Welcome Home to Temple Shalom Mazel tov to Rabbi Allison Berry and Rabbi Laura J. Abrasley who were recently named Temple Shalom’s Co-Senior Rabbis, the first time two women have ever served together as senor rabbis of a congregation. See pages 2, 4 and10. Inside Rabbi’s Message Page 2 Getting to Know You Page 11 Cantor’s Message Page 3 Shabbat Happenings Page 12 President’s Message Page 4 Calendars Pages 14–15 Executive Director’s Message Page 5 Community News Pages 10, 13, 16–20, 24 Families with Young Children Page 6 Generation to Generation Page 20 Nursery School Page 7 Donations Pages 21–24 SHACHARIT Pages 8–9 Temple Shalom Contact List Page 24 Sivan–Tammuz–Av–Elul 5778 June–July–August 2018 Rabbis’ Message “When two sit and exchange words of Torah, the Divine Presence comes to dwell amongst them.” —Pirke Avot, Chapter 3 We are taught chevruta study is the ideal Jewish approach to learning. The word chevruta comes from Aramaic and can be defined as “friendship” or “companionship.” When you enter any Jewish place of study, you will find people gathered together in pairs, engaging and challenging each other with texts from our tradition. From this, we understand true and deep learning is best done in partnership. Study partners create a relationship with one another built on trust, honesty and respect. Learning the history, writings, values, and understandings of our tradition in this manner, especially with a chevruta who becomes your partner, brings the text and ultimately our tradition to life. Done well, this time-honored model of Jewish learning grows chevruta partners—and all who learn from and with them—in ways they could never imagine. We are so privileged to officially begin our time at Temple Shalom as co-senior rabbis. As we work in partnership, we hope to embody the best of our tradition as we model a meaningful chevruta partnership. We recognize that a rabbinic partnership is a new model at Temple Shalom. In an age where many of us speak the language of collaborative partnerships (law firms, health care teams, educational institutions), what could be more sensible than two rabbis working together to support and grow the spiritual infrastructure of a community? Jewish tradition provides many examples of how collaboration can be the path to building meaningful and successful community. We believe that by leading the Temple Shalom community together, we can model how a strong, vibrant partnership will in turn strengthen the strong, vibrant relationships within our community. In order to effectively connect, engage and support as many members of the Temple Shalom community as possible, we will partner with each other, lay leadership and staff to oversee the programmatic, spiritual and educational components of the synagogue community. In a more practical way, how will this new model of rabbinic partnership work? On an ongoing basis, we will collaborate with the Temple leadership to determine the priorities and vision for the community. Each rabbi will be responsible for a particular programmatic portfolio and will be in regular communication with the other rabbi about the workings and plans within that portfolio. Although each of us will be responsible for guiding and shaping the programmatic aspects of individual portfolios, we will work together with the members and lay leaders of Temple Shalom to actualize the congregation’s core beliefs, vision and values. As we build this sacred partnership with each other and with the Temple Shalom community, we commit to building a kehillah kedoshah (sacred congregation), which celebrates moments of meaning and joy while providing comfort at times of sadness. We will celebrate diversity and open the synagogue doors wide, recognizing all of us are created, b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. We will work to know your name and your story while we provide support so you can share your story and Jewish journey with others. Together, we will strive to bring light to those in need of healing and wholeness. We will remain optimistic as we work to repair the world and hold the Jewish values of tzedek (justice) and tikkun olam (repair of the world) always in front of us. Thank you for granting us this extraordinary opportunity. We are grateful to our wonderful families who have supported us over the past year. Thank you to the Transition Committee, the Executive Committee and the Temple Shalom Board of Trustees. Our synagogue leaders worked tirelessly to lead the community through a thoughtful and careful rabbinic transition process. Thank you to everyone who shared feedback, attended community forums, and helped us to learn and grow as rabbis and as a congregation. We look forward to celebrating with you at our installation in the fall. Be on the lookout for more information soon! May Temple Shalom continue to go mekhayil el khayil—from strength to strength. Rabbi Berry and Rabbi Abrasley Page 2 Cantor Peter Halpern Dear Friends, We are rounding the corner of a busy year of Temple activities into a more relaxed and replenishing summer season. We are excited to share that Lillian Sober Ain, an esteemed member of Shir Shalom and the Halleilu Band, will be the next chair of our Music Committee in the fall. Lillian will be following Nadine Broude, who has strengthened Temple Shalom’s music program considerably through her devoted and highly able efforts, and Lillian will ensure that we will go from strength to strength. We have welcomed three new members this year, bringing new ideas and energy to the committee, and the list of possible concerts, programs and educational opportunities we will choose from is very impressive. I want to thank this superb committee as well as our committed singers of Shir Shalom, my wonderful colleague David Carrier and our congregational instrumentalists. Music means so much to us and you add so much to the beauty and meaning of our Shabbat services. On behalf of this community, thank you! It has been some time since I last solicited members for our Shir Shalom choir and the Music Committee. Both are strong and ample in size, but there is always a place for you. If you have a passion for music and would like to help at the ground level of choosing and planning our musical offerings for the year, please consider trying a Music Committee meeting or two. You do not need a trained voice or have musical knowledge to share the delightful experience of singing with Shir Shalom. Our regular rehearsal time is most Wednesdays from 7:30–9 p.m. While many of our members choose to come to most rehearsals and the Shabbat services we participate in, many have conflicts. Please don’t let this prevent you from speaking about this possibility with me. The fall is a perfect time to try us out! Periodically, I have the pleasure of meeting with our Temple president, Scott Birnbaum. Along with his delightful company, he often comes with a good suggestion or two. Most recently, he raised a creative idea with which I would like to move forward. Many of our Temple members attend the MET operas in HD in the local movie theatres (if you are lucky enough to get a ticket). I would like to schedule the first Temple Shalom group opera outings (Saturday afternoon, if I happen to be available, or Wednesday evening “encore” performances) in 2018–2019. The details are still to be determined but tickets go on sale July 18. Though on vacation, I plan to be one of the first on the phone ordering tickets for a few of the exciting shows on tap for the coming season—“La Fanciulla del West” with Jonas Kauffman, “Aida” with Anna Netrebko, and Elina Garanca in “Samson et Dalila.” If you think you would like to be included (conceptionally, without a commitment at this point), please let me know sometime before June 25 and I contact you later with more details. It will be a joy for me to share this new endeavor with you! Cantor Peter Halpern Clergy, Coffee and Conversation Our clergy look forward to connecting with you for conversation on a personal level, either at Temple Shalom, a coffee shop or another mutually convenient location. To schedule a time with a member of the Temple clergy team, contact Loretta Zack at [email protected] or sign up on the Temple website at www.templeshalom.org/clergy-coffee-and- conversation/. Page 3 Scott Birnbaum, President Two Years Down, One to Go Two years ago, when I was elected President of Temple Shalom, I had every hope of building on the many successes of my predecessors, helping to lead a mature and stable institution forward and tackling problems no bigger than repairing our roof. When asked what I hoped to accomplish during my presidency, I was, frankly, stumped. I eventually said that my goal was not to break anything. I had, in short, no desire for major changes. Oh well. The words of Robert Burns come to mind: “But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane [you aren’t alone] In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft a-gley, [often go awry] An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promised joy.” Yes, “grief an’ pain,” accurately captures the emotions I and many of us experienced during the last two years. Change is rarely easy, especially when the change is unanticipated and unwelcome. But now, it’s possible to look back and note with a great deal of pride that we have emerged from the maelstrom of the past two years truly stronger and better poised than anyone could possibly have imagined.