Cantor Flies South to Update Snowbirds.........posted Feb 29, 2008

Tikvat Israel doesn't want its Florida snowbirds to feel forgotten so every winter someone from the synagogue's professional staff gets the nod to pay a call on the seasonally displaced congregants.

This year, the distinction of a South Florida rendezvous in late February fell to Cantor Rochelle Helzner. She left Washington just before the ice storm delays on Feb. 22 and flew back from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., four days later, just minutes before a widespread blackout struck south Florida.

For Shabbat, she stayed in Hollywood, Fla., and attended both evening and morning Shabbat services at the Avenura Turnberry Jewish Center. Every Friday night, the synagogue has a service with instruments and a complimentary dinner afterward. On Shabbat morning, the synagogue runs a more traditional service with a men's choir.

Cantor Helzner enjoyed Shabbat dinner at the synagogue with longtime TI members Sam and Regina Spiegel and saw Sam again on Shabbat morning. She reports both are doing well and have plans to go on the "March of the Living" (an annual Holocaust remembrance event) again in April.

On Sunday, the cantor travelled to West Palm Beach. The next day she met 11 more TI congregants at the kosher restaurant, Best of Israel, in Greenacres. She provided an update on the affairs of TI to the Florida contingent -- which travelled from various points in the Sunshine State for the event. They enjoyed a delicious fleshig lunch and afterwards, the cantor led everyone in singing songs of Israel accompanied by her guitar. In attendance was Sam and Anna Einbinder, Irv Kabik and Ellie Weingarten, Sue and Jerry Boden, Arnie and Joyce Schwartz, Mike Schwartz and Sylvia Grob. Everyone reported having a relaxed but stimulating winter and all enjoyed the delightful afternoon with the cantor.

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	Tikvat Israel Congregation 2200 Baltimore Road · Rockville, Maryland 20851 Phone: (301) 762-7338 · Fax: (301) 424-4399 · Send us an email!
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