Archive for the ‘Davidson College Hillel’ Category

Passover at Lake Norman

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

The Jewish People gather every year at this time to remember and relive the story of our people, the Exodus from Egypt. The message of this story is that oppression wherever it rears its head can and must end.  Through a sacred partnership with God, individuals and communities can redeem the world. The Exodus story hopefully inspires us to vision of the world as it might yet look and work towards that vision every day.

This past Monday and Tuesday more than 260 people gathered for Passover. On Monday, nearly all of the 75 Jewish students at Davidson College gathered together with friends, faculty, staff, and honored guests to welcome the Festival of Matzot.  It would have been unthinkable 10 years ago that 130 people would gather on the Davidson College campus for a Passover Seder.  It reflects the increasing diversity at the College and the significant growth of the Jewish population at Davidson.

On Tuesday, more than 120 people celebrated Passover with the Lake Norman Jewish Congregation (www.lakenormanjc.org).  90 adults and 36 children of all ages prayed, sang, laughed, and of course ate together as they commemorated the sacred story of the Jewish People. This community seder reflects the dramatic growth in the Jewish community over the past three years. The Lake Norman Jewish Congregation has grown from 55 families to nearly 120 families.  Our school has grown from 25 students to more than 75 students.  We are truly blessed.

I hope all will feel welcome to join me in marking the end of Passover with Pizza and Pilsners with Rabbi Shields” at the Brickhouse in Davidson (209 Delburg St.) on Tuesday October 6 at 8pm.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=365517053815&ref=ts

All are welcome!

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Vision for the future: Join us for a Unique Communal Adventure

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

It has been almost two years since I found out that I would join the Lake Norman Jewish Congregation (www.lakenormanjc.org) as its first full-time Rabbi.  The relationship between congregation and rabbi has been more enriching and meaningful than I ever imagined. Together we have taken crucial steps in building a Jewish community.

The congregation has grown from 55 families and 45 students in the religious school to nearly 120 families and 75 children in the religious school. Our worship has matured and we are well on our way to a vibrant and diverse musical tradition that embraces both traditional melodies and music from contemporary Jewish song writers.  Educational opportunities are born every day; ‘Taste of Judaism’ class, adult Hebrew, and our ‘Torah Reborn: Bursting the Biblical Bubble’ Torah Study.  Other opportunities are in the development stage, including; “Torah on Tap:  Bible and a Brew,”  ”Sex in the Texts: Jewish Views of Sexuality and Intimacy”,  ”Vices in Biblical and Rabbinic Literature,”  and “Reel Theology: An exploration of Jewish Theological and Philosophical Themes in Film.”  We are also developing learning opportunities for interfaith couples, new parents, and grandparents.

Our community is literally bursting with new ideas, enthusiasm, and hopes for the future; hopes for our children, our teenagers, our adults, our retirees. We have many dreams; dreams of a unified liberal Jewish community in the Lake Norman region – one which builds a powerful foundation that will endure for generations.  Dreams of a community home – a beit midrash, a house of study, a beit sefer, a school, and a beit t’filah, a house of prayer.

We have a vision, we have a sound strategic plan, and we have the critical mass to succeed. My hope is that all in the community will want to be a part of and contribute to this vision. A unified Jewish community will best be able to serve the needs of all.

We are building a powerful community model and hope all will walk with us on this meaningful adventure. The possibilities are endless.

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Posted in Building a Jewish Community, Davidson College Hillel, Lake Norman Judaism, Meeting the Challenge of Jewish Education: Creating a Dynamic Educational Environment in the Community and at Home | No Comments »

Shabbat Shalom and happy Secular New Year

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Another Shabbat is upon us, and we have charged into a New Secular Year. It was such a blessing to gather with 40 or so souls for a Shabbat service with Davidson Hillel. The students and some community members gathered before services for a Shabbat dinner of sushi and Pizza and a little text study around the topic of Haiti and what Jewish responses could be. We then proceeded to welcome the Sabbath with joyous song and prayer.

Davidson Hillel continues to grow just as do the Lake Norman Jewish Congregation and the Jewish community at the Lake.  I hope to be writing more and providing links to interesting Jewish topics.  My apologies for not posting very often in the last month.  The development of the Jewish community is progressing at breakneck speed and those developments have made it more difficult to write consistently. Check back more often as I will be writing at least once a week from here on out.

Shabbat Shalom

Donate to the the American Jewish World Service Haiti Relief Fund: https://secure.ajws.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3460&3460.donation=form1

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