HEArtbeat

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Friday, March 13, 2026

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Yesterday, my little cousin Kayla was attending preschool at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, as she does on any ordinary day. However, yesterday was not an ordinary day at her synagogue as we would soon learn. Not when a man decided to ram his truck into their building, a facility built in 1941 to honor the needs of the Jewish community of West Bloomfield and our yearning for the creation of a Jewish state.   
 
Thank God, my cousin and all the children, staff, and clergy in the building were able to evacuate safely to a nearby country club and then return home thanks to the security officers, first responders, preschool teachers, and all those who stepped up to ensure their safety. Little Kayla was caught on the news while being carried home by her grandmother with a picture of a butterfly and a puppy that she had colored that day. Since the attack yesterday, I’ve spoken to many others in our community who have connections to this synagogue as well, reminding us how interconnected we are in times of distress as well as in times of joy. We share in feeling concern and relief, gratitude and fatigue from yet another antisemitic attack on the Jewish community. We stand together in supporting Jews in Michigan, Norway, Israel and all around the world today along with our allies and troops.
 
As I reflect on yesterday’s events, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for all those in our own community who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our HEA congregation. We are fortunate to have a strong and committed team of security professionals and volunteers who work tirelessly to look out for our members, our children, and our visitors. If you would like to join the efforts of our Security Greeter Team, please speak to Amir Kaufman. And please take a moment when you can to personally thank our security guard Grant Rudzik, Officer Sheldon, Amir, Ted, and all our volunteers for their hard work and commitment to the safety of our community every single day. I am also thankful for our professional staff for their commitment to the safety and security of all those in our community. While yesterday’s situation was developing, our staff was in constant communication with law enforcement and SCN Colorado, the law enforcement entity retained through Jewish Colorado to assist all Jewish organizations with safety and security training and protocols. Grant, Yuri, Steve, and our outstanding Preschool team remained diligent with up-to-date information throughout the day.
 
Through their leadership and a generous State of Colorado Homeland Security grant in 2022, we were able to install boulders and bollards at both the West (upper) and North (lower) entrances to prevent vehicular access into the facility as well as bullet-resistance glass throughout the building. Even with such fortified protection, it is moments like this that give us pause to reflect on our internal safety procedures and the part we each can play. 
 
In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Vayakel-Pekudei, we read about the continued construction of the mishkan, or tabernacle, in which each Israelite had the opportunity to bring their own gifts from their heart to create a holy space together. Security like spirituality, takes a village to create together. While our security professionals and lay leaders are here to offer critical support, it is crucial that we all remain situationally aware of our surroundings. Under the common mantra of ‘see something, say something’, we ask you to always let an officer or staff member know if you notice anything awry. Further, while we always strive to create a welcoming environment, please do not hold the doors for people unless they are known or recognized by you. It is ok to let people know you are just trying to follow recommended safety protocols.   
 
We all have an opportunity to create the community we want together by showing up for one another in times of hardship and times of joy. This has been a hard week for many in our community, and I have been so touched by the tremendous support and resilience our community has shown for those facing loss, worry, and difficulty. Thank you to each and every one of you for the part you play in building our holy community week after week. 
 
Since my husband Nate became a police officer, I have come to notice and appreciate the presence, humanity, and service of those working for our safety more acutely and personally. May we all appreciate those around us for the part they play in building a safe and peaceful world. And may we all pray for a time of lasting peace in our homes, our communities, and the land of Israel. 
 
Shabbat Shalom 

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Upcoming Events & Programs

🍴Shalom Chaverim Dinner
Fri, March 13, 6:30 p.m.
If you're 65+, join us for candle lighting and blessings, a delicious chicken dinner and lively discussion of the central themes of Passover, 

📖Torah for Today in the Library with Rabbi Doug Weber
Sat, March 14, 10:30 a.m.
Join Rabbi Doug in the library for monthly Torah learning. No registration needed. Topic: St. Paddy and The Jews.

📖Famous Jewish Trials in History with David Richman and Steve Uslan
Mon, March 16, 23, 7:00 p.m.
We will explore five significant trials in Jewish history and their roles in the development of law and antisemitism.

