Save the Date RSP: Rabbi Perlman
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SUMMER 2019 | SIVAN / TAMUZ / AV 5779 VOLUME 85 NO.9 INSIDE: An Interview with ◾ Tribute to Leonard Cohen Rabbi Sharyn Perlman ◾ FNL with Naomi Less, 9/6/19 Port Washington resident Rabbi Sharyn Perlman was or- dained as a Rabbi at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) last year. As a second-career student, Rabbi Perlman brings REGISTER ONLINE FOR new rabbi enthusiasm, combined with the experience of a life lived to her rabbinate. Rabbi Perlman taught “Torah for the Heart” at TBI this Spring, and was acting Rabbi for RELIGIOUS several Shabbatot when Rabbi Mishkin was away. She will be serving as Rabbi-in-Residence while Rabbi Mishkin is SCHOOL on sabbatical the Summer. See Page 13 By way of introducing Rabbi Perlman to the TBI family, she agreed to be inter- viewed for The Tablet, and hopes that you will join her in the coming months for exciting learning, meaningful prayer, and warm schmoozing. TBI: Let’s start with an easy question: How would you prefer to be addressed by your congregants – Rabbi Perlman or Rabbi Sharyn? Save the Date RSP: Rabbi Perlman. Thanks for asking! temple beth israel TBI: Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from originally? Rabbi Perlman continued on page 2 Sunday, September 8 12 noon Activities throughout the afternoon provided by Crestwood Day Camp Arts & Crafts Music & Entertainment Games • Playground Food Visit us online at www.tbiport.org Contact us at 516-767-1708 Rabbi Perlman continued from page 4 RSP: I’m a born and bred Long Islander. My family lived in Glen Cove until shortly after my bat mitzvah – at Congregation Tifereth Israel – and then we moved Temple Drive, Port Washington NY 11050-3915 to Great Neck, where my 92-year-old mother still lives. Although I love living on T: 516-767-1708 F: 516-944-6461 Long Island, there was a 20-year period in my life, starting with college, when I www.tbiport.org lived in NYC and then lots of other places around the country as well as Canada and Israel. I call those my nomadic years. But each experience was unique and I Rabbi learned so much – about the places I lived, and my own resilience! And not only Michael Mishkin was it exciting to live in different places and learn about their cultures, but I feel Cantor Sharon Grainer fortunate that I’ve been able to maintain the friendships I made with many of the Cantor Emeritus interesting people I met during those years. I think I needed the time and distance Baruch Blum away to appreciate my own backyard; coming “home” to Long Island, being near President family again, is a blessing. Rita Shumsky Vice President, Ritual David Volpe TBI: What led you to become a Rabbi? Vice President, Fundraising RSP: Having been raised in a traditional Conservative home, and having spent Steve Castar summers at Camp Ramah in Glen Spey (may it rest in peace), I knew I wanted my Vice President, Administration university education to include formal Jewish learning at JTS (Jewish Theological Louis Silfin Seminary). So as an undergrad, I attended what was then called the Joint Vice President, Education Adina Kay-Gross and Eden Kasle Program at JTS and Columbia University. At the time, I had wanted to become Vice President, Membership a Conservative rabbi, but was told, “Girls can’t go to Rabbinical School, they can Jen Latner only marry rabbis.” That probably sounds so archaic to many ears now, but that Vice President, Communications Eric Letuchy was the norm in the Conservative movement then. And by the time women were Treasurer admitted to the Rabbinical School, in 1985, I already had small children and no Andrew Silver longer lived in New York. Fast forward a lifetime, and I decided I wanted to pursue Financial Secretary a graduate degree in Jewish Education back at JTS. And on the first day, in my very John Teeger first class, which was me and group of rabbinical students, I knew I was in the right Corresponding Secretary David Cooper school, but the “wrong” program. So during that year, I applied and was accepted Recording Secretary to the Rabbinical School. And exactly one year ago – May 2018 – I finally fulfilled Susan Levbin a life-long dream and was ordained as a rabbi. It was an amazing journey. And really Trustees eye-opening to learn that most of my classmates were younger than my children! Alan Doubert Jack Mishan Mark Fridman Lane Palmer Sheryl Gordon Adam Smith TBI: Judaism rests on three major categories: God, Torah and Israel. How do you Halona Jaffe Mike Smolow Helene Hechtkopf Andrew Sollinger currently understand each of these terms? Laura Landau Scott Tashlik RSP: I think it’s less about how we “understand” each