Congregation Rodef Shalom

7th Day of Pesach is one of the sweetest moments in the cycle of our holidays. On Seder night, we celebrate our liberation from slavery, but it’s on the 7th day that we celebrate crossing the sea and embracing new possibilities. Each year, I imagine myself standing with my ancestors at the sea — facing the newness with a mixture of fear and yearning, hope and wonder.

This is a bit of an extra nudge to come to shul tomorrow and Thursday for a joyful celebration of the end of Passover!

Services will begin both days at 9:15 a.m., with babysitting at 10 a.m., kids programming at 11:00 a.m., and Tot Chag at 11:15 a.m.

Tomorrow, we will participate in the chanting Shirat Hayam — the song of the sea — and we will partake in a Hasidic water ritual that invites us to allow the story of our people to transcend time and space.

On both Wednesday and Thursday, lunch will be served. This is an opportunity to make the most of the end of the Pesach holiday by eating together and enjoying Lynn and Simone’s catering. On Thursday, we will enjoy our annual Pesach BBQ.

I am looking forward to being together, and to embracing all the feelings we have today, as we cross the sea.

We are excited to introduce Hannah, our March Volunteer of the Month. Hannah volunteers as a para-chaplain, helping to strengthen the connection between Jewish residents living in non-Jewish older adult residential facilities and the Jewish community by arranging and leading religious services for Shabbat, High Holy Days, Hannukah, and Passover.

Read more about Hannah's impact at the link in our comments.