Friday, May 29, 2015 marked the end of an era.  The "old" shul, which had been our Congregation's home since 1954 (until it was closed due to flood damage in September 2012), had been sold weeks earlier, and Friday was closing day for the deal.  In the days prior to May 29th, the Rabbi and several members of the congregation worked feverishly to remove plaques and other mementos commemorating more than a half-century of service to the community.

Although the chapel at the Shaar Hashomayim synagogue has served us well, and will continue to be our home for the foreseeable future, I, for one, mourn the permanent loss of the Shaarey Zedek building.  Now that we have no building of our own, I wonder about our future.

In the short term, I think it's appropriate that the photo on our website, depicting the main sanctuary in the "old" shul, be replaced with something else - something that won't result in a flood of tears coming to me every time I see it.

For those who missed it, this year's Menorah lighting at Devonshire Mall was to benefit the Windsor Fire Department's Benefit Fund, which is used to enhance the lives of Windsor-area families who are in need of assistance.  The menorah had a distinct "firehouse" theme, which I thought was really appropriate.

Here is the video of that event.

I was surprised to learn that the Bahamas have a Chabad presence, and in the face of the devastating effects of Hurricane Dorian, there are relief efforts spearheaded by the Chabad rabbi in the community.

If you can donate anything to help with the aid and rebuilding effort, please visit the special donations page set up for this disaster.