HEArtbeat: A Celebration Honoring HEA's Founding Families
Generation to Generation. Reflecting on Our Past. Looking to Our Future.
Join us at HEA for an evening of FUN with comedian Joel Chasnoff on Sunday, March 10!
We can't wait to spend the night together in joyous celebration of HEA's 90+ years!
Tribute Journal Opportunities!
Memorialize your good wishes or mention your business in the HEA Anniversary Celebration Tribute Journal! This keepsake memory book will be seen by over 1,000 people in our community and will include special stories and photos of our Founding Families. The February 16th deadline is next week! Click HERE.
Fill the Room with Your Memories (Literally) Help us warm up the room with your memories! As we prepare for this special evening, we invite YOU to reflect on your own HEA experiences and share your recollections of funny or meaningful moments. Responses will be highlighted in the event decor. Do you recall a moment when you laughed so hard you may have cried a little? Did you witness an amusing situation during a wedding, bris, or mitzvah event? Would you like to recognize a former Hebrew School teacher? We’d love for you to share a funny (or heart-warming) moment you experienced at HEA HERE.
Joel’s comedy is clever, clean, hip and hilarious.
Best of all, his humor is based on real Jewish experiences, not stereotypes.
From his nine years in Jewish day school to his service in a combat unit of the IDF and the challenge of raising Jewish kids today, Joel’s stories are the stories of us.
The stories that make us who we are.
A favorite in the Jewish world for more than twenty years, Joel has performed at more than 1,500 synagogues, JCCs, Jewish Federations, Hillels, and Chabads in North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Israel. Joel's highlights include sold-out shows at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in Australia and Montreal Just-For-Laughs, multiple appearances at Limmud UK, two off-Broadway shows, Jewish conferences on three continents, and Israeli late-night TV. For Joel, comedy is about more than just laughter, it’s about community.
February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM).
First of all, thank you to everyone who made last weekend’s Joey Weisenberg visit so special. It was beautiful to hear your voices throughout the weekend and to get to listen deeply with you.
February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). As of 2023, HEA is part of Jewish Family Service’s Jewish Disabilities Advocates (JDA) Collaborative. JDA’s theme for JDAIM 2024 is “Circles of Support.” JDA describes four necessary Circles of Support:
family and close friends
friends, neighbors, and co-workers
community members or organizations with which we interact regularly, and
service providers and/or professionals, such as teachers, coaches, health care providers, therapists, paid caregivers, etc.
JDA created a beautiful resource about the benefits of Circles of Support, how individuals with disabilities might interact with Circles of Support differently than non-disabled people, the role of Jewish organizations in Circles of Support, and avenues of providing support to caregivers and individuals with disabilities. Check out that resource HERE.
The theme of Circles of Support reminds me that kol yisrael arevim zebaze - all of us are responsible for one-another. This phrase comes from Tractate Shavuot 39a of the Babylonian Talmud. This line emphasizes that our communal well-being is based on interdependence.
On Friday evening, February 9, we will commemorate JDAIM with an Azamra Kabbalat Shabbat Service (6:00-7:15 p.m.) and dinner (7:15-8:00 p.m.). The service will feature music related to the theme of Circles of Support, discussion of how we can all ask for support, and congregants sharing their experiences of giving and receiving support. We will have an American Sign Language interpreter, transliterated large-print prayer books, magnifying glasses with lights, ear plugs, accessible seating options and a quiet room for anyone experiencing sensory overload. The service will be in the HEA chapel, which is wheelchair accessible from the parking lot using our elevator. Register for Azamra HERE. Please contact our office at (303)758-9400 or info@HEAenver.org to discuss any other accommodations that you or your loved ones might need.
I’d like to give a shoutout to our Disabilities Advocacy Committee for fueling our process of continually improving the accessibility of our programs and services.
Besides being Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month, February also includesRepro Shabbat, a celebration that honors the Jewish value of reproductive freedom. And February also contains Refugee Shabbat, an invitation for congregations, organizations and individuals to express solidarity with the global Jewish movement for refugee protection and welcome. These commemorations all emphasize our dependence on Circles of Support. Maybe our refugee grandparents depended on neighbors for childcare as they worked long sweatshop jobs to support their newly-American families. Maybe we have depended on the advice and love of our friends or siblings when making decisions about when to have a baby or not. Maybe we have had the honor of supporting a refugee family from Afghanistan by providing children’s clothing or toys. Maybe we have had the honor of supporting young women in our community by writing letters to politicians begging our representatives to protect reproductive freedom. We all provide and receive support and all depend on one-another. Join us tomorrow and next Saturday, February 10, at 10:30 a.m. to explore Jewish perspectives on refugees and reproductive rights as part of our Torah for Today classes.
As we begin this auspicious month, may we all experience deeply the idea that kol yisrael arevim ze baze. May we ask for support when we need it and may we provide support when we can.
Shabbat Shalom, Eitan Kantor, HEA Musical Director
HEArtbeat: Some of My Favorite Joey Weisenberg Tunes
I’m overjoyed that my teacher and mentor, Joey Weisenberg, is joining us at the HEA this weekend!
Joey is the founder of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute and the winner of a 2017 National Jewish Book Award. Joey has released 8 albums of original Jewish melodies, and we use many of his melodies in services at the HEA already. He employs traditional sounds, improvisation and physical closeness to unleash the power and beauty of imperfect group singing. I am excited to use this HEArtBeat to highlight some of Joey’s melodies that we use at the HEA and that I love! Click the song titles below to listen.
9:30-10:30 a.m. Joey will join as a harmonizer for our Shir Shacharit service in the social hall and will teach one song. 10:30-11:15 a.m. Joey will teach our Torah for Today class in the social hall 11:30 a.m. I will lead Musaf, and Joey will stand near me and harmonize 7:15 p.m. The Main Event - Joey will give a concert and lead the group in singing. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A dessert reception follows the concert.
If you are ill and would like us to send you a recording of tomorrow’s concert, please email us at info@HEAdenver.org or call us at 303-758-9400.
Thank you to the Alpert Memorial Family Fund, Gabriela and Peter Gottlieb, David Rosenthal and Lee Weisbard, Joan and Ken Saliman, Jane E Rosenbaum, BMH-BJ, Rodef Shalom, Ramah in the Rockies, Bonai Shalom and base Denver for sponsoring tomorrow’s concert.
Shabbat Shalom, Eitan Kantor, HEA Musical Director
I absolutely love learning from and being inspired by other musicians in the community.
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On Wednesday night, I had the pleasure of jamming on Jewish tunes with several students from the University of Denver as well as HEA members Mitch Ohriner (a DU music theory professor and member of our Shir Hadash davening team) and Lily Gross (Director of Jewish Student Life at DU Hillel). What a blast! This group inspired me to try new beats under classic songs and also reminded me about the importance of creating tonal space so the melody can shine through.
