Kehillat Israel Welcomes… and Wonderful When Lived in Community
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SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER 2014 | ELUL-KISLEV 5775 Volume 64 | Issue 1 our community kiKEHILLAT ISRAELquarterly RECONSTRUCTIONIST CONGREGATION OF PACIFIC PALISADES conversation The Family You Choose BY RABBI AMY BERNSTEIN Sitting around a table in because the question took me to a place to which I rarely go – to Jerusalem with several the plane of ultimate meaning and to a different set of criteria close friends, I felt that by which we judge the value of things when it comes to the rare ease that comes great arc of this one precious lifetime we’re given. I realized how from being with family. lovingly jarring the question was and how difficult it was to make All of my life, family that shift to an assessment of self and circumstance because of has been defined by how infrequently I really ask that question of myself. I smiled and choice. As a child of teared up as I took a deep breath and started feeling my way adoption, growing up far around a long answer. A large part of me waited eagerly to hear away from my parents’ what I would say… . families, going to college and graduate school, We are coming to the time of year when our tradition provides moving for my first us the opportunity and permission to ask these questions of pulpit, and even having ourselves and each other. To do this in any genuine way means my own child by donor creating generous servings of time to allow and encourage insemination, the closest the people we love to feel their way to a long answer. What I relationships I have was reminded of by being with my friends in Israel is that the known have been ones relationships of choice that define our real family are often ones of choice. Sometimes we only engage with every few years. I chose, sometimes they did, and sometimes it was mutual. Relaxing in the warm company of my friends while rockets As we busy ourselves with the preparations for another year, let threatened and sirens wailed, I realized how grateful I am for us take the time to reach out to the people who help us define relationships that span decades and sprawl out over my changing our best selves and core values, our highest aspirations, and our landscape of time. Details of my daily life, locale, and concerns deepest concerns. Let us reach out over the clamor of emails, change and often I feel defined by them. Sitting with my friends texts, Facebook messages, and to-do and project lists to make in Israel, I was calmed and brought home by their concern for the contact with the people who hold our truest selves for us to larger questions of my life that I seldom focus on. revisit. If we are very very lucky, some of these people will be our family of origin. If we are blessed, many will be family we have After asking about my new home, new job, new interests and loved into being. If we are to truly begin anew at this season circumstances, one friend asked, “And are you happy?” Everyone we will find the time and the courage to ask and answer the was still and attentive waiting for the answer. I blinked a few questions which only family can call us into. The hope of the new times trying to take in the question. They sat quietly, all beaming year is that our family of choice still waits for us to find them. patience and love and genuine interest. It took me time to answer from the prayer president BY MICHAEL LUREY shabbat Talk about a year of transition and growth. Pause with me to look back at a wonderful year in the life of our Congregation and the challenging and exciting year to come. TOUCHOFTORAH September 6 | Ki Tetzey (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19) October 4 | Yom Kippur November 1 | Leh Leha (Genesis 12:1-17:27) First and foremost, I want to welcome Rabbi Bernstein in her new capacity as our Senior Rabbi. We We read in this week’s portion that in the Torah even going On our holiest day of the year we read once again the This week we meet Abraham and Sarah, the father and to war demands that we act ethically. We are to treat all portion called “Netzavim” that we read two weeks ago – mother of the Jewish people. Abraham believes that his have been fortunate for Rabbi Bernstein to serve as our Associate Rabbi for the past four years, since we discovered her (as she people with dignity and respect for their humanity, protect it calls all of us to experience our own lives as connected destiny is to leave the past behind and create a society describes it) as the only rabbi within three hours of Duluth, Minnesota. As lovely as Duluth is, I think Rabbi Bernstein has not the environment and trees that bear fruit and go out of our to all the Jewish people as part of an ancient family based on spiritual and ethical laws. God tells him that second guessed her decision to join our Congregation. I look forward to continuing to work closely with her in her capacities way to help animals, even if they belong to our enemies. that stretches back thousands of years. As we see their his main task in life is for him (and his descendents) to How might you contribute to a more ethical attitude about history as our history, their struggles as our struggles, their become blessings in the world. This week you might think as our spiritual leader and as the captain of our ship. I hope you’ve had the opportunity during the past year to visit with Rabbi the strangers in our midst this week? triumphs as our triumphs, we realize what it truly means of three ways that you can bring more blessings into your Bernstein at one of the informal salons that congregants have hosted. We plan to hold more of these social gatherings in the to be part of something larger than ourselves and to join world. September 13 | Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8) our destiny to that of a holy people, searching to bring that coming year. Please contact Wendy Felson at [email protected] if you would like to host or attend one. In this week’s portion, we find this interesting same holiness into our everyday lives. November | 8 Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24) commandment: “You shall rejoice in all the good which We read in this week’s portion about the births of Isaac We also welcome our new Assistant Rabbi, Nick Renner, who joined our clergy team as of August 1st. Rabbi Renner and his wife, Adonai your God has given you.” (Deut. 26:11). When the October 11 | Sukkot (Exodus Chapter 33) and Ishmael. These two sons of Abraham go on to father skeptic asked if this means we only have to be grateful The traditional Torah reading for Shabbat of Sukkot both the Jews and Arabs. Perhaps this week is a good time Kimmy, are great additions to our KI family. Our search committee was delighted to find the perfect rabbi for our Congregation. when good things happen to us, the rabbi answered that contains the attributes of God which we are to emulate in to think about two ways that prejudice and fear have kept A graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia, Rabbi Renner is a perfect complement to Rabbi Bernstein just to live is a blessing, so every single day is the right our own lives and the commandments to keep the festival us and the Arabs from creating peace. You might come and the world’s best Cantor, Chayim Frenkel, who continues to serve KI as our Hazzan, musical leader, and head of our B’nai time to “rejoice in all the good” which God has given of Sukkot for a week. Each day this week think about up with two things that you can do to further the process us – that’s the fundamental blessing of life itself. Think of one divine attribute you desire to manifest in your life – of reconciliation between Arabs and Jews this week, Mitzvah program. Please welcome Kimmy and Rabbi Renner to our community. If you would like to host a salon in your home for three things every day that are worthy of your gratitude compassion, justice, caring, love, patience, commitment, whether by writing a letter, supporting a cause, engaging Rabbi Renner, please be in touch with Loren Kaplan at [email protected]. this week. responsibility. in a dialogue or studying the facts about the history of the Middle East. September 20 | Selihot - Nitzavim-Vayeleh October 18 | Bereyshit (Genesis 1:1-6:8) As Rabbi Reuben threatened to do all of last year, he retired from his position as Senior Rabbi last June. He will continue to (Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30) We begin the Torah anew with the story of creation. November 15 | Hayey Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18) participate as a spiritual partner to our Congregation as our Rabbi Emeritus. I look forward to working with Rabbi Reuben during Sometimes we feel disconnected to Jewish traditions or Judaism teaches that God renews the act of creation This week we read of the death of Sarah, the marriage of the coming year, and to visiting him in his new office in the Emeritus Rabbi Wing of our Building, which we dedicated to him and rituals or ancient sacred texts, especially when we aren’t every day.