One foot in front of the other.   One day at a time.   We all process scary things differently. Whether it's recovering from major surgery, getting our feet back under us after losing a job, or another attack on the Jewish people right here in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  We are a resilient people. Full stop.  Amanda Gorman, the American Poet who delivered "The Hill We Climb" at last year's inauguration had her OpEd published in the New York Times this morning, reflecting on how she almost did not make it to the stairs of the Capitol. I've pulled the words out of the context in which she wrote them, but their intention hit my core deeply this morning. She wrote:   "I'm a firm believer that often terror is trying to tell us of a force far greater than despair. In this way, I look at fear not as cowardice, but as a call forward, a summons to fight for what we hold dear. And now more than ever, we have every right to be affected, afflicted, affronted."  I believe in … [Read more...]

Shouldn't every week be Green Week? The short answer is, "yes!" This is why we continue to emphasize Temple Emanu-El's recent steps toward the process of continual and consistent "greening" of the congregation. From lightbulbs to plates, paper usage and coffee pods every week is Green Week as we try to lower our carbon footprint.  Shm'irat haTeva, Preserving and Guarding Nature is a bright and shining value of the Jewish people. From texts about planting trees for the next generation to calls to live within our means, Judaism is very clear that taking care of our Earth: land, water, air, and people, is of the utmost importance.…and so we give you: Green Week! - Our yearly kick in the tuchas to set aside time to learn about the environment and to evaluate our impact.  Green Week may change every year on the secular calendar, but that's because we align this valued week with Tu Bishvat, our holiday celebrating the birthday of the trees.  January 12th, hear from Joanna … [Read more...]

I once attended a Shabbat dinner that was filled with the tastiest of challot, fish, chicken, vegetables, delightful individuals, and good conversation. Things felt very comfortable until we came to the end of the meal. That's when we took the time to thank God for providing us with the food we had just consumed and satiating our hunger - Birkat HaMazon.   I thought to myself, "Ooooo, how wonderful, I loved singing Birkat HaMazon at NFTY events, I haven't heard it in so long." But a minute or so into the prayer I realized we had departed from the words that I recognized. That's because we were doing the "full version" of the prayer, rather than the adapted "shorter version." So I sat there quietly as everyone around me smiled and sang. I'd come in when it was the part I knew and then go back to smiling awkwardly pretending to look at the pages of the birkon*.   As we were walking home from the dinner, I sort of pulled a friend aside and said, "hey, sooooo I didn't really know that … [Read more...]

Throughout the Israelite's journey from slavery to freedom, they frequently paused for head counts of those who were "from the age of twenty years up" (i.e. Num. 1:3, 18, 26:4). These Israelites were regarded as capable of bearing arms and therefore defending their people. Serving wasn't optional, they were commanded.   In America today, we are not commanded to serve in our military, and yet many Jews have done so since before we were declared a nation, serving in militias for the Thirteen Colonies. On Veterans Day we honor those who took up the call to defend the United States of America, even without a command from God. In serving, these veterans allowed for us to continue to live in a country that endeavors to uphold certain inalienable rights, chief among them is the freedom to worship our Creator as we please.  Take a moment today to say thank you to a veteran, Jewish or not (though we have many Jewish veterans in our congregation).   To hear a few of the stories from Temple … [Read more...]