Emanu-El Updates

Update for January 7, 2010

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:15:00 GMT

Sunday, January 10 @ 11:30 AM Temple Emanu-El Brotherhood presents: Rabbi Simcha Green: An Orthodox Rabbi Defends Reform Practice?" Rabbi Green, Director of the newly-formed Beit HaMidrash of the Bay Area, will share his thoughts about Reform Judaism and its relationship to Orthodox Judaism. He will also discuss Jewish practices and if it is possible for an Orthodox Rabbi to actually defend the precepts of Reform Judaism. This is a virtually unprecedented opportunity to hear how Reform and Orthodox can coexist and see what we share - and where we differ - in areas of Jewish philosophy, halacha and belief. Be sure and join Rabbi Magat in a follow-up discussion on January 17! This is a free event and we really would like to have a strong Emanu-El contingent to welcome Rabbi Green to our shul - please do try and attend, it is going to be a fascinating hour of your time! RSVPs are strongly encouraged to the office. Next Tuesday: JFS Networking Group @ Temple Emanu-El January 12, 10:30 AM -- noon. No charge. Details below. Let us help you with a new year's resolution to go green! We can send your statements and Connections bulletin via e-mail! Send your name and e-mail address to <a href="mailto:Lisas@templesanjose.org">Lisas@templesanjose.org</a>. Adult Ed Spring 2010 Registration is OPEN! Pick up a flyer from the Shalom Table or go online to: <a href="http://templesanjose.org/index.php/education/adult-education.html">http://templesanjose.org/index.php/education/adult-education.html</a> Craig Taubman is coming to Temple Emanu-El February 18 at 7 PM "Craig Taubman's dynamic music and moving performance style have been an inspiration to the Jewish community for over 22 years. Craig's magical and enchanting music brings to life the joy and spirit of the Jewish heritage, appealing to young and old alike and captivating audiences wherever he goes." Sponsorships Available! $18 General Admission. For more Information contact the Temple office at 408-292-0939. Services and Temple Events Friday, January 8: 6:15 PM, Congregational Potluck Dinner Last name begins with A-H: Bring a Side Dish or Salad Last name begins with I-Z: Bring an Entrée (NO pork or shellfish and please do not mix dairy with meat or chicken.) 7:15 PM Erev Shabbat Family Service (TJS and 3rd Grade participating) Saturday, January 9 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan led by Rabbi Magat and Cantor Simerly Sunday, January 10 9:00 AM Brotherhood Meeting in the Cottage 9:00 AM Hebrew 10:15 AM Mishpacha Sheli/Jewish Studies 11:30 AM Rabbi Simcha Green An Orthodox Rabbi Defends Reform Practice presented by Brotherhood. No charge. BFR. Wednesday, January 13 Noon: Lunch and Learn Friday, January 15 6:00 PM Tot Shabbat/Potluck Dinner 7:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service MARK YOUR CALENDAR Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 PM World War II Veteran and Historian Herb Kwart will speak about The Jewish Recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. No charge. Presented by Sisterhood. Light reception to follow. eScrip is Unique! No Cost to You! We participate in a powerful fundraising opportunity...eScrip, a hassle-free way for Temple to raise funds through everyday purchases made at eScrip merchants. **Log on to www.escrip.com and click on "sign up." **Designate Temple Emanu-El to receive contributions. **Our group ID# is 136985180. **Register your credit/debit, Safeway/Macy's cards. That's it! Visit eScrip merchants to shop and earn. It's automatic. Any questions, call Lorie Kaplan, eScrip coordinator, 408.267.4563 Other Events of Interest: Are you part of a young couple? Come spend an evening with other young Jewish couples! Enjoy monthly gatherings with food, games, great conversation and other fun activities! For more information contact Lisa Sobel at <a href="mailto:Lisas@templesanjose.org">Lisas@templesanjose.org</a> or find us on Facebook! Couples Night Out is brought to you by Temple Emanu-El and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Young Adults Division & is open to all couples, ages 21-45. All SVYAD events occur in an open & welcoming environment. IN THE COMMUNITY ISRAELI FOLK DANCE MARATHON Saturday, January 9, 2010: 8:15 pm 1 AM Oshman Family JCC 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303 Come celebrate 2010 dancing your feet off!!! We are moving to the AMAZING NEW JCC in Palo Alto with the best dancing floor ever!!! We will have a NEW YEAR Party with tons of : Dancing Teaching Treats Requests Surprises and.. Dancing Guests as always!!! Please bring dancing shoes only, no high heels allowed!! You can't miss this historic event!!! See you on the dance floor!!! Fee $10 College students $ 6 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES Networking Meeting Held monthly at Temple Emanu-El Second Tuesday of the month 10:30 AM noon in the BFR Come share job search strategies, learn interviewing and resume techniques, make connections with new, share contacts. RSVP requested to the Temple office, 292-0939. Drop-ins welcome. Next dates: January 12 and February 9. Admissions Open House at Kehillah Jewish High School Sunday January 10 at 2 p.m. Come discover Kehillah Jewish High School at its Admissions Open House on Sunday January 10 at 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto 94303! Hear from our students, faculty and administrators; take a student-led tour of our facility; visit our science labs, art and music studios, theater and beit midrash; discover how the Oshman Family JCC enhances the life of Kehillah students and teams; learn about our outstanding academic program, Jewish studies curriculum, after school sports programs, class trips and extra-curricular clubs and activities. RSVP to Marily Lerner at 650 213 9600 x154 or <a href="mailto:mlerner@kehillah.org">mlerner@kehillah.org</a>. Open to all middle school families! Come Join Us at UnityJam! Sunday, January 17 at 7 PM Spangenberg Theatre, 780 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, CA 94306 UnityJam is a concert to benefit two non-profit organizations: Abrahams Vision is educating Muslim, Jewish, Palestinian, and Israeli communities towards inter- and intra-communal conflict transformation and the Salman & Samina Global Wellness Initiative is working to help Pakistans 3 million impoverished IDPs (internally-displaced persons). Performers include Salman Ahmad A blend of Western rock music and eastern/Islamic music popularized by his band Junoon Yale Strom As a violinist and composer, Strom is known as a pioneer of the revival of klezmer music. ELIZABETH SCHWARTZ A singer of klezmer music, she has performed all over North America and Europe in venues ranging from jazz clubs to synagogues to concert halls. MUHAMMAD SALEEM Ustad Muhammad Saleem Khan is a distinguished virtuoso tabla player and has performed all across the United States, including at the UN General Assembly and Shea Stadium. Find Tickets at <a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/92556">http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/92556</a> SAVE THE DATE: Sunday January 24 1:00 8:00 PM JEWBILEE celebrating Jewish Life at the APJCC A day of classes, programs and performances. Open Kosher Buffet, film screenings, programming for all ages; complimentary daycare. $7 for adults $4 senior/students. Check it out: www.svjcc.org/jewbilee Torah portion from www.urj.org Shmot, Exodus 1:1-6:1 Shabbat, January 9, 2010 / 23 Tevet, 5770 D'VAR TORAH Discovering Your Real Name Laura Geller Our tradition teaches that each of us has three names: the one we are given at birth, the one we are called, and our real name. The task of each person, according to the tradition, is to discover our real name. This week we begin a new book of the Hebrew Bible, Shmot (Exodus). It takes its name from the important word in the first sentence. The Rabbis tell us that the name of the parashahand in this case, the whole bookis not just an accident of the first sentence. Instead, the name captures the essence of the book. These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob . . . Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah . . . (Exodus 1:1)the list goes on. The total number of persons that were of Jacobs issue came to seventy . . . Joseph died, and all his brothers and that generation . . . (1:56). One commentary focuses on each of these names, interpreting each one to be connected to our future deliverance (see Shmot Rabbah 1:5). So, even as we entered Egypt, our own names carried the seeds of redemption. Another commentary explains that we were redeemed from Egypt because we never assimilated, never changed our names (Mchilta Bo 5). But the irony of the Torah portion is that there are so many unnamed, including the heroes. Consider the following: A certain man of the house of Levi went and married a woman of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw how beautiful he was, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer, she got a wicker basket for him . . . put the child into it and placed it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. And his sister stationed herself at a distance, to learn what would befall him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the Nile . . . . (Exodus 2:14) A certain man? A Levite woman? A sister? The Torah only later tells us their names: Amram, Jocheved, Miriam (6:20, 15:20). The daughter of Pharaoh? She remains nameless in Torah; the Rabbis, generations later, named her Batya, daughter of God. (see The Torah: A Womens Commentary, ed. Tamara Cohn Ezkenazi [New York: URJ Press, 2008], p. 325). Even the Pharaoh who forgot Josephs name is unnamed (1:8). The first to be named are Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives to the Hebrews (1:1516). After Pharaoh, they are the first to speak in the story. What compels them to speak is their disobedience of Pharaohs decree. The Torah, using the expression for the first time, tells us that they were fearing God (1:17).Others before them were described as God-fearing, but the midwives do God-fearingthey act out of their connection to God by choosing to preserve life. It is not completely clear from the Hebrew whether they are Hebrew midwives or midwives to the Hebrews. Playing off the first possibility, one midrash identifies them as Jocheved and Miriam (Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 11b). Other commentary suggests they, like Pharaohs daughter, might be Egyptian women (see Nehama Leibowitz, New Studies in Shemot (Exodus) [Jerusalem: World Zionist Organization, 1976], pp. 3335). It is through a conspiracy of women reaching across religion, class, and race that a baby boy is saved. He is named Moses (Hebrew, Mosheh) by the daughter of Pharaoh because, I drew him out of the water. The explanation is not an accurate etymology; a closer meaning would be one who draws out. Most commentators belief this is a prophetic hint that Moses will be the one to draw us out of Mitzrayim, Egypt, which means the narrow place. But there is another interpretation. Moses is the one who draws God out, and gives us a name that can liberate us from our own narrow places, a name that can help us discover our own real names. God calls Moses from a bush that burns without being consumed to send him to Pharaoh to free the Israelites: Moses said to God: When I come to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your ancestors sent me to you, and they ask me, What is his name? what shall I say to them? And God said to Moses, Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh, continuing, Thus shall you say to the Israelites: Ehyeh sent me to you. And God said further to Moses, Thus you shall speak to the Israelites: The Eternal, the God of your ancestorsthe God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacobhas sent me to you: This shall be My name forever, This My appellation for eternity. (Exodus 3:1315) Ehyeh is the first-person singular of the verb to be. It seems to be the future tense, but it isnt totally clear how it ought to be translated. Is it I am or I will be? Or is it I cause to be? Is it an answer or an intentional obfuscation? Or is it a challenge? Rashi tells us: Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh means I will be [with them in this trouble] what I will be [with them in future bondages]. For Ramban, it means: As you are with Me so I am with you. If you open your hands to give charity, so I will open My hands as is said, God will open for you Gods goodly treasure. (Deuteronomy 28:12). Aviva Zornberg, citing Maharal, has another interpretation: Gods being is a being- withI shall be with you. It will always respond to the needs of the human, to the specific quality of the human cry. The particular idiom of a particular time, a particular place, a particular conception of God will draw forth an answering sense of redemption. From Mosess viewpoint this name of God is not a name at all; it yields nothing constant, nothing knowable through all vicissitudes. It is contingent, the very figure of human desirea fluid dynamic name, it expresses the First Person form of Gods name, addressing the human, involved in dialogue with the hu man. It changes constantly as humans beings find and lose relationship with God. (Aviva Zornberg, The Particulars of Rapture; [New York: Doubleday, 2001], p.74) There is no record that Moses ever reports the name to the Israelites. Maybe Moses asked just for himself. What Moses learned is what each of us can learn: Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh: I am in the process of becoming who I am. I am never completely stuck in the mitzrayim, the narrow places of my life. I am always in relationship with others and with God, and it is through responding to the needs of others that I become more fully the image of God. Each of us has three names: the one we are given at birth, the one we are called, and our real name. We discover our real name when we connect Gods name to our lives. Rabbi Laura Geller is the senior rabbi at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California. DAVAR ACHER Earning Your Real Name Richard J. Birnholz Rabbi Geller writes that each of us has three names: a name given at birth, one by which we are called, and one that we discover when we connect Gods name to our lives. I would suggest a fourth name, our Hebrew name. More than a label and a mark of religious identity, a Hebrew name has the power to challenge and transform us. Jewish parents can give their children Hebrew names. But adult Jews must decide if their Hebrew names are to be a blessing or a burden. American poet, singer, and songwriter Shel Silverstein wrote about a burdensome name in a song made famous by Johnny Cash called, A Boy Named Sue.* In it, a boy does not blame his father for abandoning the family, but hates him for naming him Sue. After a lifetime of fighting to prove his manhood, the boy searches for his dad, intent on killing him for the pain he has caused. When they finally meet and each turns to fire his gun, the father hesitates and explains the method behind his madness: And he said, Son, this world is rough And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough And I knew I wouldn't be there to help you along. So I gave you that name and I said, 'Goodbye.' I knew you'd have to get tough or die. And it's that name that helped to make you strong." . . . I got all choked up and I threw down my gun, And I called him my pa, and he called me his son, And I came away with a different point of view. Being a boy or girl with a Hebrew name that says Jew can be almost as challenging as being a boy named Sue. Its never easy being different. But our willingness to accept our uniqueness with all the responsibility it entails can also make us stronger. Perhaps Shiphrah and Puah were the first names in Shmot because the women who bore these names turned their burden into a blessing for the Israelite slaves. And maybe, as the commentaries suggest, the reason these slaves finally earned the blessing of redemption is that they chose Hebrew names over Egyptian names, despite the hardships they knew they would have to face. Ultimately, Jewish survival depends on how we play the name game. * Boy Named Sue was written by Shel Silverstein and first recorded by Johnny Cash at the concert, Live at San Quentin on February 24, 1969. Rabbi Richard J. Birnholz is senior rabbi at Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa, Florida.

