In this issue August/September 2013 Av 5773–Tishrei 5774 The Gift of Renewal: Making the Most of a New Beginning The summer is ending so we prepare to usher in a new season. This, of course, means that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is For more information, Calendar approaching and we are once more asked to contemplate what it means 577 4 of Events, Rabbis' sermons, and to begin anew. Fortunately we find in Parshat Shoftim a wonderful verse for Emergency School Closings be that has the potential to give us great insight into what the process sure to check our website at www. of renewal entails: “Shoftim...titen lekha b'kol sha'arekha – Judges you nssbethel.org or call 847-432-8900. shall place in all your gates”. On the surface this verse simply means that the Israelites were commanded to set up a judicial system in each Learn of our communities. However, the Iturey Torah, a popular Chasidic Our Schools pg.15-16 commentary, reads into this a deeper spiritual meaning as this verse New Year of Learning Center Pullout is always read as the month of Elul is ushered in – the month we are supposed to begin the period of introspection and contemplation that will prepare us for the High Holidays. According to this commentary Pray From the Desk the “gates” referred to here are not physical gates at all but the seven High Holidays Schedule pg.11 “gates of the soul”. Thus, according to this commentary, spiritually Sukkot Service Schedule pg.13 of Rabbi Schwab this verse acts as an imperative for engaging in the process of deep Kabbalat Shabbat on the Lake pg.32 introspection, “judging” ourselves truthfully on the ultimate level of the soul. Therefore, this command to place “judges at the gates” represents our task at this time of the year to become especially mindful Community of who we are, of what our shortcomings might be, of how we can Honey Bear Kosher Gift Box pg.8 improve and remake ourselves to better serve our loved ones, the wider Social Action in Action pg.12 community and God. Schach & Lulav pg.19 This process is critical to our understanding of renewal because it is Sukkah Walk pg.32 part and parcel of what we mean by preparing to do Teshuvah, the act of repentance that defines the High Holidays and which is represented by the shofar. The phrase “Rosh Hashanah”, the head of the year, never actually appears in the Torah. The Biblical holiday we celebrate on the first day of Tishrei was originally called “Yom Hazicaron Truah” – the day of blowing the shofar. Therefore, it is the symbol of the shofar that gives Rosh Hashanah it’s meaning. The rabbis tell us that the purpose of Mission Statement the shofar’s blast is to bring us to a state of alert mindfulness in order to help us prepare for the atonement we hope to achieve on Yom Kippur. We are a congregation of families and individuals Therefore, the tekiah serves as a sharp reminder to shift our gaze from who come together to pray, to study, and to create the material world around us and what it can do for us, to our own a warm and welcoming community. We seek to individual souls, all seven gates, and to contemplate how we can do a preserve and enhance our People's traditions better job of serving others. within the context of Conservative Judaism. We This process of teshuvah, though difficult to undergo, should be aspire to strengthen our Jewish identity to meet seen as a great gift. We are so fortunate that each year Judaism allows the challenges of a changing environment. We us an opportunity to pull ourselves out of any of the negative patterns endeavor to provide resources to help us relate we have fallen into during the course of our lives. Theologically, we to God, understand the ways of God and enrich proclaim during the High Holidays our belief that God understands the Jewish content of our lives. We encourage that we have faults and that God not only welcomes our attempt at our members to serve worthwhile causes within atonement and improvement, but believes in our ability to accomplish our Congregation and the wider Jewish and world both. Yom Kippur, with its message of renewal, expresses supreme communities. We are committed to support Israel. We educate our children so they commit to the optimism – optimism that we can improve our relationships with cultural, spiritual, and ethical values of our People. (continued on page 2) August-September 2013/ Av 5773-Tishrei 5774 1 From the Desk of Rabbi Schwab The Gift of Renewal: Making the Most of a New Beginning (continued from page 1) others, optimism that we can overcome obstacles, optimism that My prayer, therefore, is that we all have the foresight and ability to we can