Judy Moseley Executive Director PIKUACH NEFESH
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TEMPLE BETH-EL Congregation Sons of Israel and David Chartered 1854 Summer 2020 Sivan/Tammuz/Av 5780 THE SHOFAR Judy Moseley Executive Director PIKUACH NEFESH PIKUACH NEFESH, the principle of “saving a life,” is Temple Beth-El staff will begin to work in the building on a paramount in our tradition. It overrides all other rules, including rotating basis, and will work from our homes when necessary. We the observance of Shabbat. We have been consulting with some of will continue to be available to you through email and phone. the leading health institutions in our city, and they have been clear We will communicate any changes as appropriate. that one of the most important goals is to help “flatten the curve,” to We will be seek additional ways to build community in creative slow down the spread of the virus through social distancing, ways, taking advantage of technologies available to us, in which we thereby lessening the potential for overburdening our healthcare have invested. Please check your email for programming and systems. Given our tradition’s mandate to save lives above all other updates. mitzvot, the leadership team has made the very difficult decision to When I was younger and sneezed, my grandmother used to say, continue “virtual” services at this time. This is one of those moments “Gesundheit! To your good health.” I never really appreciated the when a community is tested, but can still provide sanctuary — even blessing embedded in that sentiment, but I offer it to all of you as we when we cannot physically be in our spiritual home. navigate a new world in which every sniffle or cough becomes a Shabbat services and other services, including Daily Minyan, will concern. May you and your loved ones be blessed with health. be live-streamed only. IN THIS ISSUE Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman: L'Hitraoat 2 Sisterhood 8 Temple Beth-El Pride Rabbi Sarah Mack 3 In Our Family 9 THE Team Cantor Judy Seplowin 3 Donors 10-16 TEMPLE BETH-EL Presents Worship 4 SHOFAR Anniversaries 17 WHERE PRIDE DWELLS Leslie Yale Gutterman IS DEDICATED Religious School 5 Temple Beth-El Pride 17 BY THE A Conversation with Rabbi Denise Eger Fundraising 6 Plaques & Memorials 18 CHASE FAMILY Brotherhood 7 Leadership 19 FOUNDATION Annual Report 20 1 Cantor Judy Seplowin Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman Rabbi Sarah Mack "TRANSFORMATIONS THE PICTURE WE COME ONLY AS WE GO L’HITRAOAT PAINT TOMORROW THE LONG WAY ROUND" IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER SINCE THE LAST TIME I comfortable Temple. Thank you for everything you have done and SHIMON PERES, former President and Prime Minister of Israel, MY VOCABULARY DURING THE LAST TWO WROTE a Rabbi’s Message for the Shofar. Normally, the passage of a everything you continue to do. was once asked by the paper Ma’ariv about his greatest achievement. MONTHS has increased to include words and phrases like “zoom season – in this case, Spring – means that our lives are moving forward, Finally, I want to express my special thanks to two people who have He responded,” There was a great painter named Mordecai Ardon, who fatigue,” “zoneg” and “zoom mitzvah.” I’m sure the shareholders of filled with anticipation for Purim and Passover, the joyous occasions for made my time at Beth-El so rewarding. First, to Rob Stolzman, who has was asked which picture was the most beautiful he had ever painted. Zoom are thrilled with this outcome. I do admit that technology celebrating our survival and our freedom. It means leaving the frigid New served as Temple President for the past four years. Rob has not only been Ardon replied, ‘The picture I will paint tomorrow.’ That is also my seems to have saved us in many ways. It IS keeping us connected and England winter behind, preparing for the copious rains of April and May, a wonderful friend and confidant, he has also worked tirelessly on behalf answer.” many are, indeed, able to work from home because of the popularity confident that our gardens will soon be flourishing. And as May of Beth-El, always in search of ways to make our Temple community the What picture will we paint tomorrow? No matter what our age or and necessity of working remotely. But the longing for human contact, concludes, we can look forward to the end of the school year, when the very best that it could be. He never measured “very best” because more what we have accomplished, the power of looking forward is pivotal not that private conversation at the oneg and communal singing in a room long, warm days of summer greet our children at camp, while we spend people attended a