Save the Date: Craig Taubman at Temple Emanu-El February 18!

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:19:00 GMT

SAVE THE DATE! CRAIG TAUBMAN in CONCERT 7:00 PM February 18, 2010</hr> General Admission $18 For sponsorship, information, or reservations please contact the Temple Office at (408) 292-0939

Last EE Update for 2009: Happy Civil New Year!

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:53:00 GMT

There are only two days left to make an extra donation to Temple Emanu-El or accelerate your 2009-10 membership commitment. You can make donations easily online <a href="http://www.doubleknot.com/Registration/CampaignDetail.asp">http://www.doubleknot.com/Registration/CampaignDetail.asp</a>, or mail your payment to the Temple office. Remember that the office will close at noon tomorrow, Thursday, December 31, if you need to contact us for year-end matters. All items postmarked December 31 will be credited to your account for the 2009 calendar year. Thank you. It's almost a New Calendar Year! Do we have the right e-mail address on file for your family? Let us help you with a new year's resolution to go green! We can send your statements and Connections bulletin via e-mail! Send your name and e-mail address to <a href="mailto:Lisas@templesanjose.org!">Lisas@templesanjose.org!</a> Adult Ed Spring 2010 Registration is OPEN! Pick up a flyer from the Shalom Table or go online to: <a href="http://templesanjose.org/index.php/education/adult-education.html">http://templesanjose.org/index.php/education/adult-education.html</a> Did you take any photos of Chanukah events at Temple Emanu-El? Send them to Lisa at <a href="mailto:lisas@templesanjose.org">lisas@templesanjose.org</a> to have them added to Connections! Services and Temple Events HOLIDAY SCHEDULES The Temple Administrative office will close at noon Thursday, December 31. If you need to reach the office with end of the year matters, please plan accordingly. The synagogue will be closed on January 1. Kabbalat Shabbat Service will be @ 6:30 pm. RELIGIOUS SCHOOL No Wednesday classes December 30 No Sunday classes January 3. PRESCHOOL resumes Monday, January 4, 2010. Friday, January 1 6:30 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service Led by Cantor Meeka Simerly Saturday, January 2 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan Led by Cantor Meeka Simerly Sunday, January 3 No Sunday Classes Wednesday, January 6 4:00 PM Hebrew NO Bnai Mitzvah Prep class this week 6:15 PM TJS Friday, January 8: 6:15 PM, Congregational Potluck Dinner Last name begins with A-H: Bring a Side Dish or Salad Last name begins with I-Z: Bring an Entrée (NO pork or shellfish and please do not mix dairy with meat or chicken.) 7:15 PM Erev Shabbat Family Service (TJS and 3rd Grade participating) Saturday, January 9 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan Sunday, January 10 9:00 AM Brotherhood Meeting in the Cottage 9:00 AM Hebrew 10:15 AM Mishpacha Sheli/Jewish Studies 11:30 AM Rabbi Simcha Green An Orthodox Rabbi Defends Reform Practice presented by Brotherhood. No charge. Wednesday, January 13 Noon: Lunch and Learn Friday, January 15 6:00 PM Tot Shabbat/Potluck Dinner 7:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service MARK YOUR CALENDAR Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 PM Herb Kwart will speak about The Jewish Recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. No charge. Presented by Sisterhood. Light reception to follow. eScrip is Unique! No Cost to You! We participate in a powerful fundraising opportunity...eScrip, a hassle-free way for Temple to raise funds through everyday purchases made at eScrip merchants. **Log on to www.escrip.com and click on "sign up." **Designate Temple Emanu-El to receive contributions. **Our group ID# is 136985180. **Register your credit/debit, Safeway/Macy's cards. That's it! Visit eScrip merchants to shop and earn. It's automatic. Any questions, call Lorie Kaplan, eScrip coordinator, 408.267.4563 Other Events of Interest: Are you part of a young Couple? Come spend a night with other young Jewish couples! Enjoy monthly gatherings with food, games, great conversation and other fun activities! For more information contact Lisa Sobel at <a href="mailto:Lisas@templesanjose.org">Lisas@templesanjose.org</a> or find us on Facebook! Couples Night Out is brought to you by Temple Emanu-El and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Young Adults Division & is open to all couples, ages 21-45. All SVYAD events occur in an open & welcoming environment. IN THE COMMUNITY Technisource is looking for a Hebrew Linguist Ideally with strong technical backgrounds for a job opening at ebay and paypal. To apply e-mail resumes to <a href="mailto:GinaMasongsong@Technisource.com">GinaMasongsong@Technisource.com</a> JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES Networking Meeting Held monthly at Temple Emanu-El Second Tuesday of the month 10:30 AM noon in the BFR Come share job search strategies, learn interviewing and resume techniques, make connections with new, share contacts. RSVP requested to the Temple office, 292-0939. Drop-ins welcome. Next dates: January 12 and February 9. Admissions Open House at Kehillah Jewish High School Sunday January 10 at 2 p.m. Come discover Kehillah Jewish High School at its Admissions Open House on Sunday January 10 at 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto 94303! Hear from our students, faculty and administrators; take a student-led tour of our facility; visit our science labs, art and music studios, theater and beit midrash; discover how the Oshman Family JCC enhances the life of Kehillah students and teams; learn about our outstanding academic program, Jewish studies curriculum, after school sports programs, class trips and extra-curricular clubs and activities. RSVP to Marily Lerner at 650 213 9600 x154 or <a href="mailto:mlerner@kehillah.org">mlerner@kehillah.org</a>. Open to all middle school families! SAVE THE DATE: Sunday January 24 1:00 8:00 PM JEWBILEE celebrating Jewish Life at the APJCC A day of classes, programs and performances. Open Kosher Buffet, film screenings, programming for all ages; complimentary daycare. $7 for adults $4 senior/students. Check it out: www.svjcc.org/jewbilee Torah portion from www.urj.org Va-ychi, Genesis 47:2850:26 Shabbat, January 2, 2010 / 16 Tevet, 5770 The Torah: A Modern Commentary, pp. 302316; Revised Edition, pp. 304322 The Torah: A Womens Commentary, pp. 281304 Haftarah, I Kings 2:112 D'VAR TORAH A Story of Hope Evan Moffic Without giving anything away, I can say publicly that Dan Brown's long-awaited sequel to The Da Vinci Code, which is called The Lost Symbol (New York, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2009), ends with a nechamta, a note of comfort. Despite the trials and betrayals it depicts, the book gives the reader a sense of hope and possibility upon completion. A similar feeling awaits us at the end of the Book of Genesis. In Genesis, we witness a powerful drama. Among its key points of tension is sibling rivalry. Beginning with Cain and Abel, brothers in Genesis do not have outstanding relationships. Cain murders Abel. Ishmael is banished soon after Isaac is born. Jacob flees Esau, who seeks to murder him for tricking their father into giving Jacob his heartfelt blessing. Jacob's sons sell their brother Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelites. A note of contention is heard throughout the book. Underlying this contention, in most cases, is a feeling that one sibling is preferred over another. In the case of Cain and Abel, God prefers Abel's offering. It seems that Isaacand not Ishmaelis the son destined to further Abraham's line. While Esau is preferred by his father, Jacob is favored by his mother, who helps him beguile his father. Joseph is clearly and visibly the preferred son of his father Jacob. How does this constant tension end? It ends on a soaring note of reconciliation. It ends with a renewal of ties between Joseph and his brothers. When Joseph tells his brothers that his coming to Egypt was part of God's plan to preserve the family of Jacob, he reframes their relationship (Genesis 45:58). When Joseph brings the entire family to Egypt and helps them settle in the fertile region of Goshen, he strikes a new note of family harmony (47:1112). And after their father Jacob dies, Joseph seals this reconciliation by repeating his promise not to harm his brothers and his belief in a divine plan underlying what they had done to him (50:1921). What are the lessons we can draw from this magnificent and hopeful ending? The first is the power of forgiveness. "To err is human," Alexander Pope said, "to forgive is divine." No other sibling relationship in Genesis is so overtly and clearly mended through words of forgiveness as is that between Joseph and his brothers. It represents a growth in character in both Joseph and his brothers, and it is essential to the ongoing narrative of the Torah. Without peace between the children of Jacob, how can they become a nation as they do in Exodus? Without peace among brothers, how can we imagine peace among the nations of the world as we do in the prophetic books (see, for example, Isaiah 2:4, 11:6)? Forgiveness is an act that opens the door to the future. In the reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers we also see, I think, an insight into the nature of being chosen. One can read the earlier stories of sibling rivalry and conclude that God has favorites: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over his brothers. Perhaps, then, God prefers the nation of Israel over other peoples in the world, and that is the meaning of Israel's status as am sgulah, a treasured people? If this is so, then we might agree with those historians and theologians who argue that the notion of Jews as the Chosen People" conveys an elitism that is the basis for antisemitism. The text, I believe, teaches us otherwise. In the Book of Genesis, God promises that Ishmael will be the father of a great nation (Genesis 21:18). Isaac blesses Esau (27:3840) in addition to Jacob (27:2729; 28:14). A midrash has Cain teaching his father Adam about the power of tshuvah (Genesis Rabbah 22:13). And, Joseph's brother Judah is promised royal descendants (49:10). Divine choice of one person or nation does not mean that another is rejected or bereft of a relationship to God. Being chosen implies difference, not superiority. A second lesson we can draw from our ending is that a dominant theme of Genesis is hope, not optimism. As Rabbi Michael Marmur writes, The two are often confused, but they are profoundly different. Optimism is the belief that things will get better. Hope is the faith that with our efforts, we can help make things better. Optimism is passive; hope is active. Unlike optimism or pessimism, which are qualities we are often born with, hope is something we can embrace. As Marmur says, "while optimism is a matter of personality or disposition, hope is a matter of faith" (Reform Judaism, Summer 2009, <a href="http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1470">http://reformjudaismmag.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=1470</a>). The Book of Genesis, the first of our five core books of faith, guides us in embracing it. It guides us not through dogma or law, but through stories. Genesis exemplifies our Jewish passion for understanding our lives through the stories and relationships that shape it. While the creation of the world requires only thirty-four verses of the book, the stories of our ancestors and their relationships with one another take up all the rest. As students of Torah in the twenty-first century, our task is to make those stories our own. As Arnold Eisen puts it, "We start where and as we are, take on the tradition as we find it and, one by one, commit differently to the same covenant, and so inscribe ourselves in the never-ending story of the Jewish people and its Torah" (Taking Hold of Torah: Jewish Commitment and Community in America, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1997, p. xiii). Rabbi Evan Moffic is senior rabbi of Congregation Solel in Highland Park, Illinois. DAVAR ACHER Slichah! Justin Kerber I couldnt agree more with Rabbi Evan Moffics conclusion that forgiveness opens the door to the future. In fact, forgiveness is one of the most redemptive gifts a person can ever give. Im not sure Joseph showed such forgiveness toward his brothers, at least not at first, but never mind. Forgiveness has the power to sweep away the mightiest walls of resentment and pain that we build for ourselves and one another. It is always an option to grant forgiveness freely; Im not saying that one should, but that one can. There are some actssexual abuse, murder, or the intentional infliction of severe emotional harm come to mindthat are not immediately forgivable. But forgiveness is always an option. Since Rabbi Moffics dvar mentions story telling as another of his themes, Ill illustrate what I mean with a true story: Rami Elchanan is a graphic artist and a seventh generation Jerusalemite. His daughter, Smadar (grape vine), was born on Erev Kol Nidrei, 1983. Fourteen years later, just before another Kol Nidrei, she was blown to shreds by a Palestinian suicide bomber who struck the Ben Yhudah pedestrian mall. What was Ramis response? I met Rami when he appeared with his colleague, Azmi Bishara, representing the Parents Circle Families Forum, an organization of Israelis and Palestinians alike who have lost family members in the violence of the conflict. As Rami says, If we, who have paid the highest price possible, can carry on a dialogue, then anyone can! " The Yom Kippur liturgy quotes God saying, Salachti ki dvarecha, I have pardoned according to your plea. It matters that God says, Salachti, I have forgiven, but not machalti, I have forgotten. Forgiving does not have to mean all is forgotten, only that one has chosen to move forward, abandoning all hope of a better past. Rabbi Justin Kerber is senior rabbi at Temple Emanuel in St. Louis, Missouri.

