Seder 2024 Memories

The PPJF team brought everyone together for a beautiful potluck group Seder at the St. James Anglican Church Well House led by our own Rabbi Georgette Kennebrae and the talented Linda Kates, with delicious food provided by all of you. Thank you to everyone who attended and who helped set up, break down, cook and clean.

New Care Page Now Available

We now have a dedicated care page for those in need. If you need us, we are here to help. Submit a completely confidential form, and our point-of-care person will discuss your needs with you, then put a plan in place to help you in the best way we can.

Upcoming Services

We know we asked you to save the date for upcoming events, and sadly one of them has been canceled and another has been moved.

Due to unforseen circumstances, we won't be having a Lag B'Omer/Havdallah ceremony on the beach on May 26 this year.

Also, the Friday night Shabbat service planned for August 9 has been moved to September 13.

Here is an updated calendar of events:

• Shabbat Service and Oneg, Friday Sept. 13 at the Well House behind St. James Anglican Church.

• Rosh HaShana Service, Thursday Oct. 3 at the St. James Anglican Church sanctuary.

• Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre Service, Friday Oct. 11 at the St. James Anglican Church sanctuary.

• Yom Kippur Service, including Yizkor, Saturday Oct. 12 at the St. James Anglican Church sanctuary.

We hope to have a full calendar for the 2024-25 year, an annual budget and a membership structure in place by the High Holy Days. Until then, we will continue to charge fees for each event to cover the cost of venue rental, supplies, and the rabbi's fees and travel.

We will let you know when registration opens for these upcoming services.  

Events at Kadoorie

Several of us recently had a productive meeting with Rabbi Yoel Zicri of the Kadoorie Synagogue, and he invited our members to join him for these upcoming events:

• Yom HaZikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day, Sunday May 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Holocaust Museum, Rua do Campo Allegre 790. There will be a minute of silence, followed by a 10 minute speech given in Hebrew, English, French and Portuguese.

• Shavuot Community Dinner following services on Tuesday June 11 (time TBD) is open to 30 of our members at the Kadoorie Synagogue, Rua de Guerra Junqueiro 340. (Orthodox services are held at the synagogue June 11-13, which PPJF members are welcome to attend.)

• Yom Ha'Atzmahut, Israeli Independence Day, will be celebrated at the synagogue on Monday May 13 from 5:30-9:00 p.m. There will be activities for children and an Israeli buffet. Come dressed in blue and white.

If you are interested in attending any of these events, please email Sharon Cohn Campbell at sharoncohncampbell@gmail.com to reserve a space. Please make sure that you provide names and IDs to Sharon for everyone whom you plan to bring. If anyone shows up without emailing Sharon first, they may be turned away.

Come Sing With Us

Under the tutelage of accomplished pianist and composer and longtime Jewish musical director David Kates, a choir is being assembled for the High Holy Days. Email davidkates11@gmail.com to learn more.

Around the Shabbat Table

Imagine gathering around a table with six or eight other community members on a Friday night, welcoming in the Shabbat together -- while across the city, others are gathered at similar tables, having a similar experience.

Sometimes referred to as "Table of Six" or "Table of Eight," it's a concept used by other large groups as a way to get to know each other better and form closer bonds.

We would like to try this ourselves on Friday June 7. Depending on how many people want to participate, we estimate we'll need about six or eight host homes. The meals will be pot luck, so hosts only have to prepare their home and one dish. And Rabbi Georgette will provide a format for everyone to follow, so we'll all be on the same page and no one will feel lost.

If you're interested in either hosting or just attending, please email Cindy Shapiro at clswall@pacbell.net with your preference and we will get in touch.