ADAR II, NISAN, IYAR APRIL/MAY 2016 Or Chadash FOCUS THANK YOU! by Rabbi Alison Kobey I know that I have shared these various prayers with you before, but this article calls for me to do so again. Traditionally in the INTERMARRIAGE morning, Jews around the world recite a prayer, by Rabbi Alison Kobey Modeh/ Modah Ani. It is a prayer of There are many reasons that I love being a thanksgiving for our renewed life after our Reform Jew. We are not “reformed” Jews, as some hours of sleep. Additionally, in our morning people mistakenly call us. By definition, Reform and evening liturgy (prayers) we also say the means that we are always evolving, always Hoda’ah prayer, another prayer of reforming or shifting. For years, I have held the thanksgiving. They are prayers that I love and position that while I personally support any two regularly recite, sometimes in prose, sometimes people’s love leading to marriage and can in song, sometimes in Hebrew, other times in absolutely support the couple, I found myself on English, sometimes privately and also publicly the professional side unable to officiate at wedding within our Shabbat services. Our tradition is ceremonies in which one partner was Jewish and clear about the importance of thanking God and one non-Jewish. I have struggled with the issue for expressing gratitude for our many blessings. years and years in my rabbinate. I have always Today, it is my turn to thank God, of prided myself on being welcoming and recognizing course, but also to thank you, my sacred family. the many entry-points into Judaism. I would work Todah Rabbah, thank you very much. I am with couples regardless of whether I would overcome with joy that your generosity and officiate and would truly welcome everyone into your collective spirit has enabled me to remain our synagogue. But, I also knew that it was as your Rabbi and Director of Education. I am difficult for me to say that I could not directly so grateful that we will be together for years to officiate at certain couples’ weddings and difficult come. When prospective members come to me for others to hear. and I share about the congregation, among the After much thought and struggle about it all many aspects of the synagogue that I always and an awareness of the ever-changing Jewish mention is the incredible heart within Or world, I am shifting my position and have found a Chadash. It is true – your hearts are wonderful, new perspective of Jewish wedding ceremonies. In and I am so blessed to serve as your Rabbi. I other words, I would be willing to officiate at a am truly touched at the advocacy and work of Jewish wedding in which only one person is many of you to support me. I know that the Jewish. As I always do, I would meet regularly Board spent countless hours on my retention as with the couple for pre-marital counseling and well and I am grateful to them for all their ceremony planning. For couples in which only one many hours of labor. I am grateful to all of you person is Jewish, I would also help them both who reached out to me with your words and understand what it means to have a Jewish hugs and who responded to the Board’s calls wedding ceremony and a Jewish home. If my for action. Thank you! criteria and objective standards, such as no Many of you also expressed a new or officiation with clergy from other faiths, are renewed willingness to volunteer. Thank you comfortable for the couple, then I am now content for volunteering too! We will be all the with my officiation at such ceremonies. stronger because of you. If you have not yet I realize over the years that I might have said said yes to volunteering, that is okay. I know it no to you or to a family member of yours. I am —continued on page 3 —continued on page 3 OR CHADASH FOCUS 1 ADAR II, NISAN, IYAR APRIL/MAY 2016 Rabbi E-mail Address: Rabbi Alison Kobey Contacting Us 301-482-1025 Mailing Address P .O . Box 88 Cantorial Soloist Damascus, MD 20872 Josh Rosenberg Web Address Location Telephone and FAX 24800 Kings Valley Road (T) 301-482-1025 Damascus, MD 20872 (F) 301-482-1027 Office Hours To Receive E-mail Updates Tuesday - Friday Send your e-mail address to 8:30am to 1:30pm CONTACT US Religious School Director ................. Rabbi Alison Kobey ....... 301-482-1025 ..... [email protected] Temple Administrator ........................ Deanna Alpaugh ............ 301-482-1025 ..... [email protected] Religious School Administrator ...... Anisha Goyal ................... 301-482-1025 ..... [email protected] President ................................................ Alex Lebedinsky ............. 301-947-4881 ..... [email protected] Vice-President ...................................... Melissa Hyman ............... 