Temple Israel of Great Neck Where tradition meets change Voice a Conservative egalitarian synagogue Israeli Ambassador Speaking at Temple Israel Will Discuss Israel’s Relations With Its Arab Neighbors on April 14 Ambassador Dani Dayan, Israel’s Consul Israel in every possible way, I am thrilled that The congregation is also invited to attend General in New York, will be the featured we are able to bring the community together a reception that begins at 5:15 P.M. in the speaker at Temple Israel’s Waxman to honor Rabbi Waxman’s legacy and to Grand Ballroom for $36 per person, $180 Memorial Program on Sunday, April 14. hear this important speaker.” for patrons and $360 for sponsors. Patrons The congregation is invited to attend. and sponsors will receive two tickets to Temple Israel member Mitch Koeppel the reception and be listed in the event His talk, titled “Challenges and was instrumental in securing the program. Those attending the reception will Opportunities for Israel in a Changing speaker. “We are fortunate to have a receive reserved seating in the Sanctuary. Middle East,” will discuss Reservations for the reception are Israel’s growing diplomatic necessary and can be made by and economic relationships calling 482-7800. with its neighboring countries and address the main The ambassador, once the challenge the country is facing leader of the Israeli settlement today: Iran. In addition, he will movement, is related to speak about the state of the legendary Israeli General Israel-Palestinian conflict. Moshe Dayan. Born in Buenos Aires, he and his family “Once Israel was surrounded immigrated to Israel in 1971 by neighboring countries when he was 15, settling in calling for its destruction,” a Tel Aviv neighborhood. He he said. “Today Israel enjoys spent more than seven years in unprecedented relations the Israeli army and is a major with many Arab and Muslim in the Israel Defense Forces. countries in the region. Although distant,” he added, He holds degrees in economics “Iran poses a direct threat to Ambassador Dani Dayan, Israel’s Consul General in New York and computer science from the security of Israel.” leading spokesman for Israel coming Bar Ilan University and a Masters in to our congregation,” said Marc Katz, finance from Tel Aviv University. In 1982 The program, co-sponsored by chair of the Waxman Committee. “His he established an information technology the congregation’s Israel Affairs conversation with us will take place only a firm, which he headed first as CEO and Committee, will include an exclusive few days after Israel’s heated election, so I later as chairman. In 2005 he sold his reception with the ambassador before am sure this will be a talk not to miss. The interest in the firm, although he continues his talk and a question and answer community is invited to hear Mr. Dayan.” to invest in high-tech companies. session following his presentation. Invitations are about to be sent to the He is noted for leading a settler’s “Ambassador Dayan, known personally by congregation. There is no charge to movement against the freeze on new many in our congregation, will be able to attend the ambassador’s presentation, settlements starting in 2010. He was provide unique insight into current issues which begins at 7 P.M. in the defeated in a bid for a Knesset seat facing the State of Israel,” said Rabbi Sanctuary. However, tickets are required in 2015, but was appointed by Prime Howard Stecker. “Given our synagogue’s and can only be obtained by using the link Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as long-standing commitment to supporting on Temple Israel’s website, www.tign.org. Israel’s consul general in 2016. Vol. LXI, No. 8 March 2019 Adar II 5779 protecting others. The two are not Navigating Today’s Headlines mutually exclusive; more often than not, they are mutually reinforcing. From the Rabbi by Rabbi Howard Stecker Our ancestors trekking through the wilderness had a pillar of cloud to guide Many of today’s headlines are protest because such behavior is un- them by day and a pillar of fire to guide disturbing, for Jews specifically and for Jewish and inhumane. When people are them by night. We don’t have that any others. We are witnessing a rise in anti- disqualified from serving in our military more. In order to navigate properly, we Semitism in Europe and in the United because of their gender identity we must must rely on our collective wisdom. States from the right and the left. We are also witnessing a violation of human We must protect The sage Hillel understood that we rights expressed, among other settings, ourselves must defend ourselves and defend at our border and in our military. As while also