Page 43 - Jewish News_Sept2021

COMMUNITY FOCUS September 2021 3B

Congregation Kol HaNeshama moves to new sanctuary

By Rabbi Jennifer Singer
fter nearly a year without a be completed, but our shared vision of erously offer to donate its ark to Kol but the growing crisis caused by the
home base, Congregation Kol two congregations living side-by-side HaNeshama. We gladly accepted it, Covid Delta variant forced us to set
AHaNeshama proudly announc- will come to fruition this month. and it now has a new coat of paint and this goal aside. For the second year in a
es that it is poised to move into a new Both congregations are enthusi- will be ready to hold our Torah scrolls
sanctuary at St. Wilfred Episcopal astic about the opportunity to work when we move into our new home.
Church on Wilkinson Road in Sarasota. in concert on social justice issues. A The new sanctuary will provide
This wonderful partnership began Building Bridges Committee is already Kol HaNeshama with a spiritual, beau-
when I called my friend, Rev. Virgin- hard at work, learning about each other tiful and permanent home for services,
ia Herring z”l, and told her we were prayer, classes and other gatherings.
searching for a new place to rent, as Our tenure at Southgate, which lasted
the Southgate Community Center told for some 13 years, gave us an opportu-
us it was closing during the height of nity to grow and serve Jews of all back-
the pandemic last winter. grounds. The drawback was that it was
Rev. Virginia didn’t hesitate and and identifying community needs that a shared space, and every week we had
invited us to join the church on its cam- we can address together. to set up the sanctuary anew. Our new Rabbi Jennifer Singer and Rev. Joyce Holmes,
pus. It set aside one of its two social This summer, I was surprised to re- home will help us continue to grow and spiritual leader of St. Wilfred Episcopal Church
halls for our exclusive use, and work ceive a call from Rena Morano of Con- explore new ways to understand Juda- row, our High Holiday services are be-
began in early summer to prepare the gregation Ner Tamid, telling me the ism in a space that is dedicated to our ing offered using a computer platform.
“These we honor” space to become a Jewish sanctuary. sad news that the synagogue was clos- congregation. We hope our return to online services
ing its doors. She had called to gen-
We had intended to celebrate the
will be brief, but we also know that it
Sadly, she died before the plan could
is imperative that we ensure the health
High Holidays in the new sanctuary,
Your Tributes Sarasota Jewish Chorale and safety of every-
one in the congrega-
resumes rehearsals
tion.
Instead of lead-
By Nancy B. Finn ing services from my
he Sarasota Jewish Chorale that will be performed at Temple Beth study at home, I will
will resume rehearsals after an Shalom, Temple Emanu-El and Aviva. be at the new Kol
T18-month halt, on Thursday, It will also participate in The Jewish HaNeshama sanctu-
September 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Temple Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s ary with our Cantorial
Emanu-El, 151 McIntosh Road, Sara- Kristallnacht program in November. Soloist, Janet Na-
sota. This will be an open rehearsal and Chorale President Ronnie Riceberg gourney, praying for
any member of the community who said, “There is nothing as wonderful as the day when we can
wishes to sing is welcome. Rehearsals the sound of harmony after the silence gather there together.
are held every Thursday evening. imposed by the pandemic. We look for- May it be soon, and
Led by Artistic Director Sharon ward to being together and entertain- may we be blessed to
Greene, the 30+ member, unaffiliated ing our friends and fans throughout the Rabbi Jennifer Singer, Ner Tamid President Elaine Mittler and spend many years in
Chorale sings a variety of Jewish tra- community both for Chanukah and at Rena Morano in front of the ark donated by Ner Tamid to Kol HaNeshama our new home.
ditional and contemporary music in our March 27, 2022, spring concert at
English, Yiddish, Hebrew and Ladino. Temple Beth Shalom.”
The Chorale has delighted audiences For more information about the
throughout the Sarasota-Manatee com- Sarasota Jewish Chorale, email Ronnie
munity for more than 20 years. Riceberg at momgreat1@yahoo.com
The Chorale’s first performance of or visit sarasotajewishchorale.org.
the season will be a Chanukah concert
Meaningful High Holy Days

Introspection - Song - Prayer
JELF provides interest-free,
last dollar loans for higher ed. Participatory Musical Services
Led by Rabbi Jennifer Singer
MAR 1 SEPT 1
MAR 1 SEPT 1 With Cantorial Soloist Janet Nagourney
THROUGH
THROUGH THROUGH
THROUGH
APR 30 SEPT 30
APR 30
SEPT 30
Rosh Hashanah Services
jelf.org
learn
learn jelf.org Erev: A brief beautiful beginning

more at
more
at
First Day: Joyous yet relatively traditional

Second Day: Delightfully creative

Yom Kippur Services
Like and share Kol Nidre: Moving and soul-stirring

Morning: Contemplative and introspective

Evening: Healing Service, Yizkor, Neilah,
Sounding of the Shofar

For more information
941.244.2042 khsarasota.org

Facebook.com/jfedsrq For everyone’s safety
during Covid/Delta, all
Stay connected. our High Holy Days
services will be on-line