Kol Beth Shalom the Bulletin of Temple Beth Shalom
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Kol Beth Shalom The Bulletin of Temple Beth Shalom May 2020 7 Iyar - 8 Sivan 5780 Volume 90, No.5 Inside . President’s Perspective . 2 Tikkun Olam . 3 RABBI’S REFLECTIONS by Rabbi Geoffrey A. Spector Cantor’s Column . 3 Daily Minyanim . 4 wo poets have been on my mind lately, one modern and one ancient. The Family Programming . 4 T modern poet is Langston Hughes, who penned the short searing questions of the poem Harlem in 1951. While many Americans had successfully rebuilt their Men’s Club News . 6 lives after the Great Depression, the African-American community was still a long Sisterhood Spotlight . 6 way from making true progress in a resurgent society. Recognizing that their Preschool News . 7 dreams for social equality seemed to be far from a point of realization, Hughes asks: Member Milestones . 8 Chesed Committee . 8 What happens to a dream deferred? Or crust and sugar over --- Religious School . 9 Does it dry up like a syrupy sweet? in Review like a raisin in the sun? Maybe it just sags Yahrzeit Observance . 10 Or fester like a sore --- like a heavy load. Youth News . 11 And then run? Or does it explode? Donations . 12 Does it stink like rotten meat? Ever since the onset of the pandemic, so many of us have had our dreams deferred. There are families in our congregation who were eagerly anticipating the We sent this issue to print celebration of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah; parents looked forward to seeing the shining in spite of what is face of their child on the bimah as he or she was called to the Torah for the very first happening around us, time. There are brides and grooms in our midst who had planned to stand together to feel connected as a community and to maintain under the chuppah and formally pledge their love to one another in the presence of some sort of normalcy the Jewish community. There are people who were very much looking forward to during these difficult and celebrating a milestone birthday with family and friends, and there are parents who trying times. We fully were gleefully awaiting the Shabbat morning when they could name their newborn recognize that some of the information in this issue daughter in the beautiful sanctuary of our Temple. may have changed, and that All these were beautiful unfulfilled dreams, but they are not dreams that were some events described may broken or shattered, they are dreams deferred. Deferred dreams such as these will not go on as planned, as cancellations/closings are not explode, nor will they fester or rot. They will be realized with even greater joy changing daily. and jubilation in future days not far from now. All the B'nei Mitzvah that were can- celled in recent months have been rescheduled, wedding couples have selected new dates for their nuptials. Almost 2,500 years ago, the ancient poet Jeremiah, who was also a prophet imbued with the word of God, stood in the war-ravaged city of Jerusalem. He saw destruction, death, and disease, the streets of a once populous city now empty and devastated by tragedy. Jeremiah, overcome with grief, began to compose the Book Temple Beth Shalom of Lamentations to describe all the suffering and all the loss. But that same prophet 193 East Mount Pleasant Ave. also delivered a beautiful message of hope for the future, an ode to optimism. His Livingston, NJ 07039 973-992-3600 words are recited still today at every Jewish wedding: “Od yishama b'arei Yehuda Fax 973-992-7087 continued on page 2 www.tbsnj.org uv'chutzot Yerushalayim --- There will yet again be heard Geoffrey A. Spector, Senior Rabbi Assistant Rabbi in the cities of Judah and in the outskirts of Jerusalem, the Simeon L. Cohen, Perry S. Fine, Cantor sound of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom Sharon A. Knoller, Cantor and voice of the bride.” He said to his people, “Your Henry Butensky, z'l, Cantor Emeritus dreams were not in vain; your simcha was deferred not Matthew G. Halpern, Executive Director destroyed.” Jeremiah told our ancestors to believe in a Leah Beker, Director of Education joyful future with perfect faith, and his time proven words Randi F. Cohen, Preschool Director should inspire us today to have the very same faith. OFFICERS Chadesh yameinu k'kedem --- Please God, renew our President. Jay Jaffe lives as in days of old. Executive Vice President . Marshall Saunders Vice Presidents . Brian Fern Mattye Gandel Alison Handler Andy Muser PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Melvin Zirkes Treasurer. Marshall Saunders If you had asked me a few weeks ago to predict the Financial Secretary . Paul Brownstein likely events that would be occurring when it was time