Shalom!
August is upon us, and it’s that time of year to start getting ready to go back to school! Religious school, that is. We have a teacher in-service this month, and then religious school starts up in early September.
Now that the Family Promise program is back up and running, we recently hosted a family of five. Thank you to all who helped host, provided meals, socialized, and stayed overnight so a family in need had a place to call their home for the week. The board hosted dinner Wednesday night, and Naomi Homrighausen made a delicious African stew. The rest of us brought a variety of sides. It was fun to connect and learn a little about the family. Some of us even got to practice speaking a little French and Spanish. I think it is fantastic that our community opens its doors to those in need. If you’d like to learn more about Family Promise, we have a learning session coming up on Wednesday, August 22nd at Noon at Temple Judah. Pizza and drinks will be provided; please RSVP to the office by the day prior.
For this month’s Temple Judah history tidbit, construction of our current building had begun late in 1963, with a groundbreaking ceremony in November of that year. Roughly ten months later, 54 years ago this month on August 30, 1964, a ceremony for the Transfer of Torahs and the Laying of the Cornerstone of the building occurred. At 2:00 in the afternoon, a convoy of two convertibles were used to relocate the Torahs from the Washington Avenue building to the Lindsay Lane site. Those transporting the Torahs in the convertibles were Rabbi Neuman, Bill Gasway, A.L. Smulekoff, Sam Becker, Dr. Charles Schwartz, Nate Cohn, Dr. Maurice Estes, and Joe Sinaiko. They delivered the Torahs to the top of the hill, where the scrolls were conveyed to Harold Becker, Leo Smulekoff, Stanley Ginsberg, Jim Handler, and Henry Katz. The Torahs were then carried to the provisional arc in the lower sanctuary. The ceremony for the Laying of Cornerstone occurred that same day, with the architects and contractor. A few months later, festivities began in honor of the Dedication of Temple Judah.
High Holidays are just over a month away!!! We’re going to have a busy month of preparing, and we have plenty of volunteer opportunities, including High Holiday Choir. If baking is your thing, we’re looking for apple and honey cakes for the Rosh Hashanah oneg, and dairy dishes for the Yom Kippur Break-the-Fast. See the Bulletin or the weekly Shaliach for more information!
Have a great August!
Jill
President