Update for December 23, 2009

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:24:00 GMT

It's almost a New Calendar Year! Do we have the right e-mail address on file for your family? Let us help you with a new year's resolution to go green! We can send your statements and Connections bulletin via e-mail! Send your name and e-mail address to <a href="mailto:Lisas@templesanjose.org!">Lisas@templesanjose.org!</a> Adult Ed Spring 2010 Registration is OPEN! Pick up a flyer from the Shalom Table or go online to: <a href="http://templesanjose.org/index.php/education/adult-education.html">http://templesanjose.org/index.php/education/adult-education.html</a> Did you take any photos of Chanukah events at Temple Emanu-El? Send them to Lisa at <a href="mailto:lisas@templesanjose.org">lisas@templesanjose.org</a> to have them added to Connections! As the calendar year 2009 draws to a close and you review your tax situation, consider making an additional donation to Temple Emanu-El or accelerating your 09-10 membership commitment before December 31. Please contact Drew Barkley in the admin office if you have any special arrangements you would like to make, including IRA disbursements. Thank you. Services and Temple Events Friday, December 25 5:00 PM Chinese Dinner by Brotherhood (RSVP required) 6:30 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service Saturday, December 26 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan led by Maggie Cant 10:30 AM Sydney Levine will be called to Torah as a Bat Mitzvah HOLIDAY SCHEDULES The Temple Administrative office will close at noon Thursday, December 24 and 31. If you need to reach the office with end of the year matters, please plan accordingly. The synagogue will be closed on December 25 and January 1. Services on both Fridays will be @ 6:30 pm. RELIGIOUS SCHOOL No Wednesday classes December 23 & 30 No Sunday classes December 20, 27, January 3. PRESCHOOL WINTER BREAK December 21 January 1. Resumes January 4, 2010. Wednesday, January 6 4:00 PM Hebrew NO Bnai Mitzvah Prep class this week 6:15 PM TJS Friday, January 8: 6:15 PM, Congregational Potluck Dinner Last name begins with A-H: Bring a Side Dish or Salad Last name begins with I-Z: Bring an Entrée (NO pork or shellfish and please do not mix dairy with meat or chicken.) 7:15 PM Erev Shabbat Family Service (TJS and 3rd Grade participating) Saturday, January 9 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan Sunday, January 10 9:00 AM Brotherhood Meeting in the Cottage 9:00 AM Hebrew 10:15 AM Mishpacha Sheli/Jewish Studies 11:30 AM Rabbi Simcha Green An Orthodox Rabbi Defends Reform Practice presented by Brotherhood. Wednesday, January 13 Noon: Lunch and Learn Friday, January 15 6:00 PM Tot Shabbat/Potluck Dinner 7:30 PM Erev Shabbat Service Other Events of Interest: Are you part of a young Couple? Come spend a night with other young Jewish couples! Enjoy monthly gatherings with food, games, great conversation and other fun activities! For more information contact Lisa Sobel at <a href="mailto:Lisas@templesanjose.org">Lisas@templesanjose.org</a> or find us on Facebook! Couples Night Out is brought to you by Temple Emanu-El and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Young Adults Division & is open to all couples, ages 21-45. All SVYAD events occur in an open & welcoming environment. IN THE COMMUNITY Technisource is looking for a Hebrew Linguist Ideally with strong technical backgrounds for a job opening at ebay and paypal. To apply e-mail resumes to <a href="mailto:GinaMasongsong@Technisource.com">GinaMasongsong@Technisource.com</a> JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES Networking Meeting Held monthly at Temple Emanu-El Second Tuesday of the month 10:30 AM noon in the BFR Come share job search strategies, learn interviewing and resume techniques, make connections with new, share contacts. RSVP requested to the Temple office, 292-0939. Drop-ins welcome. Next dates: January 12 and February 9. Admissions Open House at Kehillah Jewish High School Sunday January 10 at 2 p.m. Come discover Kehillah Jewish High School at its Admissions Open House on Sunday January 10 at 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto 94303! Hear from our students, faculty and administrators; take a student-led tour of our facility; visit our science labs, art and music studios, theater and beit midrash; discover how the Oshman Family JCC enhances the life of Kehillah students and teams; learn about our outstanding academic program, Jewish studies curriculum, after school sports programs, class trips and extra-curricular clubs and activities. RSVP to Marily Lerner at 650 213 9600 x154 or <a href="mailto:mlerner@kehillah.org">mlerner@kehillah.org</a>. Open to all middle school families! SAVE THE DATE: Sunday January 24 1:00 8:00 PM JEWBILEE celebrating Jewish Life at the APJCC A day of classes, programs and performances. Open Kosher Buffet, film screenings, programming for all ages; complimentary daycare. $7 for adults $4 senior/students. Check it out: www.svjcc.org/jewbilee Torah portion from www.urj.org Vayigash, Genesis 44:18-47:27 Shabbat, December 26, 2009 / 9 Tevet, 5770 D'VAR TORAH We Are What We Remember Evan Moffic One of our Reform liturgy's (and Rabbi Jack Riemer's) most beautiful poems begins with the words, "In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them. In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them." Continuing, we read "When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them. When we have decisions that our difficult to make, we remember them" (Gates of Repentence: The New Union Prayerbook for the Days of Awe, Chaim Stern, ed. [New York: Central Conference of America Rabbis, 1978, rev. 1996], pp. 490491). Part of the power of this poem comes, I think, from its evoking of memory. Whenever a loved one dies, our hearts and minds fill with memories. Yet, relationships with those to whom we are close are often complicated and shaped by a variety of experiences. When I meet with children whose parents have died, they often tell me of periods of time when they were not in close contact with their mom or dad. "We had our issues for a few years," they say. In most cases, there was some form of reconciliation and understanding, and the children are grateful for it. Yet, while we do not forget those years of difficulty, when a loved one dies, we try to remember what we loved about that them. We try to see their lives from what Spinoza called subspecies aeterni, from the perspective of eternity. We try to remember the beautiful moments that imbued a relationship with empathy and love. Riemer's poem helps us do so. It guides and affirms our power to choose what we remember, and it frames those memories in a positive and affirming way. Joseph also illustrates this power in this week's Torah reading. His brothers stand before him. He has decided to reveal his identity. What, then, will he say to them? What will be the future of their relationship? Will he dwell on their past behavior? Will he seek to avenge their wrongs toward him? As vizier of Egypt, he certainly has the capacity to do so. Yet, he chooses a different response. After revealing his identity, Joseph immediately asks about Jacob: is my father alive? (Genesis 45:3). His brothers are in shock. They do not answer. Perhaps they fear that Joseph will now take his revenge. Responding to their disbelief and their probable fear, Joseph then takes a significant step. He reframes their relationship. Rather than remember their hatred toward him and their leaving him for dead, he states that his arrival in Egypt was God's plan all along. We read, "and now, dont be troubled, dont be chagrined because you sold me here, for it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. There have already been two years of famine in the land, and [there remain] five more years without plowing or harvesting. So God has sent me ahead of you to assure your survival in the land, and to keep you alive for a great deliverance" (45:57). Except for Joseph's statement, there is no other place in the text that indicates that God had planned Joseph's sale to Egypt so that he could later save his brethren. In contrast to God's revelation to Abraham in verse 15:13 that his descendants would experience slavery in Egypt, there is no indication from God that Joseph's rise in Egypt was part of a divine plan. What, then, motivates Joseph to take this point of view? He could easily have remembered the ruthless way his brothers treated him. He could have recalled the way they ate and drank while he suffered alone in a pit, and then sold him like an animal to a passing caravan. Yet, he also could have recalled his own treatment of them. He might have remembered the way he had taunted them with his dreams of dominance and flaunted his favored status with his coat of many colors. He had a choice to remember the wrongs done to him or those done by him. He had the opportunity to take revenge or seek reconciliation. It depende d on what he chose to remember. We also face similar dilemmas. If a relationship has soured, we can remember the acts committed by the other person. We can recall the words they said or the acts they committed. If we do so, we usually feel vindicated. We might also recall, however, our own actions. When relationships deteriorate, each party has some level of responsibility. If we remember our deeds, we are more likely to be understanding of the other and find a way to fix what has been broken. As we recall our recent celebration of Chanukah, we can also reflect on what we choose to remember about the historical events surrounding the holiday. Chanukah is not simply about a cruse of oil that lasted for eight days. It is about a war between a group of Jews known as the Maccabees, who fought both the Seleucids and fellow Jews who were less antagonistic to the policies of the Seleucid king, Antiochus. While not ignoring the military aspect of the holiday, we usually focus on its spiritual and cultural lessons. We emphasize that our Maccabean ancestors sought the freedom to worship in their own way. Rather than blow trumpets or wave flags in celebration of military victory, we emphasize God's miraculous power in keeping the oil going for eight days. Like Joseph, we choose what to remember. This power to choose is a tremendous one. It shapes the way we respond to the past and create our future. We are what we remember. Rabbi Evan Moffic is senior rabbi of Congregation Solel in Highland Park, Illinois. DAVAR ACHER We Are What We Remember . . . A Daily Practice of Mindfulness Andrew Klein Ive been privileged to hear Rabbi Michael Marmur, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion, speak on a number of occasions. Marmur offers a powerful tool to help us practice mindful thinking: he suggests that we can approach each moment of our lives with either an attitude of Oy! or of Wow! Oy! I have to go to the gym today! or. . . Wow! I get to go the gym today and take care of this healthy body that God has given me. Marmur suggests that we look at the world through the eyes of Abraham Joshua Heschelwith a sense of radical amazement, with a feeling of Wow!, and with an appreciation for the miracles around us all the time (see Abraham Joshua Heschel, God in Search of Man [New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997]). The Torah provides us with many examples of this kind of focused mindfulness. In Genesis 9:16 we read, When the bow is in the cloud, and I see it, I will remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living beings, all that live upon the earth. What will we remember when we see a rainbow? Oy! God was angry with our behavior and almost destroyed all living things on earth orWow! Look at the miraculous beauty of Gods world and the safety and security that the rainbow promises us! Rabbi Moffic points out that in our parashah Josephs actions toward his brothers were based on what he chose to remember. Moffic writes that what we choose to remember shapes the way we respond to the past and create our future. We all make choices about the attitudes we carry through life. It takes effort and practice to live with an attitude of Wow! But if we remember that God is in our lives, guiding and helping us along our way, then the choice becomes a lot simpler to make. If we choose to remember yesterday with an attitude of Wow! rather than Oy! we develop the muscle to approach today with the sense of promise and possibility for what this wonderful new day might bring. Rabbi Andrew Klein is the rabbi at Temple Habonim in Barrington, Rhode Island.

