CBI Blogs

As we return to the consumption of chametz and all that we love about complex carbohydrates that are not matzah our calendar now has a focus on Israeli holidays.

In Austin we are fortunate to have a large Israeli community and Shalom Austin and the Dell JCC is the place where we can celebrate the joys and oys of Israeli life. Given all that we have been through since October 7^th I want to encourage all of us to show up for our Israeli neighbors. To let them know that they are not alone and to stand next to them in these moments that move from great sadness to the joy that Israel exists.

When I was in Israel in April of 2018 I arrived the day before Yom Hashoah. Our group of camp educators was invited to a salon (Hebrew for living room) meeting where we had the opportunity to hear from a child of Holocaust survivors. The next day we were in a learning session at the HUC campus in Jerusalem when a siren was sounded at 11 a.m. and, for two minutes, our learning stopped, while we stood and observed these minutes in silence.

While we won’t be hearing a siren here on Monday, May 6, at 11 a.m. to remind us to take a moment you can attend these two beautiful commemorations on Sunday, May 5^th:

Walk for Solidarity: Honoring the Past, Defending the Future – Come walk with the Austin Jewish community to show our support of Jewish students and raise our voices against antisemitism. This Sunday is Holocaust Remembrance Day, and on this day, we are walking for 6 Million Steps to preserve the lives lost during the Holocaust, bring attention to the alarming resurgence of antisemitism, and stand united in support of Jewish students and faculty. Together, we will honor the past and safeguard the future.

Meet in front of the Texas State Capitol (1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701) on Sunday, May 5 at 12PM. Please feel free to bring flags and signs; or we can provide them when you arrive. This walk is hosted by Israeli American Council (IAC) in partnership with Shalom Austin. Never Again is Now!

Yom HaShoah Remembrance Event at 7 pm - On Sunday, May 5 at 7PM, please join us in the Epstein Family Community Hall at the Dell JCC for a poignant commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day at the 2024 Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Event, organized and hosted by Phil Klein in partnership with Shalom Austin. Register by May 3 to attend!

The following Sunday, May 12^th, will be our community observance of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. Another day marked by sirens – one to begin the observance at 8 p.m. and another at 11 a.m. This is when you see cars pulling over on highways, everyone stopping the mundane task in front of them to remember any person who has died in combat or due to a terrorist attack. This year our family will hold the names Or Malka, Yuval Buyuum, Amil Samilov, Lidor Makayes, Nik Beiser, and Ron Sherman in our hearts and minds. The six soldiers, friends of our son Jacob, who were killed in the Hamas attack of October 7^th. Along with the platoon of soldiers who were guarding the base that day who also perished.

The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. in the Epstein Family Community Hall. Be sure to register by clicking here and know that the dress code is blue jeans and a white t-shirt.

Finally, Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day – will be celebrated on Sunday, May 19 from 1-3 pm. “Stop by when you can, stay as long as you’d like, and wear blue and white to make the day extra special. This is an event for the whole family to enjoy!” RSVP is required by 5 p.m on Friday, May 17^th, register by clicking here.