SHABBAT SHALOM
Shabbat Vayakhel
February 25 & 26, 2022 - 25 Adar 1 5782
During the summer of 2008, when I was the rabbinic intern for the University of Florida Hillel, I was asked to lead an Alternative Spring Break trip to Ukraine to visit the Jewish communities there under the auspices of the Joint Distribution Committee, a leading global Jewish Humanitarian Organization (the picture in the box is from that trip). Going to Ukraine, I did not know what to expect, and it turned out to be one of the most incredible trips I had taken. Honestly, I did not know there were Jews still left in Ukraine, as so many left after the fall of Communism. I thought the only Jews that would be left would be Jewish seniors, who perhaps did not have family living in Israel or the U.S. to join, but I was mistaken. Our students interacted with their Ukrainian Jewish students who were involved with their Hillel. Together, we helped Jews who were food insecure, and we even helped clean up and performed minor renovations on people's homes. We held a ceremony at Babi Yar, a ravine outside of Kyiv, where an estimated 34,000 Jews were murdered by the Nazis and Ukrainian collaborators on September 29-30, 1941. We did experience a bit of antisemitism during the trip, which made me respect the Ukrainian Jewish students even more. Most of them barely knew they were Jewish growing up, but embraced our people as young adults. Those young adults are now likely parents of small children, hiding in their homes as their country is being attacked by Russia. As the crisis continues, I know that the Jewish community in Ukraine will need our help. We are gathering information to find the best ways to help our Jewish brothers and sisters in Ukraine, but in the meantime, let us all pray for the citizens of Ukraine who are being invaded.

Please read the message below from the Masorti movement, the International Conservative movement.

Oseh Shalom Bimromav, Hu Yaaseh Shalom Aleinu,
v’al kol Yisrael, v’al kol yoshvei tevel,
May the One who makes peace in the heavens make peace for us,
for all Israel, and for the entire world.

May God bless and protect the people of Ukraine and all of those in danger,

Rabbi David Baum
Masorti Olami and The Schechter Institutes are in close contact with our communities across Ukraine, and while there is extreme uncertainty and panic right now, we are sharing with you, our friends and supporters around the world, what we know about the current situation on the ground. 
The present situation in Ukraine is extremely challenging with mass panic and residents fleeing towards the west of the country, away from lines of contact, causing blocked roads and traffic jams. Cash machines across the country have run out of cash, and gas stations are out of gas.

Kharkiv, a city in northeastern Ukraine is only 100km from the border with Russia, and has been hit the hardest so far, experiencing explosions in the early hours of this morning. Entrances and exits to the city, as well as schools have already been closed, and the Russian army is getting closer. We are trying to get all of our communities in Ukraine to our western-most community in Chernivtsi, as it is the safest option right now, where Rabbi Reuven and Lena Stamov, our shlichim in Ukraine are currently with their family. This means organizing immediate transport, and reserving accommodation for refugees fleeing from other cities. In the meantime, we are also arranging for 150 packages with cookies, chocolate and juice, to be brought to the children, to try and lift their spirits in this challenging time. 

We invite you all to join our Prayer for Peace for Ukraine today, February 24 at 8pm Israel time, 1pm EST, live on Zoom and Facebook, where our Masorti/Conservative communities from around the world will gather together to pray for the wellbeing of our brothers and sisters and all those in Ukraine under attack. Please note, the program has been completed but you can watch the replay on Facebook by clicking the link above or here.

The prayers will be in English and Hebrew, with simultaneous translation into other languages.

Melanie Felsman
USCJ Director, Communications
FRIDAY MORNING MINYAN
In-Person and On Zoom!

*February 25, 2022 at 8:00AM

Join us this Friday for Morning Minyan followed by our new weekly class led by Rabbi Baum. During our new course, we will study two of the most underread, but arguably most relevant, books of the Tanach: Ezra and Nehemiah. These two books focus on how Judaism evolved after our ancestors returned to Israel after the first exile. The books tackle issues such as assimilation and intermarriage, internal and external politics, the importance of Torah as our center, and more
*March 3 and 4, 2022
Rosh Chodesh Adar II Morning Minyan
8:00 AM (Zoom and In-Person)
Breakfast Sponsored by Harvey Stoler on Thursday morning
KABBALAT SHABBAT/MAARIV
LED BY RABBI BAUM
Friday, February 25, 2022
6:15 PM ET

IN-PERSON AND ON ZOOM
"JEWRY" DUTY - This week is last names HEC-MIL
Meeting ID: 882 0065 3129 Passcode: 910086
Special Shabbat Guest Speaker
Aliyah Longhurst
Saturday Morning, February 26
Developing an Inclusive Mindset
 An informative overview of the social model of disability and how disability is perceived in our culture. Once we identify and question our perception and interactions with disability, we can develop an awareness and understanding of the importance of inclusion. As individuals within this community, how can we begin cultivating mindsets that embrace human diversity as we strive to build inclusive communities.


Aliyah Longhurst, LMFT, BCBA is the Director of the new Toby and Leon Cooperman Therapy and Family Resource Center. A native from Southern California, Aliyah comes to JFS with over 20 years of experience working with in the mental and behavioral health field with children and families. Aliyah received her undergraduate degrees from the University of California, San Diego, and her Master’s Degree from Chapman University. She became Licensed as an LMFT in 2005. After relocating to Florida, Aliyah began working for DCF as a Mental Health Coordinator for children with trauma and behavioral challenges, and continued her education in ABA. She has spent the past 13 years working with children with special needs and their families in Palm Brach County, while overseeing ABA services across the region. When she is not working, you will find her Scuba Diving or enjoying time with her husband and three children. 
The Power of Inclusion by the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES
Shabbat Vayakhel

Saturday, February 26, 2022
9:30 AM ET

In-Person and on Zoom
KIDDUSH FOLLOWING SERVICES
Cantor Hadash - Exodus 35:1-35:3
Geil Bilu - Exodus 35:4-35:10
Geil Bilu - Exodus 35:11-35:20
Lenny Berkowitz - Exodus 35:21-35:29
Lenny Berkowitz - Exodus 35:30-35:35
Matt Weiss- Exodus 36:1-36:7
Matt Weiss - Exodus 36:8-36:19
Matt Weiss - Exodus 30:11-30; 16
Matt Weiss - Haftarah - II Kings 12:1-12:17
Meeting ID: 882 0065 3129 Passcode: 910086
SPONSORS FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH

KEMACH TORAH NADIV SPONSORS 5782
Alexander & Rachel Baum
Nan Berkowitz
Stacie & Jeff Brody
Sue and Ben Eisenberg
Bernard and Ann Grossman
Kol Isha Sisterhood of CSK
Scott Reiter
Judy & Gary Richman
Diane and Robert Salamon

KIDDUSH SPONSOR
Shirley Rudo in honor of Marvin Horwitz's 92 Birthday
Tova & Zev Friede in memory of Keren Friede
Creating an online Jewish community, spreading wisdom and Torah through art.

JEWISH ARTIST OF THE WEEK:
Mär Martinez
*Thank you to Bagel Twins for donating bagels for our Kiddush!
*Please note that ONLY the bagels, bialys, and pocket rolls from Bagel Twins at 5130 Linton Blvd are considered kosher (dairy) and are under the supervision of Rabbi Lester Herring.