Temple News

I hope that everyone is staying healthy.  At Temple we are monitoring the rise of COVID cases in our community and are recommending that people reconsider wearing masks inside.  It is our goal to keep our community and congregation healthy and safe.  Please get your boosters and get tested if you are not feeling well.

            I want to wish a MAZAL TOV to our Confirmation Class of 5782.  We are so proud of you.  Thank you for leading our Confirmation Service this past Friday evening.  I also want to wish a MAZAL TOV to Rabbi Ed Cohn for receiving the prestigious ADL Torch of Liberty Award last week in recognition for all of his work in and for the greater New Orleans community.

            On one hand, last weekend at Temple was so nice: we went from Confirmation to Brotherhood’s Bingo & BBQ event, to an end of the year picnic for our Chavurah@Sinai families.  On the other hand, the news from around the country made it a very difficult and scary weekend.  As we read the headlines from Buffalo to Southern California (as well as to the continued and growing violence in our own city), our hearts go out to all of the families of the victims.  Again we see a rise in hate and violence – and what inaction to stop the spread of prejudice causes.  I want to share with you the important statement that the CCAR put out yesterday in response to the massacre in Buffalo that targeted the African-American community.

            I also wanted to point out that yesterday in Washington, SC there was a very important Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice, sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women.  A link to a news story on the event is included.  I am proud of our Reform Movement for being well-represented, and for being on the forefront of these fights for social justice and equal rights.

            There is so much more work to be done.  As the Talmud teaches us: it is not up to us to complete all the work, but neither are we free to abstain from doing our part.