Message from Rabbi Berman

Transcription

1 Spring 2007 Volume One Issue No.4 Message from Rabbi Berman For those of us who live in parts of the country which experience a long and dreary winter, the full arrival of Springtime is a welcome and joyful time for celebration. Of course in our Jewish tradition, two sacred Festivals serve as gateposts to this wonderful season of renewal and rebirth. Passover ushers in the spring with its timeless message of freedom, linking our ancient story of liberation to our universal liberation from the enslavement of winter s death and darkness. Seven weeks later, Shavuos, the Feast of Weeks, which was observed on May 23, commemorates our ancestors history- transforming encounter at Sinai, fifty days after the Exodus from Egypt. The timeless memory of the receiving of the Ten Commandments at that time, inspired one of Reform Judaism s most creative innovations, the ceremony of Confirmation. For Reform Jews, each new generation was challenged to symbolically make the ascent to Sinai, receive the Torah for themselves, and confirm their own commitment to our faith. The Ten Commandments are revered by both Judaism and Christianity, as the moral foundation of our civilization. While the Torah employed ritual and ceremony as symbolic expressions of eternal and universal spiritual values, it was the underlying ethical principle that was- and is paramount. This is nowhere more clearly reflected than in the Ten Commandments. In the ancient world these words were a radical and revolutionary leap forward in the history of humanity s spiritual quest. For the first time, faith and ethics were integrated into an inseparable whole. The message of Sinai proclaimed for all time, Judaism s fundamental idea that what the God of Israel ultimately demands of us is righteous and ethical living compassion for the weak and needy - integrity in our dealings with others and the pursuit of justice in society. It is so significant that of these ten mandates, singled out as the very essence of the entire Torah, only two are theological principles proscribing idolatry and proclaiming God s reality and unity as the sole liberating Force for human freedom. Only one of the commandments concerns ritual - the observance of the Sabbath and yet even this commandment focuses on the underlying ethical dimension of a day of rest and spiritual renewal for all living things. All the rest of the Ten Commandments proclaim the imperative of ethical, just and caring relationships between human beings. Centuries later, the Prophet Micah would offer an even more concise summation of Judaism, when he taught that what God ultimately requires of us is to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. This is, of course, the essence of the understanding of Reform Judaism that we continue to proclaim: a faith focused on ethical values and spiritual sensitivity, rather than on ritual or ceremony a faith of freedom, rather than fanaticism. At this season of rebirth, we are called to renew our Confirmation vows and together to ascend Sinai anew receiving the Torah for ourselves - for our own time and place exemplifying its sacred ideals in our lives. With wishes for a happy springtime and a safe and restful summer. Faithfully, Rabbi Howard A. Berman Executive Director Inside: Page 2 Correspondence and Commentary from the Council Page 3 Friends of the Council Marks a Successful Launch

