From the Rabbi - March 1999

My Dear Friends,

As I write this article, I am thinking of all of the excitement and wonderful participation that our Long Range Planning process has been generating. Many of you have attended the first two sessions and, when this bulletin comes to print, you will have attended the third and final session as well. One of the key issues of consensus that is emerging from the Long Range Planning Process is a desire to uphold the tradition of excellence in programming - especially in the area of adult education - in which our congregation has prided itself for many years. The upcoming few weeks will be a statement of how we are committed to that idea.

The month of March is filled with opportunities for spiritual, intellectual, and irreverent growth. We begin with all of the Purim Festivities silliness - from the Carnival on February 28th, to the annual Brown Bag dinner, Megillah reading and Purim Shpiel on March 1st, to the successor to the "rockin’ Purim Costume Ball" - our 1st annual "Purim Fajita Dinner and Sock Hop" - featuring the Music of Haman and The Noisemakers........on March 6th there will be no end to the rejoicing that will be taking place.

We also will have my friend and musical collaborator, Mark Bloom for the third time as he presents his Jazz Shabbat on Friday night, March 5th.

On March 2nd, Congregation Albert will be hosting the annual New Mexico Catholic/Jewish Colloquium. This year’s speakers are no strangers to our community as well. My mentor, Rabbi Joseph Edelheit and my friend, Father Michael O’Connell - both of Minneapolis will be the featured speakers at the Colloquium.

On March 25th - 28th, Rabbi Peter Knobel will be joining us as a Scholar in Residence. Rabbi Knobel is Senior Rabbi of Beth Emet Synagogue in Evanston, Il. He is one of the leading scholars of the Reform movement and a wonderful teacher and speaker. He is currently Chair of the Liturgy Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and is in the midst of creating the new Prayer book for our movement.

We have expanded our Adult Education Course offerings for this semester. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn with and from one another.

I am truly awed by the amount of learning, celebrating and worshiping that we are able to accomplish within the walls of our building. I look forward to seeing you at all of these programs and events.

B'Shalom,
Rabbi Joseph R. Black

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