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- Weekly Rabbi: Happy Birthday Israel! May 2008
As you read in my Scroll article this month and as you are no doubt aware, Israel is celebrating its 60th birthday today! It is thus appropriate for us to take a few minutes to pause and reflect on this monumental milestone. Imagine for just a moment what our world would be like without the Jewish state. Forget all the incredible agricultural, technological, scientific, cultural, educational, and military contributions Israel has made to our world. Put aside the fact that Israelis publish and read more books per capita than any other nation on earth. Ignore the fact that Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. For Jews around the world, Israel is an incredible source of pride and remains the spiritual homeland for all Jewish people wherever they happen to live.
All these accomplishments, of course, have come at an enormous cost. In Israel, the day before Israeli Independence Day is known as Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance Day. Despite the many local and national observances of Memorial Day, for some it is another excuse to have a backyard barbecue and go shopping. In Israel, by contrast, it is a very serous day for virtually the entire nation. We, too, should, pause for a moment and remember the over 22,000 Israeli soldiers who have given their lives for Israel to become, exist, and continue to defend herself.
It is truly hard to imagine a world without the State of Israel, yet for most of Jewish history that was not the case. Israel was just a dream, just a hope, just a yearning. Sixty years ago (on the Hebrew calendar, next Wednesday on the Gregorian calendar) that dream became a reality. Indeed, we have much to celebrate!
Unfortunately, in recent years, the status of the Jewish State has diminished in the hearts and minds of some American Jews. For some, Israel has become not a source of pride but a source of embarrassment. Several scholars have written books in defense of Israel’s existence, and discussion and arguing over Middle East politics dominate the airwaves and Internet. Clearly, in the last twenty years, our relationship with the Jewish State has transformed and changed. Defining that relationship today, I do believe, is more difficult than ever before for many American Jews.
Some simply don’t want to bother thinking about this difficult issue. Others are challenged by relatives, co-workers, or friends and find themselves in the position of having to defend Israel. Not wanting to be in that position, some find it easier to put Israel out of their minds and out of their hearts. I believe this is the wrong approach.
First of all, Israel’s right to exist does not need to be defended nor established any more than any other country. No one questions whether or not Canada or Bangladesh or Japan has a right to exist. Those who ask such questions simply do not know or understand history, and unfortunately today anti-Semitism is being veiled in terms of anti-Israel rhetoric.
As Jews, we have much to be proud of. We should celebrate Israel’s accomplishments and remember that statement from the Talmud: kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh / all Jews are connected one to the other. So happy birthday, Israel. May you live to 120 and beyond!
Tonight is our early service at 6:00 PM followed by dinner (reservations required) and a program on “Israel and the Sacred Identity of American Jews,” led by me. Tomorrow, we have Torah Study and Shabbat morning services as usual. Happy Mother’s Day to everyone as well.
- Weekly Rabbi: The Central Message of the Torah May 2008
The week's Parasha, K'doshim, marks the literal middle of the entire Torah text, a point that has not been lost on our sages, rabbis, and commentators. Indeed, the words form what is known as the Holiness Code, and are so important and central to Jewish life, belief, and practice, that they are read on the holiest day of the year, on Yom Kippur afternoon.
The essence of K'doshim is that God is holy and we too must strive towards holiness. Naturally, only God can be completely and wholly holy, but as creatures created in the Divine Image, we have to work to infuse our lives and our world with holiness. It does not happen automatically; we have to actively do it.
I hear from parents all the time who say that they don't care who or what their children ultimately become as long as they are good people and as long as they are happy. Many people also argue that religion is not necessary because goodness and morality can be achieved outside of a religious structure. Judaism, and in particular this week's Torah portion, would beg to differ.
This week's Torah text reminds us that it is not enough to be good, not enough to be moral and ethical beings, but that we must strive towards holiness. That message and lesson are in the middle of the Torah to impress upon us its centrality to what Judaism has to offer this world.
