Talk given on October 11, 2025. During Sukkot, when we build temporary shelters, we reflect on what it means to not have stable housing.

Sukkot offers us the opportunity to perform a mitzvah, by gathering to spend a few hours with guests under the shelter of a thatched roof, sharing a meal. Rabbi Julie asked me to speak during this holiday about Shomrei’s participation in a group called Essex Together, a collaboration of houses of worship focusing on social issues, including the meaning of shelter and the hardships faced by those who lack the security of a roof over their heads. (more…)

Congregants Fern Heinig and Dale Russakoff are active participants in Social Action at Shomrei. Fern Heinig is a frequent volunteer cooking for Shomrei’s MESH Cafe and spearheaded Shomrei’s first annual Mitzvah Day last year in 2024. Dale Russakoff is the organizer of Shomrei’s Mensch Squad and chairs the Board of Family Promise. (more…)