For over 60 years, Handmaker has made it possible for residents, along with family and friends, to enjoy kosher holiday meals and holiday services at Handmaker. For more than half of that time, Mel Cohen has been leading the Shabbat and holiday services, with help from Dan Asia, Mike Rosenzweig, and other community members from Eshel Avraham, a small egalitarian congregation based on the havurah concept.
Handmaker residents and others in the community are incredibly grateful to these leaders for continuing to provide these services year after year.
Charles (Chic) Bressel began attending the Shabbat and Holiday services about eight years ago. He was living down the street from Handmaker and came on a tour one day. He decided to attend the services one Shabbat morning soon after to check them out, and while he did not move into Handmaker at that time, he continued to come to the Shabbat and holiday services, getting to know Mel, Dan, and all the regulars. When he moved into Handmaker this past spring, right before Passover, he was delighted to be able to walk down the hall to the Great Room to attend services. He is looking forward to doing the same for the upcoming High Holiday services, where he will give a Rosh Hashanah drash. In his drash, Chic will discuss the connection between the way Hashem created the Universe for himself and the things he wants for every one of us at Rosh Hashanah and throughout the year.
On the eve of each holiday, Handmaker’s Executive Chef Claire Ferguson prepares beautiful holiday meals for residents, family members, and guests. (There is no charge for residents, but a small cost to guests.) Some of the residents who don’t observe the holidays often attend these special meals as well. While they do not all stay for the holiday services that follow, it is a wonderful learning opportunity for them to join the meal and learn about the Jewish holidays.
While many holiday and Shabbat service attendees are Handmaker residents, a significant number are not. They include members of Eshel Avraham, former Handmaker board members, and community members who heard about the services from a friend or saw the service calendar on the Handmaker website, or learned about the services from Mel or Dan. Wherever the service attendees come from, all are welcome.
If you are interested in attending any of Handmaker’s holiday or Shabbat services, you may view the service calendar on the Handmaker website at https://www.handmaker.org/living-at-handmaker/spiritual-life or contact Nanci Levy at [email protected] or 520-322-3632.
