Voices

Bylined opinion and news columns published by United Hebrew Congregation Terre Haute.

Don’t be like Aaron’s sons: Get vaccinated, mask up around others and make good choices

By Betsy Frank
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As we have learned in the Torah and recounted in our second virtual Passover celebration this year, God gave the Israelites many choices once they were free.

They also experienced the consequences of their choices.

While God forgave many bad choices, a few came with extreme consequences. For example, God destroyed Aaron’s sons by fire.

During this past year many of us have questioned the quality of our freedoms.

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Restored freedoms come with responsibility to protect our health and the health of others, writes Betsy Frank.

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Gather family memories while you can; take solace in silence; support ‘Covered with Love’

By Debra Israel
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Recently, I’ve been thinking about memory and memories.

This past February marked 20 years since my father’s older sister, my Aunt Julie, passed away.

My father had died in 1990, and their younger sister, my Aunt Rebecca, is now the last surviving sibling.

I have my own wonderful memories of many special times with my aunts and my father, but I regret now that I didn’t ask them more questions about their lives growing up in New York City, about their experiences as children of immigrants, where their parents spoke a different language (Ladino) at home.

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As Israel turns 73, we mourn victims of war on Yom HaZikaron; celebrate on Yom Ha’atzmaut

By Student Rabbi Caitlin Brazner
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This week, beginning at sundown Tuesday, April 13, Israelis observe the twin national holidays of Yom HaZikaron, the Day of Remembrance, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day.

The largest and some of the most widely observed of Israel’s national holidays, Remembrance Day and Independence Day offer Israelis and indeed, Jews worldwide, an opportunity to reflect on the Jewish State and its importance in our lives.

Yom HaZikaron is a solemn day in Israel, memorializing Israeli soldiers who lost their lives fighting in the War of Independence and subsequent battles.

Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, follows on Thursday, April 14, as an altogether different affair.

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Sisterhood to lay stones at Highland Lawn, publishes large-format 2021-22 directory

By Patty Lewis
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With the arrival of Spring, I have a worthy project for Sisterhood and any Temple members who would like to participate.

Wilma, Jackie and I have twice visited Highland Lawn Cemetery to place stones on Jewish graves, and we’re planning to return on a to-be-determined day in May to do so again.

Placing a stone on a headstone is a simple way to remember those who played vibrant roles in our Temple community and are now gone, and whose family members are not here to honor them.

I also want to thank everyone for the phone calls and emails letting me know how much you have enjoyed the new large-format, 2021-22 Sisterhood directory we recently published and mailed.

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