Rabbi Diana's Weekly Message

Dear Chevre,

As many of you know, there are still enormous needs in our local communities after the ravages of Ida and the pandemic, along with the ongoing needs of those who are food insecure.

In response to those needs, I’m delighted to announce that KHN congregants Steven and Ricki Fisher have stepped up with a $10,000 gift to KHN to start a drive to help those in our greater Lambertville community who are affected by housing and food insecurity and lack basic needs. We are asking our KHN community to match the Fisher’s substantial gift so that KHN will be able to donate generously to three local organizations in the area - - the Delaware Valley Food Pantry, Fisherman’s Mark, and Norwescap. These organizations help specific families who were displaced, tend to their current and immediate needs through case management, and help them, when possible, move into more permanent housing.

To participate in this exceptional opportunity afforded by the Fisher gift, please donate online to Kehilat HaNahar, specifying “Chanukah Drive” on the payment page so that all of the gifts can be designated as coming from KHN.  You can also send a check made out to KHN, again specifying “Chanukah Drive” in the memo.  Members can also donate appreciated stock that we can sell and give to the organizations. We will hold this drive for one month, until the end of Chanukah, when we will send the proceeds to these three esteemed organizations.

Wishing everybody a Chodesh Tov as today is the first of Kislev, the Hebrew month during which Chanukah falls. It’s the time of light and miracles where there is darkness. At a time when lighting the menorah “publicizes the miracle,” by giving as a community, we are displaying our deeply held values of feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and acting through justice and compassion.  

We will soon announce many other ways that KHN will be celebrating Chanukah, but in the meantime SAVE the DATE of Sunday , December 5^th, the eighth and final night of Chanukah at 5:30 pm. In person at KHN (with masks) and on Zoom, we will be gathering to light the menorahs and have a special program highlighting those who worked with artist Don Hector to create the museum-quality stained glass windows we have in our shul. Let us remember those who are commemorated on these windows and hear the stories of the windows’ creation from the families and from the artist himself. Details to follow!

I look forward to seeing you inside KHN and on Zoom this evening for Shabbat services at 7:00 pm.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Diana