SULAM Beth El - Seek. Understand. Learn. Act. Marvel. Now a year into this pandemic we reflect on the lessons our Kindergarten through Sixth Grade learners have embraced at SULAM. They have learned to pay attention to creating sukkat shalom, a shelter of peace for themselves and for others, and they’ve practiced calming their BIG FEELINGS by tapping into their ometz lev, inner strength. Our learners know about g’vurah – the power and courage we each bring to our actions, Sawyer teaches a song about how our g'vurah brings good change individuals working alone, and the community to the world. working together, to make a positive difference You and I will change the world; in the world. Every learner can identify a You and I by then all will follow; Others have said it before me but it doesn’t matter; biblical character with this quality and a You and I we’ll change the world. contemporary, relevant example. Most importantly our learners can identify g’vurah within evaluated the themselves and within the members of their families. idea of covenant, We are now focusing on chesed – the kindness that its meaning and goes beyond relevance to the call of duty, contemporary paying Jews. attention and There are doing more rd learners 3 graders use their g’vurah to than is make their friends feel better. minimally exploring the expected, value of trust, different Torah chapters with different benefiting examples, but an important theme that runs through 2nd graders show their g'vurah by those around the books of the Torah. We will hold a siyyum helping with cooking and sharing. us. (concluding) celebration, on Zoom, to honor our learners this spring. For safety’s sake, we have all been confined to an online learning platform. We desperately miss being together at Beth El. Everyone is looking towards a post-vaccine liberation, with fewer restrictions limiting our gathering together. It can’t come soon 2nd Graders showed what enough. each of us can do by using our minds and our hands with g'vurah. TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD: Our Beth El seventh [email protected] graders are preparing divrei Torah for their b’nai mitzvah in virtual lessons, arriving to their Zoom classroom with texts and commentaries and curious minds. One of our learners is building his d’var Torah around the question of why only two of the tribal leaders, Caleb and Joshua, that Moshe sent to spy out the land, believed that the Israelites could overcome the inhabitants. Another learner has focused on the sentence in the story of Babel, where there seems to be a redundancy in the wording of a verse. A third learner has Kindergarten and 1st graders learn about the 4 mitzvot of Purim. 2 Beth El Temple West Hartford, CT www.bethelwesthartford.org 860.233.9696 Enjoying Beth El Temple Topics Vol. LVI, No. 4 March-April 2021 Adar-Nissan-Iyar 5781 3 From (next to) the Rabbi’s Desk The Finest Gift in the World ‘Greet everyone with a smile.’ How so? This My mom was a strong, independent, curious, loving teaches that if a person gives his friend all the matriarch who taught her family how to live a life of finest gifts in the world, but does so with a tikkun, of repair, through her example and with more pained face, Scripture considers it as if he had than a touch of humor. She dedicated her life to given him nothing. But one who receives his helping others through Hadassah, using all of her friend with a smile, even if he gives him energy to ensure that others had food, proper medical nothing, Scripture considers it as if he had care, and education. She taught us the importance of given him all the finest gifts in the world. standing up for what is right and that we are Avot d’Rabbi Natan 13:4 responsible for the community, both local and global. Of the many texts about Somehow, we imagined that hachnasat orchim Elsie Farber and Lillian Hillman, a dear Beth she would always be here to (welcoming guests), this is El friend, as you can see from their hands. guide and love us. The pain of by far my favorite, and her loss especially in the midst over the past two months, of the pandemic left me this text has grown even feeling so isolated and lost – more profound to me. As until you once again stepped you may know, in forward. The outpouring of December, my mother, cards, messages, and emails Elsie Farber, passed, and in from you was overwhelming thinking about my mom, I and supportive as so many of have had the opportunity you shared words of to reflect on the impact consolation as well as that this community had memories of my mother. Such on her. From our first days a kind, caring gift from your here, you were so warm in welcoming my parents to hearts. Beth El, and they were so touched by your kindness. How blessed my mom was to be a part of this They could not get over this vibrant community that wonderful community that gave so much love and celebrated together, mourned together, and supported comfort to her. Thank you for sharing the finest gift in each other with meals, rides, and more whenever the the world with my mom, with my family and me, and need arose. with each other. When my father died almost 21 years ago, my mom It’s hard to believe, but Pesach is right around the began spending most holidays and many Shabbatot corner. This was the ultimate holiday for my mom. with us. She loved coming to services, singing along Her tall, moist sponge cakes were legendary, her with Cantor Ness and the congregation, looking gefilte fish perfect, her chopped liver mouthwatering, forward to Torah readings chanted by her children and her matzo balls floating in her golden chicken and congregants, particularly Eliot Barron, and soup, light as air. However, all of this paled in learning from the rabbis. Most of all, she loved the comparison to the joy she felt when surrounded by Beth El community, catching up with new friends at her loving family and friends, celebrating the past and kiddush, so appreciative of your warm greetings and looking ahead to the future. welcoming smiles. She always looked forward to seeing her “kissing friends” – clearly pre-pandemic! May this Passover, the commemoration of our Upon her return home, she would rave to her friends journey from slavery to freedom, lead us all to a about our shul and how much at home everyone pandemic-free time when we can once again welcome made her feel. When my mom turned 100 last year, friends, family and guests into our homes and there was no doubt that she wanted to celebrate that synagogue with warm smiles, the finest gift in the incredible milestone with her Beth El family – and world. how special and loved you made her feel! What a gift ~ Nancy Rosen of the heart! 4 Beth El Temple West Hartford, CT www.bethelwesthartford.org 860.233.9696 Reflections from the President Handling Passover Like A Pro – Aspire to Be Your Own Hero I have always been a Passover are somehow related. celebrating Passover around our big sports fan and Passover is one of the holiest dining room table with a admire many holidays on the Jewish calendar multicourse family feast, wine, athletes for their and the Super Bowl is often viewed singing, and laughter. leadership, passion, as one of the most “holy” sports Even with no holiday frenzy, I will and ability to overcome life’s weekends of the year. People do as I usually do. I will cook way adversities – and big game’s losses gather (pre-pandemic) often in more Passover food than I need – with dignity. As I was watching large numbers – and both special for two and deliver much of it to Super Bowl LV a friend called and days follow a playbook. my family and friends – and those asked me what I was doing for Players study their coach’s in need. It will make me feel Passover. The call conjured up the playbooks and we follow our spiritually connected to so many. profound feelings of sadness I had ancestor’s Haggadah. We carry out Like the MVP of the Super Bowl, from last year – a year without big the rituals and order of the Seder we can each aspire to become our Seders with family and friends for versus specific plays. As Jews we own heroes. Everyone has a special the first time in my life. In truth, I enhance and appreciate our role to play. What will be your had already begun thinking about identity and deepened sense of unique contribution for this it this year – and feeling that deep freedom. As I taste the bitter herbs Passover? sadness once again. this year, rather than feel the loss Chag Sameach! As the game continued I began of an in-person family gathering, I ~ Judy Rosenthal thinking how the Super Bowl and will look forward to next year Cantor’s Corner Why Hallel? There seems to be the need to Hallel will be sung at our Beth El services on Passover, celebrate, to confirm who we are, and (as well as at our Pesach Seder, when from the to whom we owe that to. Haggadah, we tell the story of our exodus from Egypt). The Exodus marks the first time that the In our tradition, there is no stronger Jewish people, as a group, experienced FREEDOM! text to do that than the words and So, of course, that implies that we all raise our voices, music of Hallel, a group of six wonderful Psalms (113-118).