PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE -- SHELDON KIRSCH

Shalom,

I always like to hear people discussing their favorite Jewish holiday.  Some love Rosh Hashanah since they meet their old acquaintances at synagogue and catch up on the status of their children, grandchildren and in some cases great grandchildren.  Yet there is some ambiguity as to the mood of Rosh Hashanah.  It is a solemn time of reconciliation since it is also called the Day of Judgment in which we confront the year past.  However it is New Year’s Day, the birthday of the creation of the world, on which we blow the piercing sounds of the shofar.     

Some enjoy Yom Kippur, a solemn day known as the Day of Atonement.   We pray for the sins committed against G-d and ask for forgiveness.  Some see it as a great way to lose weight. Others see the holiday as a period of reflection into one’s inner soul. The next Jewish holiday people enjoy is Succot or the festival of booths.  We eat all our meals in our succahs and the brave even sleep in them (weather permitting).  Those that build our own succah love this holiday since we are proud of the construction of our temporary dwelling as well as the decorations of the hanging fruits and lights.

 

Still another holiday some congregants embellish is Simchat Torah in which we rejoice in carrying and dancing with all the Torahs. Then comes Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. We are reminded of the story of the Maccabees revolt against the Hellenistic Syrians and the rededication of the Temple with a container of sacramental oil burning for eight days instead of only one day.  Children love this holiday since they receive gifts from their parents.  Families gather to play with dreidels and light the menorah.

We recently celebrated Purim in which we read the Megillah or the story of Esther.  Everyone loves to boo Haman’s name as the evil person who wanted to persecute all the Jews.  Children and adults come dressed in costumes.  Typically one attends a Purim festival and eats hamantashen- a tri-cornered dough cookie generally filled with poppy seed, prune, apricot or strawberry fruit.  We give Misloach manot to our friends and family as well as to the needy.

I will skip the next major holiday for a short moment and just say that some people like the festival of Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks, the receiving of the Ten Commandments. All vegetarians must enjoy this festival since it is customary to eat only dairy foods.  Ice cream is traditionally consumed on the evening of the start of the holiday after the Rabbi teaches us an appropriate section of torah.

Although my wife may not agree with me, the major Jewish holiday I like best is Passover or Pesach.  Aside from all the food preparation, changing of dishes, pots, utensils and cleaning of the home which my wife and I find quite challenging, Pesach is one of the greatest holidays.  Why do I think that? It’s because Pesach is a holiday when all of the family are present at one, if not both, of the seders for the reading of the Exodus or Haggadah. The basic order of the seder is the same throughout the Jewish world whether it is being explained in NJ, England, Israel, or India. One eats specially prepared foods that are kosher for Passover as well as unleavened bread called matzah. We are required to consume four cups of wine and give a small gift to children for finding the hidden afikommen during the seder.  Pesach will be celebrated at the end of this month on Monday evening on March 29.  I hope you agree with me and find that this Pesach holiday is a joy to each and every one of us as we celebrate with our families in peace and happiness.  Please support our synagogue and join us for Passover services on Tuesday morning (3/30) and Wednesday morning (3/31).   

Regards,