Tonight, these musicians will be leading a delicious Kabbalat Shabbat service at DU Hillel (2390 S Race St, Denver, CO 80210) followed by an equally delicious dinner! I'd love to see you there! Check out the video of our rehearsal below and register HERE.
Please reach out to mordy@HEAdenver.org with any questions about the event or any requests regarding accessibility accommodations.
Shabbat Shalom, Eitan Kantor, HEA Musical Director
On behalf of the hundreds of families who call Congregation HEA their spiritual home: Thank you! We appreciate your membership and financial support, which allow HEA to provide meaningful Jewish experiences to our families in a secure and welcoming environment.
Last year, our board set a goal of raising $400,000 in donations for the fiscal year ending in April 2024. After October 7, HEA was forced to add another $120,000 in unfunded security costs. We are pleased to announce that because of your generous response to our year-end appeal, and a matching fund set up by a group of visionary donors, we have raised over $300,000 as of December 31.
If you gave to the Pathways Campaign in 2023, we thank you with all our hearts. The Pathways Annual Campaign continues through April 2024, and we welcome donations in any amount. No gift is too small, and you can take advantage of the tax benefits of donating in 2024. Click HEREto donate.
There are other ways you can participate, and we look forward to two exciting events coming up at the HEA. Join us for to have fun and celebrate with our community.
On January 27, HEA will host a special concert with world-renowned Jewish musician and composer Joey Weisenberg. Thanks to generous underwriting from the Alpert Family Memorial Fund, all proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships will go toward our annual campaign.
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Join us on March 10 for HEA’s Anniversary Celebration honoring the synagogue’s founding families, featuring stand-up comedian Joel Chasnoff. Ticket sales benefit HEA and there are opportunities for your family or business to sponsor the event and place an ad in the tribute journal.
This is a challenging time to be Jewish and a pivotal moment for our synagogue. HEA is growing and thriving, as new families are joining at a rate not seen since before the pandemic. We appreciate all the ways you show up for HEA so that HEA can show up for you.
Blessings for a safe, peaceful, and healthy 2024.
Evan Kline HEA Board President
2023 PATHWAYS CAMPAIGN DONORS Mark Alpert and Caryn Osterman Cindy and Jason Altberger Jeff and Nhi Aronheim Jodi Asarch Jeff and Terri Auerbach Marcy Balogh Albert Banker Bob and Marcia Bankirer Michelle and Roger Barak Rabbi Eliot and Dr. Hilary Baskin Rabbi Birdie Becker Anna and John Beckerman Bruce and Jennifer Bendell Elizabeth and Alec Berger William Berger Elaine Berman Joshua and Shannon Berman Lee and Michael Bertman Dirk Bird and Caron Blanke David and Shana Bloom Harvey and Jacqueline Bolshoun Ted and Dee Brooks David and Marla Brown Clarissa and Blake Cohen Steve and Jo Ellen Cohen Howard and Barbara Convissar Shell and Lisa Cook David Corsun and Cheri Young David and Vicki Dansky Seth and Bonnie Davis Katie Dealy (estate of Anthony Gottlieb) David Dworkin and Wendy Feiner Dworkin Larry Englander Mark and Alice Fasman Jerry Feiner Monica and Ethyn Feldman Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard David Finell and Dorey Brandt-Finell Steve and Marissa Firstenberg Louis Fishman Barry and April Fleisher Anat and Eran Fraenkel Rebecca Gabriel Louis Gelfand Reuven Geller Joe and Cynthia Gensheimer Hal Gibbons Alison and Duncan Gilliam Mark and Janel Goldberg Peggy Goldman (Twelve Twenty-One Fund) Arnold and Sara Goldstein Peter and Gabriela Gottlieb Rich and Eileen Greenberg Melanie and Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald Lawrence Grylack and Bi Bi Kearney Avi and Rayna Halzel Paul and Beverly Hartzman Marc and Lynn Harvey Lynn Hellerstein Robert and Diane Hochstadt Jeff and Lydia Hoffman Richard Huttner and Lisa Schwartz Sandra Isser Dan and Angela Japha Sandra Jeffery (Greater Horizons DAF) Michael "Mordy" Kadovitz and Sherri Kadovitz Dan and Suzie Kamlet David Kantor Lynn and Beverly Karowsky Amy Karp Fred Karp and Judy Wilner Lawrence and Irit Karsh Alexandra Kasdin and Michael Gordon Ralph and Susan Katz Susan Katz Amir and Gittit Kaufman Bryan and Erin Kaufman Rebecca Klein and Matthew Potter Cheris Kline Berlinberg and Adam Berlinberg Evan and Ellen Kline Rozanne Kobey Cindy Lackner Jamie and Michael Lambert Greg Lansky and Brigitte Segal Marci and Terje Laurvik Ken and Shelley Lazear Alice and Leland Levin Jeffrey Levine Michael and Rita Levine Steven and Leslie Levine Sherry Levitt Jill Levy Trudi and Stuart Linas Ben and Eve Lindemann Howard and Roberta Lipshutz Louis Llanes Michael and Cynthia Lowinger Elana and Andronik Mamayan Donna Mandel Judith Marcus and David Feinman James McKeon Abby and Leon Merker David and Gail Miller Jay and Lois Miller Rick and Mindy Miller Eileen Naiman Ann Nisonoff Rebecca and Eric Paradis Whitney Pasch and Howard Saft Ann Passer Jeffrey and Leah Peer Jay and Lisa Perlmutter Neal and Michele Price Michael Raizen and Gail DeVore Julie Riley Paula Rose Jane E. Rosenbaum David Rosenthal and Lee Weisbard Alan and Sue Rothstein Gerard and Sheila Rudofsky Stanton and Barbara Sachs Meyer and Geraldine Saltzman Larry and Roberta Sanders Paul and Mara Sax Bradley and Carly Schlafer Bruce and Nora Schrutt Cherie Karo Schwartz Gregory Schwartz and Jody Tanabe Jamie Shapiro Jim and Debbie Shpall Rabbi Sarah Shulman and Nate Bankirer Steven and Kerri Siegel Max Silverman Buddy and Tina Slatkin Howard and Jill Snyder Marc and Lisa Soicher Ronald and Lori Sokol Heidi and Deva Solomon Keren and Aaron Sturtz Robert and Sandy Sukin Daryl and Debra Summers Harvey Sundel Aaron and Valerie Svoboda Beth and Thomas Toth Wayne and Kimberly Turnbow Eileen Turner Stephan Uslan and Bonnie Kossoff Bonnie Wallack David Wallack Adam and Olivia Wallen Jessica and Rabbi Douglas Weber Daniel and Elizabeth Weiner Gail Weiss Kuschel and Ernst Kuschel Alan Wernz Howard and Sandra Wolf Alan and Linda Yoelin Steve and Didi Zeichner Howard and Deanie Zelkin
I am not a musician, but music has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. My late wife Claire, may her memory be a blessing to all who knew her, was an amateur musician in the Denver area for many years. Moreover, several of my sons are also amateur musicians with their children following in their footsteps.
