The Newsletter of Cleveland’s Jewish Reconstructionist Community january 2013

Members of the Adult B’nai Mitzvah group, Clockwise from upper left: Ginny Nadler, Jennifer Finkel, Lila Hanft, Rabbi Steve, Amy Hogg, Karly Whitaker, Mimi Plevin, Gloria Plevin,Sue Pelleg, Nancy Dudwick, Leah Kamionkowski, and David Conn.

lessons of an adult b’nai mitzvah service by Lila Hanft Standing before the ark during Kol HaLev’s Adult B’nai Mitzvah In This Issue: service in October was quite a high. We b’nai mitzvahniks, as we’d Rabbinic Corner 3 taken to calling ourselves, soaked in the palpable goodwill of over 300 Hagiga Happenings 4 congregants, friends, and family, buoyed by our bond with one another. Tu B’Shevat Seder 5 Yahrzeits 6 To plan the service, we divvied up the Shabbat morning and Torah Contributions 6 services and spent several weeks looking into additional readings, Board Report 7 alternative niggim (songs) and new rituals. Putting together the pro- Adult Education 7 gram a few days before, I grew obsessed with the length of the service From Our President 8 and tried unsuccessfully to persuade my fellow b’nai mitzvahniks to Hesed 8 pare down their creative contributions. Now I’m glad they refused. Hug HaSefer 9 Connections 10 We didn’t intend to set the bar quite so high. At the outset none of us GCC Report 11 had been willing to commit to learning to chant Torah; we’d agreed Kvells 11 upon “making some progress in our ability to read Hebrew.” Somehow, GCC Policy Brief 12 continued on page 15 B’nai Mitzvah section 13 Photo Gallery 18 In this section: • Bat Mitzvah Musings by Leah Kamionkowski , page 13 Calendar 15 • Reflections and “American Kaddish” by Mimi Plevin-Foust, page 14 • The Commmunity of the Long Distance Pray-er by Karly Whitaker, page 15 • That Extra “Heh” by David Conn, page 16 • Group Soul by Lila Hanft, page 17

January 2013 Page 1 Kol HaLev Happenings DIRECTORY

Services & Programs: Office Address: The Lillian and Betty Ratner School Kol HaLev 27575 Shaker Boulevard 2245 Warrensville Center Rd. Suite 215 Pepper Pike, OH 44124 University Heights, OH 44118 http://www.kolhalev.net (216) 320-1498

Rabbi: Education Director: Office Manager: Steve Segar Robyn Novick Judy Herdering [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

OFFICERS: EX OFFICIO MEMBERS: VALUE TEAM LEADERS:

President Past President Greg Selker Democratic & Fiscally Responsible Barb Truitt Rabbi Steve Segar Barry Epstein First Vice Presidents Founding Rabbi Jeffrey Schein Informed & Involved Halle Barnett Education Director Robyn Novick Karly Whitaker David Conn Learning Teams Sue Kisch Secretary AT-LARGE MEMBERS: Molly Berger Participation & Volunteerism Leah Kamionkowski Treasurer Elise Hagesfeld Spiritual Pete Robertson Margaret Cohen Bruce Goodman Bill Scher-Marcus Alan Weinstein Welcoming & Caring David Conn

COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND COORDINATORS:

Kiddush Coordinator Rabbi Liaison Adult Education Coordinator Selma Gwatkin Sue Kisch robin Shell Lunch and Learn Ratner Liaison Art Lieberman Mike Caputo Book Group Adina Davidson Marketing/PR Religious Practices Kevin Weidenbaum Bill Scher-Marcus Cemetery Halle Barnett Deena Epstein Strategic Planning Mike Armin Greg Selker Child Care Coordinator Meditation nancy Rubel Tech Support Traci Elgart Brian Miller Fundraising Karly Whitaker Membership Tikkun Olam Barry Epstein Greg Millas Mimi Plevin-Foust jean Miller Maureen Dinner Torah Study Finance ralph and Selma Gwatkin Dick Epstein Mock Trial Ushers/Greeters/Sadrans Hesed judy Harris Music Anita Cohn jane Arnoff-Logsdon David Conn High Holy Days Sue Pelleg Website Claudia Weissman Bruce Jennings Newsletter Editor Benjamin Barnett Marcia Goldberg Brian Miller Holidays Lila Hanft Newsletter Proofreaders Weekly Update Amy Hogg robin Holzman Interfaith Marcia Goldberg Deena Epstein Youth and Family Education Dick and Donna Weinberg Lynn Liebling Israel Nominating Commitee Allen Binstock Young Families/Tot Shabat Mike Armin rachel Williams February NEWSLETTER DEADLINE: tues. Jan 15

January 2013 Page 2 Kol HaLev Happenings rabbinic corner rabbi steve segar Break the bow, shatter the shield (or sign the petition)

As the Jewish community moved toward the culmination of our festival of lights last month, we, along with the rest of our country and our world, were confronted with the senseless and horrific tragedy of 20 children and 7 adults murdered at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT by a young man with an untreated mental illness. The young man had easy access to a wide range of weapons which had been purchased by his mother and kept in their home.

The National Rifle Association has used its significant resources and influence to resist and ultimately to loosen regulations pertaining to the purchase and ownership of the most destructive of these guns, known as assault rifles. But this most recent catastrophe, together with a number of other similar incidents that have taken place over the past several years, has generated an enormous groundswell of support across our country for a move towards a significant tightening of these regulations.

