TEMPLE BETH EL OF BOCA RATON MAY/JUNE 2017 | IYAR-SIVAN-TAMMUZ 5777 How to make a big temple feel small Finding your niche at Temple Beth El pages 10-13 ANNUAL MEETING page 7 TRAVELING TORAH page 9 BY RABBI DAN LEVIN Points of Connection [email protected] One of my favorite passages in the This is why Jewish tradition teaches Talmud is from the sage Ben Azzai, that holiness and a relationship with who said: “Despise no one, and call God is found in the nexus of community. nothing useless, for there is no one We find God’s presence in the intricate whose hour does not come, and web of relationships we share with each there is no thing that does not have other. The more we come together to be its place.” one with each other, the more we feel I love this passage because it the spiritual power of connection to our reminds us of the holiness that God who is One. is found in the extraordinary Earlier this year, our wonderful complexity of the universe. Cantorial Soloist Michelle Auslander Everything matters. Everyone is Cohen founded a Boca Raton chapter important. Every contribution we of “HaZamir” — an international represents how Temple Beth El is make to our community makes a Jewish high school choir. Students deeply committed to finding ever difference. Every act of kindness from our community prepared more opportunities for engagement and generosity, of compassion and music all year to participate in the in Jewish life for all our members. goodness contributes to the holiness HaZamir Festival in New York in When you find your niche, the place we seek to grow in our world. late March, where more than 400 where you can contribute and belong There is an essential paradox Jewish singers from around the in our diverse community, there is a to life. At once, we are unique country and Israel spent three days sense of transcendent connection individuals. Each of us stands alone of intense rehearsals culminating in that enriches the soul and enlivens in the world. From the moment we a concert at the Metropolitan Opera the spirit. are born, we have our individual House in New York City. It was an Our congregation offers so many needs, wants and desires. We each extraordinary concert and the music different ways to connect. Some have our own way of thinking about was deeply moving. find their connection through adult our world and our lives. One of the students mentioned learning. Others find a connection At the same time, we are all that she was overwhelmed by the through participation in social action intimately related to each other. No one really ever stands apart. When you find your niche, the place where you can contribute While there are times when we feel and belong in our diverse community, there is a sense of transcendent separate or alone, ultimately we are connection that enriches the soul and enlivens the spirit. all connected to each other. We share similar biology and genetics. We power and emotion that she felt projects. Some find a connection share the environment that sustains when she first heard the full choir through engagement in worship. our lives and all that lives. We sing together. It was fun to sing Still others find a connection share a congregation, a community, with the small group in our local through the camaraderie found with a heritage, and a history. We share chapter, but to join with hundreds of other parents in Parenthood, in moral principles and values and other voices singing in rich harmony friendships forged in Brotherhood traditions, and a mission to be a inspired a deeper sense of holiness or Sisterhood, in evenings with Adult conduit through which God’s light in the experience. Experiences, the Circle of Friends or and energy can flow into our world. I mention HaZamir because it [CONTINUED ON PAGE 30] May/June 2017 • THE CHRONICLE 3 A MESSAGE FROM BARRY PODOLSKY Passing the Baton As we enter the homestretch of our fiscal year and and Cohen Atrium will begin in June (and will of my term as president, I offer a few reflections. be ready for the High Holy Days in September). On the national level, our President is definitely We are in for permit on the major renovation doing things differently. Whether you agree with to the Schaefer Campus. This will be a his policies and style, the country wanted change transformative project and should take us to our and he is delivering. We all hope the result will be 100th anniversary. (I’ll be watching from crypt for the good of ALL people. So much of what we D-302.) So I may not be your president, but I’m do at Temple relates to Tzedakah (helping to level never leaving! Temple Beth El President Barry Podolsky the playing field) and Social Action. We