From the Rabbi's Desk
| October 2025
Reconnecting in 5786 Friends, This bulletin is likely landing in your mailbox either just before or, more likely, just after Yom Kippur. The New Year, 5786, is here. Over the High Holy Days, some of you have heard my sermons. Yet, due to our publication schedule, even as I write this article, my sermons are not fully written. Regardless, I can say with certainty that in my sermons, I have tried to address the challenges we face as American Jews—confronting the upheaval we see in America and the lingering crisis in Israel. Here at home, we face a political, social, and economic landscape of extreme polarization. Our homeland, Israel, is becoming ever more isolated on the international stage. It is seemingly impossible not to get caught up in the anxiety of any moment. Every minute of every day brings a new news post, podcast, Substack, YouTube video, or whatever media feed, with the latest attack, tragedy, statement, or decision that leaves our heads spinning, wondering what could possibly be next. The most profound anxiety stems from our lack of any control over any of it. Yet this seeming lack of control is merely a sensation reinforced by hyperconnectivity, giving us the illusion that the weight of the entire world is on our shoulders all the time. If I’ve described you, there is a way out: disconnect. Put your smartphone down, turn the TV off, and close your computer. Then selectively reconnect. Reconnect with the things that are closest to you. The most important things in your life—the things over which you can have the most control—are necessarily going to be the things that are very close to you. Reconnect with your family members, pets, friends, and neighbors. Reconnect with your local community. Find out what is happening in your own town and go check it out. Make a point of saying hello to a new person. Nothing can replace the warmth of meeting a friend, new or old, face-to-face. Reconnect with your Jewish community. If you are reading this article, Temple Emanu-El is your community. Come to services, take a class, enjoy a program, or volunteer—we can always use your helping hand. Most importantly, reconnect and ground yourself within your Judaism. Our religious and ethical traditions have withstood the test of time. Our sacred texts are filled with wisdom that is just as applicable in the modern world as in the ancient. Connecting with the Jewish community can provide respite from our chaotic world, but the real power of Judaism lies in our moral and ethical traditions. They provide the lens to make sense of the world and chart a safe course through stormy seas. Kohelet said there is nothing new under the sun, and Ben Bag Bag said of the Torah, “Turn it, turn it, for everything is in it.” Bottom line: ground yourself close to home, recharge yourself with your Judaism, and in time you’ll find the weight of our world bearable. Blessings for health and happiness in this New Year. L’Shana Tovah, |
Cantorial Notes
| October 2025
L’chayim! To life! What a special gift we are given to live on this beautiful planet for as many years as we are allotted. To play in its oceans, hike among its trees, picnic in its open grassy spaces, and marvel at its night sky. Add to it our relationships with our parents, children, and grandchildren, to brighten every moment. Then add in those friends that become part of our family, because we just love them that much. I have been blessed with many friends and the majority of them I met here at Emanu-El. Some I have known for a short time and some it feels like a lifetime. Two of my best friends, as many of you know, are Marc and Terri Goldsmith. The three of us went everywhere and called ourselves the Three Musketeers. Lots of laughs, great food, supporting and caring for each other. Terri was a sister to me and left too soon. And as I write this article, Marc is in hospice care and will join his soul mate, Terri, maybe before this Bulletin comes out. I will miss his friendship, humor, singing, musicianship, and his never ending support. We ask these questions on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, How many will pass from this world? How many will be born into it? How many will live and how many shall die? Who shall reach the ripeness of old age? I’m glad that Marc made it to the ripeness of old age, that he was a part of our Cabaret, and even sang in the choir from a brief time. I’m glad, and so was he, that many people cooked for him, visited, and chatted with him. In the end I hope he realized that this was just a fraction of the people whose lives he had touched. I hope he understood how much