Category: News

Jewish Virtual Academy: try it out for free! Dear Friends, I am writing to remind you about our awesome class tomorrow night at 5 for preteens & teens!  Rabbi Andy Katz will be teaching on the topic of shaming, exploring the line between sha​ming and rebuke, looking at current issues (mask shaming, health shaming, etc)… Read more »

Dear Friends, In the Monty Python film “Life of Brian,” the main character ends the movie hung on a cross, singing “always look on the bright side of life.”  It is of course absurd, making fun of the notion that we could always be chipper and lighthearted, even when being killed. Our Torah portion, though,… Read more »

Dear Friends, I am so pleased that the School Board last night chose to follow the CDC and medical professionals by bringing a mask mandate to the schools.  School Board members mentioned how many calls they had received; speaking up really does work. I was especially pleased that the conversation was not primarily about their… Read more »

Please celebrate sukkot with us Friday, September 24th, as we spend a joyous evening sharing songs of joy and gratitude with Rabbi David and Pastor Julius Sanna of Joy Church of the Nazarene!  $28 Catered Dinner; rsvp rabbi@kolhalevpbc.org. Outdoors & socially distanced.

Dear Friends, Last week’s scheduled Shabbat  services have been rescheduled to this upcoming Shabbat (August 14, at 10:00, kids program at 10:30); I hope you can make it!  A huge thank you to Debra Letow for sponsoring Kiddush. Other Upcoming events: Contemplative Selichot August 28, 8:30 High Holidays with Congregation Gan Eden: ticket sales are… Read more »

Jewish Camp Afterschool Registration Due tomorrow Mitzvah of the Day, Torah Through Drama, and Jewish music & spirituality. Semi-outdoors;  Covid precautions observed. Wednesdays, 3-5; pickup available from selected schools Starts August 18th register at https://kolhalevpbc.org/enroll-now/ Jewish Virtual Academy: substantive, engaging online Jewish learning! Try the classes that kids say are a “bajillion” times better than Hebrew School!… Read more »

Shabbat Together Postponed Services this week are cancelled due to operational difficulties; I will miss you! Upcoming events: Shabbat Together August 21, 10:00 Contemplative Selichot August 28, 8:30 Rosh Hashanah with Congregation Gan Eden (tickets required) Sharing Joy and Thanksgiving: Sukkot dinner and song fest with Julius Sanna, Sept 24 6:00 (tickets required Sukkot Family Festival Sept… Read more »

Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke,Ya gotta understand:It’s just our bringin’ upkeThat gets us outta hand.Our mothers all are junkies,Our fathers all are drunks.Golly Moses, natcherly we’re punks. In “Westside Story,” members of a street gang use a variety of creative explanations for their criminal behavior: their dad beat their mom, their parents smoked marijuana and refused… Read more »

Registration is now open for 2021-2022 virtual classes as well as 2021-2022 Jewish Camp After School! Tuition for 2021-2022 virtual classes is as follows: Tuition is based on number of credits (i.e. class sessions/week) 1st Credit $750 2 Credits $1400 3 Credits $1900 4 or more Credits $2400 (includes 1 weekly session of tutoring) Nb: “Torah… Read more »

For 91 years, Jacob struggled with people, tricking them, struggling to be on top.  Somehow, a night encounter changed him. On his way to seeing his brother Esau after 20 years, and scared that Esau still wants to kill him (Esau is, after all, accompanied by 400 armed men), Jacob spends the night wrestling with… Read more »