“Meeting you where you are” BULLETIN November/December 2018 | Heshvan/Kislev/Tevet 5779 Volume XLX, No. 3 What do Election Day (Nov. 6), our nation’s early settlers came to the New Thanksgiving (Nov. 22) and Chanukah World seeking religious freedom, so did our (beginning the evening of Dec. 2) have in Maccabee ancestors fight to overthrow the common? They each embody both oppressive yolk of the Greco-Syrians who American and Jewish fundamental values. sought to deny the Jews’ right to practice their faith. According to a central tenet of On Tuesday, Nov. 6, we will go to the polls the Jewish worldview, every human being to vote for candidates we believe will best has the right to worship their God as they advocate for the issues we support. No see fit. Tolerance for the beliefs of others matter where you fall on the political and respect for religious freedom is one of spectrum or who you are voting for, just by our most cherished American birthrights. exercising your democratic rights, you are paying tribute to our most deeply held More than 350 years ago, the first Jews set religious principles. foot on American soil. Though Jews have thrived in other lands, nowhere has there The Jewish view of human society affirms been greater accord between the core that all people, not only Jews, are equal in Rabbi Robert S. Goldstein values of our Jewish heritage and the the eyes of God. Every creation embodies a principles of America’s cherished spark of the Divine and therefore deserves while not a specifically sectarian religious democracy. respect. According to the Mishna, a holiday, is a time to give thanks for the compendium of Jewish law and lore, blessing of living in this country, a land of We affirm these values when we go to the Adam, the first man, was created out of freedom and liberty. Gratitude is an polls to vote. On Thanksgiving, we have dust gathered from all corners of the world inherently spiritual expression. The motzi the much-needed opportunity to express so that no people could say their ancestors said before meals acknowledges that so our gratitude for the abundance of our were greater in the eyes of God than much of what we have is a function of our blessings, and on Chanukah, we celebrate others. As Thomas Jefferson wrote unearned but much-cherished good our own unique Jewish heritage as we referring to every human being, “They are fortune. Similarly, Thanksgiving is an embrace and honor the American doctrine endowed by their Creator with certain opportunity to recognize that our of religious freedom and tolerance. unalienable rights.” Each time we vote, we abundance is the result of grace. Though I urge you to pay tribute to this remarkable acknowledge this truth. Every pull of the sadly there are still those who know the legacy by voting next Tuesday, and I wish lever or circle we fill in on the ballot carries ache of hunger in America, few of us the same weight, regardless of one’s experience the hardship of poverty and you a happy Thanksgiving and a joyous wealth, social status, heritage or power; it want. Thanksgiving is an occasion to Chanukah! is an affirmation of our equal status in the appreciate the cornucopia with which we eyes of the state and the dignity with which are blessed. each of us is endowed by our Creator. Chanukah is probably the most “American” Our American celebration of Thanksgiving, holiday on the Jewish calendar. Just as Dear Fellow and hear from Rena Finder, the Congregants, youngest Holocaust survivor from WHAT’S INSIDE Schindler’s List. As I mentioned in my On Tuesday, November 13 at 7:00 pm 3 speech on Kol Nidre we Music at Temple Emanuel are starting to make join Professor Jonathan Silverman plans to commemorate for a discussion on the book A the 100th Anniversary of Trumpet in the Wadi by Sami 5 Amy Riemer, Temple Emanuel and in Michael. Education President the coming months we On Sunday, November 18 at 5:00 pm will be looking to you to join us for Movie and Deli Night to 6 help us identify ways to honor our past and see the movie “The Flat”, a Sisterhood plan for the future with shared stories, events and more. If you are interested in documentary about family secrets. getting involved with this milestone event, Event is $15 per person. 7 please send me an email at On Sunday, December 2 at 11:30 am Brotherhood [email protected] and we will invite you join us for our Annual Chanukah to our first planning meeting. We are Party hosted by Sisterhood. 