Kol K .I. July-August15, 2020 learn. inspire. grow. together. Tammuz / Av / Elul 5780

16 Colt Road l Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 l 413.445.4872 l knessetisrael.org • David Weiner l Richard Simons, President

How We Will Worship this Summer Shabbat services to be livestreamed

How should synagogues and churches Among them: operate during this time? I am not sur- prised by the conflicting recommen- n B’tzelem Elohim—the infinite, incal- dations for us that are emerging from culable value of every human life, in Image scientific, government, public health, God’s image and religious organizations. Relying on n Kehilla—gathering in community the scientific method for understanding for prayer, Torah study, and mutual this virus, as we should, means that our support knowledge will grow by fits and starts n Mada—The pursuit of knowledge to and sometimes double back on itself. make better choices There are a lot of variables and unknowns n Anava—Humility to remember how in play. Complicating our analysis is that much we do not know and to take human nature means that our emotions that into account and perspectives also come into play, leading some suggestions to feel truer n Kavod—Honor and dignity for every- than others do, sometimes without evi- one, even in the face of challenge dence. Now and then, new precautions n Arevut—Our decisions matter. We are will become necessary, while, at other responsible to each other and to times, new possibilities will emerge. our neighbors Summer in the Berkshires will not be the same this n Tzedek—Justice as a responsibility year. Due to those changes and the dates of the high Facing these challenges, Knesset Israel and an aspiration has responded thoughtfully and collab- holidays, instead of a combined July/August edition, we will be publishing two summer KOL K.I.issues with oratively over the last several months. In Knesset Israel did not close on Friday, unusual publication dates. addition to following recommendations March 13. We cancelled in-person events for public safety, we have chosen to to do our part to flatten the curve. Howev- • July— August 15 focuses on summer, and design our programming to bring core er, at the same time we also initiated the Jewish values to life. • August 16—September 20 will focus on late summer continued on page 3 and the Rosh Hashanah / Yom Kippur holidays. In This Issue Member Mitzvahs & Mazel Tovs

From the Rabbi...... 1 From the President...... 4 Calendar...... 5 Spotlight On: Chris Goetz...... 6 & 7 Advertisers ...... 10 Jews and Hope...... 11 Yahrzeits, Funds & Endowments. 13 & 14 and much more!

Gabriel Dahari will come to the bima as a Charlie Raser is 13 years old and anxious- bar mitzvah on Saturday, August 8. Gabe ly awaiting his postponed Bar Mitzvah K.I. Staff is the son of his proud parents Brandi and on August 15. Also waiting to celebrate OFFICE PHONE 413-445-4872 David Dahari. His siblings are Benji and are his parents Bart and Jennifer Raser, Maya. He is the grandson of Ellen and his grandparents Marian and Marshall RABBI DAVID WEINER Ext. 10 Tobi Lanciano of Lenox, and Emanuel Da- Raser, and his sister Georgia Raser. [email protected] hari of Queens, NY. DIANA MACFARLANE Ext. 10 Charlie is currently an honor student at Office Manager Gabe enjoys playing trumpet in the Jazz Lenox Middle and High School. His plans [email protected] band at Herberg Middle School and is a were to be on LMMHS track team prior member of BRASS, the Berkshire Rowing to Covid, and his father says he is “fast as ED ROBINSON and Sculling Club. An academic at heart, the wind.” He is hoping to resume down- [email protected] Gabe enjoys all school subjects especial- hill skiing, another of his interests, this MYRNA HAMMERLING Ext. 16 ly his English and music classes. He also coming winter. Director of Adult Education enjoys running, and riding his bike both and Programming on and off-road. Gabe’s enjoyments in- At present, he is building an elaborate [email protected] clude playing video games online with tree fort with his friends (at a social dis- CHRIS GOETZE Ext. 20 his friends. This has been a great way to tance) when he is not hiking and driving Facilities Director/Head Custodian stay social when his school building has his hover board. [email protected] been closed.

JUDITH WEINER Ext. 15 Gabe actively promotes literacy in his If all goes well, congregants will be able to Director of Families Together, and community. For his Tikun Olam project, attend these Bar Mitzvahs by livestream. Hebrew School Administrator he has collected new and used books for [email protected] donation to local individuals and institu- More Member Mitzvahs & Birthdays ELISA SNOWISE tions in need. & Anniversaries appear on pages 6 &7 B’Nai Mitzvah Teacher /Coordinator [email protected] LIZ DEMARCO, Web Administrator, BULLETIN DELIVERY DELAYS [email protected] We have been informed by the USPS that non-profit mailings are delayed. Priority is being given to packages & first class mail.To get K.I. information in a timely KNESSET ISRAEL manner, we encourage you to read it online, and even download and print it out. 16 Colt Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-445-4872 Hopefully mail delievry will return to normal soon. 413-496-9378 (fax) You may access the full bulletin at knessetisrael.org/kol-ki knessetisrael.org Cover Quote from Rabbi Sacks’ (Essays) p. 117

