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My dear North Shore Synagogue Family,

Our year began, as it always does, in the month of Tishrei (approximately mid-September) with our High Holy Day services and programs. We welcomed Cantor Steven Hevenstone and his wife, Kathy, to our community as he lifted our prayers to the heavens with beautiful songs. We celebrated Sukkot in our Sukkah with Shabbat Under the Stars and began our B’nei Mitzvah season. Then, on Simchat Torah, our Jewish lives were shattered with the horrific, brutal October 7th attack on our people in Southern Israel.

We immediately mobilized with a “stand with Israel” rally that involved 9 synagogues and Faith Lutheran church with over 400 people in attendance. Only a short while later, we at NSS organized a Neshama Carlebach and Noah Aronson concert as a fundraiser for Israel which boasted over 800 people in attendance and over 36 Long Island synagogues and NY Jewish organizations taking part. We raised over $25,000 dollars to benefit Israel that night alone. We also helped collect medical supplies and clothing, pack them, and fly them over to Israel.

Since then we have come together with our larger community to fight the massive rise in antisemitism in the world, our country, and our community. We supported our college students who have faced antisemitism on their campuses. We attended rallies and board meetings and even helped to create a new, unified group of Jews in Syosset known as AJACS. We have continued to celebrate with an amazing Chanukah magic show, planting parsley for Tu B’shevat to use on Passover. A wonderfully connecting Women’s Seder accompanied a fun and meaningful Second Night Seder followed an incredibly successful Purim Carnival and show by our religious school children.

We continued to pray, learn, and gather together to socialize AND to make the world a better place. We, as a community, have grown. We are flourishing and we are creating the kind of synagogue everyone wants to be a part of. We should be proud of our accomplishments, especially in this world that we live in today.

Now we are about to embark on a summer. Many people (except camp directors) use this time to reset and rejuvenate in preparation for the upcoming year. Perhaps many of us will be able to do this with sunshine and beaches as well. For many of us, we may remain in the muck, trying to figure things out in our lives, our world, our families. In today’s world, I offer you this:

North Shore Synagogue does not go anywhere during the summer. We come together (religiously) every Friday evening to pray and enjoy each other’s company afterwards at the oneg. We join together on Saturday mornings to challenge each other, to vent and share about the world, and to study what our ancient texts teach us about today. We study together on Wednesday mornings either in person or via zoom (both are an option). And those are just the recurring programs!

Our doors are open, our phones are on, our emails are checked. Help us help you rejuvenate and refresh. When the world wants us to disappear, let’s show up.

Dear North Shore Synagogue Family,

Today, being August 7th, marks 10 months since the brutal Saturday morning, Simchat Torah attack on our Israeli brothers and sisters on October 7th, now known as the Black Sabbath. Today we mark 10 months that over 100 hostages still remain in Gaza. While many attempts to bring them home have been unsuccessful, we celebrate the small successes and pray for the return of our people still held in bondage.

Today we face another crisis of threats from Iran to add to the active violence still carried out by Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. I offer us the words of my friend in Israel, Haim Shalom. He writes,

“Life may go on as normal. But normal does not go on as normal. Normal has evolved. Normal is now 100 bottles of water stacked in the living room. Normal is checking with your partner what the plan is if the bombs begin to fall when you are at the zoo with the kids. Normal is feeling guilty that you kind of want the attack to come because the waiting feels worse than whatever might come next. Normal is having forgotten what your body felt like before all your muscles were gripped by stress. Normal is deciding whether to sleep in your bed or in a room with a steel enforced door and bomb-proof walls. Normal is joking about imminent death, because better to joke than fear. Normal is fear. And fear of fear. And denial. Life goes on as normal. But this normal cannot go on.”

We cannot stop the seeming avalanche. We cannot go into Gaza and bring our people home. We cannot save all suffering people in the world. But we can make some changes. We can make some difference. We can write, we can lobby, we can vote, and we can pray. Today, I offer us this prayer.

May THE ONE who blessed our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leach; bless, preserve and protect the captives and missing soldiers of the citizens of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces. May God rescue them from captivity and speedily restore them in peace, in the merit of the prayers of this holy congregation who pray for them. May the Holy One, Blessed Be God, show them mercy, increase their strength, remove their pain and send them a recovery of body and spirit; may God return them to the bosom of their families swiftly and soon. And let us say: Amen.

B’Shalom

Rabbi Jaimee Shalhevet

Cantor Steven Hevenstone

This past May I had the pleasure of attending the 77th Cantors Assembly Conference in Minneapolis, MN. It was an amazing experience to join with my colleagues from across the country, Canada, and South America. At the conference I was able to participate in concerts, teach, and speak. It truly was an opportunity for renewal of music and spirituality and to get to see what my Colleagues from other places are doing and singing within their communities. It also was an opportunity to hear old “traditional” melodies in a new way and to learn new music together. One would ask why is it important to create new melodies or even reinvigorate older melodies? We can find the answer to this in our Torah and in the teachings of past Rabbis and Hazzanim.

