Shaarai+Shomayim+(Lancaster,+PA)


 * __[[file:Israel Invite.pdf]]Sha’arai Shomayim__** ..... 75 East James Street, **Lancaster****,** **PA** 17602 ..........**Reform** ..........**340 households**

We have initiated a family-based approach to Shabbat celebration involving parent/adult Shabbat workshops and at-home and congregational Shabbat experiences. The congregation has launched a monthly pilot project with family groups committed to celebrating Shabbat as a family and with the community. Concurrently they are learning about and participating in the three pilgrimage holidays: Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot. The pilot project will be a catalyst for broadening and deepening Shabbat and holiday engagement throughout the congregation. Our synagogue is in a small city/agricultural area. This project can be a model for other rural and exurban synagogues in thematically linking Shabbat and chagim with issues relating to agriculture, hunger and connection to the land of Israel.
 * //“Thematic Approach to Family Learning and Practice”//**

Rabbi Jack Paskoff paskoff@shaarai.org Linda Whipple (Project Administrator) lwhipple@harrisburgacademy.org Stu Fleishman (Page Editor) sfleishman@embarqmail.com

1. Handout for 2007 Legacy Heritage Innovation Project seminar 2. Congregational brochure publicizing //Lech Lecha v'Yism'chu// project 3. Sukkot flyer for August Temple Bulletin 4. Sukkot flyer for September Temple Bulletin 5. Shabbat flyer for October Temple Bulletin 6. Rabbi's Weekly e-Mail: Shabbat at Home 7. Rabbi's Weekly e-Mail: Legacy Heritage Innovation Grant 8. Rabbi's Weekly e-Mail: Sukkot-Chanukah in September 9. Temple Bulletin, August, 2007: 10. Temple Bulletin, September, 2007: 11. Temple Bulletin, October, 2007: 12. Rabbi's Sermon Erev Rosh Hashanah 5768 13. Rabbi's Sermon Boker Rosh Hashanah 5768 14. Rabbi's Sermon Yom Kippur 5768 15. Rabbi's Sermon Kol Nidre 5768 16. Synaplex Shabbat flyer 17. "Get Ready for Passover" workshop flyer 18. Israel's 60th Birthday Celebration 19. Shavuot Weekend flyer
 * INFORMATIONAL & MARKETING MATERIALS:**

1. **Sukkot: "The Time of Our Joy"** Our Sukkot celebration, the first of our Lech Lecha v'Yism'chu project activities, had special meaning this year. We cooked apple squash soup for ourselves and others from locally grown fruit & veggies. Our Shaarai Harvest Soup will be distributed to the Lancaster County Council of Churches Food Bank, to Crispus Attucks Shelter (on Mitzvah Day) and to Jewish Family Services for Thanksgiving. We built 16 sukkot and hosted sukkah hopping for 150 adults and children at 12 locations. All of the hoppers had an opportunity to meet ushpizin (Biblical characters) at each sukkah. Also, we built a sukkah and held a celebration at the Country Meadows Assisted Living Facility. Sukkot "chai-ku" composed by participants in the program
 * EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS & BEST PRACTICES:**





2. Ushpizin Workshop Notes 3. Chug Limmud (Learning Circle) FAQ sheet 4. Chug Limmud Book Recommendations 5. Shabbat-at-Home Table Service in 7 Easy Steps 6. Synaplex Shabbat workshop on choosing/creating your own Hagaddah 7. Lesson plan for "creative seder storytelling" workshop 8. Note to participants for "everyday Passover cooking" workshop 9. "Make your own seder plate" workshop

10. Shavuot bibliodrama and mask-making

1. Shaarai Shomayim midyear report 2. Shaarai Shomayim midyear objectives grid 3. Meeting notes for planning grant proposal
 * SYSTEMIC CONGREGATIONAL CHANGE**: