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February 2012 אחים ישראל Congregation Brethren of Israel

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February 2012 אחים ישראל Congregation Brethren of Israel Bulletin Vassar T emple Where you belong Bulletiinn Founded 1848 Volume 159 No. 2 February 2012 אחים ישראל Congregation Brethren of Israel Shabbat Services “Bread and Circuses: at 6:00 p.m. The Race for Upcoming Events During the winter the White House in 2012” Feb 5 Lunch Box, page 8 months of January and Vassar College political science pro- Feb 11 Visioning the future, p4 February we continue fessor, and Vassar Temple member, Sidney to hold Friday evening Feb 14 Reading the Primaries, p1 Plotkin will discuss the implications of the Feb 17 Shabbat Dinner, p4 Shabbat services at 6:00 Republican primaries at two adult educa- p.m. An hour later you Feb 4 & 18 Meditation Group, p9 tion sessions on Tuesday evenings, Janu- Feb 22 Book Club, p6 can enjoy crackers, cheese and nuts, as well as ary 31st and February 14th, at 7:00 p.m. at sweets, at an Oneg in the East Chapel. Feb 26, Hamantaschen baking, p6 the temple. Everyone is welcome to attend Tiny Temple, p4 This timing enables you to come to one or both classes, taught by an outstand- Mar 2,3 Joint Shabbaton w Beth Shabbat services straight from work on winter ing teacher, to learn about and discuss a El, p3 evenings and arrive home in time for Shabbat subject which will affect us all. dinner – or meet old and new friends at the Mar 10 Purim dinner, Megilla Read services and then go out for supper. ing, and Spiel, p 10 “Vision the future of Reform Judaism” on Feb 11; see page 4 In Memory of Seth Erlebacher On December wasn’t sure at first how it would go, but lived within the community, observing 16, 2011 Vassar ended up staying the whole time, enjoying God’s laws, fulfilling his obligations, and Temple lost its the interaction with the public and talking connecting…with his children, his family, president, Seth A. about Vassar Temple. friends and the community…Seth was that Erlebacher. Seth special person whose passion for Judaism died suddenly Rabbi Richard Jacobs, the new presi- and love of his family and friends made while attending the dent of the URJ, spoke at Seth’s funeral, our community a better place.” Biennial conven- pointing out that “over and over again tion of the Union throughout his life Seth Erlebacher said On our temple blog Rabbi Golomb for Reform Juda- Hineni (here I am) to those around him… wrote about “Seth’s innate integrity: a ism in Washington, This is the response Jewish leaders have sense of internal oneness; the ability to DC, about which he had been enthusiasti- spoken throughout our history; Seth gave meld together the distinct and diverse cally blogging for the benefit of all our freely of his time and wisdom as he served elements of one’s life into a consistent members. These facts are emblematic his congregation and people.” and reinforcing whole.” Because of his of two of the many ways in which Seth integrity, Rabbi continued, “Seth was truly strengthened our congregation: through his Seth’s colleagues at IBM described a tzaddik…[His] presence in our lives, devotion to Reform Judaism and by bring- him as a master of technology who could however brief in the greater scheme of ing us the advantages of online social net- explain the most complex things in an un- things, has made a profound impression. working. Another of his special interests derstandable way. They valued his warm Each one of us is better off for the blessing was our programs for children and youth, friendship and his willingness to help and his life bestowed upon us.” including URJ summer camps. mentor them, as well as his integrity and sense of joy. His love for and pride in his As our past president Sandra Mamis In the wider community, he served wife Melissa and daughters Rachel and said at Seth’s funeral, “when each of us on the board of the Community Hebrew Brianna were as obvious to his co-workers chooses to walk in his footsteps, Seth will School and was a supporter of the Jewish as they were to everyone at Vassar Temple. remain as a living and influential presence Community Center. Seth manned the among us.” Vassar Temple booth at the Shalom on Our member Susan Budson Fink Grand Festival both years it was held. He described Seth as “a man of God, who 1 Rabbi’s Message: 60% of ISRAEL THANKS YOU Extraordinary ARZA is the Reform Judaism’s wholly secular nor Orthodox. They have demands are made on formal representative in the world Zionist no political voice, and it would be impos- our time and money. movement. For the past twenty years, it sible to create one, but they are not without Unless you are part of has been the dominant voice for religious influence. Much