2 ACJ Renews National Presence One of the major goals of the Council over the past year has been a commitment to reviving the regional chapters that were historically the centers of energy and support for its national mission. With members and supporters in every state, and significant concentrations in many major cities, we want to provide networks to build relationships between those who share our principles, and deepen their personal connections with our work. This effort began in the Spring of 2006, with a very successful gathering in Dallas, where over 100 people, many of them leaders of the Jewish community, came to learn about the Council s new directions. This meeting was sponsored by the Friends of Classical Reform, a group of devoted members of local temples who are committed to the historic ideals and worship traditions of American Reform Judaism. Rabbi Berman shared reflections on our distinctive vision of religious identity and observance, highlighting the contemporary relevance of Reform s broad and universalistic perspectives, both for those many people who were raised in Classical Reform, as well as countless younger people who are searching for a spiritually inclusive Jewish encounter. He particularly emphasized the special potential attraction and accessibility of our worship for interfaith couples who find the current ritualism and dominant Hebrew usage of many synagogue Services to be significant obstacles to a shared experience. Many people who attended this program have become active and ardent supporters of the Council, and plans are being developed for another Dallas meeting in the coming months. The success of our Texas experience inspired efforts in other communities. In October of 2006, a meeting was held in Chicago, which attracted a significant number of young leaders of Chicago Sinai Congregation, one of the country s historic centers of Classical Reform. The discussion focused on a shared commitment to support the Council s efforts to advocate in other communities for the Classical Option that draws so many people to Sinai locally. A gratifying influx of new ACJ members and supporters, many of them in their 30 s and 40 s, resulted from this gathering, and ongoing programs are planned as well. In March 2007, Rabbi Berman was invited to deliver a sermon on the Council s principles at Temple B nai Israel in Little Rock, Arkansas, sponsored by a group of temple members who have supported the congregation s efforts to offer monthly Union Prayer Book Services. This particular model is certainly the ideal we are striving for working within congregational structures, with the support of local rabbis, to encourage congregations to actively respond to the needs of their Classical Reform members, and to offer this resource as a vital part of their programs. In the coming months, Rabbi Berman will be speaking at Sabbath Services at Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah, GA and The Temple-Adath Israel in Louisville, KY. An important gathering of ACJ Friends and supporters is also planned for the fall in Atlanta, GA. Another dimension of our efforts has been the support of new congregations around the country, which are seeking to offer a contemporary Classical Reform alternative in larger cities. Boston Jewish Spirit, organized in 2004, has flourished and welcomed the National Board Meeting of the Council last November at a special Sabbath Service, at which the congregation dedicated its new Union Prayer Books Sinai Edition, purchased with one of the ACJ s UPB Grants. BJS, now numbering over 100 members, is a virtual laboratory for creative worship and programming that embrace historic Reform s progressive values and inclusive spirit, offering them as a vital option to a new generation. A parallel effort is being developed in Washington, DC, where The New Temple will be formally inaugurated with the coming High Holy Days. These are very exciting developments in the renewal of the American Council for Judaism. We particularly encourage our members and supporters in other communities to contact us to plan such gatherings and programs in other regions, spreading our message and bringing together kindred spirits who share our vision of an alternative expression of faith and identity for American Jews! Page

3 Council Correspondence and Commentary The Council Office regularly receives letters and inquiries regarding our positions and principles, from individuals throughout the country. Many of these requests raise questions that address our perspectives on a broad variety of issues. This new column will share some of these letters and our response. To the ACJ: I ve been receiving your mailings for some time now, and recently visited the Website. It looks good and heralds great promise. One question continues to trouble me. If, as I concur, Judaism is a universal religion appealing to all, rather then an ethnic or nationalistic religion, why then do your writings reflect a chauvinism toward America? Have you simply traded Israel for America as the so-called Promised Land? I oppose all theocracies. And, though Israel has a democratic structure with the potential for expressing the virtues of democracy, its theocratic tendencies and practices inhibit its march toward a fuller democracy. But my concern is with the apparent contradiction in your position. I will appreciate a clarification.like many Americans I know, I m deeply appreciative of the freedoms and opportunities I ve been afforded in my lifetime as a citizen. But America is what Americans do, and no country has any assurance that its past ideals will continue to provide guidance to its current and future practices. Countries come and countries go, but a Judaism for all is not dependant on the rise and fall of nations. Thank you. Dear Friend, Friends of the Council Marks a Successful Launch Associate: $50 Friend: $100 Sustainer: $250 Advocate: $500 Patron: $1000 Guardian: $2500 R.R. Seattle, Washington I want to respond to your thoughtful inquiry. You do indeed raise some compelling issues. I would say that the Council s position, rather than substituting American nationalism for Jewish nationalism, instead makes the distinction between our political allegiance and our religious commitment. Our whole point is that a national allegiance, and a balanced, critical patriotism that affirms our love for this country - while holding America to its highest and truest ideals - is perfectly compatible with our theological understanding of Reform Judaism s universal moral and spiritual vision. The uniqueness of the American democratic experiment is that at its most authentic, it is a refutation of traditional nationalism - which has always embraced an exclusive identity based on the primacy of the dominant cultural/ethnic/religious group of a particular region or country. (Continued on page 5) Last Summer, we inaugurated our new Donors Membership program, Friends of the Council, which has been conceived to offer our many supporters around the country an opportunity for a deeper connection with our work. The response to this program has been very gratifying, with over 175 individuals and families joining the program so far, and contributing a record level of increased financial support. Membership in the Friends is offered at the following levels of annual support: Benefactor: $5000 Honor Circle: $10,000 If you are a current supporter of the Council or a reader of our publications, and have not yet joined the Friends of the Council, we urge you to consider becoming part of this community of commitment! Contribution envelopes are included in our publications, and donations may be sent directly to our Boston office. Page

