This past Sunday, after our well-attended annual meeting, Alison and I went off alone, with babysitter at home, and spent a glorious day celebrating our 11 year anniversary. As much as we know each other after these years, we always learn new things about each other. This anniversary, I asked her to cut my hair. Well, I quickly learned that it will be at least another 11 years before she cuts it again. We laughed our tuchuses off when she was in mid-cut, and the word ‘oops’ slipped out of her mouth.
These days, I miss my barber. But there are many others I truly miss. I miss our Montreal members who cannot come down to Stowe with the border closed. I miss our east coast JCOGS family who are sheltering in place and cannot leave their homes in Boston, New York, and beyond. I even miss our locals, who I have seen some of at the recent racial justice protests, yet behind masks.
When Alison and I laughed so hard that I almost fell off my chair, it became so abundantly clear to me—in these horrible times, we all need a serious, good old-fashioned, coming up from your kishkes LAUGH. But these days, what else other than a botched haircut can make us laugh so hard that it hurts? Funny you should ask!
How about our JCOGS summer fundraiser, Sunday, June 28—Laugh Your Tuchus Off: a community-building, fundraising, rollicking good time. The night will feature the hilarious Joel Chasnoff and local comedians. There will also be an amazing silent auction like you have never seen before. In fact, the auction will be one of the most community-building happenings we have ever done as an institution because the auction items you can bid on are talents and services offered by our incredible membership. So please register NOW RIGHT HERE so you get the link for the event and for the silent auction. The auction goes live this Sunday!
Finally, a note to all the fathers as I wish you a delightful Father’s Day. And to those fathers who have passed away, we miss you too. You are the ones that always tell the best tuchus jokes.
JCOGS Membership The new fiscal year begins July 1, meaning it is time to renew your 2020-2021 membership at JCOGS. Read the messages from Rabbi David and JCOGS President Emily Rosenbaum here and from CFJCOGS President Irwin Tauben here.
Ride Against Racism: Johnson The third event in the REAL Weekends of Action is a solidarity loop around Old Mill Park in Johnson between 10am-2pm on Saturday June 20th Make signs or decorate your bike, helmet, chair, or clothes. To avoid car pileup we invite people to arrive on bikes, foot, wagon, or wheelchair. No stairs or steep inclines exist on this route. More information, including map, here . ....................................................
Saturday, June 20, 9 PM Havdalah Join in Havdalah with Rabbi David and family. Set yourself up before havdalah with a glass of wine or grape juice, some sweet smelling spices, and a havdalah candle (here’s how to make one or to buy one), and follow along with the prayers here. Join via zoom here. ....................................................
Sunday-Thursday, June 21-25 JCOGS Goods & Services Online Fundraiser Auction Register here and you will be sent your link to view and start the bidding on Sunday, June 21. This amazing 'blind' Auction includes: Judaica, Adventure, Gardening goods and services, Art, Food, ...and many, many more unique items. ....................................................
Registration is free, but please donate if you can. Don’t wait, register TODAY. You must be registered to watch the show, access the JCOGS Book of Jokes*, and to get first chance at the auction, to be kicked off on Sunday. Winners will be announced during the comedy night, need not be present to win. *send any family-friendly jokes and videos to amy.wenger@jcogs.org. ....................................................
JCOGS Green Team Gardening The Green Team is interested in starting a Community Garden at the Synagogue. The intent is to use the garden "as both an outdoor experiential Jewish classroom and a vehicle to stimulate our community’s commitment to environmental stewardship and food justice." Since the growing season is well underway, we need to find out now if you might help us with the ongoing upkeep of this "starter" garden. Please contact Karen Stewart, m:516-429-3377 or email Karen at jcogs@jcogs.org with your thoughts and any ideas. CSA To support JCOGS members in accessing fresh, local, sustainably grown food, the JCOGS Green Team has put together a list of local Vermont farms that offer CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture). A CSA provides weekly shares of produce and other farm products to customers who pay in advance for the season or 'pay-as-you-go' each week. For a comprehensive list of organic farms that offer CSAs in Vermont, please refer to the NOFA-VT interactive directory at https://nofavt.org/find-organic-local-food/csas. Enjoy the season with healthy local food! ....................................................
Click here for details about the discounted fuel rates available for JCOGS members only. The deadline to sign up has been extended to the end of July.
The JCOGS building is currently closed, please contact us at jcogs@jcogs.org or 802-253-1800 if you need any assistance.