Recording Secretary. Amy Black for me to write this article, I would never have imagined that I would be isolating myself, staying home, working KOL BETH SHALOM COMMITTEE from home, and not seeing my family and friends. Of Laura Siegel, Editor course, this was before I was introduced to the new terms Dee Cohen, Amy Ramer, Adina Viezel, Editing Committee of “social distancing” and “Zoom” meetings. Kol Beth Shalom is published monthly, except July and August, by Temple Beth Shalom, Although I am home, there is no time to relax. I am 193 E. Mt. Pleasant Avenue, busy with trying to work, handling new challenges at Livingston, NJ 07039. TBS, calling congregants, and checking on my father, my The synagogue’s website is www.tbsnj.org. grown children, friends, and neighbors. And, of course, everyone is dealing with the new anxieties surrounding the pandemic, health worries, and the economic fallout. It seems so unfair. To top it all off, just when we need When we made the necessary decision to temporarily community the most, we are denied the simple comfort close the synagogue, there were tears in my eyes. I know of being together. that it sounds cliché, but I didn't fully appreciate how I have been a member of Temple Beth Shalom for important TBS was to me until it was being taken away. more than 20 years. For much of that time, this is where And I know that I am not the only one who feels this way. I have found community, friends, and meaning. When BUT, immediately after the closing, the clergy, teach- times were good, especially for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and ers, and staff sprang into action. They understood instinc- my daughters' weddings, this is where my family would tively the importance of staying connected and maintain- celebrate. We would gather with our extended family, ing the sense of community. And while a virtual commu- friends, and community. The well wishes and love would nity cannot replace the actual community, I am incredi- lift us up. Having been involved with the synagogue for bly impressed by how many people are participating in all these years means that many, many people have our virtual events, and how meaningful it is to get togeth- watched my children grow up. In many ways, the congre- er and see everyone. Even through electronic connec- gation really is a second family for us. tions, the values of our tradition resonate. TBS is carrying When times were hard, TBS is where I would come for on, whether it's through religious services or classes. The support. When my daughter was ill, this is where I went Preschool and Religious School teachers are working to find hope. I would pray for her health and I would pray harder than ever to provide quality, age-appropriate, edu- for the strength to carry on. When my mother passed cational experiences. Please join us and be part of our away unexpectedly, this is where I went to find peace. virtual community! Watch for emails from TBS with infor- When life was difficult or hectic, going to services on mation and links for connecting to our events. It is a great Shabbat gave me balance. It was a true sanctuary. A way to be “together” while we are apart. place where I could sing, or meditate on the liturgy, or be The road ahead is difficult and uncertain, but I have close to God, or socialize with my friends, or be inspired faith that, soon, this will pass. Our community and our by Torah and the Rabbis' sermons. It was where I went to nation have been through difficult times before, and we recharge my emotional batteries and my spirit. have always come through. Hopefully, we learn from the continued on page 3 2 adversities in our lives, and use those lessons to make the world a better place. At TBS we are trying in every way to create a kinder, more compassionate community, CANTOR’S COLUMN especially through these troubling times. And with social distancing, positivity, and God's help, I am confident that Sometimes a simple act speaks volumes, and we will all be able to return to our second home, revital- when performed communally, it is empowering. It ized and with a new sense of appreciation. Until then, I inspires oneness and affirmation of belief. In these am wishing you safety and good health, and I am hoping challenging days, I recall fondly those moments to see you soon. when the community rises at the public recitation of Torah, when we stand and experience together Jay Jaffe the dramatic events of long ago --- a rarity, to be President sure, which makes their occurrences that much more powerful! I think of Miriam and the people Israel who crossed the Red Sea, and whose first act of inspira- Tikkun Olam Committee tion was to sing in praise of our deliverance from The Tikkun Olam Committee bondage.