🔯HEA & StandWithUs Welcome Survivors
Wed, March 18, 7:00 p.m.
HEA & StandWithUs welcome captivity survivor Eliya Cohen and Nova Festival survivor Ziv Abud. For security purposes, all bags will be searched upon entering the building.

🚼Baby and Me
Thu, March 19, 26, April 16, 9:30 a.m.
Meet up with other parents for some support, casual baby playtime, and refreshments at HEA. For babies up to 12 months old. 

🍿Movie Night: The Jews And The Blues
Thu, March 19, 6:30 p.m.
This new documentary by filmmaker, musician, and talk show host Drew Stone takes us on a musical adventure to understand how the blues can be found in a number of Israeli cultures, including Ethiopian, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, and others. 

📖Midrash in the Morning with Cantor Saul Rosenthal
Fri, March 20, 10:00 a.m. 
Join Cantor Saul Rosenthal as we explore the Jewish tradition of Midrashim (creative interpretations of Jewish texts). 

🍴Traditional Service and Dinner
Fri, March 20, 6:00 p.m.
Join us for Traditional Friday Evening services, followed by dinner. $25 for Members | $35 for non-members. 

☺️Tot Shabbat
Sat, March 21, 10:45 a.m.
A spirited and fun playtime before our Tot Shabbat service for little ones and their adults.

🍴📖Women’s Seder
Sun, March 22, 6:30 p.m.
Honoring the Women of the Passover Story. A Pesach seder led by Rabbi Sarah Shulman for the women of HEA. $10 for HEA Members, $15 for non-members. 

📖Kavod on the Road
Tue, March 24, 1:00 p.m.
Monthly programming from Kavod on the Road.

🍴🎼Azamra
Fri, March 27, 5:30 p.m.
Our Friday Evening Musical Shabbat service and kosher dinner. Featuring Sheila Reinhold and her music.

📖Torah for Today in the Library with Cherie Karo Schwartz
Sat, March 28, 10:30 a.m.
Join us for an engaging, storied, interactive immersion in the weekly parasha for adults of all ages and at all levels of Torah interest. No registration is necessary.

🪄Magic Minyan
Sat, March 28, 11:00 a.m.
Magical Shabbat fun for young ones and their families in room 107 on the first floor of the preschool.

📖Tech Time Workshop
Tue, March 31, 10:30 a.m.
Bring your laptop, mobile phone, and tablets. We'll help you sign into your HEA account to get the most of your account at HEAdenver.org, and fix your tech issues.

🍴📖Community Seder
Thu, April 2, 5:30 p.m.
Join Rabbi Sarah Shulman, Eitan Kantor, and the rest of your friends at our spirited and joyous Pesach seder.

📖Midrash in the Morning with Cantor Saul Rosenthal
Fri, April 10, 10:00 a.m.
Join Cantor Saul Rosenthal as we explore the Jewish tradition of Midrashim (creative interpretations of Jewish texts).

📖Torah for Today in the Library with Rabbi Doug Weber
Sat, April 11, 10:30 a.m.
Torah study in the library. No registration required.

📖Yom Hashoah Commemoration: The Future of Holocaust Education
Tue, April 14, 6:30 p.m.
Our annual Yom Hashoah event.

📖2026 ADL Governor's Holocaust Remembrance Program
Wed, April 15, 5:30 p.m.
Join Us for the 45th Annual Governor's Holocaust Remembrance Program at Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape St., Denver, Denver.

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Shabbat Schedule

Parashat Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei /
 פָּרָשַׁת וַיַּקְהֵל־פְקוּדֵי

• 6:00 p.m., Lay-Led Friday Evening Minyan, Chapel
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​6:30 p.m., Shalom Chaverim Dinner

• 9:30 a.m., Traditional Shabbat Services & Bar Mitvah of Ian Gelfand, Sanctuary
• ​​​​​​​10:30 a.m., Torah for Today with Rabbi Doug Weber in the Library
• 6:00 p.m., Mincha, Chapel

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Friday, February 27, 2026

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Purim is just around the corner, so we hope your costumes, hamantaschen, and groggers are out and ready to go! We look forward to seeing you at our Purim festivities on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday at HEA. Purim is a holiday of joy and generosity – giving gifts to friends and those in need, sharing Megillah reading, food, and festive time together in a cohesive community. But it is also a holiday of stepping into our truest selves.  The name of the holiday’s heroine means “hidden” in Hebrew, and just as Esther decided to speak up for the Jewish people, so too we come upon times in our lives when we must use our voices or reveal our identity to advocate for our people and our practices.  
 
