Category: 08_2023-2

Shalom Mishpocha!

August is here already! Half the summer has flown by! It’s a time to relax before the school year starts. The original name of the month of August was originally a Latin word, Sextilis. In the 8th century BC, during the early Medieval period, the month was renamed to August in honor of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor. August 1st is Airforce Day. The Air Force Day was established on August 1, 1947, by President Truman “in recognition of the personnel of the victorious Army Air Forces and all those who have developed and maintained our nation’s air strength.” August 1 was chosen to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment, in 1907, of the Aeronautical Division in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer of the Army. The United States Airforce became a separate military service on September 18th, 1947. United States Coast Guard Day is recognized on August 4 to commemorate the founding of the United States Coast Guard as the Revenue Marine on August 4, 1790, by then-Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. On that date, U.S. Congress, guided by Hamilton, authorized the building of a fleet of the first ten Revenue Service cutters, whose responsibility would be enforcement of the first tariff laws enacted by the U.S. Congress under the U.S. Constitution.

As you read this, we are 45 days from the Fall High Holy Days, the Fall Feasts! We will have a Fall Feast Schedule too you soon! August is also the month of our highly acclaimed “Youth Service” which is Friday, August 11th, 2023, at 7:30PM where the youth run the entire service! Invite your friends and family to this special night that our youth have worked so hard to prepare for!

August is the warmest and most humid month of the year! We are also experiencing above normal, record high ocean temperatures! This is a recipe for numerous and strong hurricanes. Make sure you understand how to interpret local weather forecasts and alerts, and know what to do before, during, and after a storm. Make sure you are prepared before the storms begin! You’re going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy and unpleasant aftermath. I recommend you have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of 30 days (store a longer than 30-day supply of water, if possible). Electricity and water could be out for weeks. You’ll need extra cash, a battery-powered radio and flashlights. You may need a portable crank or solar-powered USB charger for your cell phones. If you have a generator, make sure you have plenty of fuel to last the duration of power outages. If you are considering purchasing a generator do so now before hurricanes form, generators quickly become unavailable! And lastly, don’t forget supplies for your pets! If you live in hurricane, flood prone areas make sure you know what your evacuation zone is and have an evacuation plan!

It’s also time to prepare for our children’s return to school in a few short weeks as families begin shopping for school clothes and supplies! Enjoy these last days of summer! I hope and pray you embrace the beauty and blessings of this new month of August! Enjoy time with friends and family! Be safe and stay cool!

Love and Blessings 

 Rabbi and Rebbitzen!