From the Rabbi's Desk
| November 2024
Friends, As this bulletin lands in your mailbox, you are likely anxious like me. If we haven’t already voted early, we’ll go to the polls in a couple of days to choose our next President. According to our traditions, this is our responsibility. In the Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 55a, the rabbis are in the middle of a discussion about blessings that are not said at any particular time but rather are said in response to experiences or events. At the beginning of the fifth chapter of Berakhot, the Gemara says, “One who sees a place where miracles occurred on Israel’s behalf says, “Blessed [is the One] who performed miracles for our forefathers in this place.” The rabbis ask how we know we are supposed to bless miracles. They use Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, the high priest of Midian, as proof. In response to Moses recounting all that Adonai had done to bring them out of Egypt, Jethro offers a blessing on this miracle. He says, “Blessed is Adonai who delivered you from the Egyptians, from Pharoah, and from under the hand of the Egyptians.” You may recall as I do that when Jethro comes to Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness, Jethro sees how taxing leadership is for Moses. Jethro advises Moses to teach the Israelites God’s laws and teachings and then find capable leaders who are trustworthy and שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע, shonei vatza. JPS translates this idiom as ‘men who spurn ill-gotten gain.’ The idiom comprises two words; the first comes from a verb, shoneh, which means to hate, and vatza, a noun meaning that which is gained by violence or injustice. Leaders must have integrity, be trustworthy, and never use violence or trickery to get their way. The rabbis continue their discussion. Through a circuitous route, they also come to the topic of leadership. Rabbi Yitzkak says, “One may only appoint a leader over a community if one consults with the community [and they agree].” A proof offered is the appointment of Bezalel to be the chief artisan directing the construction of the Mishkan (Ex. 35:30). A midrash is provided in which God consults with Moses, asking if Bezalel is suitable. Moses responds that if Bezalel is good enough for You, he is good enough. Nonetheless, God instructs Moses to consult with the people. The people respond to Moses that if Bezalel is suitable in God’s eyes and Moses’ eyes, then he is suitable for them. Leaders can lead only by the consent of the people. Not even God appoints leaders over people who do not have the consent of the people. From these two sources, Jethro’s advice to Moses and the rabbis’ discussion of Bezalel, we are given some insight into what we should expect of leadership and the source of authority for leadership. First, Jethro advised Moses to seek only people of integrity. Ends do not justify means. The leaders we seek must be above reproach, operating from a place of emet, truth, and far from ever using unjust means to achieve one’s ends, and certainly not use means that diminish or harm others. Secondly, we, the people, are essential to choosing a leader. Even God consults Moses and instructs Moses to consult with the people. Not only are we to be consulted about who shall lead us, but we are also obligated to respond to the consultation and give our consent if warranted. Not even God or the most important prophet in our tradition can appoint a leader over us without us. Bottom line, if we haven’t already, we must vote. When we vote, we must use every power at our disposal to choose. We must be informed about who we are voting for, know they are knowledgeable about the tasks they will be asked to perform on our behalf and look for evidence that they are a person of integrity. I thank the Sisterhood Social Justice Committee for lifting up the Religious Action Center’s Every Voice, Every Vote campaign. May all our efforts result in the selection of a President and other officials who work on behalf of all of us to make for a more peaceful, just, and prosperous nation. L’shalom, |
Cantorial Notes
| November 2024
Welcome to the month of Cheshvan! A month with no holidays except for Shabbat. A quiet month. Even though life is still shouting at us, we are given a month where the only thing asked of us Jewishly this month is to come rest on Shabbat. I think it is G*d’s gift to us after a month of non-stop Holy Days. A chance to stop and reflect on what we have just come through. We have confessed our sins, asked for forgiveness and set ourselves right again on the path of our lives. In the quietness of Cheshvan, we look out onto this path with new eyes, new perspective. We have been given the opportunity to refocus and walk our path better than we did last year. Remembering to treat people with kindness, enjoying every moment of life, and trying to be our best selves. This month is also called MarCheshvan, Mar meaning bitter, bitter because there are no holidays. Though some may be bitter, I truly want to see Cheshvan as a 30 day opportunity to be mindful of putting my best self forward. I’ve heard it takes 30 days to change bad habits, so here’s to Cheshvan and new beginnings! Just an aside…it was so nice to see your faces during the High Holy Days. Thank you for “coming home for the Holy Days.” Thank you again to the Temple Emanu-El Choir, and Michael McCarthy. Thank you to Jose Cordero for his amazing Shofar Blowing! Thank you to all who asked to be a part of readings, and for my long time Torah and Haftarah readers. Big hugs! If you are interested in chanting Torah for the High Holy Days next year, I have an open spot. If you’d like to chant Torah during the year, contact me and we can choose a date. To all of my Adult Students, classes will begin again the week of November 12! Beginning Hebrew will be starting on Tuesday, November 12, from 12:00-1:00. This class will run until the end of May 2025. Hopefully you will get this in time to join Sean Bendick , here at TE, for A Night of Stargazing! We are hoping to see all the planets rise! There will be havdalah, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and maybe even donuts! Come join us. Any questions? Call me at Temple Emanu-El 860-443-3005 or email me at: shirie3860@aol.com. Hazzan Sherry
