CCHAHAII NNOOTETESS Song of Peace Congregation Shir Shalom · 4660 Sheridan Drive · Williamsville, NY 14221 · (716) 633-8877 · Fax (716) 633-8952 June 2018 Sivan - Tamuz 5778 Friday, June 8th - Saturday, June 9th Freda Berger Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein Rabbi Becker-Klein will bring a unique blend of Blue Grass Music and Jewish Soul to CSS. Friday, June 8th at 7:00pm Jewish Bluegrass Erev Shabbat Service Join us for a joyous fusion of bluegrass musical sensitivities. Saturday, June 9th Lunch 12:00pm/ Program 1:00pm Jewish Sacred Eating for Today (Understanding EcoKashrut and MicroShechital) How can the sacred Jewish approach to eating animals be applied to the realities of our day? This question will be introduced during the morning Torah Study and extended over Shabbat lunch. Reservations required by June 5th. Saturday, June 9th at 7:00pm “Songs of Justice and Peace” We will gather for an uplifting evening of timely and inspiring music. Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein serves as rabbi of Congregation Beth El in Bennington, Vermont. He is an original member of Shabbat Unplugged and also has solo recordings. Rabbi Becker-Klein acted as Assistant Editor for the High Holy Day Prayerbook published by the Reconstructionist Press, and serves on the Camp Havaya board. He is on the faculty at the University of Delaware. Rabbi Becker-Klein is also an expert in the field of kosher food as a mashgi'akh, and a specialist in micro-shekhitah. He also runs Roasting Rabbi Coffee, a coffee roasting company that inspires holy elevation in each batch to be shared on special days and in everyday life. Sponsored by the Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM www.shirshalombuffalo.org Upcoming Services June 2018 Parashat Behaalotecha (Numbers 8:1-12:16) Friday, June 1, 2018 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat Family Service and Bat Mitzvah of Lauren Farber Saturday, June 2, 2018 9:00 AM Torah Study at Canterbury Woods CONGREGATION SHIR SHALOM 11:00 AM Shabbat Morning Service at Canterbury Woods “Song of Peace" *** OUR MISSION IS TO BE A WELCOMING Parashat Shlach (Numbers 13:1-15:41) COMMUNITY AND TO ENHANCE ALL ASPECTS OF JEWISH LIFE. Friday, June 8, 2018 7:00 PM “Jewish Bluegrass” Erev Shabbat Service WE ARE: with Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein Reform and Reconstructionist Diverse Saturday, June 9, 2018 Multigenerational 9:00 AM Torah Study Inclusive and Interfaith 10:30 AM Mishebeirach and Mourner’s Kaddish 10:45 AM Shabbat Morning Service WE SHARE: Joy in Judaism *** Compassion and support Parashat Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32) Lifelong learning Traditions with flexibility Friday, June 15, 2018 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat Service WE AFFIRM: Reinterpreting our heritage Saturday, June 16, 2018 Repairing the world 9:00 AM Torah Study Embracing uniqueness and unity 10:30 AM Shabbat Morning Service and Recognizing the relevance of Israel Bat Mitzvah of Violet Peck *** Parashat Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1) Friday, June 22, 2018 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, June 23, 2018 9:00 AM Torah Study 10:30 AM Mishebeirach and Mourner’s Kaddish 10:45 AM Shabbat Morning Service *** Parashat Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9) Friday, June 29, 2018 7:00 PM Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, June 30, 2018 Chai Notes - Issue 64 9:00 AM Torah Study Published Monthly Congregation Shir Shalom 10:30 AM Mishebeirach and Mourner’s Kaddish 4660 Sheridan Drive 10:45 AM Shabbat Morning Service Williamsville, NY 14221 2 From Rabbi Lazarus-Klein Tikkun Olam Chesed Caring Committee If you have ever visited Masada, traveled up its winding snake path, or been transported The CSS Chesed Caring Committee wants you to know that up by cable car, you will have seen, not only, we take care of our members in a very special way; namely, by the site of the last zealot stronghold in the providing meals for families who: have a loved one just days after the destruction of the Second returning home from the hospital; are experiencing the birth of Temple, but also, the first fully equipped a new baby; or are observing Shiva. All we need is a call from desert spa. Overlooking the beautiful Dead someone in the family to let us know that one of the above Sea, Herod built a palace meant to satisfy all of our hedonic situations exists, and we will provide a delicious meal for the desires, including an elaborate steam room and heated bath, immediate family. as well as storage space for years of food cravings. There were massive storage units for