To paraphrase the Mary Hopkins 1968 hit—These are the days my friends.
During the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot, while we are busy counting the Omer, several special days pop up and, as always, Jewish Federation is here to promote their commemoration or celebration.
The Days began this week with Yom HaShoah—Holocaust Remembrance Day. Thank you to Rabbi Eligberg who orchestrated the production of short video clips from our local clergy. Thank you to Shelly who likewise collected clips from several of our local survivors. Thank you to Heidi who spent many hours combing through all of the clips, organizing and editing to produce a beautiful video aired on Wednesday evening.
Apologies to Rabbi Spitzer whose clip was lost in all of the organizing and editing. We’ve inserted his clip into the master video and reposted it on our website.
This Tuesday night begins Yom HaZikaron—Israel’s Memorial Day. A well-known saying in Israel is that Yom HaZikaron is our reminder of the cost of having a Jewish state. Yom HaShoah is our reminder of the cost of not having one. May the memories of all of our people who tragically lost their lives always be for a blessing.
Following Yom HaZikaron, we immediately transition to Yom Ha’Atzmaut—Israel’s Independence Day. We mark this transition with a Tekes Me’Avar—Transition program. This year, we have been invited to watch a program on Wednesday evening created by Manhattan’s Upper East Side (UES) Jewish community, a partnership between Central Synagogue, Park Avenue Synagogue, Kehilath Jeshurun, 92Y, JAFI, UJA-Federation of NY, AIPAC, and FIDF. The program promises moving personal testimonies, words of inspiration from rabbis, and songs of remembrance and celebration from cantors.
Thursday, we join Federations across North America to watch the global celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut.
For me, nothing says celebration like good food. So, to help us celebrate, we have arranged for Ganey Orly, a kosher restaurant in Queens with Middle Eastern cuisine, to deliver to the Capital District. Thank you to Pioneer Bank for the use of their conveniently located new headquarters’ parking lot for the delivery/pickup.
Plans for Yom Yerushalayim—Jerusalem Day—are just underway. Details when available.
These are the days my friends
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