Rabbi's Remarks
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Jun-Aug 2018 Sivan/Elul • Volume 300 • URJ Affiliated Rabbi’s Remarks: agogue in the lives of our members. live by bread alone.” We need more Our temple should be a conduit of than simple sustenance. We need mitzvot, encouraging our mem- purpose. bers to fulfill the obligations of the We need our Temple Emanu- Torah. Many times in the Torah we El, as a touchstone in our lives. We are commanded to share a portion find happiness on the tennis courts, of our harvest, and also to reserve and the farmer’s market, and in a corner of our fields for those in season tickets to the theater. But need. But, today, here in Sarasota, we also need something more, and we are not farmers, and we have no this the temple provides. It gives us fields. So we find a new way to ful- a connection to our ancient heri- fill our duty, by collecting food on tage, to our people, and to our God. our most sacred day. And we did it One does not live by bread alone. really, really well. It was the biggest Is it irony, or is it just fitting? collection of the year. Somehow, by sharing food with This speaks to the place of those in need, we ourselves find the temple in our lives. We are so sustenance. blessed to live in this Eden we call Sarasota. We have a beautiful bay, P.S.—I am happy to share that I and exotic birds, and glorious arts. will be spending part of my sab- Our life is rich. We have everything batical this summer working for Sustenance a person needs to sustain a happy Leket, Israel’s food bank, helping life. them provide nutritious food for When our temple received an But we learn in the Torah that hungry people throughout Israel. award last month from All Faiths there is more to life than these Thank you for sponsoring me in Food Bank, it struck me in a deep tangible treasures. In Deuteronomy this sacred work! and personal way. All Faiths had 8:3, we are taught: “One does not recognized us for having the larg- est food drive in Sarasota in 2017. Of all the organizations and all the INSIDE: TEE Families Celebrate Israel’s 70th 11 collections throughout the county, Kudos Korner. 2 Mitzvah Day Photo Gallery. 12-13 Brotherhood. 4 An Enchanted Evening. 14 none brought in more food than TEERS Masterful Educator . 5 Annual Meeting/Volunteer Brunch. 15 our High Holiday food drive. Our TEE to Install New Officers/Board. 5 Early Learning ................. 16 members arrived with bag after TEE and Rabbi Shefrin’s Renewal . .6 “family Tree Tot Shabbat” . 17 bag, and our teens unloaded cars, Adult Education Update. 7 Israel Corner. 18 and our social hall teemed with Logan Rosenberg Bar Mitzvah. 8 STEEMY Photo Gallery. 19 overloaded crates. The Ancient Temple in Jerusalem. 9 Cornerstone Society Membership . 20 It makes a rabbi proud. It What’s Better Than Shabbat Alive!? All Faiths Food Bank Award . 20 strikes at the very purpose of a syn- the more recent Starfish Initiative, un- Lance Sussman to the temple. He spoke PRESIDENT’SPRESIDENT’S der the Chairmanship of Tanice Knopp. about Theodore Roosevelt and the Jews KORNER KORNER Temple volunteers take the temple mis- on Friday night and on Saturday walked sion exhortation to perform Tikum Olam us through the history of the Jewish Deli. seriously. Both presentations were well received. The brainchild of Larry and Wendy According to Ellen, the dedicated Adult Barnet, together with Tanice Knopp Education Committee has mounted and Ken Marsh, the Starfish Initia- rich and varied programs that have KUDOS KUDOS tive matched 70 temple volunteers who reached so many different people with so tutor as many as 85 students once a week many different interests in the congrega- at five kindergarten classrooms at Wilkin- tion. Janet is proud of that the Committee son Elementary School. In addition, 17 has created many stimulating programs temple members serve as Book Buddies which congregants choose to attend. As for students. Alvan Morris volunteers a retired foreign language educator, col- Kudos Korner: In on both the Social Action Committee lege professor andschool administrator, Praise of the Temple and in the Starfish Initiative. Despite she has especially enjoyed “organizing living with a challenging health condition, Hebrew Language, conversation and Yid- Emanu-El Membershp Alvan conducts music and movement dish classes.” She also credits Howard lessons with his portable keyboard twice a Kilman for chairing the movie compo- During the past two years I’ve week in a Starfish classroom. He derives a nent of Adult Education and Harold served as President, I have devoted great deal of satisfaction from his volun- Zabin for organizing the Saturday morn- my Kudos Korner column to high- teer efforts: “The Starfish program and ing Torah Study. lighting those individuals who