May 2026 / 5786
Mother’s Day
A man calls his mother: “Mom, how are you?” “Not too good,” she says. “I’ve been very weak.” “Why are you so weak?” he asks. “Because I haven’t eaten in 38 days.” “That’s terrible! Why haven’t you eaten?” “Because I didn’t want my mouth to be filled with food if you should call.” Like so many Jewish jokes, it lands because, while hyperbolic, it also rings true. Jewish mothers, in all their legendary devotion, give and give and give. The least we can do, the joke reminds us, is to call them (sorry, Mom, I’ll do better!). Thankfully, our very first Jewish mother, Sarah, raised a son who remembered her. In Bereshit we read: “Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah, and
Religious School
On behalf of the religious school community, we congratulate Cantor Rabbi Kelly Onickel on her ordination! We are excited to celebrate with her at Shabbat services on Friday, May 1. The celebration continues Sunday, May 3, when all are invited to a concert and festive luncheon. Students will participate in the presentation on May 3 and should arrive by 11:30am to prepare for the noon event. Please join in the celebration. Mazel tov this month to Max Nagy and Maya Durbin! Both students will be called up to the Torah as B’nai Mitzvah, and we hope you will join us for worship and simchah. Max becomes a bar mitzvah on Saturday, May 9, and Maya becomes a bat mitzvah on Saturday, May 30. We are
Cantor’s Corner
Cantor Kelly Onickel As I am writing this article, I am exactly two weeks out from ordination. So many of you have already become sponsors in honor of this very important time in my life. I cannot thank you all enough. I know I have said this many times before, but I feel so incredibly blessed! It was B’sheirt that God led me to look on JewishJobs.com and found Temple Beth Shalom’s listing just a few days before Rabbi Birnholz was planning to take it down. I knew after my interview that Temple Beth Shalom was a very special place, and even if I didn’t get the job, I just had a wonderful experience that I would never forget. These past few years have been
April 2026 / 5786
Passover is Weird
Last spring, I sat on a particularly memorable beit din (a panel of rabbis who make religious decisions) to approve a conversion. When we asked the candidate, a joyful man in his early 30s about to welcome his first child, which holiday he appreciates most, he said, “Passover.” When I asked why, he replied, “I love how weird it is!”, and then immediately covered his mouth, worried he’d said the wrong thing. Meanwhile, the other rabbis, his very pregnant Jewish wife, and I were laughing with delight. He had named something we often forget: Passover is weird. It’s counter-cultural, detailed, and particular. It makes our kids stand out in school with their peanut butter matzah sandwiches. Many of us avoid that “weirdness” by attending a
Religious School
Our Wicked Purim Party last month was a fun-filled celebration of the month of Adar!Thank you to everyone who participated, especially all who volunteered with setting up, food service and cleaning up. It really does take a village. With that, Passover is already upon us! Dan and I wish you all a wonderful Passover holiday with best wishes for meaningful seders and yummy matzah creations. I know I look forward to all the Passover staples, like matzah pizza and matzah chocolate bark. What are some of your favorite ways to eat matzah? Following Passover and Spring Breaks, our Sunday programs scheduled for this month are April 12, 19, and 26 9:30am until noon. On Sunday, April 12 during class we will talk about the importance
Cantor’s Corner
I can’t believe that April is finally here! Why? Because that means I am 27 days away from being ordained! I cannot wait to be done with this part of my life, and I am looking forward to what is ahead. I have had many people ask me what my plan is. In last month’s Scroll, my article addressed many of the concerns regarding my ordination and what is to come after. Let me reiterate, I am not planning to go anywhere. Harry and I are very happy here in Vero. Doing a double ordination was purely for educational purposes and the fact that I am not a young chick and if I was going to do it, I needed to do it now. I