Shabbat shalom

Rabbi Rebecca Shinder leads the blessing over the challah as a community dinner begins at Temple Beth Shalom on Roosevelt Avenue in the Village of Florida. The congregation celebrated Shabbat Across America on Friday, March 7, along with hundreds of other synagogues and more than 75,00 people in the United States and Canada. At Temple Beth Shalom, the evening began with a dinner prepared by the senior youth group, continued with rousing singing to welcome the sabbath, as some of the congregation’s youngest members formed an impromptu band to accompany the singing of “Shabbat Shalom,” a traditional song that welcomes sabbath rest and peace after a busy week. Services after dinner drew people from around the community interested in knowing more about the little “shul” in their midst. For more information, visit www.tbsny.org. (Photos by Beth Kalet)