Dear Friends,
Below are a few of the things you might hear me talking about or that I am looking forward to in the upcoming year.
Kol Ami Cares is the group that spearheads support for community members who have been bereaved, just had a new baby, or who have had a spell in the hospital. Contact Eileen in the office if you have a need or could help with this group.
Learn with Rabbi Cohen with the Kol Ami Chavruta Program: Chavruta - or learning pairs – is a traditional Jewish study method. Arguing, discussing, conversing, exploring, debating - whatever you call it, learning is more fun together! Join us for three sessions exploring different topics in a communal setting. We will study in pairs but Rabbi Cohen will also facilitate some larger group learning at each event. This experience will not just be about the text but also about getting to know other people at Kol Ami (March 12, 19, April 16 on the topics of Love, Creativity and Food).
Pima County Interfaith Council: We are happy to announce that the Kol Ami Board of Trustees voted to join Pima County Interfaith (PCI) at their January meeting. PCI is an organization with over 30 faith-based and other voluntary/civic associations. Elaine Jones represented Kol Ami at the recent PCI leadership meeting on February 12. PCI provides leadership training and takes (non-partisan) action on issues impacting our communities, such as homelessness and funding for public education. The next PCI meeting will be Thursday, April 27, at 5:30pm. Please contact Elaine or me to talk more about PCI.
Heads up for Sukkot in October – we need volunteers to host small Sukkot gatherings in their backyard. If you don’t usually build a sukkah, we can suggest ways to make it happen. Let me know if you are interested.
Kol Ami Congregational Weekend Away - Save the date - November 3-5, 2023, will be the dates for us to get away together as a community. The venue will be the Biosphere in Oracle, AZ, just forty-five minutes away from Tucson. The aim of the retreat will be to deepen the relationships within the congregation, to bond across divides, and to find out what we have in common.
One America Fellowship - This organization works against toxic political polarization and the fellowship teaches clergy how to reduce this kind of conflict within their congregations. Activities related to this will be organized at Kol Ami in the next year. I am going to be a fellow this year.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Malcolm Cohen
Rabbi Malcolm Cohen
Kol Ami Synagogue | www.katucson.org
225 N. Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ 85716
rabbimalcolm@katucson.org
