Congregation Rodeph Sholom Talmud Torah Alumni

The spring time in Israel has several holidays, some religious but mostly of a national flavor. These national holidays include Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day; Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day; and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day.

These holidays are deliberately placed on our calendar at those time periods to make the connection to Pesach Passover and the idea of freedom, redemption and creation. Along the way we also mark and commemorate those who paved the way for us to celebrate our independence.

Join Rodeph Sholom as they explore these connections and understand the Israeli narrative and national story as it is told every year. Yom Ha’atzmaut begins at sunset on April 14 and ends April 15 at nightfall.

To find out more and to obtain the Zoom link to partake in Yom Ha’atzmaut, email [email protected].

Don't forget to sign up for the Virtual Community Yom HaShoah Observance on Wednesday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m.

The Community Yom HaShoah Observance is hosted by Congregation Shir Shalom in Ridgefield (in partnership with the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County).

To register for the Community Yom HaShoah Observance, visit https://bit.ly/3rQGCqb.

Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties

Our Zoom Winter Concert Series continues on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m., as we welcome Brett Boles, an award-winning musical theatre composer, lyricist, author and music director.

His original musical Foreverman premiered at NYMF where it garnered awards for Outstanding Orchestrations and the New World Stages Development Prize. Brett has also collaborated with composer Natalie Tenenbaum on an adaptation of Benjamin Button, which has had showings at the York Theatre Off-Broadway and the Southwark Playhouse in London. He has also written original material for three of the four original Broadway Matildas, which they premiered at 54 Below. Brett’s work has been performed by Broadway greats including Jeremy Jordan, Josh Young, and Janine DiVita.

In 2013, he co-conceived From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook with Tony-winning producer and founder/president of Broadway Records Van Dean. As a vocal arranger, Brett has worked with Seth Rudetsky, arranging work for Stephanie Mills and Orfeh for the Concerts for America series.

Brett currently serves as the Director of Choirs at Hall High School in West Hartford, CT. He is a proud member of the Tony-honored BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and the Dramatists Guild of America. Brett Boles hosts a new TikTok series. With over 45,000 followers and growing, the M. Tea spills the tea on all your favorite musical theater songs. Follow at TikTok .

All Rodeph Sholom members and Boles family members should be on Zoom at 4:45 p.m.

Email [email protected] to get our Zoom link and to reserve your spot at this Zoom Winter Concert Series event that is not to be missed!

Rodeph Sholom members founded, owned, and operated a variety of businesses in Bridgeport.

During our most recent Coffee & Conversation we learned firsthand stories from those who followed in the family footsteps. Renee Millstein Jacobs spoke about Baena Brothers, Meredith Baum Reuben chatted about Eastern Bag and Paper, David Hochberg reminisced about Hochberg Jewelers, Claire Weiner Herer talked about Klahr Glass, and Jacqui Lipnick Garelick mentioned memories from Lipnick Plumbing Supply.

To listen to the Coffee & Conversation, visit

Bridgeport Jewish Business Owners and Heirs