z
Bring this ad. Take 17% off any item not on sale.

Photo by Polly Edelstein
Certain restrictions apply. Offer ends October 8, 2022
Habitat! Tribe 12 members do Havdallah at the
March 2022 fellowship retreat.

17 %
The Sweater Mill
115 S. York Road, Hatboro 215.441.8966 Open Monday-Saturday 11-4
Courtesy of Jill Ivey
TIFERET BET ISRAEL SPORTS FORUM
Featuring Media Sports Legend:
RAY DIDINGER
sharing 50+ years of experience covering Philadelphia sports!
Rodeph Shalom Young Friends gather
for a Chanukah celebration.

money for things like synagogue mem-
berships, or what have you, without
just having to glom onto their parents,
which a lot of people don’t want to do,”
said Fayge Horesh, a West Philadelphia-
based 36-year-old.

For Sukkot, Horesh and her friend
are hosting a shape-note singing event
under the Sukkah. Shape note is an
18th-century community singing prac-
tice that is common in more Christian
spaces; Horesh found a Jewish commu-
nity in West Philadelphia that enjoys
singing Jewish psalms instead.

Th e event represents a way to express
Jewish identity in a way that feels most
authentic to a group of people who
haven’t found their spiritual home in a
large congregation.

“Th e tradition belongs to all of us,
whether you grew up going to Hebrew
school or you’re patrilineal or you’re
whatever,” Horesh said. “Th is is our
tradition.” Engaging with Judaism outside of
synagogue services is an equally valid
way of engaging with the religion,
believes Beth Ann Margolis Rupp, exec-
utive director of the Jewish Children’s
Folkshul and Adult Community, a sec-
ular humanistic Jewish community.

Judaism combines culture, history
and ancestry. Th e Folkshul takes a “lib-
eral arts” approach to Judaism, where
community members choose their
adventure in how they practice.

Rupp remembers her struggle with
her Jewish identity, while raised “reli-
gious.” It wasn’t until she moved to
Israel that she adopted the philosophy
of the secular humanist community.

“Judaism is far beyond synagogue,”
she said. “Judaism is in the air and
it’s in the relationship. It’s in the place
for them. It’s in the humanity of the
people.” JE
srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com Ray will sign his latest book available for sale at the Forum:
Finished Business: My Fifty Years of Headlines, Heroes and Heartaches
Sunday, October 2nd
10:00 a.m.

Tiferet Bet Israel
1920 W. Skippack Pike
Blue Bell, PA
Hosted by TBI Men’s Club
Co-Sponsors: Beth Or Brotherhood, Maple Glen, PA
Temple Sinai Men’s Club, Dresher, PA
RSVP: tiferetbetisrael.mensclub1@gmail.com
No Admission Fee
Donations to TBI Men’s Club gratefully accepted
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 11