I established the Alpert Family Memorial Fund in honor of my late wife. The intent of the fund is to bring Jewish musical programming of all kinds to our community, as music is at the heart of our tradition. I learned of Joey Weisenberg - leader of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute - several years ago when three of our congregants spent a week in New York learning from Joey. He is well-known throughout the US and Canada and brings his unique talents of music interpretation to inspire and excite audiences of all ages. Our wonderful Eitan Kantor studied with Joey for nine months as a fellow of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute and has brought some of Joey’s now familiar melodies to our congregation.
Please join me and Caryn on January 27 for theSongs of Ascent concert. It will be a joyful and uplifting musical evening. I’d like to thank Lee Weisbard and David Rosenthal, Ken and Joan Saliman, Congregation Bonai Shalom, BMH-BJ Congregation, Congregation Rodef Shalom, base Denver and other special friends for helping to sponsor the event.
I am not a musician, but music has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. My late wife Claire, may her memory be a blessing to all who knew her, was an amateur musician in the Denver area for many years. Moreover, several of my sons are also amateur musicians with their children following in their footsteps.
I established the Alpert Family Memorial Fund in honor of my late wife. The intent of the fund is to bring Jewish musical programming of all kinds to our community, as music is at the heart of our tradition. I learned of Joey Weisenberg - leader of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute - several years ago when three of our congregants spent a week in New York learning from Joey. He is well-known throughout the US and Canada and brings his unique talents of music interpretation to inspire and excite audiences of all ages. Our wonderful Eitan Kantor studied with Joey for nine months as a fellow of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute and has brought some of Joey’s now familiar melodies to our congregation.
Please join me and Caryn on January 27 for theSongs of Ascent concert. It will be a joyful and uplifting musical evening. I’d like to thank Lee Weisbard and David Rosenthal, Ken and Joan Saliman, Congregation Bonai Shalom, BMH-BJ Congregation, Congregation Rodef Shalom, base Denver and other special friends for helping to sponsor the event.
I am not a musician, but music has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. My late wife Claire, may her memory be a blessing to all who knew her, was an amateur musician in the Denver area for many years. Moreover, several of my sons are also amateur musicians with their children following in their footsteps.
I established the Alpert Family Memorial Fund in honor of my late wife. The intent of the fund is to bring Jewish musical programming of all kinds to our community, as music is at the heart of our tradition. I learned of Joey Weisenberg - leader of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute - several years ago when three of our congregants spent a week in New York learning from Joey. He is well-known throughout the US and Canada and brings his unique talents of music interpretation to inspire and excite audiences of all ages. Our wonderful Eitan Kantor studied with Joey for nine months as a fellow of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute and has brought some of Joey’s now familiar melodies to our congregation.
Please join me and Caryn on January 27 for theSongs of Ascent concert. It will be a joyful and uplifting musical evening. I’d like to thank Lee Weisbard and David Rosenthal, Ken and Joan Saliman, Congregation Bonai Shalom, BMH-BJ Congregation, Congregation Rodef Shalom, base Denver and other special friends for helping to sponsor the event.
With antisemitism on the rise, HEA’s security costs have more than quadrupled. Yet we will not be deterred from our mission of inspiring lives of meaning through the wisdom and practice of Judaism.
Donate any amount today to help HEA provide safe and welcoming space for inspiring Jewish experiences and deep community connections. We have nearly reached our goal of raising $300,000 by the end of December. Now it’s your turn. Everyone matters and every donation helps. Your gift of $5, $18, or $36 goes a long way. All donations made by December 31 will be matched 1:1, and may be eligible for up to 50% back on your taxes, under the Colorado Childcare Tax Credit.
As our Pathways campaign for 2023 comes to an end, Rabbi Sarah Shulman reflects on the impact the Alliance has had on her young family. Click the image below to launch the video. And thank you for your overwhelming generosity!
Click the image below to play the latest Pathways Campaign testimonial video and hear Leslie & Steve Levine tell their story of how they connected with HEA.
Help HEA get to $300,000 by December 31 and your gift will be matched 1-to-1. Your donation helps HEA sustain the important work we do to support families like yours and make Jewish life available to anyone seeking the warm and welcoming community we offer.
My father grew up in a small town in pre-war Eastern Poland, now Western Ukraine, called Kopyczynze. Jews, Poles and Ukrainians each accounted for 1/3 of the town’s population of 8,000 people.
Within the Jewish community, people looked out for each other. The richer members of the town were called the Poritz which was also the Yiddish word used for large landowners often non-Jews. When someone ran into problems and needed help, they would approach the Poritz to help whether with work, money, food, etc. Jews have always looked out for each other.
We are all now looking out for our brothers and sisters in Israel at this difficult time, but we really need to do that for each other here in the US as well. HEA is one of our institutions which is helping many of us cope with the challenging times we are facing not only in Israel, but also in the US and around the world as antisemitism has again risen its ugly head. Our Pathways campaign is our major fundraiser to help the shul help our community. The war has increased the need for programming to put things in context. It has increased our need for security to make sure everyone coming to HEA is safe. Many people who may have been more peripherally involved as Jews are coming back home and recognizing the value of Judaism and the perspective our HEA community can give their lives.
We have an ambitious goal to raise $300,000 from this year’s campaign. Every donation counts and every donation will be matched 1:1 due to the generosity of several families. Our dues are not enough to cover the cost of providing these services and we are looking to increase the number of families participating. We are more than halfway to our goal and hope to reach it by year’s end with every member’s help.
Thank you for helping HEA a pillar of our Denver Jewish Community now and into the future!
Am Yisrael Chai!