8 looking for people who are interested in On Friday, December 7 join us for our November and December historic research, event planning, group Chanukah Night of Music. This B’Nai Mitzvah learning and have ideas for other initiatives. evening of music and celebration In the meantime, as the weather gets begins at 6 pm and includes 9 performances by our children and chillier outside we invite you to come to Service Information Temple Emanuel. As you know every Friday adult choirs, the Soul Sisters, the night services start at 6:00 pm and on Abbas all led by Cantor Irelander Saturday morning we invite you to join us and Gitit Shoval. Bring the family – 11 for our Minyan services from 9:00 – 10:30 it is a wonderful way to kick off the Chanukah Blessings Festival of Lights. am in the Chapel. We are lucky to have a very dedicated group of adults who gather For all other upcoming events visit 15 to pray and discuss the Torah portion each www.templeemanuel.net/events. Contributions week and we invite you to join them. Here is a list of several upcoming events these I would like to thank Derek Leider Masonry 18/19 coming months: for the generous gift of the replacement of On Sunday, November 4 at 9:00 am join our broken sidewalk. Calendars us for the Shack Brunch and Enjoy the upcoming holiday season and we Lecture to hear from conservative Back Page of course look forward to seeing you in the columnist Jeff Jacoby. Shack Brunch & Lecture coming months. On Thursday, November 8 at 7:00 pm join us for our annual commemoration of Kristallnacht BULLETIN November/December 2018 Heshvan/Kislev/Tevet 5779 Volume XLX, No.3 Next Bulletin deadline is Monday, December 10. Please email submissions to Maureen Chapman at [email protected]. ON THE COVER KEEP US INFORMED From left to right: Jim (B&R), Gail Weisman, Laurie Cox-Schreiber, Holly Roberts, Susan Help us stay up to date by telling us Sirois (B&R), Amy Sebell (Bread & Roses Chair), Tony (B&R), Angelo (B&R), Joel Alson, and about changes in your life. Jeremy (B&R). See page 10 for article on our incredible Yom Kippur Food Drive! Email Beth Shiro at [email protected] or 2 978.470.1356 MUSIC AT TEMPLE EMANUEL Shalom Chaverot V’Chaverim, The Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class and we will learn Hebrew, Torah Tropes, Jewish Introduction to Hebrew is a two-year history, Jewish customs and traditions. Chanukah is around the corner, but it feels program that begins this month! Those of The highlight will be a Friday Night like the High Holidays have just ended! graduation service, in which you will chant Our greatest musical event of the year, the Friday night prayers, will be called up CHANUKAH NIGHT OF MUSIC, is on Friday for your own Aliya and chant from the night, December 7th. The Soul Sisters, Torah! If you are interested, or would like Abbas, Religious School and Preschool to get more information, please contact students all join together for this fun and me. entertaining event. If you are interested in joining one of our musical groups, please And for my last program announcement… come and see me. It is always wonderful to A couple of years ago we started a program add more talent to our music programs! I called “Jew Jam”, an informal musical would like to take this opportunity and say program for adults. Whether you play a Kol hakavod to the Soul Sisters who were guitar or other instrument, or have always guest performers last month at a wanted to learn but never had the time to Congregation in Malden! I feel fortunate to do so, now it is your chance! The level of be part of such a musical and talented playing is not important at all. You can be congregation. There are not many temples at an entry, beginning level, or be an that are blessed with not just one, but two Cantor Idan Irelander established musician. Just come and have “touring” musical groups who are invited a good time with fellow congregants! you who never had a Bar or Bat Mitzvah as guest performers at local temples! This before, or had one at the young age of is a great way to spread around the great thirteen, now have the opportunity to things Temple Emanuel is offering! celebrate one as an adult. In this program Did you know? We have a Band that plays on some Friday nights? They are the Abbas! A few years ago, under the leadership of Cantor Idan Irelander, a few congregants agreed to form a band. The goal was to relive some of our glory days, but also add some spirit to a few events each year at Temple Emanuel in Andover. The band of dads grew from four to seven and they’ve become known as the “in- house band” at the Temple.