בס״ד
Rabbi Eichenholtz’s Message:
We have just begun the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, favorite among clergy, and worship committees in synagogues worldwide. Why? Because Cheshvan has no holidays. There is absolutely nothing special about this month. No extra services or events, no holiday meals to plan, or sukkot to build, or hanukkiot to light. Just 29 regular days until next Rosh Hodesh (this year also Thanksgiving Day). We are all taking this time to settle into our routines of fall. For some in our community that’s moving back to winter homes, for others it’s school and extra-curriculars, this week the clocks will change, and we will shift our sleep but keep going each day after each other.
When we think about our Jewish memories, many times we default to big moments, a holiday meal, a lifecycle event. Sitting next with multiple generations at the High Holidays, watching a family member stand under the chuppah, the first year we asked the four questions, the glow of the hanukkah candles
reflected in our children’s eyes, the voice of a teenager at their bar/bat mitzvah. Yet, so much of our lives is not those moments at all. It’s the Cheshvans, the regular and the routine, the daily grind so to say.
In this new year of 5780 what Jewish will you add to your routine? What CAA events will you add? We have heat and wifi, and hot beverages on request, stop by when you’re in the neighborhood even if it’s only to say hi. Join us for a service, or a learning session, suggest an outing or a social program. At the same time in this new year of 5780, what does CAA need to add to our routine? Programing, fundraising, communication, social justice, interfaith work, visits to congregants, activities in public. Please let me, the office, and synagogue leadership know what you’d like to see here at the synagogue. There are so many things that we put off until the moment is right. Let’s all take advantage of Cheshvan to reinvigorate our routines.
–Rabbi Eichenholtz
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Shabbat Candle Lighting Times
Friday, Nov 1 – 5:19pm
Friday, Nov 8 – 4:10pm
Friday, Nov 15 – 4:04pm
Friday, Nov 22 – 3:58pm
Friday, Nov 29 – 3:55pm
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Service Times:
Thursdays: 7:15 am Morning Minyan
Fridays: 6:00 pm
Saturdays: 9:30 am
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Daylight Savings ends Sun, Nov 3
–set your clocks back before you go to bed on Saturday!
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Veterans’ Service
Congregation Agudat Achim will be holding a Veterans’ Service on
Friday, November 8 at 6:00pm
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REMINDERS:
Office will be closed:
–Mon, Nov 11 for Veteran’s Day
–Thurs & Fri Nov 28-29 for Thanksgiving
COMMITTEES:
Board meeting: Mon, Nov 4, 7:30pm
Education Committee: Sun, Nov 10, 9:00am
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LOST AND FOUND:
We found a silver red travel mug around sukkah-building time (Oct 6th)—please contact the office if you are missing your mug!
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Rabbi Office Hours:
Appointments available Sunday morning, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Please contact SJ in the office to schedule your appointment!
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NOVEMBER’S MITZVAH HERO
Carolyn
From the Ma’asim Tovim Jar:
“Carolyn made sure that Mim Linsky had rides to and from High Holiday Services.”
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Join us for Community Learning!
SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE SHABBAT
November 8th – 9th
(See the Scholar in Residence 2019 flyer for a full description.)
The event begins Friday night with a potluck dinner following services.
Please remember food must be vegetarian, dairy or fish (but not shellfish).
If you bring something warm, bring it in a container that can be placed directly on our warming trays. (Do not bring a crock pot that needs to be plugged in.)
Please bring a small sign such as an index card listing all ingredients to assist those with allergies or dietary restrictions.
The synagogue kitchen will be locked during dinner and clean-up. Your leftovers must be taken home or they will be thrown out.
(CAA’s Potluck guidelines are included at the end of this month’s bulletin)
What Are We Saying When We Pray?
Learning Series:
Sundays November 3rd and 17th at 10:00am
In this class, Rabbi Eichenholtz will lead us in navigating the prayers
from our weekly services. We will gain greater comfort and familiarity with the service
as we explore the emotions and deeper meaning behind our prayers.
All are welcome—open to all experience levels!
LEARN TO READ HEBREW!
Hebrew Reading Crash Course Level 1
Learning Series:
Sundays November 10th and 24th at 10:00am
Join Rabbi Eichenholtz for a class in Level 1 Hebrew. All welcome!
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Interfaith Thanksgiving
An Interfaith Community Gathering
November 24, 4:00pm
Congregation Agudat Achim
Join with members of religious communities from around the area for a pre-Thanksgiving interfaith gathering. The program will include music, readings, and personal reflections on thankfulness. Refreshments and socializing to follow!
We hope you can join us in meeting new people and strengthening our neighborly ties!
We will be collecting goods for local shelters—details soon…
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TORATHON 2019
“Legendary Jews Who Inspire Us”
Saturday, November 16, 2019
5:15pm – 10:00pm
Congregation Beth Israel,
15 Jamesbury Drive, Worcester
The 31st occasion of this annual event bringing together Jewish communities from around our region.
Event includes Havdalah, music and dancing with Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band, followed by your choice of hour-long classes and workshops from 7-10pm, with refreshments after.
Tickets Available:
JewishCentralMass.org/torathon
or at Congregation Agudat Achim
Tickets are $20 in advance (before Nov 14) or $25 at the door
High School/College Students $5 (in advance) $10 at the door
Brochures available at CAA and in the MA Jewish Ledger
Rabbi Eichenholtz will be a featured teacher at this year’s Torathon!
Join her for her class “And the Winner Will Remain Nameless…”
an exploration of instances of unnamed and also female authorities in Rabbinic tradition.
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TOT SHABBAT SERVICE
November 23, 10:30am
Calling all 0-7 year olds for a playful Shabbat morning program with songs, stories, snacks, and socializing!