lead with I want to extend my sincere thanks to our [email protected] our heart. I hope our political leadership on all clergy, staff and lay leaders. Patty Beck handed 954-326-2180 levels will demonstrate this thinking. me the gavel of a fine-tuned organization. Change at Temple is coming too. The new slate Hopefully, I helped to move the bar a bit higher. of talented and dedicated officers & trustees will Finally, I want to thank Susan, my partner of be ratified at the Annual Meeting on May 12th. A 43 years. I was lucky when she first said “Yes” new Director of Youth Education and Engagement, and I’ve been lucky every day since. While Heather Erez arrives in July to lead our K – 12 you see me in the forefront, she really is the programs. I know many of you will be hosting small wind beneath my wings. Without her support, gatherings to welcome her into the Beth El family. patience and counsel, I would not have fulfilled We just created a special task force to build my lifelong dream of being your president. a new model to develop Temple programming. Some say the happiest day for a Temple With almost 5,000 members (1,500 families), we president is when he can add “immediate past” offer a lot of programs but we need to be sure in front of his title. At Beth El, nothing could be they have clear objectives and logical methods to further from the truth. I’ve loved every minute. measure results. Watch for their progress. P.S. Yes, you can still call or email! Interior renovations of the Singer Sanctuary Welcome NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS For help getting involved, please contact Elinor Josephson, Director of Engagement and Programming, at [email protected] or 561-391-8900. Nancy and Stewart Ascher Sally and Arthur Goldner Lauren and Hunter Outcalt Marisa and Dave Balestriere and their Breanna and Eric Goldstein Milton Plotsker children, Madyson and Grayson Merav and Jonathan Gosselin Shari and Marc Roberts and their Eve and Brandon Balassiano and their daughter, Jordyn children, Alexa and Brandon and their daughter, Eliana Deb and Joe Gudema and Drs. Coley and Jared Rosenfeld Carmel and Peter Baronoff their daughter, Maya and their son, Ben Alexandra Bernstein and her children, Jessica and David Gussack and their Erica and Darren Sevel and their son, Charlie Jordan, Summer and Noah daughters, Avery and Brayden Kimberly and Tal Shpritzman Silvia and Eric Carrender and their Bonnie and Steve Kanowitz and their son, Dylan sons, Eric and Sebastian Jamie and Daniel Kirschner and their Chelsea and Brian Tenace and their Tam and Derek Dubner and their children, Emery and Madeline daughters, Valen and Davie children, Sabrina, Ari and Levi Abigail Langweiler and Robert Helmsorig Beth Tavlin Sandra Ehrlich and Richard L. Miller and their daughters, Stella and Olivia Jennifer and Michael Vucko and Donna and Stuart Ganslaw Candy and Alan Melcer and their daughter Aaliyah Jade and Jhoel Gaona and their son, Aiden their daughter, Mackenzie Luisa and Dr. Mark Werner and their Naomi Gersh Robyn Mohr and her children, Sarah and Alex daughters, Amy and Penelope 4 THE CHRONICLE | tbeboca.org Welcome Heather Erez OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF YOUTH EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT It was the hugs that did it. When I came to visit Temple Beth El to interview, search committee members, staff, clergy, and parents all hugged me. I knew, before I even walked into the official group interview, that I wanted to be a part of this community. Even more so, I wanted my family to be a part of Beth El. Coming into a religious school of this caliber is exciting and awe inspiring. I am humbled by the decades of great work Robin has put into the school and energized by the ideas and brainstorming I am already having with the education team, youth and education committee and clergy. I look forward to meeting and partnering with the students and parents; hearing your dreams and wishes for the school and working together to achieve them. I have always been active in my reform Jewish community growing up near Monterey, California. I went to UAHC Camp Swig, was president of our regional NFTY board, lived on a kibbutz in Israel for six years and then chose to work in Jewish education when I returned to the states. I worked on college campuses as the Assistant Director of San Francisco Hillel while attending HUC-JIR to receive an Executive Masters in Religious Education. As the Director of Youth and Family Education at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco, I realized I was hooked; Jewish supplemental education is the perfect blend of Judaism and education for me.