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Rabbi's MessageMarch 2008 PASSOVER NEVER COMES LATE - This year, it begins on Saturday night, April 19th. If you are looking for a new haggadah this Passover, the following links might be helpful to you. If you find others you like, please email those links to our webmaster. We at TBS hope this will be a helpful resource to you. Hag sameach! www.internethaggadah.com October 2007 Congregant Katy Bigam, 23, began working for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC) in August as an Eisendrath Legislative Assistant. During this one-year fellowship, Kate will advocate for federal civil rights legislation on topics such as race relations, disability rights and LGBT equality. Her D'Var Torah on Parashat Lech-Lecha was presented to the Commission on Social Action, the policy-making branch of the Union for Reform Judaism, at its fall meeting in Washington, D.C. It is an honor and privilege to welcome you to this fall’s Commission meeting. As a Jew from a small synagogue in Ohio that holds Shabbat services every two weeks or so, I’m still overwhelmed whenever I’m in the presence of more than a dozen Jews! I’m especially looking forward to being with all of you this weekend – strong leaders in the Reform Jewish community who share not just a religion but a deep-seated dedication to pursuing tikkun olam. In studying this week’s Torah portion, Lech-Lecha, we get a glimpse of what our tradition says about the qualities of leadership God holds in the highest regard. In Genesis 12:1, God tells Abraham “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you,” This is, in effect, the commandment that makes Abraham the leader of the Jewish people. But why Abraham? What exactly did Abraham do to deserve such an important leadership position? Generations of scholars have asked this same question. While the Torah actually tells us very little about Abraham’s early life, stories passed down from generation to generation attempt to fill in the blanks. Legend tells us that Abraham witnessed his family and his neighbors praying to the stars and the planets, and to idols made of stone and wood. Even as a boy, Abraham couldn’t comprehend how man-made idols could hold any real power over man, or how the universe could have been created by a simple star in the sky. He sought answers to these questions by asking idolaters to explain the reasoning behind their worship, but they had no answers for him. Angry at Abraham’s persistence and at questions they could not answer, the people called him a troublemaker and a revolutionary. His own father even had him jailed for his impertinence. But the reason the idolaters shunned Abraham is the same reason God chose him to lead the Jewish people. Abraham could have kept his questions to himself, going through the motions of idolatry without ever daring to ask for an explanation, but he instead chose to speak up and search for answers, constantly questioning the status quo and challenging blind belief. Even when faced with persecution and scorn for his ideas, Abraham continued to affirm his belief in one omnipotent Creator. And though his neighbors saw this as insolence and aggravation, God saw it as wisdom and bravery. For his willingness to stand for his beliefs and search for higher truth, God chose Abraham to lead the Jewish people. When it comes to pursuing social justice and global change, we should not be afraid to take a page from Abraham’s book. His refusal to give up on his beliefs – and more importantly, his refusal to stay silent about them – is an inspiration to today’s Jews as we actively work for progressive legislation and policy in keeping with the Reform Movement’s values and morals. When we notice injustice, we are obligated to speak out in favor of correcting it. It’s a simple concept, really, and it’s certainly not a new one, but its importance cannot be underestimated – it’s the idea that in order to achieve change, we must not be afraid to challenge supposed norms. Like Abraham, we too must keep in mind that there is always a better way. In policy, attitudes, methods and more, there is always room for improvement, no matter how long-standing a tradition may be. That’s why it’s so vital that we never stop questioning. First, we must question our own beliefs, asking ourselves why we think and feel the way we do. Is it because someone told us this is how what we were supposed to believe, or is it because we have thought it through, deciding that these thoughts are truly a product of our own values and logic? By reaffirming the reasoning behind our beliefs, both individually and as a movement, we stand more strongly poised to defend them against those who seek to prove us wrong and keep us silent. Once we know where we stand, we can begin to question the world, examining deeper instead of accepting everything at face value. When new legislation is proposed, for example, we must ask of ourselves and others: “What are the consequences of this bill? Who will it help and who will it harm? Is there any way we can make it better?” Instead of accepting the world as it is, we should constantly be on the lookout for ways we can improve upon it – “good” is never good enough. As Jewish leaders, we have the ability to jumpstart social change by taking a stand on the issues our movement holds dearest and by encouraging others to do the same. In your discussions today, remember Abraham. As we continue to together lead the Jewish people into making a real impact on pressing social issues, let us strive to be like him and question our surroundings in the search for higher truth. God valued these qualities so much that He chose Abraham to lead the Jewish people – now, it’s our turn. May 2007 Dear Friends, Annually, I take great pleasure in offering you Jewish-themed reading suggestions for your summer pleasure. This year, I am thrilled that there is an unusually good crop of books to recommend. Without further ado: PRIMARY AND PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
FOR ADULTS For this section, I am actually going to recommend two books I haven’t read yet, but they are both high on my personal list. The first is from Nathan Englander, a talented writer who – until now – has mostly published short stories. His debut novel is called The Ministry of Special Cases. One reviewer summarizes his impressions this way: “The juxtaposition of comedy and heartbreak is fascinating and a book that first appears to be quite a simple story deceptively fools the reader – we are not really reading about a lost child but about the loss of an entire community and its faith.” The next book on my list is by Michael Chabon, one of my favorite writers. His newest book is titled, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union: A Novel. The book begins with a fascinating piece of speculative history: what if, as Franklin Roosevelt proposed on the eve of World War II, a temporary Jewish settlement had been established in the Alaskan panhandle? As evidence of Chabon’s talent, this supposition is the backdrop for “a murder-mystery speculative- history Jewish-identity noir chess thriller.” With such a book beckoning, I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer afternoon, can you? L’shalom, Rabbi Susan B. Stone
