Keeping Connected with Rabbi Perry
Community and Connection
Keeping Connected July 2025
Dear Friends,
Over the years I have occasionally mentioned that I am an NPR junky. Fresh Air, Boston Public Radio, Weekend Edition, Milk Street Radio, All Things Considered and of course Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me! are some of my favorites. I confess, that over the years, I feel as though I am on a first name basis with Peter, Marjorie, Jim, Terri, Christopher, Robert and more. If you are like me, and listen as much as I do, you will know that as we come into the summer months, these shows periodically have what are called encore editions so that the hosts can go away on vacation. They are usually a compilation of their favorite interviews and guests. As a writer of over 400 Keeping Connected or newsletter articles over the 36 years I have been a rabbi, I have never had an encore edition! At a recent meeting, however, I realized that this would be a good time to reprise an article I wrote for the November 2023 Keeping Connected. After you read what I wrote, I will explain why I chose to reshare the article.
Here is the letter:
I was recently teaching a 6th Grade Family Connection program introducing our students and their parents to the B’nai Mitzvah program at Congregation Shalom. I invited the families to work together to write a definition for community and then to give seven examples of groups that they thought fulfilled the definition. Their definitions clearly captured the idea that a community is a group of people who come together over shared interests, goals, and values, and that the members have responsibilities for the group and each other, while also offering support and encouragement to one another.
I was gratified to hear that the families included Congregation Shalom as one of their examples. From there our conversation switched to learning one of the Hebrew Words of the Week, which is kehillah, the Hebrew word for community. When I asked them why they thought that Congregation Shalom was an example of a kehillah, it was heartwarming to hear the answers, both from the adults and the students. Each of the families felt impacted in a positive way by the sense of extended family that we try to cultivate in our congregation. When I asked them to offer specific examples, some of the things they mentioned was the fact that all of our members are part of the Caring Committee, that each member has a responsibility for one or two onegs a year, that we have a group of members who make Mi Sheberach afghans for members who are dealing with illness, that the students have a sense of friendship and shared experience with their classmates, that we celebrate each other’s simchas, and finally that we are there for each other during sad and challenging times.
As of late, another way to support one another and the larger Jewish community came up as a possibility. The head chaplain at Lowell General Hospital periodically reaches out to me to say that there is someone in the hospital who is Jewish and that they would be interested in a visit by a member of the clergy or a lay person. Sadly, I am often not able to do these visits for folks who are unaffiliated with the congregation. It can, however, be very meaningful for the person in the hospital as well as the person visiting them. Many congregations have what is known as a Bikkur Cholim group which is a group of lay people who go through an educational training program with the clergy to learn how to visit those who are sick, either in the hospital, in nursing homes, or at home. If there were enough people in Congregation Shalom who would like to take on this mitzvah and participate in some learning which introduces them to appropriate readings and prayers that might be comforting to those who are ill, I would be excited to set up a few teaching sessions. Please reach out to me at rabbi@congregationshalom.org to let me know you might want to participate.
————
So why re-publish the above letter. First and foremost, I feel even more strongly than I did then, that a sense of community and a place of connection is important in our lives. I hope that the synagogue can provide that for you; whether it is a social connection, and intellectual opportunity or a place of spirituality and sanctuary, know that you matter and that your spirit can find comfort and respite at Congregation Shalom. Now more, than ever, in a world that feels unstable, having a place to come where you are supported and cared for, is an amazing gift. It is not the walls of our synagogue itself that provides this space. It is the people themselves who are the foundation of this connection. When we show up for ourselves, we show up for others. In a time when it is hard to be Jewish, it is even more important to support our fellow congregants, congregations and other Jewish institutions.
The second reason I wanted to reshare this letter has to do with the final paragraph. Although it has been slow in manifesting, we are still committed to establishing the Bikkur Cholim group. With the help of Ron Michaud and Rachel Fox-Weinberg, we are finally ready to start. In September and October we will have two sessions for members who would like to get involved with this mitzvah. Even if you did not respond at the time, if this is something you would like to be get involved with, please feel free to get involved now. The mitzvah of bikkur cholim, can be a very meaningful gift, not only for the person you are visiting, but for yourself as well. Please be on the lookout for when the sessions are happening. You do not need to make a significant commitment to time. We will be able to help every interested person be involved in whatever way that they can participate. I hope you will get involved.