2 n KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 From the Rabbi continued from page 1

Shabbat Shalom Project to time to be less terrifying stay connected and began and more confusing than to partner with the food mid-March. pantry at South Congre- gational Church. We also To better serve the needs created different online of members, K.I. is working programs, affirming that on expanding our options learn. inspire. grow. together. Knesset Israel is not only for davening. Based on the a building but also a com- Conservative Movement’s summer months and into the fall will be munity united by shared new guidelines on live either individual meditation at home, values and a sense of re- streaming shabbat and or watching and participating online. sponsibility to each other Rabbi David Weiner holiday services, we are Based on our understanding of the risks that is almost familial. We installing a camera in the involved, we are not planning to gath- have not gotten everything right on the sanctuary. This technology will allow K.I. er en masse at Knesset Israel anytime first try, but we have worked together to to broadcast services from the sanctuary into our homes in a way that is some- soon. Some of our services may take

Based on the Conservative Movement’s new guidelines… we are installing a camera in the sanctuary. This technology will allow K.I. to broadcast services from the sanctuary into our homes.

place through Zoom and others via K.I.’s chart a course forward. By sharing their what compatible with shabbat obser- new livestream (knessetisrael.org/lives ideas, questions, doubts and even pain vance. Everything is a work in progress. tream). Livestreaming has its advantag- and yearnings, many people have con- The list of things we do not know, or do es: It is more shabbat friendly, respectful tributed to K.I.’s evolving responses to not know yet, is uncomfortably long. We of the privacy of the shaliah tzibbur and this moment. Every time the sparks start are consulting with individuals who have rabbi, allows for superior musical quality to fly, I smile, remembering that we are a deep understanding of the contagion and more complete davening and pro- bringing the process of the to of COVID-19, the state of the Berkshires duces an experience more like being in life, embracing principled argument as with respect to the pandemic, and the synagogue. On the other hand, Zoom beneficial, productive and affirming of culture of Knesset Israel, in order to make creates opportunities for socializing and relationship. good choices that are in line with scien- tific knowledge and our values. Please connecting well beyond what a lives- As I write this article in late May, Massa- watch your email for updates. tream can offer. We are not sure we can chusetts is in Stage One of the governor’s have the advantages of both at the same plan to slowly reopen its doors to a new Chances are that our primary experi- time, so we may do some of each or try normal. I am finding this in-between ence of tefilla, of Jewish prayer, over the a few different approaches. Our experi- ences on shabbat will inform our plans for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

KOL K.I. PUBLICATION NOTES As this journey continues, I hope you will Editor: Susan Miller • Co-Editor/Photo Editor: Nan Bookless • Production: Liz DeMarco • Aldam Press participate and remain engaged. Always feel free to reach out with feedback, sug- We welcome submissions. Publication will be at the discretion of the editorial staff, gestions, concerns and new ideas. (You and may be subject to editing for clarity, facts, and length. can even reach out just to be encourag- ing.) We will get through this, thought-

Submit articles & photographs VIA EMAIL to: Susan Miller at [email protected] fully, together.

KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 n 3 From the President

Empowering Ourselves Because KOL K.I. is With action we lift ourselves and others produced a month before it is mailed, we are unable to At the same time we are entering into Phase I of opening up certain businesses and anticipate what COVID-19 public buildings, we are starting to settle in to the notion that life will be quite different restrictions for gatherings for the foreseeable future. This will be a Berkshire summer like no other summer we and services will be in place have experienced. when you receive it. Restrictions on large public gatherings have forced us to be creative. As the Rabbi wrote in his column, we are introduc- Knesset Israel will make ing live streaming of some of our services. This is in addition every effort to keep ZOOM to the classes, t’fillot, and meditations offered via Zoom. We numbers consistent. have begun to talk about the High Holidays and are con- tinuing that discussion over the next few months. There will We will communicate any be more to report in the next edition of Kol K.I. Rest assured, changes in the weekly K.I. our goal is to continue to meet the needs of our congre- E-News email. gants, while protecting everyone’s health. Please visit our website As I mentioned in last month’s column, our annual Berkshire calendar as well as K.I.’s new Richard Simons Jewish Film Festival will be taking place this summer via a “COVID-19 Response” page. virtual platform. You will be able to enjoy these high quality films from the comfort of your home and while doing so, support our Hebrew School. We are so grateful to Judy Seaman and her dedicated committee for their creativity and ingenuity in making sure our Film Festival continues on over the summer.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been and continues to be quite significant for our members and our larger community. Sadly, several of our families have been touched by this ravaging illness. Others have been impacted financially and all of us have had to adjust to physical isolation. As a congregation, we are bracing for a finan- cial challenge this coming fiscal year.

