Sunday, December 10, 5:00 P.M
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The Shofar December, 2017 Congregation House of Israel 13 Kislev - 13 Tevet, 5778 Sunday, December 10, 5:00 p.m. Burgauer Hall $10.00 per adult CHI Member and Guests Children and Guest Children of Members 18 and under FREE Non-members - $20.00 per adult Non-member children $10.00 per child Please plan on joining us for our annual Hanukkah If you are bringing guests please include payment for Party. We will begin with entertainment from our them in your check and pay the congregation price. religious school and then move on to Chicken, Salad and Latkes for dinner with dessert to follow. This year We need an accurate count so we can provide the Sisterhood is taking care of providing the meal so proper amount of food so please have you check in by please just show up and enjoy yourselves. Please send Friday, December 1. Your check is your reservation. your checks made out to Sisterhood to: Ruth Sedler 152 Blue Heron Drive Hot Springs AR 71913 The Shofar Thank You Published monthly by: Congregation House of Israel We would like to thank the following donors for PO Box 20802 their contributions (as of November 20, 2017) 300 Quapaw Hot Springs, AR 71903 General Fund Donations in loving memory of Stuart Klompus (501) 623-5821 Barbara Morgan Betty and Louis Kleinman Website: http://hschi.org Brian and Torie Waxler Carla and Joe Mouton Editor: Shelly Kleinman Carli Waxler Baker and Chris Baker Webmaster: Shelly Kleinman Carol and Shelly Kleinman Charlie and Linda Padgham Editorial Assistance: Anita Williams Diana and Les Surfas Email to: [email protected] Hal and Sue Koppel Submissions due the 15th of the prior Harriett and Imy Marcus month. Distributed free to members, Jenny Wallace prospective members, local clergy and other Jerry Tanenbaum interested parties. Julie and Chuck Jerrell Karen, Nir and Zohar Lavi Kenneth and Annette Baim Karen Holcomb Kermit and Mary Ann Tucker In honor of the B’nai Mitzvah of Tillie and Louis Reagler Kim and Yossi Baron Larry and Peggy Stanley Carol and Shelly Kleinman Laura and Stu Rubens In loving memory of Alyce Brand, sister of Carol Marilyn and Harvey Lebson Kleinman Michael and Sharon Waxler In honor of Karen Baim Reagler and Sherrill Ross and Ruth Sedler Nicolosi receiving of the Tikun Olam Reward Steven and Clarissa Kirsch Stuart and Kay Fleischner In loving memory of Lila Chapin, mother of Sue and Arnold Kohn Rabbi Richard Chapin Thea and Bob Mathis Louis and Betty Kleinman Vincent and Lee Opromolla In loving memory of Lila Chapin, mother of Wayne and Helen Ball Rabbi Richard Chapin Sharon Waxler Kim and Yossi Baron In loving memory of Ada Litwack In loving memory of Lila Chapin, mother of Rabbi Richard Chapin Gary L. Brown In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Cooper Jack Bull Ruth and Ross Sedler In loving memory of Rosalind Goltz Hudson In loving memory of Lila Chapin, mother of Rabbi Richard Chapin Barbara Morgan In loving memory of Bob “Sody” Arnold, Steven and Clarissa Kirsch husband of Lori Arnold In loving memory of Mark Spitzer Dennis and Anita Williams In loving memory of Leland H. Williams, father of Dennis Williams Building Fund In loving memory of Joyce B. Boswell, mother of Dennis and Anita Williams Anita Williams For work on the sanctuary The Shofar Page 2 Page PB The Whole Megillah The Shofar Page 3 Page PB overseeing 30 Israelis between the ages of 19-25, who were general counselors and specialists. I was ARZA - World Union also in charge of Israeli programming at camp. A big difference for me between the two summers My Open Heart is Leading Me was that last summer I was getting to know the on an Unending Journey Reform Movement as a stranger. This summer, I returned as someone who had made a conscious By Ella Steiner decision to be there as a Reform Jew. I could teach and focus the sh’lichim on Reform Judaism, just as I needed that focus a year ago, all of which made I began by looking for a place to study Judaism. I me realize that I had found a true home in the knew I wanted to do it my way – in an environment Reform Movement. that wouldn’t intimidate me, but would challenge me by allowing me to grow as I figured out my place During 2017, I worked with rabbis and educators in the Jewish world. Having been raised as a secular who opened my mind and showed me how many Israeli, I had, after my army duty, experienced good people we have in the Reform Movement, briefly the National Orthodox movement through people with vision who are doing amazing work, one a boyfriend who was deeply involved in that world. more awe-inspiring than the next. I watched as the This experience helped me begin my religious