TEMPLE BETH EL OF BOCA RATON MAY/JUNE 2021 | IYAR/SIVAN/TAMUZ 5781 HOUSE OF LEARNING PROJECT NEW RELIGIOUS A LEARNING MUSIC SHAVUOT: LUNCH NUREMBERG SCHOOL OPPORTUNITY AS A CELEBRATION & LEARN ONLINE TEEN CURRICULUM FOR INTERFAITH MIDRASH OF HOLY page 14 page 12 page 21 FAMILIES page 10 LEADERSHIP page 10 page 10 (561) 717-2874 WWW.KRONISHFUNERAL.COM … And The Study BY RABBI DAN LEVIN PERSONALIZED FUNERAL SERVICES [email protected] of Torah Is Greater Than All In the Talmud, a story is told that Rabbi Tarfon and the Elders were asked: “Is study greater or is action FROM PEOPLE YOU TRUST greater?” Rabbi Tarfon answered and said: “Action is greater.” But Rabbi Akiva answered and said: “Study is greater.” The rest of the sages thought and then said: Akiva is right. Study is greater, as study leads to action. I remember when I fell in love with Torah study. I SCHEDULE YOUR was spending my junior year at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and saw a sign: “Anyone interested FREE ZOOM in learning more about their Judaism come on Wednesday night for the Beit Midrash Program.” CONSULTATION I had just arrived in Jerusalem a few days before, and while I didn’t know what a Beit Midrash was, I TODAY! had just flown more than 5000 miles to learn more about my Judaism. That night I was introduced to Rabbi Josh key to developing the awareness and the skill to be Boretzky. Josh had grown up in Montreal and was spiritually awake and morally prepared to be all we not religious. After college, he went backpacking can become. through Europe and decided to head over to Israel. Jewish learning does more than fascinate the They arrived on Friday and decided to go to the mind. Jewish learning grows our moral core and awakens our spiritual consciousness. We put our children at serious risk if we do not carefully teach And I was overwhelmed with awe them to value wisdom and to champion the virtues of honesty, integrity, decency, compassion, justice, and wonder for the power and depth freedom, and peace. We need to be deliberate in stored in a single verse of Torah. educating our children and ourselves to wrestle with the moral choices that arise when these values inevitably collide. All of us need to learn how to be Western Wall. A man asked if he had anywhere to human and holy. go for Shabbat dinner and invited Josh to join him. And in our adulthood, Jewish learning helps us to So began a journey of transformation and Josh never realize the larger purposes that can define our life’s left Jerusalem. value and meaning. Our tradition is a storehouse of He opened the book of Exodus and asked me to wisdom to inspire us to live in service to something read the first verse. “These are the names of the larger than our immediate personal cares and children of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob…” concerns, and to help us find real meaning and “STOP!” he said. “What’s the matter?” I asked. spiritual fulfillment. That is why the Talmud teaches “There’s so much there!” Josh replied. I didn’t get it. that when two people sit together in study, the And so Josh proceeded to unpack that one verse. presence of God is felt between them. We spent two hours – who was Jacob? When did he Temple Beth El seeks to offer an ever-wider array become Israel? Why does the verse use both names? of opportunities for us to engage in learning, from Mark Sunshine | Nina Finkel | Keith Kronish | Mitch Kronish Why is Egypt called a ‘narrow place’? And I was our earliest years in school through our adolescence, overwhelmed with awe and wonder for the power and adulthood. If we heed the advice of Shammai and depth stored in a single verse of Torah. who said: “Make your study a fixed habit” then we TEMPLE BETH EL PRESIDENT, MARK SUNSHINE, IS A PRINCIPAL OF KRONISH FUNERAL SERVICES. FROM TIME-TO-TIME, BETH EL MAUSOLEUM Life is a short and precious gift. We should do will find our learning will inspire us to righteous REFERS PEOPLE TO MULTIPLE FUNERAL HOMES, INCLUDING KRONISH FUNERAL SERVICES, BUT DOES NOT ENDORSE ONE OVER THE OTHER. everything we can to live deliberately and to make action, to spiritual wholeness, to a life of meaning, best use of that gift. And Jewish learning is the purpose, fulfillment, and peace. *WITH PURCHASE OF PRENEED AGREEMENT On The Cover “Learning” free form mosaic at the Schaefer Family Campus May/June 2021 | THE CHRONICLE 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT What I’ve Learned as Your Temple President This is the last article I will be writing as President events took