Shalom from our Home!

Shalom dear Friends,

Rabbi David had the idea for me to write a greeting to post. I am so happy to have this opportunity to communicate with everyone.

Often, I visualize the Sanctuary on Yom Shabbat, or the Shalom Center bustling with activity during an Oneg. How comforting to have these wonderful shared memories.

This has been a most unusual Pesach season. I am praying for your health and safety. Rabbi David and I know that each of you has a specific situation and unique challenges connected to every part of your daily life.

Launching Live From Home (LFH) on Facebook has been such a great way for all of us to stay connected through our Prayer meetings, Erev Shabbat, Yom Shabbat services and the Essential Passover Seder.

During the services, I am in our living room, two rooms away from where Rabbi David is broadcasting. The first few times I wasn’t able to connect on Facebook, so I prayed throughout the service, not knowing if anyone was receiving Live from Home. I prayed, but mostly I was frustrated. My shalom was restored when David emerged from the “Studio”, and told me that all had gone well. What a relief!

After each service David and I read your Facebook comments together. We are hearing from the Beth Israel family, friends from Rochester, NY, Rhode Island (Rae and John, I’m talkin’ to you!) and cities all over the USA. We’re delighted to hear from good friends in the Netherlands; Budapest, Hungary, where we led the Shalom International Congregation; and from our dear Rabbi friends in Ukraine and Crimea. All of the Beth Israel members are grateful to be hearing from Podcast listeners. My thanks to everyone for keeping in touch with us and with one another by text, emails, phone calls, Live From Home, Facebook, and drive by waving!

I hope that each of you will find interesting ways to communicate with your family members and Beth Israel friends.

With Love and Shalom,
Sandy Levine