We want to thank all the volunteers who helped out at our booth in the Solano Stroll this past Sunday. We had a lot of interest in our synagogue, including spins of the fortune wheel and requests for information about our congregation and the upcoming High Holy Days. Thanks to all of your efforts, we have gotten the word out to even more people about our community and hopefully we will see TBH grow even more in the near future.
As we get closer to the start of the High Holy Days, we wanted to take a moment and appreciate how fortunate we all are to live where we do. This week the United States will be celebrating Constitution Day to commemorate the announcement of a brand new constitution in 1787. Though we might take it for granted today, the Constitution written centuries ago had never been seen before or attempted before at that time. Most countries and empires had monarchs, dictators, oligarchs, etc. where most people had no say in government (Britain had and continues to have an unwritten constitution). The United States was the first nation in the modern era that attempted a written constitution to guide its future. One of the key features of that constitution was the lack of a state church. The authors specifically wrote that no religion would take precedence and no religious test would be required to hold federal office (though the states could have a state religion and require a religious test for state office). This kind of religious freedom was almost unheard of in the 18th century and allowed religious minorities, including Jews, the opportunity for citizenship, voting, officeholding, and participation in the affairs of state. As a result, many Jewish men and women have served in government for the last two centuries and will continue to do so. This upcoming Constitution Day, let us celebrate the possibilities and opportunities granted to our faith and many others.
Our Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM. Religious School will also restart on September 15th at 9:30 AM. And finally, our next Shabbat Service, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney is on Friday, September 20th, at 7:30 PM,
Thank you everyone!
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel
From the Presidents – Sept 13, 2024
September 13, 2024 by tbhrich • president
Shalom Everyone!
We want to thank all the volunteers who helped out at our booth in the Solano Stroll this past Sunday. We had a lot of interest in our synagogue, including spins of the fortune wheel and requests for information about our congregation and the upcoming High Holy Days. Thanks to all of your efforts, we have gotten the word out to even more people about our community and hopefully we will see TBH grow even more in the near future.
As we get closer to the start of the High Holy Days, we wanted to take a moment and appreciate how fortunate we all are to live where we do. This week the United States will be celebrating Constitution Day to commemorate the announcement of a brand new constitution in 1787. Though we might take it for granted today, the Constitution written centuries ago had never been seen before or attempted before at that time. Most countries and empires had monarchs, dictators, oligarchs, etc. where most people had no say in government (Britain had and continues to have an unwritten constitution). The United States was the first nation in the modern era that attempted a written constitution to guide its future. One of the key features of that constitution was the lack of a state church. The authors specifically wrote that no religion would take precedence and no religious test would be required to hold federal office (though the states could have a state religion and require a religious test for state office). This kind of religious freedom was almost unheard of in the 18th century and allowed religious minorities, including Jews, the opportunity for citizenship, voting, officeholding, and participation in the affairs of state. As a result, many Jewish men and women have served in government for the last two centuries and will continue to do so. This upcoming Constitution Day, let us celebrate the possibilities and opportunities granted to our faith and many others.
Our Torah Study on Zoom takes place every Saturday at 10:15 AM. Religious School will also restart on September 15th at 9:30 AM. And finally, our next Shabbat Service, hosted by Rabbi Dean and Cantor Marney is on Friday, September 20th, at 7:30 PM,
Thank you everyone!
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel
~ Anna and David, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel