It has been “March Madness” at the ENJC this past month, with nonstop activities for members of all ages. The madness started with the ice cream feast on March 1st, celebrating Shabbat Across America. The next morning we celebrated Matthew Greenbaum’s Bar Mitzvah. Matthew did an outstanding job. The youth of our synagogue, too, have been busy with Kadima, Chaverim and USY, meeting twice this past month, and we’ve also held our monthly Tot Shabbat. These were fun activities enjoyed by all.
On behalf of our congregation, I want to extend a special Yasher Koach to Lori Maldavir and her wonderful team of volunteers that participated in the HIHI (Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative) Program. They fed the homeless four times over the course of this cold winter. Thank you to the numerous families that participated and a big Thank You to Adam Bolander of Kosher Thyme Marketplace in Plainview. Adam donated chicken for all four HIHIs. Please support the vendors that support us.
The ENJC was honored to host a baby naming for a founding family, the Rothmans, on March 9th. What a special day, with all the Rothman generations represented. The following week, women of our Sisterhood, and some of their daughters, learned the Story of Challah and the art of making it with Chaya Teldon.
From Thursday, March 14th through Sunday, March 17th we hosted Cantor David Sislen, of Florida, for his cantoral audition. The weekend began with a Meet and Greet on Thursday night, with Cantor Sislen playing the guitar and singing Jewish songs from around the world. Friday night services and Saturday morning services were led by Cantor Sislen, in tandem with Rabbi Silverman. Cantor Sislen concluded the weekend by leading the Sunday morning minyan. In excess of 175 people attended the four Cantor Sislen events. Since October, we have had four potential cantors on our bima for auditions. We started with Cantor Eric Wasser for 3 Shabbat weekends. Cantor Ken Cohen has been with us for numerous Shabbats, including the memorial for the Tree of Life massacre and most recently Purim. Super Bowl weekend was Cantor Steven Walvick’s audition. And Cantor David Sislen was our latest candidate. We thank everyone for their support of the many hosted cantoral events. The Cantor Search Committee values the input and opinions that have been shared with them. I would love to be able to report that we have a signed contract with our new cantor for my May article.
Purim was celebrated on March 20th with a wonderful Purim Spiel performance by our Daled and Hay students a la Star Wars. The Megillah reading followed, as well as a short performance by our Purim Players singing Supercalafragilisticexpialadocious. The following morning was another full reading of the Megillah. On March 27th the Men’s Club will be socializing at Millers Ale House in Commack. It will be nice to see the companionship of the guys at an occasion that isn’t a meeting or an event at which they have to work. The month will close with Noah Kurtz’s Bar Mitzvah on the 30th and the Senior Program on the 31st.
April – we have Passover to look forward to!
My congregational message this month is to ask that everyone get the most value from your membership –attend services, enjoy a program or event for you or with your family, or just give back and help others. ENJC, the place with something for everyone!