To our congregational family, I hope you are well. Thank you for all your warm and constructive feedback on my report from last week. Among other benefits, someone is already inviting some new members, a new person is joining the Caring Connection, and it has been a good way to connect to people we don’t see as often. This all makes me realize I should have been doing this for a while. But anyway, glad we’re now doing this. Here are a few elements of note for the week: DAILY MINYANOur daily minyanim have been holding up well, for the most part. Nearly seventy men and women comprise our current list of our minyan regulars (attending weekday services at least once per week). However, several of our regulars recently have been unable to attend because of health or other reasons. We have been spread thin to the point where we have been reaching out to other congregants to attend once a month, or whatever they can commit to ensure that we always have a minyan. If you are interested in being part of this effort of strengthening our spiritual backbone, please let me know so that we can coordinate. SERMON REFERENCESAs always, I appreciate feedback and follow up discussions on sermons and programs. Several congregants have asked about some recent books I have cited. Here they are: Melanie Phillips, The World Turned Upside Down. Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow. Both are highly recommended. So is this coming Shabbat’s featured book, Jews and Power by Ruth Wisse. OUT OF THE BOX PROGRAMSOur Adult Education program has expanded significantly over the past several years. In addition to our bread-and-butter offerings that draw a wide range of congregants and non-members (at least not yet members), we have been experimenting with different programs to see how we can improve our educational impact in the community. We recently had Joey Weisenberg as a guest musician running a spontaneous choir at a Friday night dinner (Jan 27); a Bet Midrash double-seminar with Yedida Eisenstat and Shmuel Kadosh in the Main Sanctuary (Feb 11); and our Bible Study Day (Feb 5). Thank you for your participation and feedback as we continue to explore new methods of educating, inspiring, and attracting new people into our orbit. MATTANOT LA-EVYONIMPurim is coming, where we focus on the mitzvah of tzedakah. Each year we distribute money to needy individuals and to organizations that do the same both in New York and in Israel. Please make checks to Congregation Shearith Israel—Rabbi’s Fund at send them to my attention; or call our bookkeeper Ruth Yasky with a credit card and say that the contribution is for the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. Cash also is welcome.Tizku le-mitzvot. Hayyim AngelRabbiCongregation Shearith Israel of New York212-873-0300 ext. 206