301-428-2888 ..... [email protected] Treasurer ................................................ Karl Gussow .................... 301-963-3069 ..... [email protected] Secretary ................................................. Phil Dicken....................... 301-926-7825 ..... [email protected] Immediate Past President .................. Karen Conner .................. 301-540-1567 ..... [email protected] At Large .................................................. Rob Eisenberg ................. 301-253-1922 ..... [email protected] Andrew Felrice ............... 301-515-8570 ..... [email protected] Heather Gould ................ 240-731-1307 ..... [email protected] Howard Lansat ............... 301-315-0818 ..... [email protected] Arthur Miller ................... 603-560-1154 ..... [email protected] Beth Sokoloff ................... 301-466-1216 ..... [email protected] Julie Swain ....................... 301-916-9214 ..... [email protected] Amy Taylor...................... 301-515-3245 ..... [email protected] CORY President ................................... Ben Weishaar................... 240-638-6580 ..... [email protected] CORY Advisory Committee ............. Laura Jackel ..................... 301-461-7955 ..... [email protected] Stephanie Weishaar ....... 301-528-7823 ..... [email protected] CORY NFTY Advisor ......................... Jamie Hendi ..................... 301-471-3611 ..... [email protected] Jr. CORY Advisor................................. OPEN Kiddish Kids ........................................ Karl Nadler ...................... 301-509-5081 ..... [email protected] WCOC/Sisterhood President ............ Sindi Siskind .................... 301-977-9839 ..... [email protected] Brotherhood President ....................... Phil Dicken....................... 301-926-7825 ..... [email protected] Ritual Committee Chair .................... Nancy Goldspiel ............. 301-916-7902 ..... [email protected] Adult Social Group ............................. Joe Baum .......................... 301-233-7482 ..... [email protected] Library Committee ............................. Michael Abrahams ........ 301-428-1025 ..... [email protected] Membership Committee .................... Howard Benowitz .......... 301-947-4056 ..... [email protected] Fundraising Coordinator ................... OPEN Oneg Coordinator ................................ Julie Swain ....................... 301-916-9214 ..... [email protected] Social Action Coordinator ................. Linda Stein ....................... 301-233-0731 ..... [email protected] Religious School Committee ............ Howard Benowitz .......... 301-947-4056 ..... [email protected] Building Administrator ..................... Ray Lessans ..................... 301-355-4990 ..... [email protected] FOCUS Editor ....................................... Beth Sokoloff ................... 301-466-1216 ..... [email protected] Webmaster ............................................. Marti Kerner .................... 202-957-9540 ..... [email protected] E-mail Updates ..................................... Deanna Alpaugh ............ 301-482-1025 ..... [email protected] Dues or Tuition Relief........................ Andrew Colby OR CHADASH FOCUS 2 ADAR II, NISAN, IYAR APRIL/MAY 2016 —Thank you, continued from page 1 —Interfaith Marriage, continued from page 1 is in part because of your own time constraints or sorry if I caused you any pain or any discomfort. I your own uncertainty as to what volunteering ask your forgiveness and hope that you know that my would mean. There are so many opportunities intent has always been, and continues to be, to follow within Or Chadash to help. Some are discrete time our tradition and to do good and to do right in the components, such as maybe coordinating a eyes of Judaism. Shabbat dinner (they do not have to be just within You might be asking why the change now for the Religious School) or helping staple papers or me. I think it is for a few reasons. One, I have not get a mailing out the door. Some might be bigger recently had to say no to a couple nor has a couple time commitments, such as serving on a asked me recently. Thus, this is not about any one committee. Whatever you give is wonderful and person or any one couple, and is not meant to be appreciated so please do not be shy. Just the other personalized in such a manner. Two, as I mentioned, day, I used our newly created “General Rabbi I have wrestled for years and feel that the times really help” list to see if someone could drive to are changing. Finally, the last several months have Wheaton/Silver Spring area to get a book order been an opportunity for great reflection about my that the bookstore cannot deliver. I sent out an e- rabbinate.