The organized Jewish community has decided to add its voice to the call for greater regulation. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) has created a petition and invites all members of the Jewish community who feel moved to do so to sign and show their support for this initiative. The petition can be found at www.endgunviolencenow.org. The petition reads:

The horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary was a tragedy that has been a jarring re- minder of the disturbing prevalence of gun violence in our country and culture. Our outrage has stirred us from our complacency and we will not wait for the next shooting to finally act. As the nation mourns, we must also look forward and dedicate ourselves to preventing a future massacre. The JCPA has created a petition expressing our community’s pain and our resolve to enact comprehensive reform, including meaningful legislation to limit access to assault weapons and ensure access to quality mental health care for all who need it. We are calling on you as Jewish community members to sign the petition and ask family and friends to sign as well. With your help, we want to show how solidly the American Jewish community sup- ports action being taken now. Over the next few months, our work together can change the national conversation and make new gun safety laws a reality.”

It is my hope that this petition will generate heretofore unseen levels of participation and that the Jewish community will play a significant role in the actualizing of this intention to bring more balance into our nation’s attitude towards the role of the second amendment in our contemporary context. May we move forward together and minimize the possibility that this deplorable situation will ever arise again. ~Rabbi Steve

Rabbi Steve is available to meet with Kol HaLev members on a range of issues by appointment on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.Contact him by phone at the office (216-320- 1498) or at [email protected] to schedule a meeting time.

January 2013 Page 3 Kol HaLev Happenings robyn novick HAGIGA HAPPENINGS This year December was difficult for me, as it was for many people. As we are typically focused on holiday celebrations and being with friends and family, the news of Sandy Hook was particularly difficult to hear.

I have been working with youth in a variety of venues for the past 20 years. While educational vision, pedagogy and practices have changed, the one constant there has been in all venues over the past 20 years, is the need to create a safe community. While cultivating safe space is always important in educational settings, it becomes especially crucial in the aftermath of a horrific event like that in Newtown, so that children feel that they can begin to process and respond to the very painful and frightening information that has unfortunately been introduced into their lives.

In recent years as part of Hagiga, we have invested a fair amount of time and energy on identifying the elements that must be present for an educational space to feel emotionally safe for our children. One of those elements is an awareness of bullying and the ability to intercede in order to halt bullying when it is taking place. In addition to the focus on responding to bullying when it appears, we have also taken a pro-active approach so that a bullying dynamic is less likely to emerge in the first place. The language we use for this at Kol HaLev is building community. While some see games, we see these activities as the best way to create situations where the youth can learn about each other and find new ways that they can support one another. Of course, even with all the work we do, it is in the nature of an evolving community that bullying dynamics will emerge from time to time. When incidents do occur, we address them quickly, inviting parents into the conversation when appropriate, and lessons are created to address the situations.

Educationally we have all become more aware about the inability for children to learn when they do not have emotional security. I take great pride in that we have worked hard to create a strong and safe community for our children at Kol HaLev. One testament to Hagiga being a community was on the morning after the Sandy Hook shooting when the Magshimim (grades 6-8) organically created a safe forum where they could share their fears and express their disbelief about this horrible situation.

We will continue to work to create a space where children feel supported and cared for, with the hopes that they will feel connected to Kol HaLev and each other. Their safety and security, both physically and emotionally, will continue to be paramount in the Hagiga program. And when the children report that they were playing games at Hagiga, I hope that you will share with them how important these games are and the hope that they will take what they have learned from these games with them as they move through life. We all pray that we will never again encounter such a tragedy, but if we do, the children will know that they have a safe place where they will be able to share their fears and find comfort.

Kol Tuv, ~Robyn Mark your calendars: Tu B’Shevat Seder Fri. Jan. Jan. 25 25

January 2013 Page 4 Kol HaLev Happenings January 2013 Page 5 Kol HaLev Happenings YAHRZEITS They are now a part of us, as we remember them Members of Kol HaLev will mark the following yahrzeits during January:

Sophie Weidenbaum – mother of Kevin Weidenbaum Ruth Armin – wife of Mike Armin Shirley Korman – mother of Neil Korman Jacob Festinger – father of Anna Kelman Sol Fink – father of Judy Harris Sue Smith – mother of Barbara Truitt Aaron Josef Zevit (Ahron Yosef) – grandfather of Shawn Zevit Sylvia Herzig – aunt of Barry Epstein Abe Ritz (Avrum) – father of Muriel Chasin Israel Herman Gorovitz – paternal grandfather of Heidi Gorovitz Robertson Harry Goldstein – father of Anita Cohn Beryl Hanft – mother of Lila Hanft Gussie Hanft – grandmother of Lila Hanft

Kol HaLev members may include the yahrzeit of family in KHL Happenings by submitting the name of the deceased, the relationship to the member and the date of death, including the year, in either the secular or Jewish calendar to [email protected]. contributions Kol HaLev gratefully acknowledges contributions from:

• Anne Adamson in honor of the Adult B’Nai Mitzvah class • Larry and Elizabeth Weiss for High Holy Days and Shabbat participation • Eric and Sue Kisch in honor of the Adult B’Nai Mitzvah class • Robert Gross in honor of Nancy Dudwick’s bat mitzvah • Meg Manny and Irwin Weinberger in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Mary Manny, Meg’s mother • Ronna Harris Askin in honor of Rabbi Jeffrey and Deb Schein • Andrea and Andrew Eller in honor of Rabbi Jeffrey Schein, who treated us to tickets for “The People vs Eve” • Amy and Jonathan Herzenstein to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund in appreciation of Rabbi Steve and the Kol HaLev community for all the support and kindness bestowed upon our fam- ily in our time of need and in loving memory of Norman Reuven, Amy’s father • Sam and Anna Kelman in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Asnat Kelman, Sam’s mother and Adina and Ari’s grandmother • Sam and Anna Kelman in commemoration fo the yahrzeit of Julius Kelman, Sam’s father and Adina and Ari’s grandfather • Ron Kohn in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Adolph Kohn, Ron’s father • Muriel and Abe Chasin in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Sadie Ritz, Muriel’s mother • Melanie and Louis Ryshen in honor of Dr. Deb Schein receiving her Ph.D. from Walden Uni- versity • Dick and Deena Epstein wishing Selma Gwatkin a speedy recovery

