Rabbi s Reflections: Tisha b Av: From Biblical to Rabbinic Judaism

Transcription

1 July 2017 Tamuz - Av 5777 Volume 32 Issue 10 Temple Talk Rabbi s Reflections: Tisha b Av: From Biblical to Rabbinic Judaism Table of Contents Rabbi s Reflections 1 Special Shabbat Services 2 This year, the fast of Tisha b Av starts Monday evening July 31st at 8:04pm, and continues until three stars appear in the night sky on Tuesday, August 1st at 8:52pm. Tisha b Av - or the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av - is one of six fast days established in the Jewish calendar for all Jews. Out of the six fast days, two are major fasts lasting 25 hours - Tisha b Av and Yom Kippur. The remaining four minor fast days are the 17th of Tamuz, the fast of Gedaliah (which follows Rosh Hashanah), the 10th of Tevet, and the Fast of Esther (which precedes Purim). Unlike Tisha b Av and Yom Kippur, which begin with sundown the night before, the minor fast days last from sunrise until sunset. Tisha b Av is the culmination of a sequence of fast days all commemorating a sequence of catastrophic historical events. The fast of the 10th of Tevet commemorates the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem; the 17th of Tamuz fast commemorates the day when the walls of Jerusalem were breached; and Tisha b Av commemorates the destruction of both the first and second temples in Jerusalem. Other events commemorated on Tisha b Av are listed in the Mishnah Tractate Ta anit, chapter 4: On the Ninth of Av, it was decreed upon our ancestors that they would not be allowed to enter the Land of Israel [see the Book of Numbers], the First and Second temples were destroyed, Beitar [the last surviving Jewish fort of the Bar Kochba Revolt, 136 C.E.) was captured, the city of Jerusalem was plowed over. From when the month of Av starts, we reduce joy. And yet, while Tisha b Av certainly is the Jewish liturgical calendar s most mournful day, it is also more than that. A cause for mourning can also be a well of deep meaning. When we remember the destruction of the Jerusalem temples on Tisha b Av, we also remember that those events led to the birth of rabbinic Judaism. Why? Because, if the second temple had not been destroyed, then rabbinic Judaism would never have been created. Some have argued that because it birthed our Judaism, therefore we ought to be grateful for this catastrophe. Well, we can be grateful that animal sacrifice has gone out of fashion, but none of us is grateful for the death of so many Jews, (Continued on page 8) The next bulletin will be for August. If you have an article that you would like to submit please get it in to the Temple office before July 15. Mark s Remarks 3 Donations/Thanks Yous 4 Tisha B Av Services 5 Event Fliers 6 Calendar 7 Yahrzeits 9 Annual Meeting Details Rabbi: David Finkelstein Cantor: Ellen Band Hazan: Yosi Weintraub President: Mark Frydenberg Vice Pres.: Lester Macklin Secretary: Susan Baron Treasurer: George Isaac Membership Secretary: Ellen Macklin Editor: Andrea Baron Address 25 Harvard Street Waltham, MA office@tbiwaltham.org Website: (781) Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

2 Notice of Nominations and Elections 2017 This announcement also serves as notice of the following milestones regarding the nominations and elections process, with dates determined by the Temple Beth Israel bylaws: Slate of nominees will be sent to the membership by July 13, 2017 Last day for members not on the slate presented by the nominating July 28, 2017 committee to place themselves on the ballot by notifying the nominating committee General Membership and Election Meeting August 27, 2017 Sincerely, Mark Frydenberg, President Join Us For These Special Shabbat Services Saturday, July 8 L'hitraot Yossi Our friend and hazzan Yossi Weintraub will be moving back to Oregon in July. Please join us at Shabbat services on July 8 as we wish him well and say l'hitraot. With so may friends in the Boston area, we know he'll be back to visit again soon! Saturday, August 5 Cantor Ellen Band will be reading from the Torah and chanting the special Haftarah for Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of Consolation, which occurs on the Shabbat immediately after Tisha b'av. Please join us! FIRST FRIDAYS Services July 7 at 6:30 pm. Come together to welcome Shabbat, to sing, to pray, and to hear a story or a brief dvar Torah. A dinner does not follow these services. 2

