Dear Friends:
A few quick notes:
1. Our apologies to those of you who were unable to access our services on Zoom Saturday morning. While we set up the Zoom equipment on Thursday and it was up and running, Internet service to the synagogue building went out some time after. This has happened multiple times this week and there have been repeated reports of Verizon FIOS Internet outages in the neighborhood of the synagogue. We hope we can work with Verizon this week to insure that this doesn’t keep happening, but please know that the problem lies with Verizon and not with our equipment or know-how.
2. This evening after minyan, the Secure Community Network will be presenting Situational Awareness Training to spot and deal with security concerns. In order to attend you must register in advance at this link.
3. Starting this Sunday, May 1, evening minyan will include both Minchah and Ma’ariv. Please plan on minyan lasting until about 8:10 rather than 8 pm.
4. On Thursday night for my “Contemporary Jewish Controversies” class I will be discussing the Great American Rabbi Shortage. You may have seen a few months ago that the United Synagogue sent a letter to Conservative congregations looking to hire new rabbis that there were many fewer rabbis looking for pulpits than synagogue looking to hire. As of this morning, which is quite late in the “hiring season”, the Rabbinical Assembly placement list still contained 39 open pulpits. Additionally, a couple of weeks ago Hebrew Union College, the Reform seminary, announced that it was “sunsetting” it’s rabbinical program in Cincinnati. Those who are currently enrolled can finish their education in Cincinnati but new students will be enrolled only in New York and Los Angeles. The reason for this, of course, is that the number of students for ordination is too small to support three full rabbinical programs. What’s causing this shortage and how will it affect the future of American Judaism?
As a reminder, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has established a Ukraine Emergency Fund to meet emergency humanitarian needs. You can find out more and donate here.
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. Although I am working primarily from home, I am happy to meet you at the synagogue by appointment.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Charles L. Arian