Chinese Dinner and Discounted Entertainment Books

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:02:00 GMT

THERE IS STILL TIME To RSVP for the Brotherhood-sponsored Chinese dinner 5 PM on Friday, December 25, 2009. Come down, continue the age-old tradition, eat with your Temple friends, and stay for services at 6:30 PM. Cost: $10 per person -- you can pay at the door. But you need to contact us: send an email to <a href="mailto:dvorazim@templesanjose.org">dvorazim@templesanjose.org</a> or call the Temple office, 292-0939. By noon on Wednesday so adequate food may be ordered. DID YOU HEAR? Entertainment Books are still available in the Gift Shop, but only until this Friday. At the new price of $25 each. One for you, one for a friend. If you only use it twice, it's paid for itself. Remember that a portion of the proceeds benefit the synagogue as well. Don't miss out! Come by the office, or pick one up after the motzi on Friday, December 25.

Emanu-El Update for December 17, 2009

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:03:00 GMT

It's almost a New Calendar Year! Do we have the right e-mail address on file for your family? Let us help you with a new year's resolution to go green! Let us e-mail you your statements and Connections! Send your name and e-mail address to <a href="mailto:Lisas@templesanjose.org!">Lisas@templesanjose.org!</a> This Friday: 7:30 PM service: Last night of Chanukah and Ask the Rabbi VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY OF THE WEEK: Grant Writer Did you know Temple Emanu-El receives funds from Sinai Memorial Chapel to support Religious School programs? We have an opportunity to pursue more grants in support of our synagogue, and need your help. Description: Help match grant opportunities with Temple program needs, identify how those needs fit with exciting or new programs, and write grant proposals to request funds. Work with staff and committee members in this process. Please contact Ruth Pangilinan at <a href="mailto:pangilinan@gmail.com">pangilinan@gmail.com</a> YOUTH ENRICHMENT SCHOLARSHIPS (formerly known as camperships): Forms available in the School office, and will be available soon online. Register NOW for the camp sessions you want, as some may fill quickly. Application deadline for scholarships: January 24, 2010, the same day that there will be presentations from the local camps. Keep the tradition: CHINESE DINNER ON DECEMBER 25 before services. 5:00 PM, Friday, December 25. $10 per person. Organized by Brotherhood. RSVP requested by December 22 so we can plan enough food. Send email to <a href="mailto:brotherhood@templesanjose.org">brotherhood@templesanjose.org</a> and let us know how many will be attending. You can pay at the door. Services and Temple Events Friday, December 18 3:30 PM Emanu-El lights candles @ Santana Row 6:00 PM Tot Shabbat (with Kindergarten class) and potluck 7:30 Erev Shabbat Service: Last night of Chanukah and Ask the Rabbi Saturday, December 19 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan 10:30 AM Anna Levine will be called to Torah as a Bat Mitzvah Friday, December 25 5:00 PM Chinese Dinner by Brotherhood (RSVP required) Saturday, December 26 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan 10:30 AM Sydney Levine will be called to Torah as a Bat Mitzvah HOLIDAY SCHEDULES The Temple Administrative office will close at noon Thursday, December 24 and 31. If you need to reach the office with end of the year matters, please plan accordingly. The synagogue will be closed on December 25 and January 1. Services on both Fridays will be @ 6:30 pm. RELIGIOUS SCHOOL No Wednesday classes December 23 & 30 No Sunday classes December 20, 27, January 3. PRESCHOOL WINTER BREAK December 21 January 1. Resumes January 4, 2010. Friday, January 8: 6:15 PM, Congregational Potluck Dinner Last name begins with A-H: Bring a Side Dish or Salad Last name begins with I-Z: Bring an Entrée (NO pork or shellfish and please do not mix dairy with meat or chicken.) 7:15 PM Erev Shabbat Family Service Other Events of Interest: Are you part of a young Couple? Come spend a night with other young Jewish couples! Enjoy monthly gatherings with food, games, great conversation and other fun activities! For more information contact Lisa Sobel at <a href="mailto:Lisas@templesanjose.org">Lisas@templesanjose.org</a> or find us on Facebook! Couples Night Out is brought to you by Temple Emanu-El and the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley Young Adults Division & is open to all couples, ages 21-45. All SVYAD events occur in an open & welcoming environment. IN THE COMMUNITY Technisource is looking for a Hebrew Linguist Ideally with strong technical backgrounds for a job opening at ebay and paypal. To apply e-mail resumes to <a href="mailto:GinaMasongsong@Technisource.com">GinaMasongsong@Technisource.com</a> JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES Networking Meeting Held monthly at Temple Emanu-El Second Tuesday of the month 10:30 AM noon in the BFR Come share job search strategies, learn interviewing and resume techniques, make connections with new, share contacts. RSVP requested to the Temple office, 292-0939. Drop-ins welcome. Next dates: January 12 and February 9. Admissions Open House at Kehillah Jewish High School Sunday January 10 at 2 p.m. Come discover Kehillah Jewish High School at its Admissions Open House on Sunday January 10 at 3900 Fabian Way, Palo Alto 94303! Hear from our students, faculty and administrators; take a student-led tour of our facility; visit our science labs, art and music studios, theater and beit midrash; discover how the Oshman Family JCC enhances the life of Kehillah students and teams; learn about our outstanding academic program, Jewish studies curriculum, after school sports programs, class trips and extra-curricular clubs and activities. RSVP to Marily Lerner at 650 213 9600 x154 or <a href="mailto:mlerner@kehillah.org">mlerner@kehillah.org</a>. Open to all middle school families! Thanks to the great negotiating skills of Brandeis, the Entertainment Books have been discounted by $5.00. We only have about 18 left and they will be on sale in the gift shop for $25 until the 25th of December.. Gift Check books will also be available until the 25th. Torah portion from www.urj.org