Wishing you a renewing summer,
Rabbi Shoshana Perry
Festival of Shavuot
Keeping Connected June 2025
Dear Friends,
The festival of Shavuot begins at sundown on June 1st. For many progressive or secular Jews, Shavuot fails to garner the type of attention that surrounds other Jewish holidays. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Chanukkah, Pesach, these are more central to the rhythm of our Jewish lives. Shavuot, which is often overlooked, is usually marked in one of two ways: with the culinary and cultural experience of eating dairy and as one of the three Pilgrimage festivals when we remember loved ones during yizkor. Beyond the traditions of food and memory, however, Shavuot has much to spiritually teach us.
In the book of Exodus, Shavuot, is known as Chag HaShavuot, the Festival of Weeks. This name refers to the 7 weeks of counting the Omer (sheafs of grain) between Pesach and Shavuot. Shavuot also represents the culmination of the 7-week journey our ancestors took after their liberation from Egyptian bondage. During Pesach, through story and ritual, we align ourselves with our ancestors, recalling their first steps of freedom. Then 50 days later, we imagine ourselves with them at Sinai, ready to receive the Torah. Redemption and revelation – twin experiences – a duality that has come to represent Judaism. Without freedom, what is Torah, but without Torah, what would we do with the gift of freedom?
In Martin Buber’s “Tales of the Hasidim”, he shares a story of a student wondering why Jewish prayer refers to Shavuot as z’man matan Torateinu, the time of the giving of our Torah and not the time of the receiving of Torah. The student’s rabbi, Mendel of Kotzk responds, “The giving took place on one day, but the receiving takes place at all times.” Just as we learn from the Hagaddah, that every Jew should see themself as going forth from Egypt, so too do we learn from the medieval French rabbi and philosopher, Rabbi Levi ben Gershon, “Every generation must think that the Torah was given directly to them.”
Freedom and Torah – as the festival is upon us, I invite you to think about the meaning of both of these in your life. What does freedom mean for you and does it also entail responsibility? What should we do if our freedom and the freedom of others is curtailed? What presence does Torah have in your life? How does it shape, guide and influence you? The Torah provides an opportunity for purposeful living by offering a historical framework, a guide for practice and hopefully a sense of spiritual inspiration.
Please join us throughout the week as we celebrate Shavuot. On Sunday afternoon at 3:30 pm, Congregation Shalom and PJ Library with be hosting a celebration for our youngest members and their families at Friendship Park in Chelmsford. With ice cream, story and play, we will enjoy the holiday experience. On Tuesday morning, June 3rd, at 9:00 am, Ari Strasser and I will lead a Yizkor service on Zoom. This is an opportunity to have a more introspective experience of the holiday as well as remember loved ones. Finally on June 6th, at the Family Shabbat service, we will read the Ten Commandments from the Torah and Sue Horowitz will lead the community in music that reflects the themes of the festival. To culminate, what more is there to do but eat more ice cream! We will have an ice cream truck at the Oneg shabbat and everyone will be able to pick from the ice creams selections.
Wishing you a meaningful Shavuot. Chag sameach. I will see you at Sinai!
Rabbi Shoshana Perry
Board Retreat and Mental Health Awareness Month
Keeping Connected May 2025
Dear Friends,
This month, for our Keeping Connected, I have two things I would like to write about.
First, in January, our Board of Trustees and committee chairs met for a full-day retreat. Our hope was to engage in strategic thinking about the state of our congregation, as well as to envision ideas that we hoped would strengthen the functionality of our synagogue systems, as well as the sense of community that we cherish. Many positive ideas came out of that day, but one issue in particular seemed particularly resonant. Congregation Shalom, at its inception, was envisioned by our founding members, to be a place where people would find not only a place for Jewish learning, spirituality and religious practice, but also a place where our members would have a true sense of community. For many, the synagogue felt like an “extended family”, so much so that this became the guest password at our congregation.
Over time, however, as the synagogue has grown, many of our members have come to feel that there is a gap between the longer-term members and our newer members and younger synagogue families. I have heard many times the sentiment that I don’t recognize anyone anymore. This sense of not knowing one another was something that was highlighted at our board retreat and we set a goal to create programming and experiences that would begin to build bridges between one another. One of the ideas that was raised was to offer more opportunities for synagogue-wide, intergenerational learning. Together, our adult education, school and beautification committee are sponsoring such an event on the morning of May 18th. A special e-mail has already been sent out to all our members; you can find it here. I hope you will come and participate in this experience of learning, sharing and creating. We will have the opportunity to dedicate the Tree of Life arbor during the High Holidays in the fall.
