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Rabbi's Column

Rabbi Scott Kramer

APR 1, 2021

Shalom,
This bulletin will arrive as Passover is almost at its conclusion. We hope that this will be the last Pesach we have to do in isolation due to the pandemic. Next year, may we all be in Jerusalem! May we all be free to observe Passover together with friends and family we miss being with and speaking to without a screen.

Two special events will happen on April 11 this year, one in the morning and one in the afternoon - Yom Haatzmaut and Meitav Menachem.

At 9:30 a.m. April 11 during the Kol Ami Religious School, we have a very special event celebrating Israel Independence Day. Thanks to the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama and Executive Director Tzlil McDonald, we have a new Shlichah.

The Israeli emissary is working with several communities in Alabama teaching both young and
old about Israel. Meitav Menachem, a charismatic Israeli young woman, did a Hamantaschen
baking session with the Kol Ami families. She also gave a session to adults on how Israel elects its leaders.

On April 11, Meitav is going to teach through the use of a Seder and food about this special day in the Jewish calendar.

The Alabama State Days of Remembrance Yom HaShoah Holocaust commemoration will be held 2 p.m. April 11 virtually. This year the Alabama Holocaust Commission (of which I am a
member) in collaboration with the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center and the Jewish Council of Human Relations, part of the Birmingham Jewish Federation, is producing a prerecorded Yom HaShoah event that is packed with special guests.

Lynn Raviv, daughter of Phyllis Weinstein who recently passed away, Zoe Weil
of the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center - daughter of our very own Tina McManama and David Zaslawsky - Joyce Shevin of the Jewish Community Relations
Council and I are preparing this program for Yom HaShoah and the Anne Frank Tree Rededication.

We are very excited to have an address from the new Israeli Ambassador to the United States,
Gilad Erdan. We will get the link to you so you can participate in this annual event for the first time online.

Irene and I hope that all of you are doing well and are in line to get the vaccine. Please get the vaccine as soon as you are able so we can start making plans to begin having in-person services and events.

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