Happy Chanukah: Update for December 10

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:39:00 GMT

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY OF THE WEEK: Grant Writer Did you know Temple Emanu-El receives funds from Sinai Memorial Chapel to support Religious School programs? We have an opportunity to pursue more grants in support of our synagogue, and need your help. Description: Help match grant opportunities with Temple program needs, identify how those needs fit with exciting or new programs, and write grant proposals to request funds. Work with staff and committee members in this process. Please contact Ruth Pangilinan at <a href="mailto:pangilinan@gmail.com">pangilinan@gmail.com</a> YEAR END CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR SYNAGOGUE If it would benefit your 2009 tax situation, please do consider an extra donation to Temple Emanu-El, or perhaps accelerating your membership pledge that you would pay in 2010. Distributions from IRA's also welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Drew Barkley in the Temple office. YOUTH ENRICHMENT SCHOLARSHIPS (formerly known as camperships): Forms available in the School office, and will be available soon online. Register NOW for the camp sessions you want as some may fill quickly. Application deadline for scholarships: January 24, 2010, the same day that there will be presentations from the local camps. Keep the tradition: CHINESE DINNER ON DECEMBER 25 before services. 5:00 PM, Friday, December 25. $10 per person. Organized by Brotherhood. RSVP requested by December 22 so we can plan enough food. Send email to <a href="mailto:brotherhood@templesanjose.org">brotherhood@templesanjose.org</a> and let us know how many will be attending. You can pay at the door. Check out the Chanukah Resources Page from the Union for Reform Judaism: <a href="http://urj.org/holidays/chanukah/">http://urj.org/holidays/chanukah/</a> Services and Temple Events Holiday Hours In the Community Torah Portion Friday, December 11 First Night of Chanukah 7:30 PM ROCK SHABBAT CHANUKAH SERVICE in Temple House Bring your chanukiyah and 2 candles if you wish. Saturday, December 12 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan led by Rabbi Magat and Cantor Simerly 10:00 AM noon: Bnai Mitzvah Class Parent Session 5:00 PM Renanim (Jr. Choir) to Chai House (congregants invited) Sunday, December 13 9:00 AM Hebrew/Confirmation 9:00 AM Brotherhood Meeting (BFR) 10:15 AM Jewish Studies/Adult Ed 11:30 AM Adult Ed: The Real Untold Story of Chanukah (BFR) Wednesday, December 16 6:15 PM Game Night for TJS/Moving On 6:00 PM Kadima/Noar (Junior Youth Groups) Game Night & Chanukah (grades 4-7) Friday, December 18 3:30 PM Emanu-El lights candles @ Santana Row 6:00 PM Tot Shabbat (with Kindergarten class) and potluck 7:30 Erev Shabbat Service Saturday, December 19 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan 10:30 AM Anna Levine will be called to Torah as a Bat Mitzvah Friday, December 25 5:00 PM Chinese Dinner by Brotherhood (RSVP required) Saturday, December 226 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan 10:30 AM Sydney Levine will be called to Torah as a Bat Mitzvah HOLIDAY SCHEDULES The Temple Administrative office will close at noon Thursday, December 24 and 31. If you need to reach the office with end of the year matters, please plan accordingly. The synagogue will be closed on December 25 and January 1. Services on both Fridays will be @ 6:30 pm. RELIGIOUS SCHOOL No Wednesday classes December 23 & 30 No Sunday classes December 20, 27, January 3. PRESCHOOL WINTER BREAK December 21 January 1. Resumes January 4, 2010. Other Events of Interest: PRESCHOOL FOOD/FROZEN TURKEY DRIVE The goal is 100 turkeys to help 2nd Harvest meet their goal of 10,000. This year in particular, the need is very great. Please bring your contributions by December 15. Contact the preschool office, <a href="mailto:barbara@templesanjose.org">barbara@templesanjose.org</a>, if you have any questions or a large number of turkeys to donate. Check out the sale ads for the local stores and youll find turkeys and all the fixings and side dishes as people prepare for the holidays. ANNA LEVINES MITZVAH PROJECT Anna is collecting toiletries to be given to the Women and Childrens Shelter as part of their welcome baskets. Please check to see if you have any samples/hotel size products you could donate. Bring them to the School office on Sunday mornings, December 6 & 13, or to the Admin office during the week. IN THE COMMUNITY Limited spaces left for THE BEST OF EASTERN CANADA May 29 June 8, 2010 11 Days, 16 meals. Travel with Fagie Rosen and friends. Deadline is January 15th. Double: $2995; Single $3745, Triple $2945. Featuring Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Niagara Falls and Toronto RSVP or questions: Fagie @ 408 357 7533 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES Networking Meeting Held monthly at Temple Emanu-El Second Tuesday of the month 10:30 AM noon in the BFR Come share job search strategies, learn interviewing and resume techniques, make connections with new, share contacts. RSVP requested to the Temple office, 292-0939. Drop-ins welcome. Next dates: January 12 and February 9. Torah portion from www.urj.org Vayeishev, Genesis 37:1-40:23 First Shabbat Chanukah, December 12, 2009 / 25 Kislev, 5770 D'VAR TORAH Hidden in Plain Sight Evan Moffic Several of our commentaries have focused on the power of words. In the Torah, words are a means of creation and revelation; of producing the world, as in Genesis 1-3; and of revealing truths about humanity. Occasionally, a word that recurs in a narrative can hint at an underlying lesson that does not seem obvious in the story itself. We have a beautiful example in this week's Torah reading. It is found in the incident between Joseph and the wife of his master Potiphar. A courtier to Pharaoh, Potiphar made Joseph his chief steward. Potiphar's wifewhom the text does not namewas attracted to Joseph and tried to seduce him. When he refused, she succeeded in grabbing an article of his clothing that she presented to her husband as proof that Joseph sought to seduce her. Joseph was thrown in prison (39:1120). In Hebrew, the article of clothing is called a beged. The word beged appears six times during the ten verses describing this incident. It is clearly a word that cries out for attention. A clue to its importance can be found in another Hebrew word that shares the root bet-gimel-dalet. It is the word begidah, which means "treachery" or "deception." What is the connection between clothing and treachery? Appearances can deceive. What the eye beholds may hide rather than reveal truth. In this instance that is certainly the case. Potiphar's wife convinced her husband that Joseph did try to seduce her and her proof is the beged, the article of clothing she took from him. This incident brings to mind an earlier one in which another article of clothingJoseph's coatwas dipped in blood by his brothers and used to prove to their father that he had been eaten by a wild animal (37:3133). In both cases, clothing is a means for begidah. I think we can take this idea beyond simple clothing to argue that the way a situation or even a text appears is often misleading. Truth is often concealed behind layers of deception. The concealment of truth is a core principle of Jewish mystical tradition. The nistar, hidden dimension of Torah, is what kabbalists seek to uncover. The connection between appearances and deception can also give us a way to understand and uncover ourselves. A particular type of clothing is often used to fit in and identify with a certain profession or culture. When I wear a suit and tallit during worship, I occasionally joke that it's my uniform. What we wear sends a message of who we are. Yet as Eugene Borowitz pointed out in one of his early books, The Mask Jews Wear: The Self-Deceptions of American Jewry, we can deceive otherseven ourselvesby the way we appear (New York: Simon and Schuster Publishing, 1973). Style can easily replace substance. By fitting in, we can convince ourselves of our success. The Book of Esther, where appearances and deception play such a critical role, teaches the futility of this exercise. Esther (from the Hebrew root samach-tav-reish, meaning hide) became queen in Persia and beyond (from India to Ethiopia) but did not identify herself as a Jew. When her cousin and foster father Mordecai discovered Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews of Shushan, he told Esther that it was time to reveal her identity. She hesitated, as any of us might in times of crisis. Difficult times present us with the hardest decisions. Yet, Esther decided to go ahead and reveal her identity. She may well have been persuaded by Mordecai's argument that ultimately, truth and justice will prevail, and that Esther could help bring this about by revealing her identity. As he says, ". . . if you remain silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another quarter, while you and your fathers house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis (Esther 4:14). On Purim, we wear costumes and disguise ourselves as a form o f merriment. The costumes illustrate the way our appearances can be easily altered, and our true selves, hidden. Not only can appearances be used to intentionally hide truth. Occasionally, what we seek is hidden in plain sight all around us. Our eyes focus on what is bright and colorful. We see the frosting but miss the cake. Part of why we read Torah, I think, is to give us a deeper perspective on the world: Torah helps us see the eternal amidst the everyday. The difficulty of this task is illustrated in a commencement address penned by the late writer David Foster Wallace and published posthumously in a book called This Is Water. It opens with a parable about two young fish swimming in the water. They happen to meet an older fish swimming the opposite way. The older fish nods at them and says, "Morning boys, how's the water." The young fish swim off. A few minutes later, one of them turns to the other and says, "What the hell is water?" The point of the story, Wallace goes on to say, is that the most important realities are often the most difficult to see. Whats most familiar is often what's least noticed. Growing as a human being, Wallace writes, is an ongoing tutorial in learning what is most importantin figuring out what to notice and where to place our attention. It is not easy. In the age of BlackBerry devices and fifty-inch television screens, thousands of things compete for our attentionpossessions, entertainment, frivolity. Yet, when we pray, when we study, when we listen to the wisdom of those who preceded us, we learn how to better focus it. Indeed, Wallace may have unknowingly defined the purpose of Torah when he said that true learning seeks what is so true and what is hidden in plain sight all around us. (See David Foster Wallace, This Is Water [New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2009], pp. 3, 4, 8). Rabbi Evan Moffic is senior rabbi of Congregation Solel in Highland Park, Illinois. DAVAR ACHER Deception Yet Again Amy Schwartzman In his commentary, Rabbi Moffic uncovers the multilayer message found in the story of Joseph and Potiphars wife. What appears to be a simple story about a womans desire for a man turns out to be a lesson in deception, sex, and power. Of course, this is not the first time we are presented with these themes. Our ancestors seem to be regularly engaged in events that include the use of trickery, the crossing of intimate boundaries, and the desire for authority and control. Just moments before Josephs encounter with these themes, we read about his brother Judah engaging in a similar affair. After the death of his first two sons, both of whom had been married to Tamar, Judah is reluctant to allow his third son to marry Tamar. Tamar senses that Judah will never follow through with the betrothal (a Levirate obligation), despite the fact that she is entitled to a family by Judahs lineage. Tamar engages in a play of deceit, sex, and power when she changes from her widows clothes, bigdei almnutah (bigdei, from the Hebrew root, bet-gimel-dalet) to those of a harlot. She covers herself in a veil and hides her true identity from Judah. She acquires Judahs seal, cord, and staff as collateral for payment for her prostitution. When Tamar becomes pregnant and Judah accuses her of promiscuity, she produces his collateral forcing him to admit: She is more in the right than I (Genesis 38:26). These stories of treachery seem to fill our Tanachfrom Eden to Canaan to Shushan and beyond. In this case, however, Judah steps up and takes responsibility for his part in the power play. Perhaps this is why both he and Tamar are rewarded with not one, but two sons, including Perez, the ancestor of King David. The story invites us consider how we might reach similarly noble ends without resorting to immoral and deceptive means. Rabbi Amy Schwartzman is the senior rabbi of Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia.

