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Orchard 2004.Spring.Fnl xsrpv The Orchard Published by United Jewish Communities Rabbinic Cabinet SPRING 2004 -NISAN 5764 xsrpv The Orchard Chair: CONTENTS Rabbi Bennett F. Miller, D.Min. The Purpose, Objectives, and Membership Standards of the United Jewish Communities Rabbinic Cabinet Vice Chair: From the UJC President and Chair of the Board Rabbi Ronald L. Schwarzberg Robert Goldberg, Chair of the Board, and Stephen H. Hoffman, President & CEO . .page 5 Associate Chairs: Rabbi Steven E. Foster Rabbi as Kaddish Rabbi Jonathan A. Schnitzer Rabbi Eric M. Lankin, D.Min. .page 6 President: Anticipating the Four Questions Rabbi Bennett F. Miller, D.Min. .page 7 Rabbi Harold J. Berman Spring Cleaning for the Soul Director: Rabbi David Booth . .page 8 Rabbi Eric M. Lankin, D.Min. Four Other Questions Rabbi James Stone Goodman . .page 9 Editor: Lisa Kleinman Finding New Meaning in Old Traditions Rabbi Bonita E. Taylor and Rabbi David J. Zucker . .page 10 Assistant Editor: The Fifth Child Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner Rabbi Kassel Abelson . .page 11 You haven’t fully celebrated Passover until… UJC Chair of the Board . page 12 Robert Goldberg Matzah of Unity… . page 13 UJC Chair of the JDC Strives to Fulfill the Passover Mandate . .page 14-15 Executive Committee Two Critical Commandments Morton B. Plant Rabbi Mordechai Silverstein . .page 16 Guided By the Pillar of Cloud and Pillar Of Fire UJC President and CEO Rabbi Shmuel Werzberger, Z”L . .page 17 Stephen H. Hoffman Lingering Memories Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana . .page 18 The Measure of Life The Orchard Rabbi Solomon Gordon, Z”L . .page 19 is published by United Jewish Make Today Count Rabbi Sidney Greenberg, Z”L . .page 20 Communities Rabbinic Cabinet Praying After the Shoah 111 Eighth Avenue, Suite 11-E Rabbi Binny Freedman . .page 21 New York, NY 10011-5201 An Eternal People Phone: 212.284.6513 Rabbi Abraham J. Feldman, Z”L . .page 22 Email: [email protected] The Bespoke Code Rabbi Jacob J. Weinstein Z”L . .page 23 Spring 2004 - Nisan 5764 A Tale of Two Mountains Rabbi Alfred S. Cohen . .page 24 Published in cooperation with Personal Freedom the Rabbinic cabinets of local Rabbi Fishel A. Pearlmutter, Z”L . .page 24 Jewish federations Zikaron and Atzmaut Rabbi Noam E. Marans . .page 25 Cover image: Sabbath Cloth, 19th Century. Make Passover Preparations a Priority Rabbi David Pinkwasser . .page 26 Collection Israel Museum, Jerusalem Upcoming Rabbinic Cabinet Activities . .page 26 THE PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES, AND MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS OF THE UNITED JEWISH COMMUNITIES RABBINIC CABINET The mission of the UJC Rabbinic Cabinet is to SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES unite rabbis of all ideologies in the work of kiyum 1. Raise the level of knowledge about UJC in the rabbinate and community. ha’uma and tzedakah, acquaint and involve the North American rabbinate with the goals and 2. Stimulate and support rabbinic participation in, and relationships with, UJC and local federations. activities of UJC, and bring the talents, resources, 3. Assist with and participate in UJC’s UJA-Federation and perspectives of the rabbinate to UJC and its Annual Campaign by enlarging the scope and intensity of UJA-Federation Annual Campaign. synagogue involvement. The cabinet serves as the rabbinic arm of UJC, 4. Upgrade rabbinic giving and increase rabbinic solicita- tions. the major agency of North American Jewry for tzedakah. It promotes the unity of the Jewish 5. Identify new donors, leaders and major gifts. people in its efforts to support the needs of Jews 6. Develop programs and educational materials about Israel and the Jewish tradition. everywhere by including rabbis from every movement in North American Jewish life. 7. Serve as teachers and spiritual resources to the leader- ship and constituencies of UJC, local The Rabbinic Cabinet further seeks to inform federations, and the Jewish community. colleagues about the most current developments in 8. Serve as a forum for the discussion and resolution of Jewish life, the needs of our people, and the important Jewish issues. techniques for effective utilization of rabbinic 9. Recognize exemplary service of rabbis in the UJA-Federation Annual Campaign. leadership within local communities. In addition, the Rabbinic Cabinet endeavors to apprise the lay STANDARDS FOR MEMBERSHIP Jewish leadership with the concerns of the Members of the Rabbinic Cabinet should: rabbinate, infuse Jewish values and content into the annual and special campaigns of local federa- 1. Be involved in local federation and campaign activities. tions, and serve Israel and the Jewish people with 2. Work in harmony with local colleagues. rabbinical involvement and support. 