The Covenant September 2020 VOLUME 62 ISSUE 11 Tacos & Tunes 8.15.2020 Inside This Issue Preparing for the High Holy Days: A Time of Hope, A Time of Connection Editor's Note............................. 2 By RABBI PAUL F. COHEN the days of my life, Perspective: From Cantor.......... 2 Senior Rabbi to gaze upon the [email protected] beauty of Adonai, usersLet's Talk About Antiracism...... 3 to frequent God’s Monthly Mensch.......................4 Dear Friends, temple. TROPHYMazel Tov Rabbi Heaps............. 5 As a practice, Jews throughout the centuries 5. He will shelter have focused on the words of Psalm 27 as a me in His pavilion on STAR-OF-DAVID High Holy Days Reimagined....... 6 way to prepare for the High Holy Days during an evil day, grant me the protection of His Checking in: Brotherhood......... 7 the Hebrew month of Elul. I invite you to take a moment before reading on to look at tent, raise me high upon a rock. Checking in: Development........ 7 the entire Psalm in English: 6. Now is my head HOME Learn About Clergy & Staff....... 8 1. Of David. Adonai is my light and my high over my enemies roundabout; I sacrifice help; whom should I fear? Adonai is the Chai Lights................................ 9 in God’s tent with shouts of joy, singing and stronghold of my life, whom should I dread? chanting a hymn to Adonai. Weekly Torah Portions............. 9 2. When evil men assail me to devour my 7. Hear, ADONAI, when I cry aloud; have flesh - it is they, my foes and my enemies, Lately Around Jeremiah...........10 mercy on me, answer me. who stumble and fall. heartA Personal Reflection............. 11 8. In Your behalf my heart says: “Seek My 3. Should an army besiege me, my heart face!” ADONAI, I seek Your face. BOOK-OPENSisterhood Book Club............. 11 would have no fear; should war beset me, still would I be confident. 9. Do not hide Your face from me; do not Social Justice Calendar.............11 thrust aside Your servant in anger; You have 4. One thing I ask of Adonai, only that ever been my help. Do not forsake me, do do I seek: to live in the house of Adonai all heart Acknowledgments.................. 12 not abandon me, O God, my deliverer. continued on page 5 Editor's Note • Perspective… from Cantor Despite the pandemic, or rather, because of it, Temple Jeremiahns are connecting to one another and to the community in creative and meaningful ways. By JULIE WEINBERG We also take a look at how Temple Jeremiah is responding to Editor, The Covenant the death of George Floyd and the growing demand to practice [email protected] antiracism. You’ll find a list of how you can get involved in the effort, and you’ll read about a young member who is spreading Amazing things are happening at Temple a message about antiracism as her Bat Mitzvah project. Jeremiah, and when you read the articles in this issue of The Perhaps, you’ve seen “signs” of her Tikkun Olam project around Covenant, you will learn connection is at the heart of it all. Despite Chicagoland? the pandemic, or rather, because of it, Temple Jeremiahns are connecting to one another and to the community in creative and Brotherhood reminds us of the connections they provide, Leslie meaningful ways. Landman introduces us to the dedicated members who are collaborating on the development committee, and you’ll read a Much of this issue is dedicated to this year’s High Holy Days. In very personal and emotional essay from Randi Gurian written after our Cover Story, Rabbi Cohen provides comfort and guidance as her mother’s death. we prepare for this most unique season. Cantor Friedman gives us a glimpse of how the Adult and Youth Choirs are bringing Finally, I hope you’ll enjoy a glimpse of how the clergy and staff are their voices together from a distance for all of us to enjoy. As she staying connected to Temple Jeremiah. Be sure to check out the explains, they are truly making lemonade out of lemons. You’ll rainbow challah and some adorable puppies. also get to know Ernie Schubert, our Monthly Mensch, who has dedicated countless hours and his filmmaking expertise to help us These are the stories that make me proud of my connection to all celebrate 5781. Temple Jeremiah. I hope you feel the same way. Choir Turns Musical Lemons into Lemonade By CANTOR SUSIE LEWIS FRIEDMAN who I can invite to participate with us in digital worship and other Cantor activities. For instance, during a special Americana Shabbat for July [email protected] 4th, my brother, J.T. Lewis, played the beautiful trumpet solo in Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. Kesher, connection in Hebrew, has never been more important to us than it is