Update for December 3, 2009

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:33:00 GMT

There is only ONE MORE DAY TO ORDER CHANUKAH TREAT BOXES: Challahs for Dallahs extended their earning potential at the Sisterhood Chanukah Boutique, selling CHANUKAH TREAT BOXES, which included homemade fudge and biscotti. The teens hope to raise over $500 for Toys for Tots during this holiday season! If you missed their booth, Lisa Sobel, the class adviser, is accepting orders through Friday, December 4, via e-mail <a href="mailto:lisas@templesanjose.org">lisas@templesanjose.org</a>. The boxes come in two sizes: small and large. The small contains a half-pound of fudge, 6 biscotti and assorted drinks and costs $7. The large includes a full pound of fudge, 12 biscotti and assorted drinks and sells for $14. Pick them up at the Challahs for Dallahs table outside the Temple House on Sunday at 12:45 PM, December 6 and 13th. You can pay when you pick them up. Makes a lovely gift, or an indulgence for yourself! ADULT ED: THE DECEMBER DILEMMA This Sunday, December 6, 11:30 AM in the Benefactors Room Join Rabbi Magat in a discussion of the challenges so often faced by parents (particularly in interfaith families) in connection with the winter holidays. YOUNG COUPLES NIGHT OUT Wednesday, December 9 -- 7:00-9:00 PM 819 Myrtle Street, The Temple Cottage Services and Temple Events More information below on Sisterhood Meeting Tues Dec 8 6 PM Young Couples Gathering: Weds December 9 Preschool Holiday Food/Turkey Drive Chanukah Activities In the Community Life Cycle Notification Torah Portion Friday, December 4 6:15 PM Congregational Potluck Dinner Please bring a generous amount of food for your family as well as to share with others according to the following: Last name begins with A-H: Bring an Entrée (NO pork or shellfish, and please do not mix dairy with meat or chicken.) Last name begins with I-Z: Bring a Side Dish or Salad 7:15 PM Erev Shabbat Family Service (Gimel Hebrew and Grade 2) Saturday, December 5 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan led by Aaron Rubin 10:30 AM Alex Paulsen will be called to Torah as a Bar Mitzvah Sunday, December 6 9:00 AM Hebrew classes Confirmation Class Parent Session (with students) 10:15 AM Jewish Studies 10:15 AM Mishpacha Sheli 10:15/10:30 AM Adult Education classes 11:30 AM The December Dilemma adult ed class with Rabbi (BFR) 12:30 PM Renanim Rehearsal Tuesday, December 8 6:00 9:00 PM in the BFR Sisterhood Potluck Dinner/Meeting/Chanukah Gift Exchange. RSVP to Harriet Reisner if you plan to attend. All are welcome. Bring a dish to share for dinner and a wrapped gift (value $10) for the exchange. Wednesday, December 9 12:00 PM Lunch & Learn 4 PM Hebrew 5 PM Bnai Mitzvah Prep Class 6:15 PM TJS/Moving On NEW: YOUNG COUPLES NIGHT OUT Wednesday, December 9 -- 7:00-9:00 PM 819 Myrtle St, San Jose (The Temple Emanu-El Cottage) Join SVYAD for our monthly Couples group, a chance for couples to enjoy a night out! Well have food, fantastic company and a new discussion topic or activity each month. Decembers event is being chaired by Lisa Sobel and Benji Berlow. Stay tuned at www.svyad.org or our Facebook group for more details & Decembers topic (408) 357-7503 or <a href="mailto:svyad@jvalley.org">svyad@jvalley.org</a> to RSVP If any Temple members reading this know any young Jewish couples, please share this information. With appreciation to Temple Emanu-El for hosting! Check out the Chanukah Resources Page from the Union for Reform Judaism: <a href="http://urj.org/holidays/chanukah/">http://urj.org/holidays/chanukah/</a> Friday, December 11 First Night of Chanukah 7:30 PM ROCK SHABBAT CHANUKAH SERVICE in Temple House Bring your chanukiah and 2 candles. Saturday, December 12 9:00 AM Shabbat Morning Minyan 10:00 AM noon: Bnai Mitzvah Class Parent Session 5:00 PM Renanim (Jr. Choir) to Chai House (congregants invited) Sunday, December 13 9:00 AM Hebrew/Confirmation 10:15 AM Jewish Studies/Adult Ed 10:30 AM Brotherhood Meeting 11:30 AM Adult Ed: The Real Untold Story of Chanukah (BFR) Friday, December 18 3:30 PM Emanu-El lights candles @ Santana Row - congregants welcome to join us there 6:00 PM Tot Shabbat (with Kindergarten class) and potluck 7:30 Erev Shabbat Service Other Events of Interest: PRESCHOOL FOOD/FROZEN TURKEY DRIVE We received 105 turkeys before Thanksgiving. But we are not done yet. Donations will still be accepted until December 15. Contact the preschool office, <a href="mailto:barbara@templesanjose.org">barbara@templesanjose.org</a>, if you have any questions or a large number of turkeys to donate. Check out the sale ads for the local stores and youll find turkeys and all the fixings and side dishes as people prepare for the holidays. ANNA LEVINES MITZVAH PROJECT Anna is collecting toiletries to be given to the Women and Childrens Shelter as part of their welcome baskets. Please check to see if you have any samples/hotel size products you could donate. Bring them to the School office on Sunday mornings, December 6 & 13, or to the Admin office during the week. Challah for Dallahs Attention Temple Emanu-El Teens! Learn to bake palm-sized loaves of challah in traditional and not-so-traditional flavors, then help sell them for the cause of your choice after Sunday Religious School! Attention Challah Lovers! Stop by the Challah for a Dallah table on Sundays between 12:30-12:45 PM to purchase your palm-sized loaf! DO YOU HAVE A FUNCTIONING BREAD MACHINE THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER USING? Consider donating it to the synagogue to help the Challahs for Dallahs program! Thanks! Contact Lisa, <a href="mailto:lisas@templesanjose.org">lisas@templesanjose.org</a>. and Thank You! Are you a graduate of Temple Emanu-Els Religious School? Were looking for confirmands from the classes of 1962, 1963, and 1964 with folks from 1965 and 1961thrown in for good measure. We need your help putting together a great reunion this spring. For a blast from the past and to get more information planning contacting and just reconnecting with your youth, contact: Carol Cutler (class of 62) 266-9224 Janis Purwin (class of 63) 281-2451 Stan Cotton (class of 64) 265-1948 IN THE COMMUNITY This Saturday, December 5: Cantors Concert benefitting Reform Camp Scholarships CANTOR MEEKA WILL BE SINGING along with many other cantors from the whole Bay Area. Begins with Havdallah at 7:00 PM. @ Shir Hadash. $18 suggested donation. TWO TIERED MAH JONGG TOURNAMENT AT THE JCC CAMPUS Sunday, December 6, 9:30 AM 2:30 PM Dot, Crack, Bam, Flower, Dragonclick, click go the Mah Jongg tiles. Join mavens and novices for a two-tiered National Mah Jongg league style tournament hosted by the Womens Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of the Silicon Valley. Entry to the tournament is $54 which will include refreshments, lunch and prizes for the winners of both tiers. For more information or to register please visit our website at www.jvalley.org Llife Cycle Notification: We note with sorrow the passing of Cyril Weiss, mother of Arlene Greenberg. May her memory be a blessing. Torah portion from www.urj.org Vayishlach, Genesis 32:4-36:43 Shabbat, December 5, 2009 / 18 Kislev, 5770 D'VAR TORAH Brandeis and Jacob: Struggle and Change Evan Moffic In the 1940s, when a group of philanthropists sought to find a name for the American Jewish university they were opening outside of Boston, several ideas were debated. Some wanted to name the school after Albert Einstein. Others sought to honor a figure who had a recently passed away and was widely considered the most accomplished American Jew of the first half of the twentieth century. That figure was Louis Brandeis. Brandeis was not a conventional American Jew. He was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, in an assimilated family that had roots in the mystical Frankist movement of nineteenth-century Prague. Scholars speculate on the influence of his Frankist heritage on his later adoption of Zionism. Yet Brandeis had very little exposure to Judaism for the first half of his life. He married a cousin in a ceremony presided over by another relative, Felix Adler, the leader of the Ethical Culture movement. (For a comprehensive look at Brandeis's life, see the recently published book by Melvin Urofsky, Louis Brandeis: A Life [New York: Pantheon, 2009.) Sometime in his fifties, Brandeis felt a pull toward Zionism. Beginning in 1910, and culminating in his election as the head of the Provisional Executive Committee for General Zionist Affairs in 1914, Brandeis gave new stature and direction to the American Zionist movement. He was eminently successful in increasing its numbers and support, and he provided a philosophyZionism as a synthesis of American and Jewish idealsthat guided the movement through much of the twentieth century. Something happened within Brandeis in the early part of the twentieth century that led him to become a fervent Zionist. Scholars speculate about internal struggles he might have had or instances of anti-Semitism he experienced. Yet he underwent some kind of transformation from an uninterested assimilated Jew to a symbol of American Judaism. From a spiritual point of view, I would say that it was both a maturing and a homecoming. Shaped by his progressive political and social values, his understanding of Judaism emerged from apathy to engagement; he saw in Zionism a return not only to a physical Jewish homeland, but also to the moral virtues that he argued had distinguished Jews throughout their history. Rebutting the infamous charge that American Zionists were guilty of dual loyalties, Brandeis argued and proved that Zionists can be faithful Americans and Jews. His struggle toward maturing and homecoming parallels the experience of Jacob that we see in this week's Torah reading. Jacob is on his way back to his homeland. He is traveling with Rachel and Leah, their children, assorted servants, and belongings. He hears that his brother Esau is on his way to meet him, with the ominous warning that Esau is accompanied by 400 men (32:7). Jacob then splits his camp up and crosses the Jabbok River to spend the evening alone (32:89; 2324). During that evening, he wrestles with a mysterious man or angel (32:25). The identity of the angel is unclear. Among the many possible answers is that Jacob was wrestling with himself. Encapsulated in that evening, I believe, was the internal struggle and maturing Jacob had been undergoing since he fled his homeland twenty years earlier. We recall that on the initial part of that journey, Jacob dreamed and God spoke to him. During that dream, Jacob saw a staircase between heaven and earth, with angels going up and down it (Genesis 28:12). After awakening from his dream, Jacob creates a monument to God makes a quid pro quo to Him: If God assures his safety, he will accept the Eternal as his God and set aside a tithe for Him (28:1822). This naive promise, and the deception he pulled on his father in the prior chapter (27:1529) are what we know of the early signs of his character. Over the next twenty years, Jacob himself is deceived (29:25). Then, he works and begins to forge his own life outside of his homeland. As he returns home, he is faced with a test to see if he has grown. That he has passed the test is indicated clearly in the final words he says to the unknown adversary, "I will not let you go until you bless me" (32:27). Jacob sees that faith is not a quid pro quo: it is finding a blessing in the midst of struggle. Blessings dwell even in times of crisis and we gain strength when we find them. With the angels blessing, Jacob is able to restore his relationship with Esau and return safely to his homeland. Crises and times of difficulty like the one Jacob was facing force us to ask ourselves difficult questions. We have to wrestle with ourselves and determine what is truly important and worth pursuing. Jacob emerged from that struggle with a renewed sense of faith that in every crisis there is opportunity for growth and rebirth. We can emerge from difficulty blessed and strengthened. With his new name, Israel, Jacob becomes an emblem of the Jewish people. Like him, Louis Brandeis, I think, is an emblem of our American Jewish people. He underwent an internal struggle and growth, and emerged with a new vision of American Jewry as teachers and exemplars of Jewish ethical ideals. His vision shaped those who succeeded him, and remains a legacy and challenge for us all. Rabbi Evan Moffic is senior rabbi of Congregation Solel in Highland Park, Illinois. DAVAR ACHER Who Was that Masked Man? Ari J. Goldstein If you think that old episodes of The Lone Ranger were dramatic, they were nothing compared with the evening leading up to Jacobs meeting with Esau after twenty years of hiding in exile. The confrontation with Esau was inevitable; the outcome, however, was still in question. Until now, Jacob had been seen by his brother as weak and devious. He had taken advantage of a famished brother to acquire the birthright and deceived a disabled father to receive the family blessing. In neither of these two episodes were his actions courageous, strong, or admirable. And while Jacob changed in profound ways as he entered adulthoodfrom the weakling of his youth to the resilient and tough man who would amass wealth and familyone thing eluded him. In order to take his place in our patriarchal lineage, he would need to change the mind of the one man who still saw him as scrawny and patheticEsau. And so, in the middle of the night, Jacob crossed the Jabbok River and confronted a mysterious being. Who was it? Was it a man or a divine being? While the text says that he was a man, the blessing and name change suggest that the adversary was a divine being. Rabbi Moffic suggests that perhaps Jacob is wrestling with himself, with his feelings of guilt and remorse. I suggest that the man wrestling with Jacob is none other than Esau himself. First we read (Gen. 32:31) that Jacob named the site of the fight, Peniel because he saw God face-to-face. Then, the next day when he saw Esau, he reminded him that to see your face is like seeing the face of God (Gen. 33:10). This is a not-so-subtle reminder of the events from the night before. So in the end, it was simply two brothers that got into a fightone that meant much more to Jacob than it did to Esau. However, the surprise is that Jacob won. He no longer needed to bear the stigma of being a weakling. Rabbi Ari J. Goldstein is the rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Arnold, Maryland.

