Dear Friends:
We received news this morning of the passing of Audrey Komrad, mother or Dr. Mark Komrad, mother-in-law of Hazzan Kim Komrad, and grandmother of Ilan Komrad. Funeral and shiva will be in Homestead, FL, where she lived with her husband, Mark’s father Dr. Eugene Komrad. The entire congregation sends its love and condolences as the Komrad family mourns their loss. May God comfort you among all who mourn in Zion and Jerusalem.
This past Sunday evening after our Chanukah party we had our first in-person “hybrid” weekday minyan since the beginning of the pandemic. I think everyone who was there in person found it refreshing to return to our Chapel and to pray together and be able to sing and join in without having to mute for fear of distracting the leader and other participants. I don’t know to what extent we will start having more in person services beyond Shabbat morning -- to some extent that depends on the willingness of our members to actually attend. Certainly Zoom is more convenient and for those who continue to be at high risk from COVID, safer. But I hope we can start having more in person services and other activities soon.
For the next several Shabbat mornings we will be having kiddush after services. They will not necessarily be elaborate but they will be an opportunity for us to spend some more time together informally rather than rushing home as soon as services end. Especially on days when we do have Kiddush, it’s important that you sign up to attend via our registration form -- it helps us know how much food to have without being wasteful.
As a reminder, I am having drop-in hours on Thursday afternoon from 2 to 4 at the shul. You do not need to make an appointment -- that would negate the whole point of drop-in hours -- but I’d urge you to check and make sure I am there regardless as sometimes there are unavoidable pastoral or other emergencies which might take me away from the building.
As always, if I can do anything for you or you need to talk, please contact me at rabbi@kehilatshalom.org or 301-977-0768 rather than through the synagogue office. I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment. I have been spending more time in the synagogue recently but if you want to speak with me it’s best to make an appointment rather than assuming I will be there when you stop by.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Charles L. Arian