Page 18 - Jewish News_February-2021

18A February 2021 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Creating a Shabbat

sanctuary

By Jamie Kirkell
receive a great deal of pleasure me to guide me. I now have a wel-
working as an artist. When the coming space and sit there into the
I quarantine took hold last spring, evening.
I thought it would be a great time to My first test was Thanksgiving
create a Shabbat sanctuary using the dinner when two guests arrived.
natural materials in my backyard. I They sat down looking quietly and
really love working with my hands pleasantly surprised. We took in the
and working with nature. I had for- aura of the evening, enjoying one
gotten how to play, and during this another’s company as well as the
time relearned the joy of play. dinner.
I went to the beach and col- My next guest was a gallery
lected seashells, cut bamboo in my owner, who looked at my artwork.
celebration yard, built stone sculptures from He could barely speak as the whole
area bamboo-ed against gentle
blocks abandoned in my backyard,
hung plants, built a walkway and winds.
march 6, 2021 planted succulents donated from the I can hardly wait for my first

7:00 – 8:00PM VIA Sarasota Succulent Society. Shabbat guest.
I had a rough idea of what I
After the pandemic, give me a
Join us for songs this PURIM! ZOOM wanted to create and was willing to call at 941.284.7277 as there’s still
a lot of play.
allow the creative energies around
Songleading by BARBARA MAZER
Federation Team Member

LIVE

Special Purim meal available
for purchase through

QUESTIONS? zildjiancatering.com
Contact Sydney Harlow at Sydney@gchillel.org

I T ’S S O
IT’S SO

EASY!
EASY ! Temple Beth El holds
Jamie Kirkell hopes to bring meaning into Shabbat and staying home with his backyard sanctuary

its first in-person event

since start of pandemic

You can now become a monthly donor to your
favorite organization, The Jewish Federation n Sunday, December 13, surviving menorah, were also lit by
Temple Beth El Bradenton/
Rabbi Michael Sternfield and our Re-
of Sarasota-Manatee! OLakewood Ranch members ligious School children.
gathered outside for a wonderful Cha- Cars were limited and placed by
nukah celebration that was enjoyed by CDC guidelines, and participants were
all. What drew the “crowd” of 30 cars required to stay near their cars and
IN LESS THAN 60 SECONDS, you can easily set up was a sing-along led by Cantor Deb- wear face masks.

a recurring gift of $18, $25, $50 — any amount — orah Bard and Cantor Emeritus Alan This was the temple’s first in-per-
per month and it will automatically be processed Cohn, accompanied by Alpert Ro- son gathering since March. It was a
joyous and fun event, and attendees
senstein on guitar and the lighting of
and credited to you. With less administrative several menorahs. The menorahs, in- were happy to finally be together as a
processing, that means more of your money goes cluding the temple’s special Holocaust community.

to where it’s needed most — to the Federation’s
work at the forefront of Jewish life here in
Sarasota-Manatee.

Visit jfedsrq.org/donate and select
“Make my Donation Monthly Recurring.”

941.371.4546
Read the current and previous editions of The Jewish News online at jfedsrq.org/jewish-news

Temple Beth El Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch members gathered for a Chanukah celebration