Cantors Concert Raising Campership Funds Saturday December 5

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:37:00 GMT

SPECIAL EVENT THIS SATURDAY DECEMBER 5, 2009 Its more than a concert. Its a fundraiser for camperships which will enable children (like ours) to attend Reform overnight camps in the summer. If you need to get a sense of how important that can be, check out Lori Ghans article in the December/January issue of Connections. THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF CANTORS In conjunction with the UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM PRESENTS A BENEFIT CONCERT TO RAISE CAMPERSHIP FUNDS FOR ALL URJ CAMPS CANTOR MEEKA SIMERLY WILL BE SINGING along with many others from the whole Bay Area: Roz Barak (Congregation Emanuel San Francisco) Lauren Bandman (Congregation Beth Am) Kay Greenwald (Congregation Beth Am Emerita) Devorah Felder-Levy (Congregation Shir Hadash) David Margules (Congregation Rodef Shalom) Barry Reich (Peninsula Temple Sholom) The evening will begin with Havdallah at 7:00 PM. at Shir Hadash, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos CA 95032 (408-358-1751) $18 suggested donation. Even if you cannot attend, please consider making a donation that will make it possible for more camp scholarships to be awarded. You can go to the ACC website www.accantors.org and make a donation online: <a href="https://cantor.payquiq.com/index.cfm?event=openproducts&openproductid=123">https://cantor.payquiq.com/index.cfm?event=openproducts&openproductid=123</a> Or you may send a check, payable to the ACC Campership Fund, to American Conference of Cantors, 1305 Remington Road, Suite D, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4820 American Conference of Cantors, Inc. (ACC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Federal Tax ID #13-2666627.

Life Cycle Notification: Cyril Weiss

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:41:00 GMT

We note with sorrow the death of Cyril Weiss, mother of Arlene Greenberg (wife of Steve Greenberg). The funeral was held on November 27, 2009.

DIASPORA DINNER FOR NOVEMBER 21 HAS BEEN POSTPONED...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:04:00 GMT

We apologize for the inconvenience. Most people have already heard directly, but just to be sure: Diaspora Dinner XIX, scheduled for tonight, Saturday, November 21 at 6:00 PM has been postponed. The new date will be available soon. Please consider allowing us to hold on to your payments to see if you will be able to attend on the re-scheduled date. Everyone who had registered for tonight's dinner will have first pick at seats for the new time. Thank you for your support of Diaspora Dinners and your quest for good food and knowledge about Jews all over the world.