new sh’lichim went through a process like the one I journey. Then, I went to OSRUI and discovered went through the summer before – arriving at camp Reform Judaism – yet another way to be Jewish. with antagonism and disrespect toward religion and I found something of interest in each of these ending up at a place of respect and engagement. three directions, but I also had a lot of questions. I realized, that no matter where I turned, I would Now, I am beginning my studies at Hebrew find someone who would show me Judaism through University, and I am curious to see where this their eyes. I needed to find a Judaism that I could path will lead me. But I am not leaving the see with my own eyes. world of sh’lichut; I will continue working at the Jewish Agency, winnowing out a new cohort of sh’lichim for next summer. So, I looked for a place to study Judaism in the most neutral manner, ending up at Ein Prat, an As I do this work, I continually ask myself Israeli midrasha (institute for study) for secular numerous questions: How can we leverage and religious Jews, with men and women studying the amazing reality that hundreds of Judaism in a pluralistic fashion. I was surprised to other sh’lichim and I are exposed to in North find among the other students many with a similar America each year and return it to Israel? experience – sh’lichim (emissaries) from a variety How can we build on the tremendous passion of American summer camps who returned to Israel of sh’lichim who experience summer camp in North also searching for a way to maintain the process America and then return to Israel? How can we that they began in America. There, I recognized my raise up this energy instead of letting it fade? How desire to be a sh’licha, like a reflex. For instance, can we maintain the activism and enthusiasm we someone who became one of my closest friends had at summer camp so that all of us can be part of grew up in Efrat as an Orthodox Jew, but after a vibrant Reform Jewish future in Israel? learning about the Reform experience from me, she became intrigued and today worships at a Reform congregation in Jerusalem. Along with There is a Hebrew saying I learned during my first another sh’liach, who was in a Reform camp in year at camp and now is always in my heart: “Let Boston, I sang Birkat HaMazon, the blessing after my feet lead me to the place that my heart loves. meals, to the non-Reform Jews among us, which Open my heart to love the place that my feet go.” led to fascinating conversations about what we This is the journey I am on, an unexpected one for discovered in Reform Judaism. Suddenly, Israelis sure, but I can’t wait to see where my open heart who grew up without knowing anything about leads me. Reform Judaism were intrigued. This past summer, I returned to OSRUI as rosh mishlachat, the head of the Israeli delegation, Page 4 The Shofar Page PB Reform Leader Beaten at Life and Legacy Plan Western Wall The sky was cloudless when the group gathered in Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is a the Old City of Jerusalem on Thursday morning to celebration of devotion, determination, celebrate the ordination of four new Reform rabbis. bravery, and miracles. The story of the But when they tried to enter the Western Wall rededication of the Holy Temple, and the complex, security guards physically accosted them, military victories of Judah and the Macabees, attempting to keep them from bringing Torahs onto remind us each year that the legacy of Jews the main plaza. lives on, generation after generation. In the ensuing chaos, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president The Life and Legacy Plan is a partnership of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish among CHI, JFAR, and the Harold Grinspoon denomination in the United States, was nearly Foundation, whose purpose is to promote and maced. Another rabbi was thrown to the ground. A ensure the great legacies of the Jewish people student of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute will continue. L & L is asking congregants of Religion was struck in the head and required and friends of the Congregation to support the medical attention. plan to “ensure Jewish tomorrows.” The episode was the latest clash among security This is done by signing a “Letter of Intent”- guards, ultra-Orthodox men and non-Orthodox a pledge- to make a future, after-life groups at Judaism’s holiest site. The rabbinic commitment to include CHI (and/or our other authority that controls the Western Wall gives Central Arkansas Jewish Congregations and out Torahs to visiting groups that follow its organizations) as a beneficiary in your Will, rules, like not letting women touch the scrolls.