Home

Rabbi Nathan's Blog: Rabbi's Note

October 2025

For the past few weeks I have been watching my butternut squash slowly ripen on the vine. While it hung for most of the fall in a dark green shell, more recently the body of the squash gave way to orange streaks of color, and most recently these too gave way to the familiar coffee/tan we associate with the fruit. I have loved the ritual of being present to the slow ripening of the fruit almost mocking me daily for my impatience to see this come to fruition. And yet, soon it will...

Read More

Tot Shabbat is Going Strong

Our young family Tot Shabbat program continues to grow. It's so gratifying to see how this community has expanded over the years. We're averaging 8-10 families each month. We come together on the 2nd Friday of every month in a relaxed environment to sing, play, make crafts, tell stories, schmooze, eat dinner and celebrate Shabbat together as a community.  When weather permits, we gather outside next to the BI gardens with amazing views of Linvilla Orchards. The program is designed for children ages 0-6, but older siblings are always welcome.

Many thanks to our volunteers and our rabbinic interns, who make it all possible: Jackie Gelman, Lynn Cashell, Elaine Feldman, Alisa Herman‐Liu, Lydia Kendis, Mark Rosenberg, Alan Ross, Kathy Trow, and, of course, Rabbi Nathan and Rabbi Aviva.

More About Tot Shabbat

Rabbi Aviva's Blog:
Rabbi's Message

August 2025

When we think of the High Holidays, our minds jump right to Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. We think of crisp fall mornings spent at shul, apples dipped in honey to sweeten our new year, and breaking our fasts with bagels and lox after a full day of spiritual contemplation. But, believe it or not, despite being only August, we are well into the fall holiday cycle.

Some Jewish thinkers consider the mournful 17th of Tammuz, the beginning of the...

Read More