Dear JCOGS family,
This epic holiday season has come to a close. What a journey, starting with the month of Elul that led us to the reboot of Rosh Hashanah, into asking forgiveness on Yom Kippur, to the joy (and tacos) of Sukkot, the praying for rain on Shemini Atzeret, and the completion and renewal of the Torah cycle on Simchat Torah!
I want to offer so much gratitude to ALL THE MANY HEARTS AND HANDS that made this High Holy Day season possible.
Before I go further though, I have two requests for you. First, we truly value your appreciation and constructive feedback about your High Holy Day experience, so please share it with us by filling out this
90-second form. Second, stay connected this year. If you are not a member and were moved by the High Holy Day services,
consider joining JCOGS. If you are a member, take a deeper step into our community.
In this new year, what are your goals for connecting with your local Jewish community?Okay, at the risk of missing someone, it’s time for all the many, MANY thank yous:
To our Director of Education Beth Liberman, and Jonah Ibson, Michal Rosenbaum, Jude Elfer, and our childminders for our inspired youth programming.
To those who deliciously helped us at The Nosh: Patti Rubin, Debby and Monika Sherman, Emma Schaffer, Marley Begins, and Amy Wenger.
To announcement-maker and stand-up comic, Matt Yoskowitz, and to welcomers, ushers, and setter-uppers Rita Schneps, Emily Rosenbaum, Reuben and Samson Berlin, Rick Kaminer, Mark Nash, Todd and Ben Sherman, Hinda Miller, Kara and Asa Rosenberg, Judith Wine, Bobbi Rood, Shelly Citron, and all who helped.
To Priscilla Minkin for telling such a moving story on Rosh Hashanah.
Listen to it HERE (again and again).
To our shofar blowers: Steve Schneps and Aron Temkin and the dozen or more shofar blowers who helped us end Yom Kippur.
To Lynne Gedanken, Willa Bruckner, Susan Bauchner, Amy Rosenthal, Aron Temkin, Rachel Funk, Lis Erickson, and Sephirah Oshkello for leading us in prayer so beautifully.
To our building committee for taking care of our building, and Stowe Mountain Resort for the extra chairs.
To Michel Kabay, Toby Israel, and the Stowe Police for your attention to security.
An enormous thank you to our ritual team, Susan Bauchner, Willa Bruckner, Aron Temkin, and Nat Bacon; and to
all the many members who stepped up to read Torah and Haftarah and accepted honours.
To our tech giants Matt Dolliver and Jack Vignone.
To Alison Kaminer, our new Operations Director, for your truly Moses-level efforts.
To our
EXTRAORDINARY musicians, David Goodman, Deborah Black, Jacob Racusin, Rachel Funk, Dov, Jaco, and Lynda Schiller, Eliza Thomas, and Lis Erickson. Simply stated: wow.
To our President Steve Levine, for
all you do for JCOGS. And to our devoted board, and the many committee members and chairs—thank you for making our community so Homegrown.
And, to all of those who came to our services, all of you, in just being present—you have each given of ourselves, and for that, we are grateful.
Tihiyu bri’im, be well. Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David
P.S. Musicians join us for Shabbat tonight at 6p.m., with a special oneg sponsored by the Mersons. Perhaps see you soon…
P.P.S. Don’t forget about that
High Holy Day feedback form.