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Presidential Message
| November 2024
Following the next phase of our empty nester stage, Jonathan and I recently moved 27 minutes north of Temple Emanu-El, from a suburban street in Waterford just 10 minutes away where we raised our kids and accumulated 22 years of stuff, to a new home on a farm situated on a long and windy country road in Preston. I am grateful for the beautiful sunrises which pop up from behind a tree line and warm sunsets that disappear behind the stables that house our new extended family – five charming goats and a cranky Muscovy duck – who keep us company and remind us every day of our purpose. I appreciate the dark starlit skies, the new collage of bird calls, and the new experiences and perspectives which come with them. I am now accustomed to my longer commute to work and to the Temple. Thanks to Audible, I can keep up with Sisterhood’s Book Club by listening to the book each month. And I look forward to the weekly learners’ mahjongg circle in the social hall on Sundays. What do you appreciate? Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated across our nation later this month, but it should be every day at Temple Emanu-El. Our community is powered by countless volunteers. Sometimes nice things magically appear or happen at our Temple, and we’ll never know who was responsible. It is important to acknowledge the energy, time, and resources that generous individuals give to benefit all of us. We are so very blessed. The best thing to do to show appreciation is to also be moved to give of ourselves, not to pay mystery people back necessarily, but to pay it forward so that we can foster a culture of graciousness. Our community was built for us before our arrival, and it is our sacred role to help ensure it continues for generations to come. You may have noticed during High Holidays that we have new modern communication vehicles, digital monitors in both the social hall entrance area and the school atrium. These devices were donated to Temple Emanu-El, for the purpose of warmly welcoming all upon their arrival, featuring upcoming events/RSVP deadlines, and recognizing our Temple’s benefactors, patrons, and sponsors who have invested in our community. Their generous donations help offset significant operational expenses and ensure that we can afford vital programming. Thank you to the Waterford Police Department, Rich McCaffrey, and all our volunteers who served as parking and check-in attendants, greeters, and ushers during the High Holiday season. Because of these security protocols in place, congregants and visitors were comfortable gathering, and overall, we saw about a 50% increase in attendance over last year’s High Holiday services. We enjoyed a strong multigenerational presence and we used every extra row we set up into the social hall. In the afternoon we had to print more extra copies of the Neilah service prayer booklet – a good problem to have! Thanks a million to Greg Morea and his Break the Fast volunteer crew who put out an amazing spread that disappeared very quickly! And how awesome was our sukkah this year? That was thanks to all of our volunteers who dropped off cornstalks, gourds, grasses and something new this year – solar-powered lights! Thanks to our helpers who prepared the sukkah before Religious School early on Sunday October 13 so our teachers and students could add their spark of creativity with their mini gourd, birdhouse, and paper chain trimmings. It truly was a collective effort that everyone was able to enjoy. Thank you to Rabbi Marc and the b’nai mitzvah class for leading the Sukkot service and to Jennifer Zettler, Lisa Marcus, and the Religious School Committee who planned the pizza salad dinner which was very well attended. It was the greatest number of people I’ve seen packed into our sukkah yet! I hope you had a chance to visit the sukkah — it truly was a sight to see on Erev Sukkot — the full moon shining above a glowing sukkah! Enjoy the photos included in this Bulletin. And although at the time of this writing we have not yet celebrated Simchat Torah, thank you to Sam Winograd and the Religious Practices Committee for planning a special celebration enhanced by a pasta and salad dinner. Do you want to know more about Judaism or know anyone wondering if Judaism is for them? There’s a perfect forum starting later this month. Contact Rabbi Marc about joining him for his Exploring Judaism 3-week course which begins on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Remember to RSVP early/on time for November’s activities. And let’s all make it a priority to exercise our civic duty by voting on Tuesday, November 5! Toda Raba,
Board Meeting Highlights
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