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Csicongregation Sherith Israel SHERITH MAY–AUGUST, 2019 ISRAEL NEWS Is democracy good for the Jews? CSI RECEIVES GRANT TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY PROGRAMMING Sherith Israel will host a year-long series of programs to they were discovered and exposed to modern Jewish practices. explore Judaism’s relationship to democratic values and in- In addition to sharing Judeo-Ugandan music at Shabbat ser- stitutions. The program, entitled “Democracy and Resistance vices, Rabbi Sizomu spoke about the challenging history of Through a Jewish Lens,” is underwritten by the Laszlo N. Tau- the Abayudaya. He highlighted their trials during the regime ber Family Foundation. of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Because Amin attempted to de- Rabbi Jessica Graf, who worked with the Tauber Foundation stroy the tiny Jewish community, including by burning syna- to develop the program, described it as a scholar-in-residence gogues, many Abayudaya converted to Christianity or Islam. series. She sees it as an opportunity to explore Jewish perspec- Those who refused to convert went underground, practicing tives on democracy and democratic values both in the United Judaism in secret. Their children were not allowed to attend States and in other countries. school. With Amin’s fall in 1979, the remnant Abayudaya com- munity emerged and began to grow. The initial speaker, Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, leader of the Aba- yudaya Jewish community of Uganda, addressed the congrega- Rabbi Sizomu currently serves as a representative to Uganda’s tion at Shabbat services on April 12. The Abayudaya adopted parliament. His constituency consists primarily of his Chris- Judaism in the early 20th century when they were approached tian and Moslem neighbors, illustrating the importance for by Christian missionaries. Exposed to both the Hebrew and Jewish communities to maintain strong relationships with oth- Christian Bibles, they decided to follow the original source. er groups. He also noted the necessity of political engagement Having no exposure to rabbinic Judaism as it had developed in as a key to protecting the rights of Jewish and other minorities. post-biblical times, they evolved their own set of practices until Democracy Programming continues, page 4 MARK YOUR CALENDAR! RABBI MARTIN WEINER LECTURE With Rabbi Lawrence Englander Democracy & Resistance Through a Jewish Lens: Israeli Songs of Protest FRIDAY, June 14, 7:30 pm SF Giants Jewish Heritage Night TUESDAY, August 27 INSIDE: A Moment with Rabbi Jessica Graf 2 4 Questions for Rabbi Abby Phelps 3 Behind the Scenes with Gordon Gladstone 5 Incoming CSI president Lindsay Braunig 5 Remembering Rabbi Larry Raphael 6 What’s Happening 8–9 Profile: Rebekah Alessi 10 News Nosh 11 RABBI EMERITUS LARRY RAPHAEL, who served as Sherith Israel’s senior rabbi Tikkun Olam 12 from 2003–16, died on March 17. His contributions to our synagogue community— Passages 13 and to the Reform movement—were many. For an overview, see page 6. Annual Fund Donations 14–15 A MOMENT WITH RABBI JESSICA GRAF 2266 California Street San Francisco, CA 94115 MORAL COURAGE IN ACTION T: 415.346.1720 This March, I completed the American of opportunities for women in Guatema- F: 415.673.9439 Jewish World Service Global Justice lan society. Even with education, job op- Fellowship. AJWS helps the American portunities for women are very limited. www.sherithisrael.org Jewish community respond to global The other group consists of Mayan Member of the Union for poverty, supporting NGOs in many na- Reform Judaism since 1903 midwives working in small communi- tions to address their citizens’ human ties where women have little access to and civil rights. Over the last six months, CLERGY basic healthcare. In addition to provid- Jessica Zimmerman Graf the AJWS fellowship enabled 15 rabbis ing medical care, the midwives serve as Senior Rabbi to study, learn and travel. We explored Abby Phelps social activists. They encourage women the idea of “moral courage”—how ordi- Rabbi Educator to demand basic rights: safety for them- nary people act in extraordinary ways David Frommer selves and their children, clean drinking Cantor despite personal risk. water and sufficient nutrition. EMERITUS CLERGY We first met in New York, which allowed The courageous people we met in Gua- Martin Weiner Rabbi Emeritus us to get to know each other and begin Martin Feldman Cantor Emeritus temala inspired us to think more deeply conversations that guided us throughout about what we can do at home. We were BOARD OF TRUSTEES the fellowship. In January, we spent a reminded that our Jewish values compel OFFICERS week in Guatemala, witnessing inspir- us to engage in the ongoing pursuit of Craig Etlin, President ing moral courage in action. We spoke Lindsay Braunig, Vice President justice. The fellowship’s final gathering with leaders of five NGOs working to Katie Zier, Treasurer took place in Washington, D.C. We met Karen Zelmar, Assistant