President: Alan Kliger, president@tegnh.org
First Vice President: Robin Levine-Ritterman
Second Vice President: Vlad Katsovich
Secretary: Lewis Shaffer, secretary@tegnh.org
Treasurer: Lenny Farber, treasurer@tegnh.org
Assistant Treasurer: Matt Nierenberg, treasurer@tegnh.org
Board of Directors
Barbara Berkowitz
Marilyn Fischman
David Korman
Steve Rivkin
Howard Schachter
Michael Shanbrom
Rise Siegel
Bruce Spiewak
Mark Weber
Melissa Perkal, Past President
Susan Pinsky Bleeks, Sisterhood Representative
Every year that I have served Temple Emanuel, my summer begins in a similar way: I find myself sitting in a chair in the faculty residence at Camp Eisner, writing the Shofar article for the summer edition. Every year I strive to have it all finished before I go to camp, but alas this little ritual persists, despite my best efforts and the gentle encouragement from Caryn and Jen, our wonderful Shofar editor and designer (who do a phenomenal job every single time – we are so lucky and so blessed to have their energy and talents!).
Well, this year is different! Camp Eisner asked me to come for one week only this year and later than usual – and I suddenly found myself able to go to a Rabbinic Torah Seminar at Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem that takes place in the first two weeks of July every year. A great program that brings together rabbis from across the Jewish denominational world, this has been my dream for quite some time. Therefore, thanks to camp scheduling and the sabbatical time available, by the time you read this article I will be in Jerusalem, engaged in study and conversations for almost two weeks! I am truly excited and a little anxious – in this year when we mark the 50th anniversary of Unified Jerusalem, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Occupation of the West Bank, that the many difficult questions will no doubt permeate this year’s Shalom Hartman seminar and my time in Jerusalem.
To paraphrase my friend Julian Resnick, going to Jerusalem most likely cannot produce answers, but it can help me deepen my questions, and to learn, listen, and breathe Israel, with all its complexity and all its beauty. Together with much of the Jewish world, I was devastated to hear of the recent Israeli cabinet’s proposal, with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s approval, to abandon the negotiated plan for the Kotel (Western Wall) egalitarian space, as well as a serious challenge to non-orthodox conversions performed in Israel – a move that is as devastating to us as it is detrimental to the Israeli society at large. Our National movement, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) as well as American Reform Zionist Association (ARZA) have issued very strong statements, as did the Jewish Federations of North America and a host of other voices and are considering a coordinated response as I write this column. And while I am truly upset at these most unfortunate actions, it will not make me love Israel any less – it will only strengthen my resolve to work even harder, to listen more intently, to build relationships, and to learn. This is not the end, just a bump in the road.
I look forward to sharing my journey and my learning with you soon. In the meantime I wish you all a wonderful summer – see you at Shabbat on the Beach on July 28!
I started my role as president of Temple Emanuel on July 1st. It seems to me a large and forbidding task; the little voice on my shoulder is saying, “Don’t screw it up! We have a beautiful community, an inspirational rabbi, a rich tradition, and a future full of promise… if you don’t screw it up.” I lie awake at night thinking what I can do to do this job responsibly.
I am so lucky to start this job at such a wonderful time for Temple Emanuel. Under the remarkable leadership of President Melissa Perkal and Rabbi Michael Farbman, we have been part of a renewal over the last several years. Our sanctuary and school have transformed to “one campus” with a new education wing, and we have seen growth in our school enrollment, staff, and programs. The excitement among young families with children in our community is palpable. We have financial security with a balanced budget, funds for programming and for maintaining our building and grounds. We have a rabbi who daily goes above and beyond – – with spiritual leadership, lifecycle stewardship, inspirational teaching for young and old, attention to the sick and families in need, and a vision of our potential.
Most impressive to me, we have a tradition of involvement and commitment. How do we survive – and thrive – – as a small synagogue with only one full-time employee (the rabbi), a part-time school administrator, and part-time teachers, caretaker, bookkeeper, and office administrator? We succeed because so many members take an active part in our synagogue life. Our Board of Directors brings experience, wisdom, and excitement to our strategic thinking and planning for our future. Working groups or committees do great work with Caring Community assuring attention to families in need or transition, Ritual Committee working with the rabbi to craft our community practice, Building and Grounds doing all the work to keep our spaces functioning and safe, Garden Committee creating and maintaining our incredible expanding, beautiful garden, Aesthetics assuring a beautiful and appropriate space, Finance managing our precious dollars, Education for both children and adults, Tikkun Olam fulfilling our commitment to giving… and many more. Individual members find joy and friendship working together to keep TE our spiritual and community home.
Why do these committed members do it? I thought about this on the mid-June afternoon following our annual meeting. Directed by Anne Eisner, dozens of men, women, and children working in 90-degree heat moved large stones from a high pile behind the sanctuary to their new home in the gardens surrounding the buildings. Others prepared a picnic for the “laborers” with hamburgers (meat-full and meat-less), hot dogs (all beef, of course), fixings, and cold beverages (including beer, of course). Why?? Fellowship, commitment, love.
If as a new president, I am able to sleep at night, it will be because I can count on the many members who make the commitment to participate. We need you!! Please find what most interests you in our synagogue life. Join one of our working groups or committees, and share in the joy of community life. If the idea of this makes you hesitate, don’t hesitate too long… the Talmud says, “Three things are good in a little measure and bad in large: yeast, salt and hesitation.” (Berakot, 34a) As I look out on the next years for TE, I see promise, excitement, and a spiritual home alive with young laughter, learning, and strong community.