3 Mark s Remarks: How Are We Doing? By: Mark Frydenberg At our community conversation in June, one of our activities invited members to consider areas in which we should invest our resources (time, money, staffing, and volunteer energy) in a variety of areas. I asked those in attendance to indicate whether we have the right amount of focus on each area, or if we should increase, decrease, or eliminate it all together, on a scale from 1 to 7 (where 1 = "we should eliminate all resources in this area," 4 is "we're about right", and 7 is "we absolutely need to do more." No issues came up where the majority felt we were spending too much time, money, or energy, and needed to cut back. Areas where most felt "we're about right" include: maintaining a daily minyan providing and participate in interfaith activities with other communities in Waltham providing an inclusive community that celebrates diversity and welcomes interfaith families providing alternate Shabbat morning experiences to appeal to a variety of members meeting accessibility needs (ramp, large print prayer books, etc.) offering adult education, social, or learning opportunities Based on the results of this conversation, we "absolutely need to do more" in these areas: attract more unaffiliated Jews from the greater Waltham area encourage increased membership of families with young children publicize or advertise Temple Beth Israel and its events to the larger community improve our presence on the web improve or update the physical facility I look to you to help us with the "absolutely need to do more" items above. Please feel free to contact me if you have an idea or a suggestion, or how you'd like to help us improve in any of these areas. Attendees were mixed on building congregational interest related conversations about Israel and social justice activities. Roughly equal numbers voted above or below the "just right" value in the center of each chart. I have appointed Dina Wolfman Baker to lead an ad-hoc social justice committee, looking at ways the synagogue can respond to social justice concerns affecting the TBI and the Waltham community, guided by the issues facing our congregants. We will report more on these results at our annual meeting on Sunday, August 27 at 10 am. I hope you will join us, as we elect officers and board members at large, and vote on two short proposed bylaws modifications. Please return your membership forms and contributions before then, and plan to attend the meeting! Have a great summer. 3

4 Donations General Donations Beth Israel Cemetery Thelma and Yukie Kennen, in memory of Fannie Kennen. Alan Zinn, in honor of his aliyah in May. George and Judith Isaac, in memory of Joan Hornstein. Irving and Sheila Lesnick, in memory of George Lesnick. Jill Carni wishes a speedy recovery to Marion Carni. Nessie Baron in memory of Ellie Fisher. Jim, Andrea and Michaela Baron in memory of Ellie Fisher. Saturday Kiddush Sponsors July 1 - Sylvia Hobbs July 8 - TBI in honor of Yossi Weintraub July 15 - Sisterhood The cost to provide our Kiddush lunch for our usual attendance of 30 to 40 people is about $150. To ensure that we can continue providing Shabbat lunches into the future, we ask those who attend Shabbat services regularly to sponsor a Shabbat lunch once or twice during the year. The cost for a single grave is $2,200 for Temple members. Non-members are charged an additional $500 to become members of the Temple. The total for non-members is $2,700 per grave. Two graves together are considered a lot. For members a lot costs $4,600 and for nonmembers it costs $5,600. A single grave in the Kulanu - Interfaith Section is $3,600 for non Temple Beth Israel Members which includes $500 for one year membership. If you have been a Temple member for at least 2 years the cost per grave is $2,800. Please contact Jay Trilling of Menorah Cemetery Management Corporation, at (857) for further information. Jim Baron Cemetery Chairman Shabbat Evening Services and Dinner, Friday, July 14 Services begin at 6:30 pm, Dinner at 7:30 pm Services outside followed by vegetarian, Dairy, or Pareve Pot luck dinner at the home of Brad and Dina Baker 97 Hamilton Rd, Waltham, MA please RSVP to Dina by (dinab1@verizon.net) if you are coming. There is no fee for this dinner. Please bring something vegetarian, dairy or pareve to share. 4

