Temple Emanu-El is kick-starting a new Israel initiative. With AIPAC's support, we are launching a campaign to mobilize our community for pro-Israel advocacy. Last May, during the most recent conflict with Gaza, the narratives about Israel were unlike any I had heard in previous conflicts. In the news, political arena, and social-media platforms, Israel took a hard hit. Of course, Israel isn't without her wrongs, but the rewriting of history and the ignorance surrounding an understanding of values held by HAMAS (the terrorist organization inside Gaza), was cause for great concern. Though Temple Emanu-El's Reform Zionist beliefs have not wavered in word, we could have been taking greater action - we've gotten a little sleepy on the subject. A positive relationship between the State of Israel and the United States is critical to the continued safety and security of Israel. When large numbers of constituents reach out to their elected officials, policies happen. The response … [Read more...]
The Jewish Love Languages
Some folks can't make up their mind when it comes time what or where they want to eat for dinner, what they want to watch on Netflix, where they want to go on vacation, or how they want to spend their weekend. For me, these are relatively easy questions, but what will paralyze me with indecision is determining the best gift to buy for someone. Gift buying is just not my love language. When I learned that economist Tim Harford had measured which gift achieves the greatest amount of happiness, I was relieved. Finally, with mathematical precision, my problem was solved; unfortunately, the perfect gift is cold, hard cash. Economically, cash is the perfect gift, but I don't know of many people who have rosy-eyed memories about the time they received an $36 check for their birthday. In 1992, Gary Chapman came out with a book called "The Five Love Languages." It's been out for 30 years, so I'm not spoiling the punchline when I tell you that the five languages are: acts of service, … [Read more...]
Are you ready to walk the walk?
From my Yom Kippur sermon this year about the state of Anti Semitism emerged an initiative at Temple Emanu-El meant to address one very direct question: "What can I do about Anti Semitism?" You were invited to partake in conversations, and some of you come to share your ideas. In order to understand 'the lay of the land,' we dialogued with the ADL, the AJC, the URJ, other synagogues, local politicians and law enforcement. We read white papers. We attended conferences. And now, our Steering Committee (led by Lori Bohrer & Art Katz) is ready to present the five ideas that we have determined we (Temple Emanu-El) can do, that others are not (at least locally), where we are confident that we can see success. Please note, we are looking to put efforts into areas where we can move the proverbial needle, a needle that profoundly effects you, your family, and this community. There is a certain degree of hubris on the part of our congregation to think that we could trail-blaze, but … [Read more...]
Shuvi Nafshi: May My Soul Return To You
An atmosphere of beauty, drama, meaning, and music. Voices coming together in song and prayer, lifting our souls to the heavens. Texture and instruments supporting our communal prayer in welcome of Shabbat. This is what a traditional Kabbalat Shabbat entails. We move through six psalms, one for each day of the week leading up to Shabbat, each one bringing us higher and spiritually closer to welcoming the Shabbat Bride. L'cha Dodi, the apex of the Kabbalat Shabbat service is a crowning glory of poetry, Torah, story, and song. Each verse weaves our heritage and peoplehood together that we might truly unite with Shechina- the divine, as her presence settles over us with each verse. Tradition weaves different musical settings of L'cha Dodi into one through composed body of song. With Shabbat in our midst, we turn to the psalms for Shabbat, psalms of righteousness and goodness, that we may be sustained with extra blessings for the next 25 hours. Sound intriguing? You are in for a special … [Read more...]
We are a Resilient People
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...]
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