The second thing I would like to highlight is that May is Mental Health Awareness month. I have written about mental health many times in the past, but I continue to feel that this is a critical issue that needs to remain in the forefront on our consciousness. Too many of us and our loved ones are impacted by the challenges and pain when one’s emotional well-being is fragile or shattered. There is no member of our community who either they themselves or a loved one has not been impacted by depression, anxiety, addiction, and other serious mental health struggles.
The National Council for Mental Well-being records that “Despite progress in mental health initiatives, more than 30 million people in the U.S. still lack access to comprehensive, high-quality care. These statistics highlight the ongoing need for Mental Health Awareness Month and the importance of bringing attention to this disparity:
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
- 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.
- 1 in 6 U.S. youth have a mental health condition, but only half receive treatment.
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
- In 2023, 20% of all high school students seriously considered suicide.”
https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/mental-health-awareness-month/
There are many ways to be involved this month, many of which are talked about in the above website. Another is to learn more about how one can help others. Locally, in Westford, there will be an adult mental health first aid training program that is open to the public. Please see the flyer below that details how to sign-up. Most importantly, if you or a loved one need support or help, please reach out to me, your doctor, a mental health professional, a friend and in an emergency the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.
It is important for all of us to remember that mental health is as important as physical health and that we need to work together to break down stigma.
Warm regards,
Rabbi Shoshana Perry
Learn about World Zionist Congress
Keeping Connected April 2025
Dear Friends,
I would like to invite you to learn more about the World Zionist Congress and your ability to participate in an important election. The WZC elections are the ONLY way for American Jews to democratically participate in issues about Israel. Please watch the following video to understand the significance of your vote. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32fxLn_nuM4
You can also find important information from ARZA (the American Reform Zionist Association) which is a branch of the Union for Reform Judaism that promotes religious freedom and pluralism in Israel. You can learn more are ARZA and the work that they do at their website: ARZA https://arza.org. Additionally, below is information from the Union for Reform Judaism that I think can be helpful in understanding the significance of this vote. Please take the time to read the information as well as to look at additional information at the links below.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Shoshana M. PerryMore
Our Commitment to Being Welcoming, Caring and Inclusive
Keeping Connected – March 2025
Dear Friends,
Our Jewish values teach that all people are created “B’tselem Elohim” in the Divine image, that each person is precious and deserves kindness and safety. These values have always been a guiding light for Congregation Shalom. Our mission statement is:
Congregation Shalom is a Reform Jewish community committed toВ education, spiritual growth, and Tikkun Olam (healing the world). We are proud to be an extended family of equals, “ welcoming, caring and inclusive. Together, we engage in religious observance, enjoy social activities, and pursue life-long learning.
Today, more than ever, it feels important for us to affirm the commitment to being welcoming, caring and inclusive. That every person, regardless of who they love and how they identify, is a valued member of our congregation. We aspire for our synagogue to be a sanctuary and safe place for every person, child or adult, and we are also committed through our actions to make this mission a reality. As it says in our siddur:
May the door of this synagogue be wide enough
To receive all who hunger for love, all who are lonely for friendship.May it welcome all who have cares to unburden,
Thanks to express, hopes to nurture.
Recently, in our nation, there have been significant efforts on the national and state level, to diminish the rights of people who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. This has included legislation that would take away the right to gay marriage, the elimination of gender-affirming care for children who are trans and nonbinary, restrictions on receiving passports, etc. We understand that this has caused tremendous emotional and spiritual distress for some members of our congregation, both young and old. We want to reiterate that we are present with you on this challenging journey and that we will always be here to offer our support and guidance. We are committed to being a caring and inclusive community. We may not always know who is in need of support, so please reach out to us so we can be there for you.
As mentioned earlier, it is important to not only believe in these values, but to live these values. Towards these ends, as a congregation, we have incorporated Seven Jewish Values for an Inclusive Jewish Community into our daily practice. You can see the entire framework of principles below, but they include: Respect, Peace in the Home, In God’s Image, Communal Responsibility, Guarding One’s Use of Language, Love Your Neighbor as Yourself, and Solidarity. Along with the Union for Reform Judaism, the RAC (Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism), and hundreds of other synagogues and Jewish organizations, Congregation Shalom has joined the Thrive Coalition, which is a group of Jewish community institutions that want to protect and advance LGBTQ+ civil rights on both the state and federal levels. If you are interested in becoming a part of Congregation Shalom’s engagement with these efforts or would like to be a part of our Inclusion Committee, please reach out to Tina Kempner, Caryn Navy, or Rabbi Perry. Please see our e-mails below.