February 2007 Dear Friends, Purim is my favorite holiday. The silliness is endearing. The raucous celebration of victory over Haman and evil is invigorating. The re-enactment of history is exciting. But what I love most about Purim is how based in reality it is. From year to year, I have no trouble imagining myself in Ahasuerus’ country. I can readily see myself living in a place where such events happen and such decisions get made. You see, the heart of the Purim story is about a Jewish woman who is none too sure of how Jewish she should be in public. She lives in a non-Jewish world, marries a non-Jewish man and wrestles with just how different she ought to be from everyone else around her. Her uncle is trouble for refusing to go along with the prevailing tide. Her ties to other Jews are mostly internal; she is unsure what her place in the community is. And yet, Esther rises to the occasion and ends up saving all those people of whom she was only vaguely aware. Her heroic actions, Mordechai’s quiet steadfastness and the help of some unexpected friends all combine to save the day. To me, the story is both mythic and real. We live in a world where we are sometimes threatened as Jews and sometimes unsure of our proper reactions. We live happily assimilated lives but sometimes wonder if we have found the right mix between blending in and standing out. It is a balancing act that none of us ever gets “right” once and for all in our lives. Many of us think that Purim is just for kids. Oh how not so! Purim allows us adults to reflect on such questions. It allows us a chance not just to look at the juvenile masks in the costume parade, but also challenges us to examine ourselves and the masks we sometimes wear. Are they hiding too much or not enough? Are they fun or is there serious purpose to them? When help is needed, will we, like Esther, step up to the task? It is a challenging holiday. I hope you will join us at Temple on Sunday, March 4th at 10:00 for the celebratory and public aspects of Purim. I hope we will all take its challenges to heart throughout the year. L’shalom, Rabbi Susan B. Stone
November 2006 HAVE YOU SIGNED YOUR ORGAN DONOR CARD? Our co-president, Susan Terkel, did a wonderful mitzvah recently when she helped a Hudson resident publicize his need for a new liver. His story reached the front page of the Plain Dealer! Before embarking on this campaign, Susan asked me what the Jewish position on organ donation is. Truthfully, the question confused me. I couldn’t quite understand why she was asking. You see, according to Jewish law, there is no debate about whether this is or is not permissible. Of course organ donation is permissible – the mitzvah of Pikuach Nefesh, preservation of life, is held as the most important of all the mitzvot. The ruling is simple: if a person is in a the sad position of being able to donate his or her organs, it is absolutely a deed of enormous kindness to do so. Having had time to reflect on Susan’s question more, I do remember that there were sages who, years ago, ruled against this practice. Their reasoning was based on the fact the donation was of doubtful help. Medical science has moved way beyond that. I venture to guess that most of us are personally acquainted with someone who is the beneficiary of an organ donation. Dear friends, this is a long way around my asking you a question: Have you signed your organ donor card yet? If not, you can do so when you renew your driver’s license or you can download one from Reform Judaism’s website www.urj.org, by key wording organ donation. Today is not too soon to do this. I pray that none of us is ever in the position of needing or being able to donate an organ. But that is not always the case. So, friends, let us be prepared and let us let others know that we are! L’shalom, Rabbi Susan B. Stone
August 2006 Announcing the Arrival of our New Prayer Book Mishkan T’filah to Mark a New Era in Congregational Worship Dear Friends, Since 1895, The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) has created and published the liturgical works of the Reform movement in North America. Mishkan T’filah (A Sanctuary of Prayer) is the heir of a long and honorable tradition going back to the first publication of the Union Prayer Book. That volume was followed by a “Newly Revised” edition in 1940. Indeed, many of us grew up on that book. The publication of Gates of Prayer came in 1975. The creation of Mishkan T’filah involved more members of the CCAR and the Reform movement than any other prayer book in our history. Mishkan T’filah includes services for Shabbat, weekdays and festivals as well as other occasions of public worship. As CCAR President, Rabbi Harry Danziger recently said, “This siddur (prayer book) may be used in services ranging from the classical to the traditional. At the same time, it embodies those themes, commitments, and principles which are precious to the Reform movement as a whole.” Still, you may wonder, “Why do we need a new siddur at this time?” The most straightforward answer I can offer is that the world has changed in the thirty years since the publication of Gates of Prayer. We communicate with one differently. We live our lives differently. Indeed, the paradigms with which we think about life have changed. While the message of our prayers has not changed, the vehicle with which we communicate that message must remain relevant to our lives. What makes this prayer book new is its presentation and its language. It is a consciously sensitive and spiritually enriched text. The layout of each page makes the book a delight to use and to hold. At the same time, much in this prayer book will be familiar. The soaring Language of The Union Prayer Book and many recognizable strains of Gates of Prayer can be heard. The typography and content will be familiar to one and all. Using the new book comfortably will require a major transition for our congregation. I, along with ritual chair Jean Beasley, education chair Scott Levin, soloist Robin Selinger and master teacher Adele Blazey, have fashioned a six month transition plan that includes working Friday night services, refresher Hebrew classes, web links, sermons and programmed sessions of new music. All is geared to make this change as smooth as possible for as many of you as are interested. Above all, I believe that our new Siddur has the potential to bring our worship life to new levels of inspiration and fulfillment. Its language soars, the concepts it puts forth are done so in a contemporary and meaningful fashion and it opens doors that will truly help make our sanctuary a dwelling place of prayer. I look forward to your joining us as we move forward into this exciting new era of TBS’ spiritual life. Please know that we welcome additional prayer book purchases. A form for purchase with dedication opportunities is available within the pages of this Megillah. L’shalom, Rabbi Susan B. Stone |
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