Neve Shalom Bulletin december 2015 NEVE SHALOM FROM THE RABBI By Gerald Zelizer From Our Rabbi….Eric Rosin t has often been observed that peo- customs. And every new ple who are not Jewish will some- relationship and revelation I times leave a social event without gives rise to new possibili- saying goodbye. Jewish people, on the ties. other hand, are notorious for saying Which brings us to the goodbye without leaving. I know that next step in this process of every Shabbat, there comes a moment when I tell my wife, Jen, “Let’s becoming acquainted with start our goodbyes.” This moment may occur anywhere between one another. I may still fifteen minutes and one hour before we actually emerge from the need to be reminded of synagogue and begin our walk home. names for a little longer, but by and large the period of introductions What I’ve learned over the past few months is that saying hello is coming to a close. I am gratified and energized by the realization in the Jewish community isn’t much different. I continue to enjoy that we are transitioning into a period in which our relationships will meeting everyone, but I’m finding out that this process is a marathon grow and flourish through the process of our rolling up our sleeves not a sprint. My first Shabbat in the synagogue the leadership and getting to work together to help the synagogue realize its exhila- offered a wonderful Friday night dinner and Jen and I were treated to rating potential. warm and wonderful welcomes during both the Shabbat evening and We’ll now be embarking on a process of Community Conversa- morning services. Since that time, I have re-introduced myself during tions in which we’ll be gathering in small groups to discuss your expe- my sermons on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I have been formal- riences at Neve Shalom and thinking together about our hopes and ly “installed” as your rabbi. I have had my first meetings with most of plans for the future. If you can’t wait for us to convene the appropri- the committees and auxiliaries. I officiated my first b’nai mitzvah at ate group conversation, please make an appointment and share your Neve Shalom, experienced my first wonderful days with the pre- thoughts with me personally. I have been continually impressed and school and the Hebrew School and the high school. Members of the inspired by our President, Dan Hirsch, and by all of the synagogue religious school and preschool communities have invited Jen and me leaders who are dedicating so much energy and creativity to helping into their homes for less formal interactions and I continue to be our shul retain what makes it unique and also to evolve into the best profoundly grateful for all of the men, women and families who come version of itself possible. I am convinced that no good idea will be into the office to introduce themselves more personally. I am doing discarded. my best to eat mindfully during all of the meals that I have shared Every conversation around the Kiddush table and every com- with Neve-niks outside of the walls of the synagogue and I am grow- mittee meeting is a sacred opportunity to build relationships and to ing to savor the more extended and relaxed conversations that might help us connect with each other. Our entire tradition is constructed not happen amidst the throngs after services. on a structure of partnership: partnership with the Divine and part- And I know that this process is nowhere near over. I will contin- nership with each other. I am very excited that my relationship with ue to “meet” and get to know this community better for as long as I Neve Shalom has entered the stage in which we will continue to get am here. Every birth, bar or bat mitzvah, wedding or funeral is an to know each other in the context of the time that we spend together opportunity to get to know people and their families better. Every and the work we embark on with each other. holiday introduces me to a new batch of Neve Shalom minhagim or Building “One Community” ························ 3 December Events ··········································· 5 Latke Love ······················································· 9 december 2015 Neve Shalom Bulletin Congregation Neve Shalom 250 Grove Avenue, Metuchen, NJ 08840 www.neveshalom.net Notes from the Hazzan Phone: 732-548-2238 Fax: 732-548-2335 E-mail: [email protected] By Hazzan Sheldon Levin Affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism The “Real” Story of Chanukah! OFFICERS President ..................................... Dan Hirsch Vice President ............................ Christina Daniels his year’s Hebrew School theme is many defeats by the Romans in their time. Vice President ............................ Stu Mantel Jewish history. With Chanukah we, as What the Mishnah does tell us, is that Vice President ............................ Debbie Schildkraut adults, should take this opportunity to Vice President ............................ Hope Serratelli T messengers were sent out to tell people in Vice President ............................ Benna Thompson relook at Jewish history from a more mature advance when the holiday was to be celebrat- Treasurer .................................... Linda Gotlib Financial Secretary .................... Lawrence Dombrow perspective. Perhaps when you were young ed. During it, mourning practices were forbid- Recording Secretary .................. Carol Hacker you were excited by the presents, the flicker- den and special Bible portions were read. Sisterhood President .................. Jennifer Bullock Men’s Club President ................ Steven Schneider ing candles, the chocolate candy, playing with There is only one reference to candle-lighting USY Presidents ........................... Danny Boxer, dreidels or thinking about the miracle of “only and even that is in the context of a legal .................................................... Hannah Sessler enough oil for one day lasting for eight.” matter. “The defendant was not found liable SYNAGOGUE STAFF The real story of Chanukah begins with a for damage caused by a fire he accidentally Rabbi ........................................... Eric Rosin revolt, which involved ousting foreign rule and Hazzan, started when lighting a candle at the entrance Director of Education ............ Sheldon Levin slaughtering Hellenized Jews. In the days be- to his shop for Chanukah.” Rabbi Emeritus ........................... Gerald L. Zelizer fore the Maccabean Revolt, Judea was semi- Nursery School Director ........... Martha Mack Nor does the Talmud - compiled around Office Manager ......................... Rita Devlin autonomous, but was firmly under the control 500 CE but containing writings spanning cen- Secretary for Hebrew School .... Jeanne Cowhey of the Seleucid Empire, led by Antiochus IV Secretary for Nursery School .. Jacqueline Stoecker turies - have a separate tractate on Chanukah, Youth Secretary and Epiphanes. The moneyed elite of Judea had but it does provide more information on the Office Assistant .......................... Danielle Mendez become largely Hellenized, taking up the dom- holiday. This is where we first learn that can- Bookkeeper ................................ Lisa Luzzi inating culture of the day. Not everyone en- dles were lit for eight days. Today only one BULLETIN STAFF joyed the comforts of “modernity.” The ine- explanation is offered: the miracle of the oil, Editor/Designer ......................... Mindy Osterman Calendar Editor ......................... Ron Becker quality led Jewish zealots to oppose the enough for one day but lasting for eight. The sweeping cultural changes in Judea. The Talmud, however, offers other possibilities: Advertising in this Bulletin does NOT constitute certification of kashrut. alarmed Hellenized Jews called for the emper- that it took eight days to get oil in from the BULLETIN DEADLINES or's help; and the emperor sent troops to countryside, or that there were eight spikes February Issue — December 20 entrench Hellenization even further. Thus the found in the Temple which were converted March Issue — January 20 April Issue — February 20 war known to history as the Maccabean Re- into a menorah. volt began. The eight-day progression of the candle Submit your articles and graphics for publication to After some years of guerrilla warfare Rita Devlin via e-mail at lighting also appears in the Talmud for the [email protected] under the leadership of Judah Maccabee, Jew- first time. But today's practice of starting with ish independence was regained. Jerusalem one candle (and the shamash) and building to was freed. The Hellenized Jews were slaugh- eight (and the shamash) was not necessarily tered and the Temple was rededicated on the the norm. That is the practice introduced by 25th day of Kislev, 160 BCE. Please see above for the Pharisees: that each day an additional In the Book of Maccabees II - written in candle was lit. The Sadducees argued that one UPDATED deadlines Alexandria, in Greek, in 124 BCE - it tells us the should start with a full menorah, and take for future bulletins. holiday was celebrated as a second Sukkot. away one candle each day. As is usually the That may explain why the holiday lasts eight case, Judaism sided with the Pharisees. days. That is, simply, the length of Sukkot, During the time of late antiquity and the which is a harvest festival that the Jews were early Middle Ages the liturgy of the holiday not able to celebrate that year since the Tem- started taking form. Several special prayers In Memoriam