HTAA Blog

28 Nisan 5775 / 17 April, 2015

Parashat Shemini

Shabbat Shalom! 

Freedom is a value to which we can relate both as Jews and as Americans. It means that we respect others' rights to live and believe as they please. Freedom is not anarchy, in order for all to truly be free, one's actions must not infringe on the freedom of others. The theme of Passover, celebrated last week, was about celebrating freedom and liberation from oppression.

It is no wonder that, merely six days after Passover, we observe Yom Hashoa (Holocaust Remembrance Day). More than seventy years have passed and we still cannot grasp the enormity of the evil that was perpetrated upon six million of our brothers and sisters and upon millions of other victims of the Nazi reign of terror and death. Freedom is on our minds because we are committed to never allowing atrocities that plagued our past to recur in the future.

That is why I am proud that our synagogue is home to so many survivors who are committed to educating the next generation. This year, in our community, Martin Finkelstein, Harvey Goldfarb, and Josie Traum shared their stories of survival with our Religious School students and Nesse Godin addressed the congregation last Shabbat. Outside our walls, too, our members were working double time to do their part in ensuring that the world never forgets. Isaac Gendelman will share reflections on his experience as a Polish survivor at the Kemp Mill Synagogue on Sunday, 4/19. Gil Waganheim (pictured below) shared his experience with Leisure World residents. Gil was an American soldier who fought at the Battle of the Bulge and his company liberated the Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria. Click here to view more photos of our members' activities on Yom Hashoa.

We pray that the divine will that all people should live in freedom, safety, and mutual respect be realized quickly and in our lifetimes. May we enjoy a Shabbat of shalom in our own households and may the world, one day, enjoy the blessing of shalom - peace among all peoples.

Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach!

Rabbi Steven Suson

Gil Waganheim (HTAA Trustee) speaks at Leisure World

!מזל טוב

!יום הולדת שמח

Happy Birthday to:

Marta Ressin, Felipe Kohn, Ilana Barris, Daniel Fox, Eileen Curreri, Iris Cooper, Ruth Seemann, Joshua Schmidt, Claire Windsor, Brent Polkes, Isaiah Kohn

המקום ינחם

Condolences to:

Sidney Coplon on the loss of his sister, Margaret "Jimmie" Evelyn Coplon Semel, z"l. May her memory forever be a source of blessing and inspiration.