January 2013 Page 6 Kol HaLev Happenings molly berger, secretary board report

The Kol HaLev board of trustees met Dec. 10 at the home of Leah Kamionkowski. After President Barb Truitt called the meeting to order, Leah gave a d’var Torah which connected the week’s Parsha about Joseph’s interpretation of the Pharaoh’s dreams to the need for Kol HaLev members to be both dreamers and listeners and to work towards achieving grand visions.

After approval of the November minutes, Pete Robertson gave the treasurer’s report. Our dues col- lection is running a bit behind last year, but hopefully members will continue to meet their commit- ments. In addition, members are encouraged to contribute to the year-end fundraising drive so that we can achieve the generous matching funds being offered by two families. The goal is 100% partici- pation. The trial brought in a net income of $16,734, which was about $3,000 more than last year.

We signed the lease for the office, which includes additional space, and are in the process of chang- ing our phone and internet provider. Once that is finished, we will ask a few people to help with the moving.

There are a number of events coming up in the near future, including two big educational programs. On Sun. Feb. 3 from 10-5, Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg will lead workshops exploring the core practices of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. After this, Rabbi Steve, Rabbi Rona Shapiro, and Rabbi Rob Nosanchuk will teach a six-week version of the Institute’s curriculum. KHL members can attend for free.

A second spring series is a practical approach to Shabbat, Passover, and daily living that will be pre- sented as part of our Adult Education programming.

The GCC is watching developments with Medicaid Expansion. We need people to commit to going to a rally at Olivet on Jan. 24 (more about this on page 11). The next board meeting will be Mon. Jan. 14 at Leah Kamionkowski’s home (216-464-2940), 9 Chelsea Court, Beachwood; all Kol HaLev members are welcome to attend.

Respectfully submitted, ~Molly

adult education: Further Adventures in Reconstructionism

Interested in learning more about Reconstructionism? Rabbi Steve will be leading the following discussions:

Deeper Explorations of Reconstructionism: Kaplan’s Approach to Social Justice on Sun. Jan.6 at 7:30 pm at the home of Eric & Sue Kisch, 21850 E. Byron Rd., Shaker Hts,, 216 295-1324

Deeper Explorations of Reconstructionism: Comparing Kaplan and Alfred North Whitehead: Two approaches to Divine Process, Sun. Jan. 27 at 7:30 pm at the home of Joe Mendes & Cynthia Larsen, 3095 Lincoln Blvd., Cleveland Hts., 216 321-9711

January 2013 Page 7 Kol HaLev Happenings FROM OUR PRESIDENT barb truitt

The first snow of every winter that covers the ground brings me joy. It covers up the raw dirt and grime left over from the fall and can transform a simple object into a work of art. The crunch of the snow beneath my feet is second only to the crunch of the fallen leaves in the fall and ties with squishing mud between my toes.

Yes, snow can mean work, and shoveling and driving in it can be painful, but living in a condo means that I miss working together with my neighbors, making sure that our neighbor who was on dialysis would be able to get to the dialysis center. Walking in the snow, making the first trail, making a snowman or snow fort, throwing snowballs at the tree or at each other all bring joy. We would trample through the snow until the smooth patches were just about gone from our yard, at least until the next snow. “At the last Shabbaton, Kol HaLev is also transformative. It changes my day I remember laughing so and my life. Greeting friends reminds me that they are very hard that tears were important to me. The Shabbat music allows me to release the stress and planning that fills much of my week. Judaism running down my face. I transforms the simple act of eating bread into a web of also remember the quiet friends and those about to become friends. I enjoy the conversations, . . . the diverse points of view, the diverse life paths that converge music and the discussions.” in Kol HaLev. We can all learn so very much from each other because of our differences.

Kol HaLev requires a lot of volunteer effort. Just like making a snowman from the first snow, it takes teamwork and sometimes the product lasts just a short period of time. We remember the fun of the Trial or a Shabbaton and are thankful for those who have put in the hours to make them happen.

We will have a Shabbaton on April 26-28 . At the last Shabbaton, I remember laughing so very hard that tears were running down my face. I also remember the quiet conversations that I had with people who are now my friends, and I also remember the music and the discussions. Please mark your calendar and make time to attend the Shabbaton with your family and your friends. We will also need the efforts of a number of volunteers for jobs both large and small. I can promise a wonder weekend that will be filled with fun, learning and music.

~Barb Mark your calendars: KHL Shabbaton April 26-28

hesed

We send wishes for a refuah shleymah / a complete and speedy healing to Kol HaLev members Selma Gwatkin, Sam Kelman, Anita Cohn, Bruce Fallick and Carol Karabin.

