Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Start a New Tradition at TOS

From Marci Barnes, our Director of Lifelong Learning

This past Friday night, my husband and I “had Shabbat” with our 3- year-old son.  After he was in bed, we put in a VCR tape of an old favorite movie of ours.  From the first notes of the first act, right up until the very end several hours later, Fiddler on the Roof, is still one of our favorite holiday traditions.  It was hearing the opening number again, “Tradition”, that made me realize that watching this movie to get a break from all of the crass commercialization of the December holidays has actually become a tradition in my family. 

One of the most amazing things that I have discovered since coming to work at Temple Ohav Shalom is how dedicated this congregation is to Judaism and its traditions.  A majority of members here come from families with multiple religious backgrounds where parents have intermarried or converted or both.  And whether or not you also celebrate other religions at home, week after week and year after year, you come to Temple Ohav Shalom to pray, to learn and to celebrate Judaism.

This Sunday, I invite all of you to join the teachers and students in our school as we celebrate Chanukah beginning at 11am in the Social Hall. (See information below for details.) We will say the blessings for the 1st night, sing songs, play games, share presents, and, of course, eat.  Continue a family tradition or start a new one this Chanukah!

Reminder:  There will be no school on Tuesday, December 23rd, Sunday, December 28th or Tuesday, December 30th.  School resumes on Sunday, January 4, 2009.  Our next Family Shabbat Dinner, featuring Kitah Daled, the 4th Grade, is on Friday night, January 9th.  This is a different date than was advertised previously this year.

Marci K. Barnes
Director of Lifelong Learning