“We were all surprised!”

The fall is my favorite time of the year. I love to look at the different colors of leaves, bushes, and plants. We are so fortunate to have a wonderful array of natural beauty surrounding Temple Judah. If you take a few minutes and walk around the Temple grounds you will see what I mean. The wildflowers on the hillside, the variety of trees and the numerous wildlife will surprise you. We have deer hanging out under the pear tree at the front of the sanctuary (trying to get the pears that Tony misses). I stopped at Temple one evening before dark and there were seven deer on the grounds. As I walked up to the front door, I startled two of them who were laying in the bushes below the pear tree.  We were all (the deer and I) surprised!!

This is the time of year I also plant new trees at my house. I was fortunate to acquire three trees from a giveaway at the Cedar Rapids School District sponsored by the Monarch Research Habitat Restoration. I also picked up three trees directly from the Monarch Research Habitat Restoration’s “One child, one tree program”. I had to go to the Monarch Research Event Center to pick up these trees. It was a long drive down a beautiful tree lined driveway to pick them up and at the end of the drive was Jim Hoffman, directing traffic and volunteering. It is so good to see fellow Temple Judah members involved in great organizations like this!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a stellar performance by Steve Ginsburg in the Revival Theatre Company’s production of 1776.  He was truly a great Ben Franklin. We are blessed in our community to have so many wonderful theatre companies (and talented performers)!

Finally, I want to send a special thanks to Mitchell Levin for leading services while the Rabbi was on vacation. I heard from a little birdie that he had a great discussion about the Torah portion. I wanted to be there, but I was in Champaign, IL doing a ceremony for family at the unveiling of my oldest brother’s head stone.

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 the High Holy day services, outdoor services, Bat and Bar Mitzvahs, a baby naming, 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. Donate! Participate!

Shalom.
Brian D. Cohen
President