As we prepare for Purim, may the legacy of Esther and Mordechai inspire us to share our Jewish identity proudly 
to speak up for those who are in danger 
to fight for an Israel that is strong, manifests our truest Jewish values, and recognizes all denominations of Jews 
to feel comfortable revealing the parts of ourselves that are more vulnerable 
to give generously to those around us while not neglecting our own needs 
and to find God even in the hidden, scary places of our lives. 
 
Wishing you a Chag Purim Sameach and Shabbat Shalom! 

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Upcoming Events & Programs

Torah for Today in the Library with Rabbi Sarah Shulman
Sat, February 28, 10:30 a.m.
Join Rabbi Shulman in the library to talk about Shabbat Zachor and memory and forgetting in Judaism and our lives.

Magic Minyan
Sat, February 28, 11:00 a.m.
Magical Shabbat fun for young ones and their families.

🎵Havdalah Followed By Hebrew Sacred Chanting
Sat, February 28, 7:30 p.m.
Join us at the Goldberger Youth Center (GYC), across the street from our main building, for this embodied and participatory evening with Danya and Eyal Rivlin leading the community in ecstatic Hebrew sacred chanting. 

Purim!
✤ Purim Shpiel
Sun, March 1, 11:00 a.m.
Enjoy this production from the Perpetually Perplexed Purim Players in an Elton John-themed spiel. No charge or registration required. Our goal is to include as many people as possible!

✤ Purim Carnival
Sun, March 1, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Games, rides, activities, and food!

✤ Purim Family Mini-Megillah Reading
Mon, March 2, 5:30 p.m.
HEA families, join us for a joyful, abridged telling of the Purim story Kpop Demon Hunters style. ​​​​​​​

✤ Purim Community Dinner
Mon, March 2, 6:15 p.m.
Enjoy a pasta dinner before the Megillah reading and party! 

✤ Megillah Reading & Party
Mon, March 2, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Join us for a rollicking reading of the whole Megillah.

Dive Into Bereshit-The First Book
Wed, March 4, 1:00 p.m.
A monthly deep dive into the first book in the Torah, Bereshit. Join Rabbi Sarah Shulman as she explores the themes in Genesis.

Torah for Today with Carlos Zarur in the Library
Sat, March 7, 10:30 a.m.
Torah study in the library. No registration needed.

2026 Community-Wide Family Havdalah
Sun, March 8, 3:00 p.m.
Join Jewish Explorers, PJ Library, and YAD Family for this fun Community-Wide Family Havdalah event at the Butterfly Pavilion! 

 Famous Jewish Trials in History with David Richman and Steve Uslan
Mon, March 9, 16, 23, 7:00 p.m.
We will explore five significant trials in Jewish history and their roles in the development of law and antisemitism. 

Torah for Today in the Library with Rabbi Doug Weber
Sat, March 14, 10:30 a.m.
Topic: St. Paddy and The Jews. Join Rabbi Doug in the library for monthly Torah learning. No registration needed.

HEA & StandWithUs Welcome Survivors
Wed, March 18, 7:00 p.m.
HEA & StandWithUs welcome captivity survivor Eliya Cohen and Nova Festival survivor Ziv Abud. For security purposes, all bags will be searched upon entering the building.

Movie Night: The Art of Waiting
Thu, March 19, 6:30 p.m.
The Art of Waiting is about a couple struggling with fertility, facing family and friend pressure.

Midrash in the Morning with Cantor Saul Rosenthal
Fri, March 20, 10:00 a.m. 
Join Cantor Saul Rosenthal as we explore the Jewish tradition of Midrashim (creative interpretations of Jewish texts). 