now. It is the tendency of the human spirit to make lemonade when life Even though the past six months have kept brings us lemons (though I have to say, I LOVE lemons), and that’s us physically apart, in some ways, we have the case with the choir. One of the biggest challenges of physical never been more connected, or creative. distance is that we are forbidden to sing together, but we did not Attendance is higher than ever in Shabbat let that stop us from togetherness. Choir has met for all but two worships and other offerings. Perhaps this weeks of the pandemic. Rehearsal attendance is greater than ever, is because digital interaction allows for global participation. In past and our digital gatherings allow members who are out of town or years, those receiving milestone blessings who were not physically unable to drive to still join us. in the sanctuary with us would have missed out on this meaningful gift. But our digital worship has changed all of that. While we were During this time, we have all pushed ourselves technologically. freezing in Chicagoland during the early months of the quarantine, Each choir member sends in a video of themselves singing we were able to connect with friends in warm climates and enjoy their parts, and we have learned to put them together into one the beauty of their surroundings, inspiring us with the summer virtual choir video, providing much meaning for our community. weather that would come our way. Members of both Shir Joy, our Youth Choir, and the Adult Choir have taken me up on my offer to provide individual virtual voice We have gone to greater lengths than many of us had ever lessons as well, and together we have uncovered ways to help thought possible to maintain kesher with our community from them feel good about their singing and their videos. afar. How many of us ever imagined Passover with loved ones on a screen? I never thought I’d see the day when my parents would Shir Joy also met every Sunday while Religious School was be technologically savvy enough to figure out how to participate in session. Each week they requested favorite songs to sing, in a Zoom meeting! Our desire for connection has also inspired us and I shared my screen with the lyrics. They made a video of to be more inclusive. I find myself thinking about family members a meaningful song by Matisyahu, entitled “One Day” which The Covenant Newsletter . Temple Jeremiah 2 templejeremiah.org . September 2020 Perspective (con't) • users Antiracism inspires us to believe that one day, the world will experience the we must also realize that this digital way of meeting has forever “Messianic Age,” when we have all participated in the repairing changed our world and our worship, possibly for the better. of the world, Tikkun Olam. My meetings with B’nai Mitzvah kids We have learned to think creatively in ways we may never have also look different, but no less meaningful. Due to the physical thought possible to allow for greater participation. It is my prayer distancing, the students are taking more ownership over their that we will continue to breathe through these challenges, stay B’nai Mitzvah preparations and worship. They have more safe, and hope for the day, “One Day,” when we will be able to responsibility to know their prayers, as they are doing them totally balance togetherness physically and digitally. alone. It has been amazing to see them rise to these challenges, to stand and lead worship on their own. Ross, Abigail, Zev, and I wish you happiness, health, and connection in 5781. While we pray fervently for restoring our physical connections, Let’s Talk About Antiracism In Deuteronomy, we read tzedek, tzedek, tirdof. Justice, justice shalt thou pursue. The word pursue means that we have to actively engage with justice in our world, it’s not enough to follow the rules, to obey the law. We have to pursue justice in every way that we can. - Rabbi Paul Cohen “Antiracist: One who is resources) on the Temple Jeremiah website supporting an antiracist courtesy of Dana Garbarski, temple member policy through their and Associate Professor of Sociology at Loyola Where do we start? actions or expressing University Chicago. She’s providing a growing Take the first step. an antiracist idea.” - list of TED Talks, podcasts, articles, and books, Ibram X. Kendi, Author, as well as a link to the Implicit Association Test How to be an Antiracist created by Harvard University which you can take to explore your own bias. Practicing antiracism 1 requires a conversation, Historically, Temple Jeremiah has promoted and Temple Jeremiah platforms and programs aimed at lifting up Participate in a program.