RTPV Congregation Family Dinner

FRIDAY NIGHT, APRIL 30TH
Dinner 6:15 PM
Services 8:00PM
 
On April 30th, we will have our next Congregational  Dinner!

Come join your Temple family for a “Potluck” dinner and an opportunity to spend a great evening together to schmooze, eat, sing, before we proceed into services.

You’ll have the chance to catch up fellow members and acquaint yourself with new members.
 
There will be no charge for dinner. We do ask that you bring a dish to share: we will be looking for main dishes of chicken, beef, fish, side dishes, challahs, and beverages.

As with any dinner at RTPV we ask that you keep within “Kosher Style,” and not mix dairy with meats.
 
Sign up sheets to follow.

RSVP’s mandatory by April 23, please, to: Robin Silverman

Sponsored by RTPV Membership/Outreach Committee

Passover Thoughts & Wishes

Spring is here, and our thoughts turn to... matzoh?
 
My thoughts and memories of matzoh and, of course, Passover, bring me back to my childhood, sitting at the end of a long table by the side of my father as he read the Passover Haggadah. When I was young and we were orthodox, it was all in Hebrew, reflecting my father’s upbringing. But as the years passed and we moved to conservatism, English became a large part of the Passover service (as well taking some shortcuts to speed things along).
 
I fondly recall the pride I felt watching my father lead this service in our home. All eyes were on him, all words were uttered at his direction. When he said “shhh,” conversations stopped. When he told the same background stories, the same jokes, the same historical references year after year after year, we all nodded in appreciation and wonder, as if it were the first time we heard these words (although there was, admittedly, some rolling of the eyes). And we all laughed at those old jokes like we did the year before and the year before that.
 
Passover for me has always been a time of family. And family for me has always included relatives as well as close friends. Over sweet wine and juice and brisket and turkey and potatoes and lots and lots of food, we sit together and laugh and sing and remember and share, bonded by a common history and strength.
 
I remember the first Passover after my father died. I was 29 and single and still finding my way in the world as I prepared to lead the Passover service in my mother’s apartment in the Bronx.  I sat down in my father’s chair at the head of the long table, all eyes and ears on me.  An hour before that I had looked through our Haggadah and wrote notes in the margins -- “wash hands,”  “leave table,” “hide Afikomen,” “sing,” “skip this part.”
 
We all sat down, the same faces from the year before, minus one, as I began to read from the Haggadah: “ We are about to begin the recitation of the ancient story of Israel’s redemption from bondage in Egypt...”  But it was all wrong.  I was not the leader; my father was. Yet I felt his presence as I began the Kiddush, and I felt him stronger still as I finished. My words were his words and my stories were his stories. Even my jokes mirrored the ones I had heard throughout my life. And while it was sad, so terribly sad not to have my dad there, it was at the same time uplifting to know that everyone at that table was pulling for me, prompting me and supporting me as I carried on our Passover traditions.
 
As the years have passed since that seder I developed my own stories and jokes, no doubt causing new rolling of the eyes.  We still gather each year with family and friends to tell the story of Pesach.  I have carried on the traditions of my father and his father, even as I have embraced the reform movement, while developing new traditions with my wife that our children will carry on.
 
As you enjoy the warmth of Spring and tradition of Passover, I hope that you also enjoy the strength of family and friends and companionship, the power of faith and the magic of renewal and hope.
 
Shalom.
 
Scott Levinson
 
 
P.S.: Please join us for our annual 2nd night Congregational Seder. Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 6:30 pm in the social hall. Please see the entry below to RSVP and for more information.

stress [strɛs] n
1. mental, emotional, or physical strain or tension
 
If you are looking for ways to manage and relieve stress, than this is the seminar for you. Please join us this coming Wednesday evening for a FREE presentation:
 
Continuing the
Wellness Seminar Series
Sponsored by the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley
 
Presented by:
Andrea Sonenberg, NP, CNM, DNSc
Assistant Professor
Lienhard School of Nursing, Pace University
 
The second seminar will be:
Stress Reduction

Dress comfortably
Bring a pillow and/or mat
 
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 @ 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Reform Temple of Putnam Valley
362 Church Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579
 
ALL SEMINARS ARE FREE
AND OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Includes complimentary 5-day pass to ClubFit for participants

SAVE THE DATES
For Fun Upcoming Youth Group Events:
 
February 27- Movie Night at the Temple
March 14 – Chocolate Seder
April 17 – Moonlight bowling
 
More information will be coming
Remember RiPTY ROCKS!

Spring cleaning is in the air and it's time to spruce up the Temple.
 
Please join us this Sunday morning for our
 
RTPV SPRING CLEANUP.
 
9:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
 
It looks like it will be great weather and a wonderful opportunity to join with your fellow congregants as we work together to clean, garden and beautify the outside of our Temple.
 
Bring a rake, some gloves, some gardening tools, yourselves. All ages are welcome to help out and it will be greatly appreciated.
 
A special invite goes out to the Hay families: the start of Bar Mitzvah season is just around the corner and this is a perfect time to help make sure that our Temple is looking its best for your child's special day.
 
Thank you all. Hope to see you Sunday.