen a speedy recovery.


From Sharon & Murray Galin to the Kiddush Fund in appreciation of Linda & Michael Zoller.


From Lynn Berkowitz to Kiddush Fund in memory of her grandfather, Louis Perl.


From Sherry Jacobson to the General Fund.


From Amy & David Rosenthal to the Kiddush Fund in memory of Karen Friedenberg, Amy's sister.


From Buddy Metzger to the Kiddush Fund on the Yahrzeit of his mother, Edythe Metzger.


From Amy & David Rosenthal to the Kiddush Fund in memory of Julie Spector - Sprague.


From Marilyn & Jim Farley to the Security Fund for the Yahrzeit of Paul Jolles, Marilyn's father.


From Janet & Bob Benjamin to the Kiddush Fund on the birth of Debby & Barry Luskey's grandbaby.


From Elise & Victor Shernoff to the Kiddush Fund in memory of Julie Spector - Sprague.


From Janet & Bob Benjamin to the Kiddush Fund on the birth of Bunny & Jim Montag's great-grandbaby.


From Amy & David Rosenthal to the Kiddush Fund in memory of Ina Kaplan, sister of Steve Kaplan.


From Janet & Bob Benjamin to the General Fund in memory of David Hirsh.


From Elise & Victor Shernoff to the Kiddush Fund on the birth of Stephanie & Sol Zerden's grandbaby.


Yahrzeits 

Thursday night/Friday, May 1 - 14 Iyar

none

Friday night/Saturday, May 2 - 15 Iyar

Eva Daub - grandmother of Victor Shernoff

Mollie Scheer - grandmother of Steven Scheer

Jennie Bodziner - great-grandmother of Richard Bodziner

Saturday night/Sunday, May 3 - 16 Iyar

Selma Dunn - mother of Joan Moore

Shirley Waldman - aunt of Susan Slotin

Sunday night/Monday, May 4 - 17 Iyar

Eunice Steinberg - great-grandmother of Sally Krissman

Will Lichenstein - father of Matthew Allan

Monday night/Tuesday, May 5 - 18 Iyar

Ermanno Kreh - uncle of Stavie Kreh

Tuesday night/Wednesday, May 6 - 19 Iyar

Rita Ginsberg - mother of Ron Ginsberg

Brent Shernoff - nephew of Victor Shernoff

Wednesday night/Thursday, May 7 - 20 Iyar

Abraham Rudowitz - grandfather of Linda Hoffman

Thursday night/Friday, May 8 - 21 Iyar

Louis Luskey - father of Barry Luskey

Leonard Eichenholtz - father of Marc Eichenholtz


Commemoration of the Yahrzeit begins the evening of the first noted date.



Donor Dues

      

Benefactor

$9,999 - $5000

Melvyn & Eleanor Galin



 Leader

$3,599 - $1,800

Stephen & Annette Friedman

Ed Price


Patron

$1,799 - $720

Aaron & Dayle Levy

Allan & Arlene Ratner

Sherwin & Sara Robin

Sol & Stephanie Zerden

Michael & Linda Zoller


Chai Member

$719 - $360

Michelle & Matthew Allan

Gerald Caplan

AM Goldkrand

Paul & Harriet Kulbersh

Jeffrey & Stacy Lasky

Andrew & Leslie Walcoff



Supporters

 $359 - $100 

Lynn Berkowitz

Joe & Linda Cooper

Adam Fins

Ted & Adelle Geffen

Doug & Lisa Goldstein

Seth Grenald

Gale Hirsh

Jonathan & Tova Javetz

Harriet Karlin

Michael & Suzanne Konter

Larry & Betsy Lehner

Steve & Linda Sacks

Victor & Elise Shernoff



Thanks to these donors for going above and beyond by participating in the Donor Dues Program this 2025-2026 fiscal year. If you would like to participate by making this additional commitment, please contact the office. 

Community News

 Kids Camp and dedicated adult-only time
 Shabbat and Yom Tov observance for diverse Jewish backgrounds
 Creativity and hands-on experiences
 Nature, camp-style fun, ruach, music, and meaningful connection
 Festive meals and delicious dairy treats
LimmudFest is a vibrant, participatory Jewish experience—come to learn, share, question, teach, and celebrate together in community.
Whether it’s your first LimmudFest or your fifth, Shavuot—the holiday of receiving the Torah—is the perfect time to gather, learn, and explore together.
Don’t delay—space is limited!


Rabbi David Cantor

Morgan McGhie, President

Motti Locker, Executive Director


Congregation Agudath Achim | office@agudath-achim.com | 912-352-4737 | www.agudath-achim.com

Facebook  X