Could We All Benefit from 15 Minutes of Daily Prayer? Friday, February 1 Rayer Means Something Different to Each of 6:15 P.M
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February 2013 From the study of Rabbi David Stern Shvat/Adar 5773 Vol. 39 No. 4 Join Us For Shabbat Could we all benefit from 15 minutes of daily prayer? Friday, February 1 rayer means something different to each of 6:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary the day. There is too much noise posing as information Pus, and to each of us something different in today - and minyan brings clarity. What a great return Saturday, February 2 each moment. Prayer is solitude and community, on 15 minutes of invested time! 9 a.m in Pollman Hall tranquility and celebration, comfort in sadness Whether in a time of happiness or a time of despair, Tot Shabbat and resounding song. our tradition teaches us that it is preferable to praise G-d 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel And for us as Jews, prayer is about people. 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary in a community than to do so alone. The Temple Emanu Our tradition insists on a minyan, a minimum El minyan supported and honored my mourning process. Friday, February 8 quorum of ten, for the offering of the core The minyan also provides a dally opportunity to say a 6:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary prayers of the liturgy, most notably the mishebeirach – which gave me an opportunity to pray Mourner’s Kaddish, traditionally recited each day for those in need of healing. The minyan is community Saturday, February 9 for a year after a loved one dies. In a beautiful 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel at the core. 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary lesson about the role of companionship in prayer, The regulars at minyan are a diverse group with a 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary the Talmud (Tractate Berakhot 5b) teaches that 15- minute service in common. Throughout my 13+ if two people enter a synagogue years of coming to minyan, I have seen many people Friday, February 15 to pray, and one of them finishes come in, unable to utter a word, not even the Kaddish, 6:15 p.m. in Pollman Hall praying first, if he leaves without 8:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary without weeping. Slowly but surely, the short service Union Prayer Book Service waiting for his companion to gave them comfort and the regulars gave them hope that finish, his own prayer will be life does go on and they are not alone in their journey Saturday, February 16 rejected. Jewish prayer is not only through the mourning period, illness or whatever they 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel about the One to whom we pray, 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary are experiencing. 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary and not only about the ones for Minyan lets me thank G-d for all I have, for blessings whom we pray, but about the ones Rabbi in my life, and to remember those who came before me. Friday, February 22 David Stern with whom we pray. When I began going to minyan it was solely to say 6:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary That offering of community and Kaddish for my mother. I had been so involved with companionship has been the gift of Temple’s her care at the end of her life that I wanted a way to Saturday, February 23 morning minyan ever since it was founded by gradually let go and reflect on her loss. Saying Kaddish 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel Brotherhood President Larry Tabak and Rabbi 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary gave me a set time for this, so that the rest of my day was Gerald Klein over thirty-five years ago. At 8:15 not dominated by a hovering sense of loss. I checked in a.m. from Sunday through Friday, a wonderful Friday, March 1 with my grief every morning, I didn’t push it aside or let and varied group of men and women, sustained it overwhelm. 6:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary by the commitment and example of Irv Statman Saturday, March 2 I have attended the minyan for the last three years 10:30 a.m. in Lefkowitz Chapel and others, gathers in Lefkowitz Chapel for on a daily basis. It has become a very important part of 10:30 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary fifteen minutes of prayer (and a cup of coffee!) how I see myself as a Jew. Daily attendance challenges 4:30 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary to begin the day. The daily service includes the question of why we do a mitzvah--- Do I go every singing, reading in English and Hebrew, and morning for my own well being, or to support Temple prayers for healing. The participants feel the Emanu-El mourners and the other members of the fulfillment not only of their own experience, but minyan community? The answer, of course, is “yes.” of fulfilling the mitzvah to be present for others Could we all benefit from fifteen minutes of who come to say Kaddish. prayer to begin the day? From starting our Complete Shabbat Listen to the voices of some of our morning day with the mitzvah that makes it possible for services schedule, minyan participants: others to say Kaddish? From offering not only Page 4 One of my discoveries of 2012 was the joy of our prayers to God, but our simple presence morning minyan. It is come as you are. For me, that to those who pray along with us? The answer means I am in workout gear, either before or after is clear at Temple every morning from Sunday exercise, depending on the day. You can attend daily through Friday. To quote one of the wise minyan or once a week, as I do. In those 15 minutes, I am reflections above, “The answer, of course, is ‘yes.’” able to set my spiritual and intellectual compasses for Shabbat Rabbi Stern’s sermon series continues at Union Prayer Book services • U NION • P RAYER • B OOK • Friday, March 8 at 6:15 p.m. Roots and Branches: Reform Judaism Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 8:15 p.m. in the Olan Sanctuary We live in a rapidly changing society and a rapidly changing Jewish world. Once a month, on Fridays at In this three-part sermon series, Rabbi Stern will address questions like: What 8:15 p.m., our rabbis lead a service are the roots and historic contributions of Classical Reform Judaism that can from the Union Prayer Book, and help us respond to the challenges and opportunities of our own day? How can our cantor leads music with our the historic dynamics of our movement help us understand Reform Judaism distinguished choir accompanied by in 2013? Does contemporary Reform Judaism still have a distinctive identity? organ. What has changed and what remains constant? As American Jews become increasingly diverse and entrepreneurial in practice, do denominations still This year’s schedule includes: matter at all? Join us for these services and sermons to grapple with core questions and to celebrate the legacy and potential of twenty-first century February 15: Reform Judaism. The Rabbi Levi A. Olan Lecture Part I (December 21) and Part II (January 18) are available on our website at with Rabbi Jack Bemporad http://www.tedallas.org/sermons. March 8 at 6:15 p.m. Torah Honors Appreciating 60 Years of our Choir If you would like to participate in the Shabbat Morning Service in Lefkowitz Roots and Branches: Reform Judaism Chapel by dressing and undressing the Torah, carrying the Torah, or leading Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Part III the Torah blessings, members of our new Gabbai Team can help you make the arrangements. This is a wonderful way to mark a personal milestone in April 12 your life, feel connected to your community and celebrate the richness of our tradition on Shabbat. No experience is necessary but a training session May 10 will take place on February 2 following Shabbat morning services and before If you missed Part I of Rabbi Stern’s the Shabbat Nosh if you’d like to practice. Contact our Gabbai Team at sermon series (delivered December [email protected] or by leaving a message at 214.706.0017. 21, 2012) you can listen to it on our website at www.tedallas.org/prayers/ Sermons On-Line! sermons. We are now posting audio files on the website of the Friday night Shabbat sermons. You can hear a new sermon most Mondays (and 2 on the weeks when we have a 6:15 and an 8:15 service) at http://www.tedallas.org/prayer/sermons. Temple welcomes HIAS President Mark Hettfield Join us on Shabbat Morning, February 2, in Lefkowitz Chapel as we welcome Mark Hettfield, President and CEO of Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS), which has done extremely important work with Jewish and non- Jewish refugee populations around the world. HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, is the international Please join us the first Saturday of the month migration agency of the American after Shabbat morning services to schmooze, Jewish community. We provide rescue and refuge for persecuted and sit, relax and enjoy a nosh with friends! oppressed Jews around the world. In recent years, as the population of Jewish refugees has diminished, we have directed our expertise to Oct 6 · Nov 3 · Dec 1 · Jan 5 assist refugees and immigrants of all Feb. 2 backgrounds. HIAS also advocates in Feb 2 · Mar 2 · Apr 6 · May 4 Congress for fair and effective policies Mar.