January 2013 Page 8 Kol HaLev Happenings hug hasefer: book discussion group

The January book group meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 at a location to be announced in the Weekly Update. We will discuss Founder: A Portrait of the First Rothschild and His Time by Amos Elon. (208 pages)

From Amazon: Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812), patriarch of the Rothschild clan, fathered five illustrious sons who made the family name a by-word for banking, fabulous wealth, and Jewish philanthropy. Israeli historian Elon has pieced together the story of the dynasty’s founding fa- ther, largely unrecorded heretofore. Mayer Amschel spent his life traveling between the humble Jewish ghetto of Frankfurt and the mansions of the prosperous Gentiles whom he served, particularly that of Prince Wilhelm of Hesse. Jews were severely restricted in most areas of their lives, and Roth- schild had to conduct himself with appropriate servility in the presence of his masters. However, the displacements of the Napoleonic Wars gave the discreet Rothschild his chance to act as Wilhelm’s agent, and his monopoly on the disbursement of the prince’s loans was his entry into banking. It was all the start he needed.

The rest of the books for 2013 are:

• Exit Ghost, Philip Roth • The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus, Amy-Jill Levine • A Good Place for the Night: Stories, Savyon Liebrecht • 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One Tenement, Jane Zie- gelman • The Book of Daniel: A Novel, E. L. Doctorow • Major Farran’s Hat: The Untold Story of the Struggle to Establish the Jewish State, David Cesa- rani • What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank: Stories, Nathan Englander • Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937 - 1948, Madeleine Albright • A Seat At The Table: A Novel of Forbidden Choices, Joshua Halberstam • A Fine Romance: Jewish Songwriters, American Songs, David Lehman • Hope: A Tragedy: A Novel, Shalom Auslander

All KHL members are welcome to attend. For more information about the group, look at our web page (http://www.kolhalev.net/book_group) and contact Kevin Weidenbaum ([email protected]) to be added to the group’s email list.

January 2013 Page 9 Kol HaLev Happenings Connections David conn The “J” Factor

Fox Television’s “” is a nationwide competition to find a singer with the talent and je ne sais quoi (read: that “certain something” or “X factor”) to make him or her a superstar. At the end of 3-4 months of competition, the winner is awarded a $5 million recording contract.

This season’s runner-up was 13-year-old Carly Rose Sonenclar from Westchester, NY. Carly was bat mitzvah in mid-2012 and the fact that she and her family are Jewish was never reported, to my knowledge, on the show or in the popular media. This may be evidence of America’s growing tolerance as it becomes more diverse. Only two generations ago widespread anti-Semitism existed in higher education, business, housing and even government. Today being Jewish in America essentially is a non-issue and those outside the “ultra Orthodox” community are highly assimilated into the American cultural landscape.

Diversity and assimilation are different sides of the same coin, of course. In the tension between them lies the issue of “distinctiveness.” How do we identify publicly as Jews in a way that both is authentic and at the same time does not compromise our hard-won acceptance? Moreover, in failing to express our distinctiveness, do we undercut our identity as Jews, weaken our collective sense of peoplehood and risk becoming permanently lost in the diaspora wilderness?

Christmas—at least the secular, commercialized version of the holiday—is deeply ingrained in today’s American cultural experience. Christmas is a fine holiday, but as Jews we cannot embrace it communally for even in its most secularized incarnation it is ultimately inseparable from the religious holiday Carly Rose Sonenclar of the same name and therefore is incompatible with our identity.

The “X Factor” finale on December 20th had all the trappings of a Christmas special and each of the three finalists sang a Christmas song. Carly covered ’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” How do you feel about this? The majority of American Jews seem to accept this sort of thing as a commercial reality and not as a conflict of interest or identity. In fact, Jewish singers and song writers have a plethora of Christmas titles—mostly but not exclusively secular—to their credit. (For more on this, read Paul Wieder’s article “Too Yule for Shul: Jewish Singers and Their Christmas Albums” http://www.juf.org/news/blog.aspx?id=418385.)

Later in the show, there was a video montage of Carly’s family and friends praising her and wishing her good luck in the finale. One after another of her immediate family appeared on a set designed as a living room replete with Christmas tree, poinsettias and all the standard decorations. Did the show’s producers anticipate the family’s potential sensitivities concerning this scene? Did the family raise the issue, simply accede in order to avoid making waves or even notice? Does it matter whether the scene created an inauthentic image of the family? Did the family miss an opportunity to continued on page 11

January 2013 Page 10 Kol HaLev Happenings greater cleveland congregations Greater Cleveland Congregations has taken a major role in convening a coalition of over 30 groups of hospitals, health care providers, foundations, and more to influence Governor Kasich and the Ohio legislature to adopt the Medicaid expansion portion of The Affordable Care Act. This expan- sion has the potential to insure up to 800,000 Ohioans and to bring in major revenue to the state of Ohio.

You can be part of this exciting effort! Please sign up to attend an event at Olivet Institutional Bap- tist Church on Thurs. Jan. 24 at Olivet Institution- al Baptist Church at 7:00. We estimate that there will be 1,000 people there and Governor Kasich WHAT: Medicaid Expansion Action will be invited. Assembly WHEN: Jan. 24, 2013, 7-9 pm Kol HaLev will coordinate carpooling or busing to the event. Please contact Allen Binstock (abin- WHERE: Olivet Institutional Baptist [email protected]) to RSVP or ask questions. You Church, 8712 Quincy Ave, Cleveland. can find a flier for the eventhere , and a one-page policy brief on Medicaid Expansion on page 12..

kvell corner

An art exhibit of landscape paintings by Ken Messinger-Rapport will be on display at the Beachwood Community Center from Jan. 6 through Jan. 26, 2013. Kol HaLev members are invited to the opening reception at the community center on Jan. 6, from 1:30-3:00. Ken Messinger- Rapport Wheatfield

Connections, continued from page 10 express their distinctiveness as Jews instead of allowing themselves to be assimilated into a secular Christmas vignette? What would you do?

