January/February 2020 Tevet/Shevat/Adar 5780

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5780

FROM RABBI ZEMEL The Micah Storefront PRAYER IN THIS ERA IS A RADICAL ACT Project Explained By Rabbis Daniel G. Zemel, Josh Beraha and Stephanie Crawley DEAR FRIENDS, Imagine a colorful rug on an old idea that synagogues matter, and should What is prayer in a secular age? wooden floor in an upstairs room of continue to matter. Some background. Our worship team — Rabbis Josh Beraha and Stephanie Crawley, Teddy a neighborhood coffee shop. A neigh- Sixty years ago, sociologist Marshall Klaus, Debra Winter and I — recently borhood has no shortage of coffee Sklare called the American synagogue met to engage in a wide-ranging conver- shops, but a definite shortage of syna- an “ethnic church.” The synagogue sation on just that question. gogues. Curious parents, some first- as ethnic church was simply the place Debra Winter, our still-new timers, some with a gaggle worship music artist, wanted a of children behind them, deeper understanding of our guide their children up the Temple Micah philosophy of stairs, lattes and chai ice prayer. teas in hand. These par- What informs our deci- ents and even grandparents sions? Why do we do what who heard about this open, we do? To what extent are we bound by the prayer book? What are the limits to innovative, Jewish pop-up, how we seek to incorporate change? It through word of mouth or a was a great two hours that pushed us all local listserv, settle in com- to do some deep thinking. fortably in their yoga pants My personal starting point is to or jeans. They chat with remind myself of what prayer, for me, neighbors, meet new friends, is not. I do not believe that God is all while their boisterous waiting to respond to my prayer. I do young children or grandchil- not believe that God is listening to my dren play around them. prayer in any conventional sense of the Or, it might be a Monday word “listening.” I do, however, believe evening, at a local down- in the powerful and transformative power of prayer, and I know that my town bar. Curious Jews and life would be radically different and, I Jewishly curious folks in believe, spiritually and morally poorer, their 20s and 30s examine an were I not a person who regularly ancient text for its modern prayed. relevance. In a comfortable What, then, might prayer do for us? setting, they open up about A life that includes prayer can help difficult topics, like death define who we are: part of the Jewish and self-doubt. people and, as such, keepers of a The space is familiar, the mythic story that dates to the dawn of comfort level high. When the singing where the first generations of American human history. We can see ourselves as and storytelling end, the participants Jews lived out their European Jewish a link in a chain, holders of a glorious treasure bequeathed to us by our past. stay to share their lives with each other. identity. With the passage of time, the For those who converted to Judaism, On the way out they express excitement ethnic church unknowingly became an when we recite the Avot\Imahot (patri- and gratitude that such a space had been ethnic fortress, a place that sought to arch\matriarch) blessing, prayer links us created for them, making it easy and protect Jewish ethnicity from the seduc- as ones who freely chose to be part of comfortable to enter a Jewish space. tive influences of American culture. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 ; The storefront project is born of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 ; 2 TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5780

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN “Every person shall sit under his grapevine or fig tree with no one to make him afraid.” MICAH, CHAPTER 4, VERSE 4 THERE IS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AT TEMPLE MICAH By Marcia Fine Silcox It’s easy to stay home, warm in your flan- ate approaches to the narrative, we’ve Vine nels, watching The Crown and drinking tackled issues such as the refugee crisis Vol. 56 No.3 some nice zinfandel. We all like that. in the context of the story of Cain and TEMPLE MICAH— It’s easy to avoid conversation because Abel, questions about the extent of faith A REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION talk these days raises one’s blood pressure in the Akedah (binding of Isaac) narrative, 2829 Wisconsin Ave, NW and seems not to solve the mitzvot of hachnasat orchim (hospi- Washington, D.C. 20007 the big problems. tality) and anavah (humility), and lately, Voice: 202-342-9175 But as you know, hakarat ha-tov (gratitude) in anticipation Fax: 202-342-9179 Judaism and Temple of Thanksgiving. Email: [email protected] [email protected] Micah are built on con- “Our teens recently completed a Web: templemicah.org versations, and here’s course of three lessons with Operation your invitation to join in. Understanding DC, during which time they Daniel G. Zemel There’s a lot of talk touched upon important issues found in RABBI going on at Micah, on the teen novel, “The Hate U Give.” During Josh Beraha a wide range of issues, these sessions we had excellent discus- ASSOCIATE RABBI ideas, and efforts. In sions about racism, police brutality and Stephanie Crawley November, a dozen tolerance.” ASSISTANT RABBI people came to the library one Sunday to Adults may get in on the conversa- Rachel Gross EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR hear an expert panel discuss legacy dona- tion in the spring, as Rabbi Zemel hopes tions to the Temple. It wasn’t a pitch, but it to continue our examination of race and Teddy Klaus MUSIC DIRECTOR was a friendly conversation about how and identity that began with a November why we can follow through on intentions book talk on Paul Beatty’s “The Sellout.” Debra Winter WORSHIP MUSIC ARTIST to create a dynamic Micah for the future. Rabbi Beraha describes some of the Our Roadmap visioning conversations ongoing conversations he’s having with Sharon Tash EDUCATION DIRECTOR started in the summer and continued to families. In a program that has come to year’s end. The discussions brought mem- be called Drink and Think, “congregants BOARD OF DIRECTORS bers together and also listened to unaffili- take turns hosting and includes topics Marcia Silcox ated community members, in talks about like intermarriage, Israel and the stresses PRESIDENT meaning and living Jewish lives. We will and joys of having young children.” He Joshua Berman soon have a Roadmap to share with the adds that, “The parent group on Sunday VICE PRESIDENT congregation, a participant-driven plan to morning recently had a well attended ses- Harriet Tritell maintain, expand, and guide our congrega- sion on the rise of anti-Semitism. Parents SECRETARY tion into the future. voiced concerns over how to talk to their Jeff Davis One exciting aspect of the Roadmap children about the increase in anti-Semi- TREASURER program brought young rabbis who had tism while also maintaining and working to Martha Adler served at Micah as Tisch Fellows during build a positive, forward-looking Judaism.” Shellie Bressler their training to have a frank conversa- And what about those who are Jewish, Marina Fanning tion. Titled, “Big Questions About the but don’t enter our doors… what do Brent Goldfarb American Jewish Future,” the daylong dis- they talk about? Do they want to talk Rielle Miller Gabriel cussion deeply probed for meaning and about Shabbat, death, holidays, and the Jim Hamos pathways to maintaining spiritual connec- role of Judaism in their lives? The Micah Heather Moran tions at a time when generations are rap- Storefront Project is taking these ques- Sonia Pearson White idly shedding those ties. The prospect of tions to coffee houses and cafes. Rabbis Robin Rudowitz Josh Seidman these deep conversations was so appeal- Crawley and Beraha are engaging young David Wentworth ing that the leaders of the Hebrew Union Jewish singles and families in song and College attended as well. Our entire con- conversation in their neighborhoods. The VINE STAFF gregation was able to engage in the talks Storefront Project expands our ability to Fran Dauth that evening. talk, not just amongst ourselves. CO-EDITOR Everyone, at any age can get involved You already know that many important Kate Kiggins in Micah talk. Education Director Sharon conversations take place at Micah. And CO-EDITOR Tash notes that, “ Kindergarten through you know that there is no end to what AURAS Design sixth grade students have been talking we need to talk about. So put down that PRODUCTION about Torah stories. Using age-appropri- remote and lets keep up the chatter. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 3

The Feast THE CARROT LOX AND CRUMB CRUST APPLE PIE EDITION By Alexandra Wisotsky Rabbi Stephanie Crawley claims grandmother as a peach pie for a B’nai traditional Ashkenazi food was off limits not to be the cook in her house. “I Brith cookbook, with a note that apples to her. She then offered a second recipe: enjoy cooking, but it doesn’t relax me, could be substituted. The “crumb” crust the most intriguing recipe I have ever although I do like to bake. When I is also very forgiving, since it is patted come across – carrot lox. It was Jesse cook, it is for something important, like together in the pie plate. “If it cracks it’s who found some carrot lox in a vegan a big event, or I want to do something ok,” Rabbi Crawley said. deli and then later found a recipe online. special for my family or Jesse,” a refer- The pie “is American, but my moth- “It is labor intensive, like if you cured ence to her husband, Rabbi Paikin, a er’s parents were German Jews, and it your own gravlax, but watching it in the staff member at Sixth and I. feels like it has an apple strudel-ness to fridge for several days builds the antici- So when I asked Rabbi Crawley for it. Like a blending of their cultures,” pation,” Rabbi Crawley said. a recipe for this column, she thought of Rabbi Crawley said. To me, looking at the photo, if you a favorite family recipe of her grand- As we continued to talk, Rabbi didn’t know it wasn’t lox, could you tell? mother’s, Crumb Crust Apple Pie. The Crawley mentioned that, as a gluten-free recipe was originally submitted by her vegetarian, she was a little sad that most See page 5 for the crumb crust apple pie recipe.