of it comes from ARZA, that vaunted 1% of the non-Orthodox Jewish life in the State of which in coalition with other institutions – nation that has enjoyed Israel. Politically, Israel is divided among such as Hebrew Union College, the World true economic security secular and Orthodox religious parties. Union for Progressive Judaism, and the over the past few de- Given the state of coalition politics in the New Israel Fund – have created syna- cades, we have had to be quite careful and formation of a ruling government, the gogues, trained liberal rabbis and educa- intentional with our allocations, especially Orthodox parties have enjoyed outsized tors, and underwritten the Israel Religious to items that are not considered fundamental influence. The result has been the promo- Action Center (IRAC). necessities. It is in this context that I want tion of economic and social policies that Israel needs this voice, and we especially to acknowledge and thank more greatly favor a relatively small and not who care for the well-being of the Jewish than 125 Vassar Temple members who made very popular segment of the population. State need ARZA. The contribution is the extra contribution in order to be mem- Religiously, however, the major- only $36, a small portion of Vassar Temple bers of ARZA as well. ity of Israel’s Jewish population – con- dues. It is, however, a very big and sistently over 60% in polls – are neither important statement. I value your support for progressive Jewish life in Israel, and personally thank all of you who made this commitment. Rabbi Paul Golomb President’s Message As I write this informed, and ensuring that I wasn’t alone The Enduring Legacy of Seth Erlebacher, at the beginning in the subsequent hours. I extend my par- reflects the way Seth embodied the best of of January, what a ticular thanks to Rabbi Marcus Burstein, Reform Judaism. month we’ve had who accompanied me before and after we “His devotion to his family and … a virtual roller were notified of Seth’s death, and Rabbi his faith was constant and unwavering. coaster of emo- Rex Perlmeter, who went to the hospital Each week he looked forward to sharing tions – Seth’s and with Seth. Seth’s passing was announced the joy of Shabbat with his community. my anticipation of by the rabbi leading the Friday night Seth’s commitment was infectious…Seth and attendance at the service at the Biennial (with 4500+ people understood the serious challenges facing URJ Biennial; the shocking and untimely in the room). Several attendees expressed our congregations and our movement, but passing of our beloved Temple president, their shock and sympathy to me – people as a true leader he was always focused Seth Erlebacher, z”l; the congregation’s who did not know Seth, as well as some on turning challenges into opportuni- joyous celebration of Hanukkah; the hopes who had just met him over the prior couple ties. It couldn’t be clearer that great for a new year. days. congregations come in all sizes and are I would like to start by thanking all In mentally reviewing these events, found throughout our Union. Nurtured by of those who were instrumental in helping I realize that what I had known for a long dedicated lay leaders like Seth Erlebacher, during the hours, days and weeks after Seth time became so vividly true as to appear our congregations make a difference in the passed away. It was an extremely difficult in 3D. Vassar Temple is truly a family lives of our members every day.” and emotional time for all of us, and it was for many of us, especially those who have If you have not yet read Rabbi Jacobs’ heartening to experience the support. In very small or geographically scattered message, you can locate the link at the particular, but certainly not exclusively, families. While belonging to Vassar upper right of the Temple web site home I would like to thank Susan Hecht who Temple brings different experiences and page. provided a liaison between the Erlebacher benefits for various members and families, I have assumed the position of Vassar household and the many temple mem- one benefit shines brilliantly: support from Temple President earlier and under very bers who wanted to help, orchestrating a the congregation. Vassar Temple is a mac- different circumstances than any of us phenomenal coordination of food and other rocosm of regular families, with different could have expected. Regardless, we now assistance; Sandra Mamis, David Lampell, factions, cliques and even irritations at need to move forward, keeping in mind Brian Silverman, and Tamara Gruszko for times, but when there is a crisis, everyone Seth’s vision, all doing our part to ensure ensuring that Temple business was taken jumps in to provide assistance.
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