Shabbat Shalom ~ Ki Tisa 2024

Shalom WJC Family,

We have two unique and potentially life changing opportunities (This is not hyperbole) coming up this week – I hope you’ll clear your calendars and make an effort to come to both. First I want to mention Heschel’s Passover Eve, the 45-minute, one-man show created in honor of the 50th anniversary of Abraham Joshua Heschel’s passing. We are hosting an exclusive production of the show on Wednesday night March 6th at 7:30.

The play takes place a few days before the seder, April 1968. Heschel was supposed to host his friend Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but King was assassinated one week before Passover. Rabbi Jacob Blementhal, CEO of the Rabbinical Assembly and United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism describes, “This performance is a moving and powerful tribute to Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s life and legacy. Just as Rabbi Herschel prayed with his feet in Selma, this one person play pushes us toward caring, justice, and action. Every community around the world should host this experience and heed its call.”

This production is entertaining, educational, and moving. It also fits right into so much of the programming and learning we have been doing this year regarding Civil Rights and the community bridge building. I hope you will join us.

Also next week will be an opportunity to meet Daniel and Bubu, the founders of Project 24. These are two amazing people – best friends from their childhoods in Israel, Bubu became a reluctant hero on October 7th, defending his home in Kibbutz Reim and rescuing several people in the process. Daniel is an entrepreneurial whiz who decided to spend his energies helping the folks of the Kibbutzim. Together they founded Project 24 to not only help the people attacked on October 7th, but to help them find independence and empower them to care for themselves and their families.

Our Israel Volunteering Trip met with them in Tel Aviv and now we are privileged to be partnering with them and the JCC of Mid-Westchester on a very special project. A teen swim team from the Gaza Envelope is coming to our area next week to swim together for the first time since their homes were invaded by terrorists. We are providing home hospitality, entertainment, and many opportunities to meet teens here in America. While they are here, on the evening of Tuesday March 5th, Daniel and Bubu will be speaking at WJC. They will introduce themselves and their work and having seen them speak I can assure you, their story and project are mesmerizing, inspiring, and truly extraordinary. This is a must-see for anyone looking for how to truly help and connect with the members of the Kibbutzim attacked on October 7th.

And of course, we have a beautiful Shabbat before then, including the mincha bat mitzvah of Charlotte Dowell. Mazal tov to her parents Elise and David.”The congregation is invited to take part in this service. It is the sole service that will be at WJC for mincha/maariv.”

Then on Sunday March 3rd it’s Community Day. Come by at noon and help make meals or no-sew blankets for those in need.  Admission is free, but we kindly ask you to bring non-perishable food items like cereal, canned beans, vegetables, and pasta to donate to the HOPE Food Pantry. I’m looking forward to making pasta and sandwiches with you for those who really need them.

See you in shul,