If you’ve ever hosted a wedding, you know the frustration of RSVP deadlines. It’s a week before the event, the caterer is breathing down your neck, and you still have no idea how many people are coming. So, you start calling relatives: “Hey, are you coming?” You think you finally have a solid guest list the night before, so you can start the table assignments.

 

Oh, if only we had set an RSVP date. Wait a minute. We did.

 

It’s ironic that I’m the one writing this. I’m one of the guilty parties. I don’t mean to be, but I am. We all have our flaws to work on.

 

Unfortunately, in the Jewish community we now have an additional reason to stress early registration: security. Protocols depend on several factors, including the expected number of guests and whether the event is invitation-only or open to the community. If open to all, we want to make sure we know everyone who is registered, and if not, we want the opportunity to vet newcomers. For events using metal-detecting wands, we need to plan staffing accordingly. The goal is to avoid long lines or wasting resources on unnecessary personnel.

 

So, all this is my long-winded way of saying: we’ve got a couple of amazing large-scale events coming up, and I need you to register. (Note to self: I need to register, too.)

 

1. This Wednesday night is our annual Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) commemoration and Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) celebration. These two days fall back-to-back on the calendar, and our commemoration flows directly into the celebration. This year’s program promises to be especially powerful, featuring survivors of October 7 and the granddaughter of one of the slain hostages. We’ll close the evening with Israeli dancing. Whether you can come for part or all, please register here.

 

2. May 9 is our annual Community Shabbat Dinner—500 of our closest friends sharing Shabbat dinner under one tent in the Albany JCC parking lot. We offer Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform services, as well as two PJ Library services (one for younger kids and one for older). Registration helps with the caterer’s count and ensures we allocate enough space for each service. Last year, the Orthodox group was, quite literally and figuratively, “left out in the cold.” Plus, we need to cap attendance at 500, and for the past two years, we’ve had a waitlist. If you want a seat at the table, register here.

 

Check out the list of other upcoming programs here—and register now, before it slips your mind.