“… it highlighted the beautiful surroundings …”

I just wanted to mention (as I had written about in previous messages…) my fruit trees are full of pears, plums, and apricots. As a lifelong pessimist turned optimist, I worried that because of the late cold weather, there wouldn’t be any fruit this year. But rain and warm weather this spring have come through! Baruch HaShem!

Since I last wrote this column, we attended the annual Temple Judah annual meeting and Presidents BBQ. We also attended an outdoor service in the Silber Outdoor Sanctuary.

There was a great turnout for the annual meeting which followed the BBQ. I would like to thank all of those who are involved in continuing to keep Temple Judah up and running on a daily basis. This includes all board members, all committee members, the TSB board, the Rabbi and our TJ administrator. We couldn’t stay afloat without all the hard work from these people.

What a beautiful outdoor service it turned out to be. Under a cloudy sky in the shade, with a slight breeze, it was relaxing and comfortable (to be honest, too, it was so relaxing I think I nodded off … at least that’s what Terri told me afterwards). It was well attended and as we were talking afterwards with a couple who have been joining us from Washington, DC., a small deer peaked out from behind a tree and nodded approval. There is one thing I noticed at this service I have never noticed before. I tend to be a visual person, so I was surprised to smell the fragrance from the flowers that surrounded us. It just highlighted the beautiful surroundings the Silber Outdoor Sanctuary provides us at Temple Judah!

One thing I always keep in the back of my mind as a member of Temple Judah is we are all one large family. We come together to celebrate wonderful occasions like  anniversaries, Bat and Bar Mitzvahs, baby naming’s, conversions, high school graduations and marriages. But we also support those who are ill and sit shiva with our members who have lost loved ones.

Please join the Temple Judah family and do your part and contribute to keeping the flame alive and burning bright. Don’t sit on the outside, looking in. Participate!!

Shalom.
Brian D. Cohen
President