We cannot control these external forces, but we can control how we react. If we focus on responding to the needs of others, we are able to lift ourselves out of our pit of hopelessness and inaction. Kaddish There are several avenues of action. First, our Social Justice Committee has partnered We encourage people who are looking with the South Congregational Church to deliver meals to those in our community to say kaddish to: who are in need. If interested, contact Nancy Cook at [email protected]. Second, (a) participate in our Zoom services— you can volunteer with our K.I. Cares Committee by being in touch with congregants Sunday morning or Tuesday, Thursday, who would find a connection with another congregant quite meaningful. If interested, or Friday evenings on a day close the contact Fran Wolk at [email protected]. Third, if you are financially able, you can make a Yahrzeit—and say kaddish. tzedakah contribution to the shul, which would help sustain us during this time. A ist of these and other Tzdakah opportunities are listed on page 7. To give is a way we (b) watch a Livestream service and say empower ourselves to move forward with hope and optimism. kaddish along with the assembled min- yan that can be seen and heard onscreen. Have a safe summer.

No one has ever become poor by giving. —Jacob B. Asher

4 n KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 July through August 15 Calendar

ZOOM SERVICES K.I. WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020

Sunday davening...... 8:45 AM During the months of July and August, and perhaps for several weeks or months to Tuesday meditation...... 8:30 AM follow, most members and visitors will continue to participate in Knesset Israel services, Tuesday & Thursday davening...... 7 PM classes and programming primarily using their computers. Many of the events we hold will take the form of Zoom meetings, with leaders and participants alike sitting at home. Friday Kabbalat Shabbat...... 5:45 PM Others will take place by livestream from the K.I. sanctuary, where a few people might .livestream to replace Zoom will be gather in person, by advance arrangement only. Livestreaming will begin no sooner available soon than mid-July, and details will be forthcoming Shabbat Morning...... 9:30 AM To access these events by computer:

CANDLE LIGHTING n Go to Zoom.us at the announced time. July 3...... 8:15 PM n Click “join a meeting” July 10...... 8:12 PM n July 17...... 8:08 PM Enter the Zoom ID number July 24...... 8:02 PM n If asked, give Zoom permission to use your camera and microphone. July 31...... 7:54 PM Please note that the Zoom meeting numbers may change. Any changes will be sent out August 7...... 7:46 PM in advance to the congregation by email. August 14...... 7:36 PM To watch the K.I. Livestream (once it is available):

TISHA B’AV n Go to knessetisrael.org/livestream at the announced time. You will be able to watch, sing along and enjoy. Tisha B’av is commemorated on Wednesday & Thursday nights, n Davening & Healing Service n Kabbalat Shabbat July 29 & 30. Friday Evenings...... 5:45 PM Tuesday & Thursday Evenings...... 7 PM n Ma’ariv & Chanting of Eich ZOOM ID: 241-400-252 Weds, July 29...... 8:00PM Tuesday evening davening sometimes A more complete service may soon be incorporates a healing service— livestreamed – details tba ZOOM ID: 861-9426-7869 consult weekly email for details or livestream (tba) n Shabbat Morning Services Thursday evening davening may May soon be livestreamed 25 hour fast: Last food before sundown include a class with Rabbi Weiner— —details tba no later than 7:57PM and concludes with details will be announced in the ma’ariv no earlier than 8:55 p.m. n Meditation weekly email. Tuesday Mornings...... 8:30 AM No minyan is scheduled for shaharit, ZOOM ID: 934-910-554 ZOOM ID: 232-966-596 minha or ma’ariv on Thursday, July 30. If n it is feasible and prudent to schedule these n Davening Together and Apart: services on Zoom or on the livestream, we Sunday Morning...... 8:45 AM Rabbi’s Adult Education Class will do so and announce it in the weekly Thursdays...... 10:45 AM-Noon ZOOM ID: 322-608-562 email. The 25-hour fast concludes with ZOOM ID: 863-269-457 ma’ariv no earlier than 8:55 p.m. July 16, 23; August 6 & 13

Please comply with United Synagogue standards, and refrain from conducting synagogue business, via email, text, and/or phone calls on Shabbat. Thank you. Reminder: For the time being, please do not call the K.I. office and leave messages. They will not be retrieved in a timely manner. Instead, email [email protected] as this is currently the best way to communicate.

KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 n 5 Birthdays & Anniversaries

