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Temple Calendar Of Events

Discover the Joy of Judaism!

We invite you to join our historic congregation. Make memories with us. Whether you are hearing the sacred readings and ancient melodies for the first time, or you know it all by heart, you are welcome. Find personal solace as we recite Kaddish as a community. Celebrate with newlyweds as they break a glass under the chuppah. Lend helping hands to neighbors in need. Smile as you hear the sweet voices of our youngest congregants during Consecration. Share the sense of accomplishment as young teens become B’nai Mitzvah.

Everyone is welcome in our Temple family, the young and the young-at-heart; the single and the partnered; the Jew by birth and the Jew-by-choice; the able-bodied and the challenged. No matter where you have been or where you are going, rediscover the joy that is Judaism here at Congregation Ahavath Chesed!

From the Union For Reform Judaism / Reform Movement

The Brutalist: A Jewish Immigrant Saga for the Ages

The Brutalist: A Jewish Immigrant Saga for the Ages jemerman

Holocaust
Photo of Adrien Brody in a scene from the movie "The Brutalist"
Brady Corbet's "The Brutalist" opens with Hungarian architect, Jewish Holocaust survivor, and soon-to-be freshly minted U.S. immigrant László Toth in the shadowy depths of a ship headed into New York Harbor.

Proud JEWS

Proud JEWS jemerman

Antisemitism and Hate Crimes
Photo of the words "Proud Jews" written in chalk on the sidewalk
Right before Sukkot, I noticed the word "JEW" carved into my sidewalk. I began to grind out the word, but rather decided to replace the space by adding "Proud JEWs" to the sidewalk.

Broadcasting the Miracle of Fat Liberation

Broadcasting the Miracle of Fat Liberation jemerman

Hanukkah
Photo of a menorah with 7 candles lite
At Fat Torah, Hanukkah is our favorite holiday. Hanukkah in particular is a holiday that celebrates fat. On Hanukkah, we remember that miraculous oil that was meant to only last for one day and ended up lighting the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem for eight days. Eating foods fried in oil, in fat, is a key part of this commemoration.

Winterfaith

Winterfaith jemerman

Secular Holidays
Photo of two kids sitting on a snow board surrounded by a lot of snow and trees
"Winterfaith" seems a much more apt description for me than "interfaith." We're not observing two religions; I was raised Jewish, and my partner was not. Together, we are raising our children as Jewish campers, and even after 15+ years of our relationship, 11 of which with at least one child, the winter holidays are when our "interfaith" background proves to be the most challenging.

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