5 Tisha B Av Service Times Teaching, Ma ariv and Eicha Reading for Tisha B'av Monday Night, July 31, 8:00pm On Monday night, July 31, at 8:05pm, the 24-hour fast of Tisha B Av begins. We will begin with a short teaching followed by a service which will include the reading of Eichah. During Tisha B'av, we observe rituals for fast days and follow customs for mourning. As on Yom Kippur, the traditional practice is not to eat, drink, wash, anoint ourselves with oil, wear leather shoes, or engage in sexual relations. Tisha B'av Shaharit, Tuesday August 1, 7:00 a.m. Minyan will begin at 7:00 a.m. on August 1. Shaharit will include singing of Kinot - liturgical laments. We do not wear Tallit or Tefillin as we usually do during a regular weekday minyan. We Need Your Help TBI Waltham wants to be more inclusive for people with disabilities and their family members. We are starting to meet with a small group of people who are interested in this cause. If you would like to help, please Howard Trachtman at hdt@mit.edu or call him at (781) Howard also is chair of development committee and welcomes ideas for fundraising or possible grants to apply for. Thanks to those who read Torah, Haftarah, or gave a D'var Torah in May Please contact readtorah@tbiwaltham.org to volunteer to read from the Torah or chant a Haftarah, or contact susan@theindexpros.com if you would like to give a d'var torah in the coming months. Rabbi David Finkelstein Rabbi Sara Meirowitz Rebbeca Weinstein Merrill Griff Celia Schneider Susan Kane Caroline Nudelman Susan Holbert Phyllis Werlin Mike Rosenberg Mark Frydenberg FROM THE CHESED / CARING COMMITTEE If you are saying kaddish and would like us to notify congregants to attend a Monday or Thursday minyan, please contact Susan Holbert at susan@theindexpros.com or call at least one week ahead of time. While we can't guarantee a minyan of ten will be present, we can work together to spread the word! 5

6 Breakfast and Book Discussion Sunday, July 16, 2017 at 10 am $10 per person Dr. Goldberg will join us at Sunday morning breakfast on July 16, We expect a large crowd and I encourage you to make a reservation so the kitchen crew will prepare enough food for all. To RSVP - Make check payable to: Temple Beth Israel And mail it to: Ed Brown, 35 Lyme Road, Newton, MA

7 TBI EVENTS CALENDAR July 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Sylvia Hobbs Sponsored Kiddush Parashat Chukat 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 9:07 pm Havdalah (42 min) Independence Day 5 6 6:30 pm Hebrew Class 7 6:30 pm Friday Night Service - No Dinner 8:05 pm Candle lighting 8 Parashat Balak 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services - In Honor of Yossi Weintraub 9:05 pm Havdalah (42 min) Tzom Tamuz :30 pm Hebrew Class 14 6:30 pm Shabbat Service and Pot Luck Dinner at Member's Home 8:02 pm Candle lighting 15 Sisterhood Sponsored Kiddush Parashat Pinchas 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 9:01 pm Havdalah (42 min) 16 9:00 am Rita Goldberg book discussion (breakfast) :56 pm Candle lighting 22 Parashat Matot- Masei 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 8:56 pm Havdalah (42 min) 23 Harbor cruise 24 Rosh Chodesh Av :50 pm Candle lighting 29 Parashat Devarim Shabbat Chazon 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 8:49 pm Havdalah (42 min) Erev Tish'a B'Av 8:00 pm Tisha B'Av Services 1 Tish'a B'Av Tisha B'Av 7:00 am Tisha B'Av Services 2 7:00 pm Board Meeting :42 pm Candle lighting 5 Parashat Vaetchanan Shabbat Nachamu 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 8:40 pm Havdalah (42 min) 7