of these terms and more Jenny Markman Alison White Jill Mellow about how we “relate” to them. Anything, or anyone, who is important to us is Trustees Emeritus someone or something we need to be in relationship with, in conversation with. Elkan Abramowitz Joel Greenblatt Just as I work on my relationships with my dear ones, I also put in lots of effort in Saul Muchnick my relationship with God, in the way I relate to the Torah, and the relationship I Sisterhood Presidents have with Israel – the Land of Israel, the State of Israel, and the People of Israel. For Alisa Schindler and Michelle Mondschein me, as a Rabbi, and I think for all Jews, these three relationships are essential to our Men’s Club Presidents Jon Brooks and Michael Nerenberg identity. Of course, that’s not to say it’s easy; relationships are only successful when Immediate Past President both parties participate, and this is true of God, Torah, and Israel, too. Matthew Engel Synagogue Director TBI: What is the current focus of your work? Cathy Seldin RSP: One of the things I love most about being a Rabbi, aside from actually be- Preschool Director Diana Snaider ing a Rabbi, is the varied types of work I’m blessed to do. First, I’m really grateful to Rabbi Mishkin and President Rita Shumsky for the opportunities to serve the TBI Tablet is published monthly by TBI. Submissions must be received by the tenth of the month prior to the wonderful and warm TBI community, as both a Rabbi and teacher. In addition, issue in which they will appear. I’m currently completing my fourth (and final!) chaplaincy internship at North Shore University Hospital. And I’m also the recipient of a grant for “innovative and creative rabbinic leadership” from the David and Inez Myers Foundation to create Rabbi Perlman continued on page 4 PAGE 2 | TBI TABLET SUMMER 2019 PRESIDENT’S NOTES The Year in Review By Rita Shumsky Dear Friends, and Adam Smith, has been established. Allison White and the Social Action I am excited Members include Rabbi Mishkin, Dan Committee continue their advocacy to begin my sec- Kasle, Michael Fishbin, Sherri Suzzan, efforts in support of gun control, im- ond year as your Leslie Naschek, Cathy Seldin and migration and other social justice issues Board President, me. In order to assess the needs of the affecting our community. especially as Temple we will be sending a survey to Educational Engagement: Diana we head into you to complete online. Based on the Snaider, Director of our Preschool, summer and data we will be setting up tasks forces to has introduced new programs to the wrap-up a very address the challenges identified. Your community in an effort to attract more successful and productive year. We will input and comments are critical to shap- children to the school. Her efforts are begin shortly to plan and prepare for the ing TBI’s vision for the future. paying off. Next year we have enrolled High Holidays and our upcoming new Inspirational and Entertaining eight new children. We now have two year full of interesting, engaging and Speakers: Howard Schneider, our 2’S classes. In the Religious School, un- entertaining activities and programs for Scholar in Residence spoke about news der the leadership of Rachel Barnehama, all ages. We also hope to complete the literacy and the challenges the media we have secured a grant from the Jewish transformation of the library, conference and consumers face in interpreting our Education Project (one of five syna- room and old lobby into a multi-pur- 24/7 news cycle. The Library and Social gogues chosen in the NY area for this pose space. Action Committees had many wonder- project) to re-envision our learning First, on behalf of the entire TBI ful speakers including Alex Konstantyn model focusing on a subject based cur- family I want to thank the many who spoke about Kristallnact, Marion ricula instead of a grade driven model. congregant committee members and Ingram who spoke about her life- The Religious School initiated a Tefillah volunteers, and clergy and professional long involvement in the Civil Rights program where each week our students staff for their hard work, dedication and Movement of the ‘60’s and Susan Isaacs meet in the sanctuary to study and learn achievements who interviewed Francine Klagsburn from a child-friendly siddur. Second, as a demonstration of our about her book on Golda Meir. Third, I’d like to share some of the strength as a congregation, I encourage Life Long Learning: Rabbi Mishkin highlights of our TBI Congregation all of us to take pride in just a few of presented a series of five classes on Meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 2019. our 2018-2019 accomplishments listed Jewish Ethics.