The Jewish holidays have pretty well wrapped up and the summer stretches before us. What will you do over the summer? I have some suggestions.
Check out the synagogues
Do some shul shopping. Now with no pressure on, go to services, chat with a few people, see which places you like. That way, come fall, you’ll know where you want to go for High Holidays, where you want to sign up the kids for Hebrew school.
Try some Jewish Community Center programs
The JCCs have summer activities for kids and adults. Many of them have swimming pools too. Go online and google the name of your city and “JCC.” Then look at their website for classes and events.
Experiment with Shabbat
When my kids were younger we would do Shabbat at the park with another family. All four children liked soccer and we took soccer cones with us. We would have a game and then move over to the picnic tables to light the candles and begin dinner.
Volunteer
Recently I saw in the email from Rodef Sholom, “We urgently need help in feeding the homeless in our community!” You can help make sandwiches, drive seniors to appointments, read to a child. Call your local synagogue or Jewish Family and Children’s Services. They are involved in helping the community.
Do you have a skill that could help one of the many job seekers in the community? Many of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services offices are offering job workshops. Maybe you have skills you could perform to help them.
Summertime and the plants are growing
Do you live in the Lafayette area? Temple Isaiah has begin participating in a CSA project, Community Supported Agriculture. I asked and you don’t have to be a member to buy in. Look at the website and see if you want food direct from the farm.
http://www.temple-isaiah.org/groups-activities/community-supported-agriculture/