Shiru La-Doshem Shir Chadash – “Sing to G-d a song that is new” (translation from Sidur Simhat Y’Hoshu’a – the Schottenstein Edition Page 64). Throughout the Torah and in all of our prayers the Hebrew Word Shir (or Shirim plural) is translated as “song(s)”. The torah tells us that it was important for us to sing praise to G-d, whether it be the Hazzan singing on behalf of the Congregation, or as a community, joining the Hazzan (Ba’al T’fillah – the leader of prayer) in praise.

We find examples of music throughout the history of Jewish worship. Even the chanting of our sacred texts is done in a melodic, sweet way to convey the message of G-d to the people and turn our thoughts, prayers, hopes, and desires to G-d. You may wonder where some of the music came from in our synagogue liturgy. In early times it was based on what the Temple choir would sing in Jerusalem. “The earliest synagogal music was based on the same system as that used in the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Talmud, Joshua ben Hananiah, who had served in the sanctuary Levitical choir, told how the choristers went to the synagogue from the orchestra by the altar…” (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_religious_Jewish_music) .

During the time of the first and second Temples, temple music was the center of all music in our society. After the fall of the Temples and the removal of Jews from the promised land, it was decided that all music would be banned. Though eventually this ban was lifted for religious purposes and music was added back into worship services. Eventually music (including instruments) was allowed at various celebrations including weddings and other simchas that were not on Shabbat or Holy Days.

When liturgical poems (Piyyutim) were added to the worship service, fixed melodies used on a regular basis began to appear in Synagogue music and prayers which helped people to learn the prayers of the services. The Ba’al T’filah (the Cantor / Hazzan) would lead communities in prayer, helping each person learn each prayer and gain a deeper understanding of the service.

Singing has always been vital to praising G-d. We see this in the Torah, notably in the Song of the Sea, when, after crossing the Sea of Reeds and the waters rush over the Egyptian Army, the Israelites are led in song praising the triumph of G-d. Even in the N’Vi’im (HafTorah), our prophets encouraged singing to G-d for the great things that he has done for us. King David was known as the “Sweet Singer of Israel” for his talents with music, lyrics and musical instruments. “Music is the most immaterial and ephemeral of all art forms. We can’t see music, we can’t grasp it in our hands, but we can feel it working through us and the world. As such, music represents our connection to the divine, to each other, to everything.” (source: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/why-music-is-fundamental-tojewish-prayer/). If we look to the Gematria, the number value for song (Shirah) and prayer (tefillah) are identical. One could say that to make the most of our prayers they should be sung. In the Talmud in section Berakoht 6a it is noted “Where there is song, there is prayer…” (ibid). Prophets like Elisha were able to prophesize when music was played. When we teach our children the Sh’ma, we teach it with a melody. This simple tune has two functions. First, the idea that music helps the human brain by reaching areas that we rarely use and secondly, it helps make us better, deeper, thinkers. When we sing a prayer, we deepen it’s meaning and it becomes something more, something holy, something spiritual that puts us into a more thoughtful frame of mind as we pray.

When we use our voices and instruments to pray, we become united as a group of people sharing in not just the notes and the words, but in a collective spiritual elevation. Think of how you feel when you sing the Sh’ma out loud, or how much fun it is to sing a chorus of “Hava Narisha, Rash, Rash, Rash!” to the Chag Purim song during Purim. Each of our responses to music is individual to us, however through music we have the ability to connect with each other. We also connect with G-d, through the melodies of the T’fillah and the notes of the song which are sung. As a Hazzan, I try through the artistry of my profession to help create a feeling of meditation and of the majesty of the moment. Each community develops a distinct voice over time and as I have gotten to know and understand the voice of our community, we have been able to create moments in prayer that are truly spiritual and authentic.

May the summer months bring us all a sense of calm and peace, and may our voices join together in spiritual song and harmonies.

Musically Yours in Peace,
Cantor Steven Hevenstone

These last few days have been challenging, as we all witness the horrific events in the Middle East. We have been continuously collaborating with our Internal Security Team, Security Company, Nassau County Police Department and our local/federal partners, to ensure the best safety protocol for our congregants, staff, families and entire community. In response to “Worldwide Day of Jihad”, we are implementing additional security protocol. While we are not currently aware of any planned activities in the local area, we will continue to remain vigilant.

You are an integral part of the process. Please take a moment to review the protocols we are implementing for this weekend Friday, October 13^th through Sunday, October 15^th. Should we need to continue this protocol after this date, we will send further communication.