One family member, grandmother Fran, whom we will call Bubbe, was apparently interviewed in her home. On a shelf behind Bubbe and impossible to miss in the camera shot was a brightly illuminated and fully lit electric Chanukah menorah. From its conspicuousness and the low probability that the interview was conducted the prior Saturday night or Sunday when the menorah by tradition would have been fully lit, we must conclude that Bubbe was sending no more and no less of a message to America than: “We are Jewish.” Far from an attempt to be edgy, controversial or to challenge the majority culture that celebrates some version of the Christmas holiday, Bubbe simply felt the responsibility and seized the opportunity to identify publicly as Jewish. And that is “The J Factor.”

How do YOU connect -- to the divine, to our community? Share your thoughts with David at david@ estophile.com

January 2013 Page 11 Kol HaLev Happenings Medicaid Expansion Policy Brief

Why are we talking about Ohio Medicaid Expansion? ¥ The Affordable Care Act (the national health care law) called for and funded the expansion of the Medicaid program, which provides quality health insurance to millions of poor Americans. ¥ The Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Government cannot compel states to expand Medicaid. Now the decision to expand Medicaid in Ohio is up to the Governor and legislature of Ohio.

Who does Ohio Medicaid Expansion help? ¥ There are currently 800,000 uninsured Ohioans at the bottom of the income spectrum who would get health insurance if Ohio moves forward with the Medicaid Expansion. ¥ These 800,000 include unmarried childless adults making less that $15,000/year, and parents making between roughly $20,000-30,000 (under 138% of the federal poverty level). It includes working families, homeless people, empty nesters, ex-offenders, and the recently unemployed.

What will this cost Ohio? ¥ Medicaid Expansion will cost Ohio NOTHING for the first three years, and will then slowly increase to 10% of the cost of covering these Ohioans. ¥ Medicaid Expansion will generate SIGNIFICANT REVENUES for Ohio through increased sales tax, income tax, and economic activity. ¥ Medicaid Expansion will generate SIGNIFCANT COST SAVINGS to state and local budgets by covering things like health care for the prison population and mental health services. ¥ It is projected that Medicaid Expansion will bring in more through revenue and savings than it will cost, helping to free up state budget resources for other priorities.

What happens if Ohio doesn’t expand Medicaid? ¥ 800,000 Ohioans will remain uninsured, suffering from reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Lives will be lost or ruined through unnecessary suffering and medical debt. ¥ Ohio’s hospitals, a major economic engine, will be put at financial risk because the Affordable Care Act has cut their payments in order to pay for the Medicaid expansion. ¥ Insured individuals and small businesses will see rising health care costs as the burden of paying for the uninsured is shifted onto private insurance plans.

January 2013 Page 12 Kol HaLev Happenings Bat Mitzvah musings by Leah Kamionkowski

I grew up in Argentina as a passionate Zionist and avowed secular Jew, so becoming involved with a religious movement and being called to the Torah were not part of the plan. Very much to the contrary, those were attitudes that were completely incompatible with my thoughts, my ideals, my aspirations, and my vision for the future.

Life changes, we grow, we search, we evolve, and we find new meanings. Within me, eventually Theodor Herzl and Mordechai Kaplan (and his New Zionism) shook hands and became friends. And I became a Reconstructionist Jew, with as much passion as I have had for Zionism since my youth. I looked for a Reconstructionist community, and fortunately found a group which was just starting out in Cleveland with Jeffrey Schein and a handful of people.

Two years ago, without giving it much prior thought, it felt “right” to become part of a B’nei Mitzvah co- hort, and, under Rabbi Steve Segar’s guidance we started studying together. We were an extremely diverse group, ranging in age from twenties to seventies, men and women, with different backgrounds, different life experiences, different world outlook, different temperaments. We were quite a disparate bunch.

As part of the process the Rabbi requested that we write our spiritual autobiographies, and that we share them with the group. The exercise of putting together how my thinking had evolved and had brought me to this point in my life made it clear that the decision to become a Bat Mitzvah and being called to the Torah was a natural development, one that felt organic, one that felt right.

Sharing our spiritual journeys with each other became a most remarkable experience. We paid careful and loving attention to each story. We heard the most intimate thoughts, we heard about the most personal of encounters, and we accepted, we understood and we embraced each other completely. We embraced and felt embraced.

Approaching our becoming “Jewish adults” and being called to the Torah became a process of growth and of becoming a caring and supportive “family.”

As time went on we needed to prepare to be called to the Torah. Not having been blessed with a musical ear, the thought of chanting from the Torah was quite scary. It was going to be a daunting task. I have never been able to follow a tune, and never inflicted on anybody the agony of having to listen to my singing. The thought of having to learn trope was quite frightening. I might have dropped out had I not been so stubborn. But I found a tutor, studied seriously, and practiced daily. I even rocked my newborn grandson to the sounds of “Lekh lekha.” And finally I learned it. And to think that I had never believed in miracles!

On October 27, at age 79, I chanted the beginning verses of Lekh lekha in front of the congregation, guests, and my children and grandchildren, feeling calm and confident. It was right, and it sounded right. And I felt that I, too, had heard the call to leave Haran, and had taken an important step in my Jewish journey..

Editor’s note: Leah wrote this piece at the invitation of the editor of Ritualwell.org, and it can be seen on- line at http://www.ritualwell.org/blog/musings-my-bat-mitzvah-leah-kamionkowski.

January 2013 Page 13 Kol HaLev Happenings Yes, It Was Worth It! Reflections on Becoming a B’nai Mitzvah by Mimi Plevin-Foust

I joined Kol HaLev’s most recent b’nai mitzvah group as a bit of a lark (friends in the cohort, chance to do something interesting with my mom, Gloria Plevin, opportunity to learn more about Judaism, etc.). I didn’t realize that becoming a b’nai mitzvah would involve so many of my favorite activities – learning, creative writing, discussing new ideas with smart savvy people, and getting to know others I admire.