protecting others when he said, “If I am not for Jews, how should we respond to myself, who will be for me? And if I am discrimination against us and others? others. only for myself, what am I?” How do we navigate all of this? protest as well. And the list goes on. Such wisdom must continue to guide us. I am seeing two trends in the Jewish We must protect ourselves while also community that disturb me. One is a universalist trend that registers human rights violations in general, but fails to Meeting Our Future give proper attention to the legitimate dangers that face the Jewish people. From the President by Rob Panzer Regarding this trend, I invoke the words of a rabbi I heard speak over 30 years Several weeks ago, Ofra Panzer, Vice Do our educational programs meet our ago when I was studying in England. President Burt Weston and I attended needs, and will they meet our needs He said, “Sometimes we are so open- the biennial United Synagogue Large in the future, or do we need to look at minded that our brains fall out.” Congregations Conference. These alternatives in this arena as well? conferences are an opportunity for We must not ignore or downplay hatred leaders of congregations to meet, Do we need to create greater toward Jews, no matter the religion, share ideas, issues, problems, and opportunities for development and ethnicity or political leaning of the hater. hopefully solutions. fundraising to invest in and protect Moreover, we must be prepared to our future? denounce criticism of Israel when it is, A number of things quickly became in fact, anti-Semitism. Invoking Alan apparent for all congregations The key to our future represented: Where is the Dershowitz’s “three D’s,” when Israel is is our willingness demonized, delegitimized, or treated Conservative movement going? How with a double standard, that’s anti- can we address membership issues? to face it. Semitism. How can we address financial issues? And many more. Do we need to evaluate how we staff The other trend that disturbs me is a our congregation and consider what self-preservationist trend that cares What also quickly becomes apparent skill sets might be needed to ensure only about Jews and fails to apply is that creativity and innovation help that we remain a thriving congregation? appropriate Jewish values of justice and to answer these questions and more. compassion to others. Our ancestors, Membership needs to be looked at As we can see, the issues are large and upon leaving Egypt, were commanded creatively, evaluating how we attract complex, with no easy solutions, but to treat the stranger justly because they new members and maintain existing that can’t prevent us from beginning knew what it was like to be strangers. ones. This leads us to asking ourselves meaningful conversations about all They journeyed toward the Promised important questions, such as do our of them. The key to our future is our Land with the understanding that their religious services meet the needs of willingness to face it. suffering should inspire sensitivity to the our community, or do we need to offer suffering of others. alternatives in addition to what we As always, I can be reached at currently provide? [email protected] So, regardless of what our opinion might be on the intricacies of immigration, when parents and children The Voice Guest Column: ‘Making Temple Israel Green’ are separated at our border, when many is now located on page 9. still haven’t been reunited, we must 2 In Memoriam Upcoming Events at Temple Israel Temple Israel extends condolences to the families of: March 17 March 31 HAKIMEH RASHTIAN Waxman High School 10:00 A.M. Family B’nei Mitzvah Workshop 10:30 A.M. mother of Elahe Rashtian and Religious School Federation of Jewish 12:30 P.M. Purim Carnival Men’s Clubs Regional Awards VIOLA ESIKOFF March 18 Reception at Temple Beth Sholom mother of Laura Esikoff Board of Trustees Meeting 8:15 P.M. April 1 and Stanley Esikoff March 20 Sisterhood Board Meeting 10:00 A.M. and esteemed member of Temple Israel Erev Purim April 5 Evelyn GOLBert Temple Israel Purim Celebrations 5:45 P.M. Men’s Club Shabbat 6:30 PM. esteemed member of Temple Israel March 21 HaHodesh Service and Dinner Beth HaGan Nursery School 10:00 A.M. April 6 May their memories be for a blessing. Purim Ball “Shabbat Talk” 12:45 P.M. March 24 featuring Scholar in Residence Temple Lites… Temple Israel Film Series 7:00 P.M. Alan Gersch, Ph.D. and Shoah Committee present: Temple Israel Players 8:30 P.M. • Paula Charry, Renee Altman “Leaving Memel-Refugees from the Reich” Production of “My Fair Lady” Fleischer, Lori Freudman, Judy March 25 April 7 Greenstein, Hermine Plotnick, Muriel “Why is the Women’s Seder 7:00 P.M.