• We will have increased security and police presence at the synagogue.
• On Friday, October 13^th we ask that no visitors come to the building during the day. The building will only be open to staff and children. If you need anything, please reach out to the synagogue office.
• In order to come into the building this weekend, you must show a pass to the security guards either in printed form or on your phone. This includes for Shabbat Services Friday night, the B’nei Mitzvah on Saturday, Torah Study, Religious School, etc. Passes were sent to members, Nursery School and UPK parents and other authorized people by email. If you require one and did not receive it, please call the office or email office@northshoresynagogue.org.
• For Religious School, you will be stopped in the driveway and will need to display the pass (printed form or phone) before entering the parking lot.
• Our collection bin to donate items for Israel has been placed outside at the end of the circle. If you would like to join us on Sunday to help sort the items at prepared is being protected.

Dear North Shore Synagogue Family,

We are all reeling from the horrific attack on our homeland. The Israeli death toll is past the 1,000 mark with thousands more injured and, at last check, about 130 people taken hostage, including the elderly (even a holocaust survivor) and children (including toddlers and a 9 month old infant.)

So many of us have visited Israel, have relatives or friends in Israel, and are connected to Israel. We here at North Shore Synagogue will always support Israel.

We are here to support our entire community. We all want to do something – anything – to help. I share your feelings of inadequacy in what we can do, but we are not powerless. True, we cannot fly over to Israel to fight, defend, and protect our people, but we can send fighter jets and machines. We can send medical equipment. We can help with our money.

If you want to donate, here is a list of places we have deemed reputable.

The Jewish National Fund is directly assisting Israelis on the ground with real-time help. Your donation will help The Fellowship provide basic necessities like food, medical assistance, and shelter as well as safety and security provisions in times of crisis. To donate to their efforts, please click Donate Now.

The UJA Federation has launched an Israel Emergency fund which gives Emergency cash assistance for victims of terror. Critically needed trauma counseling. Care for children in shelters. Burial expenses. Funds to relocate people to safer areas. To donate to the UJA emergency Israel fund please click Donate here.

The needs are without precedent and mounting every day.

In a longer fight, we pray, please contact your elected officials and demand that they support Israel with money, support, and words in the media against those who would twist the truth and reality of what is going on.

To do that, please use the link below which will take you to the American Jewish Committee.

Stand with Israel – Take Action

It’s incredibly important to stay educated correctly. Here are links of news stations and places where you can get true information, please follow these links.

Israel is Under Attack – What you need to know

What World Leaders are Saying

Everything You Need to Know About Israel AJC Resources

Haaretz in English

The Times of Israel

If you would like information on how to speak with children about this war, please use these links.

Talking to Children about War

Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen

Talking to Teens: When Scary Things Happen

Creating Supportive Environments: When Scary Things Happen

Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Trauma

If you need specific support, please reach out to our clergy. We have set up a special email just for this need. Please reach out using caring@northshoresynagogue.org

If you know anyone who has been injured, please let us know so that we can pray for them. If you know anyone who has been killed, please let us know so we can support you and pray Kaddish together as a community for them. If you know of anyone taken hostage, please let us know so that we can pray for them. Please share with us the names of your loved ones in Israel by sending an email to caring@northshoresynagogue.org so we can pray for them as a community.

We will be speaking with our religious school students, at an age appropriate basic and vague level, at the beginning of Religious school on Wednesday, Sunday, and Monday. For those children who know more specifics and would like to speak, we are all available during religious school hours and beyond and can address it personally. Please feel free to join us as we hold special services and programs in support of Israel during those times.

We know that antisemitism often rises whenever there is conflict in Israel, specifically on college campuses where, recently anti-zionism has become a large problem. If your child or someone you know is in college and needs support at this time, please have them contact our clergy. We are here to help.

Please join us this Friday night, October 13th for Shabbat, as we pray for peace in Israel and raise our voices in song together as one community.

My friends, no one is alone. We have each other. Your family at North Shore Synagogue is not going anywhere. We are here for you always.

All our best in peace,

Rabbi Shalhevet, Cantor Hevenstone, Executive Director, Jacquelynn Golub, and President Sondra Cardno

From Rabbi Jaimee Shalhevet…

Dear North Shore Synagogue Family,

As the sun sets on summer and a new school year begins, we want to wish those of you returning to school as students, teachers, faculty, or staff a year filled with learning, growth and enjoyment.

For our students and their parents:

And so begins a new year….
May it be a year of learning and growth, a year of new experiences and understanding.
May they outgrow their shoes and may they not lose their jackets.
May each day bring something new and may routine guide their steps.
May their pencils be sharp and their minds even sharper.
May they revel in the joy of each new fact learned, each right answer, each small accomplishment.
May the erasers on their pencils get as much use as the tips.
May they learn that wrong answers can be just as important as right ones.
May they ask questions, lots and lots of questions, and may their teachers be patient. Very patient.
May they make friends and build relationships, and may they make lifelong connections.
May they be kind and polite and each one a mensch of the highest order.

