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Chanukah Together!
Online candle lighting hosted by CAA members at 6:00pm
Thursday, December 26th
Saturday, December 28th
Tuesday, December 31st
Wednesday, January 1st
When we are not gathering in person as a community to light candles as one CAA community, different households will host a nightly community candle lighting on Zoom at 6pm. Together, we’ll sing the traditional prayers and songs in celebration of the Festival of Lights.
WE NEED HOSTS!!
CLICK HERE to let Rabbi Dan know if you’d like to host candle lighting on either 12/26, 12/28, 12/31, or 1/1 If you live within 10 miles of CAA, Rabbi Dan will join you in person!
CLICK HERE to light your Chanukah candles online with our CAA community.
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Friday Night Erev Shabbat Services
Fridays at 7:00pm
Celebrate Shabbat and relax after a long week as Rabbi Dan and/or Lainee Ginsberg lead Friday night services in our beautiful sanctuary with music and prayer.
Stick around after the service to visit with community members and friends at the oneg.
 This Shabbat, the service will be led by Rabbi Dan and the oneg will be sponsored by the Weinrieb Family, in memory of their beloved husband and father, Jerry Weinrieb
ALL are welcome, including families with young children and people who want to learn more about Jewish practice.
CLICK HERE to attend the service online.
CLICK HERE for a pdf of our siddur.
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First Night of Chanukah, Chinese Food, Board Games & Movie Night
Wednesday, December 25th at 5:00pm
It has become a CAA tradition to gather on December 25th for Chinese food and a movie. Jews all over the United States developed a tradition of eating in Chinese restaurants and going to movie theaters on Christmas Day at a time when those were among the very few businesses open on December 25th.
Our variation on that custom means we meet at CAA and eat takeout vegetarian Chinese food and watch a lighthearted film together. We also invite you to bring your favorite board games to play with others :)
This year, we’ll also celebrate by lighting our first Chanukah candle together! Don’t forget to bring your menorah!!
CLICK HERE to register, nominate a movie and suggest what food we should order :)
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CAA’s Chanukah Gift Fair Continues!
We are offering a wonderful opportunity to pick up all kinds of Chanukah gifts that you need to celebrate!
Choose from our beautiful selection of gifts for all ages! Stop by our lobby to see our selection of traditional, fun and fancy Chanukah candles, dreidels, gelt, Chanukah wrapping paper, menorahs, Judaica, beautiful Shabbat candle sets, Chanukah chotchkes and more!
Please contact us and we will make sure you get the Chanukah supplies you need!
CAA Office at 603-352-6747 or email office@keenesynagogue.org
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Serve dinner at
The Community Kitchen!
Our next dates to serve dinner at TCK are December 23rd and January 16th
A message from Gary Shapiro…
Greetings Stalwart Volunteers!
We (CAA) have two (TWO!) volunteer opportunities* this month at TCK–our regular 3rd Thursday to serve the evening meal and clean-up, and our annual pre-Christmas lasagna dinner to prepare, serve, and clean-up (Monday the 23rd). We usually provide seven lasagnas (mostly meat, with a couple veggie) for the occasion, and already have three (or four) pledged. Extra lasagnas could be frozen there and served as needed later on.
Please let me or Malcolm know if you are able to participate in these efforts, which are so appreciated by The Kitchen staff and the guests we serve there.
Thanks so much, and please let us know…
Gary/K1
*as well as our ongoing efforts with the weekly Pantry Program
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Security Training for Synagogues and Churches
Thursday, January 16th at 11:00am
On Thursday, January 16th, Mark Atlee, Regional Security Advisor for Boston’s Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) Communal Security Initiative (CSI), will be offering a training for all CAA members and our partners in the Monadnock Interfaith Project.
Mark will present both “De-Escalation” and “Be Aware” sessions. The training will take place in the CAA Social Hall.
CJP’s CSI supports a thriving Jewish community by providing professional security advice, trainings, and support to 250 Jewish organizations in the Greater Boston area. In these times of rising antisemitism, CSI now offers many services to the over 100 partners in the Expanded Services Area of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, as well.
You can register for one or both training sessions. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Schedule:
11:00am: De-Escalation Training:
This session improves situational awareness and provides the foundation for other security trainings.
12:00pm: Lunch Break
(light lunch provided)
12:30pm: Be Aware Training:
In this introductory session, you will learn basic strategies to identify aggressive behaviors and avoid physical harm.