Peter Gottlieb, MD Vice-President of Development Hebrew Education Alliance
Mark and Caryn Osterman Alpert Jodi Asarch Jeff and Terri Auerbach Marcy Balogh Albert Banker Bob and Marcia Bankirer Birdie Becker Anna and John Beckerman Bruce and Jennifer Bendell
Joshua and Shannon Berman Harvey and Jacqueline Bolshoun
Ted and Dee Brooks David and Marla Brown Clarissa and Blake Cohen Steve and Jo Ellen Cohen Shell and Lisa Cook David and Vicki Dansky Katie Dealy David Dworkin and Wendy Feiner Dworkin Rabbi Mark and Alice Fasman Jerry Feiner Monica and Ethyn Feldman Terry Fenner and Dawn Richard Anat and Eran Fraenkel Louis Gelfand Joe and Cynthia Gensheimer Hal Gibbons Alison and Duncan Gilliam Mark and Janel Goldberg Peter and Gabriela Gottlieb Rich and Eileen Greenberg Melanie and Salomon Gruenwald Avi and Raynor Halzel Marc and Lynn Harvey Marc and Lynn Hellerstein Richard Huttner and Lisa Schwartz Sandra Isser Sandra Jeffery Michael "Mordy" and Sherri Kadovitz Fred Karp and Judy Wilner Alexandra Kasdin and Michael Gordon Susan Katz
Cheris Kline Berlinberg and Adam Berlinberg Evan and Ellen Kline Jamie and Michael Lambert Ken and Shelley Lazear Dr. Jeffrey Levine Steven and Leslie Levine Sherry Levitt Jill Levy Michael and Cynthia Lowinger Elana and Andronik Mamayan Donna Mandel James McKeon Abby and Leon Merker David and Gail Miller
Rick and Mindy Miller Louis and Laurie Morris Eileen Naiman Rebecca and Eric Paradis Ann Passer Jeffrey and Leah Peer Jay and Lisa Perlmutter Martin Pfefer Rabbi Eliot and Dr. Hilary Baskin Julie Riley Jane E. Rosenbaum Kenneth and Joan Saliman Stewart and Merna Saliman Paul and Mara Sax Cherie Karo Schwartz Gregory Schwartz and Jody Tanabe Jim and Debbie Shpall Max Silverman Howard and Jill Snyder Keren and Aaron Sturtz Harvey Sundel Beth and Thomas Toth Wayne and Kimberly Turnbow Bonnie Wallack Adam and Olivia Wallen Daniel and Elizabeth Weiner Alan Wernz Howard and Sandra Wolf Steve and DiDi Zeichner
This year we celebrated Hanukkah with heavy hearts, as we continue to pray for the safety of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world. In these troubling times, HEA’s mission of inspiring lives of meaning through the support of Jewish community is more urgent than ever. The response we’ve seen for our annual Pathways Campaign is evidence of how important our synagogue is at times like this. As of today, we are nearly two-thirds of the way to meeting our goal of raising $300,000. We are so grateful to the families who have given thus far (see below).
If you haven’t yet given to the annual campaign, please consider making a donation today. Thanks to several donors, every donation made before December 31 will be matched 1:1. And, in addition to State and Federal tax deductions, you may qualify to get back up to 50% of your gift to this year’s Pathway’s Campaign under the Colorado Child Care Tax Credit (consult your tax professional).
Most importantly, your donation helps HEA sustain the important work we do to support families like yours and make Jewish life available to anyone seeking the warm and welcoming community we offer.
Click the image below to play Keren and Aaron Sturtz's Pathways Campaign testimonial video, and hear how the Alliance has impacted their family.
PATHWAYS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS Mark Alpert and Caryn Osterman
Albert Banker
Bob and Marcia Bankirer
Birdie Becker
Anna and John Bekerman
Harvey and Jacky Bolshoun
David and Marla Brown
David and Vicki Dansky
Mark and Alice Fasman
Wendy Feiner Dworkin and David Dworkin
Jerry Feiner
Monica and Ethyn Feldman
Joe and Cynthia Gensheimer
Hal Gibbons
Duncan and Alison Gilliam
Mark and Janel Goldberg
Peter and Gabriela Gottlieb
Richard and Eileen Greenberg
Melanie and Salomon Gruenwald
Marc and Lynn Harvey
Sandra Isser
Michael "Mordy" and Sherri Kadovitz
Fred Karp
Susan Katz
Cheris Kline Berlinberg and Adam Berlinberg
Evan and Ellen Kline
Jamie and Michael Lambert
Jeffrey Levine
Steven and Leslie Levine
Jill Levy
Cynthia and Michael Lowinger
Elana and Andronik Mamayan
James McKeon
Abby and Leon Merker
David and Gail Miller
Louis and Laurie Morris
Rebecca and Eric Paradis
Anna Passer
Jeffrey and Leah Peer
Kenneth and Joan Saliman
Stewart and Merna Saliman
Mara and Paul Sax
Cherie Karo Schwartz
Gregory Schwartz and Jody Tanabe
Jim and Debbie Shpall
Max Silverman
Aaron and Keren Sturtz
Harvey Sundel
Beth and Thomas Toth
Wayne and Kimberly Turnbow
Bonnie Wallack
Adam and Olivia Wallen
Daniel and Elizabeth Weiner
Howard and Sandra Wolf
Make a Year-End Gift to the Pathways Campaign Today!
Hanukkah is here and we are filled with gratitude for the generosity of our members and their contributions to our Pathways Campaign. Tax-deductable gifts made to HEA are crucial in allowing us to continue building the capacity of our operations, providing monetary assistance to families in need, and supporting our growing security needs.
We are asking for your help to meet our goal of raising $300,000 – our most ambitious annual campaign ever, and every donation made before December 31 will be matched 1:1, thanks to the generosity of several families in our congregation.
YOUR GIFT TO HEA CAN ALSO BENEFIT YOU
In addition to State and Federal tax deductions, you may make a qualified monetary contribution to promote child care in Colorado and claim a Colorado income tax credit of up to $100,000 per year for 50% of the total contribution via the Colorado Child Care Credit.
Most importantly, you will be helping sustain the important work of our HEA community.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR 2023 PATHWAYS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION Mark Alpert and Caryn Osterman Jodi Asarch Albert Banker Rabbi Birdie Becker Anna and John Bekerman Rabbi Mark and Alice Fasman David Dworkin and Wendy Feiner Dworkin Monica and Ethyn Feldman Joe and Cynthia Gensheimer Hal Gibbons Duncan and Alison Gilliam Peter and Gabriela Gottlieb Marc and Lynn Harvey Sandra Isser Mordy and Sherri Kadovitz Evan and Ellen Kline Jamie and Michael Lambert Steven and Leslie Levine Jill Levy James McKeon Abby and Leon Merker David and Gail Miller Louis and Laurie Morris Jeffrey and Leah Peer Kenneth and Joan Saliman Stewart and Merna Saliman Mara and Paul Sax Gregory Schwartz andJody Tanabe Max Silverman Harvey Sundel Beth and Thomas Toth Howard and Sandra Wolf REPORT DATE: Friday, Dec. 8, 8:15 a.m.
