Thoughts on Food

As our tables groan under the weight of the Passover feast; as we loosen our belts around our bellies bursting with matzah balls, gefilte fish and brisket; as we issue the invitation that all who are hungry are welcome at our table, let us truly remember the hungry.

Mazon: a Jewish response to hunger has created a virtual Hunger Museum replete with exhibits, a cafe and soon to open restaurant:  https://hungermuseum.org.

Continue reading

Outstanding Jewish Women

If you’ve ever pushed a stroller up a curb cut or used a ramp to avoid stairs or needed an extra wide door to navigate with a wheelchair, you probably have Judith Heumann to thank. Judith Heumann , who passed away just a few weeks ago, was one of the people instrumental in getting Section 504  of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 signed into law. This act gave accommodations to people with disabilities and changed thousands of lives for the better- not only those with disabilities.

It is Women’s History Month, a good time to recall Judith Heumann’s accomplishments along with other outstanding Jewish women who made the world a better place or proved that women were brave and strong and bold like the Maccabees. Continue reading

Kiddush Thanks

They came from everywhere: California, Mexico, Florida, Chile, Israel, and New Jersey and more. They were in all shapes and sizes- some long and thin; others squat and round. Some with no blemishes and others showed a bit of age. Their colors were like a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, purple, blue as well as tan, brown , black, and white. Continue reading

KIddush Kudos

Many thanks to Erin Berman for taking total charge of last week’s kiddush including set up and clean up. She was ably helped on Shabbat by volunteers Lou Hammerman, Sharon Harwich and the Gold family – Amanda, Benjamin, and Abigail – who saw a need and offered their help.

We all live with the contemporary saying “If you see something, say something.”

Let’s apply it to kiddush. “If you see a need to help, help out.”

And don’t forget to plan ahead if you can and use Sign Up Genius on the volunteer page.

In Tribute to MLK Jr. Day

We celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life in just a few days.  His relationship with the Jewish community was marked by his friendship with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. When King asked the Rabbi if he had found time to pray, Heschel famously answered  that he “felt his legs were praying”  as he stood with King and walked with King in the marches of the mid 1960s.

Continue reading

MESH Report Jan 10, 2023

It may have been dreary outside but in the Shomrei kitchen the atmosphere was warm and cheery. Chef Aileen Grossberg planned a hearty, comforting meal of chopped vegetable salad( tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots celery, and olives with a light dressing of vinegar and oil), glazed meatloaf, and rice with corn and peas. Each dinner included an Italian roll a container of applesauce, a trio of sweets, a breakfast bar and water.

Continue reading