And how does one go about being or becoming holy? Again, the Torah points us in the right direction. Two mitzvot are particularly worthy of note and have been the subject of much discussion and interpretation. First is "do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor." This can be understood in a variety of ways. The essence, I believe, is simple though, to have concern and to care for others. The other mitzvah is known simply as the Golden Rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." These simple words also reflect Judaism's concern others.
In addition to those notable mitzvot, there are a number of other important commandments that are later picked up by our sages and pointed to as central and essential to living a Jewish life. Among these is "do not place a stumbling block before the blind." These words, too, have been understood in a variety of ways and extrapolated to apply to a variety of situations, more notably in the area of business ethics, where a merchant cannot deceive a potential buyer in any way.
As progressive Jews, we constantly struggle to balance tradition with modernity. This week's Torah portion is a good reminder that when we infuse our lives with mitzvot we move from the profane to the sacred, from the ordinary to the extraordinary, from goodness to holiness. Indeed that is the central teaching of the Torah, and the essence of what it means to be a Jew.
Tonight we have our Family Shabbat service with birthday and anniversary blessings for May. Our 1st and 2nd grade religious school classes will also be participating along with our Jr. and 8th Grade choirs. Tomorrow we have Torah Study and our Shabbat morning service which will be led by our Alef and Bet Hebrew School classes. Have a great weekend.
- Monthly Religious School: May 2008
This is our last month of the Religious School year. I think I say it every year, but it’s true – it seems like it was just September and we were being reunited after a long summer vacation. Yet, here we are again, recounting the months of Jewish growth and kvelling at how much our students have grown in their knowledge as well as their pride of Jewish identity.
This year ends with the hope of an exciting future for our school. It hopefully won’t be too much longer until we begin the long awaited construction of The Asa Center for Lifelong Jewish Learning. We will pack up the books and supplies that have occupied the upstairs building, and we will look forward to helping them find their new home in a real school building that has adequate storage and bookshelves.
As much as I can’t wait to say good-bye to the old building, I have to admit that those walls hold a lot of good memories for me. As a teen, that building was where I led my first junior congregation service and delivered a “sermon” during Religious School back when TBT was located in Brea. I served as a teacher’s aide for the 5th grade and then 2nd grade as a high schooler. Then when we moved to our current location, I had my office there as the Religious School secretary (you may remember our educators Dan Lenchner and then Cantor Eli Cohn z’l – I worked for them).
Returning to TBT in 1989 as the director of education, my office again was in the upstairs building until I assumed the responsibilities of temple administrator and moved to the main building. But my resources and school files are still in the upper building, and all that will need to be packed up and stored until our new building is completed.
It amazes me that such strong memories and feelings can be attached to a physical structure. It was May 1, 1959 when my family arrived in Orange County from Chicago. I was 6, and after a long week’s drive across country, we pulled into my uncle’s miniature golf course in Anaheim, and then were introduced to our new home/apartment. It took a few weeks for that place to feel like home. We joined the nearby synagogue, Temple Beth Emet. I started religious school the following September with Rita Mann as my teacher (I recently saw her at a community event – what a reunion!). I loved my Jewish education, but I never really felt at home in a synagogue until my family came to Temple Beth Tikvah in 1966. I guess it was love at first sight as we walked into our first Shabbat service and I saw choir members in robes with flowing blue sleeves – I just had to be one of them. From that moment on, TBT has been home, whether our sanctuary was at the YMCA, a renovated fraternity house, the room that now serves as our social hall, or our current sanctuary.
As much as the bricks and mortar serve as physical temple, it is important to remember that more than the structure, it is the community that really is what is important. It is the verbal greeting that we receive that is really the welcome mat. And it is the invitation for involvement that keeps us enveloped in the community. For years our theme has been “TBT – The Place to Be.” May it continue to be so for generations to come.