Kavod on the Road
Tue, March 24, 1:00 p.m.
Monthly programming from Kavod on the Road.

YOUNG WOMEN’S PROGRAM: Making Miriam’s Cups
Wed, March 25, 6:30 p.m.
Young Women (21-39): Join us as we make Mirian’s Cups for Passover.

Azamra
Fri, March 27, 5:30 p.m.
Our Friday Evening Musical Shabbat service and kosher dinner. 

Torah for Today in the Library with Cherie Karo Schwartz
Sat, March 28, 10:30 a.m.
Join us for an engaging, storied, interactive immersion in the weekly parasha for adults of all ages and at all levels of Torah interest. No registration is necessary.

Magic Minyan
Sat, March 28, 11:00 a.m.
Magical Shabbat fun for young ones and their families in room 107 on the first floor of the preschool.

Tech Time Workshop
Tue, March 31, 10:30 a.m.
Bring your laptop, mobile phone, and tablets. We'll help you sign into your HEA account to get the most of your account at HEAdenver.org, and more.

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Shabbat Schedule

Parashat Tetzaveh / פָּרָשַׁת תְּצַוֶּה

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Expect More Purim Fun!

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Friday, February 13, 2026

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Where will YOU be on Sunday, May 17th at 7:00 p.m.? I’ll be at the HEA for our biggest concert of the year: Cantor Azi Schwartz in Concert. I want to see you there! 

Cantor Schwartz, born in Israel, is the Senior Cantor of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York, and is a world-renowned vocal performer and recording artist whose music reaches both Jewish and interfaith audiences internationally. Check out his 18 albums HERE or some of his videos HERE. 

This concert will feature broadway tunes, Israeli hits and synagogue classics. The concert will also feature special guest cantors Marty Goldstein and Arielle Reisner. I’ll be up there singing a little too. You can get your tickets by visiting HEAdenver.org/Azi100, or by calling our office at 303-758-9400 or. You can also use that link to become a sponsor. Sponsors get access to perks such as reserved seats, a post-show meet-and-greet with Azi, and more. 

If you need a ticket discount, call our office or email info@HEAdenver.org. This is an important fundraiser, but we also want to make sure anyone who wants to attend can join us. Plus members, Rabbi’s Circle and Cantor’s Circle members will receive two unreserved, complimentary tickets per family (does not include meet-and-greet access).  

This concert, which celebrates 100 years of the HEA sisterhood, will be our synagogue’s biggest concert of the year. Following the vision of the HEA sisterhood in its inception, the event will raise funds for HEA’s youth education programs, allowing us to serve students who might otherwise miss out on getting a Jewish education. Every dollar makes a difference. 

I’d like to thank our event chairs, Sharon Kassanoff and Joan Saliman. If you receive a call from Sharon or Joan in the next few weeks about tickets and sponsorship opportunities, I recommend picking up because they are such fun people! 

Mark Alpert, Caryn Osterman and I have been dreaming up an Azi concert since 2022, and I feel deeply grateful that Mark and Caryn are making this event possible by underwriting it. I’d like to express my gratitude to our HEA Music Circle (Dr. Lee Weisbard and David Rosenthal, Cherie Karo Schwartz, Gabriella and Dr. Peter Gottlieb, Amity and Marc Cooper, Mindy and Rick Miller, and Nora anf Bruce Schrutt) for all of their generous support of the HEA’s music programming. I’d also like to thank those who have already signed up as sponsors for the Azi concert! 

The concert will be live-streamed using a private link for ticketholders unable to attend in-person for reasons such as disability. If you require an accommodation in order to attend in-person, please contact our office. 
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So - will you be part of this momentous moment in the history of our community? 

Shabbat Shalom! 

Upcoming Events & Programs

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Shalom Chaverim Dinner
Fri, February 13, 6:00 p.m.
Shalom Chaverim, our HEA members group for ages 65 and over, 
dedicated to celebrating Jewish life together through learning, socializing, and sharing life-cycle events. We'll dine together and talk about Purim!