Member Mitzvah’s Your community wants to share in your good news! Send KOL K.I. editor, Susan continued from page 2 Miller, the details about births, awards & honors, graduations, milestones, anni- n Mazel Tov to Barbara and Jerry Hayden on their 60th Wedding Anniversary, cele- versaries, accomplishments…any happy brated on June 12. news we can celebrate with you! High res photos are welcome! n Judith Simons Marks and Ariel Marks welcomed their son, Amitai Dov Marks into the covenant of the Jewish people at his bris on May 26, 2020. His middle n Matthew Boms...... July 8 n Renee Robbins...... August 1 name honors Dr. Kenneth Goldblum, n Samson Nhim Ovitsky...... July 8 n Ruben Fried...... August 3 Akiva Dov z”l, a long-time K.I. congre- gant and leader who met weekly with n Hannah Nhim Ovitsky...... July 8 n David Dahari...... August 4 Judith from sixth grade through high n Charles Sutter...... July 8 n Howard Lerner...... August 5 school to study Talmud. In describing n Dee Dee Acquisto...... July 10 n Joel Cohen...... August 6 one of her baby’s namesakes, Judith n stated, “What made Dr. Goldblum such a Mory Brenner...... July 12 n Stephen Levine...... August 6 n good teacher was not his brilliance, but Yvette Bastow...... July 14 n Kathleen Todd...... August 7 rather his thirst for my knowledge. Dr. n Lesley Campbell Herzberg...... July 14 n Nina Snowise...... August 8 Goldblum always wanted to know what n Morris Fried...... July 14 I, someone 75 years his junior, thought n Yael Snowise...... August 8 n about the debates of the . He en- Janet Rothstein...... July 14 n Brett Goldberg...... August 9 tertained each of my questions and de- n Gerald Link...... July 15 n Leatrice Finck...... August 12 lighted in my frustrations and struggles n Bailey Marat...... July 15 with the text. Dr. Goldblum valued my n Jacob Herzberg...... August 12 n mind.” Her prayer was that Amitai Dov Parker Wright...... July 15 n Colin Ovitsky...... August 12 would also find a teacher who values his n Lara Denmark...... July 19 n Richard Ferren...... August 14 mind. Proud grandparents are Marcie n Lara Siegel...... July 19 and Richard Simons. Proud Great Aunt is n Natalya Yantovsky...... August 15 n Amy Abramovich and very proud Great Stephanie Ilberg-Lamm...... July 21 n Michael Albert...... August 16 Grandmother is Marilyn Simons. n Lawrence Ponemon...... July 21 n Harvey Zimbler...... August 16 n Birthdays Gayle Rotenberg...... July 22 n Cynthia Tatalovich...... August 18 n Suellen Havsy...... July 23 n Michael Edwards...... August 18 n Sheila Goldlust...... July 24 n n Wendy (Dee) Griswold...... July 1 Ruth Lebovitz Markovits...... August 19 n Jenny Gitlitz...... July 25 n n Stuart Baron...... July 2 Kay Lerner...... August 20 n Steven Winter...... July 25 n Dawn Shamper-Schecter...... July 3 n Robin Fleet...... August 21 n Glenna Bloom...... July 26 n Ira Moskowitz...... July 3 n Rose Sutter...... August 21 n Roberta Cohn...... July 27 n Jan Zimbler...... July 3 n James Frank...... August 22 n Lynne Goodman-Leary...... July 27 n Bruce Jacobs...... July 4 n Cindy Mann...... August 22 n n Edwin Helitzer...... July 5 Eleanor Geller...... July 28 n Catherine Louise May...... August 23 n n Yonaton Kaufman...... July 5 Judy Usow...... July 28 n Elisheva Caine...... August 24 n n Michael Geller...... July 6 Ira Lieberman...... July 29 n Joel Wolk...... August 24 n n Yefim Kogan...... July 6 Alvin Edelstein...... July 31 n Sarah Klein...... August 26 n n Ilana Albert...... July 7 Roy Kozupsky...... July 31 n David Leinwand...... August 27 n n Judith Weiner...... July 7 Lauren Spitz...... July 31 n Carol Link...... August 27

6 n KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 KOL K.I.

n Pearl Sutter...... August 27 n Jacob Klein...... August 28 n Dave Krawet...... August 28 Tikkun Olam ~ Heal the World n Charles Raser...... August 28 n Eliot Stern...... August 29 n Phoebe Sugarman...... August 30 Tzedaka Opportunities n Ely Hochfelder...... August 31 With rapidly rising unemployment, tzedaka remains an imperative. n Susan Miller...... August 31 These are just a few of the ways you may reach out to help others: n Arielle Sebestyen...... August 31 Help South Congregational Church Feed the Hungry n Galina Sirota...... August 31 Donate to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund for the South Congregational Church Food Pantry. You may donate online at knessetisrael.org, or send a check to Knesset Israel, 16 Colt Rd., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Please designate this in the memo line. Donate to the Federation’s COVID-19 Fund The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires has organized a Covid-19 Relief & Recovery Fund. For more information, to inquire about assistance, or to donate to the fund please visit jewishberkshires.org/covid19. Anniversaries Make Food Deliveries n Barbara & Murray Akresh...... July 1 Working with Berkshire Bridges Working Cities and Central Berkshire Habitat for n Kyneret & David Albert...... July 2 Humanity, members of the K.I. Social Justice Committee are currently distributing n Trudy & Joel Balizer...... July 2 food cartons to families in Pittsfield. More volunteer drivers are needed. For more information email Nancy Cook at [email protected]. n Kate Gigliotti & Jerome Socolof...... July 3 K.I. Cares n Harriet & Harold Shahir...... July 5 Volunteer with our K.I. Cares Committee, whose members phone other members of n Sopheap Nhim & Colin Ovitsky... July 7 the community in need of a sincere a connection. They also rally around others in our n Allison & Michael Rosenthal...... July 14 congregation who who are experiencing illnessess and help where they can. n Fran & Joel Wolk...... August 9 If interested, contact Fran Wolk at [email protected]. n Bette Sue & Donate to the United Way’s COVID-19 Fund Lawrence Rosenthal...... August 11 n Marcie & Richard The Berkshire United Way has a Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund. To donate visit berkshireunitedway.org and click on “DONATE.” Greefield Simons...... August 11 You will be able to designate your contribution there. n Elisa & Mark Snowise...... August 16 n Rosalind & Allen Kopfstein....August 18 Donate to Knesset Israel n Kika & Noah Cook-Dubin..... August 20 Supporting our synagogue financially through these challenging times is important n Kathleen & Bill Todd...... August 24 for all who are able to do so. These donations are the foundation of all that K.I. n Gloria & Pincus Boms...... August 27 can offer, including unforseen expenses for security and service options. Donate to a Fund or Endownment in honor or memory of family, n Phyllis & Joel Curran...... August 29 friends, and occasions. These donations sustain us all. n Sandra & Andrew Snyder..... August 30

KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 n 7 Spotlight On

Chris Goetz A man of all trades

Hi Chris, and welcome to my col- We all adore your cooking. What are some of the secrets and tips you can give us umn. It is such a pleasure to have about how to prepare such delicious food, always fresh, and always on time? you as my guest this month! Ev- eryone at K.I. knows and loves you. Chris: As far as cooking, I like to write lists... what ingredients I need, where I Tell us how you came to K.I. and need to buy them, what I can prepare ahead of time, and what needs to be a little about what you did before done the day of the function, and I check my lists off as I work. I find that then. allowing myself the time I know I need for shopping, prep, cooking, and put- ting out meals is what helps me keep on top of everything. Another thing Chris: I came to K.I. in Novem- that helps is collecting favorite recipes to have on hand for go-to recipes. ber 2010 when my wife, Beth, took the caretaker position and we moved What are some of the things you see that we can improve upon, or take in into the caretaker house at K.I. I often a new direction, at K.I.? walked through K.I. with Beth, espe- cially when she closed the building or Chris: At K.I., like everywhere else I have ever worked, when there was a lot of furniture to the most important aspect to getting things accom- be moved. In August 2013, the facili- plished well is communication. With so many ways to ties manager position was open, and communicate, finding the right means is important for I interviewed for it, and got the posi- the time frame when something needs to be done. If it’s tion. I had been working at an inn in after noontime on Friday, a direct method of communi- Lenox, cooking and baking in the restau- cation, like a phone call, is important to get something rant and maintaining the buildings and done Friday night, over the weekend, or even for first thing grounds year round. I also worked for a on Monday morning. With mail, email, and voicemail, it’s catering company for a few years, load- important to think about when those are checked ing and unloading trucks, setting up and and if they are time sensitive in get- breaking down for functions, cleaning ting a message through. At K.I., if and storing all of the catering equip- you aren’t sure who handles some- ment in a warehouse, and occasion- thing, just ask one of the K.I. staff and ally cooking for small groups. we will find out for you.

You do so much around the syna- What is your favorite gogue. What do you do on a typ- part of your job? ical day? Chris: The favorite part of my job is probably that I have a variety of Chris: An average day involves pre- things I do. It helps keep me busy. paring for daily activities, setting up and Do you have any special people at K.I. who you would like to breaking down for meals, holidays, acknowledge? classes, and any outside group func- tions at K.I., such as, Jewish Federation Chris: No, I don’t want to pick out anyone in particular. I have en- lunches and BIO meetings. I also clean joyed meeting and getting to know many seniors at K.I.—some up and repair things both inside and out- are gone and some remain. It has been interesting getting to side at K.I. I troubleshoot when there are know the families whose children I have cooked for or helped out HVAC issues and discuss repair options with their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. And of course there are those who came with Don Sugarman. I like to keep busy, to the monthly Shirei Shabbats or kiddush lunches I worked at, and so I jump in the kitchen to cook meals or always said hello. I hope everyone is well! set up and put out meals when I am able. Fridays, I set up anything that needs to Chris, I had no idea you were an ace bagpiper. Tell us about be ready for the weekend. your musical talent on the bagpipes and how you learned such an interesting craft!