Our HEArtbeat message for Friday and the Chai-lights monthly newsletter for December have fallen on the same day--today. And the first Pathways Campaign video testimonial is also ready to roll. So we thought, why not package up everything for you in one email?
The Hebrew Educational Alliance is fueled by the love, talent, and creative investment of each of our community members. Yet membership dues alone do not cover our growing expenses. We are asking for your help to meet our goal of raising $300,000 – our most ambitious annual campaign ever. We are thrilled to announce that every donation made before December 31 will be matched 1:1, thanks to the generosity of several families in our congregation. Click the image below to play Elana and Andronek Mamayan's Pathways Campaign testimonial video, and hear how the Alliance has impacted their young family.
The above link is a secure access page on our website. You must be logged into our website in order to see it. If you haven't completed your online account setup or have trouble logging in, email us atinfo@HEAdenver.org.
Our HEArtbeat message this week is in the form of a Nigun of the Week video from our Music Director, Eitan Kantor. Click the image below to watch the video on YouTube.
The Hebrew Educational Alliance is fueled by the love, talent, and creative investment of each of our community members. Yet membership dues alone do not cover the growing expense of operating one of Colorado’s most dynamic synagogues.
We are asking you to donate to this year’s Pathways Campaign with the ambitious goal of raising $300,000. And we invite you to the HEA’s Anniversary Event, rescheduled for March 10, 2024, to honor over 90 years of the Hebrew Educational Alliance’s impact on the lives of our members and the Denver Jewish community. At a time when Jews everywhere feel vulnerable, supporting our synagogue is an expression of our individual commitments to live proudly as Jews through spiritual growth, learning, and friendship. The war in Israel, and its ripple-effect on Jews in the diaspora, has brought into sharp focus the importance of strengthening our Jewish communities. The best way to inoculate ourselves from hatred is to claim our inalienable right to the free exercise of our faith and culture.
HEA is making an impact in the lives of our members every day:
HEA stands with the people of Israel and is responding to the war with programs, resources and advocacy to support our members and affirm our commitment to Zionism.
Rabbi Gruenwald and Rabbi Shulman are joining the JEWISHcolorado delegation to the March for Israel in Washington DC on November 14.
Our USY youth group educates our students about Zionism and Israel, fortifying our teens who face an unprecedented rise in antisemitism in public schools.
Our HEArt religious school is thriving with 114 students currently enrolled. With a new class of 30 kindergartners, HEArt is poised to grow beyond pre-pandemic levels in the coming years.
HEA Preschool continues to exemplify excellence in Jewish early childhood education and serves as a welcoming entry point to synagogue involvement for young families.
HEA recently joined ADL’s Kulanu program, to train synagogue leaders in effective ways of responding to Jew-hatred and all forms of bigotry.
This week we launched Life Long Limmud - a monthly evening of adult learning - with a class on musical improvisation with Eitan Kantor, an open discussion of the situation in Israel with Rabbi Gruenwald, and a powerful interfaith dialogue with Rabbi Shulman and Ismail Akbulut of Multicultural Mosaic Foundation.
This wonderful programming and so much more happens because of the financial support of our community. We are enrolling new members at a rate not seen since before the pandemic; yet, more families are in need of financial assistance. Increasing security expenses and the rising cost of hiring and retaining talented hard-working professionals means we need your support to build on the success of the last year.
We are asking for your help to meet our goal of raising $300,000 – our most ambitious annual campaign ever. We are thrilled to announce that every donation made before December 31 will be matched 1:1, thanks to the generosity of several families in our congregation.
Mark your calendars for the HEA Anniversary Event on March 10, 2024, and join us for an evening of fun and laughs featuring Jewish stand-up comedian Joel Chasnoff. The event will culminate our Pathways campaign and will honor HEA’s founding families and their vision of vibrant Jewish life in Denver that we carry forward into our future. Ticket sales have resumed on our website and we invite your family or your business to be an event sponsor or take out a tribute journal ad.
Limmud (למוד), Hebrew for learning or instruction in Jewish subjects. And we invite you to learn with us starting Thursday, November 9!
We're offering three new classes led by our clergy... Jewish Genealogy Project 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Trace our family histories and create memories to last from generation to generation Rabbi Gruenwald and Sherri Kadovitz.
The Power of Musical Improvisation & Prayer 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Let's sing togetherand explore the power and playfulness of musical improvisation in the context of services with Eitan Kantor.
Dialogue Through Difference with Rabbi Shulman & Ismail Akbulut 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Rabbi Shulman and Ismail Akbulut, Director for Multifaith and Intercultural Engagement from the Multicultural Mosaic Foundation, will help us explore avenues to dialogue with one another during difficult times.
Our hearts continue to ache as we follow the events unfolding in Israel. Amidst our overwhelming feelings of sadness and fear, we affirm our solidarity with the people of Israel and our desire for peace and security in our homeland. And, now perhaps more than ever, we need our synagogue for support and guidance, affirming the enduring spirit of “Am Yisrael Chai” (The Jewish People Live!). We want to share with you how our community is responding, and some ways we all can turn our fear and sadness into compassionate action.
Solidarity Shabbat – Saturday, October 28, 9:30 a.m. (Traditional and Shir Hadash) We invite you to attend services this Saturday for Solidarity Shabbat as we join with synagogues around the world in standing with Jewish people everywhere. In the face of rising hostility toward Israel and Jews, showing up and participating in Jewish life is a powerful act of love and pride.
Safety and Security The safety of our campus and well-being of our community members, students, guests, and staff is a top priority. With every new threat that has arisen in recent years, we have developed a robust security posture that deploys multiple layers of human, technological, physical, and informational resources. If you have questions or feedback about safety and security at HEA, please contact Caryn Osterman. For Shabbat, holidays and other large gatherings, we will continue to contract with Denver Police officers to patrol the facility and support our trained Security/Greeter team.
Starting November 6, we will be working with a private security firm to provide armed security guards to patrol the building Sunday through Friday, during preschool and office hours, as well as during religious school. This is in addition to our reception staff who check in visitors and monitor our entrance and security cameras.
In an immediate response to the events of October 7th, our trained Security/Greeter team and staff went above the call of duty to provide additional staffing around the building and at the lower entrance from the main parking lot during preschool and office hours. Please thank them on Shabbat for their dedication to the well-being of our community.
We are in continuous contact with law enforcement and security experts, in coordination with JEWISHcolorado and Security Community Network, to monitor and reevaluate our security protocols and procedures to ensure we are doing all we can to keep our community safe.
These additional measures come at a considerable cost, and we are grateful to donors who have come forward in the last week to support our efforts, and we thank our members who have contributed through their annual security assessment. If you wish to contribute to the Security Fund, we've provided a link below or you can call our office. To learn more about safety and security at HEA, we will soon have a resource page on our website (currently under construction).