With deep care and concern for each and every one of you,
Rabbi Perry
Rob Berkovitz, President Congregation Shalom on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Tina Kempner, Chair Social Action/Social Justice
Caryn Navy, Chair of the Inclusion Committee
Resources:
the Kehillah
Keeping Connected – February 2025
Dear Friends,
The Torah is filled with passages about the responsibility of helping others in one’s community, in Hebrew, the kehillah. Through history, the Jewish people, whether religious or secular, have taken these responsibilities seriously, especially in times and situations when they were marginalized by the non-Jewish community. Furthermore, the Torah emphasized that the imperative to help others is meant to be applied to those both within and outside the Jewish kehillah. For example, in Deuteronomy 15:7 we read a mitzvah that is an overarching articulation of the duty to help others; “If there be among you a needy person, you shall not harden your heart, but you shall surely open your hand.” The Torah set the foundation for these moral principles of Jewish life; we are responsible for helping the poor, the stranger, the widow, the orphan, the sick, the marginalized in our society and we are responsible for setting up institutions of learning and Jewish ritual life. This commitment was expanded upon through time in every period of Jewish history. Jews have taken it upon themselves to set up schools, orphanages, hospitals, social service agencies, mikvaot (Jewish ritual baths), synagogues and more.
In the modern period, Jewish federations took on the role of helping to establish and fund these institutions. Federations, which are non-profit, secular organizations have helped to provide support and human services to members of the community, through philanthropy, grants, humanitarian aid and more, and although Jewish federations were created to help the Jewish community, they also provide for other communities as well. The earliest burial societies, credit unions, youth societies, immigration support organizations and more were all funded by early versions of Jewish federations. Perhaps you have heard of organizations like Jewish Children and Family Services, The Jewish Vocational Institution, Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters, YMHAs, YWHAs, JCCs, and more. These were or are all partially funded by Jewish Federations.
I share this information with you because our community has undergone a change in the way we are connected to the larger federation system and it has real life implications for our congregation and members. Since 1988, our synagogue was in the catchment area of the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation, but beginning in January 2025, the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP) has expanded their borders to include servicing the Merrimack Valley. Now, our local community members and congregations will have equal access to programs and resources as all others within the current CJP catchment area. This change can have an enormous impact for our congregation and members. It would be hard to briefly review all the new resources available to our members, but I wanted to encourage you all to look at the CJP website (https://ma.cjp.org) to familiarize yourselves with these new programs and resources.
Although it may take time for us to all access these opportunities, both for our synagogue and members, since some of these new resources are time sensitive, I wanted to highlight them in this letter. CJP has wonderful resources to benefit Jewish youth in terms of camping and trips to Israel. In terms of attending Jewish camps, CJP offers both 1st Time Camper scholarships as well as affordability scholarships. These funds are distributed on a rolling basis and have strict application deadlines. If you are at all interested in learning more about these scholarships I would encourage you to access the links below and to be aware that the funds are limited. The sooner you are to apply, the better.
CJP has also made a significant commitment to helping members of the Jewish community who are faced with mental health challenges. If you or any member of your family needs support I encourage you to explore their mental health programs at
https://www.cjp.org/path-to-well-being
I look forward to this new stage of connection with the larger Boston Jewish community and I am confident that our engagement with CJP will be beneficial to all of us.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Shoshana M. Perry
https://www.cjp.org/our-work/future-generations/campers-and-teens/jewish-overnight-camp?_gl=1*1o3h2i*_gcl_au*ODc4MDQ5MzM2LjE3MzgxMDU3MjA.*_ga*MTg5NTc3NjEwOS4xNzM4MTA1NzIw*_ga_9Q6WWN4GK8*MTczODE2ODc4Mi4yLjEuMTczODE3MDA0OS41My4wLjA
https://www.cjp.org/our-work/future-generations/campers-and-teens/jewish-overnight-camp?_gl=1*1o3h2i*_gcl_au*ODc4MDQ5MzM2LjE3MzgxMDU3MjA.*_ga*MTg5NTc3NjEwOS4xNzM4MTA1NzIw*_ga_9Q6WWN4GK8*MTczODE2ODc4Mi4yLjEuMTczODE3MDA0OS41My4wLjA