One of the blessings of our partnership with Temple Beth Jacob is the opportunity to work together. This week the partnership shined at a yahrzeit minyan. Members of TBJ & CAI both were remembering their parents. Together we had a great turnout and even some cookies. 
Community means coming together to celebrate and to mourn. Here in Newburgh, we do both well! Join us!
What does your Friday night look like? 
There is an old story about the angels we welcome with Shalom Aleichem. One is friendly, one not so much. If the table is set for Shabbat, the songs are sung and the meal is shared, the bad angel must say Amen to the good angels prayer that next week will be the same. 
If nothing is set and Shabbat is ignored, the good angel must say amen to the icky angel's prayer that next week will look the same.
This past Shabbat we had a lovely dinner and services at Congregation Agudas Israel. 
In August we will have Luau Shabbat with our friends at the JCC and TBJ. In September, all will be invited to the rabbi's backyard for a festive Shabbat dinner. I pray you can join us!
We live in an imperfect world. Too often we see violence, misery, hate, and more depressing images on TV than we can process.
Our tradition teaches us that we always commanded to increase holiness. One way to do that is to make the world a little more beautiful. A few weeks ago, two members donated a picnic table. This table allows our office staff a place to eat outside, is located in our sukkah spot and will be ready for the fall. Yet it was, for lack of a better word, ugly. With the help of some young (and not-quite-as-young) volunteers, we now have a beautiful art piece outside AND you can eat on it.
Be inspired. Make your world a little prettier and your day will improve.
We had an amazing evening working on our davenning skills. Join us next Thursday night at 7:30pm and you'll be ready for any prayer we throw your way!
Every Thursday morning we study the liturgy of our people. Whether we meet in my office or the conference room, we find new insights into the services-and practice our Hebrew.
When are you going to join us?
Every day is an opportunity to learn Torah, to learn about the world around us, to learn about the meanings of our lives.
Your Torah influences mine. Your learning helps me grow. I need your help!
Where do we get inspiration?
Every day we have the opportunity to find moments of holiness in our daily lives. Every moment can bring us blessing. Simply by recognizing the beauty around us, we can find great sanctity. In this way we follow the words of Rabbi Meir, from Menachot 43b:
תניא היה רבי מאיר אומר
It was taught, “Rabbi Meir used to say,
חייב אדם לברך מאה ברכות בכל יום שנאמר‘
A person must make one hundred ( meah) blessings each day, as it is stated
“And now Israel, what ( mah) does the Lord, your God, ask of you.”
Whether we say those blessings literally or figuratively, each moment of gratitude brings us so much inspiration, so much goodness, so much love. Take a moment!
In June we had the wonderful opportunity of joining many from around the world and New York at the annual Celebrate Israel Parade in Manhattan. It was an amazing day!