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CAA Board of Director’s Meeting
Wednesday, January 8th at 7:00pm
Congregation Ahavas Achim Members are invited to observe our Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday, January 8th at 7:00pm online and in person. We’ll hear all about what’s been happening in and out of our building with our community.
All members are welcome to attend our board meetings.
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Schmooze and Brews with Jews at Modestman Brewing
Thursday, January 9th at 6:00pm
Join us for this after-hours version of Coffee Hour with Rabbi Dan on the second Thursday of the month at Modestman Brewing on Main Street in Keene. Casually hang out to shmooze with Jews over brews!
Food and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase.
No registration required. Just show up!
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Shabbat Morning Torah Service
Saturday, January 11th at 9:30 AM
On Saturday, January 11th, we invite you to our monthly Shabbat Morning Service, onsite and online. Help us make a minyan as we celebrate Shabbat with Torah and tradition. Having a minyan makes it possible for people in mourning or observing a yahrzeit to say Kaddish.
We ALWAYS need Torah readers! Please sign up to read throughout the year at https://keenesynagogue.org/weekly-torah-portion/.
CLICK HERE to join the Shabbat Morning Torah Service online.
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We want to celebrate you!
CAA would like to share the joys of your family simchas, big and small, with our community. Unfortunately, we don’t have the birthdays and anniversaries of many of our members. Please consider sharing the important dates of you and your family members so we can honor those celebrations together.
But don’t worry, while we ask that you include your birth year, we won’t be sharing it with our community :)
Please send your birthdays and anniversaries to office@keenesynagogue.org |
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The CAA Book Club – “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride”
Sunday, January 5th, 2025 at 10:15am
The CAA Book Club will next meet on Sunday, January 5, 2025. We’ll be discussing The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.
About the book: The author describes how, in 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this story.
Join us to talk about this intriguing book! We meet at the synagogue at 10:15am for coffee and begin our discussion at 10:30am.
Hope to see you there!
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Coffee Hour
with Rabbi Dan at Brewbakers Café in Keene
Tuesday, December 24th at 11:00am
and
Wednesday, January 8th at 2:00pm
Grab a cup of Joe or a Chai Latte and pull up a seat. Rabbi Dan looks forward to chatting about… whatever!
Coffee Hour with Rabbi Dan takes place monthly on the 2nd Wednesday and 4th Tuesday of the month or by appointment at a more convenient time. To set up a meeting with Rabbi Dan, visit www.calendly.com/rabbida
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CAA’s Annual Latke Blowout
Sunday, December 29th at 6:00pm
Celebrate with us a joyful and musical 5th night of Chanukah with candle lighting, music and a vegetarian potluck dinner- latkes made by the famous and non-exclusive Fryer’s Club will complement the meal!
We’ll start downstairs in our Social Hall, to share a communal pot-luck meal together with delectable latkes provided by CAA.
We’ll then move upstairs for our musical evening featuring a traditional Chanukah song sing-along, as well as Klezmer-style music for dancing, and of course, candle-lighting in our beautiful sanctuary.
Bring a menorah and candles (we’ll have extras if you need either) and a potluck dish to share and celebrate together on this wonderfully festive evening!
If you’d like to fry and join in the camaraderie, please report to the CAA kitchen by 2:00pm! And if you’re feeling extra helpful, we can use a couple volunteers Sunday morning too! Volunteers should let Malcolm know if he can count on their help at malcolmkatz50@gmail.com
This is an evening you won’t want to miss!!!
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Community Menorah Lighting at YMCA
Monday, December 30th at 5:30pm
Join us at this sweet commemoration of light and freedom among our community.
We’ll light the 6th candle with friends of CAA at the YMCA.
Of course, the fun wouldn’t be complete without sufganiyot and hot cocoa for all!
We look forward to celebrating with you!
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Chanukah Cookie Decorating and New Year’s Eve Celebration for Families
Tuesday, December 31st at 11:00am
For all kids,
and kids-at-heart :)
Join Daniella in the Social Hall as we get a little messy decorating delicious Chanukah cookies together.
Then, we’ll bring in the New Year a little early because, really, who can make it to midnight these days anyway?
Bring some veggie appetizers to share and we’ll celebrate together, confetti and all!