8 (Continued from page 1) for the destruction of Jewish civilization, and for the difficulty introduced into the Jewish mind and heart of drawing near to G-d. All this we also commemorate on Tisha b Av. Rabbi s Reflections: Tisha b Av: From Biblical to Rabbinic Judaism So, while we are certainly not grateful for the wrenching events which we commemorate on Tisha b Av, we can still be grateful for the fast of Tisha b Av. In spite of feeling weak and hungry, I anticipate feeling grateful this Tisha b Av, because the fast reminds us of what it means to be rabbinic Jews. And I don t mean feeling hungry during services. Whether Conservative, Orthodox, Reform, Reconstructionist, or unaffiliated, all of the above are rabbinic Jews. There are also Karaites (Scripturalists), Samaritans, non-rabbinic Ethiopian Jews, Messianic Jews, and others - who are not rabbinic Jews. As rabbinic Jews, we are distinct from the Jews who lived during Biblical times. Not only do rabbinic Jews not practice animal sacrifice, but our religious lives are deeply infused with the multivocal dialectical ways of the Mishnah and the Gemara - together known as the Talmud. The essential activity of our tradition is called midrash, and it means Interpretation. Unlike the Temple Judaism as reflected in the Written Torah, rabbinic Judaism does not sanction retaliative justice ( an eye for an eye ). Rabbinic Judaism does not take unruly children to the gates of the city to be stoned. Rabbinic Judaism is loathe to use the death penalty (even for the most heinous crimes). Rabbinic Judaism exists in the absence of a house in which G-d s presence can rest. In rabbinic Judaism, G-d s indwelling presence, the shekhinah, is always in exile, and the Messiah has not yet come. Being a rabbinic Jew is not all peaches and cream. It is a deeply meaningful, but also a challenging way to be in relationship with the divine. On Tisha b Av, our mourning serves at least two purposes. It allows us to yearn for lost intimacy with G-d and with other Jews - intimacy we might associate with Biblical Judaism - and it also prepares our hearts to embrace the rabbinic reinvention of Judaism. The ancient rabbis both saved and distanced us from Biblical Judaism. Like S.Y. Agnon, according to the description of his biographer and critic Gershon Shaked, the ancient rabbis were revolutionary traditionalists. They preserved many Biblical traditions, and they also replaced traditions and innovated new ones. Tisha b Av reminds us of both our deep reverence for the Hebrew Bible as well as its status as only one of two kinds of revelation: the written part. Rabbinic Judaism also has the Oral Torah, which includes Mishnah, Classical Midrash, Gemara, and more. The catastrophe of Jerusalem s destruction motivated our forebears to make rabbinic Judaism out of the ruins of Biblical Judaism. Rabbinic Judaism is essentially a post-traumatic post-biblical Judaism. Tisha b Av tells us that while we are a people of the book, we are also a people who interpret and reinterpret, a people who produce Oral Torah through the process of midrash, a people who innovates while it also preserves. So, after sitting on the floor in our canvas or plastic shoes mourning destruction, after chanting the biblical book of Lamentations, we would do well to picture a see-saw. One side of the see-saw is Biblical Judaism. The other side is rabbinic Judaism. And the events of Tisha b Av were the fulcrum or the pivot point over which Judaism tipped Biblical to rabbinic. To a meaningful Tisha b Av, Rabbi David 8