CARROT LOX 4. Once done, turn the dish Recipe is from OlivesForDinner.com onto a baking sheet and Special equipment: Large, oven-proof glass dish, such as allow the carrots to cool Pyrex enough to handle. Brush off salt, and then pare Time to prepare: About 2 hours to prepare and roast carrots, away the carrot skin. plus two days of marinating in refrigerator Then, using a mando- lin or sharp knife, slice Ingredients: the carrots lengthwise • 2 cups coarse sea salt, plus more if needed into jagged, thin strips. • 3 large carrots (unpeeled) Place into a clean glass • 1 tablespoon olive oil container. • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke 5. Whisk together the olive oil, liquid smoke and coconut • 1/2 teaspoon coconut vinegar vinegar. (If you have a little more or little less than 1 1/2 cups carrots, just add a little more or less of the liquid Steps components as needed.) 1. Preheat oven to 375F. 6. Drizzle the olive oil mixture over the warm carrots and 2. To slow roast the carrots, place one cup of coarse sea toss well to coat. At this point, the flavor will not taste salt into a glass dish, such as Pyrex, with enough room very much like lox. The carrots should be refrigerated for the length and width of the whole carrots. Rinse for at least two days to allow the flavor to deepen and the unpeeled carrots and place them wet into the salt, mellow, and for the carrots to get really soft and silky. making sure that the carrots are nestled in the salt and 7. If the carrots start to look dry during marinating time, do not make contact with the bottom of the dish. Pour add an additional tablespoon of olive oil. about another whole cup of salt evenly on top of the carrots, adding a bit more as needed to ensure they are 8. When ready to serve, remove carrots from the refrig- fully covered in salt. erator and allow them to come to room temperature. 3. Roast, uncovered, for an hour and a half. Serve with toasted bagels, capers, vegan cream cheese, red onion and fresh sprigs of dill as desired. 4 TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5780

SPEAKING AT MICAH Micah features two monthly lecture series — on Sundays and Wednesdays. For more information, go to templemicah.org.

SUNDAY SPEAKER SERIES No events are scheduled until March.

LUNCH & LEARN Wednesdays from noon to 2 pm A monthly program sponsored by the Aging Together Team. Reserve online at templemicah.org. For details, contact Robert Seasonwein at [email protected] or the temple office at 202-342-9175.

Jan. 8 – Susan Subak on her book “The Five-Ton Life: Carbon, America, and the Culture That May Save Us.” Subak has been an international contract researcher with the EPA, Euro- pean Commission (part of the European Union) and national environmental agencies in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands. She will speak about the challenges of establishing a genuinely low-carbon culture in the United States to address climate change.

Feb. 12 – Ari Roth on “The Drama of Creating Cutting-Edge Theater.” The artistic director and founder of the Mosaic Theater Company of DC, Roth was the artistic director of Theater J at the Washington, DCJCC from 1997 to 2014 where he produced more than 129 productions and created festivals including “Locally Grown: Community Supported Art,” “Voices from a Changing Middle East”, and Theater J’s acclaimed “Beyond The Stage” and “Artistic Director’s Roundtable” series.

March 11 – Jacqueline Simon on “The Administration vs. the Civil Service.” Simon is the Policy Director of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), the largest federal employee union representing over 700,000 federal and DC employees. She represents AFGE on all policy matters affecting the union’s members including civil service protections, col- lective bargaining, privatization, pay, health insurance, retirement, and budget.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR March 20 and 22 – Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman will be the The Scholar in Residence this year. He will speak to the congregation on Friday, March 20 and Sunday, March 22 on “Exploring American Jewish Identity for Our Time.” JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 5

