First Congregation Sons of Israel

04/18/2026

Join us tonight at 6:30 p.m., for a special Havdalah Service and Blessing of the Animals at the First Congregation Sons of Israel, 161 Cordova Street. Together, we will mark the transition from Shabbat to the new week and then offer blessings for the animals who bring companionship, comfort, and joy into our lives.

This is a free event, and pets of all kinds are invited for a blessing. We kindly ask that all pets be safely secured or on leashes.

Those who are able are encouraged to bring a donation of wet cat or kitten food, wet or dry dog or puppy food, or non-clumping kitty litter, which will be donated to Ayala’s Acres No-Kill Animal Rescue.

01/07/2026

We invite you to join us for Shabbat Services this Friday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, January 10 at 10:00 a.m. with Rabbi Lefkowitz.

Our Oneg and Kiddush Lunch will be sponsored by congregation member Marvin Slott. Thank you!

If you would like to sponsor a Friday night Oneg or Saturday morning Kiddush lunch, please message us!

11/30/2025

Enjoy this remarkable short film from PBS North Carolina.

"A forgotten family story is illuminated when a North Carolina staffer uncovers the origins of the Strauss chandelier, a gift from a Jewish family who escaped N**i persecution. Through letters, memories and a rare survivor interview, this film traces their remarkable journey from Germany to refuge in North Carolina."

A forgotten family story is illuminated when a North Carolina staffer uncovers the origins of the Strauss chandelier, a gift from a Jewish family who escaped...

11/28/2025

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

11/26/2025

Yikes! Beer drinkers, beware.

"The heads of OU Kosher, Star-K and OK Kosher — three of the five major certification agencies — announced this month that all beer will soon require certification to be considered kosher, attributing the change to the increased use of flavoring and other additives in craft beers.

A list of problematic ingredients rabbinic inspectors recently discovered in breweries included oyster broth, clam juice, wine and milk, according to OK Kosher."

In one of the biggest kashrut shifts in decades, rabbis say beer is not automatically kosher, raising questions about how drinkers will adapt

11/24/2025

Just in time for Thanksgiving, five new versions of sweet potato casserole. Yum!

People always wonder which recipes get the most traffic. We in the test kitchen collectively bang our heads together and/or against the counters, the fridge, the pots, the pans trying to come up with new, New NEW! dishes for YOU. But always and forever it’s the classics that get the most interest....

11/23/2025

"As a young Jewish child, Joan Da Silva had to move from family to family to stay safe from the N**is in German-occupied Poland, usually without her parents. She also had to pretend to be Catholic, as recorded on her false identity papers. To pull off this ruse, a rescuer taught Christian prayers to five-year-old Joan in the middle of the night.

In her first appearance on First Person, which aired on November 19, 2025, Joan shared her experiences. First Person is a monthly, hour-long discussion with a Holocaust survivor that is made possible through generous support of the Louis Franklin Smith Foundation."

As a young Jewish child, Joan Da Silva had to move from family to family to stay safe from the N**is in German-occupied Poland, usually without her parents. ...

11/20/2025

Wicked: For Good comes to the screen this weekend!