Shabbat Shalom & Happy Passover to the Sha’are Shalom Family,

As we get ready to celebrate Passover with family & friends, I’d like to wish everyone Chag Same’ach on behalf of all of the staff and lay leaders here at Sha’are Shalom. 

The Seder is a balance between telling the story of God’s saving intervention for our ancestors and a moment of motivation for us to continue the work of enabling others to live in freedom and blessing. This year we continue to witness anti-Jewish messaging, violence, and the suffering that results whether on college campuses or on city streets around the world. We feel this chaos and it is unsettling and complicated. By gathering for Passover we take an important step in strengthening our resolve to push back. We continue to hope for the safe return of the remaining hostages and for an end to the fighting in the Middle East.

May God bless us all, our families, friends, and our communities as we navigate these challenging times together. And may the symbolic rituals we perform at Seder be a motivation, as we’re taught by Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman Shapira, a motivation for God to bring liberation, hope, and blessing to our world soon since we cannot flourish without these things.

Please join us as we gather for Passover services on Sunday and Monday morning.  

Remember to start counting the Omer on Sunday night. For the Omer, you can sign up for daily text message reminders at www.tefillos.com

I look forward to hearing about the interesting and thought-provoking discussions everyone has at the Seder table this year. 

I’d like to thank Heidi Dodds, Jessica Wadler, and Jen Charlap – and all the other volunteers who will help with setup and clean up -- for their wonderful work putting together this year’s CSS Second Night Seder. We’re expecting a great crowd of 60+ participants.

Finally, we continue to mourn with our good friend Rabbi Bruce Aft on the passing of his wife Sue, may her memory be a blessing. Please save Sunday afternoon May 4 for a gathering at Sha’are Shalom to celebrate Sue’s life, along with Rabbi Bruce and his family.

Shabbat Shalom & Chag Same’ach,

Rabbi Tow