Life ebbs and flows, priorities are reshaped and renewed over time depending on one’s personal needs, and that of family, friends, and other commitments.
Perhaps it’s been a while since you stepped into the JCOGS sanctuary or tent. If for whatever reasons we haven’t seen you in a while, I want to personally invite you back. You have been missed. Truly.
There is nothing like that feeling when a group of people get together to celebrate at JCOGS. And while many synagogues go into a quiet mode during the summer, we are just getting started as the chairs keep filling up with love every week. This summer, we have an incredible lineupof films, music, trivia, services, and more to feed all of your senses.
Some of you are only just arriving back in Vermont to your second homes. We can’t wait to join back together again.
Some of you are only here for the briefest of times, to soak up all that you can of Vermont in just a week or two of summer. Please know that when you choose to join us at JCOGS with your precious time in Vermont, it means a great deal.
Some of you are not in Vermont or can’t join us in person. So much of what we are offering is virtual also, including tonight’s service.
Tonight for Shabbat, we’ll be celebrating our community. We celebrate Steve Levine’s board leadership as the outgoing president of JCOGS. We celebrate our new mission statement and core values. There’s much to be grateful for.
In fact, we are celebrating with you—and celebrating you—all summer long. So please join us for any and all events and services this summer. Be a part of this vibrant, loving community. May it feel like home to you.
Tihiyu bri’im, may you be healthy. Shabbat Shalom,
Kayaking and Scavenger Hunt on the Lamoille River: Rain date July 30, 10:30 am. Rolling Down the River: Join us for a mellow paddle and i spy scavenger hunt down the Lamoille River. Meet at Vermont Canoe & Kayak (VCK) in Jeffersonville. VCK will shuttle us 4.5 miles upstream for an easy paddle back. We’ll stop along the way for a picnic lunch (bring your own). Ages 3 and up. - Sunday, July 9 10:30am-1:00pm
Trivia in the Tent and Pizza Party: Trivia with game hosts Matt and Katie Yoskowitz back by popular demand! Come with your teammates or join a team and meet new friends. Winning team receives $180 to donate to a charity they choose. Pizza dinner, dessert and drinks served. $15.00 per person. - Thursday, July 20 6:30pm-8:30pm
SJFF: Hava Nagila: Hava Nagila (The Movie) is a documentary romp through the history, mystery and meaning of the great Jewish standard. Featuring interviews with Harry Belafonte, Leonard Nimoy, Connie Francis, Glen Campbell, Regina Spektor and more, the film follows the ubiquitous party song on its fascinating journey from the shtetls of Eastern Europe to the kibbutzim of Palestine to the cul-de-sacs of America. High on fun and entertainment, Hava Nagila (The Movie) is also surprisingly profound, tapping into universal themes about the importance of joy, the power of music and the resilient spirit of a people. Stay for an after-party of dessert, dancing “the hora” and schmoozing. Presented by Stowe Jewish Film Festival - Sunday, July 23 7:00pm-9:00pm
Erev Tisha B'Av Service: One of the most important holidays of the Jewish year, join in candlelit prayer, commemorating the past calamities that have befallen the Jewish people. We will reflect on the personal and communal consequences in our own day, as we chant the ancient words of Eicha/Lamentations. Feel free to bring blankets or seat pads to sit on, as we gather in tradition to sit on the ground, for those who are able. - Wednesday, July 26 8:00pm-9:30pm
Shabbat Shalom and Taste of Nefesh Mountain: Experience a “taste of Nefesh Mountain” at Shabbat services at JCOGS as the lead band members Doni and Eric join Rabbi David as his special guests. Join us in the tent for an uplifting musical service to welcome in Shabbat in community, followed by a delicious Oneg. - Friday, August 4 6:00pm-7:15pm
Nefesh Mountain Band with Comic Moody McCarthy: Enjoy the sweet sounds of soul-stirring, toe-tapping, unforgettable Nefesh Mountain. Since their arrival on the scene in 2015, Nefesh Mountain has been hailed as one of today’s formative, boundary-pushing bluegrass Americana bands. Their latest studio album release, Songs for the Sparrows, is a testament to the unbridled imagination and extraordinary grace of their musicianship and creativity. The show opens with laughs courtesy of New York comedian Moody McCarthy. The evening is part of Summer Stars, an arts and culture celebration to benefit JCOGS, the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe…and beyond. - Saturday, August 5 7:00pm-9:00pm
