June-July 2008 Bulletin
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BETH SHALOM S Y N A G O G U E June - July 2008 Iyar - Tammuz 5768 To our new community of Beth Shalom, vigorating an aging community. There too I was proud of national recognition for some life-changing programs. Again, one of the signal programs there was a reinventing of Shabbat with the aid of Although the time of my arrival in Columbia is still a couple of STAR's famed Synaplex award. months away I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce myself to you, tell you a bit about myself and the things I treasure. This past year I have devoted myself to a new series of ven- tures. My first task was as an interim rabbi in Virginia to help heal I grew up in a northern community and despite the geographic and their wounds and help them sort out some concrete issues of organi- regional differences between Massachusetts and South Carolina zation. At the same time, I was finishing a book that I had been there were many similarities. It was a large town with a small Jew- planning for many years. Journey to the Soul: Kabbalah's Path- ish community. The challenges facing the Jews there were way to Your Present and Future has just been published! The many. Issues like assimilation and identity were key. It was not book is designed to outreach for those who are seeking a spiritual easy. At the same time the benefits of living in a small community side to their faith. While zealously working to publish this book I made every holy day an opportunity to become reacquainted and see have also been busy setting up a web site ( http://lifespathway.com/ how all the children had grown…. default.aspx ) and two blogs and a weekly Torah e-mail for the pur- pose of spiritually reaching out to people. My education took me to New York where I gained two degrees, one from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in Jewish Eagerly I look forward to joining you in Columbia with my wife, History and the other from Columbia University (could this be fore- Rivke. For us, it will be our second congregation. Rivke's bound- shadowing?) in Political Science. less energy, thoughtfulness and depth of spirituality continues to be a gift to my life. Still reasonably newly married we continue to cele- Ordained in London, England I had the privilege of studying under brate all the great and small moments together. In Genesis the first some of the finest and most creative minds of the Continent. Those woman is called an ezer k'negdo , someone who will help the primor- teachers continue to exert an influence on me to this day. They gave dial man into a whole being with her insight. Rivke is just me lessons in Talmud and life. I still have days when something that. While my perspective tends to be monolithic, her remarkably they said to me more than two decades ago comes to mind and helps rich Dominican background and spiritual inclination always pro- to make sense of contemporary conundrums. They were halcyon vides a fresh perspective to me. days of discovery and gathering tools that would equip me through the rest of my career. We are in the years of our life when the needs of our children are lessening ( kinehora !) and the five of them are busy making their While it was tempting to remain in England I returned to the United own way in the world. States where over the course of more than twenty years I served three congregations in Massachusetts (motto: if you can spell it you What I bring to Beth Shalom. My interests are making Judaism can vote) and New York. Each synagogue was different than the accessible, meaningful and joyful. There are plenty of times for others in terms of size and demographics. One of the many lessons I mourning and sadness, too many. Dayenu. I present the side of learned was that each community has its own unique needs. Time Judaism that is infused with hope and growth. Accenting singing, was needed to fully acquaint myself with each of these congrega- story-telling and the search for a soulful life I bring to the pulpit tions so that I could first understand their specific situation and then energy. I look forward to the journey in front of us. best address their needs and not come with my own preset agenda. In my first congregation my primary focus was on children and Please let me know of your needs and concerns. Also, please be adult education. In both instances through hard work and creative forgiving. I will not be so good at remembering names (there are a programming national honors were awarded for groundbreaking lot more of you than us) but through time and experience we will innovations. One of them was the Kid's Kallah , a week long camp/ come to know one another. I look forward to that. I also look for- school/celebration for children during vacation. My next congrega- ward