Fall 2018 Published in August 2018 Discovering Jewish Humanism, Part 1I Or Emet History from the 2006-2007 Illuminator Archives by Harold Londer, Madrikh Emeritus Or Emet began when Dr. Harold Londer and Dr. Larry Garfin (1934-1993) founded the congregation in 1983. Before and after becoming a Madrikh in 2007, Harold dedicated himself to guiding the congregation with vision and leadership. Now he has retired from lead responsibilities and transitioned into a Madrikh Emeritus role. Or Emet will continue to benefit from Harold’s thought-provoking articles anchoring each issue of The Illuminator. For historical context to Or Emet’s 30th anniversary, celebrating affiliation with the Society for Humanistic Judaism this October, the Spring 2018 Illuminator started a two-part series about Or Emet’s early years. Harold’s second history article follows. I think the most significant early event in our We picked up additional key members over the years: evolution was our decision to have a “High Holidays Ralph/Evelyn Lessen, Len/Rollie Langer, Zev/Karen Service.” We rented a room at the St. Louis Park City Aelony, Lionel/Edith Davis, Barry Cohen/Molly Wilbur Hall Building (right down the hall from the Police Cohen, Dave/Joan Barnett, Eleanor Kragseth, Dave Department). Zarkin, and others were early members. One of my fondest memories is sitting around my We officially affiliated as a congregation with the dining room table putting that original service Society for Humanistic Judaism out of Detroit. We together. Larry and I were there, along with Gail began to charge dues (lost a few over that decision). We Farber. We had texts scattered all over the table and moved our meetings to the Jewish Community Center. floor: Bibles, prayer books, Jewish commentary, poetry collections, Humanistic Judaism literature, On a personal level, I began to take course work to sample services, etc. This was pre-word processing. qualify as a Madrikh. I attended many weekend We cut and pasted and then cut and pasted some more. seminars in Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, I will never forget the moment when I had to cut a Chicago, etc., learning much about Humanistic Judaism reading out of a traditional Jewish text. I had been and trying to bring this knowledge back to the taught in my early days that these books were sacred, congregation. My wife and I went to Israel with a group literally to be kissed if dropped on the floor. Here I led by Rabbi Wine. was snipping out a fragment!! It was painfully difficult. We realized we were almost the same as the rabbis and scholars of old who had put together their collections of readings into “services.” This idea made me feel much better. We finally xeroxed the finished product and had our service! We played a tape of Neil Diamond singing Kol Nidre. None of us had musical talent and there was no piano at the police station. We continued to meet on a regular basis. We had annual seders at my house until we hit 50 [people]or Harold Londer and Rabbi Sherwin Wine —date unknown so and outgrew that space - at least my wife Jan convinced me we had, but I loved the packed feeling. — Discovering Jewish Humanism continued on page 12 President’s Message The Onboarding Learning Curve by Scott Chazdon The Illuminator I am writing this message after my daughter Leah’s bat mitzvah weekend. This was the first personal Jewish humanist life cycle event in which I've participated and it was Or Emet’s member newsletter is published in amazing! Working with Eva Cohen, Ellen and I were able to put together such a August • December • April meaningful service. We found many resources from other Or Emet families as well as [email protected] through the Society for Humanistic Judaism. It was so interesting sharing this service Editor and Publisher with our Jewish relatives, none of whom had been exposed to Humanistic Judaism Joan Barnett before, as well as our non-Jewish friends, who were moved by the readings, music, Co-Editor and relevance of the material. Susan Weinberg Copy Editor The “onboarding” learning curve as new President has been steep! I was already on the Carol Logan Executive Committee last year serving as Vice President, but I did not fully understand the scope of the President’s role and the incredible contributions made by a large Madrikh Emeritus number of members that keep this organization afloat. At the Annual Meeting, Janet Harold Londer Mayer unfurled a 9 foot long “scroll” with a list of volunteer contributors to the [email protected] organization. Later several members stepped up to new volunteer roles. One of our Rabbinic Candidate new innovations is to have people in charge of “stage managing” our Shabbat and and Ritual Leader Sunday programs. The “stage manager” doesn’t have to do the food purchasing, Eva Cohen [email protected] literature, food, audiovisual set-up, or clean-up, but does have to make sure there are people set up to do it and make sure it gets done! We’ve had several wonderful Jewish Cultural School volunteers willing to do this. Arty Dorman, Director The Executive Committee, working with Richard Logan, has also been busy planning [email protected] for the weekend visit of Paul Golin, Executive Director of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, from October 11th to 14th. Rich Sonenblum has graciously volunteered to Executive Committee coordinate the logistics for Paul’s visit. President Scott Chazdon The Executive Committee has a new at-large member – Barbara Cohen. Barbara moved [email protected] from Oceanside, California, to Minnesota two years ago and immediately became Vice President active in the Or Emet community where she was thrilled to find a flourishing Janet Mayer humanistic congregation. In California, Barbara was on the leadership team of Kahal Treasurer Am, The Humanistic Jewish Community of San Diego. With degrees in Occupational Sharon Miller Therapy and Learning Disabilities, Barbara’s career was focused on teaching and child evaluation. She continues to use her skills volunteering with adult beginning English At-Large Members Natalie Rosinsky language learners. Barbara Cohen Finally, the High Holidays planning committee has been hard at work. Carrie Dickson and Sarah Berman-Young created a new sign-up process for readings during the Or Emet Contacts Phone 612.787.7812 services. We will have music integrated into the High Holidays service booklets this [email protected] year, as well as a revitalized Tashlich service. Sean Neill, who has done a wonderful job Website with public relations over the past year, is stepping down, so we are still looking for a www.oremet.org replacement for him. Thankfully, Sean is able to help us with publicity for the High Holiday season. Or Emet Affiliations During Leah’s bat mitzvah service, we sang the song “L’Shanah Haba’ah,” which we’ll be singing again at the High Holidays. The refrain from that song, given the current state of affairs in our country, resonated with me far more this year than it ever has and. International Institute before: for Secular Humanistic Od tir-eh od tir’eh, kama tov yihiyeh, bashanah bashana haba’ah. Judaism (IISHJ) You will yet see, you will yet see, how good it will be next year. 2 Jewish Cultural School Update by Arty Dorman Director of the Or Emet Jewish Cultural School I am excited to begin my second year as director of Or to my despair over where our country is heading. Emet’s Jewish Cultural School. With the cycle of a Their greatly varied B’Mitzvah projects (see page 6) full year behind me, I will be all the better prepared each demonstrated their willingness to work hard and for the flow of the season, the organizing of each apply skills at organizing and presenting factual special event, and meeting the needs of our students information in a clear and engaging manner. Their and teachers. I look forward to seeing your terrific personal commentaries on the Torah section assigned kids back, starting on September 16th, and welcoming to the week of their B’Mitzvah revealed them to be a number of new students and their families. bright, insightful, and passionate about the values of Happily, our wonderful team of experienced teachers humanism and commitment to making our world a is returning – Josh Kaplan, teaching the Littles (age 3 better place. through Kindergarten), Colline Roland teaching the Their teacher, Eva Cohen, deserves much of the Middles (grades 1-3), Renee Dorman teaching the credit, as do their parents, but I give most of the Juniors (grades 4 -5), and Eva Cohen, teaching the credit to the students themselves – Ruby, Gwendolyn, B’Mitzvah prep group (grades 6-7). Also returning is Aaron, Leah, and Larissa – for persevering and Sarah Berman-Young to provide mini-lessons on summoning the strength to stand up and make Hebrew language and traditional Jewish songs. We do themselves heard and counted. If you have not have one new team member, Ian Zukor, who will be attended any of these — the entire Or Emet our teaching aide, replacing Ben Drucker who is off to congregation is always invited to the services – I college. Ian is a graduate of the JCS, and it is encourage you to attend one or more B’Mitzvahs wonderful to have him as a terrific role model for our next year, if for no other reason than to know our students. future is, after all, falling into good hands. Speaking of role models, this spring and summer I Your support — whether or not you have children in had the great pleasure of attending the B’Mitzahs of JCS — makes a big difference to the success of our our five “graduating” JCS students, starting with program.