Alan Kliger
The annual meeting of the membership of TE will take place on Sunday, June 11 at 10 am. There will be coffee and bagels at 9:30 am. The membership will vote on the officers and directors for the fiscal year 2017-2018 and for the TE fiscal budget for 2017-2018.
Please join us on Tuesday, May 30th at 7:00 pm for the Erev Shavuot service and Confirmation ceremony. We will celebrate the Festival of Shavuot and the giving and receiving of the Torah with this year’s Confirmands who will participate in leading the service.
Don’t miss this special service, which will also include Yizkor (memorial service).
There is no doubt that the Jewish calendar is designed in a way that can easily confuse just about anyone! I was always absolutely certain of that! J What, with the new year in September (or thereabout – only proving the original statement!) and Chanukah and Passover that fall all over the place… no one can ever figure it out!
I recently asked my Christian colleagues at our local interfaith clergy gathering why the Western and the Orthodox churches sometimes celebrate Easter together and sometimes weeks apart. The answer totally blew me away – because of the Jewish calendar! As it turns out, all churches use the same formula for calculating Easter, but the Eastern (Orthodox) Church also waits for the Passover to take place. Since Passover moves around so much, so does Easter.
If you found yourself agreeing with anything that I said in the first paragraph of this article, you should seriously consider signing up for the Basic Judaism class next time I advertise it! For the Jewish calendar is a very logical and beautifully symmetrical creation, linked to the moon cycle – as well as to the sun – in a very thoughtful and sophisticated way. Much of it is based on the Biblical commandments as well as on the natural cycles of the year and the seasons. And once you get to know it a little, it’s not THAT complicated J!
One of the calendar cycles connects the Festivals of Passover and Shavuot through the ritual of Counting the Omer. In fact, the very name of the Festival of Shavuot hints at the cycle – it is best translated as ‘The Festival of Weeks.’ From the second night of Passover, we begin to count the seven weeks, or 7×7 – forty nine days in all, so that on the fiftieth day we can celebrate Shavuot, the festival of first fruits, as well as z’man matan Torateinu, the time of the giving of Torah on Mount Sinai.
So what is the Omer? An ‘omer’ is in fact a sheaf of wheat, a nod to the wheat harvest that would begin around that time of year. And how does one count it? A few years ago I came across a very clever website that referred to it as ‘counting the Homer’ – making the age-old ritual connected to the Simpsons! It gives the basic information about counting, as well as providing the blessings to be recited on each day in the run-up to Shavuot. You can try it for yourself! Just go to www.homercalendar.net and enjoy.
This year Shavuot begins in the evening on Tuesday, May 30th. As we celebrate the giving of Torah, we come together to pray and to study – please make sure you check the calendar and Shofar Blast for more details nearer the time. We also follow the Reform tradition of holding the Confirmation service on Shavuot, celebrating our wonderful teenagers who have completed their two-year long course of study with me by helping to lead the Shavuot service and read the 10 commandments from the Torah. I know that when festivals fall mid-week it makes it harder for many people to attend, but I want to encourage you all to do so and come celebrate this very special Festival together with your TE family. See you there!
Rabbi Farbman
Parts of this article previously appeared in the Shofar in 2011.
Change: Amazingly, this is my last column as I finish my term as President at Temple Emanuel. It has been a privilege to serve, and moreover, to have one’s service accepted. I am humbly grateful to Temple Emanuel for the sacred opportunity to have helped lead TE over the last three years. In addition, it has been three years of change and growth. From completion of the Jonas and Barbara Miller education wing, to the replacement of the old HVACs, and placement of the solar panels, we have done lots of work on the physical plant of our TE home. We have strengthened our school with a part time director, improved our bookkeeping system, and started our Federation Endowment and Legacy funds. Even more importantly, we have added families, staff, and programs that make our TE home a place where people want to come, learn, share, and experience Judaism.
Commitment: Without the commitment of our many TE members over these last several years nothing would have gotten done. I would like to acknowledge with deep appreciation the truly generous support I have gotten from my fantastic fellow members as we have journeyed together. A very smart editor of the Shofar once counseled me that if I list names, I will undoubtedly leave off one or two of the most important. I have tried to heed her warning. But, I can say that I have been blessed by the amazing help of the TE Board and officers, the Rabbi, the director of the school, the bookkeeper, the office administrator, and the caretaker. But it is all the other members who teach, head events, champion causes, raise funds, do publicity and communications, create beauty (outside and in), cook, schlepp, and otherwise provide the real hands on work that I am most grateful to. We are a community of “do-ers”.
Continuity: I am optimistic that we are a growing community on the move. Come help be part of that energy that moves us. The Annual meeting is on June 11; besides the bagels, you will have the opportunity to voice your opinion and vote for the budget, the slate of officers, and the new Board members for the coming year. It is a group of individuals that are ready and able to continue our success. L’dor v’dor
Come enjoy a community-wide potluck Shabbat dinner (dairy) with your family and friends! Please follow the link to select the dishes you are bringing and to sign up!
Looking for FUN with your little one? Come to the TOT SHABBAT at Temple Emanuel, sing and dance and usher Shabbat in! Perfect for children under 5 and their families and friends.
This fun short celebration will be followed by TE-wide potluck dinner, please follow the link to sign up!