Supporting One Another Our rabbis and staff continue to support individuals and families who have been affected by the tragic events of the past few weeks and we will continue to respond to the needs of our community for as long as it takes. If you or someone you know has been impacted by the war, we want to know and offer our help.
In the coming weeks, we will be offering resources and programs, classes and groups, to help our community process, learn, and discuss. We will soon announce the formation of a grief support group led by trained mental health professionals. Please check back as we set up a resource page on the HEA website.
What Else You Can Do Stay informed: Find a trustworthy news site to keep abreast of the news. You can also find many helpful spiritual and practical resources on the website of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Be an advocate: Write an email, send a text, or make a phone call to your elected representatives or leaders of local universities. Your advocacy has a real impact. Find your elected officials HERE.
Show Up: The HEA and Denver Jewish communities are ramping up our response to the crisis with programs and events. Showing up sends a message that we will not be deterred from living proudly as Jews.
Give: There are several organizations fundraising for Israel, and we encourage you to find ways to give that match your values and priorities. JEWISHcolorado has established an Israel Emergency Fund in conjunction with Jewish Federations of North America. These funds are allocated where they are needed most and to an array of relief agencies working on the ground.
Engage in Productive Discourse: Our community is constituted by a membership with a range of political views, both in America and Israel. Now is a time to meet passion with compassion, and to hold together the many ways we express our shared desire for Israel to live at peace with its neighbors. At HEA we value productive open discourse, kindness, curiosity, and generous listening by encouraging inquiry and learning rather than debate and persuasion.
Reach out: While we cannot remove someone’s pain, the act of letting someone know that they are not alone is an important gesture. Reach out to those impacted by the war here and in Israel. Send a text or email letting them know they are in our hearts.
Pray: Prayer is how we give expression to our hopes for our world and tilt God’s will towards making those hopes a reality. Our souls need prayers now more than ever. At home, in the synagogue, wherever you are – now is the time to give expression to our feelings through prayer. We will be adding prayers to our daily and Shabbat services throughout this crisis, including the traditional prayer below, which has been recited since the Middle Ages on behalf of Jews in captivity and in crisis.
I love Shabbat! Growing up, Shabbat was a main character in my home. I would often ask my mother questions like, “What are you up to this weekend? What are you having this Friday night dinner? Do we have to go to synagogue again?” The answers I hear to these questions, respectively, would be, “Oh, Shabbat is in town! A special Shabbat meal! But it’s Shabbat!”. Over time, through these experiences, I came to learn, as so many of our students at HEA do, that Shabbat is precisely what makes the weekend special, joyful, and something to look forward to. One Shabbat, we started a tradition of sharing gratitude during our Friday dinners. It was a small idea that made a big impact on my family. Before I knew what mindfulness was, we were using Shabbat as a mindfulness meter, a way of taking our temperature and having a moment of presence with each other.
The Hebrew Educational Alliance thrives through Shabbat. Our lively Azamra program has us waiting all month for the next one. Our Saturday services reflect traditions rooted in historical liturgy in a mix of spiritually inspiring, musical prayer. We end Shabbat services together as one community with a delicious kiddush or a tough game of mahjong. We also pride ourselves in our Shabbat programs for youth and young families. HEA is a place where kids can enjoy Shabbat. And dare I even say it, a place where they want to come.
As we celebrate A Year of Shabbat, I’d like to highlight some of the variety of Shabbat programs we offer for youth and families that you should know about so you can enjoy them! Last year, we successfully launched our newest program, Shabbat-Along. Shabbat-Along is a young family Kabbalat Shabbat program geared towards preschool and elementary age and their parents and grandparents. We start at 4:30 p.m. with an optional bridging program with child-friendly activities for those who can come early or don’t want to go home. This is followed by a family-friendly service and dinner. Our first Shabbat-Along of 5784 is Friday, October 27. You can register HERE. Our USY hosts monthly USY Shabbat Dinners with a different theme every month, from Casino Night to Pajama Party. Teens in 8th through 12th grade are welcome to join us for community bonding, prayers, food, and fun. Our next USY Shabbat is on Friday, November 10. Register HERE. If you would like to get added to our USY emails, please reach out to Yuri Tavbin to be added.
Our monthly Tot Shabbat is an excellent program for those looking to bring their young child to synagogue on Saturday mornings and connect with other young families. Our amazing PJ Library representative, Ilyse Beckerman, hosts a playdate starting at 10:45 a.m. with snacks and toddler-friendly toys. Our rabbis, Dani Tavbin and Yuri Tavbin lead an age-appropriate family service that your toddler is going to love. Once a year, we host New Baby Shabbat, which offers special prayers and a service for families with babies that were born within the last year. This year, our New Baby Shabbat is on Saturday, March 2. If you would like to participate for yourself or a grandchild, please email me. If you were at the Yom Kippur Mincha service this year, you would see our talented youth leading the service. Don’t worry if you missed it; you can catch them on February 10 for Youth-Led Shabbat. Our teens will help lead all aspects of Shabbat services on this day. Our 6th and 7th graders can get a taste of B’nai Mitzvahs through our Taste of Shabbat program. This is designed for families who are still figuring out what service they want to do for their B’nai Mitzvahs and get a taste of our different service offerings.
Twice a year, our HEArt Religious School has Shabbat School! Instead of students coming on Sunday, we have families come to pray and learn on Shabbat morning. Our goal for Shabbat School is for students and their families to gain a better understanding of the Shabbat service while feeling a part of our larger community. We start with a family service where students help lead prayers for us. Students then have learning time. In the past, we have done activities ranging from Setting Up your Shabbat Table to understanding The Flow of Shabbat Service. Finally, we all end up together with the community for kiddush because intergenerational social connections are a hallmark of what makes a Shabbat at HEA so special. Additionally, we host annual HEArt Mensch Academy Shabbat dinners for our middle schoolers as they move into preparing for their B’nai Mitzvahs and a 4th and 5th grade Shabbat dinner to strengthen those class communities as students head into middle school. And many of our families cherish their time with their Shabbat Clubs as well!
There is so much community and fun to be had at HEA on Shabbat! Be on the lookout for new Shabbat programs to come for youth and families, and let us know if you have ideas for how to enrich Shabbat at HEA by joining ourShabbat Task Force. So, I invite you to make HEA your Shabbat better and find some moments of gratitude together.
We have made the difficult decision to postpone our Anniversary Celebration that was to be held on October 29. We plan to reschedule the event for spring 2024. All ticket purchases, sponsorships, and tributes will be honored and are much appreciated. Please contact theHEA office if you have additional questions or concerns.