9 July Yahrzeits Louis Kaswell Tamuz 07 1-Jul Joseph Norman Tamuz 07 1-Jul Russel Scott Macklin Tamuz 07 1-Jul Harry Baker Tamuz 08 2-Jul Sumner Ginsburg Tamuz 08 2-Jul Rubin Mallick Tamuz 09 3-Jul Jack Bloom Tamuz 09 3-Jul Harry Marion Tamuz 09 3-Jul Manuel Greenblott Tamuz 09 3-Jul Alex Greenbaum Tamuz 10 4-Jul Manuel Shlager Tamuz 10 4-Jul Ben Goldstein Tamuz 11 5-Jul Frank Milesky Tamuz 11 5-Jul Elsa Stux Tamuz 12 6-Jul Morris Joel Tuchfeld Tamuz 12 6-Jul Benjamin Cohen Tamuz 14 8-Jul Louise Goldman Tamuz 14 8-Jul David Koocher Tamuz 14 8-Jul Philip Merowitz Tamuz 14 8-Jul Annie Margolis Tamuz 14 8-Jul Aaron Mendelsohn Tamuz 14 8-Jul David Freedman Tamuz 15 9-Jul Harry Smith Tamuz 15 9-Jul Mark Nudelman Tamuz Jul Irving Altman Tamuz Jul Moishe Simon Tamuz Jul Louis Goldstein Tamuz Jul Estelle Giko Snyder Tamuz Jul Philip Fischer Tamuz Jul Dora Levine Tamuz Jul Hannah Canter Tamuz Jul Beatrice Bloom Tamuz Jul Bessie L Hauser Tamuz Jul David Bronfman Tamuz Jul Harry J. Rosenfeld Tamuz Jul Marc David Marion Tamuz Jul Morris Canter Tamuz Jul Bessie Gordon Tamuz Jul Charlotte Cohen Tamuz Jul Ruth Milesky Max Sulkin Mason Griff Rebecca Wolk Irma Frank Orovitz Charlotte P. Shlager Bella Larks Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul R. Goldberg s Father Tamuz Jul George Lesnick Andrew Wolf Decker Esther Canter Abraham Caplan Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul Tamuz Jul Gladys Milesky Av Jul Sylvia Levin Av Jul Rita Woolf Av Jul Fannie Weiner Av Jul Maurice Tushin Av Jul Sylvia Seidman Av Jul Benjamin Sheer Av Jul Samuel Elkins Av Jul Mary Simon Av Jul Sarah Pearl Becker Av Jul Joseph Bloomthal Av Jul Abraham Isaac Pedell Av Jul Roberta Lederman Av Jul Aaron Sheer Av Jul Etta Meyerovitz Av Jul Benjamin L. Lerman Av Jul Joseph Kaplan Av Jul Chaya Zacharewich Av 09 1-Aug Paul Lewis Ginsburg Av 09 1-Aug Hyman Brown Av 09 1-Aug Rachel Leah Ingber Av 09 1-Aug Ida Kaitz Av 10 2-Aug Bernard Bloomenthal Av 11 3-Aug Paul Onigman Av 11 3-Aug Howard P.Mermelstein Av 12 4-Aug Evelyn Forbes Av 12 4-Aug Albert Chorney Av 12 4-Aug 9 Coleman Wexler Av 14 6-Aug Ellen Leavy Av 15 7-Aug Manehan Snyder Av 16 8-Aug Dina Ella Backer Av 17 9-Aug Fannie Zelinetsky Av 17 9-Aug Karl Meiselman Av 17 9-Aug Samuel Tatelman Av Aug Nathan Ullian Av Aug Molly Sheer Av Aug Mulcan bat Yosef Av Aug Sadye Canter Av Aug Hannah M. Sheer Av Aug Harold Bloom Av Aug Hyman Kulin Av Aug Adele Ullian Av Aug Esther Davidson Av Aug Helene Altman Av Aug Samuel Blackstone Av 21 Dedicate an Etz Hayyim Chumash 13-Aug Nadia Shirazi Av Aug Temple Beth Israel recently received several Etz Hayyim Chumashim from another synagogue. You can dedicate one with a bookplate by making a donation of $18 per book, along with the inscription for the book plate.

