Touching your heart and engaging your mind
Jewish Life in Northern Nevada
Mishpachah Family Workshop
Young families came together for our Mishpachah Family Workshop on 11/24/2024 for a hands-on experiential celebration of Shabbat led by Rabbi Katz, with the assistance of Leslie Golberg and Yudi Nadler
The morning began with Rabbi Katz reading the families the story of the brothers 'Bim and Bom'. A very cute story - highly recommended!
Materials to make candlestick holders were provided to each child/family and it was wonderful to see how differently they each turned out.
To experience Shabbat we said blessings over the candles, grape juice and challah. Of course the juice and challah were tasted and babka was added for a Shabbat sweet.
Following that, as a way to end our Shabbat celebration, Havdalah was explained and blessings over grape juice, spices (freshly ground and put into individual bags) and the Havdalah candle were said.
Each child took home a ‘Shabbat bag’ filled with candles, the
candlestick holders, a Kiddush Cup, a bag of spices and a Havdalah
candle to encourage weekly celebrations at home.
Colorful handouts with the blessings were given to the parents to take with them.
We are looking forward to our Purim workshop next month.
Temple Emanu-El's Second Night Seder
Fifty-five of us had the pleasure of participating in an exceptional second night Passover Seder. Rabbi Katz led us through the Haggadah, with an assist from Rabbi Richard Liebovitz and Rabbi SaraLeya Schley.
As we completed a section, each table explored non-traditional, yet relevant questions prepared by Rabbi Katz. It was a wonderful and clever way to invite conversation among the guests! Through the discussions, we all got to know each other a bit better while deepening our connection to Judaism and our community.
The Seder would not have been a success without the dedication, skill and perseverance of Jan Carver. Jan developed the delicious dinner menu, did all the shopping, organized a team of helpers, and kept us on task with a chart and printed recipes for us to follow (to a T).
Five days of cooking led each day by Jan were followed by an afternoon of setting up the tables, decorating the Social Hall, ensuring the food was warmed and ready to serve, and the wine ready to pour.
Jan credited her success to all who helped cook and set up (in alphabetical order: Pam Brandman, Sue Edmondson, John Duerson, Jan's niece Genevive, Charli Goins, Florence Drattler-Gold, Dorothy Russell, Idora Silver and Jen Wulff, and those who helped clean up: Joanie Brodsky, Pam Brandman, Sue Edmondson, Florence Drattler-Gold and Idora Silver). But we all know who made it come together, and that was Jan.
Thanks also go to all who attended. Without you, it wouldn't have been a true community Seder!
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי
Am Yisrael Chai
Cars lined Manzanita Lane for the mile between Lakeside Drive and Plumas; the parking lot at Temple Emanu-El overflowed when hundreds came to support Israel and the Jewish community on Tuesday, October 10th. Representatives from every branch of government, from federal to State, to local and law enforcement, vowed to support Israel’s right to defend itself and to keep the Jewish community safe. Reno Police Chief Katherine Nance urged us to continue to gather for services and events, and promised extra patrols of Reno’s synagogues. RPD presence at the vigil was unmistakable, with cruisers along the street and in the parking lot.
Prayers and song were offered by Rabbi Benjamin Katz, Rabbi Richard Leibovitz, Zel Copeland and Mara Langer. Speakers included Stefanie Tuzman, President and CEO of Jewish Nevada (by video), and Marc Picker, Northern Nevada Council Chair. A video update by Israel Bachar, General Consul of Israel, detailed the current situation in Israel. At the end of the vigil, candles were lit in remembrance of the Jewish victims of the Hamas attacks and the devastation in Israel.
Mara Langer, both a congregant of Temple Emanu-El and Jewish Nevada’s Director Community Engagement for Northern Nevada organized the entire event. Thanks go to her and Jewish Nevada for making the event possible, and to Temple Emanu-El for hosting it. Thanks are also owed to the speakers — Nevada’s Chief of Staff Ben Kieckhefer representing Governor Lombardo, Molly Rose Lewis representing Senator Jackie Rosen, State Assemblywoman Angie Taylor, Reno Police Chief Katherine Nance, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, Temple Emanu-El President Alan Liebman — the attendance of Commissioner Clara Andriola, and the support of Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto.