SPECIAL DIGITAL EDITION JUNE/JULY 2020 | Sivan/Tamuz/Av 5780 | Vol. 46 No. 8 STAFF MEETING CONNECT WITH CLERGY SHABBAT SERVICES Bringing Temple CANTOR IN THE KITCH YOGA EMANU-EL HAVDALAH for FAMILies with YOUNG CHIILDREN 5 10 24 LGBTQ A BLESSING HUMMUS HEROES FOR GRADS THE MOVIE SPIRITUAL It’s Going to Be Okay “WE SHOULD TAKE PICTURES OF ALL THESE Educator, I am certainly qualified. Yes, my and create an album to share,” my husband children will be just fine. I can even throw in commented as we gingerly sidestepped more Jewish values, teach them chesed, kindness, and sidewalk chalk art during our daily walk around hakarat hatov, gratitude. They will learn and grow, the neighborhood. not missing a beat, and return to school star pupils who are ready to skip two grades and join “Yeah, it’s inspirational.” I agreed distractedly. the honors program. I chuckled to myself and At that moment, it was hard to think about the took a deep breath, drinking in the fresh air. scribblings of children on the sidewalk. I had just received the first set of emails, calls, texts, And then I started thinking logistics. Where and posts from my children’s teachers, and was will each kid work? With which device? When CLERGY mentally cataloguing the overwhelming amount will I teach them how to click a mouse, navigate MESSAGE of tasks that needed to be accomplished. With two web pages, and find words in the dictionary? parents working full-time from home, two dogs While they are showering? While I’m making Rabbi Amy Ross who bark when the wind blows, spotty internet breakfast? The days are so full already and the struggling to hang on through Zoom meetings, thought of adding one more thing (and no small Microsoft Teams calls, YouTube Kids videos and thing!) brought me right back to stressed and FaceTime with family and friends, the thought overwhelmed. I sighed and looked down at the of adding school to the mix almost broke me. sidewalk. And yet, isn’t the education and growth of my children the absolute most important thing on IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY. which to focus? In bright, full, rainbow-colored, childlike letters I tried giving myself a pep talk. How hard were those words, “it’s going to be okay.” I could this be? The teachers send lessons and I stopped in my tracks. “You’re right,” I said to my implement them. I can read. I can add, subtract, husband. “We have to document this.” I took out spell, and recount historical events. As a Rabbi my phone and snapped a picture. That night after I put the kids to bed, cleaned the kitchen, and started the dishwasher for the millionth time that week, I began to look in earnest at my kids’ school assignments. They were just finishing a two-week spring break and this was not going to be an easy transition. My rule-following eight-year-old who thrives on structure would be working at home without her teacher and clear instructions. My six-year-old knows something big is happening — people are getting sick and we have to stay home save walking the dogs — but doesn’t have any concrete understanding of the pandemic. She needs her parents’ attention and extra snuggles, not reading and spelling practice. How could I support my kids’ needs, and get them through homeschool while working full time and keeping house, much less help them grow into mensches, Jewish adults who are smart, resilient, and savvy? continued on page 9 2 The Window | JUNE/JULY 2020 SPECIAL ISSUE FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, elcome to a special digital Wedition of The Window. Our last print issue was mailed to members in April, just as the country was moving to a shelter- at-home mode. Temple staff did continue to work full-time from home but our printers were closed, so we made the difficult decision to cancel the May issue. We certainly missed not being able to provide our members with our monthly dose of stories and happenings. VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN JUNE/JULY So while Temple is still not open at 8500 Hillcrest, we didn’t want further delay in sharing some of Celebrating Pride the stories that have made these 5 Temple members last few months both challenging look at some of their and deeply rewarding for us and LGBTQ heroes others, as you’ll read in the pages of this issue. The health and well-being of all In Times Of Need From The Archives members, staff and community is our top priority. Temple leadership 6 Members unite to help 12 A Look Back at is carefully monitoring the public each other during this Temple’s Sanctuary, 1957 pandemic safety crisis, and will follow best practices as advised by medical and public health officials and Why I Give Each spiritual leaders. Regardless of the Connecting with 16 Year to Temple timing of our re-opening, we do 9 Temple When it Was hope to produce a printed August Really Needed issue of The Window, and get it Thank You! delivered so you’ll know all the 18 ECEC Parents Show exciting programs and learnng opportunities we have scheduled Some Love Dear Graduating for Fall. 10 Class of 2020 A special message In the meantime, enjoy this digital from clergy Clergy Message 2 issue and continue to connect with Our Community 4 Temple through our Facebook Shabbat Guide 8 page, and Weekly newsletters. Behind the Scenes 20 YL+E Memories Be well, friends. 