L'dor Vador Beth El Celebrates 75 Years
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“Honoring Tradition, Celebrating Diversity, and Building a Jewish Future” Issue 167 · Purim Pesach 2020 · Adar – Nissan – Iyar 5780 Congregation Beth El is a member of The Union for Reform Judaism L'dor Vador From Generation to Generation: Beth El Celebrates 75 Years Find out all the ways we'll be celebrating on pg. 17 ! IN THIS ISSUE CONGREGATION BETH EL 2 From Rabbi Kahn 11 Wise Aging 19 Adult Bat Mitzvah Drash 1301 Oxford Street 3 From the President 12 Camp Kee Tov 20 New Library Books Berkeley, CA 94709-1424 4 From the ED 13 BENS 21 New Children's Books Phone: 510-848-3988 5 Photo Exhibit 14 B'nei Mitzvah 22 Bat Mitzvah Drash Fax: 510-848-2707 6 From Rabbi Stern 14 Tribe 23 TOLT Report Youth and Family 7 High Holy Days 15 YAFE 24 Pantry Chug Recipes Education Office Schedule 16 Life Stories 26 Tzedakah Direct Line: 510-848-2122 8 Announcements 17 IRAC 28 Gift Shop Nursery School Office 10 Immigrant Justice 18 New Members Direct Line: 510-848-9428 COVER PHOTO: MIMI ABRAHAM Camp Kee Tov Office Direct Line: 510-848-2372 CLERGY & PROGRAM STAFF FROM RABBI YOEL KAHN Rabbi Yoel H. Kahn ext. 215 · [email protected] Rabbi Rebekah P. Stern ext. 228 · [email protected] Cantor Elaya Jenkins-Adelberg ext. 238 · [email protected] Rivka Weiner #MeToo & the Book of Esther: Youth & Family Education Director ext. 213 · [email protected] Celebrating Vashti Jodi Gladstone WHO IS THE STAR OF THE PURIM STORY — Queen Early Childhood Education Director Esther? Esther is one of the few biblical heroines whose story ext. 219 · [email protected] is actually written down, and told again and again — and she is Beckett Sheeder noted for her heroic accomplishments. According to the Talmud, Camp Kee Tov & Youth Director we have her story because she insisted on its preservation: “Esther ext. 217 · [email protected] wrote to the sages: ‘Establish me for all generations... Write me Rabbi Ferenc Raj down for all generations’” (Megillah 7a). Important as Esther is, Rabbi Emeritus perhaps more significant to our generation is the mostly hidden story of Vashti, Esther’s [email protected] predecessor as Queen of mythic Persia. Vashti is the biblical exemplar for #MeToo, the woman who in ancient days had the courage to say “No.” ADMIN STAFF The prequel to the more famous story of Esther begins with a drunken feast by David Rothenberg Executive Director the foolish king, Ahasuerus. He summons his queen, Vashti, to come and dance before ext. 212 · [email protected] him and his buddies, wearing her royal crown (and, according to midrash, nothing else). Vashti refuses! Naomi Tucker, co-founder and Executive Director of Shalom Bayit, praises Mimi Abraham Vashti’s unheralded courage: Director of Operations & Communications ext. 209 · [email protected] You are the voice of every woman who has ever been humiliated, intimidated, coerced Ashleigh Rubinsky by a man who professed to love her. You are the spirit of every woman who has ever felt Membership Accounts Coordinator a stranger’s unwanted hands on her body. You are the essence of what so many women ext. 235 · [email protected] and girls wish they could do when they experience sexual harassment, assault, or the less obvious coercions from someone they know: say NO. Juliet Spear Gardner BENS Administrator The men surrounding the king debate what is to be done and rule that Vashti must be ext. 242 · [email protected] banished. To do otherwise, they declare, would embolden other women to dare to refuse Lauren Schechter their husbands and “there will be no end of scorn or provocation!” Vashti’s behavior Clergy Assistant threatens not just her own relationship but the entire system; she must be cut off, lest ext. 214 · [email protected] others get the idea that they can have agency and resist oppressive, degrading or harmful Eleni Salesin relationships. The king promptly promulgates a law affirming that “every man should Camp Kee Tov & Front Office Administrator wield authority in his home” (Esther 1:22). ext. 223 · [email protected] Why do women stay in abusive relationships? Why are young women reluctant Tania Schwartz to report exploitive or unwanted interactions and encounters? Vashti’s story helps us Front Office Administrator understand the answers. First, there are dire consequences to leaving, and, despite these ext. 239 · [email protected] consequences, many women do leave anyway. Many of us have internalized the lessons Robinn Magid Gift Shop CONTINUED ON PAGE 23 ext. 240 · [email protected] 2 · THE BUILDER · PURIM PESACH 5780 FROM THE PRESIDENT It's the Music... By Allen Nudel, President of Beth El Board of Directors I HOPE THE NEW DECADE IS OFF TO A GREAT START out at any other time. During the for you and your family. 