- Monthly Rabbi: May 2008
Dear Friends,
This month marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the modern State of Israel. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared her independence and the Jewish dream of nearly two millennia finally came true. I have written and spoken numerous times about how fortunate we are to be among the generation of Jews to know, enjoy, and take pride in the Jewish State. I often think of my ancestors living in Poland and Russia suffering cruel anti-Semitism and pogroms. I imagine the thoughts that went through their minds as they prayed that one day Jerusalem should be restored, that Israel should one day be reestablished as a Jewish homeland. If it had only been during all those centuries of persecution and years of Holocaust.
We are now 60 years removed from the miracle actually happening. Few of us can remember a world without Israel, and although Israel is still surrounded by enemies and we hear almost daily about threats to her existence, America’s support for Israel remains as strong as ever. All three candidates for President have publicly stated their unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish People, and the Congress continues to provide much needed military and economic support. Thus the challenges have clearly changed.
I do not believe that we need to be concerned with Israel’s existence. Israel can take care of itself and America and other nations remain strong allies. What should now primarily concern us is how Israel might remain meaningful for American Jews. On one hand more teens and young adults go to Israel every year than ever before. On the other hand, there is a continuing and widening gap in the relationship between American Jews and the Jewish State. Thus we must ask ourselves the following questions:
Why, as an American Jew, should I have a relationship with Israel?
What might such a relationship look like?
Where might Israel “live” in my Jewishness?
Unlike other “hyphenated Americans,” most American Jews do not have any ethnic or cultural bond with their families’ countries of origin. On top of that, most American Jews are not of any Israeli heritage. Hebrew is not the native tongue of our grandparents, and what little Israeli culture we grew up with we experienced not at home but at the synagogue. To make this issue even more fuzzy, the word “Israel” can have many meanings. It can refer to the people, the land, the state, or to its literal meaning of “to wrestle with God.”
I believe that most American Jews care deeply about Israel and are invested in its future well being. Certainly that is the case with many of our own Temple members who have Israeli ancestry, lived in Israel for some period of their lives, or are engaged in and support one or more of the many organizations that work on behalf of Israel.
I hope that as we approach this milestone anniversary and celebrate throughout the coming year, that you will reflect on some of these questions and issues. One opportunity for you to do so will be on Friday, May 9th following our early Shabbat service, when our program for the evening will be “One Heart, Two Homes: Israel and the Sacred Identity of American Jews.” We will discuss and struggle with these question and issues and try to discover exactly what role Israel plays in our lives and exactly what its meaning is for us today. I hope you will join us.
As I reflect on this important anniversary I am reminded once again of those famous words from Theodore Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism: “Im tirtzu ein zo agaddah, If you will it, it is no dream.”
Lech L’shalom – May you go in peace,
- Monthly ECLC: May 2008
I want to express my deep appreciation to all of the reading volunteers who came and read to the children on our first annual “Shayna Rosenberg Read-To-Your-Child Day” on Friday, April 18. The children were so quiet and attentive as each Volunteer Reader shared their love for reading as they read different stories to the children.
There were different little reading oasis areas placed all over the school. In the Chapel you were treated to stories all about dinosaurs with Suzie Serbin (also known as Jonathan Manera’s grandma). Then crawl into a gauze tent gently blowing in the breeze and be read to about butterflies by Tanya Jones. Get lost in space with Robin Ballon as she takes you on a journey through our solar system. Sit in our special garden area as Dani Carlisle reveals new stories about bugs and creepy crawlies. Go inside and sit with Gabriel’s grandma, Sheila Donenfeld, and relate to the antics of Curious George. Listen to Audrey Prezgay as she tells a tale about tug boats and stinky garbage trucks. Then walk outside again and sit with Winnie the Pooh and friends as Laura Milhander reads about your cute and sometimes silly family pets. Swim on over to the sea and hear Helen Atkinson read to the children about ugly fish and kind of scary sharks.
I saved the best for last … Our “King for the Day” Marvin Rosenberg. How privileged we and the children are to have a college professor read to the children and explain all about clouds and the weather in such a kind and special way!
Brooke Wolfe (one of our 2-year olds) sat next to Marvin, laid her little hand on his knee, looked up into his kind face and said, “You are Marvin, aren’t you?” This moment caught the reason for the entire day J.
