Category Archives: March
PASSOVER COAST TO COAST
Compared to some celebrations, our little community Seder is a bargain. Hope to see you there.
WHY IS THE WHITE HOUSE SEDER DIFFERENT THAN ALL OTHERS?
Click here to find out.
http://forward.com/articles/173508/how-is-the-white-house-seder-different-from-all-ot/?p=all
Official Launch of ReformJudaism.org
We are excited to announce that the new website ReformJudaism.org is out of “beta” mode and now officially launched!
ReformJudaism.org is the first website to provide a wealth of Jewish information through a Reform Jewish lens. Our intended audiences are affiliated Jews, unaffiliated/unengaged Jews, and those who are just curious. Our goal is to provide visitors with engaging content that represents the best that the Reform Movement has to offer. We hope to enrich the site by showcasing the great work from your congregations, so please keep this in mind and send us your suggestions and ideas! Rabbi Dan Levin’s video on what you need for a seder is a great example of this, as well as an article about chametz and kitniyot by Rabbi Eric Berk and Rabbi Paul Kipnes. If we decide to include your contribution, we will include full credit and a link back to your site.
Some easy ways to contribute include:
– Suggest a prayer or blessing to add to the site’s searchable index of prayers and blessings
– Suggest a blog post
– Suggest a recipe
– Suggest an event to add to the calendar
– Send us a link to a video your congregation has produced, or anything else you’d like to share.
Visitors can comment on nearly any page of the site, and can interact with the site in many other ways as well, including:
– Ask Tina Wasserman a question about Jewish cooking
– Ask a rabbi a question about Judaism
– Find a Judaism class near you
– Find a congregation near you
– Find an event near you
– Send a free e-card
– Find information and commentaries on any Torah portion
– Find a Jewish baby name
– Find a mohel/mohelet
And finally, we have launched a new video on the home page of the site that introduces Reform Judaism to visitors. It is also featured on YouTube. We invite you to use this video and embed it on your websites to welcome new visitors.
As a reminder: if you are on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest, we encourage you to follow the URJ and share the information that we put out on these social networking channels.
More developments, improvements, and additions are expected in the coming months. Please take some time to explore the site and, as always, we welcome your feedback.
A zissen Pesach, Shabbat Shalom, and a good weekend to all…
Jill Peltzman
Digital Media Director
Communications/PR
Union for Reform Judaism
212-650-4215
PASSOVER IN 60 MINUTES (OR LESS!)
Everything you need to know about Passover…
the laws, the customs, and the history
in 60 minutes or less
CLICK HERE
Tell your friends about Partners in Torah
and share the gift of Jewish learning.
Call 800-STUDY-4-2 or visit http://www.partnersintorah.org
With warmest wishes to you and your family
for a joyous Passover
Rabbi Eli Gewirtz
Partners in Torah | 228 Aycrigg Avenue | Passaic | NJ | 07055
VIDEO YOUR CONGREGATION’S HISTORY
The Reform Judaism magazine editors hope to publish an article by Charles Stone about URJ congregations recording oral histories of their members and clergy as do-it-yourself projects using affordable high-definition digital video technology. The article would feature best practices, telling stories and describing the impact of this oral history initiative on the congregation, explaining start-up protocols, and more.
Are you doing this in your congregation? Do you know of any such congregational video (not audio) projects the URJ might wish to consider?
Please email Joy Weinberg, Managing Editor, at jweinberg@urj.org with details as soon as possible.
Many thanks.
Merry
Merry Lugasy
Director, Small Congregations Network
Union for Reform Judaism
212.452.6742 | C: 216.965.6536
Office located in Cleveland OH – EasternTime Zone
BREAKING NEWS IN NEW YORK!
Submitted by Stephen Boyd
Following his recent ban on soda containers over 16 ounces, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that he now intends to place similar limits on wine and matzo consumption at Passover seders.
Everyone knows that Jews struggle with obesity, the mayor declared at a news conference yesterday at Gracie Mansion, so why aggravate the problem by drinking four whole cups of wine and eating three large sheets of matzo at a single meal? Noting that the Passover foods are a Jewish tradition dating back thousands of years, the mayor said, That may be so, but look at the health problems they create. You eat all that unleavened bread, and your system is bound to get backed up. It s no wonder Moses was pleading, Let my people go. Bloomberg added, No one needs that much wine at a meal, either. And, shamefully, the biggest offender is a Jewish icon the prophet Elijah. On seder night, he goes from house to house drinking. Who does he think he is, some frat boy? In a surprising display of erudition in Jewish law, the mayor said he was familiar with, and opposed to, the adherence to the strictest requirements encouraged by some Torah sages. If you intend to adhere to the shiurim of the Chazzon Ish, or even Rabbi Moses Feinstein, take your Seder out of the City, said a defiant Bloomberg.
He outlined his restrictions as follows:
For the drinking of the four cups 3.3. oz. will be the maximum permitted under New York City law. You may think 5.3 ounces is a saintly amount to drink for each of your 4 cups, but it is overly burdensome on the NYPD when they have to haul your machmir tuchus off to detox.
For the Eating of Matzoh No more than the size of 1/3 of an egg, measured by weight and not volume. You will be subject to citation or arrest if you feel the need to stuff half of a Talmudic egg in your mouth and choking on your high halachic standards. The Mayor then left the press conference angrily, turning only to add, Next year in Jerusalem. IF you can fit on the plane!”
Passover supplies ARE available in Great Falls…
As noted in the comments in the last post, a small selection of Passover it’s is available at the 10th Ave S Albertson’s.
Nadyne Weissman was kind enough to provide this photo of items for sale this year:
As always, please patronize establishments in our small community that make a point to carry Passover supplies.
Matzah in Great Falls?
So far, we have been unsuccessful in finding any retailer in Great Falls that is carrying kosher-for-Passover products. Has anyone else had any luck finding any matzah?
Make your Reservations for the Community Passover Seder NOW!
Traditional arrangement of symbolic foods on a Passover Seder Plate (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Our community Passover seder is coming up in only two weeks! The seder will be held on the evening of Tuesday, March 26 at the meeting room at Clark and Lewie’s restaurant, 7th Street and 1st Ave South.
We need your RSVP as soon as possible! You can make your reservation on our website, by visiting https://aitzchaim.com/pesach-seder-reservations/, by sending Laura Weiss an email at president@aitzchaim.com or by calling her at 452-8621.
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 