January 30, 2025 / 30 Tevet 5785
February Newsletter
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Included in This Newsletter
Tu B'Shevat Seder - 2/7
Shabbat Service - 2/21
Register for Winter Classes
Rabbi's Corner
Weekly D'var Torah
Social Action
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Rabbi's Corner - February 2025 | |
Happy February, Shir Ami.
After a cold, dark and bleak January, February ushers in the first hints of spring.
Even now, the first almond blossoms are starting to blossom in Israel. It's time for Tu b'Shevat, Judaism's start of spiritual spring.
If you're not ready, if it feels too early to matter, that's exactly the point. Read more...
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D'var Torah by Rabbi David
Parashat Bo (5785)
We all have emotional and psychological vested interests in seeming externally to be our best selves. Most of us, we hope, respond to these impulses by actually trying to be our best selves in the world. Our insides aspire to match our outsides.
For others, the optics of manipulated perception are the primary reality or even only reality they recognize or allow others to see.
The effects on communities and society can be brutal, and we must stand up to them.
Read more...
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Soul Spa is open to all.
Our Torah study each Shabbat morning has become a mainstay of our programming. As we examine the parashat each week under Rabbi David's guidance and questioning, our sacred writings become more familiar, the stories clearer, and the teachings more meaningful.
Soul Spa is free for members and non-members alike. You may drop in frequently or infrequently, as you like. Please click here to find the weekly Zoom link and for recordings of previous discussions.
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Please note this class is continuing on Tuesdays, 2/4, 2/18 and 3/4. | Please purchase the book, From Age-ing to Sage-ing. The edition we're using is this one. You will also find the Zoom link on the website landing page the day of the class. | | |
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Morning Mitzvah for JFS-Stamford
Shir Ami volunteers participate monthly in a "Morning Mitzvah" at JFS in Stamford. We do a variety of things from packing toiletries, putting spices in jars, writing notes to newcomers, stocking or pulling groceries from the shelf for those in need, etc. This is a 10 am - 12 noon activity once per month on Wednesdays.
Please let Ronny Kaplan know if you are able to participate in our next date on February 19th, by emailing her at ronnykaplan@snet.net or by calling 203.249.0602. We aim to have a group of 3 to 5 but this week we had an enthusiastic group of 6 - Thank you to Ronny for organizing this and to Marie, Susan N, Jackie, Fran, Susan K for coming to help out this month!
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November/December Issue of
Greenwich Jewish News
Please click here to read the digital version. See page 8 for an article about Shir Ami classes and page 10 for an article about Rabbi David's selection to a premier Jewish spirituality program.
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February/March Issue of
New Jewish Voice
Please click here to read the latest digital version.
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Blessings for a Happy Birthday to our members with late January/February birthdays:
Matt Rosen - 1/30
Larry Polansky - 2/1
Jess Rosen - 2/2
Mark Heller - 2/3
Michael Gorski - 2/4
Robert Schwartz - 2/12
Anne Gorski - 2/15
Jan Raymond - 2/17
Phil Rosen - 2/17
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In our weekly Blessing and Simchas, we invite members to offer congratulations on a special event in someone’s life, blessings for healing, or to remember a loved one.
If you make a special donation and would like to share it in the newsletter’s “Blessings and Simchas," let us know by emailing shirami.info@gmail.com with the subject line, "Blessings and Simchas" no later than 9:00 AM on Monday. Be sure to include the wording for how you want the donation and the donor to be recognized, including your name, the occasion and the recipient's name(s).
If you choose to make a donation, you may do so by visiting our website's donation page or by mailing a check to Congregation Shir Ami, 1273 East Putnam Avenue, P.O. Box 312, Riverside, CT 06870-9998.
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We warmly welcome you to join our community at Congregation Shir Ami.
Please visit our Membership Page where you can find:
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Membership Letter - from our Shir Ami Officers
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Membership Form - easy-to-fill out online or print
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Membership Policy - details on dues, benefits and more
Membership allows you special access to:
- practice our faith together and learn from the Torah and each other
- help shape our community
- support Shir Ami's mission
- find inspiration in our diverse offerings of services, classes and events.
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participate in rituals, group trips and member events
- have access to our wonderful clergy for pastoral care and life cycle events
- recognize our loved ones who have passed during our Yizkor service each year
As with most faith-based organizations, membership dues fuel everything we do and account for only 65% of our annual budget. Full dues payments and additional contributions are always appreciated. If an alternate arrangement is needed, please contact Co-Presidents Jackie Marschall at jackiea.broadcast@gmail.com or Marie Orsini Rosen at morsinirosen@gmail.com.
If you are interested and would like to know more, please find membership information on our website’s membership page. The easy-to-fill-out form may be completed online and submitted with a button, or can be printed out and sent to our mailing address: Congregation Shir Ami, 1273 E Putnam Ave, PO Box 312, Riverside, CT 06878.
Contact us at shirami.info@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to speak with an officer or our clergy.
All are welcome to join our community!
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For a full listing of all local events of Jewish interest visit the websites for:
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If you're only receiving the newsletter monthly and would like to receive it weekly, please click the link above to edit your email preference. | |
CongregationShirAmi.org
203-900-7976
shirami.info@gmail.com
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