The whole reason for this special day was to remember a wonderful woman named Shayna Rosenberg as well as her wonderful life partner, Marvin. He is the link between her and the children. May we never forget the ones who came before us so we can become the people they always thought we could be.
Thank you, Marvin, and your entire family, for making this day possible!Shalom,
- Weekly Rabbi: Being God's Partner April 2008
We have all heard the expression, "you can bring a horse to water but you cannot make it drink." There are many lessons that can be gleaned from that statement. First is that our control over other things is limited. Second is that each creature must take responsibility for its own well being.
At our Seder tables last week we told once again the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. We focused on God's benevolent actions and God's power in being able to manipulate Pharaoh. We gave all the traditional reasons for the symbols of the Seder plate and we used all our senses to experience this important festival. But the story was not concluded. The story of the Jewish people did not end with the Exodus.
In our Torah portion this week, we read the next chapter. The Exodus was only the first step on a very long journey. There were many steps to go and many places along the way. First stop was at the shores of the Sea of Reeds (often mistranslated as the Red Sea). Now certainly God could have divided the sea before or as the Israelites approached but God needed a sign of commitment on the part of the people that they indeed wanted to be free and more importantly appreciated their new-found freedom.
Unfortunately, the people lose faith in Moses and God. They bitterly complain about their situation and wax poetic about how good their lives were back in Egypt.
Now just as God is to leave them out there to perish, one brave man steps forward to show his desire and determination. According to tradition, Nachshon ben Aminadav walks straight into the sea and just as the water is about to cover his face, the sea miraculously parts. So you might say that you can bring the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, but you cannot make them accept freedom.
The actions of Nachshon are also a paradigm. How often we speak about our partnership with God. God gives us the grapes and we make the wine. God gives us the wheat and we make the bread (or matzah this week!). God has given us this planet to populate and habitat, and it is up to us to be its steward and to care for the air, land, sea, plants, and animals. Today, we know how to be God's partners. For the Israelites who left Egypt, this was a learning experience.
Unfortunately today, some people have forgotten about Nachshon. They act too much like the Israelites who were happier and more content being slaves. Too many in our society do not know how to handle freedom and so they become slaves to money or power, to fame or fashion. Our Exodus story and our Passover Festival remind us that freedom is synonymous with responsibility. By taking those brave steps, Nachshon showed us the proper path. He led the way for the other leaders and for the entire Jewish people. He continues to remind us that freedom is all about partnership: partnership with our fellow human beings, and partnership with God.
Tonight at Temple will be our Passover Family Service featuring our Jr. Choir. Tomorrow we have Torah Study and the Shabbat/Festival morning service including Yizkor. Religious school will also be in session. On Sunday, join me on the Fullerton Plaza at 12:15 PM for the annual CROP Hunger Walk. Have a great weekend.
- Weekly Rabbi: Let My Goat Go! April 2008
Tomorrow evening, Jews around the world will once again sit down at their festive Seder tables. And while some will argue whether the matzah balls are too soft or too hard, and others will make fun of Uncle So-and-so who always eats so much horseradish that his face turns as red as the substance itself, some will reflect on Passover's enduring message. Without question this holiday is the most celebrated ritual in Judaism. Even Jews who otherwise live on the periphery of Jewish life, who never set foot in a synagogue or otherwise have any contact with the Jewish community, somehow, someway find themselves observing some element of this spring festival.
As we sit around our tables tomorrow night, many of us will look around and reflect on who is not there. We will remember parents and grandparents, siblings and perhaps even children who once brought joy to our lives. We will recall conversations we had with them at the Passover table, perhaps even hear their voices as they once led the Seder or asked the Four Questions. That's part of the power of Passover. It's not just about remembering, but about experiencing. We don't just tell that ancient story of our people, we relive it. We use all our senses to put ourselves into history so, as the Talmud says, we can see ourselves as though we personally have gone forth from Egypt.