Mon, February 16: HEA Offices are closed for Presidents Day. 
Morning Minyan is at 8:00 a.m.

Famous Jewish Trials in History with David Richman and Steve Uslan
Mon, February 16, 23, 7:00 p.m.
We will explore five significant trials in Jewish history and their roles in the development of law and antisemitism.

​​​​​​​Being a Jewish Grandparent
Tue, February 17, 24, 10:00 a.m.
Join Rabbi Bruce Dollin in a course designed for Jewish grandparents, 
engaging with Jewish text and traditions to explore the joys and 
complexities of grandparenting today. 

Baby and Me
Thu, February 19, 26, 9:30 a.m.
Meet up with other parents for some support, casual baby playtime, and refreshments at HEA. For babies up to 12 months old. 

Movie Night: Nina Is An Athlete
Thu, February 19, 6:30 p.m.
Wheelchair badminton champion Nina Gorodetsky has her first and 
maybe last chance to make it to the Paralympics. 

Midrash in the Morning with Cantor Saul Rosenthal
Fri, February 20, 10:00 a.m.
Join Cantor Saul Rosenthal as we explore the Jewish tradition of 
Midrashim (creative interpretations of Jewish texts). 

VOLUNTEER: Hamentaschen-Making for Mishloach Manot
Sun, February 22, 10:00 a.m.+
Join us in the kitchen to bake hamentaschen for this year's Mishloach Manot bags. 

Hochmat Nashim: Women’s Torah Study Group
Sun, February 22, 6:30 p.m.
Join a group of vibrant Jewish women, led by Rabbi Shulman and Gitit Kaufman, for a meaningful evening of engagement with Torah and one another.

YOUNG ADULTS (ages 22-39): Hamantashcen-Making & Torah Session
Sun, February 22, 7:00 p.m.
Young Adults: Sign up for this month's get-together for hamentaschen-making and Torah study. The location is to be determined. 

VOLUNTEER: Fill Mishloach Manot Bags
Mon, February 23, 10:00 a.m.
Get together with staff and volunteer members to fill this year's Mishloach Manot bags. 

Kavod on the Road
Tue, February 24, 1:00 p.m.
Monthly programming from Kavod on the Road. 

VOLUNTEER: Fill Mishloach Manot Bags
Tue, February 24, 7:00 p.m.+
Get together with staff and volunteer members to fill this year's Mishloach Manot bags.

Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Less Suffering with Rabbi Caryn Aviv
Wed, February 25, 7:00 p.m.
Jewish anxiety is not all in our heads. Jewish anxiety is real. But we don’t have to suffer simply because of who we are in the world or how the world imagines, distorts, and treats Jews.

Magic Minyan
Sat, February 28, 11:00 a.m.
Magical Shabbat fun for young ones and their families.

Havdalah Followed By Hebrew Sacred Chanting
Sat, February 28, 7:30 p.m.
Join us at the Goldberger Youth Center (GYC), across the street from our main building, for this embodied and participatory evening.

Purim!
> Purim Shpiel
Sun, March 1, 11:00 a.m.
Enjoy this production from the Perpetually Perplexed Purim Players in an Elton John-themed spiel. No charge or registration required. Our goal is to include as many people as possible!

> Purim Carnival
Sun, March 1, 12:00 p.m.+
Games, rides, activities, and food!

> Purim Family Mini-Megillah Reading
Mon, March 2, 5:30 p.m.
HEA families, join us for a joyful, abridged telling of the Purim story. 

> Purim Community Dinner
Mon, March 2, 6:15 p.m.
Enjoy a pasta dinner before the Megillah reading and party! 

> Megillah Reading & Party
Mon, March 2, 7:00 p.m.+
Join us for a rollicking reading of the whole Megillah.

Dive Into Bereshit-The First Book
Wed, March 4, 1:00 p.m.
A monthly deep dive into the first book in the Torah, Bereshit. Join Rabbi Sarah Shulman as she explores the themes in Genesis.

