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Congregation Beth Ahabah Re-Imagining Reform Judaism

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CONGREGATION BETH AHABAH b’yachad VOLUME 78 NO. 04 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 | Sh’VAT/ADAR 1/NISAN 5773 bethahabah.org RE-IMAGINING REFORM JUDAISM THROUGH COMMUNITY by Linda Ferguson Dinner was provided by Six Points Sports Academy, a URJ summer sports On November 9, 2012, seven of your camp, at the American Hebrew Acadmy fellow congregants and friends as well in Greensboro. After dinner we were as Rabbis Beifield and Gallop headed for Greensboro, North Carolina for a Regional Shabbatone. Sponsored by Temple Emanuel and the idea and planing of its Rabbi Fred Gutman, we words, the need to strengthen Reform were involved in prayer, education, Judaism through community. music and, of course....food. Saturday morning we had Shabbat Our group was joined by about Services at Temple Emanuel and Rabbi 70 members of Temple Emanuel entertained by the wonderul music of Gutman led us in prayer and music. and about the same number from the Josh Nelson Project. He also talked about the need for congregations around the Mid Atlantic community and belonging. The choir and Region. We began the Shabbatone with The 24+ hours provided us with a two cantorial solists provided beautiful a delicious Shabbat dinner at Temple wonderful oportunity to pray, talk and music Friday night and Saturday Emanuel on Friday evening, followed by build community with members of morning. Our luncheon speaker was services that included an outstanding our sister congregations around our Rabbi David Saperstein Director and area. It is the start of our embracing Counsel of the Religious Action Center, the opportunity to reach out and one of the most significant religious bring in new friends and enhance our lobby groups in the country. Rabbi spirituality around our region. Saperstein is one of the most dynamic figures in our movement, and is known world-wide. He provided us with much needed analysis of the recent election both from a Jewish and a political D’var Torah by Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Senior Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Pesner’s theme was “Re-imaging Reform Judaism,” which included comments about community....large and small ....and the The Union for Reform Judaism and work needed to build our synagogue Women of Reform Judaism will meet communities in our cities, regions, for their Biennials in San Diego in country and around the world....in other December 2013, with members from prespetive. The afternoon was filled North America, Israel, and Australia. with study groups and programs. Rabbi Please join us in this wonderful Beified, current CBA Vice President experience. Also when you hear about Katy Roeper, and Past President Earl another Shabbatone in our area, Ferguson presented an workshop on be sure to attend. It’s a wonderful leadership development. It was one of way to enhance your Reform Jewish several excellent workshops that were experience. presented. Please see the Beth Ahabah Community Calendar on page 15 for the Schedule of Worship, 2 GUNS, GUNS, GUNS by Rabbi Martin P. Beifield, Jr. belts in cars, to lessen it. Once again Americans are talking about Make mental health diagnosis and guns. The terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook treatment a national priority. Elementary School has reopened the same debate which we’ve had before, Prohibit the manufacture, importation, usually after another mass murder possession, transfer, and purchase of perpetrated by someone with a gun. assault weapons except for the military PRESident’S THOUGHTS Suggestions for what to do range from and law enforcement officials. by Ron Kasoff the completely impossible - repeal the second amendment - to the completely Prohibit the manufacture, importation, We’re looking for a few good people. nonsensical - arm every teacher - and possession, transfer, and purchase of The Marines say that and so do we. everywhere in between. I would like high capacity ammunition magazines We need leaders at Beth Ahabah at all to think we could all agree that there except for the military and law enforce- levels, now and in the future. We need are too many weapons in our country ment officials. leaders to run programs, engage oth- and too many weapons in the hands ers, chair committees, participate on of people who ought not have them, Require all sellers of weapons to con- the Board of Managers, be officers and and that it is too easy to get around the duct background checks on prospective much more. Fortunately Beth Ahabah laws which regulate guns. Without even buyers and close the gun has been blessed with bright, engaged asking people to raise their hands, I am show “loophole,” which people who want to take action and probably wrong. Maybe we