to laughing with you, holding your hand, growing, crying, tion had significantly different needs. For them I crafted congrega- making silly mistakes, exploring and celebrating. tional programs that addressed the yawning lacuna of connection and loneliness. Not far from New York City the members needed to Until then I wish you well….. create a congregational identity. They lived in the shadow of far more powerful forces that made them feel insignificant. A single Shalom, example was Shabbatons designed to bring all ages together for a weekend of song, introspection, storytelling and many varied pro- Rabbi Jonathan Case grams. My third congregation's challenges were defined by rein- President’s message…. The summer has arrived and we have had a busy and fruitful spring. By August 1, 2008, we will have a new rabbi, Rabbi Case and his wife Rivke, with us. I know that we are all ea- gerly awaiting their arrival and I hope that everyone will plan to help us install the Rabbi and welcome the Case family to Columbia on Shabbat, Saturday, August 23, 2008. Members of the BOD have been in contact with Rabbi Case over the past months so that the transition to Beth Shalom should be a smooth one. As most of you know, Israel is celebrating their 60th Anniversary as an independent state this year. We have started our celebration with Israel with a Sisterhood donor highlighting two Israeli singers and a delicious dessert buffet on Mother’s day. We plan to have another SIR program in the Fall, high- lighting the Anniversary with discussions, speakers, and a Shabbat service. There are a few couples that will be travel- ing to Israel this summer, Sam Lourie will be celebrating his Bar Mitzvah at Masada, and the international General Assembly (GA) will be held in Jerusalem in November. Bruce and I plan to attend the GA conference with several other couples from the Columbia area. Come join us for what promises to be an unforgettable experience!! Although Israel and I share the same age, she continues to appear young, vibrant, and full of promise. (I can’t always say the same for me.) Israel has succeeded in developing an “ordinary” life for most of its citizens. “One of the goals of Theodor Herzl and David Ben-Gurion was for Israel to become a normal nation—a nation, as the idiom went, with Jewish cops busting Jewish crooks.” I wish all of you a safe and restful summer. When you return from your vacations, we will again continue with the business at hand: supporting the synagogue and religious school, funding the Endowment Foundation, presenting scholarly lectures and discussions, and preparing for the High Holidays. As the saying goes, “See you in Septem- ber……” Lilly Filler, MD “The Holocaust Remembered” Exhibit About 200 people attended the commemoration service, Yom Hashoah, at Beth Shalom on May 1, 2008. We were privileged to experience two previously unheard stories from Survivors, David Miller, as told by his son Dr. Henry Miller, and from Abe Stern as told by a grandson and by his daughter, Donna Magaro. The stories were enhanced by pictures depicting the experiences of both Mr. Miller and Mr. Stern. Both stories were riveting and brought tears to many. Additionally, the children from all Columbia Jewish religious schools participated in the service. Their testimonies and use of yellow roses to signify remembrance was very moving to all attending. Rabbis Hesh Epstein and Daniel Sherman, as well as Dr. Michal Rubin enhanced the service with prayers and chanting. The new Holocaust Prior to the service and immediately following the service, exhibit debuted at participants were able to preview the new “Holocaust Re- Beth Shalom and membered” exhibit, developed by the Columbia Holocaust then moved to the Education Commission, co-chaired by Dr. Lilly Filler and JCC. The exhibit Lyssa Harvey, with consultative assistance from Dr. Seldon highlights South Smith and Steven Terner, and editorial and illustrative assis- Carolina Holocaust tance from Mr. Michael Fey and Mr. Fritz Hamer from the survivors, their sto- SC State Museum. The exhibit highlights SC Survivors and ries and their fami- Liberators with an emphasis on Columbia Survivors and lies. Several gen- Liberators. The exhibit was then moved to the CJCC to be erations of Beth Shalom families are shown throughout the month of May. It will be shown again featured. at the CJCC during the High Holidays. Don’t miss it!! Page 2 We are not sure we All The News From want to grow up! Beth Shalom Religious School Who can believe it is the end of the School year already? The Confirmation Class celebrated by taking a day to see Charleston Jewishly! We hosted the STAR Program and explored how to help the 27 million people who are still in SLAVERY! I wish to thank all the teachers, parents and stu- dents who made this year so very special.