Shabbat Schedule

Parashat Mishpatim / פָּרָשַׁת מִשְׁפָּטִים

• 5:00 p.m., Lay-Led Friday Evening Minyan, Chapel

• 9:30 a.m., Traditional Shabbat Services, Sanctuary
• ​​​​​​​10:30 a.m., Torah for Today with Rabbi Doug Weber, Library
• 5:00 p.m., Mincha, Sanctuary

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Friday, February 6, 2026

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At the opening of our first HEA Accessibility Committee meeting of 2026, Eitan and I, proud co-chairs of this dedicated group, invited committee volunteers to share a theme or song title that reflected how they hoped the rest of this year would unfold. The group’s diverse responses were united by a shared commitment to inclusion and community. Members referenced the inspirational Rocky theme as a symbol of perseverance, High School Musical’s “We’re All in This Together” to highlight collective responsibility, and Pat Benatar’s “We Belong” as a reminder that everyone deserves connection and a sense of belonging. One member chose “Lean on Me,” reflecting the Jewish value of areyvut, our responsibility for one another, and underscoring the importance of creating accessible spaces where people of all abilities feel supported and empowered. Others celebrated the determination and resilience expressed in Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” while one member invoked the timeless Casablanca classic “As Time Goes By,” reminding us that love, compassion, and justice ultimately overcome barriers and that making the time matters.

Together, these reflections affirm our congregation's dedication to disability awareness, inclusion, and accessibility, grounded in our Jewish values of b’tzelem Elohim (the inherent dignity of every person), chesed (loving-kindness), and kehillah (community). Through collaboration, we continue strengthening HEA, our home away from home, so it remains welcoming, supportive, and accessible to all!

The HEA Accessibility Committee is proud to kick off Jewish Disability Advocacy, Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) this month! In honor of JDAIM, we wanted to highlight a few recent accessibility features at the HEA as well as the exciting accessibility-oriented events coming up this weekend. 

Recent additions to our accessibility accommodations include: 

• Auracast assistive listening system (thank you to Dr. Robert Gardner!). To learn more about Auracast and how to connect, click HERE. 
• Push-button electronic door openers on the upstairs men’s and women’s bathrooms (thank you to the Rose Community Foundation, Jane E. Rosenbaum, and the Koby Fund!)
• Dietary restriction-friendly table at kiddush (thank you to Cohen’s Cuisine!)
• Paraprofessional educator support in our religious school (thank you to Anna Monene!)
• Reserved seats in the sanctuary, GYC, and chapel for people with disabilities and their companions (thank you to Jewish Family Service!)
•  Adjustable-height, adjustable-angle Torah table (thank you to Ted Brooks, Dee Brooks, Nancy Sedar Sherman and Ira Sherman!)

You can read more about HEA’s accessibility accommodations HERE. If you have questions or need an accommodation, please call us at (303) 758-9500 or email us at info@HEAdenver.org. 

In honor of JDAIM, we are thrilled to welcome Charlie Kramer for a weekend filled with music and learning!  Charlie, who is blind, is a life coach, speaker, and musician who travels the country breaking barriers in every community he visits. Charlie will join us for tonight’s Azamra service and dinner, and Charlie will sing with us at Shir Shacharit at 9:30 a.m. Then Charlie will deliver the sermon during tomorrow’s traditional Shabbat morning service. Tomorrow at 7:00 p.m., Charlie will facilitate “Singing in the Dark,” an immersive, blindfolded concert followed by Havdalah and a dessert reception. “Singing in the Dark” is the main event this weekend. On Sunday, Charlie will lead Tefillah for the religious school and will lead the 10:00 a.m. HEArt parent engagement session.

We hope you’ll join us this weekend! 

Good Shabbos!

Upcoming Events & Programs

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Azamra with Charlie Kramer - Disability Justice Shabbat Service
Fri, February 6, 5:30 p.m.
Join our clergy and special guest Charlie Kramer for our Friday Evening musical service, followed by a dairy dinner.

Musician-in-Residence Charlie Kramer In Concert: Singing in the Dark
Sat, February 7, 7:00 p.m.
Join us on a journey of the senses, blindfolding ourselves to experience the present moment without our sight. Charlie will guide you in deeply feeling the challenges in your life and help you gain new perspectives through song, prayer, and meditation. This experience includes Havdalah and a dessert reception.