4 We want to acknowledge those who have joined the Friends since its inception this past October. with sincere appreciation for their trust and confidence: Donald Abrahams Edward Ackerman John Adler Richard Adler Abbas Ali Carol Anderson Mary Appelman Harry Appleman Mr. & Mrs.Harold Aronson Marjorie Arsht Paul Arthur Donna and Bill Barrows Jost Baum Rabbi Leonard Beerman Berna Benjamin J. J. Bentman Doris and Larry Bernard David Blank Mervin J. Block Richard Block Michael Blum Samuel Bosch Rabbi Jay Brickman Allan Brown Herbert Buckman Melanie Butler Morton D. Cahn, Jr/ A. J.Cohen Lillian Coleman Ellyn and John Daniels Paul Daube Jelle De Boer John Deimel William Drake Suzanne Dunbar Norman Duncan Harold Eichenbaum, Jr. Paula Eldot Anna Elman Jerry Ely Phyllis B. Feibelman Stern Feinberg Chester Finn Morton Flaum Frieda Ford Charles Frankel Harriet Freiberger Dwight Freund Mr.& Mrs. Gene Friedman William Friedman Schoenfeld-Gardner Fdtn. Jim and Lori Gelbort Paul Gottfried John Gradwohl Barbara Grauer Milton Greenberg Jack Greenman Leonard Greiner Alan Gropman Karen Hall Werner Heim Enid Susan Hexter Julian Hirsch George and Patsy Hirsh Helen Ann Hurst Alma Hurwitz Frank Hytken Herbert Isaac Darius Jankowski Bernard Joseph Daniel Kane Rabbi and Mrs. Paul Kaplan Martin Karpen Martha Katz William Katz Aaron Katz Morton Katz Greta Kershaw Kate Kestnbaum Malik Khan Robert Kirchheimer Herbert Koether Arthur and Bettye Korenblat Julius Kretzer Matthew Lehrer Mel and Mimi Letchinger Morelle Levine Lawrence D. Levine Bertram Levy B. H. and Margie Levy Page H. F. Jim Levy Arnold Levy Henry Levy Milton P. Levy, Jr. Leo Lewin Sally Lieberman Gerald Lieberman Eugene Lipstate Joel Loeb Marc Lowenstein Maxwell Lyons Robert Magruder Dorothy S. Maier Sanford Maier Stephen Marks Rachelle Marshall Stephen Maurer Barbara Mayer and Charles Acker Steven Mayer Norton Mezvinsky Marc Mihaly Bruce Miller and Carol Yanowitz Howard Millhauser Hermann Moyse Leonard Nadler I. A. Naman Robert Naman Stephen and Shari Naman Etta Naman Frederick M. Nathan Mr. & Mrs. Walter Neustadt, Jr G. Allen Penniman Neal and Barbara Peyser Mr. & Mrs.Arthur Pfeifer Mr. & Mrs.Thomas Philpsborn Larry Pike Alexander Pollak Robert Pollock Shirley Pollock David Rose Joyce Rosenbaum Barbara Rothschild J. L. Sabel Thomas and Victoria Woolner Samuels Llewellyn Sale Carol Sandfield Ronald Sann Dr. Gary Schaer and Jessica Diamond Sally Schein Samuel Schloss Robert Schmidt Ralph Schoenfeld Robert Schreibman Edward Schwartz Isadore Scott T & E Shemanski Foundation James Shimberg Mr. & Mrs.Stanford Sholem Mr. & Mrs. Stephen M. Sickle Michael Sidell Robert Siegel Ann Silverstein Joseph Simmons Rabbi Lewis Solomon Philip Solomons Frank Sommerfield Robert Steiner Errol and Susan Stone Jan Stone Marilyn Stone Maury E. Straus Harold Straus Connie and Howard Sulkin Leonard R. Sussman Oscar Teller Jean Thorn Dr. Susan Taub Victor A. Trubitt Charles Udell Milton Viorst Emily Vogel Mark Weber Adolph Weil Randall Weinstein Frank Werner Marjorie Wise William Witkin Edwin Wittenberg William Youngerman

