From the Cantor - March 2001

Shalom, Chaverim:

Purim is a time of great joy at Al's Place. One could think of it as celebration of a narrow victory that could have turned into annihilation. Part of our laughter is in remembrance of the fear of slaughter of an entire community. But most of the yuks come from pure silliness. We realize another narrow victory in that the book of Esther very nearly missed inclusion into the Biblical canon. The reason is twofold: God is never mentioned; and the book of Esther is full of drunken orgies. Now do we have your attention? Come celebrate with us in costume on Sunday, March 4 at 11:30 in the sanctuary for a celebratory assembly with a Purimspiel, and then stay for the fabulous Purim Carnival. We also want you with us on Thursday night, March 8 (also in costume) for our 7 p.m. Purim Service and Megillah Reading.

This month I am happy to host the 2nd annual "Cantor's Brown Bag Book Review" with a four-week discussion of Allegra Goodman's Kaaterskill Falls. We will meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. March 7, 14, 21 and 28 with a brown bag lunch and a love of reading.

Numerous guests pass through our sanctuary to observe a child's becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah. I hear the following from visitors and members alike: B'nai Mitzvah is a "Can-Do" rite of passage. The occasion celebrates spiritual adulthood. The setting, which involves leading a congregation in prayer, provides a forum for challenge, privilege through responsibility, and promotion of confidence by those who have supported, loved, raised, and educated the Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The child in a leadership capacity receives the following message: "If I can serve as sheliach tzibbur (representative of the community), then I can achieve any goal." This directive unites us in the spirit of Shabbat, in solidarity with the child who realizes a milestone, and in positive reinforcement for a community.

Join us for Religious School Assembly on Sunday, April 1 with special guest Julie Silver.

B'Shalom u-v'shir,
Cantor Jacqueline L. Shuchat-Marx

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