JANUARY 2021 • TEVET/SHEVAT 5781 • Volume 63, No
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JANUARY 2021 • TEVET/SHEVAT 5781 • Volume 63, No. 1 MESSENGER FUNDED BY THE PAUL AND LOIS KATZMAN ENDOWMENT Happy & Healthy to all of our Temple Families While we can’t be with you in person, we are thrilled to share opportunities for us to gather virtually on Facebook Live, YouTube and our streaming page! Learn, pray, chat and sing with us. We are here with you. For the latest times and locations: temple-israel.org/virtual 1 January 2021 • Tevet/Shevat 5781 Temple Israel A MESSAGE FROM RABBI HAROLD LOSS OUR COMMON DESTINY Three weeks ago, with Susan holding the camera, I signed the final version of the Declaration of our Common Destiny. This was not the plan. The plan had been to gather in Jerusalem with Rabbis, scholars and leaders from every continent to present the final document to Reuven Rivlin, the President of Israel, as we had the initial draft in September 2019. We could not have envisioned how different and challenging things would be today, how changed our world would be. We were not able to be present in Jerusalem for the presentation. However, during the month of December a sound and light show was projected onto Jerusalem’s old city walls featuring video clips of Jews from every corner of the globe signing the declaration. This is the reason Susan made a video of my signing. While I was not able to participate as I expected, myself and my colleagues were symbolically present. Our initial meeting in Jerusalem to discuss the draft document was remarkable. I had never before participated in a conference with colleagues whose backgrounds were so diverse. I spent time with a leading Orthodox Rabbi from the West Bank who had never met a Reform Rabbi. Secular and Religious Jews of every denomination gathered with the goal of creating a meaningful document defining our shared Jewish values. We spoke about what unites and connects us, not what divides us. Sandy Cardin who served as CEO of this project wrote: “Our goal was admittedly audacious: to unite the Jewish people worldwide as never before, at a time of deepening division and separation, even as rising antisemitism threatened us all.” The draft was prepared and crowdsourced around the world. Five Core Values were established: SECURITY AND WELL-BEING MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CONNECTION STRENGTHENING JEWISH IDENTITY LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS WORLD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT 2 January 2021 • Tevet/Shevat 5781 Temple Israel Take a moment and go to ourcommondestiny.org and read the complete document. Take a moment and participate in the ongoing crowdsourcing. More than 90 different Jewish organizations are supporting this initiative. Sandy Cardin, speaking prior to the final presentation in Jerusalem, noted that this message is especially urgent this year because of the ravages of covid-19. “We could not have known that our message of togetherness, mutual responsibility and strength would be even more relevant now than when we started. We knew our mission was meaningful, but it became magnified many times over when the pandemic struck. We were quickly reminded how fragile we are and how far apart we can be driven. The declaration reminds us how crucial it is to remain strong and united in normal as well as difficult times, to never forget about all that we share as a people and to work together to forge our common destiny.” Two weeks ago, Susan and I were supposed to be boarding a plane to Israel where we were to have been joined by all of our children and grandchildren for a long-anticipated family mission. It was to have been the first visit for all of our grandchildren, and we have waited a lifetime to share this experience with them. This too did not proceed according to plan. Like so many simchas and moments in 2020, including the presentation of a formal document to the President of Israel, this has been put on hold. But with hope in our hearts, we recall the prayer our people have repeated for thousands of years “Next year in Jerusalem”. This year we have felt enslaved by the ravages of this pandemic. Next year may we all be healthy and free. 3 January 2021 • Tevet/Shevat 5781 Temple Israel NEW PROGRAM BEGINNING JANUARY 8TH ORDER BY 1/5 FRESH FISH DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR DOORSTEP! We have partnered with Motor City Seafood to deliver a wonderful fresh fish box to your home every Friday! Choose a specially crafted box here: www.temple-israel.org/fishing (included with each box are recommended recipes from our very own Heirloom Catering & Event chefs + great tips to make your own restaurant quality fresh fish dinner). FRIDAYS ONLY - free no contact front door delivery (all boxes are delivered to your door packed in ice between 10am - 4pm). Ordering closes at noon the Tuesday prior to delivery. Questions? Contact Stephanie Brovenick at [email protected] SAME GREAT PROGRAM CHECK OUT OUR MENU AND ORDER HERE: WITH A NEW www.temple-israel.org/takeout MENU EVERY WEEK! 4 January 2021 • Tevet/Shevat 5781 Temple Israel IN-REVIEW: LIGHT EACH NIGHT In Review - Light Each Night Chanukah Programming: From trivia and tours, to concerts, cooking, and community giving, we thank you for joining us and sharing your light this Chanukah! Special thank you to the Laker family for sponsoring the Laker Concert featuring Shiri Maimon in loving memory of Sarah & Harry Laker. 