News

It is impossible to fully comprehend the scope of the disaster in the northern Bahamas.  The massive destruction has left 70,000 people homeless - almost 1 out of 5 Bahamians.  The need could not be greater.  The following are some of the many organizations providing relief:

Red Cross - redcross.org

World Central Kitchen - donate.wck.org

Global Giving - www.globalgiving.org

Joint Distribution Committee - https://donate.jdc.org/give/248154/#!/donation/checkout

Please be generous.

Thunderstorms had been forecast in Monday, yet on the morning of July 18, it was clear this was going to be a perfect summer day. A slight breeze blew across Sandiwood Farm in Wolcott, carrying the smell of flowers and grass with a slight hint of ripening garlic. Guests were a little late in arriving, having been caught in road construction traffic in both Stowe and Wolcott. By 5:45, Deborah and David were playing music, friends were greeting one another, and the Summer Farm Dinner Fundraiser was in full swing.

JCOGS member Nat Bacon, head cheesemaker at Jasper Hill Farm, led a fascinating tasting of some of the finest cheeses in the world. Rare is the synagogue that can boast a world-class cheese tasting. Guests sampled Little Hosmer, Cabot Clothbound, Alpha Tolman, Bayley Hazen Blue, and Winnimere while learning about what they were eating. Winnimere, is made in the spring and found only in the local area, as it is sensitive to travel. Little Hosmer is traditionally made by women. And every cheese made at Jasper Hill is named for a Vermont location. 

As the evening wore on, guests browsed the silent auction, dined on food so fresh it had been picked yards away that morning, and sang Happy Birthday to Edie. And as the sun sank, the old friends debated the best way to roast a marshmallow as they made s'mores by the camp fire. 

We are deeply grateful to Sara and Bob Schlosser, who opened their hearts and their farm to JCOGS, working long hours to provide this beautiful evening to benefit JCOGS. Sandiwood Farm is a land of deep beauty where everyone slows down just a little and embraces the moment. Everyone agrees: there's just something about Sandiwood.

Thank you also to Patti and Linda, our auction co-chairs, who put in countless hours to make this auction a success. While most of the silent auction items sold, there were a few awesome offerings left. JCOGS members are invited to bid on these remaining items, which are listed below with minimum bids. If you'd like to see any of the items, drop by JCOGS or email emily.rosenbaum@jcogs.org to arrange for a photo. To bid, simply email jcogs@jcogs.org by next Wednesday, July 31, with your minimum and maximum bid. Help close out our summer fundraiser as a resounding success. 

• Signed, framed Karen Hallion print (value $300, minimum bid $100)
• Mosaic by Bette Ann Libby (value $250, minimum bid $175)
• Craig Mooney painting "Forest Trail" (value $2500, minimum bid $1250)
• Two Stowe Theatre Guild tickets (value $40, minimum bid $20)
• Three-night stay at Spruce Peak studio apartment with spa passes (value $2000, minimum bid $1000)
• Seven-day stay at Casa Heavenly (value $14,000, minimum bid $7000)
• Health coach consult and book (value $120, minimum bid $60)
• Jewish genealogy session (value $120, minimum bid $60)
• Mindful eating 12-week program (value $1800, minimum bid $900)
• Pinnacle Ski & Sports package: (choice of any 2020 Men’s or Women’s Volkl Skis with marker binding up to $1000 in value. Ski/Snowboard Season Tuning Pass. New junior ski/snowboard season lease. Inner Bootworks: custom foot bed) (value $1250, minimum bid $625)
• Power lunch with Tom Kearney (value $150, minimum bid $75)
• Shmuel Katz signed lithograph (value $450, minimum bid $200)
• Song writing session with Rachel Funk: (value $180, minimum bid $90)
• VT Pottery Works leaf mold platter (value $145, minimum bid $75)

Stay tuned for a complete list of all our auction item donors!

Our tikkun olam committee stepped up this summer to help three refugee boys attend camp. The boys have a scholarship to attend Camp Killooleet, an overnight camp in Vermont. JCOGS collected and packed all the gear these boys would need. Thank you to all the people who went through their hand-me-downs and donated funds, and a special thanks to our tikkun olam committee for packing them up. We'll be driving the boys to camp on Saturday!

Friday night, May 10, was one of the most special Shabbat services of the year. We gathered to celebrate the end of the Olam Chesed school year, a year that was dedicated to learning about holiness. But this wasn't just a service for the children, as families were encouraged to bring parents and grandparents. For children whose grandparents live too far to come, JCOGS elders volunteered to be Bubbie and Zaydie for the night. Blessings were given, prayers were sung, food was eaten, and bonds were made. The partition had to be opened because there were far too many generations celebrating to fit into the sanctuary. L'dor vador לדור ודור - from generation to generation.

Ritz pie, gluten-free brownies, apricot shortbread, and chocolate coconut cake were on display Sunday night, when more than 60 JCOGS members threw a boisterous dessert potluck at the home of JCOGS president Emily Rosenbaum. A decadent and calorie-filled time was had by all. To see more photos, like our Facebook page.

We're refinishing the floors in May, but it turns out that the plastic floor protectors on the bottoms of our chairs were doing the exact opposite of protecting our floors. Those plastic discs were stuck on good, but a fierce team of volunteers showed up with vice grips and screwdrivers to remove them and put on new, softer floor protectors that won't scratch the wood. Now the chairs are ready to meet our refinished floors.