As you prepare for Shabbat, there are lots of options for you to get connected with your community.
At Congregation of Reform Judaism, there’s a Virtual Tot Shabbat for children under 6, followed by a live streaming Shabbat service at 6 pm. On Saturday, CRJ is offering a Bagels and Bible with Rabbi Engel and a virtual family Havdalah at 7 pm.
At Congregation Ohev Shalom, Saturday marks Virtual Guitar Shabbat at 9:30 am. Virtual Havdallah is at 8:15 pm.
Ohev’s Rabbi Emeritus Aaron D. Rubinger is offering a free 16-week course, “Discover Judaism,” starting Sunday April 19. This introductory class is open to the community. You can register by email.
Temple Israel has a variety of programs available. Services are live-streamed here. In addition, there are adult educational classes three times a week. You can participate in Torah Study on Wednesdays at noon, Mishnah Study on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm and Pathway to Judaism on Thursdays at 6:00 pm
Join SOJC for Friday night services at 7:30. Shabbat morning services begin Saturday at 9:30, with Havdallah on Saturday night at 8:30 pm. You can view their entire calendar here.
First Night Virtual Community Seder
We want to make sure no one has to be alone on Passover, so we invite you to join the Federation for our First Night Virtual Community Seder on Wednesday April 8. This event will be hosted by the Federation’s Yael Weinstein. You’ll be able to join Yael’s family and other community members without leaving your home. Register here.
New 10-week course for parents
For those of you struggling to deal with suddenly having a home full of children, we are excited to tell you about a special new program created just for you. Through the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, we will be offering a 10-week course, “Wine and Unwind: Foundations of Jewish Family Living,” on Tuesdays at 8:30 pm starting April 14. This class will be streamed through Zoom as a partnership with the Federation, PJ Library, JFGO Women’s Division, and the Roth Family JCC’s Richard S. Adler Early Childhood Learning Center. Normally $250, this class is being offered at only $100 for all 10 sessions (plus $30 for materials) thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. If you are looking for support and parental guidance based off of Jewish wisdom, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the class for you. Read more and register online.
2 ways to help those in need
Finally, for those of you who want to do a mitzvah, we are excited to share two important Federation initiatives. The first, Pantry Partners, is a joint effort with JFS Orlando to provide delivery service to people requesting food from the Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry. If you want to help deliver these food packages to families in need who are unable to pick them up themselves, you can sign up here. If you know of anybody in need of this service, please have them sign up here so we can get them the food they need. We are only able to provide this service if we have enough volunteers.
The second initiative is Food Cart from the Heart. Donations to this program enable the Federation to purchase and arrange delivery of groceries, particularly produce and perishables that are not provided through the Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry. If you know of families in need of food, please have them sign up here. We are only able to provide this food through your generous donations.
I am inspired daily as I see our community stepping up during the COVID-19 crisis. Together we are showing what community really looks like. Even as I work from home and am practicing social distancing, I am filled with gratitude as we work together to take care of one another.