ha
H desh Fall 2024
Av 5784 – H.eshvan 5785
From Rabbi Willis Rabbi’s Message for Elul Every year, around this time, I grab a pen and notebook and head outdoors. I find a peaceful place to sit and start writing. It’s when I set intentions for the new year. What are my goals? How do I want to feel each day? What needs repairing – and how can I do my part? Writing gives a sense of clarity to the thoughts that would otherwise just swirl around in my head.
Simh.at Torah Honorees Simh.at Torah, the highlight of our Jewish calendar, is a time of great joy and celebration. On Simh.at Torah evening and morning, we jubilantly mark the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings, underscoring our love and the importance of learning. The honor of being given the final aliyah of the Torah and the first one is the highest honor we can bestow upon anyone. This year we honor Adam Samansky – Hatan Torah, and Linda Skolnik—Kallat Bereisheet. Adam and Linda have given so much to our community, and we are blessed to have them as volunteers and leaders of Temple Emunah. They will be honored on Thursday night, October 24, when we will also celebrate our kindergartners as they receive their mini-Torah scrolls and start the next phase of their Jewish learning (more details on pages 5 and 26).
A long time ago, around this time of year, Moshe grabbed a couple of stone tablets and a chisel, and set out to a very special place to write. The circumstances were a little differAdam and Linda will receive their special aliyot on Friday ent than my own pre-High Holiday journaling practice. In morning, October 25, followed by a festive kiddush luncheon the Torah, Moshe had already received the first set of tablets, in their honor.Please celebrate with us! Mazal tov to Adam inscribed with the Ten Commandments, and smashed them and Linda and their families! upon seeing the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. In the Rabbi David Lerner beginning of the month of Elul, Moshe ascends Mount Sinai for a second time. He returns to receive the commandments again, to inscribe new tablets to replace the broken ones. He Adam Samansky is up on Mount Sinai for another 40 days, returning with the Adam and Emily, along with their new tablets on the 10th of Tishrei – the same date on which we children Galete, Eli, and Yael have been observe Yom Kippur. members at Emunah since 2014. Adam On that day, when Moshe returns with the new tablets, currently serves as the chair of the Security the Israelites can be fully forgiven for worshiping the golden Committee and when not manning the calf. Those 40 days have been spent repairing the relationship front door, will occasionally lend his voice with God, parallelling the 40 days between Rosh H.odesh Elul to lead services. He’s also active with the and Yom Kippur which are a time of teshuva, of repentance Israel Committee and at times assists the and repair, for us today. board with legal matters. (continued on page 16)
See pages 4-5 for details.
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Linda Skolnik Linda has been a member of Temple Emunah for 20 years. She and husband Ira joined when their son Jonah, now 25 years and a Law School student, started in Emunah’s Gan, and when their daughter Zara, now 20 years and a college junior, was born. Linda’s commitment to Emunah started as a Tot Shabbat Leader, then as a volunteer in the Religious School, and it grew stronger from there!
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