Kol K .I. July/August 2019 l Sivan/Tammuz/Av 5779 learn. inspire. grow. together. 16 Colt Road l Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 l 413.445.4872 l knessetisrael.org • Rabbi David Weiner l Richard Simons, President Shabbaton Weekend features Dr. David Ellenson An exciting opportunity to learn, be inspired, and grow…together Our much anticipated annual Shabbaton/ Our gratitude goes to Rabbi Jan Kaufman Scholars’ Weekend will take place Friday, July who is celebrating the 40th anniversary of 19 and Saturday, July 20. The speaker will be her ordination from Hebrew Union College Dr. David Ellenson, a renowned thinker and by sponsoring both the Shabbaton Scholars’ leader in American Judaism, who is currently Weekend, and the Shabbat luncheon. serving as Interim President of Hebrew Union Please send payment for the Friday, July 19 College—Jewish Institute of Religion. dinner by Monday, July 8: $20 adults, $15 There will be three learning opportunities: teens, 12 & under free. Please also register the number in your party for the complementary 1). Friday Night Presentation: At 7:40 p.m., fol- Shabbat lunch on July 20. lowing our Shirei Shabbat service (5:30 p.m.) and Kosher Shabbat dinner (6:30 p.m.), Dr. El- lenson will present, “One Rabbi’s Approach to 3). Saturday, After Shabbat Kiddush Jewish Faith: A Personal Reflection.” The rabbi and Lunch: “Two Approaches to 19th will describe his own Jewish journey from an Century Liberal Judaism and Their Impli- Orthodox childhood in Virginia to the Reform cations for the Jewish Community Today: rabbinate. He will discuss how thinkers such Samuel Holdheim and Zacharias Fran- as Buber and Rosenzweig, feminists like Falk, kel.” Here Rabbi Ellenson will present Plaskow, and Adler, as well as Zionists like Herzl and Ahad Haam, have shaped his own and analyze the teachings and ap- approach to Jewish faith and life. In so doing, he will reveal how his own Jewish reli- proaches to Judaism of two of the major gious journey mirrors developments in the modern world. figures in post-Emancipation German Judaism. Rabbi Samuel Holdheim was an 2). Shabbat Morning Torah Discussion: “Jewish Communal Belonging: What Responsa advocate of a radical brand of Reform Ju- Have to Teach Us.” Here he will take Jewish legal texts from the 19th century dealing daism that ultimately took root in Amer- with patrilineality and conversion to reflect on Jewish communal attitudes towards ica, while Rabbi Frankel championed a inclusion, outreach, and boundaries in the modern world. He will look specifically at positive-historical approach to Judaism halakhic writings of Rabbis Zvi Hirsch Kalischer, Esriel Hildesheimer, and David Zvi Hoffmann to frame this conversation. continued on page 5 In This Issue Member Mitzvahs & Mazel Tovs Shabbaton Weekend ............................1 n Jerry and Barbara Hayden are hav- n Bea Selig was awarded the Russell Member Mitzvahs ................................2 ing a year with more than one mitzvah. Sage College “Woman of Influence” From the Rabbi....................................3 Their granddaughter, Rachel, graduated award, 2019. Mazel Tov to Bea on this summa cum laude in May from Syracuse recognition. July/August Calendar ...........................6 University, and their grandson, Dylan, be- Lunch & Learn ........................................10 came a Bar Mitzvah in June. Mazel tov! Member Birthdays & Anniversaries........page 14 JTS in the Berkshires .................. 11 & 17 B’nai Mitzvah Class Story ........................15 Bat Mitzvah Spotlight On: Amy Brentano .................12 n Elisheva Caine will be called to the Torah as a Berk. Jewish Film Festival Schedule ....16 Bat Mitzvah on August 31. Ellie is now an 8th grader Yahrzeits, Funds & Endowments ....18-21 at Richmond Consolidated School where she excels academically, consistently making high honors. She .............................................and more! enjoys her English class and has earned a spot at the Regional Science Fair for the past 2 years. K.I. Staff Her Jewish education began with preschool at Sinai OFFICE PHONE 413-445-4872 Academy, and has continued with Knesset Israel/ Chai Hebrew School, as well as three summers at RABBI DAVID WEINER Ext. 10 Camp Ramah in New England. [email protected] Ellie is a talented musician, and plays the flute in DIANA MACFARLANE Ext. 10 the Junior District Concert Band. In her free time, Office Manager Ellie enjoys ice skating, snuggling with her cat, and [email protected] playing with her beloved dog, Lily. It was her love ED ROBINSON of animals that inspired her Tikkun Olam project in [email protected] which she designed a canvas tote bag to sell to raise MYRNA HAMMERLING Ext. 16 Elisheva Caine money for the Berkshire Humane Society. Director of Adult Education and Programming [email protected] CHRIS GOETZE Ext. 20 B'nai Mitzvah Class Facilities Director/Head Custodian [email protected] A unique class completes its year-long training JUDITH WEINER Ext. 15 Director of Families Together, and Hebrew School Administrator [email protected] ELISA SNOWISE B’Nai Mitzvah Teacher /Coordinator [email protected] LIZ DEMARCO, Web Administrator, [email protected] KNESSET ISRAEL 16 Colt Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-445-4872 413-496-9378 (fax) knessetisrael.org For the entertaining story of this "hungry" class turn to page 15. 