Come to HEA
Please join us this evening for a special Prayers for Israel Azamra service at 6:00 p.m. You do not need to register if you are just coming to the service.
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Rally for Israel at State Capitol
Give to Israel
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to accept your donations to Magen David Adom in Israel by Ayelet Kaufman, a young HEA member with family and friends in Israel. Donate HERE.
Your Prayers are Answered: The HEA Anniversary Celebration is Here!
Esther was a devout Jew who went to shul every week. And every Shabbat she had the same prayer, “God, please let me win the lottery!” Finally, after living a long life, Esther dies and meets God. She immediately starts complaining: “God, all my life I went to shul every week. I helped build the synagogue, I volunteered with the sisterhood, I baked cookies for the religious school, I did everything I could for my shul. All I ever asked of you is to win the lottery. Why didn’t you answer my prayer?!” God replied: “I tried, Esther, but you never bought a ticket!”
Take a lesson from Esther and don’t forget to buy your tickets to the HEA Anniversary Event on October 29th. You won’t win the lottery, but you’ll be rewarded for your dedication to your synagogue with an evening of fun and laughs featuring Jewish stand-up comedian Joel Chasnoff. The event is dedicated to honoring HEA’s founding families and celebrating their vision of vibrant Jewish life in Denver that we carry forward into our future.
Time is running out. Don’t miss your chance! Tickets are on sale now, through October 20th. Opportunities available for your family or your business to be an event sponsor or take out a tribute journal ad. Journal ad sales close on October 12.
On behalf of the HEA clergy and staff, we would like to blow the shofar in praise for all the High Holiday volunteers who helped make our High Holidays a success! From Erev Rosh Hashanah to Havdalah on Yom Kippur evening, we held about 18 programs and services in multiple locations, often concurrently! We couldn't have accomplished this without the generosity of time, spirit, and expertise of our volunteers. To the greeters at the doors welcoming everyone with a smile, the ushers helping people get to their seats, the laypeople who assist with the services, the Shir Hadash davening team, and the choir leaders and singers who spent weeks rehearsing, we say, THANK YOU!
How was your High Holiday experience? We encourage you to participate in this brief but important survey. Your responses are anonymous and will be combined with those of other respondents for analysis. Click HERE to begin the survey.
Want to watch, share, or rewatch one of our rabbis’ inspiring sermons? Find recordings of Rabbi Gruenwald’s and Rabbi Shulman’s Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur sermons HERE.
If you are interested in helping to elevate our weekly Shabbat Experience, please consider joining our Shabbat Task Force.
Loosen, loosen baby You don’t have to carry The weight of the world in your muscles and bones Let go, let go, let go.
Holy breath and holy name Will you ease, will you ease this pain? - “Loosen” by Aly Halpert
I had a conversation with a member of our community a few months ago in which she shared with me that she began to come to services each week to say the name of her grandson aloud and pray along with the community for his healing. So many of us can relate to the pull she feels to pray for healing. We all have names to say; we all have loved ones in our lives who need healing; we all have bodies that break, spirits that need repair, and souls that yearn for wholeness.
Asking for healing has become such an important part of our community since the outbreak of COVID-19 that our morning minyan made the radical and empathetic decision to recite a mi sheiberach for healing not just on Torah reading days, as is traditional, but on every single day of the year. There is inexpressible power to asking for healing aloud and together as a community. For the very act of praying for healing is, in itself, healing.
We invite you to join us on Yom Kippur afternoon for a Healing Service of song and story, conversation and prayer outside on the HEA Sukkah Patio at 4:00 p.m. Whether you come to ask for healing for yourself, for another, or to support the healing of those around our circle, we know your presence will be healing. We want to thank you for bringing light into dark places, expansiveness into narrow places, and healing into moments of pain for so many in our community.
We look forward to spending the holidays with you.
G’mar Chatimah Tova – May you be inscribed for good and for healing
My favorite time to listen to recorded music is in the last few hours before Shabbat or a holiday. As I scramble to wash dishes, iron clothes, make phone calls and finalize tune selections for services, Jewish music in the background helps me calm down and enter the mindset that I seek during holy times.
I’ve created a playlist for you of mostly new melodies that I’ve been listening to prepare for the Yamim Nora’im (High Holidays) this year.
You can listen HERE. Many of these songs will be featured in our services alongside the classic tunes that I love singing with you year after year. I hope this list gets you in the mindset of forgiveness, compassion and communal care.
Shabbat Shalom and L’Shana Tova. I look forward to seeing you soon, B”H.
Mordy Kadovitz, Community & Engagement Event Coordinator
Many of us may recall from childhood the well-known Dr. Suess book “Horton Hears a Who.” The story tells of a huge elephant who can hear the voices of the people of Whoville who live on a tiny speck of dust on the smallest fragment of clover. Even though Horton is so big, the Whos cannot see him, and the Whos are so microscopic, yet Horton can hear them.
Horton does everything to protect the Whos as their world experiences calamities even though his life is threatened. They both encounter parallel distress testing their fortitude. It isn’t until the people of Whoville shout as loud as they can crying out “WE ARE HERE!” that they are spared.
WE ARE HERE!
HENEINI! - I AM HERE!
These are the words Abraham responds with when G-d calls upon him to sacrifice Isaac in the story of the Akeda, which we read on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. Up to this point, he had faced many tests of faith in G-d. Escaping death for his belief in monotheism, being a stranger in a strange land, famine, wars, the captivity of Sarah, and ultimately Isaac’s end. Albeit Abraham is far greater than the fictional Horton and the Who’s, it is the example of the word HENEINI that matters most when we are called upon to the important moments' life throws at us.
HENEINI - can make all the difference in the world.
In our Machzors, we find an account from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who as a child, became sad when he read the story the Akeda. His rabbi asked him, why he was upset, to which Rabbi Heschel replied, “what if the angel had been late to save Isaac’s life?” His rabbi responded, “Angels are never late. The question is ‘are we on time?”
As we enter Rosh Hashanah, we always take time to reflect on the year behind us, and the year ahead. How many times have we said “Heneini” this past year? Did we show up when called upon? Did we hold the door for the person behind us? Did we help make the minyan? Did we volunteer when we could at HEA? Did we greet the stranger on the street with a simple smile of acknowledgement? Were we there when our community needed us most? Were we humble? And what will we do to make it “count” in the months ahead?
The most important line in the Horton story is "A person's a person, no matter how small". I want to take that a little further. “A mitzvah is a mitzvah, no matter how big, and no matter how small.”
Let us welcome this year of 5784 not only with joy and sweetness, mazal and good health, but with kindness – No Matter How Small.
L’shana Tova!
If you would like volunteer this year at HEA, please sign-up HERE.
It has been a busy back-to-school time at HEA for both Preschool and HEART.
