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NAT 2 November 18, 2009 energies, to network with colleagues, and About the Cover to find systems to overcome some of the Editorial Shabbat Shalom problems and struggles every congregation The Shema faces. I have to say that this year’s workshops As part of the 11th annual Ann Katz BY RABBI JON ADLAND are some of the best ever, and the Festival of Books held at the Arthur M. “This work still November 6, 2009, Vayera efficiency of the convention’s mechanics Glick JCC, author Lisa Grunberger spoke amazes me, even (Genesis 18:1–22:24), 18 Cheshvan 5770 the smoothest it has ever been. and read from her first book Yiddish Yoga: though I created it At the same time, the number of people Ruthie’s Adventures in Love, Loss, and the several years ago. I Tonight I will be celebrating Shabbat attending the convention is significantly Lotus Position. What a performer she is! was thinking about with 3,000 other Reform Jews who have less than in past years. The cost of getting She has a diverse background in many the Shema, how it traveled from the United States, around the to Toronto and the economic hardships our different areas and has many talents. She calls us, and how its world, and across Canada to join together congregations face have downsized the taught some Yoga chair exercises, and also first word is “listen” in Toronto for the 70th Biennial Convention event. Yet, nearly 500 congregations sent explained her personal experiences that or “hear.” It is calling of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). or helped their temple presidents, clergy, led to writing the book. out to all of us, all of Irene Konig. This is my 11th Biennial Convention. professional staff or board members get to Her book is about a the people of Israel, wherever we are in I have been to Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Toronto, because they know the importance Jewish grandmother the world. The words are “Hear, O Israel, Baltimore, Orlando, San Francisco, Chicago, of learning from other Reform Jews facing named Ruthie whose the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” New Orleans, San Diego, Boston, Houston similar issues and problems. husband dies after a “I began with a shell, an ocean shell. I and now Toronto to learn about the direction I have attended several workshops. 50-year marriage. know all of us, at one point or another have of Reform Judaism, to revive my own Jewish The first was on the inclusion of special Hoping it will help held a shell up to our ears to “hear the needs children at our URJ camps, but you her heal from the loss, ocean.”The shell represented the hearing, can extract from that the importance of her granddaughter and it symbolized the depths of the ocean. j i inclusion of special needs children in our gives her a gift of one “Next I began with some interesting gift certificates are available, if needed, in religious education and making our year of Yoga lessons. paper that I had found, and started case you can’t decide. congregation accessible for all people This book elevated my mood while I was cutting out shapes from it. It was a Konig likes to use interesting materials who have challenges. We do okay, but reading it and for some time afterward. marbelized type of rich paper and I began and incorporate them into the master print. we can always take a harder look at Grunberger captures the essence of what by cutting out rounded boulder shaped She has used leaves and berries, ribbons, Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation (IHC) is important in life using very few words, pieces, reflecting that eons ago that was fabric, flowers of all kinds, jewelry, masks to see what more we can do. in three languages – English, Sanskrit and what existed, among other natural and other assorted objects. Often she The second workshop was on Jewish- Yiddish. In the world in which we live shaped objects. When I placed them puts into calligraphy her own words, Muslim dialogue. Our recent interfaith Iftar today, it can be challenging to understand together, it was a pleasing sight to me, expressing a sentiment that she could not dinner was a huge step in the right direction, and process all of the new and different representing a primordial time, a time find elsewhere as a quotation. Her works and Marcia Goldstein, director of Lifelong ideas that one can be introduced to. before man came to be. There was a adorn many homes in the central Texas Learning, is working on establishing a The author manages to blend the suggestion of a vastness of space, time area and in other parts of the country. In more formal dialogue experience with our wisdom of the East (Yoga) and the West and space beyond human comprehension. addition, she has donated some of her Muslim brothers and sisters. We have (Yiddish) and do it all in good humor. “When I placed the shell on the paper artwork to the Jewish Community Center done more than many congregations, but Leaving no stone unturned, she includes with the boulder-shaped pieces, and in Havana, Cuba, and to a hospital in again, we can still go further. a recipe for a matzo ball/mulligatawny began to make the first print, I saw that Israel, Shaare Zedek. The third workshop was about creating soup. The matzo balls we know about. the thickness of the shell actually caused Konig holds a bachelor’s degree in fine a welcoming environment for singles, The other is an Indian soup with such shadows to become part of the print, and arts from the City College of New York, as people who are divorced and those spices as tumeric, cayenne pepper, cumin this in turn made the boulders look three well as a master’s degree in psychology who are widowed.There were little things and coriander. dimensional. All of this really excited me, from the New School for Social Research they mentioned that we already do, but In Yiddish Yoga one can learn about because it added to the look of time, in New York. Just a little over half of her IHC needs to take a hard look at this grieving a loss, but then after a period of space, and a realm that we can only guess life has been spent in Austin,Texas, where demographic and make sure we are mourning, letting go of the past to at, before our time. she currently resides. Her other years were being inclusive. I am not talking about move forward to enjoy every minute of “The Shema, the central prayer of spent in New York. She is the mother of young singles, but the entire spectrum. If life that is still to come. It is about the joy Judaism, is recited not only in synagogues, two young adult daughters. you want to help me look at ways of of learning new things and living life to but often in homes as well.” Irene Konig may be contacted at pleasure- being inclusive, please let me know. the fullest even in old age. It is about Konig has created many works with [email protected] or at 512-835-2165. (see Adland, page NAT 3) love, forgiveness, relationships, courage, Jewish themes, including works that have control, intention, kvetching, chanting, a tallit image as a background.The Jewish- The National Jewish meditation and miracles.To find out more themed works range from calligraphy and go to: www.yiddishyoga.com. design prints for weddings to comforting The following is one of the excerpts works for those in mourning, inspirational that the author read during the lecture. It quotes, excerpts from the Song of Songs, & is told in the voice of the grandmother. Post Opinion other Psalms, quotations from some of the greats in Jewish history, home and www.jewishpostopinion.com Om and Amen personal blessings, and many, many more. Sammy (Yoga teacher) pointed out In addition to this large collection of Editorial and sales offices located at The Jewish Post & Opinion that the Sanskrit Om and Hebrew Amen Jewish inspired art, Konig has also created 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 Published biweekly by office: (317) 972-7800 • fax: (317) 972-7807 The Spokesman Co., Inc. bear a remarkable resemblance. When many other art pieces, which encompass (USPS 275-580) (ISSN 0888-0379) you chant Om and press your lips together a wide range of feelings, thoughts, [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at at the end, you can feel the vibrations and experiences, all heartfelt. All master Address correspondence to: Indianapolis, IN 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 reverberate through your heart. prints are made up by hand, and then All circulation correspondence Something’s changing inside me. We should be addressed to prints are made from this master print. All Publishers Advertising Director Accounting The National Jewish Post & Opinion, chanted an extra long time today in honor of in all, there are close to 300 prints, all Gabriel Cohen, z”l Barbara LeMaster Vivian Chan Subscription Department, the spring solstice. available in modest prices, all made on Jennie Cohen 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Graphic Design Editors Postmaster send address changes to: Ommmmmmmmm. Ommmmmmmmm. request, and all matted for gifting, or The National Jewish Post & Opinion, Advertising Sales Charlie Bunes Jennie Cohen Ommmmmmmmm. for the individual, and enclosed in a Subscription Department, Mary Herring Crystal Kurz Grechen Throop It was as though Harry (Ruthie’s deceased crystal-clear envelope.

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