CONGREGATIONCHRONICLE NEVEH SHALOM March/April 2010 Adar-Iyyar- 5770 No. 5 This newsletter is supported by the Sala Kryszek Memorial Publication Fund From the Pulpit From the President Only A Hint The winter months have proven to For most of us, the smells and sounds of our be very busy for your Board of Directors and Pesach Seder evoke treasured memories. Though Committees, and just like the seasons of the for me, as a young child, this was not always year, Spring looks to be bringing with it new the case. Frightened to sing in front of a crowd, challenges illed with great potential. reluctant to snap on a tie, my parents had to bribe The Cantorial Transition Committee me to say the four questions…and geilte ish has completed its work. You can read their and horseradish was not exactly my favorite of inal report to the Board of Directors on our combinations. website at http://www.nevehshalom.org/ Nevertheless, Pesach has become one of my favorite holidays. I iles/cantorial_recommendation.pdf. This have joined the ranks of Jews throughout the world who have committee did excellent work in reviewing made the Seder the most celebrated ritual in modern Jewish life. I various Cantorial models and making have grown to love the Hillel sandwich. And yet, with my newfound recommendations on moving forward as adoration I have noticed something troublesome. Inevitably at every we now enter the process of conducting a Seder, there is always at least one relative who nudges, “How long till search for a replacement. The Cantor Search we eat? Let’s make this a quick one!” Committee held its irst meeting in February, What is the rush? We have likened ourselves to our ancient has received many resumes and may have Israelite ancestors. So eager to move towards freedom, to leave been hosting candidates by the time you the whip of slavery, they ate hurriedly while walking and rushed out read this. Please stay tuned as we continue of Egypt with no time even to bake bread properly. Yet freedom to narrow the ield of choices and begin trial that is rushed is not really true freedom. Independence, liberty, and services. We want as many members as emancipation by their very deinition do not bow down to any outside possible to have input in the process leading restraints. Our ancestors were freed from slavery yet they were not to a decision. truly free. The dean of my rabbinical school, Rabbi Brad Artson, has The Senior Staff and Clergy taught that the people Israel’s exodus from Egypt was incomplete. Process Review Committee has also nearly The Israelite people were not granted the right to move to a new land completed its work. This committee has and make an important life transition according to their own pace. developed a model performance review Furthermore, the mechanism of slavery still remained intact within and contract renewal process for our Clergy Egypt and one cannot truly be considered free while others are left to and Senior Staff. Born out of a concern suffer. As the Jewish people crossed the Red Sea and walked upon by the membership that Staff and Clergy dry land they took only steps towards the promise of true freedom. reviews be conducted in an appropriate Ironically, it is this uninished freedom, restrained by the rushing manner producing positive results, their threat of an approaching enemy and the oppressive forces still report will also be available on our website. at large that became the paradigmatic narrative of the civil rights This is a signiicant accomplishment for our movement and inspired countless liberations throughout history. Congregation and may serve as a model for continued on page 3. the entire Conservative movement. Our inancial status continues to be strong, although relective of the times in which we live. The Finance Committee will be conducting its inal budget hearings soon, producing the 2010 - 2011 iscal year budget. If you can make it to these hearings do so. It Passover 2010/5770 is the best way to learn how our Congregation works. I will have more to say on our inances see page 3 for the full Schedule in next quarter’s report. Wishing everyone a Hag Sameach! Doug Lenhoff Chronicle, No 5 5770 Page 1 Jessica Botney Elayna Caron Kvell With Us March 5th & 6th April 16th & 17th Mazal tov to Albert & Esther Menashe Mazel Tov to Mazel Tov to Jessica on the engagement of their daughter, Botney who is Elayna Caron who Jenelle, to Matthew Hadield. They plan becoming a Bat is becoming Bat an October wedding. Mitzvah on 3.5.10 and Mitzvah on 4.16.10 3.6.10. She is the & 4.17.10. She is Phil & Ros Kane and daughter of Lauren the daughter of Julie Mazal Tov to Phoebe Silver on the birth