have my affiliation with the temple Social Ac- That temple members are committed helped make the temple the special tion Committee have afforded me the to developing a connection to Israel is place that it is. I regret that I did not opportunity to extend my life’s work of demonstrated through the formation of have the space to recognize more caring for children through collecting toys the Israel Committee last year, un- special individuals. Mindful of this, for sick children at Sarasota Memorial der the Chairmanship of Rabbi Elaine I have decided to devote my final Hospital and teaching kindergarten chil- Glickman. According to Rabbi Elaine, Kudos Korner column to prais- dren at the Wilkinson School.” That the among the numerous programs presented ing the membership. I will identify temple membership makes volunteerism by the committee, the two most signifi- those characteristics that make the a high priority is also seen in the fact that cant events were Pub Shalom, under the temple special as an institution and the Board has named this year, The Year Chairmanship of Bob and Susan Meisel, as special family—such characteris- of Helpful Living, and has formed an and the celebration by the Commit- tics as being an institution pervaded umbrella committee to encourage such ac- tee of the First night of Hanukkah. by the spirit of volunteerism, driven tivities, again under the Chairmanship of “Pub Shalom encapsulated everything by passion for intellectual growth, Tanice Knopp. Tanice organized a most that I love about the Israel Commit- social action, need to repair the successful Volunteer Shabbat which tee—dedication,partnership, a sense world, connection to Israel, joyful showcased the many ways congregants of innovation and excitement, and the worship, and for being a caring, volunteer at temple and in the commu- opportunity tobring a love of Israel to the warm and welcoming temple. In nity. That volunteerism is alive and community. She added that it was such so doing, I will highlight several well at Temple Emanu-El was also shown fun. By contrast, the Hannukah gathering individuals whose contributions at the large attendance at our Volunteer of the Committee “helped transform us have been especially instrumental Appreciation Brunch following the from acommittee into a family. Everyone in making the temple the special Annual Meeting. At Temple Emanu-El, we brought a menorah special to them and family it has become. can’t thank our volunteers enough! shared its story. There were Israeli snacks The spirit of volunteerism perme- That the membership has a passion and a group chanting of the blessings. It ates the temple. A prime example of for education at the temple is evident was such a sweet moment—we went from volunteerism is the annual Mitzvah Day in both at the Scholar in Residence members of a Committee to a group of event, chaired by Rabbi Elaine, histori- weekend, under the Chairmanship of friends.” Rabbi Elaine’s feelings are cally attracting over 300 participants. Wendy and Larry Barnet, and the echoed by temple member, staunch sup- Other prime examples of volunteerism is Adult Education Committee, under porter of and frequent visitor to Israel, the Social Action Committee under the Chairmanship of Janet Hiller and Esther Rose: “It has been a great source the chairmanship of Barbara Peltz, and Ellen Zipin. This year brought Rabbi Dr. of joy for me to belong to the Israel Com- 2 mittee—as we foster programs to support homes and at home. The Caring Com- back to being in the womb, he would have and promote our concern and love for mittee also phones people who are home shared how loved he felt when the women Israel.” to letthem know that Temple Emanu-El of the temple would measure his Mom’s That Temple Emanu-El members cares. Mona is the quintessential caring tummy at every Shabbat service! appreciate that the practice of Judaism person for whom volunteering has been a I cannot end this Kudos Korner is joyful is especially found in our wor- way of life since she was ten years of age. column without expressing my own ship services in general, and in our three ”That’s the way my mother raised me.” gratitude: Shabbat Alive! services—particularly Mona derives a great deal of satisfaction n To G-d for enabling me to reach the last one held on April 27 under the helping others. It makes her feel “all warm this position which was the high superb direction of Cynthia Roberts- inside.” And as Diane puts it: “Calling point of my life as a Jew. Greene, talented musicians, and an and visiting our elderly and chronically n To our incredible Rabbis, Rabbi exceptional choir, who led the congrega- ill congregants is a great gift—for those Glickman and Rabbi Shefrin, for tion in familiar Hebrew prayers set to the who reach out as well as those in need.