May 16, 2024

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

This week I had the honor of welcoming guests to the Levis JCC Betty & Marvin Zale Early Childhood Center’s Pre-K graduation ceremony. It is such a wonderful feeling to see our collective future proudly cross our stage in cap and gown as they experience the joy and achievement of graduating from something for the very first time. It was a beautiful morning celebrating the children and acknowledging proud parents, grandparents, and recognizing our dedicated Zale teachers and staff who infuse each day at Zale with love, warmth, and caring. We will miss our graduates but know they are on their way to great things ahead in kindergarten and beyond!

One of the things that I love best about our Levis JCC is that there is always something to do here, some way to connect with our community. Local schools are wrapping up for the year and parent’s seeking a great place for kids (rising K-5th graders) to be before camp and summer vacations begin can check out our Levis JCC Dale & Ed Filhaber Pre-Summer Mini Camp at the J powered by Indigo Gap. We can’t wait to welcome hundreds of smiling happy campers to our Levis JCC for a fantastic summer! If you’re looking for a wonderful summertime experience for your child, I’m told there are a few spots left in some of our groups. Don’t hesitate to call our camp staff right away!

This week’s Torah portion is Emor, (Speak) in the book of Leviticus, the third in the Five Books of Moses. In it, the Torah discusses the lighting of the menorah in the Temple, and the showbread (lechem hapanim) placed weekly on the table there. After the destruction of the Temple, those rituals were brought into our tables at home where we light the Shabbat candles and make the motzi every Friday evening. I love being connected to our shared heritage in that way. I also truly love working for and on behalf of our Jewish community, something that feels more meaningful each day.

Light Shabbat candles Friday night at 7:43 pm
Shabbat ends at 8:40 pm

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

If you would like to support the Levis JCC and its programs and services, click below.

Marty