participate more fully in our Jewish tradition and optimism embrace this season of teshuvah (repentance) with the deep level of that we can do a better job at caring for others. It is no wonder that introspection it demands and, moreover, to see the High Holidays Yom Kippur was described by our ancient Sages in the Mishnah as as the true gift they are, moments in time that bequeath to us much a holiday of celebration. For at the conclusion of Yom Kippur each needed optimism and hope in ourselves and in our world. person had the opportunity to claim the gift of hope that Yom Shanah Tovah! Kippur bestows upon us each year. For at that moment each of us has the chance to see the world through new eyes, to see a world forgiven and renewed with new potential and better outcomes. Shabbat Schedule See calendar for times. Monday through Friday Shabbat, August 3 Shabbat, September 7 Mornings, 7:15am Birkat Ha'Hodesh Shabbat Shuvah Parashat Re'eh Parashat Ha'azinu Sunday through Thursday Torah: Deuteronomy 11:26 –16:17 Torah: Deuteronomy 32:1–32:52 Evenings, 7:30pm Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11–55:5 Haftarah: Hosea 14:2–10; Joel 2:15– 27; Micah 7:18–20 Sunday and Legal Holiday Shabbat, August 10 Mornings, 8:45am Parashat Shoftim Shabbat, September 14 Rosh Hodesh Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9 Yom Kippur/Yizkor Mornings, 7:00am Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12 –52:12 Shabbat, September 21 Services are conducted by: Shabbat, August 17 Hol Hamoed Sukkot Rabbi Vernon H. Kurtz, Rosh Hodesh Elul Torah: Exodus 33:12–34:26 Rabbi Michael Schwab, Parashat Ki Titze Haftorah: Ezekiel 38:18–39:16 Hazzan Larry B. Goller Torah: Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19 Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1–10 Shabbat, September 28 Birkat Ha'Hodesh Shabbat, August 24 Parashat Bereshit Parashat Ki Tavo Torah: Genesis 1:1–6:8 Torah: Deuteronomy 26:1– 29:8 Haftorah: Isaiah 42:5 – 43:10 11:00am Every Shabbat Haftarah: Isaiah 60:1–22 Tot Shabbat/Mini Minyan B'yachad Shabbat, August 31 Services for families with Selichot children 2nd grade and younger Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelekh Junior Congregation Torah: Deuteronomy 29:9–29:30 Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10–63:9 Services for students in 3rd - 5th grade August-September 2013/ Av 5773-Tishrei 5774 2 President's Corner by Lisa Rosenkranz I’ve been addressed as Madame President a lot in the last few committees to identify at least 2 new programs that they would like to months. I have to admit, it feels a bit foreign. I certainly never try in the next year that will enhance our community. expected or planned to become President of NSSBE (but then, One of the most exciting and visible projects going on right who does?), but Beth El has been an important part of my and my now is the renovation of the Blumberg Auditorium. It will truly family’s life for many years and this seemed like the right thing to become a jewel of our campus and enable us to take advantage of do. I spoke to many people before deciding to accept this position. this incredible property on the lake that our founders acquired for Andrew Brown, our immediate past president, made a point that us. It has taken tremendous planning, effort, dedication and time really resonated with me. He commented that a synagogue has a to bring this to fruition. I thank Karen Kesner, Seth Pines and the very direct impact on people’s lives. This is the place where the most other members of the House Committee - Stuart Cohen, Richard meaningful and emotional life events occur. Many of our strongest Becker, & Michael Carney - who have devoted innumerable hours to memories are associated with Synagogue life and Jewish ritual. And the planning and management of this project to ensure that it has a I realized I want to have an opportunity to positively impact your very successful completion. And, of course, nothing happens in this experience with Beth El. building without the extraordinary efforts of our Executive Director, I hope to get to know many of you over my two year term. To Chuck Kahalnik. start that process, let me tell you a little about me. My husband I want to thank our very generous and gracious donors who Jeff and I have been members here for over 20 years. Neither of us made this all possible. I also want to thank Sisterhood who donated are from the Chicago area, but we both grew up in conservative $100,000 towards the completion of the new staging area that is synagogues. We have two wonderful sons, Ben who is 18 and being created next to the kitchen where the stage used to be.