WINTER 2018–2019 KISLEV–ADAR 5779 FROM RABBI ZEMEL As Sukkat Shalom’s First Campaign ZIONISM BEGINS Concludes, Sukkat Shalom 2.0 WITH JEWISH Launches To Help Others PEOPLEHOOD By Fran Dauth DEAR FRIENDS, It was at the National Refugee Shabbat The handful of volunteers were soon What is Zionism? service at Temple Micah in October joined by many others to look for ways When I discuss Zionism, I am often misunderstood. People say that Miriam Feffer, vice president of to provide necessities from housing to that my definition and inter- development for HIAS, offered this clothing, to transportation, to educa- pretation are outside the description of how her agency has tional opportunities, and jobs without mainstream. Historically, changed since its founding in 1881: knowing how many would be arriving Zionism has defied a singu- “We used to say the organization or even when. The group named itself lar, agreed-upon definition. helped refugees because they were Sukkat Shalom or Shelter of Peace. It has been called more of a Jewish, today we help refugees because In October of 2017 Sukkat Shalom conversation than an ideology. we are Jews.” members greeted a Muslim family of This attempt to put forward my own Those words rang true for those lis- five from Afghanistan as they arrived understanding of the term will most tening as the congregation contemplates at Washington Dulles International likely frustrate some readers and gener- the official end of its sponsorship of an Airport to embark on a new life in ate disagreements among others. If that is the case, it will be a good example of Afghan family while it studies how to America. the very nature of the ongoing Zionist aid those desperate to enter the United A year later, the family – Amin, 28, conversation. States now when the federal government Maleka, 25, and their children Rezwan, My Zionism begins with Jewish seems hostile to immigration. 6, Rukhsar, 4, and Amir, almost 3 – peoplehood. It is the simple belief that Less than two years ago, a small, but are settled comfortably in suburban Jews, wherever we live across the globe, dedicated group of Temple Micah mem- Maryland. Amin has a driver’s license comprise one very extended family. We bers began exploring how the congre- and works at a bakery. Maleka has are a far-flung, highly diverse family, but gation could help a family to resettle in attained Level 5 in English classes at we are one family. Jews share more than America. Soon a commitment was made Montgomery College. The children are a theology or a set of beliefs; we share to assist a family immigrating from, in school and pre-school. The family has an imagined past—a narrative, if you most likely, the Middle East. ; will. This sharing forms the essence of CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 our peoplehood. What is striking is that there are sec- tions of our narrative that coincide with SILENT PARTNERS, LONG SUPPORTED BY objective, documented history. Our family origins date to a time in which TEMPLE MICAH, CEASES AFTER 27 YEARS we lived in a single house together. That home was the Land of Israel—Zion. OF ASSISTING ONE SCHOOL In the ancient past, the Jews who By Fran Dauth lived in that land forged a shared nar- rative that we have come to call Torah. Twenty-seven years ago the late For 27 years Temple Micah has The legends and laws of Torah bound Lois Roisman, a former member of contributed funds annually to Silent the people together. The cruelties and Temple Micah, gathered a group of her Partners, the organization that grew out vagaries of the Jewish people’s experi- Northwest Washington neighbors in of that meeting long ago. ence drove them from that home, but her living room to discuss ways to sup- In the nearly three decades since the dream of that home persevered. port one elementary school in one poor its inception, Silent Partners supplied CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 ; area of Washington. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ; 2 KISLEV–ADAR 5779 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN “ Every person shall sit under his grapevine or fig tree with no one to make him afraid.” MICAH, CHAPTER 4, VERSE 4 HELP US ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO BE RELEVANT AND BOLD By Marcia Fine Silcox I once served on a local alumnae club find answers. We can look for patterns Vine board. The biggest decision of the year in the demographics or timing of joining Vol. 55 No.3 was how much to charge for the pecans and leaving the congregation. We can TEMPLE MICAH— we sold to raise scholarship funds. After assess fundraising successes and fail- A REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION hours of debating the price of pecans, ures. We can ask bigger questions