Tova Stifano’s Shofarot

There is nothing quite like the sound of the shofar after the moments of silence that are broken immediately preceding the call for its blowing. It is hard not to be moved and respond physically and emotionally to the soul-stirring sounds of the shofar. The long, unbroken sound of Tekiah rouses us from our day-to-day […]
Commemorating The Cycle of Life

Erev Rosh Hashanah 5786 by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar This is a special moment. We’re welcoming in Rosh Hashanah, the New Year. It’s a moment of beginnings, of the conclusion of one cycle and the beginning of the next. The earth continues its revolution around the sun, as the moon, relevant to how Jews have marked […]
The Heart As Agent For The Divine

by Rabbi Nathan Kamesar In a few moments, we’re going to sing the beautiful words and haunting melody of Ahat Sha’alti from Psalm 27, a psalm which tradition teaches that we chant every morning and every night from the beginning of the month of Elul, the last month of the Jewish year, through Rosh Hashanah […]
Syd Bladen

Sydney (she/her) is a recent graduate of Temple University’s Theater and Secondary Education program and attended our Ann Spak Thal Hebrew School through 6th grade, when her family moved to Indiana. Passionate about all things Judaism and a self-proclaimed book nerd, Syd loves spending free time baking, reading, rock climbing, and writing.
Lir Vine

Lir (she/her) is in her first year teaching at Society Hill Synagogue and is excited to join our community. Originally from Israel, Lir is currently studying Computer Science. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, hiking, and playing fetch with her foster cat, Cindylulu — and she’s always happy to share photos of Cindylulu with anyone […]