By Amy Unger
Gan Chesed Kindness Garden continues to thrive
The Gan Chesed Kindness Garden at Congregation Or Atid is a universally accessible, sensory-based outdoor play area and Jewish-themed garden.
It focuses on natural elements to engage all the senses in a safe manner. Inspired by Jewish practices and teachings, Gan Chesed offers new learning opportunities and programs for all ages and abilities in the spirit of inclusion.
As part of this initiative, the garden has been growing vegetables and herbs for the past several years. The produce is then donated to the Jewish Community Center’s (JCC) Elmer Toth Food Pantry, coordinated by Shari Menlowe-Barck.
It has been very exciting to see the results of the initial plantings this spring/summer. The first crops of vegetables from the garden have ripened and there is a lot more to come!
To date, over 26 pounds of fresh cabbage, eggplant, cucumbers, carrots, strawberries, and herbs have been donated to the Weinstein JCC food pantry to support our community.
This year, an irrigation system was designed and installed by a very hard-working team of volunteers: Ephraim Seidman, Norm Geller, Leo Grinsteiner, and David Geller. This system has dramatically reduced the amount of manual (volunteer) labor to keep the garden properly watered.
For more information about the garden and/or should you wish to become involved with the Gan Chesed project, please contact Sue Geller at susanrgeller@gmail.com.
JCFR Supports Joint Shabbaton Program
Or Atid is pleased to announce the Jewish Community Federation (JCFR) has recently awarded a grant to fund a joint program among the synagogues – Beth Ahabah, Or Ami and Or Atid –for a community-wide Shabbaton featuring a Musician-in-Residence.
We are grateful for the tremendous support provided by the generous contribution from the JCFR. Stay tuned for details about this exciting upcoming program.
Congregation Or Atid’s Helen and Sam Kornblau Religious School – Come check us out!
The Helen and Sam Kornblau Religious School offers an innovative and transformative curriculum fortifying Jewish pride and knowledge for each of our students.
With the school’s engagement scope and experiential modalities, the school enhances the students’ ritual, spiritual, and ethical foundations of our Jewish faith. School family celebrations and community engagement strengthen the student’s identity and fosters a sense of belonging. The school also offers in-person as well as virtual Hebrew classes and welcomes all families regardless of affiliation.
If you are interested in learning more about Congregation Or Atid’s School, please visit the web-site at Education – Congregation Or Atid, where you will also find a school registration link.
For additional information, please contact Congregation Or Atid’s office at (804) 740-4747.
Congregation Or Atid is hiring teachers for the 2024-2025 school year.
Join a warm and welcoming environment and make a difference in shaping the next generation. If you or anyone you know loves children, is confident, enjoys teaching Judaic values, and has Hebrew proficiency (a plus), we’d love to hear from you!
Availability is needed most Sundays, September through May, from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Compensation is competitive, and there’s a FREE honorary membership at Congregation Or Atid included.
For more information, please email amendez.zfass@gmail.com
Upcoming Young Jewish Family Program at Congregation Or Atid
Congregation Or Atid invites young Jewish families to join them for a fun family Movie Night on August 25th from 4:30 – 7 p.m.
To register for this event, please go to –
https://www.oratid.org/event/movie-night.html