5 January 2021 • Tevet/Shevat 5781 Temple Israel RELIGIOUS SERVICES & EVENTS VIRTUAL SERVICES AND EVENTS: Help us connect with you! Now more than ever, we want to stay engaged. Please log into your Temple Israel account at www. temple-israel.org, review your contact information and make sure we have separate email addresses and cell phone numbers for all adults on your account. KABBALAT SHABBAT Fridays • 7 pm Join us online Friday evening for a virtual Kabbalat Shabbat service. Watch on Facebook, YouTube or on our streaming page. temple-israel.org/virtual VIRTUAL MINYAN Sundays • 9 am Join us on Facebook Live for weekly Sunday Minyan. Follow along with the Minyan Prayer Book: temple-israel.org/MinyanBook TALMUD & TASTINGS Tuesday, January 12 • 7 pm Join us for a virtual series that combines unique tastings with insights from Temple’s brilliant rabbis. Hosted virtually from a different home each month, we will enjoy an evening of sampling delicious new tastes and digesting delightful Torah teachings. Details and registration info here: www.temple-israel.org/TalmudTastings ROSH CHODESH Thursday, January 14 • 7 pm Celebrate the new moon and a new month! This women’s spirituality group gathers monthly to discuss important issues of religious and current events. Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Register here: www.temple-israel.org/roshchodesh 6 January 2021 • Tevet/Shevat 5781 Temple Israel NEED TO READ & MEET THE AUTHORS! Thursday, January 14 • 8 pm Join us for our new author series hosted by Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny. The first author in our incredible line-up is award-winning writing professor, Susan Shapiro, who will discuss her new memoir The Forgiveness Tour: How to Find the Perfect Apology. You do not need to have read the book to participate. Registration is required. All are welcome! For more information and to register: www.temple-israel.org/needtoread NEW MEMBER CONNECTION MEETING Thursday, January 21 • 7 pm Attention new members: We are thrilled you have chosen Temple Israel as your spiritual home and enjoyed visiting with you on Zoom a month back for our first of two introductory gatherings! Please join our leadership and clergy for our second meeting to get more acquainted and help jump start your journey NEW MEMBER C to building meaningful, spiritual and lifelong O N N O relationships. Registration required. Register here: N E C T I www.temple-israel.org/form/nm SUSAN & RABBI HAROLD LOSS ECC VIRTUAL KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE Tuesday, January 26 • 7 pm via Zoom Learn why our exceptional Kindergarten is the perfect fit for your child. For prospective families with children beginning Kindergarten for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. RSVP to the ECC office for the zoom information: 248-661-5750. 7 January 2021 • Tevet/Shevat 5781 Temple Israel , the Susan & Rabbi Harold LossSharon Early Childhood Anders Center’s senior administrative assistant, retired on December 18, 2020. Sharon was an invaluable part of the Early Childhood program. She worked in the ECC for 27 years and has held numerous positions. She is truly a jack-of-all-trades. Some of the highlights were teaching our youngest children in Baby Bunch, planning and executing all of the incredible and creative family programs, being Manager on Duty for Temple’s big events, and planning sensational Camp Shemesh summers. If you have ever had the honor of attending a class with Sharon, you know that her energy, passion and love of children is evident in every activity, song choice and puppet. If you’ve attended an event when Sharon was Manager on Duty, her keen eye ensured that everything happened without a problem. She made sure everyone’s special day was perfect. If you were lucky enough to attend a family program that Sharon helped execute, you were dazzled with thoughtful, and often handmade giveaways. The corsages she made for the Daddy/Daughter dances were always a fan favorite. Every program that Sharon was involved in was carefully planned to give each participant a complete experience from start to finish. Sharon’s creativity and eye for detail has touched the lives of hundreds of children and their families. Sharon is looking forward to spending time with her husband, daughters, and two (soon to be three) grandchildren.