Shalom All,
For many of us, summer typically means managing different schedules, kids are out of school, family’s try to take vacations, and outside activities win out over indoor choices. For a congregation, summer usually means a quiet few months following a busy school year before life gets hectic again in preparation for the High Holy Days.
This summer, at Temple Judah, the month of June is going to seem especially quiet. Though there will be services every Friday night at 6:30 pm as usual, all of our other typical events and meetings won’t be happening. Shavuot, a common June holiday occurred in May. Our Congregational Annual Meeting, normally in June, is this Sunday, May 27th, and the June Board meeting will likely be canceled. Even the Temple office is going to be closed for a week and half this month.
Why, you might ask, will everything be so quiet? Because a large group of us, 27 in total, are fulfilling our annual Passover vow “B’shanah Haba’ah B’rushalayim – Next Year in Jerusalem.” We will be starting in Tel Aviv and then head up the coast to Haifa, inland to S’fat, Tiberias, and the north, then south to Jerusalem, Masada and the Dead Sea. It’s going to be an incredible experience that we will try and share with you all as we go. Look for status updates on the Temple’s Facebook page, and I’ll even dust off my twitter feed @toddthal and send out pictures with the label #IowaGoestoIsrael.
During services, June 8th, along with our regular birthday and anniversary blessings, I’ll be adding one for a journey to the Holy Land.
It’s looking to be a beautiful summer.
May you all have safe travels, happy experiences, and wonderful memories.
Shalom,
Rabbi Todd