blogs/masa

Our B-Mitzvah students led our morning services at Masa this Sunday. We are all studying a verse from Pirkei Avot that begins “Don’t separate yourself from the community.” The oldest students used that as their theme, and emphasized the ways that our regular service can celebrate the experience of being in a community. They wrote what they would say themselves, with some guidance from Cantor Ellen. Scroll to the bottom of this post to read what they said!

In addition to exploring themes of community, our students have been learning about Hanukkah! The first and second grade students got the chance to make dreidels out of clay, while the kindergarten class attempted to make dreidel snow globes.

The older students spent more of their time focused on the verse from Pirkei Avot, but they got some time to prepare for Hanukkah. I’m sure you’ll enjoy seeing their artwork on December 20 at the community Hanukkah party!

This Sunday, please bring cake mix and other items we can use at the Hanukkah party to fill birthday bags for the food bank! Please also bring in non-perishable food items we can give to families in need. The food we donate makes a big difference for local children and families who might otherwise go hungry!

Coming up:

Friday: 4:00: Masa. 5:30: Mini Minyan. 6:00: Blessings and potluck. 7:00: Shabbat services.

Sunday: 9:30-12:30: Masa

Friday, December 20: 4:00: Masa. 5:00: Community Hanukkah party, with activities, skit, potluck, and services!

December 21-January 2: Winter recess, no Masa.

Friday, January 3: 4:00: Masa

Sunday, January 5: 9:30-12:30: Masa

K'hillah/Community

by the 5780 B-Mitzvah class

What we’re doing here is being a community. A community can’t be one or two people. It’s a group. It’s doing what we’re doing here, being part of a community means being an older kid, and sitting through the little kid things. It means being a little kid and sitting through the big kid things. It means being together. It means helping each other no matter what, without asking why. In a community we have to respect everyone, younger or older.

We’re all a part of lots of different communities. One way we can create a community is by inviting people in. And that’s what Ma Tovu is about. It’s about welcoming strangers and seeing what others need. Let’s sing this song with the intention to start our own communities, big or small.

Part of being in a community is being respectful. Although we sometimes do some things wrong. Elohai Neshama is about our souls being returned pure, and free of wrongdoing, so we can start again.

Community can provide all you need: support, love and care, and even food. The blessing She’asah Li Kol Tzorki is giving thanks for that, for all community can provide.

Community can’t function on one person. We all have to do our part. That’s what Hareini M’kabel(et) is about: Doing your fair share, and treating everyone equally.

As a community, we gather together to give thanks, and that’s what we do when we sing the 150th Psalm!

In a community, we’re all one, and all connected. In the Shema, we give thanks for us being connected, for being one.

Communities are an incredible thing, and in the Amidah, we can recognize our awesome community, ask for things our community needs, and give thanks for our supportive community. 

We sing Oseh Shalom to pray for peace, not just for us, but for our community, and the whole world.