CRUMB CRUST APPLE PIE Makes one 9-inch pie Time to prepare: 40 to 60 minutes Crust ingredients: • ½ cup softened butter • ½ cup sugar • 1½ cups sifted flour • pinch of salt Filling ingredients: • 4 cups sliced Granny Smith apples • 2 tablespoons Corn Starch • ½ cup sugar (comprised of 6 tablespoons white sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar) • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 1 large pinch cinnamon 3. Mix filling • 1 large pinch nutmeg ingredients and then arrange in the pie plate on • A smaller pinch of allspice top of the crumb crust. 4. Bake for 20 minutes. Steps: 1. Preheat oven to 425F 5. Remove from oven and sprinkle the remaining crumb topping over the apple filling. Return to oven and bake 2. Gently combine crust ingredients. Reserve ¾ cup of an additional 20-30 minutes or until the top is browned. crumb mix. Then press the remaining crumb mix into a 9-inch pie plate, as you would for a cookie-type crust. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Rabbi’s Message FROM PAGE 1 ; me — even urges me — to be Prayer is the act of reaching the ambiance that leads to the a better person than I am. My to the deepest part of our prayer life we crave? What is the people Israel. Either way, grandfather, Rabbi Solomon humanity and, once there, dis- the right balance between the prayer allows us to see our role Goldman, wrote: “I come to covering the sacred. old and the new? How much of in a covenant that has brought the Synagogue to probe my In our era, the mere act our inherited, scripted liturgy blessing to humankind. weakness and my strength, of prayer is a radical one. In do we include? How much of Through prayer, we can and to fill the gap between a world of market capital- the tradition do we need to see that we are members of my profession and my prac- ism, one that increasingly and retain to make sure we “feel” a living community of people tice.” This is the life of prayer. overwhelmingly defines us as Jewish? How do we incorporate who gather regularly to simply There is quiet. There is poetry. consumers, prayer is a defiant new poetry and readings? What embrace the joys and burdens, There is music. In prayer, we response. In our own capital is the right balance between opportunities and responsibili- strive to create an ambiance city, which relentlessly defines singing in unison and simply lis- ties of being alive. This serves that induces us to suspend our us as political actors and as tening to the beautiful offering to remind us that the good tendency to doubt, our need voters, prayer is a much more of one voice singing alone, two life is a social life of both cel- to be smart, our inclination for intimate, internal call for us voices in duet or our choir’s ebrations and commitment cynicism, and seek to create a to explore our sacred person- voices soaring in unison? When beyond the self. My prayer finite province of a new reality. hood. Torah tells us we each do we need to get up and life helps me to understand In the reality created by the are called upon to be God’s move a la Liz Lerman? that I am linked to the wider ambiance of prayer, hope, aspi- partner in the ongoing, daily We call the largest room world of the Jewish people ration, dignity and beauty are work of creation. Prayer is our in the synagogue our sanctu- who, together, are the hold- real. Our souls have a chance daily or weekly reminder of ary for a reason. It is the place ers of a great story of justice to refresh. We strive to con- this pure understanding. where we gather to bond, dis- and mercy. A prayer life can, nect to that better angel that There is no question that cover and grow. It is the place therefore, remind us of our lies within each of us. in our overtly secular world, in which we can seek our inner, covenantal obligation to and This is what a life of prayer prayer is a very real challenge. sacred selves that hunger to be connection with all humanity. can be. We like to say that This is why our worship team nourished. It is there — always We pray for “that day” when Micah is a place that enables needs to have these conversa- — for each one of us. the world will be one. people to “bring your whole tions regularly. There is much Shalom, In this way, prayer invites self and be your best self.” to explore. How do we create Daniel G. Zemel 6 TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5780

Chasing the Future at Micah and Beyond By Fran Dauth

It was billed as “Big Questions on the the young rabbis learned from the GLIMPSES OF THE FUTURE American Jewish Future,” and if the their time at Micah and what concerns Rabbi Frank, who works on Temple young rabbis on the panel one recent them now about their rabbinate and Micah’s Haftorah project, created, along evening at Temple Micah were any indi- their synagogues. In introducing them, with rabbinical student Rena Singer, the cation, the future isn’t that far off. Rabbi Zemel noted that Micah is in the Instagram account called “modern_rit- Consider these two projects dis- midst of its own “Roadmap Visioning ual” three years ago. cussed that evening: A Jewish space Process,” also an effort to assess what In describing what she learned from on Instagram. A home-based Jewish might work best in the future. her time at Micah, Rabbi Frank recalled community in Brooklyn that flourishes Participants were Evan Schultz, the time she submitted a sermon to among young children and daily life, senior rabbi at Congregation B’nai Israel Rabbi Zemel for review. “He said it was called Beloved by its founder. Bridgeport, Conn.; Nicole Roberts, fine but that I hadn’t gone far enough,” The conversation among “America’s senior rabbi at North Shore Temple she said, adding that what she learned next generation of Jewish commu- Emanuel in Sydney, Australia; Daniel was to “always be striving for the best.” nity leaders,” as Rabbi Zemel called Reiser, associate rabbi at Westchester Instagram, a photo and video-sharing the panelists, was part of a mini-con- (N.Y.) Reform Temple; social-networking service, is particularly ference that began earlier in the day. April Davis, a rabbi on the staff of the popular with young people, who com- There the discussion was on rabbini- Center for Exploring Judaism at Central prise much of modern_ritual’s audience. cal education. Notably nearly all the Synagogue in Manhattan; Joshua Fixler, In an interview in Washington Jewish senior staff of the Hebrew Union an assistant rabbi at Congregation Week, Rabbi Frank said the Instagram College-Jewish Institute of Religion Emanu El in Houston, Texas; account reaches more women than men was in attendance, including President Samantha Frank, who said she is and that the main demographic is 25 to Andrew Rehfeld. involved in a “collage” of activities, 35-year-olds. The evening session was open to the including the Instagram account; Sara “It’s people who are really excited to entire Micah community and featured Luria, the rabbi who runs Beloved; and be doing Shabbat for the first time and seven recently ordained rabbis and one Thalia Halpert Rodis, who is a rabbini- also people who grew up with the tradi- rabbinical student, most of whom had cal student. tion but are looking for ways to make been Tisch Rabbinic Fellows at Micah. While Rabbi Luria was not a Micah them more meaningful and fit with For many in the audience it was a intern, she was instrumental in sending their egalitarian values or LGBTQ val- reunion and a chance to learn about the interns to Temple Micah in her previ- ues,” she told Washington Jewish Week. work of the former interns. ous role as the program director HUC’s The night of the Micah panel dis- It was also a chance to hear what Tisch/Star Leadership Fellowship. cussion, Rabbi Frank noted the site often gets queries asking if there were a blessing for a particular event. She said “modern_ritual” is a way for some “to live more Jewishly.” A few days after the panel discussion, modern_ritual featured a Shabbat photo that included the suggestion, “Glitter Is Always An Option.” The photo got 430 likes by the next morning. While modern_ritual is high tech, it is in many ways, Rabbi Frank said, a form of home-based Judaism. Certainly that is true of Beloved. On her blog Rabbi Luria calls Beloved a “home-based experiment in Jewish life.“ Eight former rabbinical school interns took part in a mini conference at Temple At Micah, she described a “combination Micah on what they have learned now that they are rabbis about the future of Shabbat house, learning community, an American synagogues. They spoke on two panels, moderated by Rabbis Beraha experience of Jews living together.” and Crawley. In the front row, from the left, are Rabbis Daniel Reiser, Nicole Roberts, April Davis, Sara Luria and Thalia Halpert Rodis. In the back row, from It began two-and-half years ago the left, are Rabbis Evan Schultz, Josh Beraha, Josh Fixler, Samantha Frank and when she and her husband, and their Stephanie Crawley. CONTINUED NEXT PAGE ; JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 7