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Thank you to everyone who helped us construct our community sukkah last month, and to Steve Levine and Eric Mendelson for providing sustenance for our labors.
Nice job, everyone!
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Yahrzeits for November 2019
Nov 1-2: Sidney Ansin, Irwin Cohn, Benjamin Flaum, David Kreiger, Sarah Richman, Ann Smith, Samuel Tharler, Max Ungar, Samuel Zack
Nov 3-9: Joseph Argoff, Bernard “Bud” Berkowitz, Israel Britton, Irving Cohen, Anne Elkins, Myron Freeman, Belle Gabel, Reva Goldberg, Louis Jacobs, Marilyn Jaffe, Gert Katz, Irving Kalfus, Minnie Claman King, Morris Ligom, Howard Miller, Dora Poppel, Edith Rosin, Max Sarkin, Jack Smith, Jacob Spound, Esther Tall, Judith Tieger, Israel Jacob Weinstein, Elizabeth Woolf, Sidney Zerinsky
Nov 10-16: Samuel Aronoff, Benjamin Bass, Dorothy Casper, Richard Davis, Ida Fashing, Flora Fergenson, Louis Flaum, Simon Friedman, Harry Glick, Rose Glick, Helen Herman, Ethel Katcher, Harry Katz, Clara Klein, Gloria Krumholz, Ethel Miller, Lorraine Nodelman, Helene Portnoy, Marjorie Smith Rand, Greta Rittenburg, Goldie Rosenbloom, Doris Schwartz, Sadie Smith, Simon Tonkin, Lillian Wein, Ethel Weiskott, Henry Wolfson
Nov 17-23: Vilge Angelini, Ellen Black, Jacob Bloom, Morris Coplon, Joseph C. Foster, Joe Joseph, Phil Ross, Harriet Sirota, David Zerinsky
Nov 24-30: Sandi Braune, Samuel Claman, Zygmunt Gabel, Bertram Gaynor, Arthur Goldstein, Sana Gould, Louis Hard, Minnie Lazarowitz, Abe Levin, Abraham Levine, Maurice Messerman, Julius Miller, Harry Nathanson, Julia Newmark, Arthur Rafer, Sally Ross, Sarah Sarkin, Robert Schwartz, Netty Weedon, Jack Zonderman
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CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 2019
Friday, November 1: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm
Saturday, November 2: Shabbat Service 9:30am
>>Sunday, November 3: Rummage Sale 8:00am – 1:00pm
Adult Continuing Education 10:00am
What Are We Saying When We Pray?
Monday, November 4: Board Meeting 7:30pm
Thursday, November 7: Morning Minyan 7:15am
>>Friday, November 8: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm
Veterans’ Service
Scholar in Residence Potluck following services
>>Saturday, November 9: Shabbat Service 9:30am
Scholar in Residence Luncheon following services
>>Sunday, November 10: Education Committee 9:00am
Adult Continuing Education 10:00am
Hebrew Reading Crash Course series
>>Monday, November 11: Office Closed for Veterans’ Day
Thursday, November 14: Morning Minyan 7:15am
Friday, November 15: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm
>>Saturday, November 16: Shabbat Service 9:30am
Xavier Cruz Bar Mitzvah
Luncheon to follow—all welcome!
>>Sunday, November 17: Education Committee 9:00am
Adult Continuing Education 10:00am
What Are We Saying When We Pray? series
Thursday, November 21: Morning Minyan 7:15am
Friday, November 22: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm
>>Saturday, November 23: Shabbat Service 9:30am
Tot Shabbat 10:30am
>>Sunday, November 24: Adult Continuing Education 10:00am
Hebrew Reading Crash Course series
Interfaith Thanksgiving Event 4:00pm
at Congregation Agudat Achim
>>Tuesday, November 26: No Religious School
>>Thursday, November 28: Office Closed for Thanksgiving
Morning Minyan 7:15am
>>Friday, November 29: Office Closed
Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00pm
Saturday, November 30: Shabbat Service 9:30am
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Guidelines for Potluck Shabbat Dinners at Agudat Achim
We have enjoyed sharing potluck dinners in the social hall. These guidelines allow us to do so while maintaining standards of kashrut and Shabbat. Questions can be directed to Rabbi Eichenholtz.
- All food is to be dairy or pareve., i.e., nothing should contain meat or meat products (no chicken broth, gelatin, etc.). Eggs are fine. Many kinds of fish are also fine, but not If you have any doubt about an ingredient, please check with Rabbi Eichenholtz first.
- Disposable place settings will be provided. However, to reduce waste, you are encouraged to bring a dish and silverware from home and take it home to clean afterward. The kitchen will not be available to wash dishes.
- Please bring with you a small sign or index card with a legible list of all ingredients to assist those with allergies or other dietary needs.
- Since Shabbat often starts before we arrive, food cannot be cooked nor heating elements plugged in when you set out your food. The synagogue will set out warming trays on which you can place food to keep it warm. Please bring any food to be served warm in a container that can be placed directly on a warming tray.
- To maintain the higher standard of kashrut that has always applied to the synagogue kitchen, the kitchen will be closedduring potlucks and cleanup. Please plan to pack any leftovers and to bring your serving dishes and utensils home unwashed. If you find you need something that might be in the kitchen, please ask Rabbi Eichenholtz or a member of the Worship Committee (Rich Cohen, Bob Sarafconn, Marc Tieger, Scott Zibel) for assistance.
Thank you for following these guidelines so that we can both continue to enjoy these meals together and provide the community with a strictly kosher kitchen. The Worship Committee appreciates your respect and cooperation!