program or enrolled in a class; we were “very best” only in the Jewish tradition, but to our humanity. To say we are living with my congregants remains strong. A Yiddish Facebook site has unhurried days nourishing our minds and bodies with good books to read because we led with our Reform Jewish values. Rob, thank you for taking through an unprecedented moment is beginning to feel rather like a already coined a new word - “oisgezoomt” - zoomed out! and the rhythms of eternal ocean waves. such pride in your Jewish identity and for caring so much about our hackneyed understatement. The uncertainty is overwhelming. Our We continue to tutor and provide worship experiences and But this is not how the Spring has gone. And it’s certainly not going community. tradition continues to guide us and offer solace in the midst of the programming but it all sure looks and feels different since coronavirus to be the summer we had in mind. So much has happened to us – and to Second, I want to express my gratitude and thanks to Rabbi Les unpredictability. has made our acquaintance. Whatever our differences, this tiny virus our world – since my last Rabbi’s Message. As I write this – in stunned Gutterman, whose presence and wise counsel has meant so much to me. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai also lived in perilous times.The 1st has, in some ways, connected humanity by ignoring economic status, disbelief and sorrow - more than 100,000 of our neighbors have died. Thank you for taking the time to mentor me, for asking the most basic century was marked with uncertainty, fighting between political religion or culture. Recent events in the news would say otherwise, that Many of them have died alone, their families left to grieve without the question, “How are you?” and then listening to my answer. It’s what you factions and war. The Jews were persecuted by the Romans. The future the pandemic has ignited more hatred in our society, exposing the comfort of friends and rituals of mourning that provide context and have done for half a century, and I am just one of the many thousands was uncertain. The Romans had surrounded Jerusalem. It became clear fractured culture of our core. It is challenging to remain hopeful but meaning in times such as these. who have been privileged to have had that experience. Thank you for that the city would fall and The Holy Temple, the spiritual center of we must persevere. As I write this, nearly 40 million Americans have lost their your cherished friendship and guidance. Judaism with it. I am in daily contact with the Temple staff as we plan ahead, I have employment; not only their means of economic survival, but also the These days have also provided blocks of time for reading and study. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai knew the city of Jerusalem would be joined a variety of webinars and professional Facebook pages related to sense of dignity and purpose that work provides. For millions of our Recently, I had the good fortune to read Bari Weiss’s new book, “How to destroyed. He knew that unless someone acted to keep the flame of worship, singing and remaining safe while doing both. I am so grateful neighbors, each day feels like a journey through a dark tunnel, an exercise Fight Anti-Semitism.” Although the book offers much to disagree with, faith alive, Judaism would perish. He came up with a risky plan. Faking to be working alongside Rabbi Mack who has the respect and ear of in fear and anxiety as they struggle to pay their rent and stock their near the end, Weiss offers a particularly uplifting suggestion about how to his own death, he had his disciples smuggle him out of besieged our governor regarding the cautious opening of our houses of worship. pantry. Indeed, it may be years before our social and economic lives fight a scourge that, sadly, never seems to die. Jerusalem in a coffin. They carried him to a powerful Roman General. This past May marked 25 years since my ordination from Hebrew return to a place we might recognize as normal. She reminds us that, even though we have stood with other embattled And, after he emerged from the coffin he engaged in some shrewd Union College. Although the ceremony was canceled in New York last And as I write this, our nation is in the midst of the kind of civic groups in our community, from Muslims to immigrants to the poor (and flattery and political posturing. He asked the General to set aside a month, I will receive an Honorary Doctorate in Music from the unrest that we have not experienced for decades. The destructive and in turn, they have stood by us), we must also be able to draw strength place where he could start a small school to study Torah in peace.