Treasurer save lives and ensure personal dignity with our congressional representatives Erik Migdail, Secretary for all people. We were privileged to Evan Kletter, Immediate Past President and some government organizations to meet real heroes. TRUSTEES learn how U.S. policies impact people Claire Davis They included lawyers working against throughout the world. Dan Dohan all odds to bring more transparency and Michael Gaines The fellowship had a great impact, chal- justice to Guatemala’s corrupt legal sys- Gale Gottlieb lenging us to reflect on our roles as Jerry Hurwitz tem. We listened to journalists, who risk congregational leaders. Not everyone is Joan Libman their lives daily to report on government Alan Mirviss called upon to exercise the moral cour- abuse and corruption. We heard stories Stacy Passman age we saw in Guatemala, but Judaism Liat Sadler from indigenous farmers whose families teaches us to support the work of those Judie Wexler had been killed during decades of armed Amy Widdowson who have stepped up against injustice. internal conflict. STAFF There is much work to be done to ensure Gordon Gladstone Perhaps most impactful were visits that all people live with dignity and free- Executive Director to two NGOs working to enhance the dom. The challenge can feel overwhelm- Jonathan Dimmock rights of women in Guatemalan soci- ing, but Judaism is wise. The Mishna Music Director ety. One group helps families under- teaches, “the work ahead is great and Nia Taylor stand the importance of educating their you are not obligated to finish it. But nei- Development Manager girls. The group’s leaders were young ther are you free to desist from it.” Natalie Weizman n Youth Program Manager and hopeful—and honest about the lack Rabbi Samantha Kahn Director, Sherith Littles Peter Bonos Program Manager PEOPLE OF THE BOOK Corey Christopher Office Manager “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field . .” — Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:9 SHERITH ISRAEL NEWS David Newman, Ellen Newman, David Perlstein We have a responsibility to help others Plaut points out that the commandment Editors in need. Leviticus commands us to leave does not appeal to a landowner’s gener- Susan Weeks Graphic Design some of our harvest for the poor and the osity; it is not, in effect, optional. “It is David Frommer, David Newman, Ellen Newman, stranger. (The commandment is repeat- perhaps the oldest declaration that dis- Larry Rosenberg, Nancy Sheftel-Gomes ed in Lev. 23:22 and, adding olives and advantaged members of society have a Photographers grapes, in Deut. 24:19ff.) Rabbi Gunther right to support from that society . .” n 2 Questions for RABBI ABBY PHELPS This past school year has been filled with experimentation and evaluation for Studio, Sherith Israel’s new art- and project-centered youth education program, and for Rabbi Phelps, our new rabbi educator. We asked her what our children have learned—and what she learned, too. Q: What’s your take on Studio’s first year? Q: How about our teens? It’s a tricky time in kids’ A: It has gone well. I’ve been delighted to get to know our lives. core of talented, loyal, engaged teachers, and our fantas- A: Yes, and our teen programs are going well. Historically, tic youth programs manager, Natalie Weizman. I’ve also our 7th graders through high schoolers had two main points learned that many families feel like Sherith Israel is their— of engagement: SITY, our teen youth group offering social and their children’s—second home, a great thing to build and service-oriented events, and our madrichim program, on. Our program has grown. Participants tell me they’re enabling teens to assist Studio teachers. Madrichim used enjoying it. We’ll develop more arts- and project-based to spend part of their day learning together, which pulled components for next year. them away from their work as helpers. This year, we profes- sionalized the program. Madrichim always help out in the Q: What creative approaches have you classroom during Studio. And we added Teens @ Studio, introduced? bringing teens together twice monthly on Friday nights or A: I’ve been very focused on Hebrew. Learning a second Sunday afternoons to learn, pray and share a meal. language in one meeting a week is difficult, so we’ve ex- Teens face so much stress, especially with a crazily com- perimented. We’ve taken inspiration from #OnwardHe- petitive college admissions process. We try to create an en- brew, a movement advocating sound-to-print learning— vironment where they can talk about what bothers them how children naturally acquire language. First they hear, and decompress. Next year, they’ll meet only for Friday- then they understand and begin to speak. Only later do night learning/worship/dinner programs that will nour- they read and write. For Studio, this means lots of Hebrew ish them intellectually, spiritually, and socially—and give in t’filah and singing; relating Hebrew words to physical them more Sunday time to themselves.
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