Torah for Today with Student Rabbi Dan Yolles
Sat, February 7, 10:00 a.m.
Torah study in the library.

Tot Shabbat
Sat, February 7, 10:45 a.m.
A spirited and fun playtime before our Tot Shabbat service for little ones and their adults.

YOUTH EVENT: USY Super Bowl Party!
Sun, February 8, 4:00 p.m.
Come hang with other USY teens to watch the Super Bowl! Football themes, food, and drinks for all to enjoy! Registration is $10.

Being a Jewish Grandparent
Tue, February 10, 17, 24, 10:00 a.m.
Rabbi Bruce Dollin leads this course designed for Jewish grandparents, 
engaging with Jewish text and traditions to explore the joys and 
complexities of grandparenting today. 

Dinner & Discussion for Professional Groups
Tue, February 10, 6:30 p.m.
Join Rabbi Shulman for a new series for lawyers, medical professionals, and therapists/social workers as we connect with colleagues and 
explore Jewish ethical issues in their professions. Dinner, followed by discussion for therapists and social workers. Topic: Mental Health in the Digital Age.

Baby and Me
Thu, February 12, 19, 26, 9:30 a.m.
Meet up with other parents for some support, casual baby playtime, and refreshments at HEA. For babies up to 12 months old. 

Shalom Chaverim Dinner
Fri, February 13, 6:00 p.m.
Shalom Chaverim, our HEA members group for ages 65 and over, 
dedicated to celebrating Jewish life together through learning, socializing, and sharing life-cycle events. We'll dine together and talk about Purim!

Famous Jewish Trials in History with David Richman and Steve Uslan
Mon, February 16, 23, 7:00 p.m.
We will explore five significant trials in Jewish history and their roles in the development of law and antisemitism.

Movie Night: Nina Is An Athlete
Thu, February 19, 6:30 p.m.
Wheelchair badminton champion Nina Gorodetsky has her first and 
maybe last chance to make it to the Paralympics. 

Midrash in the Morning with Cantor Saul Rosenthal
Fri, February 20, 10:00 a.m.
Join Cantor Saul Rosenthal as we explore the Jewish tradition of 
Midrashim (creative interpretations of Jewish texts). 

VOLUNTEER: Hamentaschen-Making for Mishloach Manot
Sun, February 22, 10:00 a.m.+
Join us in the kitchen to bake hamentaschen for this year's Mishloach Manot bags. 

Hochmat Nashim: Women’s Torah Study Group
Sun, February 22, 6:30 p.m.
Join a group of vibrant Jewish women, led by Rabbi Shulman and Gitit Kaufman, for a meaningful evening of engagement with Torah and one another.

VOLUNTEER: Fill Mishloach Manot Bags
Mon, February 23, 10:00 a.m.
Get together with staff and volunteer members to fill this year's Mishloach Manot bags. 

Kavod on the Road
Tue, February 24, 1:00 p.m.
Monthly programming from Kavod on the Road. 

VOLUNTEER:  Fill Mishloach Manot Bags
Tue, February 24, 7:00 p.m.+
Get together with staff and volunteer members to fill this year's Mishloach Manot bags.

Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Less Suffering with Rabbi Caryn Aviv
Wed, February 25, 7:00 p.m.
Jewish anxiety is not all in our heads. Jewish anxiety is real. But we don’t have to suffer simply because of who we are in the world or how the world imagines, distorts, and treats Jews.

Magic Minyan
Sat, February 28, 11:00 a.m.
Magical Shabbat fun for young ones and their families.

Havdalah Followed By Hebrew Sacred Chanting
Sat, February 28, 7:30 p.m.
Join us at the Goldberger Youth Center (GYC), across the street from our main building, for this embodied and participatory evening.

Purim Shpiel
Sun, March 1, 11:00 a.m.
Enjoy this production from the Perpetually Perplexed Purim Players in an Elton John-themed spiel. No charge or registration required. Our goal is to include as many people as possible!

Purim Carnival
Sun, March 1, 12:00 p.m.+
Games, rides, activities, and food!