Make Reform Voices Count In The WZC Elections By Jonathan Riskind Voting in the current have to influence Israeli cast your ballot. But a strong Temple Micah members World Zionist Congress society. Cast your ballot Vote for Reform will result in during the voting period to elections is a way to make for this slate: Vote Reform: millions of dollars in WZC encourage participation and Temple Micah voices heard ARZA Representing the funds going to progres- walk people through the in Israel. Reform Movement and sive causes and initiatives voting process. Every vote from the Reconstructing Judaism. in Israel. Anyone who is 18 Participating in the congregation is crucial to ARZA — the years of age or older by June WZC elections is the only maintaining a strong Reform Association of Reform 30, 2020 and self-identifies as way North American Jews presence and a chance to Zionists of America — is a Jew is eligible to vote. can weigh in democrati- combat the discrimination the largest constituent of Look for more informa- cally about issues in Israel. the Reform Movement faces ARZENU, the umbrella tion about how to vote com- A strong election turnout in Israel. Together we can organization of Reform ing to you in a variety of among North America’s grow the Reform Movement and Progressive Religious ways: a display in the Temple Reform Jews and our sup- and work towards making Zionists in Israel and around Micah lobby with fliers porters and allies will ensure progress on the issues we the world. ARZENU has a about some of ARZA’s key that financial resources care about: religious freedom, proven record of advocating issues; emails from our rab- will continue to flow to our pluralism, equality, social jus- for an Israel that is Jewish, bis; and remarks from the Israeli movement—including tice, and more. democratic and pluralistic, bimah during Friday night Reform congregations and Voting is open from Jan. and for leading with our and Shabbat morning ser- institutions. 21 until March 11. Your vote values. vices. Volunteers periodically Read more about the in this election is the only It takes only a few min- will be in the lobby helping WZC elections online at democratic opportunity you utes to register to vote and people vote, and also calling ARZA.org. u

Chasing the Future FROM PREVIOUS PAGE ; Josh,” referring to Rabbi Josh Beraha, said “peripheral to people’s lives. It is a place he had been in “a culture of no ” and but where they come once a week, at best.” three children moved to a bigger house found a “culture of yes” at Temple Micah. Rabbi Roberts said she wants “it to in Brooklyn. Since his ordination, however, he has be a place that matters to people,” a At the time she asked herself, she discovered “we are not great at imagin- place of substance where you “encounter said, “how could we build a home where ing lives of people who are different.” new ideas.” parents could come for Shabbat with He said he often encounters confusion Rabbi Schultz echoed her concern: their children?” While the experiment when he tries to introduce something “A lot of people think of synagogue like began with Shabbat once a month, it has radically different. a gym membership. It is not.” evolved into more than that. Among the challenges he faces is the Rabbi Davis, who conducts classes Here is the explanation from the need sometimes to give up some of the at the Center for Exploring Judaism at Beloved blog: “Through music, ritual, things that are working, to make room Central Synagogue in Manhattan, said learning, creativity, sharing, and home- for new ideas. her time at Micah taught her to keep made food, we are building an open- Rabbi Reiser took up that theme, as “asking the big questions.” hearted spiritual community for the well. “Bigger is not always better, he said. The rabbinical student, Thalia 21st century.” At another point in the conversation Halpert Rodis, said what she found at The name comes from the Song Rabbi Reiser suggested synagogues need Temple Micah was “a clergy with a real of Songs (I am my beloved’s, and my “to do less,” but “do them better.” We passion to learn from the congregation.” beloved is mine). “need to figure out what we are uniquely The second thing she learned, she Beloved also offers space, support qualified to do and spend 80 percent of said, is “Danny Zemel is truly kind. He and training for clergy, activists, ritual the time” doing that, he said. cares about people.” leaders, artists, students and educators. Rabbi Roberts said her Reform con- Rabbi Schultz also came away from gregation in Australia faces many of the Micah similarly impressed. Once he ELSEWHERE IN THE POST- same issues as congregations in America, accompanied Rabbi Zemel while he SEMINARY WORLD although the dominant Orthodox there visited a woman who was dying. There Rabbi Fixler, who described himself as considers the Reform movement secular. was little to say, Rabbi Schultz said, so “summer Josh” as opposed to “year-round “The synagogue,” she said, is Rabbi Zemel sang to her. u 8 TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5780

