This month one chapter of our story comes to an end. During this period 1515 46th St. will be
adorned by the beauty of our outdoor and bima sukkahs. We will shake the lulav at Sukkot
services on Wednesday evening, October 4, and Thursday morning, October 5, and dance with
our Torahs at Simchat Torah services on Wednesday evening, October 11. Our celebrations
continue on Saturday, October 14, with our final Shabbat service followed by a luncheon
commemorating the Reform Jewish community that has inhabited 1515 46th Street for the past
98 years. We will, also, honor our committees for their contributions to the life of PTBAS.
On Friday evening, October 20, we begin our story’s new chapter with a potluck dinner and
Shabbat service, as we begin the formation of a new congregation with Temple Beth Emeth
(TBE) at our new home at 83 Marlborough Road. The following morning, Saturday, October 21,
at 11:00 AM (please note new time) we will have our first Shabbat morning service together
followed by a luncheon to celebrate this new beginning. I encourage you to make every effort
to join your present and new Temple family at all the above mentioned events. Let’s show our
vitality and spirit as we embark on this new endeavor.
While we will be busy building a new Temple community there are a couple of activities
happening outside of our new home that I wish to encourage you to consider attending. First is
Union Temple and Garden City Jewish Center's overnight bus trip from Saturday, November 11,
to Sunday, November 12, to the Yiddish Book Center and the Norman Rockwell Museum in
Massachusetts. A group of us joined these two congregations last year on their Baltimore
Jewish Heritage tour and had a wonderful time. Second is the URJ Biennial in Boston from
Wednesday, December 6, through Sunday, December 10. This is a great opportunity to
experience being with our fellow Reform Jews from across the country for learning, sharing
ideas and prayer. I have come back with many ideas and programs from attending past biennials and I hope that many of you will join me at this one.
Finally, I realize that this month will be difficult for many of us. It’s not easy to leave a home
that has brought us so much joy and comfort over the years. However, we are a very strong
family and if we enter this new endeavor together with enthusiasm and vision we will find that
the joy and comfort comes from each other, regardless of where we are.
B’shalom,
Eric Platt