Message from the Rabbi (July 2010)

The other day I was relaxing on the couch with my son, Jason, when from out of nowhere, he said, “Dad, you have the best job.” I replied, “Really,Jason, why is that?” “Because you work for God,” he said. I was really taken aback at his intuition and insight, especially as a kindergartner.

I guess I never really thought about being a rabbi in those terms. I always thought being a rabbi meant that you worked for your congregation and the larger Jewish community. But after a few moments, I realized that Jason was right. I really do work for God. And in truth, it’s not just me,but all of us.

After thinking about it for a while, I was consumed by the awesome responsibility of that statement and reality. If you think your boss is tough, imagine working for God! But on the other hand, it’s really no job at all, but rather a way of life, a way of thinking and feeling,believing and behaving.

By serving God’s creatures, our fellow human beings, we work for God. By helping others,caring for those in need, being kind to the stranger, and working to bring peace between neighbors, we work for God. By supporting the synagogue and by keeping the Jewish community strong and vibrant, we work for God. By doing mitzvot and tikkun olam, we work for God.

To take the metaphor a little farther, we might wonder whether or not God pays well. The last time I checked, God didn’t sign my paycheck, so what rewards or compensation come with working for God? We all know that when the focus of our lives is outward instead of inward,the rewards are limitless. When we are consumed with our own problems and shortcomings,when our eyes can’t see beyond our own eyelids, then we feel small and insignificant. We see every day in our popular culture world those who are completely consumed with their fame and fortune, with self-promotion and self-aggrandizement. We also see how they never seem satisfied; that no matter how much they have, it is never enough. We also see those who live much more simply, who see the beauty of our world in rocks and trees, in a sunset or holy moment.

The words of our tradition ring true even today: “Who is truly rich? Those who are content with their lot.” Of course, that doesn’t mean that we don’t set goals, or that we don’t have ambition or initiative. We have to always set the bar high and keep working towards ever challenging goals. When we do all this, we also work for God.

I’d like to take just a moment thank everyone for their well wishes as our daughter Leah became Bat Mitzvah last month. I can’t thank enough everyone who provided food for the beautiful lunch and for all your kind and generous gifts to Leah. It was an amazing and very memorable weekend that we were honored to share with so many of you.

I hope you are having an enjoyable summer. Remember, that God does not take summer vacation (probably because God does not have a credit card to buy a plane ticket or rent a car!).So, come see us here at Temple and be sure to watch the progress of our Asa Center as it is finally completed in the coming months.

Kenneth Milhander

Message from the President (July 2010)

Almost a year ago, my beautiful daughter Allison announced her engagement to her amazing I do. And with my wife Phyllis as the Executive Producer planning every magical detail, I spent the next six months dreaming of that moment when we would walk our daughter down the aisle.

Finally, the day arrived along with picture book perfect weather which was in stark contrast to all the gloomy days that had filled the earlier parts of March. And, as the hours and then minutes ticked away, I tried to stay calm knowing that in a very short time I would experience another wonderful chapter in the book of life.

In reflection, there is something beautiful about a Jewish wedding ceremony. And I say that not because I am biased as my feelings and thoughts were echoed by our many non-Jewish friends that evening who were attending a Jewish wedding for the first time.

Interesting, however, is that there are very few requirements for a Jewish wedding. There is the marriage contract (Ketubah),the religious ceremonies (Kiddush in and Nisuin), a plain gold band accepted by the bride, and the pronouncement that you are husband and wife. But what we recognize most as making a wedding Jewish are a wide variety of customs and traditions that are steeped in history and that make the ceremony full of joy and happiness and becomes the happiest and holiest day of a couple’s life.

For starters, unlike non-Jewish ceremonies where the mothers of the bride and groom are seated, both Mom and Dad walk their daughter and son down the aisle. And there is no giving away of the bride. (Why would anyone want to give their daughter away?) Instead, the parents of the bride and groom are present with their children under the Chuppah as the marriage is not just a union of the bride and groom but of the families as well.

As I took those first few steps onto the Bema, I inhaled the sweet fragrance of the hundreds of white roses and calla lilies that made up the posts of the Chuppah while my eyes caught the tallits of the three grandpas which formed the canopy. At that moment, I wiped a tear and thought how my Dad would be smiling if he was here today as a witness to this simcha. But just seeing his tallit gave me solace that he was there with me.

