Southbury Community Thanksgiving Dinner
November 24, 2005
The annual Southbury Community Thanksgiving Dinner was held this year at B'Nai Israel Synagogue, on Main Street North in Southbury. This was the second year that the dinner was held at the Synagogue. This year, for the first time (And the first time since 1989), we had snow on Thanksgiving morning. About 3" by morning, and still coming down. A slight bump on the road to Community.
As in past years, the dinner is sponsored by the Faith Communities of Southbury. Representatives from most of the faith communities come together to plan and execute this event. What follows shows only the results, not the tremendous time and effort that goes into a successful event. Thanks to Diane, Linda, and all the wonderful volunteers who took time off from their own Thanksgiving, to assure that everyone would have a day to remember.
For the very early risers, there is the crew that cooks the turkeys. This may be a simple task at your house, but here it involves cooking about 24 turkeys to perfection. This means that the first birds go in the oven at about 5:00 AM. All this, of course, while driving through the first snow of the season to get to the kitchen.
But once there, nice and cozy, it's time for breakfast. Nothing like some eggs and venison for breakfast to take your mind off your troubles.
"Two roads diverged in a woodAnd I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference"
And just to make sure you do take the right road, this gentleman stood duty in the morning to direct everyone to their proper destination.
Welcoming, in spite of the snow, the doors of B'nai Synagogue stood open for all...volunteers, diners, organizers.
The dining area is done just right. It was all put together the day before, tables, china, candles, silverware. One gentleman mentioned that this was not what he expected. He was looking for paper plates and plastic forks. Nothing like that here. A dining experience to be remembered.
And just inside the door we see Linda and Diane, the principals behind the dinner since the beginning. Diane is moving out of town and will not be able to carry on next year. Many thanks for all the hours that go into making this event the success it is.
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, the turkeys are being reduced to bite sized pieces by the carving team. Don't forget now, bring your own carving knife.
And as the turkeys are carved, the next lot is coming out of the ovens. Let me tell you, the smell of fresh turkey early in the morning is very difficult to resist.
Don't forget the pies. What's Thanksgiving without pies. All sorts of pies. And lots of them.
And don't forget all those who can't make it in for any reason. They aren't forgotten. Special teams make up take out dinners, complete from appetizer to desert. And then they are delivered to the door by a dedicated group of drivers.
Speaking of appetizers. Doesn't that table look good. And everything on it tastes great. Just the thing to get an appetite for the main event.
Nothing like a little mother - daughter bonding. Nothing like teaching by example. This day will be a memory they will have for the rest of their lives. And the lesson of helping will be rememberd too.
Looks like the tables are filling up. The snow kept a few folks away, but those here had a day to remember. Good food, fellowship, wonderful memories.
Rabbi Polokoff welcomed everyone to the dinner, and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the great day. Next to the Rabbi is Andrew, a Rabbinic student who had a chance to practice his Hebrew in the closing blessing.
And who gets to clean up? Why, these folks do. As they have every year that the dinner has been held. They say that everyone is a specialist in something. These good people from Southbury Baptist are always there to clean up, and remove that worry from everyone's thoughts. Good job, folks.
Come And Get It!! And no one had to be told twice. A complete Thanksgiving dinner was available, thanks to the many hours of hard work that many people put in.
Ever the good host, Rabbi Polokoff spent time during the meal speaking with the visitors to the Synagogue.