3. Pledge at least $1000 to the Annual Campaign. 4. Participate in a UJC mission. 5. Attend the Annual Meeting of the Rabbinic Cabinet and/or regional conferences and special meetings. 4 Spring 2004 The Orchard FROM THE UJC PRESIDENT AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD Is it a coincidence that the first observance of our Jewish nation- how we use it to provide help where needed, and how we use it al consciousness – Pesach – should occur in the same season as when we need to defend ourselves. We remain humbled by the our celebration of modern Jewish sovereignty – Yom Ha’atzma’ut? resilience of our modern Jewish state, even as we recognize the Every year at this time we retell our ancient story. At the Passover importance of our continued support in these troubled times. We Seder we attempt to relive the ordeals we experienced in Egypt, marvel at the Jewish rebirth we are witnessing in the former Sovi- prior to the Exodus, the redemption and the great revelation at Mt. et Union, even as we are called upon to provide for the basic Sinai. We continue this tradition with our modern story, remem- needs of its elderly. And we are challenged in Argentina, as we bering the ordeals of the Holocaust when we observe Yom watch a once thriving Jewish community struggle to get back on Hashoah, and honoring the sacrifices of the present day on Yom its feet. Hazikaron, just before we celebrate Israel’s independence. Here in North America, it has never been easier to be a Jew. And Our people may struggle, suffer and face many dark moments yet, perhaps more than ever before, we need our educated lead- and challenges, but we prevail. Our ancient covenant with the ership to help guide us in life. The results of the National Jewish Almighty is always operating. Yes, we may stray. Yes, others may Populations Survey 2000-1 confirm that in the U.S., while more of seek to impede or even stop us, but if we are true to our traditions, us than ever are taking part in Jewish experiences like adult edu- steeped in the teachings of the Torah, we look forward to a cation, there is also an increase in alienation and assimilation. How brighter future. do we reconcile these extremes? Our federation movement, work- ing closely with our rabbis and congregations, provides our people Our teachers, our rabbis, have the challenge of helping us under- with a way to address these challenges physically and spiritually. stand how all this works in our lives today. As we look around we seek to understand the responsible use of modern Jewish power, Together, may we go from strength to strength. Robert Goldberg Stephen H. Hoffman Chair of the Board President & CEO Spring 2004 The Orchard 5 RABBI AS KADDISH Rabbi Eric M. Lankin, D.Min. Many years ago I shared with my dear father-in-law my willingness one day to be his kaddish’l. He never asked me, but I could tell by his reassuring nod that he appreciated my offer to one day say Kaddish for him, considering that he was an Orthodox Jew and the father of two daughters. He also was a liberal person and considered that his daugh- ters should say Kaddish for him when they could, as well. Sadly, a few months ago, I began to fulfill the promise I made many years ago. After eight years of fighting, the prostate cancer that attacked him was victorious and this man, who was truly the wind in my sails and a powerful loving presence in our family, surrendered. Now three times a day I run to minyan and often I reflect on the gift that I feel he had given me, Reciting Kaddish provides the opportunity to show loyalty to the traditions that were so dear to him. a sense of order in the whirl- Considering the amount of traveling that I do in my job, there have been days when “ I have davened Nusach Ashkenaz at Shacharit, Nusach Sefard at Minchah, and Nusach wind of psychological Ari at Maariv, in three different places. Although I have been a rabbi for 19 years, I never have been so aware of the differences of nuschaot, especially in the words of the Kaddish. and spiritual chaos. The Kaddish has always been the prayer of transition, inserted by the rabbis in var- ious places within the liturgy to separate the major sections of the service. Moving from one part of the service to another invokes a sense of change, and reminds us of those emotionally fearful times when we face the unknown. ” Mourners are also in transition, between a time when they could experience the phys- ical and emotional presence of the loved one and a time when they recognize the impact of loss. Reciting Kaddish provides a sense of order in the whirlwind of psychological and spiritual chaos. Recognizing God’s presence, stating it aloud and publicly within com- munity, we articulate a hope that the feelings of chaos will subside and a sense of God’s protective care will envelop us.
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