TOURO SYNAGOGUE Volume 186, Issue 9 December 2015/January 2016 - Kislev/Tevet/Sh'vat 5776 A message from Cantor Mintz Each year, as if it were the first time, of Chanukah and add a new candle I find myself struck by how early day each night, building until the final turns into night after the October shift night, when all candles are lit. Rabbi of Daylight Savings Time. It’s almost as Shammai, of course, had the opposite though nighttime starts earlier each view. Shammai said that on the first year; as though with each season, night night, we should light all eight candles encroaches just a little bit more, taking and then subtract one candle each another sliver of precious daylight and night until we are left with only one sunshine. What’s more, scientific studies candle on the eighth night. have now demonstrated how this As it happens, this dispute was increase in darkness negatively impacts about much more than candles. The our sleep, emotions and our general rabbis’ arguments, at their core, were experience. In basic terms, this change about how best to repair and improve Cantor David Mintz darkens much more than simply our days. the world around us. According to darkness exists in very real ways. In the It’s not accidental that in the middle Shammai, the rabbi who advocated for wake of this darkness, let us be reminded of this time of the year, we celebrate subtracting a candle each night, the of Hillel’s imperative, echoed in the words Chanukah, our festival of lights. Indeed, world was too deeply filled with pain, of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King: “Darkness it’s this time of year in which various destruction, and evil. The way to make cannot drive out darkness; only light can religions and cultures have holidays that world a better place, he felt, was do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only that involve lighting candles on our to destroy that evil. With the fire as a love can do that.” window sills or outside our homes, symbol of that destruction, Shammai Next week, we’ll gather in our perhaps as a means to add a little light believed that fewer flames were homes (and together as a community to this darkness. needed with each passing night as on Friday, December 11th) to light Of course, for those of us in the more of the world’s evil was destroyed. Chanukah candles. As we do so, Jewish community, our window Hillel, on the other hand, felt that one according to Hillel’s instruction, let us sills hold a chanukiah - with eight could not simply destroy the presence be reminded of all the ways that we burning candles and a shamash (or of evil in the world. The best way of add our own light to the world. May helper candle) meant to remind us of fighting darkness, he felt, was to add the Chanukah lights inspire to seek out the miracle in the ancient Temple in light. After all, we may not be able to even more opportunities to make the Jerusalem, when a tiny amount of oil remove all evil in our world, but we world a little brighter, through acts of lasted eight days. While many might can do our best to add more kindness, kindness, generosity and love. agree that the chanukiah has become goodness and holiness. Hillel’s the perennial symbol of Chanukah, imperative was that whenever possible, Chag Sameach! there wasn’t always agreement on how we should always add more joy and David to light the chanukiah itself. more light to our days, our lives and the Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai - two lives of those around us. Hillel argued great sages from the late 1st century that this was the way to make the BCE and the early 1st century CE - are world a better place. For this reason, renowned for holding opposing views the Jewish community collectively on various areas of Jewish law and lights their chanukiyot according to practice. The two agreed on virtually Hillel’s instruction. nothing. As you might imagine, the In recent weeks, we’ve seen painful customs surrounding the lighting of examples of the darkness in our world. Chanukah candles are no exception. As we’ve heard news from Paris, Beirut, Happy Rabbi Hillel believed that we should Baghdad, Syria, Israel and even the light one candle on the first night streets of New Orleans, we know that Chanukah! 1 A message from our president, Susan Good I have recently returned from Your synagogue board read his book attending the Union for Reform two years ago and has been instituting Judaism Biennial which allowed me to some of these practices as part of our hear inspiring presenters, to discuss own Audacious Hospitality. common issues with contemporaries, However, I must say, that the most and to remind myself of why Touro interesting and uplifting program Synagogue is so very special. I attended was titled “The Power This year’s programming was of Mindsets: Creating Resilient and divided in to four major categories: Compassionate Congregational Strengthening Congregations, Communities”. The dynamic keynote Audacious Hospitality, Tikkun Olam speaker was Robert Brooks, a and Transforming Texts. As your temple psychologist and author from Harvard Susan Good president, I concentrated my time on Medical School. He stated that if we the first two offerings. work toward a climate that nurtures explore more avenues for My initial participation was in a and promotes positivity, it then allows strengthening our congregation and learning session titled Compassionate, our congregations to overcome making us a more welcoming place. I Connected Communities. So many of inertia and resistance. To achieve this, hope you will join us in this cause. the ideas which were suggested have the following were four “motivating In the “Jewish Journal”, Rabbi Yoshi been practiced by our congregation for environments” he believes people look Zweiback, senior rabbi at Stephen Wise years. It was not so much a “learning for: Temple, wrote the following entitled session” for me, but an affirmation 1. The need to belong and feel “It’s madhim --- it’s incredible”, about his that efforts like our Village and connected and welcomed. Greet Biennial experience. It summed up my Nourish programs are successful and people by name and smile! sentiments perfectly. meaningful. Many congregations 2. The need for self-determination “I wish that every Jew, every seeker have a full-time staff member who and autonomy. What input and in our community, could have the coordinates and initiates these choices do all members of a opportunity to experience the joy, agendas. It is heart-warming to note community have? Do they believe the warmth, and the meaning that that at Touro we have volunteers their voices are being heard and we offer. I wish that everyone, no willing to take on these enormous respected? matter his background, no matter her responsibilities and congregants 3. The need to feel competent. Are preconceptions, might be open to, at who readily step up to collaborate. their unique gifts, strengths and just the right time to what heartfelt, I felt the same sense of pride when qualities appreciated and used? exuberant, soulful prayer can feel like. others discussed alternative dues 4. The need to experience a sense of I wish that everyone could experience models, knowing that at Touro we are purpose and meaning. We must the power of community and the sense pioneers and innovators in this arena. perceive our congregations as of purpose that a congregation, a It is reassuring when others ask for a place filled with contributory movement and a People can provide. your examples and thoughts on how activities, acts of kindness and It’s simply madhim --- it’s incredible!” a structure is put in place and how to indelible memories that enrich our Many thanks for the privilege of measure its success. lives. representing Touro Synagogue at this Ron Wolfson, author of Relational So much of this is already a part special gathering. And to The Union for Judaism, held a session where of the “DNA” of Touro Synagogue. Reform Judaism, I say Yasher Koach, a participants could brainstorm and However, we know there is always job well done and appreciated! take his best principles in to account. room for growth and improvement. To each of you a Happy Chanukah In this too, Touro was already a leader. Our community will continue to and Happy New Year, Susan DECEMBER 12, 9:30 AM TOT Join Rabbi Silverman and Cantor Mintz for a Chanukah edition of Tot Shabbat Rocks! Bring your menorahs and watch the candles glow during a special daytime lighting! JANUARY 16, 9:30 AM Want to stay in pajamas all morning? Join Rabbi Silverman ROCKS! and Cantor Mintz for Tot Shabbat Rocks! Wear your comfy clothes A MONTHLY SERVICE FOR OUR YOUNGEST and bring your favorite adult and stuffed animal for a morning of MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES songs, prayers, stories and (of course) juice and challah! 2 Table of contents MESSAGE FROM CANTOR MINTZ.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT SUSAN GOOD...............................................................................................................................................................................................................2 TOT SHABBAT ROCKS!.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2