02/11/2010

Dear Members and community:

Did you know that we say Kaddish, the mourner's prayer, two times each Shabbat? We recite it in the first hour and then again at the conclusion of the services.  Kaddish is one of the prayers which traditionally is said in community- a minyan (10 people).

Usually our 9:30 am services begin with just a few of us and in the event that one of us is saying  Kaddish the lack of a minyan is all too obvious.  Our daveners, Larry, Joel, Bernie and Jeff have expressed concern that there is not always a minyan in the first hour and have asked me to encourage you to consider being there for those in need. 

Every now and then we remind ourselves why we exist.  In ten years we have come to be an incredible community of Jews.  We have come to rely on The Chatham Synagogue Netivot Torah for opportunities of ritual, culture and social life.  Our core mission is to be a place of worship and study.  For many our Torah study each Shabbat is a highlight of the synagogue experience.  We often have a full and lively group at the discussion time each week.  We are all part of this community and we need to be a strong presence for each other, especially in times of sorrow.

Our weekly UPDATE will now post Yarzheit dates.  We hope to provide this information automatically with our new technology, in the near future, but for now if you will let us know we will include this when we get word.  Email Debra at dk6@columbia.edu

If you usually do not come early to services (or even if you usually do not come)....why not come sometime and come early.  You will be part of a valued community.

Our mission states that "that a Jewish community is a blessing and that being part of one is a mitzvah".  

Alice Swersey