March Madness! (March KOL)
March 2, 2012
March Madness!
I have spent most of my life living in a household of college basketball fans. For the men in our family, March Madness was all about brackets, rather than what wild Purim costumes Mom might choose to wear for Shabbat or the Carnival. But, here at TBS, March 2012 will be a month that really brings speakers and events that exemplify the depth and breadth of the values we treasure as a congregation. I want to make sure that you all are aware of the fabulous Menu of March Madness that is yours for the taking. Here are some of the highlights:
This Shabbat, Friday March 2nd, we kick off our ten days of Purim with a fun-filled Family Shabbat Purim IN COSTUME!! We will read our new children’s Megillah, pray from a brand new Purim service I have created for this year, and enjoy the music of our first graders. Our FeaSTY youth group will top off the night with a shul-in just to make the Shabbat complete.
Next Shabbat, March 9th, offers our Tot Shabbat regulars another costume opportunity as our youngest worshippers and their parents gather to sing and celebrate Purim together at 7 p.m. For our second act next Shabbat, we will celebrate a more Adult Purim Shabbat, also in costume (for those who want to wear those outfits your spouse never lets you wear to temple), at 8 p.m., which we’ve entitled the Gantze Megillah. We will have a chance to read the real book of Esther, for a change, and then stay after oneg as we have an Adult Ed program to study some of the parts of the Megillah we often miss when it is condensed into a shpiel.
DON’T MISS TBS HAS TALENT?!– OUR ANNUAL TBS FUNDRAISER ON MARCH 10TH, WHICH WILL DEFINITELY BE THE TALK OF THE TOWN, THE COUNTY AND THE COMMONWEALTH!!
March 11th will be our world-famous Brotherhood-sponsored Purim Carnival. Check your Bit of Shalom for the religious school schedule changes for what promises to be our final dress up opportunity of the ten days of Purim at TBS.
Jews and Arabs can live and learn together in Israel. Come to services on March 16th as we welcome Lauren Joseph, Development Director of Hagar– a school in the southern part of Israel where Jewish and Arab children learn together in a bilingual, multi-cultural school which brings the students together at a young age, sharing the vision of their parents to shape a peaceful world of co-existence. Isn’t this the Israel we want to see? Come hear more about it from our dear family friend, an American Reform rabbi’s daughter, former NFTY-ite and Camp Harlam alum, who has made aliyah and works for this incredible organization.
On March 23rd we welcome Col. Risa Morris home from Afghanistan! Our 6th and 7th graders and their parents will be part of a wonderful service that will include a sermon by Risa on her experience as a Jew after this second tour of duty in the Middle East. Help us honor a member of our military, and a fellow member, for her service to our country, and come to hear about Jewish life for those who serve our country today.
And, last but certainly not least, TBS welcomes Josh Nelson, internationally renowned musician, who was the director of music for the recent URJ Biennial, for the fifth Friday of March (March 30th). This is March Madness that you must come to hear and see!!! Don’t miss the chance to see the NUMBER ONE talent in Jewish music and American music today! Josh will have just returned from touring Japan. Visit his website – joshnelsonmusic.com to see the movies and talents Josh has been involved with, including his recent composition for the Academy Awards. Bring your friends! Bring your family!
This is just some of the wonderful programming this month at the temple. We hope you will take advantage of the wide range of opportunities to grow, learn, share, and experience in our thriving Jewish community.
Looking forward to sharing our March Madness with all of you!
Fondly,
Rabbi Perlin