precedence. members, it always got a big laugh and a frown from nighttime spots in Boca Raton. of Temple Beth El. First, we had the construction project. While Aimee (Dan’s wife)!!! I want to be clear, Rabbi Dan is one of the coolest My term is up, and it is time for transition. I that was a planned event, supplier errors, change rabbis I have ever met. But I have never seen him could not be more enthusiastic about Wendy orders, weather, and many other random issues Jews have been socially “woke” have more than half a beer in a single sitting, and I Walin, Gina Shugar, and the rest of the Board, who preempted almost all new initiatives. for thousands of years am confident that he has no idea where a bunch of will assume office at the annual congregational But the most challenging events had nothing, Simply by entering the Schaefer Family Campus we out-of-town college kids should go out for a truly meeting. They are incredibly dedicated, warm, yet everything, to do with our synagogue. are reminded of Judaism’s eternal commandments wild night on the town. smart, and want to do the best job possible. These terrible events are known simply by on how we are to treat others. The show stopper was a simple question. BY For my last Chronicle article, I want to pass location. Charlottesville, Orlando, Las Vegas, The Torah verses that greet us on the wall in the I asked the kids why they cared about where a MARK SUNSHINE on some of the more important lessons I have Pittsburg Tree of Life, Parkland all took their toll Minkoff Family Welcome Center as we enter Temple middle-aged rabbi who has been married forever TEMPLE BETH EL PRESIDENT learned and maybe make you chuckle a little. and required months to recover. Of course, the Beth El command us to love our neighbors, care for with three kids and an aversion to alcohol would go msunshine@masunshine. So, here goes…. political environment and related fallout created strangers, and love God. out on a Saturday night. com constant background stress. Oh, I almost forgot to And the Social Justice Wall, just to the right, The kids laughed, Aimee chuckled, and Dan Beth El has a world-class team that should mention the pandemic and shutdown as additional embraces equality, kindness, freedom, defending appeared to begin to cry. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 never be taken for granted challenges. the vulnerable, and justice for all. Behind the scenes and in private, the Beth El Often Wendy Walin and I went from person to Jews are commanded by God team is more caring, more considerate, and more person, trying to evaluate who among our staff to fight this fight and have been thoughtful than is reasonable to expect. I know was coping and who needed emotional support. at the vanguard of human rights we should never take what we have for granted. Our team simply cannot serve the needs of the for thousands of years. We, including myself, tend to assume that our congregation if they, themselves, need our help With Gratitude clergy and professional team are always “at their and support. Once, Rabbi Dan best” whenever we meet them. This is a very The last four years were much more taxing took the teasing bait flawed assumption and during the pandemic was for our staff than most congregants. They had A few years ago, we an assumption too many made. to deal with everything that we, as congregants, had a singing group We need to remember that the Beth El team had to negotiate. However, they also took on from NYC perform at comprises individuals who are sometimes the burden of the problems of our congregants, the synagogue after dealing with their own issues, challenges, health including those that lost loved ones to violence, Havdalah services. problems, and emotions. the pandemic, or other tragedy. The singers were all When we forget that our wonderful staff and We did many things to help our staff, some of college students and clergy team may need our help and support, we which worked and others that failed. were exceptional. start down the road of taking the Beth El team for The job of protecting and caring for our clergy Around 9 pm, the granted. and staff was among my greatest challenges and group was sitting in highest honors. the sanctuary, where Never underestimate Cantors Lori or Michelle I found them asking At, or before, Shabbat Services, I tried my hardest Rabbi Dan really wants to be every Rabbi Dan for advice. to lighten up the mood by doing innocent and congregant’s “first call” if they need help At first, I assumed funny things to the clergy team.