DATE TIME TEMPLE BETH EL FAU Sunday, 8:00Pm Rosh Hashanah Evening Service No Service at FAU
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TEMPLE BETH EL OF BOCA RATON JULY AUGUST 2018 | AV/ELUL 5778 REFLECTIONA time for HIGH HOLY DAYS 5779 page 15 THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS page 9 EARLY LEARNING CENTER page 24 RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS page 26 How will you be remembered? Leave a Legacy Rabbi Merle and Whatever your passion, Temple Beth El can help you preserve it for future generations. Myra Singer, and All of us, regardless of age or wealth, have the ability to leave a meaningful Jewish their children Mike and Anna legacy. Your legacy gift of any size can be customized to fit your dreams, lifestyle, Singer have helped family and financial needs. Let us celebrate you today as you plan for a Jewish to preserved a Jewish future for tomorrow. Please remember Temple Beth El in your will, trust, retirement account their children and or life insurance policy. grandchildren. If you are interested in making a legacy gift or already have included the Temple in your plans, please contact Leslie Viselman, Director of Development at 561-391-8900 or [email protected]. LEGACY SOCIETY For a list of those who have included Temple Beth El in their planned gifts and endowments see page 14. 2 THE CHRONICLE | tbeboca.org What Were You Thinking? BY RABBI DAN LEVIN [email protected] Sins. No one wants to talk about sins. and guilt, but to spiritual growth and We live in an age when it’s hard to wholeness? talk about sin because we find it hard First – it’s a sin not to do the right to agree on what we believe is really thing. We can debate what’s right or right and wrong. We live in a time wrong, or what we’re supposed to do, when so much of our world seems but once we figure that out, then we to embrace an ethical relativism – have to do what’s right. For example, we can’t say what’s right or wrong a doctor and a family discover that a because … it depends. It depends on patient has a terrible diagnosis. There the culture in which we are raised, it is a moral question: what do you tell depends on the context of the event the patient? The rabbis debated that we’re asked to judge, it depends on and so many other moral questions. how we interpret what our senses or But when we decide what the right achieve our own aims, or when we facts seem to tell us. thing is, then you then must do the ignore the plight of the vulnerable And yet we know that there really right thing. To know what the right and weak, and blame them for their is right and wrong, and that we don’t thing is, and then not to do it, is a sin. misfortune, that is where evil starts. It always get it right. We make mistakes. Second – There is a right and a is the unconscious or willful ignorance We know there are times we miss the wrong. We cannot embrace a moral of that essential humanity in ourselves mark. And when we recognize that relativism that anything goes. Judaism or the other that leads to sin. we deliberately or unknowingly hurt teaches that the worst sin we can Want to repent? Then think. someone else, we often ask, “What commit is one where we deny the Righteous living doesn’t come was I thinking?” higher moral claims God makes on us. automatically or easy. It requires conscious thought and deliberate action. It demands that we seek to So this as we give ourselves some for know more than we already know. It summer, time requires that we push ourselves not only to figure out what the right thing introspection and reflection, what are ways we can is, but then to push ourselves even harder to do it. think about sin that will not lead us to shame and Start with Torah and tradition. Through the study and performance guilt, but to spiritual growth and wholeness? of the commandments, we hear God teach us what moral and ethical living really is. The mitzvot teach us Ironically, we really do want to talk Sometimes we have to debate how text how to see the essential humanity about sin. We may not always observe and tradition help us discern what God in those with whom we share our Shabbat or holidays like Sukkot, wants of us, but it is there to discern. lives. They direct us on a path of real Shavuot or Purim, but almost all of us The right thing is not just what feels understanding of the world in which choose to celebrate Rosh HaShanah right at the time. Our gut instinct is we live. and Yom Kippur – the time of year we not a moral compass. We need to In this summer of introspection think about our sins. actively seek out moral and ethical and reflection, let us use this time So this summer, as we give ourselves truths so that we do the right thing. to reorient our moral