Although Passover is the story of the Jewish people's journey from slavery unto freedom, its message is universal. For thousands of years, oppressed people have looked to our Torah for inspiration and hope. We have been the model of a people that has endured, survived, persevered, and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Pharaoh may have been the first to persecute us, but certainly he was not the last. Over and over again, new pharaohs have arisen who have sought to solve all their problems by blaming the Jews. Even today, there are those in our country, some in influential positions and some with the power of the media, who seek to place all of society's ills on one group. If we could or would just get rid of them, the argument goes, all our problems would disappear. This is not a new concept.
Perhaps not coincidently, in our Torah portion this week, Aaron the Priest is told to take two goats and to mark one for God and the other for Azazel. The one marked for God is to be sacrificed to the deity. The other is to be sent off into the wilderness. What is the meaning of Azazel? Many theories have been posited. The first great English Bible translator, William Tyndale was apparently the first to coin the term "scapegoat," and that is generally how Azazel is understood. Today, there is no lack of scapegoats, and we Jews are still not immune from that appellation.
Passover comes each year to remind us that freedom is not a passive act. Our rabbis were troubled by the story of the Exodus and how the Israelites were seemingly passive participants with God doing all the work and pulling the puppet strings as it were. So they focused their attention not just on God's actions, but more importantly, on the actions of the Israelites who literally took steps towards their freedom. By stepping into the sea up to their necks before it parted, they demonstrated their desire for freedom. Today, we too, have to take positive actions to work for freedom, for ours and for all those who still suffer oppression and bondage, whether physical, spiritual, or emotional.
Before we get to our Seder meal, we still have Shabbat, so join us for services tonight with our Kol Tikvah choir and tomorrow morning as usual (no Religious School though, so you can get ready for your seder). Have a joyous and very happy Passover!
- Weekly Rabbi: Group Think April 2008
We have all been in a group setting where we felt part of the action, where we were engaged in the common activity, devoted to the cause, and dedicated to fulfilling the group’s goal. We have all also been in a group setting where we felt like an outsider, separated from what was going on, detached from the common goal and purpose, and not part of the action. Many factors go into whether or not we feel part of the group in a communal setting. Some of the factors have to do with the makeup of the group itself, some have to do with the goal or purpose of the group, and some have to do with who we are in relation to the group.
Numerous studies have been conducted to try to understand how and why people act in group settings. We know that peer pressure, for example, is very real and present not just among teenagers, but also among adults as well. We know that people are much more likely to engage in bad or illegal activity if they are in a group setting instead of alone and by themselves.
The study of human behavior has always fascinated me. At UCLA, I studied Sociology, which is the study of why people do what they do. I still remember learning about all those interesting experiments that helped scientists and researchers understand the mystery of people and their actions, individually and communally. For additional insight, I never needed to look any further than our Torah.
This week’s Torah portion is called “Vayakhel,” which means “(Moses then) convoked.” He assembles together the people to speak to them to give them specific instruction on observing Shabbat and on the construction of the tabernacle, the temporary sanctuary they carried with them through the wilderness. A few chapters earlier in the text the same word is used but in a different form. Exodus 32:1 states “vayikahel” in describing how the people assembled to rebel against God in building the Golden Calf. The use of this verb in two different forms was not lost on our Torah commentators.
Clearly, when groups assemble it can be for good or evil purposes. Most groups are much more than the sum of their parts, and that is what makes group action so powerful. It is also what makes group think and group action so potentially dangerous, especially when the group acquiesces its power to a charismatic leader.
In our Torah portion this week, the people are given a second chance. They are brought together and given the opportunity to atone for their former mistakes. Now instead of creating for evil, they will create for good. Instead of erecting a false god, they will erect a House of and for God within which to dwell. Instead of losing themselves in group think and group action, they will maintain their individuality as they come together for a common, positive purpose.
Tonight at Temple we will have a very special musical service. Instead of using prayer books, the words will be projected up on a screen and we will be using some new and different melodies. Tonight's service will be a little different and certainly something new. Tomorrow, Torah Study and Shabbat morning services as usual. I hope you have a great Leap Day and a great weekend.
