October 3, 2025

Shalom Chaverim (Dear Friends),

As I write this message to you, we are approaching Erev Yom Kippur—you will receive it after Yom Kippur concludes and we welcome the arrival of Shabbat. It is our Jewish tradition to ask forgiveness from those we have wronged. Asking forgiveness from G-d always feels easier to me than asking forgiveness from family, friends, colleagues and peers. G-d has yet to respond to me! Apologizing to those we live among and interact with daily somehow seems to require more courage. Today, I ask each of you for forgiveness if I have harmed you or offended you in any way. I am sincerely sorry and I promise to do better in the New Year. I wish for all who observed this holy day that it was meaningful and if you fasted, that it was an easy one.

These holidays come at a busy time for our Adolph & Rose Levis JCC. Last Friday, we lit up the night at our Family Shabbat @ the J - Glow and Groove in partnership with PJ Library South Palm Beach County. Families sang with Laura Lenes, danced with our DJ, enjoyed kosher food, made crafts, and celebrated Shabbat in glowing style! The night was full of energy, smiles, and neon fun — thank you to everyone who joined us! More Family Shabbat events are planned this year. Please click here to learn more about our great community events.

On Tuesday evening, our Levis JCC Phyllis & Harvey Sandler Center presented the third installment of its new 92nd Street Y Live! series. Each month, we proudly present 3 live events streamed from the 92nd Street Y in New York City. This week our members and guests enjoyed comedian, writer, actor, Saturday Night Live alum and Weird Barbie, Kate McKinnon in an evening of comedy and conversation. Coming up next in this series is legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog on October 10th and beloved actor Michael J. Fox on Monday, October 13th. So many wonderful and noteworthy performers, writers, and artists will be featured. Guests will be announced each month. Learn more about this incredible series here.

This week’s Torah portion is Haazinu (Listen) in the book of Deuteronomy, the 5th and final book in the Five Books of Moses. In it, G-d instructs Moses to ascend the summit of Mount Nebo, from which he will behold the Promised Land before dying on the mountain. “For you shall see the land opposite you; but you shall not go there, into the land which I give to the children of Israel.” The message for us is that the real gift is not necessarily the arrival at the finish line, but in how we prepare for and ultimately take the journey. My journey at the Levis JCC has been gratifying, fulfilling, and truly wonderful. As we move into a new year on our Jewish calendar, it coincides with a wonderful time of growth for our community and our Levis JCC. I am so proud to be on this journey, and so very happy to have you along with me.

Light Shabbat candles Friday evening at 6:45 pm.
Shabbat ends Saturday evening at 7:37 pm.

Shabbat Shalom
Am Yisrael Chai!

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

Marty