The Havurat Olam Shmoozeletter

May 4, 2006 - 6 Iyar  5766

Volume III, Issue 8

updated 5-23-06

[Services and Torah Rededication] [Shavuot Picnic] [Note from the President]

Friday Night Services

And Torah Rededication

May 19, 2006

The reunion is about to happen.  After six months in the Big Apple, our Torah returns on May 19th, accompanied by Neil Yerman, New York’s Most Amazing Scribe Extraordinaire.

Who knew?  It turns out that Mr. Yerman is also a musician, who happens to be fluent in recorder and clarinet, as well as calligraphy.  He has declared himself ready and able to jam at our, ahem, traditional Friday night service that very evening.  Between his clarinet and our usual accordion, percussion, and guitar, we may find ourselves approaching the first klezmer sound ever made in Cabarrus County.

You gotta be there.

Please join us at 7:00 for our Friday night service, where we will joyously and solemnly rededicate our restored Torah with verses from Genesis.  In the beginning….

Event:	Friday Night Services and Torah Rededication
Date:	Friday, May19, 2006
Time:	to be announced.
Location:	McGill Baptist Church 5300 Poplar Tent Rd. Concord NC 28027 -9757 map > RSVP <

Picnicking in the Park

Shavuot is ON!

June 3, 2006

Oy, we don’t have the space to list the activities.  Think matzah karate, a bagel toss, a matzo ball eating contest, whistling with a matzah in your mouth, an Elijah cup race, a scavenger hunt, making our own mezuzahs (more on that below), singing songs, dancing on the grass, and otherwise making merry to mark the day we celebrate receiving our Torah on Mt. Sinai.  It’s Shavuot! We will begin our celebration with a brief Yizkor service and end that evening with a lovely Havdalah service.  Sandwiched in between, as you can see, are plenty of kid-friendly activities. Now your part:

1. Bring dairy!  Traditionally, we eat the good stuff on Shavuot: ice cream, cheesecake, blintzes.  You bring your contribution and we’ll supply burgers and hot dogs.

2. Make a mezuzah!  If you, your child, your spouse, or your friend want to make a mezuzah, let us know post haste.  Please respond A.S.A.P.  We’re going to order some kits for the cases (they are made of aspen and figure 6” x ¾” x ¾”), and we’d like to make sure we’ll have enough.

3. If you also want a scroll for the mezuzah, we can suggest Ziondirect.biz.  There are lots of web-based stores for scrolls, so feel free to google.  Try “mezuzah scroll”.

We’ll ask for $10 per family and $5 for individuals to help defray rental costs, paper goods, and supplies for carnivores; just be prepared to add on $5 for each mezuzah you order, okay?

Event:	Shavuot Picnic in the Park
Date:	Saturday, June 3, 2006
Time:	04:00 - 08:00 p.m.
Location:	James L. Dorton Park Shelter #3 5790 Poplar Tent Road Concord NC 28027 map

A Note to Parents from Brian Cutler, President Crowd Control at McGill

Dear Parents,

As you know, we are graciously hosted by McGill Baptist Church for our Friday evening services.  The congregation provides babysitting during services. 

Our agreement gives us official access only to rooms we use for services and for babysitting.

However, our children have been playing in the hallways, closets, and classrooms during our onegs after services.  These rooms are not included as part of our rental agreement.  In addition, since the children are going unsupervised in those locations, I am concerned that they may harm themselves or objects belonging to the church. 

Please make certain that your children remain in the service and oneg area until your family is ready to leave.  If parents feel that the congregation needs to pay for longer babysitting services, they may certainly contact me.  If there is enough demand for longer babysitting services, I will revise our proposed budget for the next fiscal year.  Please keep in mind, however, that any increase in costs will, of necessity, involve increased dues.

Sincerely,

Brian Cutler, President

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