Micah Storefront FROM PAGE 1 ;

Thirty years ago, Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman declared that the challenge facing the American synagogue would be to transform itself from an “ethnic fortress to a spiritual center.” The ethnic fortress sought to protect what was inside. Hoffman envisioned a spiritual center, which by definition, would be in conversation with the outside world. Through the past 60 years, many Jews instinctively joined synagogues out of this strong sense of ethnic loyalty and belonging. The passage of time has brought generational change and with it a harder to define post-ethnic Jewish identity. It is not clear that future generations will automatically commit to synagogue membership or any sort of Jewish institutional affiliation. From the 2013 Pew study — A Rabbi Beraha’s guitar is as popular at the storefront project as it is at Temple Micah. Portrait of Jewish Americans — we know that although young Jews are and so maintain the separateness of Though the 21st century thus far proudly Jewish, they join synagogues at their Jewish lives. seems to be defined by fracture, disrup- a much lower rate than their parents and In regard to synagogue participation, instability and fear, human beings grandparents before them. Young Jews tion, the 2017 Greater Washington, nevertheless continue to endeavor to also marry later, have children later, DC Jewish Community Demographic build lives that matter, lives that are and devote primary energy to securing Study confirmed Pew’s 2013 findings for filled with meaning. It follows, then, their own futures before establishing a the DMV region. Amazingly, despite that our spiritual centers should not family. Many who do join synagogues an increase in the Jewish population of simply be concerned with life cycle, but often see them as transactional—a place greater Washington since 2003, only also must address questions about what for baby-namings, religious school, b’nai one-quarter of Jewish households are it means to be human, to live lives of mitzvah and High Holiday worship. In synagogue members. Among intermar- dignity and honor. Our spiritual centers other words, even synagogue members ried families, a mere 14 percent decide should help people contemplate rich continue to visit their Judaism, in a way, to affiliate. sources of happiness, fulfillment and significance. And more—given the vast array of resources in Jewish America combined with our commanded desire to care for others—our spiritual centers should work to ensure a more just, tolerant, and peaceful world for our children. But most of all, our spiritual centers should be rooted in the lived experience of the liberal, modern, American Jew. The core question then — for a people rooted in a narrative that certainly could provide the proper language and wisdom to answer questions about how best to live — is whether our central place of meeting, the synagogue, will be a place that provides for serious, deep introspection, and offer a way forward in this age of fracture. Will American Rabbi Beraha, Alexina Haefner, Micah’s community coordinator, Rabbi Crawley and Rabbi Zemel with the Storefront banner. CONTINUED NEXT PAGE ; JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 9

SUKKAT SHALOM FINDS RENEWED FOCUS ON REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS By Dorian Friedman Sukkat Shalom began with the decision that Temple to honor the memories of eight children known to Micah would support a refugee family that had have died in U.S. custody or detention—including immigrated to the United States. After two years, several who succumbed to the common flu. Joining with “Micah’s” Afghan family well settled in America, other faith leaders, Rabbi Crawley delivered moving Sukkat Shalom began looking for its next challenge. remarks about the Jewish imperative of welcoming Sukkat Shalom found it on the Mexican-US the stranger. border last fall when eight members spent several Sukkat Shalom is exploring ways to address the days meeting with human rights organizations, immi- greatest need the group learned about on the border gration lawyers, visiting shelters and observing refu- tour: More and better legal representation for des- gees in shelters. perate asylum seekers. Now Sukkat Shalom members say bearing witness “We saw so many people trapped in an inexplica- to conditions at the U.S. border was the first step to ble legal process,” said Aurie Hall, who helped orga- discovering new ways to honor their mission – provid- nize the Micah trip to the border. ing a “shelter of peace” for immigrants and refugees. We saw, she said, “People who didn’t understand For example, having seen that many detained what they needed to do to make a claim for asylum; asylum seekers lack the bare necessities of daily life, who were experiencing endless barriers to filing a claim Sukkat Shalom committed to collecting and ship- and were getting lots of conflicting and inaccurate infor- ping basic toiletries to the border. The week of mation from border officials and other immigrants.” Thanksgiving, a dozen temple members gathered in The consequence was that “people were waiting Washington to assemble 200 “Dignity Kits”—totes and living on the streets for months and months with- filled with soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, out knowing whether their claim could be successful.” feminine hygiene supplies—to be shipped to Micah’s Currently, the leadership team is consulting legal partners at HIAS, which will distribute them to fami- experts and immigration advocates to identify the lies awaiting court dates in Juarez. best partners for action. Many of the items sent to the border were obtained Possible avenues include funding or underwrit- because of the generosity of many Micah members ing an immigration lawyer or legal fellow, perhaps including dentists Adam Goldstein and Stan Shulman. through HIAS’s expanding legal representation initia- In addition, the Sukkat Shalom team continues to tive at the Mexican border or in a few cities. advocate more humane immigration policies—and Sukkat Shalom invites all interested congregants to protest immoral ones. On a rainy December eve- to join its efforts and attend its regular meetings. ning, members gathered in front of U.S. Customs and The committee may be contacted at sukkatshalom@ Border Protection headquarters for an interfaith vigil templemicah.org.