2020 is going to be a big year for High Holy Days, a highlight for me Congregation Beth El and I am feeling very energized and ready is when the entire congregation for the challenges. sings or hums along in unison. I get Our family recently attended the Friday night Camp Kee Tov the same emotional feeling singing Reunion Shabbat event at Beth El. The traditional Friday night “Avinu Malkeinu” as I do singing service was led by Rabbi Stern on acoustic guitar. Following the along to Stevie Nicks. main parts of the service, a group of Camp Kee Tov counselors and alumni, joined by a few young Kee Tov campers, flooded the bimah to participate in the big service finale. Led by the rabbi, the During the High Holy Days, a highlight for me entire group of young adults and campers sang the most popular “ Kee Tov songs, including “Devorah’s Song,” “B’tzelem Elohim,” is when the entire congregation sings or hums “Heart of Mine,” and many others. While happily singing along, along in unison. I couldn’t help but notice that most of the people who came out ” for this Camp Kee Tov Reunion Shabbat were not regular Shabbat service attendees. I understand that we all have busy lives, and that it is often tough to get to services, but what is it that attracts Another favorite for me is the newly formed Fourth Fridays and motivates so many of these people to attend and participate Musical Shabbat service. It is a beautifully designed music-filled in the Camp Kee Tov Shabbat service? Is it because it’s a reunion event with the sanctuary chairs uniquely set up in concentric of old friends? Is it to support our youth? Is it because they circles. All of the attendees, whether seated or standing and haven’t been to services for a while? Or is it because it’s so fun to dancing, are facing inward towards each other with the many come together and sing for the evening? I propose that it’s the music. musicians at the center! This musical Shabbat has become a big For many of our young members, Camp Kee Tov is their main draw for congregants. The wonderful volunteer musicians at this connection to Congregation Beth El, and in turn their connection event (all are welcome to play!) are led by Cantor Elaya, while to the larger Jewish community. Many teenagers and young everyone else joins in singing along for over an hour of inspired adults are not in the right place to prioritize attending a traditional tunes. If you haven’t been to a musical Shabbat, it’s a fantastic service on a somewhat regular basis. However, with the injection way to mark the last Friday of each month. of joyful summer camp songs and the Camp Kee Tov ruach, there I always notice in myself and in others the positive effect they are, rallying with their Jewish day camp friends and excited to that music has. A couple of years ago, I remember sitting at a bat be attending the reunion event. The Camp Kee Tov songs are so mitzvah and taking in those in attendance. There was a woman moving and joyful. Camp Kee Tov music not only feeds the soul, but in particular who caught my eye. She caught my eye because she it’s nostalgic — it takes Kee Tovers and their families back to those was not at all engaged in the service. She sat with her arms folded more carefree summer days when life was less hectic and stressful. the entire time. A prayer book was not opened. A word was not Music has always been an important part of my life. I uttered. It wasn’t until Rabbi Reuben began to play “B’tzelem obtained a little transistor radio when I was about six years old. Elohim” during the bat mitzvah’s personal blessing that I began to Only getting AM stations, I would listen to 93 KHJ every minute see the woman move. Not only did she begin to participate and I could. Of course, in those days, Top 40 stations would play all mouth along to the words, but I also noticed the woman tapping types of music, unlike the segmented types of stations we have her feet and softly slapping her hands on her lap. And then she today. They would play ABBA, then Earth, Wind & Fire, then Led was smiling. It took an upbeat song to finally bring out some Zeppelin, then Roseanne Cash. This type of music variety would emotion and enjoyment in this person. That is the power of music. be unheard of today outside of college radio. I would sing along to When considering whether or not to attend Beth El events the songs and try to learn and understand the lyrics (particularly and services, keep in mind that music awaits you! Music is difficult for Elton John songs!).