Allison next circled her groom seven times, symbolizing the bride creating a wall around the groom to protect him from outside evils while Rabbi Asa kept a close count on the number of turns she made. Another tear formed in the corner of eye as I gazed into my little girl’s beautiful face.

The ceremony continued with the Kiddush recited masterfully by both Rabbi Asa and Rabbi Milhander. And over the cup of wine, symbolizing the sweetness of life, Allison and I do shared the cup which indicated their willingness to share the rest of their lives together.

Soon the ceremony had reached the point where the bride and groom were enwrapped in Ido’s tallit, symbolizing the bringing together of the bride and groom in their first symbolic home, the Chuppah, and to never be apart. And as Rabbi Asa read the Sheva B’rachot (the seven blessings) which recall the creation of the world in seven days and expresses the value of family, at this moment I could no longer hold back my tears as I wrapped my arm around my wife’s waist and held her tight.

Finally, and with one crushing stomp, the groom shattered the glass into millions of pieces as the breaking implies that the marriage will last as long as it would take to repair the glass which is forever. “Mazel Tov” was shouted from every corner of the sanctuary. And those in attendance will never forget the bride and groom’s first kiss!

My daughter’s wedding ceremony will be etched in my mind forever. And just like Tevye so proudly responded to the question “Why we do what we do?” there can be only one answer; TRADITION!

Chazak, chazak, ve-nitchazek! Be strong and let us strengthen one another!

Ben Berkley

ECLC News (April 2010)

    Here at E.C.L.C. we are in the Passover mode. So we just expected all the children to have heard and know the Passover story. We as a staff are always looking for new and fresh ways to teach the children all about The Exodus story. The staff spent the time planning as well as setting up our curriculum to be different and exciting! Since we have heard this story over and over and over again we really wanted a new spin on an old story.

    So we decided to see what the children already knew. I started the singing of the Four Questions and no one was joining in. I looked at the other teachers and said "Maybe because it is in Hebrew the children are finding this difficult." So I began singing the ever popular song, “Oh Listen, Oh listen King Pharaoh.” Once again the children (except for a few of the kindergartners) did not sing. We looked at each other and it slowly dawned on us that a lot of these children were new to the school and really did not know the songs, much less the story of Passover. Wow!!!! We were amazed. I realized how I had taken this Passover story for granted. I was on auto-pilot when it came to going through the rituals of this Passover holiday. I was brought up short. I realized I was not in the frame of mind nor heart to" Pass" on this story So I took a deep breath and started to tell the story orally just as the "telling" the Haggadah has been told many generations before.

   I felt a little overwhelmed as this was the first time the majority of these children had the opportunity to hear this wondrous story of a man called Moses and a people called the Hebrews as they were led to freedom by a mighty G-d. The children were enraptured. It was so delightful to see the children become engaged with this story!

   Like the great river Nile flowing through the land of Egypt, questions about this awesome story came flowing out of the children. They asked. "How did the water part?" "Why didn't the bush burn up?" "Why can't Pharaoh get along and do what is right?" The questions kept coming and coming for the next few weeks.

   I was glad for the questions and just as glad to tell them that I do not have all the answers. I told the children, “It is good to seek out your answers. It is okay to not know everything, to realize there will always be quandaries in life and that this world as well as G-d is bigger than we can comprehend."

   I thought to myself how incredible it is to have the privilege to tell the story once again. To know, that this wondrous story is fresh and exciting to an entire new generation. I hope this holiday has brought you a new and fresh feeling as well.

Karin Cook

Religious School News (July 2010)

Heraclitus was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived about 100 years before Plato around500BCE. He wrote about our world being inconstant flux. From his writings came the saying that “the only thing that is constant is change.

TBT and our Religious School are living examples of Heraclitus’ message. With the start of construction last summer, we realized that we needed to take a deep breath and adjust to our space limitations.We also are aware that most of the other synagogue schools in our community meet two days each week. So, we changed our schedule and met on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. The curriculum for our Saturday classes was revisited, and we adopted the Chai Curriculum published by the Union for Reform Judaism. Students and teachers alike adjusted well to these changes, and I was pleased to report to the URJ that our school was now part of the growing numbers using the curriculum.