And may this year be filled with blessings..

For our teachers, faculty, and staff:

May God bless you as you start this new year with your students and colleagues.
May your school environment be one of respect.
May you see the difference you make in your students.
May you witness the impression you have on your colleagues.
May you be appreciated with word and deed.
May you find excitement in everyday.
May you receive visits from the past that let you know how much you make a difference.
May you be able to find light in the darkest of places.
May this school year be one of growth and renewal

Like a few other cultures, our Jewish calendar is a lunar one, following the cycle of the moon. It still consists of 12 months, but because each cycle of the moon is 29.5 days long, every month is either 29 or 30 days, sometimes not the same each year. It makes the year only 355 days long unlike the Gregorian calendar of 365 days. This is why we say “oh! The holidays are early (or late) this year!” Now, every so often (It actually occurs 7 times in a 19 year cycle – but don’t ask me for the logarithm, I’m a rabbi, not a mathematician), there is a leap – where in the Jewish calendar we add an entire month (instead of a Day in February every 4 years which is MUCH easier to keep track of!). This is when the holidays seem to jump ahead again and then slowly move earlier and earlier until we need another jump. For this reason, our Jewish months only mostly coincide with the same American months. This year, we are lucky and January, February, and March each have one Holiday – nicely balanced.

This is all to lead us into the intriguing idea that our Jewish holidays do not only stand alone as celebrations, ceremonies, or memorials, but rather also take us on a journey through the year and our lives, teaching us valuable lessons as we travel together. Even if we do not celebrate each holiday, knowing about them can help us to glean lessons to help shape our lives.

This year, on January 3rd, there is a holy day known as the Fast of Tevet. It falls on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet and in Hebrew is called “Aseret B’Tevet”, just meaning the 10th of Tevet. Unlike religious holidays, this day of remembrance, repentance, and commemoration begins at sunRISE on January 3rd and ends at night on the same day. The 10th of Tevet is not a later thought in our history, it is actually mentioned in our bible as well. In the book of Second Kings, chapter 25, verse one, our Bible states, “In the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar moved against Jerusalem with his whole army. He besieged it; and they built towers against it all around. The city continued in a state of siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.” Thus the 10th of Tevet is a day to remember when Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem until it finally fell, and the first Temple was destroyed on the 9th of Av over 2 years later. This day of fasting bears witness to the destruction of our people’s way of life and what could have been the complete destruction of our people.

A month and three days later, on February 6th this year, we will celebrate Tu B’shevat. Another holiday known only by its date (the 15th of Shevat), Tu B’shevat is one of our four Jewish new year. It’s not so unusual to have more than one new year. We in America have January 1st as the official new Calendar year, with April 15th marking the tax year and sometime in September marking the school year. So, Jews have many new years as well. Tu B’shevat is the new year of the trees. It is not mentioned in the bible, but rather has a later creation, when the Jews are more settled in our lands and we can actually count how old the very trees we planted are. On Tu B’shevat, it is traditional to have a seder mirroring our Passover seder with four glasses of wine, but they move from white wine to rose to red in order to celebrate the seasons. We plant seeds in the hopes that new life will grow, and it has become somewhat of a tradition to plant parsley on Tu B’shevat to use when it grows as the parsley on our seder plates for Passover.

Yet one month later on the evening of March 6th to the evening of March 7th is the holiday of Purim. A holiday of complete joy and celebration. A holiday where our Heroine Esther saves her people through dishonesty, seduction, and bravery. (Feel free to attend my Purim class as we get closer to this holiday to hear the true Danielle Steel novel that the book of Esther really is!) Anyway, the book of Purim is pure joy, fun, and silly antics rejoicing in the saving of our people.

So, what do these holidays come along to teach us on this journey? From the Fast of Tevet through Tu B’shevat to Purim we go from destruction to planting seeds in the hopes that they will grow, to celebrating the success and survival of our people. Our holiday timeline echoes the line from Psalm 126, “Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.”

So let us remember as we travel through the winter to the spring from January through March, to keep our holidays in mind. When we feel like we are under siege, when we feel that our walls have been breached and all is lost. Take the time to mourn – but only from sunrise until nightfall, not the full time of a normal holiday. Then plant a seed and tend it. If we tend it and care for it, we will one day reap in joy and laughter as the book of Esther says, “La Yehudim Hayta Ora, v’simcha v’sasson vikar. For the Jews had light and gladness, happiness and honor. May it be so with us and all the world.”

Kein Y’hi Ratzon. Be this God’s will.