can allows unlicensed people fully participate in the congregation’s all agree that there is to sell guns without mak- activity. Getting involved is easy: start too much gun ing background checks by being on a committee, volunteer violence in our on prospective buyers. to help in an event, join WRJ, MRJ or country and in- Forty percent of gun BAMA, organize a Havurah. The Lead- sufficient effort sales in the United ership Development Committee looks to reduce it. That is States fall into this category. for active members and tries to match at least some place them with an appropriate fit, helping to start a discussion Insist on and enforce reporting by states the officers to insure that we have po- on what to do about it. If we to the National Instant Criminal Check sitions filled with capable leaders and could back away from the example set system. others working to follow in their steps. by many in Congress, which is to take The first step is to become an active an extreme position and do everything Increase and improve enforcement of participant and then see where your possible not to compromise, perhaps laws prohibiting the buying and selling enthusiasm and abilities take you and we could find some common ground of illegal guns. the Temple. and move inch by inch towards some practical plan to reduce the gun vio- In Jewish tradition, it is forbidden to lence which plagues our country and have dangerous things in one’s home which not only takes so many lives lest they cause harm to others. One may needlessly but also permanently scars not sell a weapon to another person if the survivors of the victims. there is a fear that the weapon will be used inappropriately. Jewish tradition Knowing full well that some will call me also permits a person to act in self-de- too liberal and others will accuse me of fense. How to balance these principles being too conservative, here’s where I in a modern society is a challenge which would start. defies simple answers. Even so, that does not excuse us from the obligation Instruct Vice President Biden’s task to try. Surely we can do better than we It’s Passover! Time to read Haggadah, enjoy a force on gun violence to assess the are doing now. warm seder and have a joyous time with your impact on society of the widespread family, friends and loved ones. and graphic violence in media, including video games, movies, TV shows, and Warm wishes from the Board of Directors, the typical evening news programs, and orchestrate a national campaign, much Clergy & Temple Staff like the one to get people to use seat- 3 IN NORFOLK: THE NFTY CONVENTION AN UNFORGETTABLE Shabbat was completely different from eryone arrived dressed in 1920s attire, EXPERIENCE and following the conclusion of Shabbat, By Claire Mendelson anything I’d ever experienced before. Saturday was filled with many different we broke off into smaller groups where My first NFTY experience was, in a word, activities, including mixers, song ses- we received lessons in swing dancing in unforgettable. sions, and reflections on current events addition to learning about the invention such as Sandy and the conflict in Israel. of the waffle cone and playing a game From November 16 – 18 at Ohef Shalom The theme this year was “everyone of “Jewpardy”. Temple in Norfolk, Virginia, I met some needs an original moment”, which was amazing people, participated in lots of incorporated into some of our rotations We then honed our new swing dancing group activities, and even learned how to as we discussed maintaining our own skills in the social hall, where a live band swing dance! I enjoyed every moment of identities while remaining a contributing played the entire night. As a perfect end it, and the weekend left a great impres- member of our communities. to the evening, confetti rained down on sion on me. us as we sang the NFTY cheer. My favorite part of the entire weekend After a long and loud bus ride on Friday came that evening, when we all gath- The weekend concluded with a friend- to Norfolk, it was nice to mingle at a ered for Havdallah and a dance. The ship circle on Sunday morning and tear- quick Shabbat dinner before heading to Havdallah service was beautiful, with ful goodbyes as we departed for home. services. An entirely paperless service everyone gathered together in one big I made so many new friends, and have (the prayers, songs, and even a stream- circle complete with sparklers. found a community of Jewish teens that ing video of the Torah were projected is absolutely amazing. My first NFTY on to a screen above the bimah), this The surprise of the evening was that ev- experience was unforgettable. 4 “It’s so cOOL, BEING WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE YOU...” by Melissa Nelson The summer before ninth grade, I was on my way to overnight camp for four weeks at URJ’s Camp Harlam.
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