THIS MONTH HaHodesh
AT CHIZUK AMUNO CONGREGATION AND SCHOOLS Engaging Jewish Life & Learning SEPTEMBER 2017 | Elul / Tishri 5778
RABBI’S COLUMN As promised in my last column, I’d like to share with you some ideas and plans for this coming RABBI DEBI WECHSLER year. My focus will primarily be in five areas which I hope will enable us to have a rich, robust communal year of programming and also position us to be our best possible self for when we engage a new rabbi. I am deeply appreciative of the important work that so many are doing during this transitional year. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about transition and I’d like to identify some of our initiatives. 1. My primary goal is maintaining the offerings and services of Chizuk Amuno in the way we all expect. I am delighted to partner with Rabbi Schneider and Hazzan Perlman to ensure continuity and institutional memory during the transition. 2. The next area of interest will be that of prayer and Shabbat Services. It is important that we engage in multiple modes of prayer and explore some exciting new offerings in Jewish music this year. To that end we’ve engaged a Rosh Shirah (song leader) about whom you’ll read in this bulletin. We’ve also invited some Shabbat guests so we can experience different rabbinic models. 3. My third goal is to increase lay involvement. I’m so gratified by those who already responded Continued on Page 2
Welcome sam blustin as our ROSH SHirah We delighted to welcome Sam Blustin as our Rosh Shirah (songleader) for the 2017-2018 year. For Sam, music has always been a big part of life. From singing in choirs to serving as Rosh Shirah at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, he combines his passion for music with Judaism, opening doors to deeper meaning within Jewish tradition. Sam is also a Rabbinical Student at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and he is excited to be joining Chizuk Amuno this year as our Rosh Shirah. Sam will be spending a long weekend with us each month from September through May where he will be involved in music in Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center, Krieger Schechter Day School, and Rosenbloom Religious School. He will also be song leading and leading prayer services for our Shabbat communities. Over the course of these nine weekends with Sam as our Rosh Shirah we hope to provide ruach (spirit) in our congregation and all three of our schools. Our Rosh Shirah is someone who loves to sing, invites others to sing, and brings Jewish music into all aspects of our community. The Rosh Shirah is underwritten by the Rabbi Zaiman Educational Alliance Fund. Sam’s first weekend with us will be September 8-10. Please join us for these programs.
Friday September 8, 5:30 p.m. KSDS Shabbat Services and Welcome Back Shabbat Dinner KSDS families may RSVP at www.ksds.edu/celebrate36
Saturday September 9 12:15 p.m. (After services) - Communal Singing 7:45 p.m. - Camp Havdalah at Shul complete with S’mores, campfire and singalong – meet out at the Rosenbloom amphitheater and B.Y.O.I. (Bring Your Own Instrument) RSVP to Judy Simkin at jsimkin@chizukamuno.org
Friday, September 1, 6 p.m. Musical Shabbat with Hazzan Perlman joined by virtuosic instrumentalists Ben & Esther Rosenbloom Amphitheater Come join and experience the mystical, musical ushering in of Shabbat at Chizuk Amuno accompanied by instruments and congregational voices in robust harmony. Traditional Shabbat services will be held in the Chapel.