Dear JCM Members,
As the holiday of Purim approached and I listened to the news about Ukraine, I couldn’t help but make a connection to the two events. Both elucidate how the desire for power can lead to suffering for many people. I wanted to do my small part to help those who are suffering today so I decided to bake hamantaschen to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. Ellyn enthusiastically supported the project, created a website, and we invited people to come help bake at the synagogue.
Together we raised $1571 that will reach Ukrainian refugees through HIAS, an organization founded in 1881 to help Jewish refugees in New York.
Thank you to all who participated. It was wonderful to be able to use the resources of the building and meet new people while knowing that our work will go beyond our walls. Special thanks to Reuven Gittler, Melisine Alegre, Barbara, Ren and Makaela Cooper, Rabbi Raanan, Sheri McNerthney, and Denise Toledo-Fleetham for their baking prowess and Tim McInerney who did a lot of the behind the scenes clean-up.
Toda Raba, Rabbi Sandra