Weekly Message 04.18.2025 Passover

jccwestpasco
Apr 17
3 min read

Dear friends,

This coming Shabbat (April 18th and 19th), we celebrate the 7th day of Passover with the additional reading of excerpts from Shir HaShirim, the beautiful love poetry attributed to King Solomon which records poetic conversations between two lovers, describing their pursuit of each other through vineyards and fields of blossoming flowers. It is traditionally understood as a metaphor for the loving relationship between G-d and the people of Israel.

Our Torah reading will include Shirat HaYam, the Song at the Sea which celebrates the miraculous crossing of the Sea of Reeds by the children of Israel on their escape from slavery in Egypt. Our Haftorah from the prophet Shmuel (Samuel) Book 2, Chapter 22, is a song of King David's thankful for the delivery from his enemies utilizing some of the same imagery from the Song at the Sea chanted from the Torah on this special day. These thoughts are also embodied in David's Psalm 18 as he thanks Adonai from his rescue from the rage of King Saul. Services will be held at the usual times of 7:30 pm on Friday and 9:30 am on Saturday, both in person and on Zoom—-see the Zoom link below.

On Sunday, April 20th, at our morning service, we mark the last day of Passover with the

Yizkor memorial service as we conclude the Yom Tov while remembering family and friends who came before us and helped shape our lives. Services begin at 9:30 am on Sunday.

Then, keeping in mind that there remain many sorely in need of assistance in our community, we will hold our monthly volunteer session at Metropolitan Ministries at 3216 US Highway 19 in Holiday on Thursday, April 24th from 11 am until 2 pm. Whether you have volunteered many times in the past or will be doing so for the first time, please consider volunteering just a few hours of your time to continue to help us with this important mitzvah so that we can meet our quota and make an impact on our community. To register, please click on this link:

Jewish Community Center Event Link: https://vhub.at/1L1BLIK

On Sunday, April 27th at 11:30 am, there will be a Yom HaAtzmaut celebration at Temple Beth David at 13158 Antelope Street in Spring Hill "all you can eat" Israeli food truck all for only $12 and kids are free!

On Tuesday, April 29th at 7 pm, we will participate in the Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Remembrance Day program at Temple Beth David at 13158 Antelope Street in Spring Hill. Rides will be provided for those who need one. This is part of our partnership with Beth David to provide programming and activities that we can all partake in.

On Sunday, May 4th at 2 pm, we will gather at Temple B'nai Israel at 1685 South Belcher Road in Clearwater to honor our own Wendy Seldin together with women from the other synagogues, community centers, and volunteer organizations in our region as our "Woman of Distinction". Wendy has contributed so much to our synagogue and our community, so let's have a huge turnout to cheer her and the others and congratulate them for all they have done to support us. The guest speaker at the event will be Lizzy Savetsky an American social media activist known for her work fighting antisemitism, advocating for Israel, and empowering us to be proud of our identity and religion. Again, rides will be provided for those who need one. Registration for the program and refreshments is available through this link https://jewishgulfcoast.org/wod The cost is $36/person. Please plan to attend and celebrate Wendy and our congregation!

Stay tuned for the announcement of many more activities in May and June and in the meantime, continue to enjoy this Passover week! Chag Sameach, Ron