2 n KOL K.I. • JUNE 2019 • IYAR / SIVAN 5779 From the Rabbi Welcome to Summer at Knesset Israel Joy, meaning, and community— so many opportunities to connect! While the congregation welcomes everyone to services RSVP for dinner and join us for the eve- and programs throughout the year, in July and August ning. Our new Musical Minyan, a mel- we make an extra effort to roll out the red carpet. As you low, acoustically accompanied yet tradi- thumb through this issue of Kol K.I., you will see a remark- tional Friday night service is scheduled able array of opportunities to enjoy Jewish programming for August 2— just drop by and join in. and synagogue life in the Berkshires this summer. Al- And in honor of her ordination, Rabbi though I am away with my family on sabbatical through Jan Kaufman has invited her classmate, the end of August, our program director, Myrna Ham- Rabbi David Ellenson to deliver a series merling, and many lay leaders and rabbinic colleagues of talks at Knesset Israel on July 19-20. have come together to make this a particularly vibrant Recently retired (for the second time) summers for Knesset Israel. from the helm of the Hebrew Union College, Rabbi Ellenson is an extraordi- The core of the Knesset Israel community throughout nary scholar and accomplished leader Rabbi David Weiner the year is the celebration of shabbat. Every shabbat of the American Jewish community. morning this summer, the congregation will enjoy lay- led services and a D’var Torah offered by a rabbi, cantor, or professor who lives or sum- (see our cover story for details) mers in the Berkshires. Each week from July 4 through Labor Day weekend, we will There are opportunities to participate at serve a kiddush luncheon, prepared by Chris Goetze. We have invited authors from Knesset Israel during the week as well. our Berkshires summer community to speak about their books after lunch on several JTS in the Berkshires evolves this year, shabbat mornings. Please consider not only coming and enjoying but also supporting with three presentations related to per- this essential hospitality program with a donation. formances at local musical and theatri- n July 6—Dr. Alan Metzger and Rabbi Yaacov Rone cal venues. One even includes a lecture by a composer about a piece and a live n July 13—Hon. Richard Simons and Rabbi Jan Kaufman; Rabbi Richard Agler string quartet! A grant has enabled us n July 20—Dr. Stuart Masters and Rabbi David Ellenson to cut the cost of attending these three n July 27—Jeffrey Siegel and Rabbi Pam Wax; Elisa and Robert Bildner fascinating programs to $15 each. Our film festival, a mainstay of summer in the n August 3—Laura Rosenthal and Rabbi Serge Lippe; Yvonne Daniel Berkshires, opens an especially promis- n August 10—Dr. Fred Landes and Rabbi Seth Wax ing season and, as always, every dollar n August 17 —Dr. Alan Metzger, Prof. Raisy Weiss; Cantor Sam Weiss; Helene Berger raised benefits Knesset Israel’s Jewish education programs. There are volunteer n August 24—Myrna Hammerling, Professor Raisy Weiss, and Cantor Sam Weiss opportunities associated with many of n August 31—Rabbi David Weiner returns, bat mitzvah of Elisheva Caine K.I.’s summer programs—contact Myrna in the synagogue office for more infor- Other programming will take place on Shabbat as well—K.I’.s signature, band-led mation. Shirei Shabbat service will take place on July 29 and August 23. All are welcome to As you attend programs and services this summer, I hope you’ll take a few extra KOL K.I. Publication Notes minutes to schmooze. Sometimes amaz- Editor: Susan Miller • Production: Liz DeMarco • Photo Editor: Nan Bookless • Printer: Aldam Press ing connections result – everyone seems to meet in the Berkshires, eventually. DEADLINE: THE FIRST OF EVERY MONTH Whether the Berkshires are a new des- We welcome submissions. Publication will be at the discretion of the editorial staff, tination for you, the place you return to every summer or your year-round home, and may be subject to editing for clarity, facts, and length. you can find joy, meaning and communi- Bulletin material and photographs will be accepted VIA EMAIL and sent to: ty at Knesset Israel. Susan Miller at [email protected] KOL K.I. • JUNE 2019 • IYAR / SIVAN 5779 n 3 From the President A Stimulating Summer at K.I. We offer a full schedule to locals, seasonal residents, and visitors In many shuls throughout the country service attendance goes down and programming takes a hiatus during summer months.