Writing a spiritual autobiography to share with the group as well as reading the spiritual autobiographies of others in our cohort, was deeply moving. What an amazing array of sacred journeys our Kol HaLev members have traveled. What courage they showed in revealing their stories. I learned so many new things from each essayist, including my own mother. I think all of our humanity was deepened as a result of this sharing.

Studying our portion, Lech Lecha, I walked into a whole new world of understanding the historical and cultural context of the Torah and its writers, a richly fascinating world I will keep exploring. The wit and wisdom of my peers’ interpretations of other parts of Lech Lecha continues to impress me.

And in studying Hebrew and learning to read my three lines of Torah – the scariest part of the process for me - I discovered that I actually enjoyed decoding and singing trope (though I’m still not really able to recite anything besides those lines at this point).

Finally, the b’nai mitzvah gave me the chance to complete and share American Kaddish, a song I had been writing on my own for many months that meant a great deal to me and that I hoped would be meaningful for others. I can’t thank Rabbi Steve, Sue Pelleg, Daniel Baxter, Karly, Aurelia, Amy Brodsky, Jean Miller and the rest of our group enough for all their help in arranging and singing the song publically for the first time during our service.

Over the 22 months our b’nai mitzvah group met, a process that began as a lark gradually became one of the most enriching experiences in my life. The ceremony was a joyful and spiritually-connected pinnacle of that process, made especially meaningful because my mother was able to participate, having come home from a long hospital stay just the week before.

Thanks, Rabbi Steve, for leading us so thoughtfully and generously down this road. Thanks to our group for enlightening me continuously along the way. And thanks to all the other Kol HaLev members, family and friends for sitting through our long ceremony and sharing our joy.

american kaddish Dear one, we are just here to say Our story will go on. We hold you in our hearts. Farewell, Godspeed— I know we’ll meet again. We think about you every day. We salute your life and send you love. We salute your life and send you love. CHORUS: CHORUS: We salute your life; we celebrate your life. We salute your life; we celebrate your life. We remember you and send you love. We remember you and send you love. We send you love. (2X) Our chapter here is at an end. --Lyrics and Music by Mimi Plevin-Foust

January 2013 Page 14 Kol HaLev Happenings The Community of the Long Distance Pray-er by Karly Whitaker

During a time of persecution by the Romans, when Jews were not allowed to read publicly from the Torah, we adopted the practice of instead reading a passage from the prophets that corresponded in some way to the Torah portion, called the haftarah. Even after the persecution had ended these haftarot were retained and incorporated into Shabbat morning services, as it was found that the prophetic texts illuminated the Torah, and vice versa. The haftarah for our parsha Lech Lecha comes from Isaiah, and includes the lines: “Do you not know, have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Eternal, Creator of the earth from end to end, never grows faint, never grows weary. Even the young grow faint and weary... but all who trust in the Eternal renew their strength, they soar on wings like eagles, they run and never grow weary.” It is not difficult to see the connections between this passage and Lech Lecha, with its epic journeys and recurring motif of vhumans undergoing trials yet learning to trust in God.

As a runner, however, I was struck by the idea that one might somehow learn to “run and never grow weary,” and by sheer wonder recalling Judaism’s own long history and journey. Judaism, it seems to me, is nothing if not an endurance athlete, built for the long haul. It has trained and been tested over time and across a diaspora of distances. And Shabbat, this gift of a day, is our second wind, a renewal and reservoir of energy one can experience after pushing through fatigue and busybody nature of the work week. In our Friday evening prayers there is a line “shavat vayinafash.” On Shabbat, even God stops for a moment and draws a refreshing breath of rest.

At this moment when we gather together to set off on our marathon service, I ask us to think of the geese, those ultimate long distance travellers, heading south together on their migratory journeys. Or of cyclists, who have learned how to ride faster and further in each others’ eddies. The benefits of being in community are not just a trick of aerodynamics, I believe. There is also something that might be called spiritual coasting, an energy we create and ride together that is greater than the sum of our parts. May we all be blessed to experience this renewal, and to continue to go from strength to strength.

Editor’s note: Karly wrote this piece for the opening section of the Adult B’nai Mitzvah service.

B’nai Mitzvah, continued from page 1 however, we reached a tipping point: that point at which, with most of us planning to chant Torah, the rest of us felt honor-bound to try as well.

Some learned their portion easily. Nancy, who says she’s tone-deaf, decided at the outset to read the Hebrew without the trope, so that at our first dress rehearsal, she was already word-perfect. I, by contrast, nearly burst into tears when I tried to chant AND follow along the lines of text with the yad (pointer). I lost my place, paralyzed by the spectre of total public humiliation. The spacing and calligraphy of Kol HaLev Torah scroll, it transpired, differed from that of the tikkun I’d used to practice, and I’m a very visual learner. Someone My Torah portion, captured by iPhone, while Steve holds the yad. suggested I take a photo of my lines as they appear in our Torah, and I did, photoshopping them into clarity at home to practice with.