about 2829 Wisconsin Ave, NW I vowed not to serve being a young Jew or an old Jew or Washington, D.C. 20007 again on that or any unaffiliated Jew in the Washington area. Voice: 202-342-9175 other board. We can look for tested or novel ways to Fax: 202-342-9179 But now, here I am serve all groups. Email: [email protected] [email protected] -- hoping that what our We can look at trends in Machon Web: templemicah.org Temple Micah board enrollment and know more about our does has greater rel- needs for teachers or space. These gen- Daniel G. Zemel evance and thinking erative skills will be invaluable as the RABBI about how to make Micah board looks to reflect and serve Josh Beraha that happen. our congregation. ASSOCIATE RABBI, DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL LEARNING What is the role of a synagogue board? A Leading Us to New Places Stephanie Crawley In a recent conversation Rabbi Zemel ASSISTANT RABBI recent URJ seminar initiated some reflec- said that he thought the board should tion on this question. Like many other Rachel Gross have a more visionary role. Having our EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR congregations, we spend most of our hands full with the functional matters, meeting time dealing with day-to-day Meryl Weiner I disagreed. But I now think he may be CANTOR management issues that a small non- onto something. It’s going to be impera- profit faces: foremost the budget, then Teddy Klaus tive to find new board members and MUSIC DIRECTOR issues of policy, and nitty gritty matters encourage current ones to improve the concerning the building and program- ways in which we envision, articulate, and BOARD OF DIRECTORS matic efforts. Some congregations, I adopt bold steps to manage our future. Marcia Silcox learned, spend a lot of time on person- So in addition to our fiduciary/day-to- PRESIDENT nel issues and satisfying the whims of day duties, we need to find more ways to Joshua Berman high-level donors. be strategic. VICE PRESIDENT Fortunately, that’s not Micah. In some congregations, I imagine Harriet Tritell So what else can the board be doing there is resistance to change. At Micah, SECRETARY to reflect your concerns and interests, and we love to talk about change, but talking Jeff Davis to lead the congregation to new places. TREASURER about it and making it happen are very Martha Adler Reflecting You different. We are fortunate to have staff Shellie Bressler A nominating committee selects board at all levels willing to try new things. Marina Fanning candidates from the congregation. The The board supports change, and tries Jim Hamos committee adheres to by-laws about to anticipate it. At our annual retreat, Alison Harwood deliberation and congregational noti- response to change was our theme. We Todd Jasper fication. There are no specific crite- will continue to explore how to keep Ed Lazere ria. We try to balance age, tenure, and the Micah essence as we anticipate and Heather Moran interests, and sometimes knowledge. embrace the future. Sonia Pearson White (Yes, it can help to have an attorney or The board will be doing its part, to Robin Rudowitz Josh Seidman accountant, but that wouldn’t keep us act on current needs, ask prescient ques- from nominating a poet.) We tend to tions, and take new journeys. But we VINE STAFF be a competent crew that works both must rely on all members of the congre- Fran Dauth as individuals and in committees to get gation to add your skills to the board CO-EDITOR the job done. and its committees (several committees Kate Kiggins One encouraging direction of the have non-board members) and to all of CO-EDITOR board is to be more data driven, and to our programs and offerings. We will be AURAS Design ask sharper questions. Questioning has looking to you to help us ask the right PRODUCTION always been a Micah hallmark. But now questions, be creative in our answers, we are starting to use information to and step forward together. WINTER 2018–2019 3 The Feast THE CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY MOUSSE EDITION By Alexandra Wisotsky Long time Micah members Ed and Shelley Ed has long been involved Grossman are no strangers to the Micah with Micah Cooks and began foodie community. offering home cooked meals at Their themed dinner is consistently a his home during the early days top seller at the Micah Auction as well as of the Micah auction. Back a pizza-and-pasta dinner and a brunch the then, the “meals with mem- Grossmans do, often with other members. bers“ section of the auction You might say it was food, ice cream consisted of about six different to be exact, that brought the couple, both meals, at about $10 per seat. long time Micah members, together in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ; first place.