Lake Placid Synagogue News

2307 Saranac Avenue, Lake Placid, NY 518-523-3876 November 2020

From the Desk of the Adirondacker

November 2020

The leaves have turned, just as the year has turned. 5781 is well and truly here. Last month saw the most liturgical activity that has to offer. I hope that we will all zoom together for the services you will find on the schedule. It seems like so much and yet Judaism is like a good habit. It needs to be used and practised so that it fits like an old pair of shoes. There is a comfort level that comes with time and repetition.

This is the message of the Jewish High Holy Days, beginning anew, out of the chaos that we have experienced in the past year, learning the lesson of how to deal with life, and make it better, for ourselves and for the rest of the world.

The rabbis taught: - the performance of one mitzvah generates another. As with all things we have to begin somewhere. It really does not matter where we begin - as long as we do begin.

As the rabbi of this small community I suggest that one place to begin is here at the Lake Placid Synagogue. Here in the Adirondacks where we are so few is a good place to start is to be a part of the community, whether in prayer, social activity or learning. Every one who takes part in our activities performs a mitzvah by enhancing our little group. Those who are not with us are sorely missed. We are diminished when our community is not complete.

Let this year be a year of activity and community for all of us as we continue to make Judaism meaningful in this place of so blessed by God with beauty. As we make our faith vital and alive for ourselves we make it possible for others to benefit - just as we benefit from their presence. Mitzvah goreret mitzvah.

As I write this the first snow has fallen, Halloween and the change of the clocks is immanent, voting is in a few days and winter is about to arrive.

Wear a mask, wash your hands and social distance.

With best wishes,

Alec H. Friedmann, Rabbi [email protected]

The new normal is doing everything virtually as we attempt to keep the coronavirus at bay. We all need to wear masks, wash hands and keep up the social distancing, but that does not mean that we cannot gather online. The proof of the success of this has been seen in our service attendance. And we continue to reach out to our members to gather online, where we can pray together, or just talk. As such, we offer virtual Services and a weekly chat with the Rabbi. Our virtual services will continue with bi-weekly services for November through June. I hope you can join us for these events. Any questions contact me – Sue Semegram [email protected].

LPS Virtual Shabbat Service First and Third Friday of the month at 7:30pm

Zoom Meeting: Virtual Shabbat Service link

Meeting ID: 935 0289 7647

Password: Shalom

Or Dial in by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 935 0289 7647 Password: 511994 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aeaolCfgRX

Chat with the Rabbi about anything Jewish. Mondays at 7:30pm

Zoom Meeting: Chat with the Rabbi link

Meeting ID: 944 5532 4541

Password: Shalom

Or Dial in by your location +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US +1 301 715 8592 US Meeting ID: 944 5532 4541 Password: 048297 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aeaolCfgRX

Membership is due and Synagogue donations are always welcome.

Our membership letters went out in July as our fiscal year is September 1 to August 31. However, you can renew your membership at any time. If you are not a member, please consider joining. Our dues are extremely low at $500. If you do not choose to join as a full member, please consider making a donation to help us maintain our haven here in the Adirondacks. Please mail your donation to the Lake Placid Synagogue at PO Box 521, Lake Placid, NY 12946.

Lake Placid Ecumenical Food Panty Challenge Match!

This is an ongoing appeal which our members have been wonderfully generous to assist with. To date we have raised over $2,000 and helped to provide well over 2,000 meals. I have expanded our impact to include the Wilmington, Saranac Lake and surrounding area’s food pantries with donations as well as making a donation to Mazon, the Jewish Response to Hunger. If you gave already, thank you. If you have not yet given, please consider doing so.

I am very pleased to announce that we have a challenge match offered by a generous member family. They will match dollar to dollar up to $5,000 donated to the LP Synagogue for the food pantry. So please continue to help this cause. To donate send your check, payable to the “Lake Placid Synagogue” as a fully tax deductible donation. Mail your check to Lake Placid Synagogue, PO Box 521, Lake Placid, NY 12946. Please mention that you want the money to go to the food pantry needs.

Yahrtzeit Candle/Yizkor Service

There are 4 times a year when Jews light a Yahrtzeit Candle, in memory of loved ones who have died. Yizkor is a memorial service recited on Yom Kippur as well as the last days of , Shavuot, and Sukkot. Yizkor, the Hebrew word for "remember", asks God to remember those we mourn and to grant them proper rest. A Yahrtzeit Candle is lit at sundown on... • The first night of Yom Kippur • The night of Shemini Atzeret (the 8th night of Sukkot) • The second night of Shavuot • The last night of Passover Yizkor service takes place the following day. Each issue of the newsletter contains YAHRTZEIT observances of individuals that have some connection to the temple. This is an excellent opportunity for you to memorialize your loved ones. For a small donation, we would be honored to publish their names. Please send your donation to the LP Synagogue, PO Box 521, Lake Placid, NY 12946 and include the name of your loved one with the exact date and year of their passing.

Yahrtzeits November 2020 5781

CHESHVAN Cheshvan 17 November 4 Kate Auslander Cheshvan 18 November 5 Ezra Feinberg Cheshvan 21 November 8 Margaret Klein Harold Miller Cheshvan 22 November 9 Aline Feinberg Jennie Schwartz Cheshvan 25 November 12 Samuel Volpert, MD Cheshvan 26 November 13 Irving Krinowitz Cheshvan 27 November 14 Samuel Hailpern Cheshvan 29 November 16 Herman Levine

KISLEV Kislev 1 November 17 Jules Feather Anna Zak Arlan Kislev 7 November 23 Judah Koltz Kislev 11 November 27 Sarah Feather Kislev 12 November 28 Agnes E. Sadov Kislev 13 November 29 Sadie Messe