The Fun Goes on with Shafty!
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hironThe Monthly Newsletter from Shir Ami in Newtown, Pennsylvania SMAY • JUNE 2021 | Iyar • Sivan • Tammuz 5781 THE FUN GOES ON WITH SHAFTY! inside: Rabbi Briskin: What it Means to “Return Again”..................3 May & June Services Calendar...................................................4 Community Events............................................................................6 Order Your Shir Ami T-Shirt.........................................................11 ...and much more - IN THIS ISSUE OF SHIRON! 101 Richboro Rd | Newtown, PA | www.shirami.org Main: 215.968.3400 | Religious School: 215.968.3254 | E.L.C.: 215.968.6255 2 FROM OUR RABBI’S STUDY SHIRON | May / June 2021 Return Again There is a lyric to a melody often sung at the High Holy What new ways of gathering might we see in the months Days which also speaks to us at this moment in the life ahead? Periodic Shabbat services on site for a limited of our congregation. “Return again, return again, return number of people, either in the sanctuary or weather to the home of your soul.” permitting outdoors. Not every week, but if we are able to get used to the idea of gathering in person again, it Many of us are yearning to return: to work and to will help us prepare for whatever a new normal could school; to camp, restaurants and the gym. We yearn to possibly be in the fall. return to living as we once did before the pandemic. RABBI CHARLES BRISKIN We have recently increased our capacity for b.mitzvah High among those places for which we yearn to return is services to 50 guests. Having now presided over Shir Ami. several in person services with larger numbers, it does feel a bit more normal in the sanctuary, even if we are still wearing masks. For many Shir Ami is our “Third Place.” Based on an idea first articulated by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his 1990 book, Our Confirmation Service and our Board Installation services later “The Great Good Place” a third place comes after the home and this month will be in person. In person participation for these special the workplace as the next most important place to gather. Howard ceremonies will be limited to those being honored, however we will Schultz, former CEO of The Starbucks Corporation championed livestream to the entire congregation so that all may participate, as we the idea of the “Third Place.” He wanted every Starbucks to be begin to experiment with hybrid worship experiences. an important gathering place in our communities. For many, including me, it was (before indoor seating was suspended) a We hope to return to the sanctuary in some capacity for the High Holy de facto satellite office space where I could retreat to read, write, Days. While we do not yet know what that will look like, we know that and think without the regular interruptions of the home or the office. a high quality live stream will complement whatever we do in person It was my third place. And how I long to return again. for those who prefer to join us from home. For those who yearn to return to their spiritual home, we hope that many of you will be able How, when, in what capacity we return to Shir Ami is a constant to join us. conversation among our staff and leadership. We have had an incredibly successful and safe year running our ELC in person. Our Unfortunately, we cannot simply flip a switch and return to how it protocols have kept children, teachers and staff safe and healthy. was. We envision requiring masks and distancing for the foreseeable However, parents have not been able to celebrate some key moments future. As long as the CDC makes these recommendations, we will with their children in person – Shabbat in the sanctuary, the Passover implement them. Literally breaking bread together is likely a long way plays, socializing in the lobby. off. But gathering for some masked and distanced conversations following an in person Shabbat service, may be possible (without Our hybrid religious school has also been successful. During the the coffee and pastries). warmer months, we meet outside; when the weather doesn’t cooperate, we meet inside, distanced, masked and with more of The prefix “re” will be at the heart of our work this summer and beyond. our students logging in from home. However, parents drop off, We will return, reunite, rejoin, re-inspire and rededicate ourselves to and pick up without coming into the building. Most conversations our beloved Third Place – Shir Ami. It will look different than it once I’ve had with parents this year have been through rolled down was, and it will take some getting used to, however, it is our mission car windows. to fulfill our yearning to return to the home of our soul. While we have learned how to provide meaningful opportunities for gathering online, Zoom is not a third place. How then can we return to the home of our soul, to our third place, to our beloved Shir Ami? Slowly, carefully, deliberately. CONTACT RABBI CHUCK BRISKIN: [email protected] | 215.968.3400 Ext. 102 3 All Friday services via Zoom (unless otherwise noted) and begin at 6:30 pm MAY | JUNE CALENDAR (with table blessings at 6:15pm). Chevrat Torah will remain at 10:15am. WEEK OF MAY 1 WEEK OF MAY 21 WEEK OF JUNE 11 SATURDAY 5/1 FRIDAY 5/21 FRIDAY 6/11 10:15am Shabbat Worship. 