At a recent directors’ meeting, I suggested Amanda and I co-author this week’s Heartbeat, focusing on the similar approaches we take to meaningfully educating children.
As a preschool, we take a play-based approach to early education, where children explore their world with natural curiosity and sensory experiences. With Rosh Hashanah just around the corner, preschoolers will crunch juicy apples dipped in sticky, sweet honey. Their small arms will knead dough, the play kind, to create round challah. They will hear the loud blast of the Shofar and peaceful Shabbat melodies. When we bring tangible Jewish practice to young children, we leave memories that will last them beyond their preschool years. Last Sunday before the picnic, I found joy in seeing our preschool “graduates” in new HEART classrooms, curious about the new ramp wall in the hallway, making new connections, and being ambassadors in our building.
When children graduate from preschool, you may ask yourself, what’s next? How do I continue my child’s or grandchild’s Jewish education and continue growing their sense of Jewish community? At HEArt Religious School, we are the bridge that takes up where preschool left off. We welcome students into our laboratory of Jewish learning experiences to continue exploring their Jewish identity while building on friendships from preschool. With a focus on experiential learning and value-based programming, students will deepen their understanding of Judaism while finding joy in it and with each other.
How do we do this? We immerse students in an Israeli shuk to taste different foods from the area. We explore prayer through an interactive scavenger hunt from the Torah to the garden. Our middle school students not only learn about concepts of tzedakah and tikkun olam but also put them into practice by volunteering at a local organization. Through chugim (electives), we offer students the opportunity to explore different topics of art, music, and movement, all through a Jewish lens. In our upcoming year, we are framing a Sukkot program with a social justice theme that explores the topic of “what is a home” that is applicable to a child’s everyday life. On Simchat Torah, we will be dancing our Torah down the street to celebrate and learn with students from Sinai Temple. And this is just to name a few!
HEA’s Preschool and Religious School work in partnership to ease the transition for children as they move into Elementary School. While kids move to different schools and can experience the anxiety of change, we want them to know they always have a home and family at HEA.
If you are interested in our programs, please reach out.
Ahad Ha’am, the early 20th-century Zionist thinker, famously wrote, “More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”
Shabbat – the idea that humans must rest, just as God ceased from creating – is perhaps the greatest gift that the Jewish people have given humanity. And for Jews, Shabbat has upheld its profound significance throughout history, acting as a vital thread, weaving the Jewish people together across generations. This weekly respite serves as a touchstone for reflection, tradition, and unity, grounding the Jewish people in their identity.
Shabbat offers us the opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of our workdays and rededicate ourselves weekly to our friends, family, and our own spirit. Rabbi Abraham Joshuah Heschel described Shabbat as a sanctuary in time, a respite from the ceaseless march of daily life.
This Shabbat, as we usher in the new month of Elul, we kick off “A Year of Shabbat” at Congregation HEA. We will be dedicating the coming year of 5784 to renewing our relationship with Shabbat as a spiritual practice that can bond us to one another and nourish our souls. We will come together as a community through programs, events, and educational opportunities to explore the meaning and beauty of Shabbat and how we can incorporate its practices into our lives.
We invite you to join us this weekend for “Elul in the Shul,” featuring scholar-in-residence Rabbi Corey Helfand of Congregation Ohr Kodesh in suburban DC. Rabbi Helfand will lead us in music, prayer, and learning, inspiring us to explore how Shabbat can enrich our lives as individuals and as a community.
Rabbi Heschel wrote, “Judaism teaches us to be attached to holiness in time, to be attached to sacred events, to learn how to consecrate sanctuaries that emerge from the magnificent stream of a year.” We hope you will find opportunities this year to step into the sanctuary of sacred time with us.
Prepare your spirit for the holidays as we kick off the season withElul in the Shul, August 18-20, featuring scholar-in-residence Rabbi Corey Helfand. Join us for spirited music and learning on the value of Shabbat in our lives.
High Holiday Guides will be hitting mailboxes this week and tickets will be mailed starting the following week. Remember to Log onto your member account to renew your membership, fulfill your dues commitment and review your contact information to ensure you receive your High Holiday information packet and your family’s tickets for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Remember your loved ones in the 2023 Yizkor Book, order your lulav & etrog for Sukkot, and check out the High Holiday schedule of services and programs at www.HEAdenver.org/high-holidays.
This past year has felt like a year of re-membering. People are recalling what it was like to belong to sacred community and re-membering – once again re-engaging as members of HEA. After years of societal disruption caused by the COVID pandemic, people are remembering the value of sacred community and spiritual connection. Attendance at worship and programs is growing, volunteers are stepping up in numbers not seen in years. From our Hesed committee that provides care to HEA members in need to our greeter/safety team that ensures a secure and welcoming environment on Shabbat, people are rediscovering the transformative power of joining with others in creating community and connection.
We invite you to re-member this year. Your involvement makes our community possible, and we need you to do your part. “The day is long and the work is boundless…” say Rabbi Tarfon, “You are not obligated to finish the task, but you are also not free to neglect it” (Pirkei Avot 2:15).
There are countless ways you can be part of this exciting time of re-membering at HEA. The first and most important thing you can do is show up. Below are links to ways that you can support HEA and re-member:
Log onto your member account to renew your membership, fulfill your dues commitment and review your contact information to ensure you receive your High Holiday information packet and your family’s tickets for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Prepare your spirit for the holidays as we kick off the season withElul in the Shul, August 18-20, featuring scholar-in-residence Rabbi Corey Helfand. Join us for spirited music and learning on the value of Shabbat in our lives.
Register your kids for youth and family High Holiday programs and worship services. And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to sign your student up for HEArt – HEA’s religious school programs. Contact Education DirectorAmanda Eckert.
Volunteer to help with greeting and ushering on the holidays. Enjoy schmoozing while providing an invaluable service to our community.
Join our Hesed volunteers to help our elderly and home-bound members connect with community during the holidays. Volunteers prepare meals, offer rides to shul, or just call to wish someone a “Shannah Tova!”
Participate in services by accepting an honor to open the ark, take an aliyah, or carry the Torah. Please contact Joyce Perlmutter.
Remember your loved ones by adding their names to our annual Yizkor Book.
Enhance your High Holiday experience by joining us for the Tashlich program on Tuesday, September 19, at Belleview Park or the Healing Serviceon Yom Kippur afternoon.
We look forward to celebrating the new year with you and your family and we hope that this year’s High Holidays inspire you to re-member your connection to the HEA community by finding meaningful opportunities to get involved.
On behalf of the clergy, staff, and volunteers who make up this wonderful community, we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and meaningful new year filled with opportunities to re-connect, re-discover, and re-member.
