So this happened! On Sunday morning, at the opening day assembly of religious school, we welcomed our students back to school. I cannot begin to tell you what it feels like to see the entire Blumenthal Sanctuary filled to capacity with students, teachers, madrichim and parents. And that is nothing compared to what happens when Ms. Patty and her music madrichim begin to play their instruments and lead song after song. The enthusiasm and ruach is palpable. The years that Patty Torcellini has put into developing such an outstanding music program for our students and teens resonates throughout the building as our students sing in full voice, dozens of Hebrew songs with hand motions, clapping and dancing. What a way to start off the year! How could we ever top that?
The answer is simple. Dress the clergy in crazy costumes and put on a skit! Rabbi Judy flew around the sanctuary with her glittery, green wings dressed as Tinker Bell. Rabbi Jonathan flexed and stomped around using his best Incredible Hulk voice. Our beloved Cantor Mary was a great sport and became Shrek, the ogre, not the most graceful character to portray. Beth Warshauer was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and I was Kermit the Frog. There was a purpose for our green character choices, of course. What would make us do such a thing? We used the assembly to introduce a new initiative that Temple Beth El will be a part of, SHALOM GREEN.
The Levine JCC, Temple Beth El, Temple Israel, the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte and the Foundation of Shalom Park have teamed up for the Shalom Park Environmental Initiative – SHALOM GREEN. The TBE Religious School students will have the opportunity to spend time working in the community garden and to help reduce waste at school and around the Park with recycling programs and other environmental projects. But this is not just a program for our students. All TBE members are welcome and encouraged to find out about this initiative and to get involved.
The best way to get started would be to sign up for the LJCC’s Shalom Park Challenge. Families and individuals should register to receive monthly challenges – connected to Jewish values – to live more sustainably at home. The challenge will include learning opportunities, activities, discussion topics and special events to get everyone working together to GO GREEN!
Click Here to more information on how to register.
The Torah says, Look at My works! How beautiful and praiseworthy they are! …Be careful [though] that you don’t spoil or destroy my world—because if you spoil it, there is nobody after you to fix it. (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13). We all want to make sure that our beautiful children inherit a world that is worthy of them. Our teachers will teach them how to heal the world. Rabbi Judy Tinker Bell will lead the way!