- Monthly Rabbi: April 2008
Dear Friends,
There is a lot of talk these days about the economy. Now, I went to college for many years and consider myself a very well-rounded and well-educated person. But if there is something I understand very little about, it is exactly how the economy works. More than that, I listen to all the reports on the radio and television and I hardly understand the language. One thing I do understand, however, is how much things cost me, even if I don’t understand why prices fluctuate so much. One thing also seems abundantly clear: that many people are really hurting. Whether their own fault or the fault of unscrupulous lenders, it is painful to hear stories of people losing their homes and others having to choose between gasoline for their car and food for their children.
This month we will celebrate our festival of Passover when we remember the Exodus from Egypt. Tradition tells us that we have to see ourselves as though we too went forth from slavery to freedom. We don’t just tell the story; we live it and experience it. The reason for this is that we can’t understand something unless we internalize it ourselves. That is why we literally taste the bitterness of bondage, why we eat the bread of affliction, and why we eat the Seder meal as free people. It’s a recreation intended to place ourselves inside of history.
Also happening this month is the annual Fullerton CROP Hunger Walk. This event is intended to raise awareness of and money for those locally and globally who experience hunger every day. The theme is “We Walk Because They Walk,” and just like the Passover Seder, the CROP Walk is intended to remind us of the plight of those who have to walk miles just to get safe drinking water or find food for their families. It’s one thing to talk about hunger and homelessness and quite another to experience it personally.
There is no question that, given the state of the economy, no matter how difficult it is for most of us, it is far worse for millions of Americans and countless others around the world. That is why I feel it especially important now to participate in the CROP Hunger Walk. I am also proud that the Fullerton Interfaith Ministerial Association is the major sponsor of the event.
If you are available on Sunday, April 27th (coincidently the 8th day of Passover), I would encourage you to join me in participating in the Fullerton CROP Hunger Walk. We have registration packets here at the Temple. Half the money you raise from family and friends stays here in our community, and the other half you can designate to several charitable organizations (Jewish and non-Jewish). Children and adults of all ages are welcome to walk and t-shirts are only $1.00. If you cannot walk yourself, please consider making a donation by sending it to me here at Temple (payable to TBT). Remember, we eat matzah because our ancestors ate matzah. We walk because they walk!
Lech L’shalom – May you go in peace,
- Monthly President: April 2008
As I write this note, and about a week before you read it, the final tiles are being laid in the Temple kitchen. This will complete one of the major refurbishing projects that have been planned over the last couple of years. As anyone who attended Casino Night will attest, the social hall and the new carpeting extending into the sanctuary look fantastic. Now the kitchen is also complete. I want to once again thank Temple member Yoram Mimum and his family for their more than generous help in getting us the countertops and floor tiling at an incredible price. Our next project will be the ECLC. Our Facilities committee is finalizing a budget for board approval that will allow them to put in a new playground, new flooring throughout the school (thanks again, Yoram), painting, new fixtures where needed and possibly converting one of our infamous “dirt rooms” into a large storage area.
Our ability to do these projects comes from many areas. These include the diligence of the finance committee and its scrupulous chairperson Greg Spalter, and the successful fundraising efforts of our ways and means committee headed by Sandy Wager and Rachael Wager-LaCross (Casino Night this year - $19,000) and by the rest of the board of directors who work hard to be innovative and contain costs. Mostly, though, it is because of you and all our congregants who support TBT by volunteering, by paying dues, and by continuing to make our Temple a warm, loving community. It is not just new “things” in our Temple that move us forward. Rabbi Ken Milhander has set the tone for us by respecting, believing in, and practicing our old traditions while bringing enthusiasm and a growing excitement for “mixing it up” and embracing the new. Creative services, and more and new music are among the changes we are trying as we combine them with more traditional elements of our services. But you won’t know about it unless you come.
See how Judaism allows Shabbat to be our one “wild and crazy” day. To quote one of our fine ex-presidents, “See you around the schul”.