10 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING The Temple Beth Israel Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Sunday, August 27 at 10 am. Please notify the Temple Office if you are able to attend so we can plan an appropriate amount of food to serve for breakfast. The agenda will include reports from the officers, rabbi, and office manager; committee and other updates; election of officers and directors at large; and vote to approve two bylaws amendments included on pages 10 and 11. You may find the entire TBI bylaws online at on the "For Members" page. Or you may contact the Temple office to arrange to receive a copy. Nominating Committee Report The Nominating Committee proposes the following slate of officers and directors to be elected at the Temple Beth Israel annual meeting on Sunday, August 27 at 10 a.m. Officers for Election: President: Vice President: Treasurer: Membership Secretary: Mark Frydenberg Lester Macklin George Isaac Ellen Macklin Secretary Susan G. Baron was elected one year ago for a two-year term, so she is not up for reelection. Board Members at Large for Election: Dina Wolfman Baker (3 years) Julie Gagnon (2 years) Bruce Trager (2 years) -The Nominating Committee: Catherine Cantrell, Susan Holbert, Esther Keaney, Alan Levine, Caroline Nudelman We will vote on the entire slate of officers first. If the entire slate is not approved as a result of this vote, or if there are contests for any of these positions, we will vote on each candidate individually. We will then vote on the members at large following the same process. Members not on this slate presented by the nominating committee who wish to place themselves on the ballot must do so by notifying Esther Keaney, nominating committee contact person, before July 28, Contact Esther at esther.keaney@verizon.net or (Continued on page 11)

11 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING (Continued from page 10) MEET THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AT LARGE The Nominating Committee nominates three directors at large to serve on the Temple Board of Directors. Directors at large are voting board members. Dina Wolfman Baker joined Temple Beth Israel with her husband Brad when they moved to the Waltham in Since then, Dina has served on the Rabbi Search Committee, chaired the New Rabbi Advisory Committee, chaired the Bylaws Committee, and will chair the Social Justice committee that is now forming. She works as a marketing and communication executive in a career that has spanned 34 years (and counting). Dina grew up first in the Philadelphia suburbs and then in Cambridge, MA. Returning to Philadelphia, she and Brad raised their children Audrey (who lives in Ithaca, NY) and Isaac (who recently moved to Boston) and Dina served in leadership at their synagogue. They moved to the Boston area to live close to Dina s step-mother and enjoy all the riches of the area including, as it turned out, the TBI community. Dina and Brad feel extraordinarily fortunate, particularly now that they enjoy the addition to their family of their grandson Atlas (Audrey s son, age 2-1/2) and of Paige Sable, who will marry Isaac in September. Julie Gagnon is a cat enthusiast living in Newton with her husband Chad Gagnon, recently bat mitzvahed daughter and TBI child care specialist Audrey Gagnon, dad Ed Brown, a cat and rabbit. In her spare time, Julie works on art projects or organizes events, which suit her love for art and her architecture/project management background. She graduated from Syracuse University School of Architecture, as one of only 5 girls. Fun fact: Julie strongly dislikes onions and recently acquired a love of mushrooms. Remember (per her mom): Life is hard by the yard but a cinch by the inch. Bruce Trager is a lawyer with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Office of the Attorney General. Nicknamed "Mr. Justice" by the late Morris Hollender z"l, Bruce is a regular at morning minyan, frequently leading on Mondays and Thursdays, and every Friday when usually only he and another congregant attend. Bruce has been a member of the Ritual/Religious Committee for several years, and was its co-chair, with Caroline Nudelman, in He also served on two recent TBI Bylaws Committees. Bruce and his wife, Jill Stanton, are the parents of Shoshana and Sarah, and also maintain a synagogue membership at Tremont Street Shul in Cambridge, where they attended before moving to Waltham in Per the Temple Bylaws, one director is nominated for a three-year term; the others for a two-year term. Dina Wolfman Baker is nominated for three-year term. Julie Gagnon and Bruce Trager are nominated for two-year terms. 11

12 TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL 25 Harvard Street Waltham, MA Phone: July 2017 We re on the Web General Fund High Holiday Donation Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Carl and Caryl Goldstein Siddur Memorial Fund Morris Hollender Torah Reading Fund Children s Services and Programming Other, please specify: It is never too late to Donate! Temple Beth Israel Donation Form For your convenience, please use this form to make your donations and send to: Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard Street, Waltham, MA I have chosen the fund indicated at the left: (Please use a separate form for each fund. Minimum donation: $10) Attached is my check in the amount of: $ The donation is being made In Honor Of In Memory Of Other This donation is made by: Name: Address: City/State/Zip Please send acknowledgement to: Name: Address: City/State/Zip 12