of a difference he made in our lives and the lives of his students. We don’t talk much about death until we are faced with it. Maybe we think that if we don’t talk about it that we won’t have to think about it, or we will deal with it until later. I used to feel that way, but now I feel talking about it helps us to understand how precious every moment is in our lives, and in the lives of those we love. Yes, it is sad for us that our loved ones are physically not with us anymore, and we grieve until their memory brings a smile back to our face as we remember the good things about them, and the good times and laughter we shared. Remembering will forever keep their memory alive in our hearts and minds and that is a beautiful blessing. From life, to death, and then back again to life. We continue on our path changed by those who have touched our lives. At Yizkor on Simchat Torah, the last prayer of the Yizkor section in our Mishkan T’filah for Festivals, ends, “So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.” In the end, memories are all we have left, so in 5786, make sure to make wonderful memories with those you love. Hebrew classes will resume in November. 12:00, Tuesday, November 4, Beginning Hebrew 10:00, Wednesday, November 5, Trope Class 11:00, Wednesday, November 5, Intermediate Prayerbook Hebrew 11:00, Thursday, November 5, Translating the Torah
A big thank you to everyone who helped elevate our High Holy Days this year. Todah rabbah, Hazzan Sherry |
Presidential Message
| October 2025
Shanah Tovah, friends. What a joy it was to gather for Rosh Hashanah and welcome the New Year together. Our sanctuary was filled with warmth, haimish spirit, and a true sense of community. Thank you to Rabbi Marc Ekstrand for his thoughtful teaching, to Hazzan Sherry Barnes and the choir for uplifting music, and to our staff—Lisa Marcus and Roberta Reisner-Winograd—for the many details handled with care. I’m also grateful to our greeters, readers, ushers, shofar blowers, and volunteers who worked tirelessly, and to Rich McCaffrey for coordinating security and Sisterhood for the Rosh Hashanah Oneg. You helped make holiness tangible. Now we turn toward Yom Kippur, the holiest day of our calendar. These Days of Awe call us to reflection, renewal, and connection. I invite you to join us for Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur services, where the beauty of our tradition and the strength of our community will uplift us all. Please plan to arrive a bit early for check-in, and thank you for continuing to support our safety protocols that keep our community both secure and welcoming. Looking ahead, here are a few highlights for this season: Sukkot & Simchat Torah. Soon we’ll shake the lulav, gather in the sukkah, and dance with the Torah. If you’ve never joined us for Simchat Torah, make this your year—you’ll leave smiling. Religious School is buzzing. Our students are back, learning, singing, and building friendships. Yasher koach to our teachers, Rabbi Marc, Hazzan Sherry, and Lisa for their creativity and care. Oneg returns—with a plan. We’ve launched a new Oneg Coordinator role—thank you, Lisa Marcus, for stepping up. Sponsoring or donating to the Oneg Fund is a wonderful way to honor a simcha or a loved one and helps make our Friday nights warm and delicious. Strengthening our foundation. This summer the Board renewed the Congregation Beth-El lease, approved contract renewals for Hazzan Sherry and Office Manager Roberta, and celebrated a $7,000 security grant from JFEC. Board members also completed additional security training with the Secure Community Network. These steps keep our Temple strong. Membership pledges. Your pledge sustains everything we do—worship, music, youth, social action, holiday celebrations, and the upkeep of our building. If you’ve already submitted yours, thank you. If not, please do so this month. If you’re able to stretch a bit higher, your generosity helps ensure that everyone, regardless of means, has a home here. This is a season of beginnings. Let’s begin by showing up—for Yom Kippur, for Shabbat, for a class, for a volunteer shift, for one another. If you’re looking for ways to get involved—greeting, Oneg, Brotherhood, Sisterhood, Social Action, monthly Shabbat dinners, music, or behind-the-scenes logistics—I would love to connect you. May you and your loved ones be inscribed and sealed for good in the Book of Life. I’m grateful to share this journey with you. With appreciation and hope, John Murphy President, Temple Emanu-El president@tewaterford.org | 860-608-0774 Quick Ways to Engage This Month
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