After the end of this school year, a town hall meeting was held to allow parents to give feedback about the changes and to offer ideas for the future. There was lively discussion about the days and times of classes, but the meat of the meeting focused on the content of what our children learn. Two hours of Hebrew in one exposure each week does not give our children the same quality of Hebrew education as two exposures of 1.5 hours each day.Even the fact that we have our junior congregation on Shabbat is not the same kind of reinforcement as reading and reviewing the material that was taught on Wednesday.

Out of our town hall meeting came some wonderful suggestions:

• Have 15-20 minutes of Hebrew instruction on Saturdays in each class to review/reinforce the Wednesday Hebrew instruction;
• Increase school-home communication (i.e. newsletters, TBT website usage, blogs, etc.;
• Have monthly parent meetings with the education vice presidents who discuss classroom issues, school programs, etc.
• Utilize parents in the classroom as volunteers/observers.

Your feedback is welcome at any time to add to the above list.

While we’re on the subject of change, it has become evident tome that the 21st century student is not the same kind of person as those of us who grew up in the last half of the 20th century. As such, I am also researching the URJ’s Hebrew curriculum, which offers a more individualized approach to Hebrew learning.Focusing on the prayer book, Mitkadem allows students to learn at their own pace while mastering the various prayers studied at each level. The teacher monitors each student’s progress, and offers enrichment materials for those who finish the units ahead of others. More information will be forthcoming about this as we approach September.

So, while you are enjoying your summer months without thinking much about Religious/Hebrew School, my time is being spent in planning for September … and looking forward to moving into our new classrooms and offices. Please give your child(ren) a hug from me … I miss them!

Miriam Van Raalte

Men's Club (July 2010)

We have MANY activities. Please come join us.

NEW OFFICERS. Your new officers have been elected for 2010-11. Here are three of your“handsome” new officers:From left: Tom Green,membership, Mike Flashner, president, and Greg Spalter, executive vice president.Not pictured: Mike Bell,treasurer, Neil Rosen,Programming, and Dave Severson, external relations.

MEMBERSHIP. We do a lot for the Temple. If you are not a member, please join us for some Mitzvah doings, and some fun. We are 60 members strong.

NEW PROGRAMS. We are working on some exciting ideas. We welcome your input.

ANNUAL JOKE BREAKFAST. Save the date. Sept. 19th. MUCH FUN.

SOFTBALL. The TBT men’s club softball team, named ????, hashad several practices. If you are interested, please contact yourofficers. The plan is to play against other temple brotherhoods.

YOUNG ADULT MEMBERSHIP. We are working on this concept.

NEW VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS. Your Men's Club is also seeking new volleyball players for their Sunday morning get togethersat Mitch Shapiro's home. If any one is interested, contact Michael Flashner, Neil Rosen, or Mitch Shapiro.

IN THE WORKS . We are currently working with the other Men’s Clubs in putting together a community service project that we can do together, as well as other activities which will be announced at a later time.

NEXT MEETING: Monday night, 7/5/2010 at 6:30pm at TBT.Please come join us for a little “bonding.” RSVP to Michael Flashner, mflashner@aol.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please talk with your Men’s Club Officers: Michael Flashner, Greg Spalter or ask the Rabbi.

Mitchell Shapiro

Sisterhood (July 2010)

Happy summer to all! I hope you have seen the Neshot Tikvah report card in last month’s Scroll or in the gift shop. 2009-2010 was a busy and productive year.

I am privileged and honored to be continuing as President of Neshot Tikvah for the 2010-2011year. I am looking forward to working with all the returning board members as well as our new ones. I am sad to say good-bye for now to Shari Rosen who was our historian last year. I so appreciated the photos of all of our events. I am also happy to welcome Audrey Prezgay and Kathy Shefts to the board. Audrey and Kathy will be working on programming.

Thank you to Rabbi Milhander for installing our new board at the June 11 service. We were honored to be installed with the Temple Board. We look forward to working together for the good of TBT and the community.

We always have room for more. We have an opening for historian and can always use extra help in the gift shop, with membership mailings, and phone calling. I welcome all ladies of the Temple to join us in the upcoming year. If you don’t have time to volunteer, that’s fine. Please consider sending in your membership dues which go to support programs for Neshot Tikvah,TBT, and the larger community.

If you missed the pajama party, you missed a great time. Please watch this newsletter and the Monday TidBiTs for upcoming programs. I urge everyone to give the all new improved Neshot Tikvah (Sisterhood) a try.

If you have questions or suggestions I am happy to speak with you.

Diana Reinstein