If you plan to come, please let Daniella know at office@keenesynagogue.org
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Shabbat Morning Torah Study with Rabbi Dan
Saturday, December 21st & 28th at 9:30 AM
We invite you to our (almost) weekly Shabbat Morning Torah Study, led by Rabbi Dan, and sometimes guests. We read a third of each week’s Torah reading in English and mine it for meaning for our lives today.
Newcomers and people of all abilities are always welcome!
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In Memory of…
For the week of December 21-27, 2024
20-26 Kislev 5785
Yahrzeits
Irene Crocker, aunt of Jeffrey (Martha) Crocker on 12/20, 19 Kislev
Bernard Rubin, uncle of Paul ( Elaine) Bieber on 12/20, 19 Kislev
Rabbi H. Hirch Cohen, brother of Dr. Arthur Cohen on 12/22, 21 Kislev
Max Rubin, grandfather of Paul (Elaine) Bieber on 12/22, 21 Kislev
Jerome Weinrieb, husband of Rose Weinrieb, father of Pam Weinrieb, Eric Weinrieb, Shelley Amster, uncle of Mike Kapiloff on 12/22 , 21 Kislev
Phyllis Ellen Keller, sister of Patricia (Stephen) Weiner on 12/24, 23 Kislev
David Dweres, grandfather of Barry (Dru) Fox on 12/25, 24 Kislev
Marie Hennigar, mother-in-law of Martin Reisig on 12/26, 25 Kislev
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Shloshim
Deborah (Jerry) Kaufman is in her first 30 day mourning the loss of her father, Donal Blaise Lloyd
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In First Year of Mourning
Lainee (Roye) Ginsberg is mourning the loss of her mother, Laura Broad
Mike Davern (Marni Silverstein) is mourning the loss of his father, Philip Davern
Andrea Levin is mourning the loss of her father, Wayne Eshelman
Rebecca Sayles is mourning the loss of her mother, Gail Ehrlich
Rebecca Sayles is mourning the loss of her father, Stanley L. Abrams.
Arelis Quinones is mourning the loss of her mother, Josephina Sanchez
Diane Shamas is mourning the loss of her mother, Shirley Ruth Shapiro
Robin Kost is mourning the loss of her sister, Delores Arth Turgelsky
Bruce Platt is mourning the loss of his mother, Jean Platt
Marion Shapiro is mourning the loss of her husband, Paul Shapiro
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Our Religious School meets most Sundays during the school year. Our current students are in grades 2 through 7. If you are interested in enrolling a child for the current school year or would like to explore religious school for the 2025-2026 school year, please contact Rabbi Dan at rabbida@keenesynagogue.org or (603) 352-6747.
Note: There will be no Religious School on December 22nd and 29th for Winter Break. Classes will resume on January 2nd.
Parents, please look out for occasional emails from Rabbi Dan and Daniella with particular information throughout the year.
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Chamber Singers of Keene Concert at CAA
Saturday, December 21st at 7:00pm
The Chamber Singers of Keene presents Hold Them Close, A 30th Anniversary concert, with Christmas selections in addition to the main theme. The concert will also include an alumni song and reception.
$20 per person. Tickets available through choir members or at the door.
The Chamber Singers of Keene is an auditioned vocal ensemble in the Monadnock region dedicated to performing sacred and secular choral music from the Renaissance through the contemporary era.
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Timely Topics in Jewish Life
A presentation and discussion on all things Jewish with Rabbi Dan on the 4th Friday of each month.
Where? Covenant Living of Keene (formerly Hillside Village), 95 Wyman Road, Keene, NH 03431
When? 11AM-12:30PM, December 27th -with Lainee Ginsberg, a little Chanukah learning with music mixed in!
Who? An interfaith group of residents at Covenant Living, including a number of CAA members. All members of CAA are welcome to attend.
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Send us the name of a person in need of comfort and healing so we can pray for them whenever we recite the Misheberach prayer for healing during our worship services.
CLICK HERE to submit a name for the Misheberach list.
If you add a name to the list, please attend services as you are able and pray along with the community for those in need of healing.
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Blue ribbons in solidarity with the hostages and their families in Israel are
available at CAA.
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This Shabbat, the service will be led by Rabbi Dan and the oneg will be sponsored by the Weinrieb Family, in memory of their beloved husband and father, Jerry Weinrieb
Children are welcome!