compass and some time for introspection and Third – every human life is listen for the commanding voice of reflection, what are ways we can think precious and holy. When we use moral imperative, good judgment, and about sin that will not lead us to shame someone to gratify our desires or to righteous living. July/August 2018 | THE CHRONICLE 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT Sin, Death and Repentance – My Personal Experience BY MARK SUNSHINE TEMPLE BETH EL PRESIDENT [email protected] Recently I have met many individuals that were Recently, my resolve to right past wrongs was put facing death and concerned about the sins that to the test when I ran into someone I sinned against they committed during life. more than 40 years ago. The worst thing I ever did This is because I became part owner of a funeral in my life was to bully one of my classmates in high home — Kronish Funeral Services — along with school, and, a few months ago I ran into my victim at my friend and partner Keith Kronish. As a result, our 40th high school reunion. I have met or spoken with numerous individuals, The victim was a girl that I had a crush on. both Temple members and others, who have Unfortunately, my affection was not reciprocal. In questioned whether they led a good life, or were high school I was immature and mean — really a sinner. mean to this girl. Most of the toughest questions related to wrongs When I saw the now mature woman at the committed to others, i.e. bad acts to family, reunion, to her surprise I immediately asked to friends, co-workers and others, and things unsaid speak in private. I confessed my sin and asked for before passing. forgiveness. (I also believe that sin does not have As a child, I was taught that sins against an expiration date or statute of limitations.) individuals require asking I am a terribly flawed person. I say many dumb So, I have decided to live forgiveness from those things, and sometimes do things that are hurtful. we have wronged, and the But, I believe with every fiber of my being that each day like it is my last, and commitment to do better in the most important thing I can do with my life is leave nothing unsaid the future. “make a positive difference” and not leave words to those close to me or that I I do not know when I unsaid before I pass; including apologizing to have sinned against. will die. I could die today, those that I have sinned against. And every day I tomorrow, or in the distant try to be a better person than the prior day. future, but I know two things I am convinced that now, and not later, is the are certain; my life will end, and I don’t know when. time to right our wrongs and to make a positive So, I have decided to live each day like it is my difference, and that the greatest sin is to not try to last, and leave nothing unsaid to those close to me live with maximum effect, love and compassion. or that I have sinned against. From time-to-time Temple Beth El refers members to multiple funeral homes but does not endorse one over the other. Welcome NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS For help getting involved, please contact Elinor Josephson, Director of Engagement and Programming, at [email protected] or 561-391-8900. Claudette and Allan Afrow Arlene Parkin Marilyn and Dr. Murray Seltzer Lorraine Bragin Malicia and Michael Perlman and their daughter, Lea Dana and Sidney Silva and their son, Aiden Jamie and Mark Farrell and their son, Jax Bonnie and Henry Pikkel Kevin Small and his children, Morgan, Logan and Max Lydia and Dr. Bruce Gordon and their granddaughter, Nicole and Alan Raines and their sons, Ari and Max Courtney and Ross Stern and their children, Cameron Sydney Phillips Fran Roth and Rylie Dana Hayes and Steven Robbins Joanna and Matthew Sackel and their sons, Joshua Jennifer and Joshua Sussman and their children, Ava Dawn and Harold Jonas and Michael and Jacob Joan and Jack Kaye Johanna Salcedo-Black and Paul Greenberg-Cordero Lindsay and Jon Swergold and their sons, Benjamin, Lynn and Norman Metzger and their daughter, Kassandra Brandon and Hayden Lauren and Evan Moscov and their children, Ivy, Jack Dr. Stuart Sarshik Kristen and Rene Vargas and Ari Samantha and Jonas Seider and their sons, Marilyn Zion Sarah and Marc Neiman and their daughter, Mila Drew and Ezra 4 THE CHRONICLE | tbeboca.org SOCIAL ACTION ARE YOU READY FOR HURRICANE SEASON? Giving Tree School Introducing the Supply Drive Help support the students in our Temple Beth El Hurricane community by donating needed school supplies! As the VAH OF THE M ITZ ON Home-Matching Program school year begins, M TH there is a need for JULY/AUGUST Last year, a lot of us were caught unprepared when hurricane season school uniform struck.