Congregation Adas Emuno

This Week at Adas Emuno—Honoring Our Social Action Committee

February 08, 2024 8:02 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Feb. 8, 2024

Dear Friends,
Join us this week for "Social Action Shabbat".
We honor the members of our social action committee, and the good work they are doing.
Several will speak, and social justice music will infuse our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM), with Peter Hayes on guitar joining with our cantor.

We'll emphasize some of the great social justice teachings of our Torah portion and tradition at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

The same applies to our Religious school service and Confirmation Class on Sunday.

Did you love reading the classic novel The Chosen by Chaim Potok? Our selection for our next book club meeting (on March 11) reminds me of that volume. It's called Leaving Eastern Parkway by Matthew Daub, and is available from the library.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Explore Morocco Sunday Morning!

February 01, 2024 10:01 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Feb. 1, 2024

Just who was Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses?
The Torah portion of this week is named after him.
He plays a quiet but crucial role in Moses' family and in the Exodus experience.
It’s worth exploring, which we will do at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

Just what happened at Sinai?
That also is the subject of the Torah portion, which includes the giving of the Ten Commandments.
We'll continue our exploration of revelation at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

As a world traveler myself, I love learning about Jewish communities around the world.
At our Sunday Adult Education, Sally and Michael Seymour will talk about their recent trip to Morocco. (10:00 AM).
Come learn about the rich Jewish history there, and sample a few middle-eastern treats.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Celebrating Tu Bishvat

January 25, 2024 8:29 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan. 25, 2024

Dear Friends,
Today the trees are celebrating- it’s their new year, Tu Bishvat.

Did you ever hear about Honi-the-Circlemaker, the Jewish Johnny Appleseed?
We'll talk about him (and a bit about Johnny himself) at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

Did you ever attend a Seder Tu Bishvat?
It's tasty and fun and educational!
It's happening in lieu of Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM), and the fruits and drinks are on the house.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

January 18, 2024 8:02 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan. 18, 2024

Dear Friends,
Nobody ever said that being a leader is easy.
Just how hard it is we see repeatedly in the Exodus story.
I'll comment on this ever-relevant theme at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

If I ask you the question: Who wrote the Torah?, how would you answer?
We will take on this big subject at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM)

On Sunday both our Tot and Confirmation programs meet, and a special school program for Tu Bishvat, the New Year of Trees, is also happening.
Note that our annual Seder Tu Bishvat for adults will take place next Saturday morning, the 27th (in lieu of Torah study).

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

January 11, 2024 8:40 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan.11, 2024

Dear Friends,
The greatness of Martin Luther King Jr. was his quest not only for racial equality but for economic equality.
It is the latter that I will consider when I speak about the gap of "Two Americas" that is widening, not narrowing, at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).
Once again we welcome song leader Adam Kohane.
We'll also honor Dr. King's legacy at our religious school service on Sunday.

The second semester of Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) has begun, as we explore Jewish views of the soul and immortality.
Note that Congregation Gesher Shalom will commence their Shabbat morning services in the sanctuary at the same time, open to all.

Robbie Slater received the high honor of an Eagle Scout commendation last week, and I was privileged to participate in the ceremony. Mazal tov to Robbie and his family!

Finally, as we keep the hostages ever-present in our thoughts:

On Friday, January 12 at 9 AM, please join the Hostages and Missing Families Forum for a demonstration marking 100 days since hostages were taken by Hamas on October 7th. It will take place in front of the United Nations at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (47th Street and First Avenue). Please join us and our partners as we continue to call to #BringThemHomeNow.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

January 04, 2024 8:14 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan. 4, 2024

Dear Friends,
The Book of Exodus, which we begin reading in the Torah cycle this week, begins by noting the change of generations after Joseph and his brothers pass away.
I've been conscious of generational change during this tumultuous time, especially when it comes to support for Israel, or the lack thereof, from young Jews.
We need to talk about this openly, which I will do at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).
Once again, we welcome Adam Kohane, as guest song leader, and appreciate his uplifting vocals and guitar.

Welcome to the second semester of Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).
Is there really something called the soul? What does Judaism believe about life after death? Is human nature basically good or bad? These are some of the questions we'll be considering in our continued exploration of Open Judaism.

On the lighter side of things, a discussion of unique comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks will take place via Zoom at our Adas Emuno Book Club on Monday (7:30 PM).

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Rabbi’s Top Ten List

December 28, 2023 8:30 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 28, 2023

Dear Friends,
On this last Shabbat of the year I once again present to you...
"The Rabbi's Top Ten Jewish News Stories".
This has been a tradition of mine for the past 13 years!

I'll do so at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).
For Israel and the Jewish community this was such an intensely eventful year...and there is so much to talk about.

This is a quiet, post-Hanukkah time of the year.
Please note that both religious school and Torah study are on break this week.

Let's hope that 2024 will bring a greater measure of shalom (peace, security, wholeness, reconciliation) into our lives and the world.

Shabbat shalom and Happy New Year,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

December 21, 2023 8:26 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 21, 2023

Dear Friends,
This week's Torah portion presents a great act of reconciliation between brothers.

After an exhausting year of sibling conflict between Israel and her neighbors, and between Israeli's themselves, and between Israel's supporters and detractors...
And after an exhausting year of sibling conflict between conservatives and progressives, Democrats and Republicans, here in our own country...
Can reconciliation take place, and what would it look like?

We'll take this up at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM), with Adam Kohane, our new youth group advisor and song leader, substituting for our student cantor.

Happy winter (which officially starts today), and please note that both religious school and Torah study are on break this week and next.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

December 14, 2023 8:16 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 14, 2023

Dear Friends,
Thanks to everyone who made our Hanukkah celebrations so meaningful this year, from our joyous family service and school celebrations, to the wonderful concert and Torah study.

With the last light of Hanukkah this evening, we'll take a final look back at the holiday tomorrow.
What is the true legacy and lesson of the Maccabees, especially in this perilous time?
We'll share our thoughts as they relate to the unending stream of relevant current events at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

What do Reform Jews, like ourselves, believe, or not believe, about God?
We continue our exploration of this subject at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM)

Reminder: Both school and Torah Study are in session this week, but will be off for winter break the last two weeks of December.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Hanukkah Celebrations!

December 07, 2023 9:23 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 7, 2023

Dear Friends,
Hanukkah arrives tonight, and we wish you a light-filled holiday!
Today is also Pearl Harbor Day, and we remember the importance of kindling light against the dark then, and now.

Our Shabbat/Hanukkah Family Service (7:30 PM) tomorrow, led by our 4/5th grades, will feature the lighting of our 123-year-old menorah, festive music, and a tasty oneg.
This is also our community Leonia lighting, and we will be joined by both our mayor and mayor-elect.
Note: there will not be a daily lighting of an outdoor menorah this year. (Our outdoor menorah has been retired.)

Curious about the "true" story of Hanukkah?
Our special Shabbat/Hanukkah Torah Study (10:00 AM) will consider the Book of Maccabees, that ironically did not make it into the Hebrew Bible, but sheds important light on what really happened.

Ready to rock in the sanctuary?
A Swinging Hanukkah Jazz Concert (2:00 PM) on Sunday, features our very own Scott Dennis and his band, with a wine and cheese reception to follow (free and open to the public- invite your friends!).

At any of these events please pick up your Hanukkah gift bag from the social hall, courtesy of our Caring Community Committee.

And congratulations to student cantors Flaxman and Karlin, who had their senior recitals this week and last at Hebrew Union College and were magnificent!

Shabbat shalom and Hag Urim Sameach,
Rabbi Schwartz