August 14, 2025

Lori and I are home after a quick visit with our son Noah, daughter-in-law Patricia, and our granddaughters Gabby and Ollie. It was a joy to attend a gender reveal party for their baby who is expected to arrive in February 2026. It’s a boy, and we can’t wait to meet him! We are so excited and truly grateful for all our blessings. With his arrival, we will have 4 grandchildren – three in Arizona and our Emi Lou in St. Louis. As this next generation grows, I am filled with nachas. It is an exciting time for the extended Haberer family.

It’s very exciting here at home at our Adolph & Rose Levis JCC. As the summer winds down, we are looking ahead to a wonderful season of programming that will be enjoyed by our year-round residents and the many snowbirds who call our community home for the winter months. This week, it’s really a wrap on summer, as our Post Summer Dale & Ed Filhaber Mini Camp at the J concludes. For the past two weeks, we have had 60 campers here, enjoying sports, games, crafts, swim, and special entertainment, including Bill the Juggler from Party Animal Productions. These happy campers will return to school with wonderful summertime memories!

Our Levis JCC Betty & Marvin Zale Early Childhood Learning Center teachers and staff warmly welcomed nearly 240 students back to school today. Our campus was teeming with delighted preschoolers ready for a school year of learning, laughter, friendship and growth. Welcome back to our Zale students and their families! We know it’s going to be a wonderful year ahead!

This week’s Torah portion is Eikev (As a Result), in the book of Deuteronomy, the fifth and final book in the Five Books of Moses. In it,
G–d commands the Israelites to destroy all the idols in the Promised Land and tells them not to forget that their blessings come from Him rather than their own efforts. I find this commandment humbling and make it a practice to try to remember that all my life’s accomplishments have come from my maker. I am so grateful.

Light Shabbat candles Friday evening at 7:38 pm.
Shabbat ends Saturday evening at 8:32 pm.

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

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Marty