7:00pm Shabbat Service 6:15pm FIINGERMAN BAT MITZVAH LiveStream from our sanctuary Shabbat Your Way: A return of this popular Shabbat alternative. Look to the weekly Abraham Swerdlow Sanctuary Shabbat Service celebrating the 2021-2022 Board email for choices of activities via Zoom. A traditional Shabbat of Directors. Join us as we install our new board 10:15am service will also be one of the Shabbat Your Way options. Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service members, President Ellie Short, Jeffrey Cohen, _____________________________R Led by Rabbi Greg Litcofsky Melissa Rubenstein, Andy Salsman, and Rachel _____________________________ Tyler. And as we thank our outgoing board members, SATURDAY 6/12 Sharon Benoff, Faith Bowers, and Jeff Eder for their 10:15am WEEK OF MAY 7 years of services to Shir Ami. Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service _________________________________ FRIDAY 5/7 Led by Cantor Flo Friedman 6:15pm Shabbat Table Blessings SATURDAY 5/22 10:15am Shabbat Worship. 10:15am 6:30pm Intergenerational Shabbat MEYERS B’NAI MITZVAH Featuring Rabbi Briskin, Cantor Kohlbrenner, Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service Rabbi Goldberg and song leader Michael Led by by Cantor Rachel Kohlbrenner Abraham Swerdlow Sanctuary Smolen, with a special graduation __________________________________ 4:30pm Shabbat Worship. blessing to all of our high school seniors. WEEK OF JUNE 18 _____________________________ EPSTEIN BAT MITZVAH FRIDAY 6/18 SATURDAY 5/8N BAT MITZVAH Abraham Swerdlow Sanctuary 10:15am ____________________________ 7:00pm Shabbat Service Shabbat Services at Shir Ami and also Livestream. Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service WEEK OF MAY 28 Led by Cantor Flo Friedman As we slowly begin to open up Shir Ami to in person worship _____________________________ for the community, we invite 50 people to join us in the FRIDAY 5/28 Abraham Swerdlow Sanctuary. Social distancing and mask WEEK OF MAY 14 6:15pm Shabbat Table Blessings wearing is required. Unfortunately, we cannot offer an Oneg 6:30pm Shabbat Service Shabbat follow (however we can spend a few minutes FRIDAY 5/14 _______________________________ schmoozing in the parking lot afterwards). 6:15pm Shabbat Table Blessings SATURDAY 5/29 _____________________________ 6:30pm Shabbat Service 10:15am SATURDAY 6/19 with WoSA and Men’s Club Board Installation Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service _____________________________ 10:15am Led by Rabbi Paula Goldberg SATURDAY 5/15 Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service 10:15am Shabbat Worship. Led by by Cantor Rachel Kohlbrenner 4:30pm Shabbat Worship. COE BAT MITZVAH WEEK OF JUNE 4 SCHAFER BAR MITZVAH Abraham Swerdlow Sanctuary FRIDAY 6/4 Abraham Swerdlow Sanctuary ______________________________ 10:15am Shabbat Worship. 6:15pm Shabbat Table Blessings Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service 6:30pm Intergenerational Shabbat Led by Rabbi Greg Litcofsky WEEK OF JUNE 25 Featuring Rabbi Briskin, Cantor Kohlbrenner, 4:30pm Confirmation Service Rabbi Goldberg and song leader Michael Smolen. FRIDAY 6/25 [ see page 6 for more information ] _______________________________ 6:15pm Shabbat Services _______________________________ _____________________________ SATURDAY 6/5 SATURDAY 6/26 SUNDAY 5/16 10:15am 10:15am Celebrate Shavuot with the Bucks County Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service Chevrat Torah Shabbat Service Kehilla: Journeys to Judaism Led by Rabbi Chuck Briskin Led by Rabbi Greg Litcofsky Celebrate this Festival holiday with an evening of 4:30pm Shabbat Worship. storytelling and music that connects our Jewish 10:15am Shabbat Worship journeys to the receiving of the Torah GRABOW BAT MITZVAH BISHOP BAR MITZVAH 6:30-7:45pm via Zoom link (here) Abraham Swerdlow Sanctuary Abraham Swerdlow Sanctuary Preceding our Kehillah gathering, please join your Shir Ami friends for a brief Yizkor Memorial Service as we remember those in our Shir Ami This summer, we hope to have more Shabbat Services at Shir Ami, either outside or in the Sanctuary. Throughout the family who have died since last Shavuot, Summer, we will feature a new program called Kol Ha’kahal—voices of the community in which Shir Ami members will share a d’var Torah or their Shir Ami story with the congregation during the Shabbat Service. If you would like to be one of 5:45-6:15pm via Zoom link (here) our speakers, please contact Rabbi Briskin directly. 4 Zoom links will be provided on the Shir Ami e-News. Email [email protected] if you require a link. ANNOUNCEMENTS SHIRON | May / June 2021 TODAH RABAH B. MITZVAH To Donna DeSantis and her Grocery Card Delivery Crew: Barbara Roth, Linda Brown, Shelley Chloe Fingerman Fisher, Mindy Chesner, and Lindye Shechtman daughter of Laura Glickman and Jarad Fingerman To Marilyn Halpern and Marc Luber and their Food Bank crew for continually making fighting May 1, 2021 | 19 Iyar 5781 Parashat Emor food hunger in Bucks County a priority and the Food Bank.