Barak Day 1

Today was a full day at the Biennial.  I decided to skip services this morning, since we were up so late last night.  Did you notice the time of my post last night?  The morning started with a plenary session.  These sessions are a combination of music, speeches, awards, and business.  The session started with [...]

A Microcosm of the Biennial

Today was the first day of the URJ’s 71st Biennial Convention.  Bob Abrams and I left the Hudson Valley early this morning.  We drove down to the Washington DC and made very good time, arriving just after noon.  We found the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.  This will be our [...]

All Ready For Biennial

Well, I’ve finished most of my pre-biennial planning.  I have worked through the schedule and selected the workshop/learning sessions I plan on attending.  I am left with only a few “ties” where I haven’t made my final decision.    Those will be made dynamically as I go along through the week.  You also never know, [...]

7 Days, 5,000 Jews

This evening I joined about 40 of our fellow congregants in our sanctuary.  Together we sang L’Cha Dodi, chanted the Bar’chu, Shema, and the other prayers as we welcomed Shabbat.  Following services, we made Kiddush and shared in an oneg Shabbat before heading home or to a local restaurant for dinner. 1 week from tonight [...]

Restroom Renovation Update

The restroom renovations are continuing.  Here are a couple more pictures.  In the men’s room the new vanities have been installed.  In the ladies room, we now have a fresh coat of paint on the walls. The vanities and sinks are now also installed in the women’s room.  Soap dispensers have been installed in both [...]

Vassar Temple 7th Grade Religious-School Students Prepare and Serve Lunch at the Lunch Box

Vassar Temple’s 7th grade students prepared and served a hearty meal at the Lunch Box on Sunday afternoon.  Vassar Temple’s social action committee organizes various groups from the congregation to prepare and serve lunch one Sunday a month at the Lunch Box.  For more information, please contact socialaction@vassartemple.org.

Biennial Here We Come

On Wednesday, December 14, Bob Abrams and I will head down to Washington DC for the 71st URJ Biennial.  There we will join 6,000 other Reform Jews from across North America for five days of workshops, sharing of ideas, study, worship, and inspirational speakers.  I will be blogging about my experiences daily while I am [...]

Restroom Renovations

Our restrooms are currently undergoing renovations.  Here are a couple pictures of the ongoing work.  The entire cost for all the work is being donated by our wonderful sisterhood.  Thank you to all the members of sisterhood for their donation.

Welcome To The Vassar Temple Blog

I’d like to welcome you to the Vassar Temple blog.  This blog is another opportunity for members of Vassar Temple to share their thoughts on issues relating to Vassar Temple and the broader Jewish community. For many of us in the Vassar Temple community, we are new to blogs.  According to wikipedia the definition is ”A blog (a blend of [...]