That it all worked out in the end was clear to everyone who attended the service. In the emails that circulated among the b’nai mitzvahniks on the day following our service, we could hardly believe how well it had gone. In an email with the subject line “We did it”, Ginny wrote: continued on page 16

January 2013 Page 15 Kol HaLev Happenings That extra “heh” by David Conn As one sign of their entry into covenant, G-d changes Avram’s and Sarai’s names to Avraham and Sarah by inserting the letter “heh” (h). The “heh” is thought to stand for “hamon” (a multitude) as Avraham is told he will be “av hamon goyim” (father of a multitude of nations). Not merely a change of status, some contend that theirs was also an act of conversion. Sarai’s maidservant Hagar, on the other hand, did not undergo a name change. Her name, perhaps significantly, already contained a “heh.” Perhaps Hagar—who together with Avram conceived Ishmael—was destined to be the mother of the Arab nations without the need for spiritual conversion. Jews by Choice traditionally associate themselves with Avraham and Sarah as the spiritual parents of our people and the original converts through their Hebrew names, which according to strong minhag (custom) end with the suffix “ben/bat Avraham Avinu v’Sarah Imanu” (son/daughter of Abraham our father and Sarah our mother); this is often shortened to “ben/bat Avraham v’Sarah.” Some are uncomfortable with this tradition as in practice it seems to conflict with theTalmudic demand that we not call attention to converts and that we not treat them differently in any respect from “born Jews.” Today, many Jews by Choice, particularly in liberal communities, use alternative formulations to “ben/ bat Avraham v’Sarah.” Some, to coin a word, “Hebrecize” their parents’ given names to fit the “ben/bat” formulation. Others adopt the names of biblical characters other than Avraham and Sarah.

One of our Talmudic sages of antiquity, thought to be a convert, bypassed the suffix “Avraham v’ Sarah” and went straight to the heart of the matter and, no doubt inspired by this parsha, took on two “heh’s” directly. His chosen name? Bar He He.

Editor’s note: This piece is an excerpt from David’s D’var Torah. We’re collecting all our D’vrei Torah into an ebook which will available on the KHL website in early 2012.

B’nai Mitzvah, continued from page 15 Just want to reach out to all of you with the utmost respect for what we all accomplished yesterday. This has been a most remarkable journey . . Leah wrote, “Each one of you shined bright, and I am honored to have been part of this group.” One blessing of the day was that Gloria Plevin, the b’nai mitzvahnik who’d been in the hospital for the weeks preceding our service, was doing well enough to join us on the big day. Afterward, she wrote: Was there ever such a wonderful B’nai Mitzvah event? I am so proud of each and every one who participated! The readings from the Torah were exquisite. I loved the singing, trope, of the lines. Each D’var Torah was excellent, so well-thought-out and eloquently expressed. . . . The joyfulness of the event made me kvell with “sisterly” pride. . . . My love to you all. I am grateful that I could be with you. In the end, the lesson of our b’nai mitzvah ceremony for me was this: We were together, and that as long as we were together, nothing is insurmountable. Looking back, my favorite moment of the service might well have been that ridiculously long but surprisingly joyful, Torah promenade. The idea was that we’d each take up a station around the room and carry the Torah a short distance, passing off to continued on page 17

January 2013 Page 16 Kol HaLev Happenings group soul by Lila Hanft

If you think of Lech Lecha as a travel guide, it makes sense that the narrative is interrupted by what I call “packing lists” -- inventories of the gold and silver and servants and asses and camels that Abram and Sarai acquire and have to schlep with them as they go from place to place. On one of these lists, we find the cryptic item ,”Hanefesh asher asu v’haran,” which is universally translated as “the souls they made in Haran,” and understood to be a reference to the people Avram and Sarai converted to Judaism.

The problem is that what the Torah actually says is “hanefesh” -- singular, not “nefashot” -- plural, so the Hebrew literally says “the Soul they made in Haran.” And from there, we have to wonder, if the translators have it wrong and the Hebrew is right, what this could be -- this single soul made by multiple people (the answer might be “a child,” except that we’re talking about Abram and Sarai, the most famously barren couple in history).

The answer I eventually came to is decidedly Reconstructionist. What, after all, do a group of Jewish people take with them wherever they go? Themselves, their Jewishness or Yiddishkeit, a communal soul which develops organically from personal interaction, mutual understanding and shared experience

Mordecai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionism, wrote about this communal soul often, calling it the “life force” of Judaism. For Kaplan, a rabbi who would eventually come to privilege belonging over believing, the survival of Judaism depended not on halacha or ritual but on the perpetuation of “a sense of peoplehood which functions through the medium of a living civilization.”

The active commitment to an ethos of belonging and community is what first drew me to Kol HaLev. Our communal soul provides us with sure footing even when we’re otherwise in flux, or when we find ourselves at a crossroads, at Haran, and hear the call to “Lech Lecha.”

Editor’s note: This piece is an excerpt from Lila’s D’var Torah. We’re collecting all our D’vrei Torah into an ebook which will available on the KHL website in early 2012

B’nai Mitzvah, continued from page 16 the next person and falling in behind to bring the Torah back to the bima together. It was not without its challenges. It took a lot longer than we’d planned and as we marched, I heard Rabbi Steve slowing down the niggunim (melodies) we were humming, and then tacking on decreasingly familiar niggun to stretch the humming out. Added to that, we hadn’t all started off on quite the right marks, so the pattern of who passed the Torah to whom got jumbled. “This isn’t the way it’s supposed to go,” Amy whispered with some surprise, as someone handed off the Torah to her out of turn. “I guess it is now,” I said with a shrug. And Amy, by taking the Torah and setting off for the next station, made it so.

Our model for how to be a member of this group was Rabbi Steve, who brought the group into being and nurtured it, always generous with his time and knowledge, unstinting in his enthusiasm and encouragement, and capable of patient, nonjudgmental acceptance. After nearly two years of meeting together every couple weeks, we’d grown and evolved into a beautiful, synergistic community, a collective source of compassion, commitment, and wisdom that will always be my gold standard for community.

