CONGREGATION AMCHAH lng

President's Message

Shalom Fellow Congregants,
I hope that everyone had a good Pesach and enjoyed their Seder with their family and friends. Pesach has always been a special holiday for me. It brings back memories of trying to outsmart my brother to get the Afikoman. It is a time when my family always gets together from the distant locations that we all live in. In addition, most important, it is a time of celebration and rejoicing in our heritage through the retelling of a part of our history the Passover Story.

To help our children to have the same memories of such special times as childhood Passover Seders is why I became President of our Congregation. The holiday festivals, the religious services, the picnics (complete with water balloons) are tomorrow's memories for our children, and to be able to play a part in that is very special.

Recently, we began a membership outreach, asking congregants to make a commitment to our Synagogue's future through a pledged contribution. I am pleased to announce that the response has been excellent. The support pledged reinforces the fact that our Synagogue is very special to you and your family. Your commitment helps perpetuate our goals and ideals...goals such as our children having all the wonderful memories as we do. If anyone did not receive membership information, please contact Becky at the Shul, and she will have it sent out to you.

In the near future, we will be conducting a telephone contact program to speak with all our congregants. Please take the time to speak with the representative that calls you. With the information that they gather, we will be able to better serve you and your family.

We have recently launched our Internet website at www.congregationamchah.org. Please visit our site as it develops into a very useful and informative resource for our Congregation. All ideas to better our site, and any submissions that you would like to send are welcomed.

We have many wonderful services and events coming up in the next few months. I look forward to seeing you there.

Respectfully, Alec Messeroff

Book Review

Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. David L. Lieber and Jules Harlow, Editors
(Reprinted From Publishers Weekly)

The first new Torah commentary for Conservative Judaism in over 70 years, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, boasts an all-star editorial cast. Harold Kushner's d'rash (interpretive commentary) explores the importance of social justice in Judaism, while Chaim Potok's contributions attempt to ground the Torah historically by ascertaining its meaning to the ancient Israelites.

A special section edited by Elliot Dorff and Susan Grossman investigates the Jewish legal tradition and its foundations in the Torah; biblical scholar Michael Fishbane offers commentary on the haftarah (Torah portions to be read in the synagogue throughout the year). This commentary is a monumental achievement, incorporating recent archaeological findings, textual interpretations and (for the first time) the opinions of female rabbis.

Second Annual Golf Outing

On Sunday, Aug 25th, we will hold our 2nd Annual Golf Outing at the Del Ray Municipal Country Club.

Last year's outing was very successful, and was a fun day for all, so mark it down in your calendar. Details will follow soon regarding sign-up, hole sponsorship and prize sponsorship, or you can contact Barry Wattenberg at (561) 963-4355.

Why Hallmark, Why Not Us?

Why send a store-bought occasion card when you can send a personalized greeting and help Congregation Amchah at the same time.

Just call me, Shelley Glazer, with all the information and I will prepare and send Congregation Amchah greeting card(s) to your recipient(s) 954-565-4925.

The cost is just $5 per card. Please make all checks payable to Congregation Amchah.

Shabbat

The Nature of Shabbat
- by your editors

The Sabbath (or Shabbat, as it is called in Hebrew) is one of the best known and least understood of all Jewish observances. People who do not observe Shabbat think of it as a day filled with stifling restrictions, or as a day of prayer. But to those who observe Shabbat, it is a precious gift from G-d, a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time when we can set aside all of our weekday concerns and devote ourselves to higher pursuits.

In Jewish literature, poetry and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (come, my beloved, to meet the Sabbath bride).

Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more important than Yom Kippur. This is clear from the fact that more aliyoth (opportunities for congregants to be called unto the Torah) are given on Shabbat than on any other day. Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.

Shabbat is not specifically a day of prayer. Although we do pray on Shabbat, and spend a substantial amount of time in synagogue praying, prayer is not what distinguishes Shabbat from the rest of the week. Observant Jews pray every day, three times a day. To say that Shabbat is a day of prayer is no more accurate than to say that Shabbat is a day of feasting: we eat every day, but on Shabbat, we eat more elaborately and in a more leisurely fashion.

In modern America, we take the five-day workweek so much for granted that we forget what a radical concept a day of rest was in ancient times. The weekly day of rest has no parallel in any other ancient civilization. In ancient times, leisure was for the wealthy and the ruling classes only, never for the serving or laboring classes. In addition, the very idea of rest each week was unimaginable. The Greeks even thought Jews were lazy because we insisted on having a "holiday" every seventh day.

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Congregation Amchah - Donation and Dedication Opportunities

“Your Generosity Allows Us to Serve the Community as a Synagogue Serving All”

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*General Donations*
General Synagogue Fund Rabbi’s Tzadakah Fund Library Fund Kiddush Fund Flower Fund Monthly Pledges
Founder’s Level Annual Pledges
KeterTorah Chai	$ 360 monthly $ 180 monthly

*Building Dedications*
Sanctuary Rabbi’s Study	$ 36,000 $ 10,000
Sanctuary Dedications
ARK Torah & Mantle Cantor ‘s Podium Torah Crown Stained Glass Panel (lg.) Stained Glass Panel (sm.) Sanctuary Chairs (10 )	$ 18,000 $ 12,000 $ 7,200 $ 3,600 $ 3,600 $ 1,800 $ 720

Celebrate a Special Occasion by sponsoring a Kiddish

Share your happiness by sponsoring a Kiddish after Services. Honor a special occasion, a birthday, an anniversary, the birth of a child, a graduation, or any other life celebration in your life or the life of a family member or friend.

For further information, inquire at the Synagogue or call (954) 561-2003

Amchah Food Drive

One of the basic concepts of Judaism is that of Tzadakah – doing that which is just and right.

We invite all to bring toiletries, canned goods and other non-perishable food items to the Synagogue for distribution to the homeless, the needy, and the hungry.

Please help us to help others !

The Tree of Life

Not only does the TREE OF LIFE enhance the beauty of our Shul, but also the purchase of a Leaf is a way to permanently commemorate a joyous occasion, or a special day in your life or the life of a family member or friend.

Please consider the purchase of a Leaf or Stone on the Synagogue’s Tree Of Life.

Suggested Donation
Leaf $72.00 Stone $360.00

Memorial Plaques

A cast Bronze Plaque on our MEMORIAL TABLET is a dignified memorial for your loved ones who have passed on.

Plaques are lit for a full week in observance of the Yahrzeit, and during all Yizkor Services.

Your loved one’s name is also memorialized at the Shabbos service preceding the Yahrzeit.

Suggested Donation $180.00

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