Celebrating Hanukkah and Helping Others

Dear Congregants,

In December, we celebrate Hanukkah with plenty of latkes, brisket (if you’re not a vegetarian), gelt, candles and song. Happy Hanukkah to all. And while I’m at it, Happy secular New Year as well. By January, we’ll be exhausted from celebrating so much!

On that note, this year’s CSI Family Hannukah Night on December 22nd will be quite different and suited to all tastes. Our fabulous kitchen crew has planned an Israeli dinner for us, and I’m sure it will be delicious. The cost is $20 for adults and $5 for children. Reservations are a must, so please email or call Stephanie in our office with the information on who you’re bringing.

During December, we might get a bit overwhelmed as we plan for get-togethers, travel and gift-giving. Let’s remember the best gift is that of kindness and open- heartedness to everyone in our circle of friends and family – and also to those we encounter out there in the world. Think Tikkun Olam during this busy season. We’ll meet people in stores, restaurants and airports, many of them as frazzled and tired as we may be. Offer someone your place in the line if they only have one item and you have many. Or, volunteer to carry packages or an umbrella for someone as they trudge through the rain.

Something like that happened to me yesterday as I slogged through the downpour and struggled to get into a store. Juggling my car keys, handbag and open umbrella I couldn’t quite make it. A kind soul held the door and offered to take the umbrella for me as I made my way inside. What a lovely gesture, and one I won’t soon forget.

On that theme of helping others, we’re looking for some congregants to help our Board of Governors run CSI. We need a few more members for our Marketing and Communications Committee, so that we can improve our messaging to those in Middle Georgia and beyond. Please see the description of this committee below. We had several visitors for the High Holy Days who found us online and enjoyed our services. Due to their responses, we realized that we must do further and better outreach to increase awareness of all that we have to offer. So, if you have any thoughts about how we can go about this, or if you have any skills that would help us with marketing and communication, please let me know.

We’ve also described two more committees in this bulletin that could use new membership: the Cemetery Committee and the Security Committee. Again, those committees will welcome new members with open arms. Contact me if you’d like to be part of their efforts.

In parting, let me wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season loaded with love and all good things.

Shalom,
Jan