This year, Kehilat Sukkat Shalom is proud to welcome a cantorial intern from ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, to join us as a spiritual leader for the High Holidays. Our Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur prayer services and social gatherings are enhanced by the presence of guest leaders who bring new ideas and unique perspectives Read More
Category: Torah
The Jew in the Lotus @ 30 Years: KSS Book Club August Selection
In 1994 I was a sophomore at a liberal arts college happily exploring new religious and philosophical landscapes in courses like Comparative Religion, German Literature, and Cultural Geography 101. After a childhood in metro New York fully immersed in Conservative Jewish legacy institutions, I was ready for this infusion of fresh ideas. That same year, Read More
A Seder Plate For Your Dog
NOTE: This post is the first offering from our part-time Communications Manager, Shelby M. Before joining our team, Shelby worked for 7 years at BARK, a monthly themed subscription of all-natural treats and toys that reaches over 1.8 million dogs (and their owners) each month. Shelby, along with many KSS members, is unapologetically, a dog-person. We Read More
Notes on Being a Moderate Jewish Leader in this Moment
– Jodi Kushins, KSS Board Chair I try not to start blog posts with excuses. I often type and then delete things like, “I’ve tried to start this post ten times.” On a typical day it would be boring and somewhat of a forgone conclusion. Writing is work – it takes time, it’s about starting Read More
Making Space to Talk about Israel-Palestine
NOTE: I had been meaning to write this up for a while. Just happened I found the time yesterday, just before news broke of the Israeli Parliament’s vote to overhaul the country’s judiciary. – Jodi Kushins, KSS Board Chair For years, KSS has wrestled with how to host meaningful study and conversation amongst our members Read More
Home is a Shelter of Peace
As we move into Adar, we are reminded to find those things in life that bring us joy. This month’s blog post, from longtime KSS member Yutan Getzler, highlights the joy we find at home – with our own families and when we invite community in to join us. I know now as an adult Read More
A different kind of Chanukah Light. Tending Hope for Reparations
This past weekend, KSS Vice President Cheryl Lubow voted “yes” on behalf of our kehilah in a meeting of the Reconstructing Judaism Plenum, a group representing all the congregations and chavurot affiliated with the movement. The vote was in support of a movement-wide resolution calling for study, reflection, discussion, and action around reparations (click here Read More
Looking Back on the 5783 High Holiday Days of Awe
We did it! Our small but mighty kehilah made it through another round of High Holy Days of Awe. Thank you to everyone who lent a hand in this year’s celebrations. From those who organized and participated in leading services to those who organized meals, those who rolled the Torah into place and those who Read More
Practicing Loving Kindness for the Long Road Ahead
An offering for today and the days ahead from Jodi Kushins, KSS Lay Leader Every time a rally or protest pops up and I already have plans or don’t have the energy to get to the State House, wise KSS friends remind me that issues like gun safety, climate change, women’s health access, racism and Read More
Mussar Minute: Having a Settled Mind
This post is brought to us from KSS Lay Leader Cheryl Lubow who has been studying with The Mussar Institute as part of our Lay Leader Development Grant through Jewish Columbus. In the fall and winter, I enjoy buying bags of mixed nuts in the shell, and cracking open a few as an after-supper snack. Read More