of their Botney and Richard and Gideon Caron, Botney, big sister to sister to Rachel irst grandson, Samuel Jared Silver, Lana, granddaughter and Miriam, and on Sunday, January 3, born to their of Dorothy Kaufman granddaughter to Dr. daughter & son-in law, Shoshana & and Harold Kaufman (of blessed memory), Gordon and Sidonie Caron and Bette Stephen Silver of San Francisco. and of Eleanor and Allen Botney. “Jessica Levie. sightings” have been regularly reported Elayna is a 7th grader at Catlin Gabel Mazal Tov to Rabbi at Whitford Middle School where she is a School and enjoys sports, listening to Daniel & Carol Isaak 7th grader. Jess enjoys art, music, sports, music, going to dances, and hanging on the birth of their reading, drama, adventure, being with her out with her friends. granddaughter, Hazel friends, texting and laughing out loud. Rivka, on Sunday, January 3, born to Jorden Cohen Jacob W Rappaport their son and daughter in law Ari & Eva Isaak. March 19th & 20th April 23rd & 24th Jacob Steve & Joyce Singer and Mazel Tov to Jorden Mazel Tov to Mazal Tov to Cohen who is W Rappaport who Martin & Grace Rosman of Annapolis on is becoming Bar the adoption of their grandchild Brooklyn becoming Bat Mitzvah on 3.19.10 and Mitzvah on 4.23.10 Nicole, October 4, 2009. Proud parents 3.20.10. She is the and 4.24.10. He is are Staci & Stewart Rosman. daughter of Sallie the son of Daniela and Jon Cohen, Samoil and Michael Mazal tov to Mitch Elovitz, LPC, CADC sister to Emilie, and S Rappaport, and I who started an exciting new position granddaughter to Geri grandson to Ana February 1 as Program Developer for and Len Pearlman, and Moshe Samoil Clackamas County, setting up Adult Helene Slansky and Richard Cohen. and Lillian and Salomon Rappaport. Services Programs for Mental Health. Jacob is a 7th grader at Lake Oswego Jorden is a 7th grader at West Sylvan Middle School and enjoys singing, acting, Junior High School and enjoys training Mazal tov to 2nd Lieutenant David dancing, volleyball, Camp Solomon in Taekwondo, studying plants and Axel, son of Jeff & Sandy Axel, on his wild life, playing the violin, reading and Schecter, Wednesday Night School, and recent graduation from the United States hanging out with her friends. hanging out with friends. Marine Corps Oficer Candidate School. He is currently attending the Marine Jacob Metter Dane Saltzman Corps Basic School in Quantico, Virginia April 9th & 10th and will begin light training this summer. April 30th & May 1st He joins his younger brother, Naval Mazel Tov to Jacob Flight Oficer Ensign Michael Axel, as Mazel Tov to Dane another proud member of our country's Metter who is becoming Saltzman who armed services. Bar Mitzvah on 4.9.10 is becoming Bar and 4.10.10. He is Mitzvah on 4.30.10 the son of Karen Mazal Tov to Eva & and 5.1.10. Dane is Brian Novick on the and Robert Metter, the son of Becki and birth of their daughter, brother to Jennifer and Stephen Saltzman Michael, and grandson and brother of Hanna Adina on to Jean Fischer. Jacob Barkley Saltzman. February 7, 2010. is a 7th grade honor student at Cedar His grandparents are Hills Middle School. Jacob is fun loving Bob and Carol Ginsberg and Hal and Mazal Tov to and easy going. He enjoys playing the Ruth Saltzman, and great grandmother is Jonathan Emanuel saxophone, participating in Kadima and Alice Potter --all of Portland. Dane is a & Cara Buchalter the 13 Mitzvot program. He also enjoys 7th grader at Portland Jewish Academy. Emanuel on the attending Camp Solomon Schechter with His hobbies include wrestling, soccer, birth of their son, his friends, as well as reading and playing rockin' out on the drums, comedy, music Judah Edan on video games. and he has a reading addiction. February 10, 2010. Chronicle, No 5 5770 Page 2 From the Pulpit High School continued from page 1. Graduation Shabbat Perhaps the Exodus from Egypt has become a model for so many because it paves the way towards true freedom and hints Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on at a universal liberation. Our rabbis of old certainly viewed the Friday evening, May 7th , as we celebrate the graduation Exodus as an introduction to a more complete and ideal freedom. of all our High School seniors. Neveh Shalom has The sages of the Midrash explain that our ancestors departure established a tradition of recognizing these students as from Egypt was rushed, but in the messianic era “you will not they are about to embark on their new adventures. We depart in haste, nor will you leave in light.” The Jewish idea look forward to this joyous evening celebrating a parent’s of a messianic era is synonymous with universal liberation.