We have an active summer with lay leader services and the revitalization of services focusing on strengthening our community. We started the month out with our potluck Shabbat service. After sharing a meal, where in the proper Jewish tradition, we had way too much food; we held a slightly shortened service. For another services, we were honored to have Rabbi Norman J. Cohen, a rabbinical scholar from HUC-JIR in New York, to give us a special presentation. He came down to visit his grandkids. Naturally, since he came to Florida for vacation, we put him to work. But his presentation was well received. For the music lovers, we held a musical service. We were also fortunate to have two young men preparing for their bar mitzvahs assist with the services. And to everyone’s delight, all services ended with an oneg.
Rabbi Norman J. Cohen
Two young men, Eli (left) and Henry (right) helping with services in preparation for their upcoming bar mitzvahs.
We continue our community outreach projects with Fort Walton Beach and Eglin Air Force Base. United Way Emerald Coast gave us 200 snack packs to distribute. We took 50 of them to One Hopeful Place. The rest will be distributed to military members at Eglin Air Force Base and Seventh Special Forces.
I (Mark Zeid) spent two days in Miami Beach for lay leader training focusing on providing support for our Armed Forces. I had no trouble avoiding the twelve-dollar sandwiches at the airport. I saved myself for the twelve-dollar sandwiches in Miami beach. Still, several of the suggestions and ideas from the training can and will be available for our synagogue off base as well as helping our service members feel more connected to Judaism.
Our social calendar is ramping up. Our newly formed TBS Women’s Social Committee hosted a women’s luncheon and is holding meetings and many future fun activities to enhance our religious education programs, create strong bonds and friendships, with possible development of our own TBS Sisterhood sometime in the future. In addition to classes being held at the synagogue, the possibility of online classes is being explored, our own TBS hybrid religious school offering. Furthermore, we have Nite on the Town scheduled for Sept 3rd Saturday, along with some other activities. Soon our community will grow to have something for everyone, including our service members.
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