The Shabbat Experience: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
How do you take care of yourself when balancing the competing demands of work and family, and whatever else life throws at you? By giving yourself a break now and then. Once a week, to be exact. “As we were planning all of our virtual Chanukah festivities, I began to think about the long winter ahead – how could we keep our BT family connected during this potentially isolating time?” asked Rabbi Chai Posner. “Shabbat. Shabbat was the answer.” The shul clergy and staff organized the Shabbat Experience, a monthlong initiative that gave BT community members numerous ways to learn about and participate in different parts of Shabbat — in whichever way was most comfortable for them. Through live and pre-recorded video classes, programs and activities, our members developed stronger connections to Shabbat — and to each other. Several members shared
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BETH TFILOH BULLETIN
“Each one of them has enhanced my understanding and made my Shabbat more meaningful. I now hold the wine cup a bit differently due to Rabbi Wohlberg’s lesson and know why we cover the challah: to remember the mannah in the desert.” which Shabbat Experience resources they found most meaningful.
part of something much greater,” said Michelle.
“I was intrigued with the program which offered a way to keep connected to BT and continue to make Shabbat feel special,” said Orit Benor-Cohen. She and her husband, Ben, enjoyed reading the divrei Torah in the Table Talk Guide, which prompted interesting discussions. Michelle and Harry Auster used the Guide to teach their children, Ethan and Emily, about the parshah. “It’s exciting to share stories from the weekly parshah and begin teaching them about our Jewish history, helping them see that they are
“Rabbi Wohlberg’s video sermons are the next best thing to being in shul and listening to him,” shared Robert Cohen, who was inspired by one video to unplug for Shabbat. “It took some effort on my part, but I found that it gave me a lot of time to think and reflect about Shabbos and myself.” Linda Hurwitz never missed a video class from Rabbi Wohlberg and Rabbi Posner. “Each one of them has enhanced my understanding and made my Shabbat
FEBRUARY • MARCH 2021 A ADAR-NISSAN 5781