8 n KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 Spotlight On

Chris: On a personal note, I learned to play the bagpipes so that I could have a kilt! My Emergency Contacts mother was born in Scotland and when Knesset Israel her mother died from an accident (my PASTORAL CARE. mother and her twin sister were just tod- Statement of Purpose If you are in need of emergency pasto- ral care for any reason, please contact dlers) my mother's aunt and uncle (who Welcome. lived in the Boston area) asked to adopt Rabbi Weiner, 413-445-4872, ext. 10. the girls—and they did. Fast forward to We are here to nourish mind, heart, and soul. FUNERALS. when I was ten, my mother brought my Knesset Israel’s funeral arrangements sister and me to visit her relatives in Scot- We are here to inspire through are handled with Flynn-Dagnoli fu- land. When my mother and sister bought word and deed. neral home. Please call 413-663-6523 kilts, I wanted one, too. My mother said We are here to accompany or 413-442-1733. You can also email that I had to learn to play the bagpipes be- each other on life’s journey. [email protected]. fore I could have a kilt. My mother bought me some kid size bagpipes and later on, We are here to celebrate CARE COMMITTEE. with the help of The Berkshire Highlanders in community. If you or another K.I. member you know and a bagpipe player and mentor named We are here to bring life is experiencing serious illness requiring Jack MacGregor of Lee, I learned how to the wisdom and values of Torah. support, please contact the Care Com- to play and earned a kilt! I played in the mittee by calling the main office of Knes- We are here to transform band for about a decade and then work set Israel, 413-445-4872, ext. 10 and we our world. and married life brought responsibilities. will be in touch with you. I couldn't give the band the time, howev- er, during that decade I got to play in the band at competitions, parades, gradua- tions and weddings, at the Big E, Tangle- wood on Parade, and even at Rockefeller Remember a loved one, honor Center. My dream is to visit Scotland, see a a special occasion, a friend, or family member, lone piper, tell him I could do that (play a tune), and do it! by a donation to the Bima Flower Fund • Thanks so much Chris, this was a lot of fun and a tribute to a great friend of Call Naomi Schwartz at 413-841-0006. Knesset Israel!

inspire. learn. together. Connect with each generation Lifelong learning at K.I.! Be a GLEE star Share through leadership From Hebrew School for our at Shirei Shabbat Tikkun Olam…transform our world. children to stimulating classes Comfort a loss and programs for adults… with Chevra Kadisha • grow. Lunch & Learn Bond with other women Start where you are Discover your inner Torah in Rosh Chodesh ••••••••••••••••• Beam with new insights Feed your spirit through Take care of each other Seek guides to the unfamiliar Find out more at knessetisrael.org artistic expression on the Cemetery Committee Nourish mind, heart & soul

KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 n 9 Advertisers

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10 n KOL K.I. • JULY-AUGUST 15, 2020 • TAMMUZ / AV / ELUL 5780 Of Interest

How the Jewish People Invented Hope To be a Jew is to be an agent of hope in a world serially threatened by despair —by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

One of the most formative moments in the history of came in the encounter between Moses and God in the burning bush. Moses asks God what name he should use when people ask him who He is. God replies enigmatically, in a phrase that occurs nowhere else in Tanach: Ehyeh asher Ehyeh.

Non-Jewish translations read this to mean, “I am what (or who, or that) I am.” Some render it, “I am: that is who I am,” or “I am the One who is.” These are deeply significant mistranslations. The phrase means, literally, “I will be what I will be,” ry is about to reach closure. But it doesn’t come. Instead, a journey that should have or more fundamentally, God’s name be- taken days lasts 40 years. In the final scene of Deuteronomy, we see Moses, still on longs to the future tense. His call is to the far side of the Jordan, granted only a distant vision of the land. Again, the natural that which is not yet. If we fail to under- ending is deferred. stand this, we will miss the very thing that makes Judaism unique. Tanach as a whole ends, in II Chronicles 36, with the Israelites in exile again, this time in Babylonia, and Cyrus giving them permission to return. We are almost back where we Consider the structure of biblical narra- began, in the same region from which Abraham and his family first set out. tive. In literature there are many kinds of narrative but they all have one thing I know of no other stories that have the same form, namely a beginning but no end. in common, what Frank Kermode called We would not think of them as stories at all, were it not that we know the ending. It “the sense of an ending.” They reach clo- has been there since the beginning: God’s three promises to Abraham, of children, a sure. Some end with “they all lived hap- land, and an influence on humanity such that “through you all the families of the earth pily ever after.” We call these fairy tales. will be blessed.” So there is an ending, but it is always beyond the visible horizon. The Others end in death and defeat. We call Jewish story ends, as Moses’ life ended, with a glimpse of the land not yet reached, a them tragedies. There are other types, future not yet realized. but they all have a beginning and an end. That’s what makes them stories. The same is true of Jewish belief. Judaism is the only civilization whose golden age is in the future: the messianic age, the age of peace when “nation will not lift up sword Now consider Genesis. The Jewish sto- against nation” and “the Lord shall be one and His name One.” This ultimately was the ry begins with God’s call to Abraham dividing line between Judaism and Christianity. To be a Jew is to reply to the question to leave his land, his birthplace and his “Has the messiah come?” with the words “Not yet.” In the fine phrase of Harold Fisch, father’s house to travel “to the land that the Jewish narrative is “the unappeased memory of a future still to be fulfilled.” Why? I will show you.” Seven times God prom- What does this tell us about Judaism? ises Abraham the land, yet he has to haggle with the Hittites to buy one small At the heart of Judaism is a belief so fundamental to Western civilization that we take plot in which to bury Sarah. Jacob and it for granted, yet it is anything but self-evident. It has been challenged many times, his family are forced into exile in Egypt. rarely more so than today. It is the belief in human freedom. We are what we choose to Genesis ends with the promise unful- be. Society is what we choose to make it. The future is open. There is nothing inevita- filled. ble in the affairs of humankind.

