June 29, 2023/10 Tamuz 5783

July Newsletter

Included in This Newsletter

Membership Drive Has Begun

Video Recap - Rabbi David's First Shabbat

Shabbat By The Sea - 7/28

Rabbi Levy Thank Yous And Torah Portion

July Classes with Rabbi David Markus

As we transition into the new fiscal year of 2023-24, we say goodbye with gratitude to Rabbi David Levy, and we warmly welcome Rabbi David Markus ("Rabbi David," as he likes to be called) to Shir Ami. Many who attended the June 23rd "meet and greet" Shabbat Service with Rabbi David this past weekend, asked about Membership, and so we are launching our July Membership Drive a few days early! With a lot of excitement and warmth, we welcome-back current Members, and welcome-in new Members to our Shir Ami Family! To learn about Membership you may read more below, or go straight to our Membership page.

Enjoy this video recap of our June 23rd Shabbat Service with Rabbi David! Here is what participants had to say...

" It was stimulating, provocative and fun! I loved the modernity, energy and participation."

" It was interesting and meaningful and I'm looking forward to attending regularly."

"The questions and conversation left me thinking about my own relationship to being Jewish. I also loved being able to look forward at the slides instead of down into a book."

"It was thoughtful, soulful and inspiring. The service flew by and Rabbi David is such a talented musician."

"it had everything - there were moments that were entertaining, inspiring, interesting and fun!"

Click here to watch video recap (3 minutes) of the service.

Shir Ami expresses our deep gratitude to Rabbi David Levy for the year he served as interim clergy at Shir Ami! We wish him and his family well and want them to know that they are always part of our Shir Ami Family!

We also wish to congratulate Rabbi Levy on his exciting new position as Director of Professional Learning & Growth at the Jewish Education Project!

Parashat Balak - Thank You & Good Luck!

D'var Torah by Rabbi David Levy

Dear Friends,

This is my last d'var Torah with all of you, and I wanted to put in print what I've said to so many of you in person: It has been an honor and privilege to be your Rabbi over this past year. You have supported me, and I have loved supporting you. My email address is not changing, so if you need me, I'm not that far away. 

But, it wouldn't be a Shir Ami newsletter without some words of Torah! John Lennon famously said: Life is what happens when you're making other plans. The Jewish version of that is: Man plans and God laughs. None of us has any idea of what the future may hold, but as we prepare for that uncertain future, there is some wisdom in looking into why God laughs so readily at our desire to plan for a future that is as yet unwritten: 

https://www.rabbisacks.org/covenant-conversation/balak/what-makes-god-laugh/

THIS IS REAL AND YOU ARE COMPLETELY UNPREPARED

Join Shir Ami's new rabbi, David Evan Markus, for a seven-session online class exploring the heart and soul of the High Holy Days journey from early summer through Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Members and registered guests will have access to recordings in case you miss a class.

Together we'll track the flow of ideas, emotions and practices of Judaism's timeless rituals, and begin rousing ourselves (both individually and as a community) – to go deep and high into this Season of Meaning. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase Rabbi Alan Lew's book, This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared (available from any online bookseller), which we'll read together.  

Rabbi David says, "This book changed my whole understanding of spiritual time and the layers of teshuvah (returning to our best selves, each other, and the One we call God). The book is such a masterpiece that I read it anew every year as part of my own High Holy Days preparations. My copy has become so weathered by love and notes that I'm holding it together with paper clips and rubber bands. I am certain this book will touch you, too."

Sessions will be as follows (all via zoom at 7:30pm unless otherwise noted):

Tues, July 11 – The Walls Crack: Intro to the Season / 17 Tammuz

Tues, July 25 – The Walls Fall: On Tisha b’Av

Tues, Aug 15 – The Horn Sounds: On Elul

Tues, Sep 5 – I Heard My Name: Selichot

Mon, Sep 11 – This is Real: Rosh Hashanah

Tues, Sep 19 – At-One-Ment: Yom Kippur

Mon, Sep 25 – The Walls Fell: Sukkot (held on Yom Kippur afternoon, 1:30pm)

Advance registration required, please click below.

Free to Shir Ami members, $140 for nonmembers.

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