11 Recalling memories News Briefs 23 from an eventful and House Meetings 24 SCOT HART [email protected] cherished year Books 26 JUNE/JULY 2020 | The Window 3 TEMPLE EMANU-EL OUR COMMUNITY NEW MEMBERS Billy, Toni, Sienna, Sophie & Hudson Breindel Graham Coombs Kendyl Drayer & Joel Brady Richard, Devan, Oliver & Greyson Ellman Andrew Goodman, Anna Miller- Goodman & Aubrey Goodman Grant & Kelli Goza Donna Harris Pat & Myron Kanis IN MEMORIAM Bobbie Krull Richard Berger Donald Gross Larry Presby Father of Scott Berger Father of Geoff Gross Nick Nestelbaum Cecille Price Karen Blumenthal Khava Gutman Sister of Louis “Buddy” Gilbert Ernest Richards Wife of Scott McCartney Mother of Vladimir Gutman Dr. Thurman Ray Shannon & Zane Robinson Mother of Abby McCartney and Jennifer McCartney Norman Kaplan Husband of Eileen Ray Ted & Mindy Tobolowsky Daughter of Beverly Blumenthal Father of Marcia Kaplan, Cynthia Reynolds, Carolyn Father of Phyllis Cox Sister of Brad Blumenthal Seth & Beth Weinstein, Jett Taverniti Kaplan and Diane Orley Rabbi Kenneth D. Roseman Melvin Calderon Stepfather of Michael Hudson and Daniel Hudson Father of Michael Roseman Husband of Sharon Calderon Martin Korn Stuart Schneider Father of Jackie Freedman and Adam Calderon Husband of Linda Korn Brother of Rhoda Moses Father of Karen Cheniae BABY NAMINGS Arthur Lipschitz Jonathan Shalom Maurice Carter, MD Father of our member Warren Lipschitz Father of member Adam Carter Son of Rosalie Taubman Griffin Reeves Avnery Sylvia Rabin Lynn Brother of Kaaren Shalom Son of Meagan & Dan Avnery Esther Chavenson Mother of Judy Ratner Mother of David Chavenson Wendy Stacey Grayson Charlie Grimm Myra Malacara Mother of Grant Herlitz Son of Krystle & Joseph Grimm Jim Darden Mother of Stephanie Fine Brother of Liz Darden Berger John Lewis Umholtz Clara James Maten Jerome “Jerry” Oppenheimer Father of Lisa Umholtz Daughter of Jennifer Mason & Andrew Maten Sally Cutter Friedman Father of Janet Elkin Stepmother of David Friedman Dina Vinokur Grant Everett Parley Judson C. Phillips Mother of Edward Feynberg Son of Ryan & Jesse Parley Marilyn Glick Son of Marjorie Cowin Mother of Craig Glick Sonia Washofsky Cameran Nicole Santee Husband of OriAnn Phillips Mother of Rabbi Mark Washofsky Daughter of Stefani & Hollis Santee Thomas Gifford Glover, III Father of Micall Sandler, Kace Phillips and Father of Clemence Dunn Brandon Phillips Edward Weiner Emma Stagnaro-Cohen & Father of Steven Weiner Adam Stagnaro-Cohen Scott Goodman Donald Potash Daughter and son of Laura & Max Son of Pat & Bennett Goodman Father of Michael Potash Stagnaro-Cohen Brother of Craig Goodman and Candace Lipp Brother of Rosie Stromberg Aaron Zuckerman Marvin Greenberg Alyse “Lee” Presby Son of Sophie & Eric Zuckerman Father of Barry Greenberg Mother of Ellen Presby, Mindy Tulbert and LET US KNOW Temple clergy and staff are available to support members of our community dealing with mental and physical health issues. Please reach out to us if you or a friend or family member is dealing with depression, addiction, grief, cancer, chronic conditions, infertility, mobility issues, housing transition, job loss or other conditions. Please click here for a list of Mental Well-Being Resources. NO BARRIERS Finances should never be a barrier to participation in Temple life. Confidential financial assistance is available for most Temple events, tuition and dues. To join our community in caring or let us know if you are in need of help, please contact Meredith Pryzant, Director of Member Support, at [email protected] or 214.706.0000 ext. 122. 4 The Window | JUNE/JULY 2020 SPECIAL ISSUE Honoring with Pride Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ Jews and our families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity. This year, the national organization has named six individuals as LGBTQ Jewish Heroes. A fierce advocate for youth RABBI DANYA RUTTENBERG HARVEY MILK and “gender outlaws,” Kate Bornstein is a Jewish transgender author, Temple LGBTQ Leaders Name Their Picks playwright, performance artist and gender theorist. ONE OF MY JEWISH LGBTQ heroes is WHEN I THINK ABOUT LGBTQ Jewish heroes, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg. I discovered several come to mind. In today’s moment of Koach Baruch Frazier is her relatively recently on Twitter, where polarization and identity politics, it has become an audiologist, musician, she commands more than easy for me to “pick a side” co-convener of the Tzedek 103,000 followers.