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Something for Everyone

Rabbi Micah Streiffer

Every month, I spend some time gathering up program write ups and content for the Voice. Every month, I am amazed by how much we have going on as a congregation! If you scan over the document below, you will find a plethora of things at do at shul:

  • Classes – Talmud, Midrash, Torah…some involving sushi
  • Social events, such as challah cover making
  • Our stellar Kol Ami softball team. (Interested, guys??)
  • A variety of Shabbat and holiday services – including some with the choir, others featuring our rock band, and other musical options as well
  • Our amazing Purim celebration, this year set to the music of ABBA

And that doesn’t even include such upcoming events as our Pesach Seder, a panel on mental health in Judaism, Rock Shabbat in the park, our blood donor clinic, and much more!

We all connect to Judaism in different ways. For some, it is through worship and ritual; for others, it is the study that brings us to the synagogue. Still others are looking for volunteer opportunities, social connections, food, drink, music, or dancing. The ancient Rabbis understood that connection to religion was multifaceted. Eighteen centuries they wrote:

עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים:

The world stands on three things: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of kindness.

(Mishnah, Avot 1:2)

Torah: the ways that we learn together.

Worship: the ways that we come together to pray, sing, and perform ritual

Acts of kindness: the kind acts that we perform for one another and for our fellow citizens of the world.

What stands at the centre of all of this is community – the relationships we build. Judaism is a team sport; whether we are studying, singing, praying, making challah covers, or playing softball, we do it together.

We are very fortunate to have such an active and supportive congregation. And we are deeply indebted to the many volunteers who give their time and their passion to Kol Ami every single day. Please join me in thanking them, next time you are here at shul. And please consider volunteering to help with something at Kol Ami that you feel passionately about. If you need help figuring out which area you might want to be involved in, give me a call!

At Kol Ami, there is something for everyone. I look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Micah Streiffer

Tue, March 19 2024 9 Adar II 5784