Let the games begin!

Stan Alliker, President

We now greet the fall season on Marco Island. Granted, it isn’t the array of trees with their leaves in burgundy, orange and yellow or the feel of a slight chill in the air. Here, it is a rather seamless transition into more of the same, or maybe the low 90s instead of high 90s. The sky is still robin’s-egg blue, and the sun still shines daily. And we love it.

At JCMI, fall signals the return of our rabbi and member snowbirds checking on their homes. JCMI’s summer cadre of worshippers have kept the spirit going on the shoulders of Cantorial Soloist Hari Jacobson, lay service leader Mary Pinto, live streaming and members who dove into weekly parshas to share their thoughts with congregants. It was an easygoing, wonderful time as we bounced back and forth between masking and unmasking as the COVID level for Collier County changed.

Now, we start formal worship with the return of our rabbi and the High Holidays, Succoth and Simchas Torah. With the fall, the cry of “Let the games begin!” is echoed throughout. We welcome back our traditional bingo, mahjong, canasta and newly formed Chess Club to the synagogue. The return of the Cultural Series, Jewish Film Festival and Book Club are around the corner. Keep watch on local media for dates and titles. You can also pick up the sheets of details available in the Synagogue office and lobby as you enter for Friday night services.