Then Exodus begins. God calls Moses to The ancients believed that human destiny lay in the stars, or blind fate, what the Greeks lead the Israelites back to freedom and called ananke. Spinoza argued that our lives are governed by natural necessity. Marx the promised land. Now, we feel, the sto- continued page 12

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Jews & Hope Torah is the template of responsible free- fighting disease, or lawyers fighting in- dom, our constitution of liberty. justice, in all cases refusing to see these continued from page 11 things as inevitable. It is no accident that Freedom, implies Genesis, is intimate- after the Holocaust Jews did not call it claimed that history was determined ly related to language. God creates the Al Naqba, nursing resentment and re- by economic interests. Freud held that world with words, and His first gift to venge, but instead turned to the future, human behavior was shaped by uncon- humanity is the gift of speech. We know building a nation whose national an- scious drives. Neo-Darwinians argue that other life forms—primates, dol- them is Hatikvah, “the hope.” It is no acci- that we are governed by genetic codes phins, even bees—have rudimentary dent that Judaism has been opposed by hardwired into our brains. Freedom, in all forms of language. But there is one form every empire that sought to deny people these theories, is an illusion. unique to human beings. The Torah sig- the freedom to be equal-but-different. It nals this by making it the first word God This view is challenged in the opening is no accident that Israel is still today the speaks: Yehi, “Let there be.”

The Jewish story, still unfinished, is about the journey from multiple slaveries to a “difficult freedom.” Torah is the template of responsible freedom, our constitution of liberty.

only free society in the Middle East. chapters of the Bible. For the first time, Human beings are the only life form God is seen as beyond nature, creating capable of using the future tense. Only Judaism is a religion of details, but we nature by a free, un-coerced act of will. beings who can imagine the world other miss the point if we do not sometimes By creating human beings in His image, than it is are capable of freedom. And if step back and see the larger picture. To He bestowed something of that freedom we are free, the future is open, depen- be a Jew is to be an agent of hope in a on us. Alone among created life forms, dent on us. We can know the beginning world serially threatened by despair. Ev- we too are capable of being creative. of our story but not the end. That is why, ery ritual, every mitzvah, every syllable Biblical narrative is the ongoing drama as He is about to take the Israelites from of the Jewish story, every element of of human freedom. slavery to freedom, God tells Moses that Jewish law, is a protest against escap- His name is “I will be what I will be.” Ju- The first four narratives are tragic. First ism, resignation or the blind acceptance daism, the religion of freedom, is faith in Adam and Eve, then Cain, abuse their of fate. Judaism is a sustained struggle, the future tense. freedom. That is then repeated on a the greatest ever known, against the world that is, in the name of the world global scale by the generation of the Western civilization is the product of two that could be, should be, but is not yet. flood and the builders of Babel. People cultures: ancient Greece and ancient Isra- There is no more challenging vocation. use their freedom to transgress bound- el. The Greeks believed in fate: the future Throughout history, when human be- aries or deprive others of their freedom. is determined by the past. Jews believed ings have sought hope they have found So a new beginning becomes necessary. in freedom: there is no “evil decree” that it in the Jewish story. Judaism is the reli- cannot be averted. The Greeks gave Abraham is told to leave all the things gion, and Israel the home, of hope. the world the concept of tragedy. Jews that constrain freedom—our land, birth- gave it the idea of hope. The whole of place, and father’s house—and begin a Rabbi Jonathan Sacks is the former chief Judaism—­­though it would take a book new kind of life in covenant with God. rabbi of the United Kingdom. to show it—is a set of laws and narratives Genesis is about that covenant as it af- designed to create in people, families, fects individuals and families. The rest communities, and a nation, habits that of Tanach is about the covenant as it defeat despair. Judaism is the voice of applies to the life of a nation. The Jewish hope in the conversation of mankind. story, still unfinished, is about the jour- ney from multiple forms of slavery to It is no accident that so many Jews are what Levinas called “difficult freedom.” economists fighting poverty, or doctors