Micah Storefront FROM PREVIOUS PAGE ; established by our ancestors, and passed encounters that cohere with the lived down through the generations, needs to experiences of real people, Jewish and Jews merely look with nostalgia upon a be re-charted, or better, a new tributary beyond. We move the Jewish con- romanticized Jewish past while simulta- must be forged, connected to the syna- versation from inside the walls of the neously and actively finding alternative gogue, but flowing outward, toward the synagogue into the public square, and communities through which to navigate people and the lives they live. remove physical, social, and psychologi- this age of uncertainty and unrest? The Temple Micah Storefront cal barriers to participation. We pro- We argue that the well-worn, blazed Project expands the definition of the claim that this, too, is Jewish. This, too, trail of how best to create a life of value, American synagogue by creating Jewish is synagogue. u 10 TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5780

TZEDAKAH

IN HONOR OF BUILDING IMPROVEMENT MICAH COOKS Steve Rockower, for his tour of SUKKAT SHALOM FUND IN MEMORY OF the Smithsonian, and Ivan Sindell Margaret Henoch Marguerite Malgoire, and Alan Kraut, for the New IN MEMORY OF York trip, by Shellie Bressler Henry Paul Oseran, by by Mary Malgoire THE RABBI DANIEL Johanna and David Forman Rabbi Zemel, by Roberta and Peter GOLDMAN ZEMEL FUND MICAH HOUSE FUND Gluck, Jill and Doug Sherman FOR ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUND Katherine Kiggins IN MEMORY OF Bea Birman Arthur Freeman IN HONOR OF David and Geraldine Feldman, Mary Beth Schiffman by Howard Feldman IN HONOR OF Robert Barnett, by Iris Barnett Raul Fournier, by Marina Fanning IN HONOR OF Sharon Salus’ birthday, Rhoda Hyde’s birthday, by Thomas Sophie Gluck becoming bat by Brenda Levenson M. Hyde and Paul E. Meyers Myron Laipson, by Ellen Laipson mitzvah, by Ronna Foster Pauline Skorton, by David Skorton IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF Rabbi Daniel Zemel, by Muriel Wolf Edward Forgotstein, by Phyllis Appel Bell, by IN MEMORY OF Sidney and Elka Booth Harriette Kinberg SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND Adele Sylvia Fell, by Milton Socolar Ruth Jonas Bardin, by Bertha Levenson, by William Cloyd, by David David and Livia Bardin and Martha Adler Evelyn Fingerman, by Marlyn Socolar Brenda Levenson Jerome Brawer, by Scott Brawer Lilian C. Pose, by Marilyn Paul Bruce Rinaldi, by Karen Zizmor, Don Greenberg, by Gail Povar and Larry Bachorik Robert Kamin, by Harriet Weiner Richard N. Wolf, by Muriel Wolf Sarah, Leah, Leo, and Ann Roselyn Kraus, by Barbara Stephens David Sugarman, by Steven Weisman This list reflects donations GENERAL FUND Fannie Rockower and Phyllis MUSIC AND WORSHIP Rockower, by Stephen received October 23–December Tatiana Schepeler Rockower and Ann Sablosky 13, 2019. Every effort has been Myra Sklarew FUND Louis E. Schotz and Phyllis Schotz made to ensure its accuracy, IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF Salzberg, by Ellen and Stan Brand but if there are any errors or Belle Cohen, by Cindy Koch Arthur and Carol Freeman, by Nancy Schwartz, by Beverly and Roberta and Mort Goren omissions please accept our Norma Cranberg, by Marcia Wolff Harlan Sherwat Dr. Stanley Foster, by Jeanette Foster Clara Zeitlin, by Sara Rosand apologies. For corrections or Freda From, by Al From clarifications, please contact Miriam Goldeen, by David IN MEMORY OF and Livia Bardin Tovey Barron, by David and THE STOREFRONT PROJECT Rhiannon Walsh in the Benjamin Goldsmith, by Barbara Diskin, Lora Ferguson, IN MEMORY OF temple office. Thank you. Alice Weinstein Ed and Shelley Grossman Joshua Justin, by Meryl Anne Karp, by Herbert George Lehker, Nancy and Michael Chertoff and Sharon Schwartz Schwartz, Mark Snyderman, and Elliott Stonehill, by Sara and Samuel Laver, by Roberta and Mort Goren Tina Laver Coplan Donald Lehmann, by Rich Lehmann Perl Samuels, by Sylvia Margolin Jane Morningstar, by Sara Elliott Stonehill, by David Morningstar and Philip Katz and Johanna Forman Joseph Weiss, by Martha Weiss RABBI BERAHA’S INNOVATION FUND DISCRETIONARY FUND Sarah Goldfarb Thomas and Pamela Green Mary Beth Schiffman IN HONOR OF A baby naming, by David IN HONOR OF and Jill Belsky Rabbi Zemel, by Marjorie Sherman IN MEMORY OF IN MEMORY OF Lillian Lehmann, by Rich Lehmann William Cloyd, by Sidney and Elka Booth RABBI CRAWLEY’S Don Greenberg, by Roberta and Peter Gluck DISCRETIONARY FUND Victor Margolin, by Stuart Philip Tizzani and John Dey and Frances Schwartz IN HONOR OF Miriam Sinton-Remes, by Sarah LEARNING FUND Remes and Seelig Sinton IN MEMORY OF Our wedding, by Stephanie Alice Hirschmann, by Carole Weiss and Jonathan Gilbert and John Hirschmann Lynn and Jim Levinson, by RABBI ZEMEL’S Temple Micah member Aaron Kaufman was recently Jane and Chaz Kerschner DISCRETIONARY FUND installed on the Union for Reform Judaism National Nancy Schwartz, by Laurence Frank Board. Pictured here at the recent UJR Biennial are the Grusin family Thomas and Pamela Green Louise Zemel, Aaron Kaufman (seated), his father Josh Richard Harwood Kaufman, a longtime member, and Rabbi Zemel. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 11