January 2013 Page 17 Kol HaLev Happenings photo gallery Hagiga games of dreidel.

Hanukkah celebration and Latke Throwdown

January 2013 Page 18 Kol HaLev Happenings CALENDAR

Sat. Jan. 5 9:15 -- 10:15 a.m. Philosophical Inquiry with the Parasha for 5th and 6th grade Hagiga students in the Art Room. 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Service preceded by Torah Discussion at 9:30 a.m. at Ratner Chapel; Shemot; Service leader: Rabbi Steve; Discussion leader: Rabbi Steve; kiddush co-hosted by Chuck Hersch and Shahin Afnan in honor of their anniversary and by Mark and Adina Davidson 10:30 a.m. Hagiga 10:45 a.m. Tot-Parent Shabbat Program for families with children in preschool and under in Rooms 113 & 114. The program is about a half an hour. Babysitting is available before and after Tot Shabbat, also in Rooms 113 & 114. 1:00 – 2:00 p.m Lunch & Learn Series: Lynn Liebling will lead us in a discussion about Tu B’Shevat as part of a series exploring the annual cycle of holidays and festivals from a Reconstructionist perspective. Please bring a parve/dairy and nut-free dish to share. If you need childcare or have any questions, contact Karal Stern at [email protected] or 440-781-3318. Sun., Jan. 6 7:30 – 9:30 p.m Deeper Explorations of Reconstructionism: Kaplan’s Ap- proach to Social Justice at the home of Eric and Sue Kisch, 21850 E. Byron, Shaker Heights, 216-295-1324 Tues., Jan. 8 8:30 -- 9:30 a.m. Schmooze with the Rabbi at the Stone Oven on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights Fri., Jan. 11 8:00-10:00 p.m. Youth Dessert Potluck -- location TBA. For info, contact Ma’ayan ([email protected]) Sat., Jan. 12 10:30 a.m. Member-Led Shabbat Service at Ratner Chapel; Va’era; Service leader: Kol HaLev member; kiddush co-hosted by Ron and Leah Gilbert in honor of Nathan’s 19th birthday and by Ruth Ness 3:30-5:00 p.m. Torah Study -- location to be announced. Sun., Jan. 13 10:00 a.m.-noon. New Member Brunch at the home of Maureen Dinner, 249 Blossom Lane, Orange, 440-914-0404 Mon., Jan. 14 7:30 p.m Board Meeting at the home of of Leah Kamionkowski, 9 Chelsea Ct, Beachwood, 216-464-2940; all Kol HaLev members are welcome. Tue., Jan. 15 Deadline for the February issue of Kol HaLev Happenings Sat., Jan. 19 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Service preceded by Torah Discussion at 9:30 a.m at Ratner Chapel; Bo; Service leader: Rabbi Steve and Kol HaLev member; Discussion leader: Kol HaLev member; kiddush co- hosted by Karal Stern and by Bruce and Brenda Goodman in honor of Naomi’s 16th birthday

January 2013 Page 19 Kol HaLev Happenings CALENDAR

Sat., Jan. 19 10:00 – 10:30 a.m Intergenerational Learners Service in the Chapel; Rabbi Steve will lead a 30-minute service open to anyone in the community who would like to learn a little more about the Shabbat morning service. 10:30 a.m. Hagiga 10:45 a.m. Tot-Parent Shabbat Program for families with children in preschool and under in Rooms 113 & 114. The program is about a half an hour. Babysitting is available before and after. Wed., Jan. 23 7:00-8:30 p.m. Mindful Jewish Practice at Nancy Rubel’s office - 24755 Chagrin Boulevard, #305 Thu., Jan. 24 7:00-9:00 p.m. GCC Medicaid Expansion Action Assembly at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. More information on page 11. 7:30 p.m Book Group – location TBA. More information on page 9. Fri., Jan. 25 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – Tu B’Shevat Intergenerational Program and Potluck at Ratner School; Join us for a festive Shabbat evening celebrating the New Year of the Trees. Please bring a parve or dairy dish to serve 10-12 people and a Tu B’Shevat Treat. More information on page 5. A-H —Appetizer or Salad and a fruit that is completely edible (grapes, figs, apples, lemons, etc.) I-P —Dessert or Drink and fruit that has pits (olives, dates, cherries, peaches, etc.) Q-Z —Main Dish and a fruit that has an inedible shell (pomegranates, coconuts, etc.) Sat., Jan. 26 10:30 a.m. Musical Shabbat at Ratner Chapel; Beshalach; Service leader: Rabbi Steve; kiddush co-hosted by Alan Binstock, by Eda Weiss and by Renee Siegel Sun., Jan.. 27 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Count Me in Prep Session at the JCC 7:30 – 9:30 p.m Deeper Explorations of Reconstructionism: Comparing Kaplan and Alfred North Whitehead: Two Approaches to Divine Process at the home of Joe Mendes and Cynthia Larsen, 3095 Lincoln Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, 216- 321-9711 TBA Youth Group Event, details TBA. For info, contact Ma’ayan ([email protected]) Mon., Jan. 28 7:30 p.m Value Teams Leaders Meeting at the home of Leah Kamionkowski, 9 Chelsea Ct, Beachwood, 216-464-2940

The newsletter calendar is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. However, dates and venues for KHL events do sometimes change. To keep abreast of any changes, read the Weekly Update which is emailed to all members on Thursdays, or check Kol HaLev’s website calendar.

January 2013 Page 20 Kol HaLev Happenings

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Kol HaLev, Cleveland’s Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, is an egalitarian,January participatory 2013 spiritual community Page 21 Kol HaLev Happenings Visit our website at http://www.kolhalev.net