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21 AV - AUGUST 11 28 AV - AUGUST 18 3 ELUL - AUGUST 23 Dorothy Smith Sydney Kanter Milton Aronstein The dust Rebecca Rachel Klein Benjamin Rosen Phil M. Frankel returns Ahron Frommer Kenneth Schwartz Hedy Kamm Rita Toscher Ruth Rosen to earth Isidore Schlanger 29 AV - AUGUST 19 Harry Rudich as it was, Frances Simkin Marjorie Garber But the Meyer Gilner Rappoport 4 ELUL - AUGUST 24 15 AV - AUGUST 5 Benjamin Hurewitz Leo Solomon Elsie Markowitz spirit David Gold James Burgone Shirle Stahl Benjamin Drate returns to Samuel Novick Lipman Arnold Frank Ptashkin Bruce Rossomando Katzman 30 AV - AUGUST 20 Hyman Rosenthal God who Pincus Herzl Helene Brado gave it. Auslander 22 AV - AUGUST 12 Sarah Blasberg Auslander Henry Raphan —Jewish prayer Herman Weitzen Max Katz Isadore Block Beatrice Dichner Joyce Kaufman 1 ELUL - AUGUST 21 Milton A. Kolodkin Edith Kaufman Cohen Joseph Plotsky 16 AV - AUGUST 6 Margaret Goodman 5 ELUL - AUGUST 25 7 ELUL - AUGUST 27 Albert Cohen Philip Baron Fred Goetz Morris Goldstein Lena Ginsberg Sydney Berg 23 AV - AUGUST 13 Dora Kanter Abraham Lipson Joyce Stein Gertrude Lusthaus Israel Manny Cohen Sol Raphan 17 AV - AUGUST 7 Finger 2 ELUL - AUGUST 22 Israel Cutler Morris H. Lubin L. George Reder Linda Posell Rose Schlingbaum Ann Pomerantz Boris Berlin Zalman Kominiar 6 ELUL - AUGUST 26 Eva Smicker Muriel M. Gersh Hilda Betten Freda Perlmutter Helen Davidoff Stanley Leeper Florence Hazen Robert R. Fingeroth Koppel Shusterman Shirley Yanofski David H. Shair Irving Kay 8 ELUL - AUGUST 28 Nathan Pines 18 AV - AUGUST 8 24 AV - AUGUST 14 Samuel Perlmutter Benjamin Lehrer Frederick Lezberg Morris Horelly Max Smith Milton Selkowitz Adeline Schortz Ida Teitelbaum Irving Singer Morris Weiss Esther Freadman Howard H. Braun Remember a loved one, Ruth Waller 19 AV - AUGUST 9 honor a special occasion, a friend, Isadore Davidoff 25 AV - AUGUST 15 or family member, with a donation to 9 ELUL - AUGUST 29 Irving Bikofsky Henry Kamm the Bima Flower Fund Ethel Haft Harry Gitelman Solomon Lipson Blanche Handelman Ethel Shusterman Alexander Mason • Max C. Kaye Rubin Oringer Dora Goldberg 20 AV - AUGUST 10 Albert Shindler Call Naomi Schwartz at 413-841-0006 Anna Garbowit Miriam Cohen 10 ELUL - AUGUST 30 Jacob Joseph Nelson Chaim Witkowski Eva Rife 26 AV - AUGUST 16 Nathan Kaplan Lena Louzin Florence Simon Minnie Cohen Liebe Bikofsky Lebovitz Henry Voremberg Helen Masters Harold Herman Philip Turetsky Bert Kaplan Schreiber Marvin Gersh Jennie Swirsky Anna B. Goodheartz 27 AV - AUGUST 17 11 ELUL - AUGUST 31 Edith Friedman Celia Lerman Samuel Akresh Lucille Grossman Leona Green Samuel Gold Jennie Lipson Annie Feder Bashevkin Irving Siegel

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Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat, sat and wept, as we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung up our lyres, for our captors asked us there for songs, our tormentors, for amusement: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing a song of the LORD on alien soil?

By the Rivers of Babylon We Remember Zion If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither; let my tongue stick to my palate if I cease to think of you, Psalm 137 is recited on the eve of Tisha B’Av, which commemorates the destruction of both Temples. It opens the liturgy, and sets the tone for the day. The liturgy of Tisha B’Av includes a wide array if I do not keep Jerusalem in memory even at my happiest hour. of kinot, poems of sorrow and mourning, of exile and longing. But this ancient psalm, captures the pain of exile from the Land of Israel perhaps most eloquently of all. Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem’s fall; The psalm is short—only nine verses—each with its own themes and challenges. how they cried, “Strip her, strip her to her very foundations!” The opening lines deal with pain and loss, and question if the exile, from the Land of Israel is also a Fair Babylon, you predator,a blessing on him who repays you in kind separation from God. In the next section, the pain of loss dissolves into resolve that no matter where the people are it is still a place of exile until they are whole again. The final lines of the Psalm are so what you have inflicted on us; harsh that some liturgies exclude them. The words reflect the anger of the victims—a valid emotional a blessing on him who seizes your babies response. The imaginary deeds we would never justify, but the seething hurt behind these sentiments make the passage extremely, and uncomfortably, powerful. and dashes them against the rocks! The above is an edited portion of a larger article by Rabbi Neal Gold. See myjewishlearning.com