B’NAI MITZVAH MAZAL TOV! Lindsey Bailet, Rachel Shepherd, and Lena AARON RAFAEL ZEVIN-LOPEZ JANUARY 11 / 14 TEVET Bailet-Shepherd, on the birth of their PARENTS: Sarah Zevin and Alfonso Lopez son and brother, Ori Bailet-Shepherd TORAH PORTION: Vayechi Lou, Rebecca, and Holden Kolodner, on the birth of their son and brother, Oaklee Kolodner Evan Sills and Jessica Jones, on the birth of IDA STEINBERG JANUARY 18 / 21 TEVET their daughters, Elie Ruth and Rose Emma PARENTS: Annys Shin; Dan and Mimi Steinberg TORAH PORTION: Shemot Harry and Jessica Silver, on the naming of their granddaughter, Eliana Juliette Silver Ronit Zemel and Ethan Porter, on their marriage, and to Ronit’s parents, OLIVIA HEINEMANN JANUARY 25 / 28 TEVET Louise and Danny Zemel Photo PARENTS: Jennifer Budoff and Thomas Heinemann TORAH PORTION: Vaera Unavailable CONDOLENCES The Temple Micah community extends its deepest ALMA CLAUDE BIELENBERG condolences to: FEBRUARY 1 / 6 SHEVAT Geoffrey Barron, on the passing of his brother, PARENTS: Aaron Bielenberg and Karen Young Photo Tovey Barron TORAH PORTION: Bo Unavailable Dan Behar, on the passing of his father, Joseph Behar Greg Caplan, on the passing of his father, Benson Caplan Emily Cloyd, on the passing of her grandfather, GABRIEL SAAD FEBRUARY 15 / 20 SHEVAT William Cloyd PARENTS: Sarah Gordon and Martin Saad Lynn Coffman, on the passing of her father, TORAH PORTION: Yitro Charles Koppelman Roberta Gluck, on the passing of her brother, Donald Spector Lou Kolodner, on the passing of his grandmother, Margaret Lichtenstein CHARLES SOVEN Susan Lahne, on the passing of her brother, FEBRUARY 22 / 27 SHEVAT Donald Greenberg PARENTS: Renata Hesse and Joshua Soven Sylvia Margolin, on the passing of her husband, TORAH PORTION: Mishpatim Victor Margolin Doug Soffer, on the passing of his mother, Marilyn Soffer Peter Van Praagh, on the passing of his father, David Van Praagh Jane Yamaykin, on the passing of her grandfather, Valentin Yamaykin May their memories be for a blessing. 12 TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5780

p Last December, Sukkat Shalom members gathered outside the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol headquarters in Washington, D.C. to protest. Earlier, members also put together packages to be sent to the Mexican border for asylum seekers. u See full story on page 9.

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