wheat, barley, plums, We also are looking for volunteers who would be able to pick apricots, peaches, figs, nuts, pomegranates, grapes, wine, up the meals and deliver them to the recipient’s home. This olives and almonds. And, what about the dovecot tower, does not have to be a long-term commitment. The more volunteers we have, the fewer times you will be called to help. equipped with hundreds and hundreds of spaces for tasty “chicken” dinners. There was so much food stored on “Care-Ring” Masada that the zealots lived for years on what was still left We recognize that some members, who are unable to leave over, seven years after Herod’s death. As a guide explained their homes for one reason or another or who live alone, may on our communal trip to Israel last January, Herod was the appreciate a phone call once a week from another caring first “foodie.” congregant. We are reaching out to both those who would like Today, being a “foodie” seems to be the norm, rather than to hear from someone, to chat, to visit on the phone, and those who are willing to make the phone calls. the exception. In the Jewish world, new specialty items pop up all the time. In this month’s column, I would like to share Please let us know if you want this service, or if you are able to news about two great new Jewish artisanal food offerings provide this service. We will explain the details. It’s easy, that have started within the past year. The first is from my convenient, and it’s a MITZVAH. All you need is a phone and a brother-in-law, Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein, who will be visiting few minutes a week. our community for the Freda Berger Scholar-in-Residence Program June 8th - 9th. Micah has been interested in food for To request a meal be provided to a member or to volunteer, quite a while, most specifically the rules behind kosher please call Adrienne Crandall at 875-7061, slaughter, but this past winter he decided to dedicate himself or email her at [email protected] to starting a business called “The Roasting Rabbi,” whose tagline is “releasing the Holy Spark in each bean.” As written on his website (roastingrabbi.com), “Micah believes that a good cup of coffee can help bring people closer together to share their ideas, concerns, and to find love together.” The second involves a local mensch who I have known since Meet with the Rabbi or Cantor I officiated at his wedding some five or six years ago, Zach Rosenbloom. A few months ago he sent me an email If you need guidance, advice, or if you just want to schmooze, apologizing for not being in synagogue more, but proclaiming Rabbi Alex and Cantor Frank are available every Thursday, from he had found his connection to Judaism through food. A chef 1:30 to 3:00pm. Call Rabbi Alex at (716) 308-4558 or Cantor by trade, currently at the Park Country Club, Zach has Frank at (845) 596-5142, to make an appointment. dedicated some time to starting a Knish business. These Eastern European Jewish delicacies are perfect for the cold climate of Buffalo. His plan is to sell the knishes at the Williamsville Farmer’s Market. And, where will he be cooking them? Right here at Shir Shalom. He brought over a tray of August 2018 them and they are absolutely delicious. I bet even Herod Chai Notes Deadline would have loved both of these offerings. The deadline for articles to be submitted for inclusion in B’Shalom, the August 2018 issue of Chai Notes is June 21, 2018. Please submit articles to the editor at [email protected] [email protected] 3 CSS Religious School, Youth & Family Programming From the Religious School Director Mazel Tov to our June B’nai Mitzvah and their Families The last day of school is always filled with many emotions. It is wonderful to see how far the students have come in just nine months. Many of our youngest students loose teeth (and get new ones), most get taller, they make friends, and they all learn. It is gratifying to see excited looks when students make connections, figure things out and begin to develop their personal Jewish identity. Lauren Farber Violet Peck th May 6 was our last day of Religious School for the year. The June 1st at 7:00pm June 16th at 10:30am morning was fun- filled with various activities, including Tzedek Corp for our older students. Everyone had an enjoyable morning and left the building with a sweet ice cream treat. Although I welcome the break from all the daily preparation that Religious School entails, I confess I will miss all of the smiling faces, enthusiasm, and activity that makes our school so special. In a very short time, I’m sure that I will be impatiently waiting for our halls and classrooms to be bustling with the joyful sounds of learning.