Purim Family Mini-Megillah Reading
Mon, March 2, 5:30 p.m.
HEA families, join us for a joyful, abridged telling of the Purim story. 

Purim Community Dinner
Mon, March 2, 6:15 p.m.
Enjoy a pasta dinner before the Megillah reading and party! 

Megillah Reading & Party
Mon, March 2, 7:00 p.m.+
Join us for a rollicking reading of the whole Megillah.

Dive Into Bereshit-The First Book
Wed, March 4, 1:00 p.m.
A monthly deep dive into the first book in the Torah, Bereshit. Join Rabbi Sarah Shulman as she explores the themes in Genesis. 

Shabbat Schedule

Parashat Yitro / פָּרָשַׁת יִתְרוֹ

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Friday, January 23, 2026

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A Message from Eitan Kantor
Three February Events Celebrating Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month

Our tradition is filled with numerous quotes that remind us of the essential nature of building Jewish community that is inclusive of people with disabilities. Some of these quotes are very explicitly about disabilities or physical differences between people, e.g.  “You shall not insult the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind” in Leviticus 19:14 or “One who sees…people whose physical nature is distinct recites the blessing, ‘Blessed are you, God, Sovereign of all worlds who creates variety in life” in Mishneh Torah. Other quotes from our tradition are less explicitly related to disabilities but have been interpreted by the rabbis as relating to disabilities, e.g. “All of Israel is responsible for one another” from Shevuot 39a in the Talmud or “Do not separate yourself from the community” in Pirkei Avot 2:5. 

I want to focus for a moment on one of these less-explicit pieces of wisdom. Viewed through a lens of disability advocacy, the phrase, “do not separate yourself from the community” reminds me of two things: 

• We must ensure that people with disabilities have the necessary accommodations to participate in our communal activities, lest they be separated from the community against their will. 
• We must view people with disabilities as an integral part of what makes our community what it is. This means avoiding an “us” and “them” dynamic in our minds, where the “us” refers to people not living with a disability and the “them” refers to people with disabilities. For me, noticing my own limitations and need for support is one way that I can break the “us” vs. “them” dynamic in my brain. 

Since 2023, I’ve gotten to participate in the HEA’s Accessibility Committee. The volunteers on that committee work hard to research and implement accommodations to make sure nobody is separated from our community against their will because of a disability. The committee also reminds me, through our discussions of each committee members’ personal challenges, triumphs, disabilities and strengths, that there is no “them,” only an “us.” 

February is Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion month (JDAIM). On behalf of the HEA’s Accessibility Committee, I’m excited to invite you to a few events celebrating JDAIM: 

Jewish Family Service JDAIM Community Learning Evening
Thu, February 5, 5:30-7pm on Zoom
Join JFS Jewish Disabilities Advocates and our wonderful rabbinical panel for a community conversation on expanding access and deepening engagement in Jewish life. Together, we can cultivate a culture of belonging and strengthen the fabric of Jewish communal life. ASL and closed captioning provided. Register HERE.

Azamra with Charlie Kramer - Disability Justice Shabbat Service
Fri, February 6, 5:30 p.m.
This Azamra will spotlight Disability Justice. Join our clergy and special guest Charlie Kramer for our Friday Evening musical service, followed by a dairy dinner. Charlie is a Jewish musician and accessibility coach. He is blind. Register HERE.

Singing in the Dark: Blindfolded Concert and Havdalah with Charlie Kramer
Sat, February 7, 7:00 p.m.
Join us in a journey of the senses, blindfolding ourselves to experience the present moment without our sight. Charlie will guide you through deeply feeling the challenges in your life, guiding you to new perspectives through song, prayer, and meditation. This experience includes Havdalah and a dessert reception. Register HERE.

The Mishnah, in Sanhedrin 4:5, states that “While a person stamps many coins from a single cast, and they are all alike, God has stamped every person with the cast of the first human, yet none of them are alike.” As we enter JDAIM, I look forward to celebrating the unique holiness of each person in this community, of everyone that makes up the grand “us.”

Shabbat Shalom!

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