5 Council Correspondence and Commentary Continued from page 3 The United States has always been a pluralistic nation, whose concept of government was based on the protection of the rights and freedom of all of its diverse peoples, faiths and cultures. Admittedly, this has been a vision that has only come to gradual - and, as yet, incomplete - fulfillment. The entire American concept of inherent natural rights, embracing freedom and liberty, are all explicitly based on Hebrew Biblical foundations, that we may truly call our own. And I would respectfully disagree that America is as Americans do... like all philosophies and systems, the ideal remains a goal to be striving toward. The American Dream, and its revolutionary ideals of freedom, equality and democracy, remain undiluted and undiminished by our individual or collective failure to uphold them. They most certainly are not to be defined by the policies of any particular party or administration. So, in other words, nationalism, as defined in this way, is not in and of itself, the problem. All human beings are part of some national/political entity... our whole point is that for us, that entity is America - not Israel. Our understanding of Judaism is that it is a timeless, transcendent religious commitment, and a universal spiritual community of faith - not a narrow ethnicity, nor a parochial nationality. Our religious commitments exist parallel - and uniquely intersecting - with our civic commitments as Americans. We are not substituting American allegiance and patriotism for Jewish nationalism, because they are two distinct identities and dimensions of our understandings of our values and ideals. The Law of God and the law of our civic commonwealth are both essential guides for our lives as faithful Jews. Our responsibility, both as Jews and as Americans, is to be inspired and challenged by our faith s prophetic ideals of justice and peace in doing our part to create a society that embodies those values... the very values that this nation was uniquely founded upon. Thanks so much for your thoughtful observations, and for your interest in the work of the Council... We welcome any further thoughts that you may wish to share. Tell Your Friends About the Council! A major source of new supporters of the American Council for Judaism are referrals from our current members and Friends. We are always happy to send a portfolio of informational materials and recent issues of our regular publications to those who might share our principles and be interested in our work. In addition, we urge our current associates to send us the names of libraries, colleges and religious institutions which might wish to be on our complimentary mailing list, and receive our quarterly journal ISSUES, our current-events digest Special Interest Report, and our newsletter, The Council Messenger. Names and addresses should be sent to our mailing address, address or tollfree telephone voic . Page 5

6 THE AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR JUDAISM Founded in 1942, ACJ has long offered a distinctive alternative vision of identity and commitment for the American Jewish community. Our major principles embrace: Our interpretation of Judaism as a universal religious faith, rather than an ethnic or nationalist identity. Our commitment to the Prophetic ethical ideals, liberal religious values, and the distinctive worship traditions of Classical Reform Judaism, as a vital, creative, and accessible option for many Jews today. Our embrace of the rich diversity, both of people and opinion, within today s changing Jewish community. No one group or perspective reflects the broad range of positions among American Jews. Our celebration of the uniqueness of the American Jewish experience, and the vital role Jews have played in the development of our nation and its democratic ideals. We embrace our rights and obligations as responsible citizens of the United States. Our appreciation of the historic and religious ties that link us to our fellow Jews around the world, and our shared hope for the security and wellbeing of the State of Israel, living in peace and justice with its neighbors. Our faith in Judaism s timeless vision of a world of justice, love and peace for all people. acjhab@aol.com Toll-Free Chairman Dr. Bernard H. Baum Evanston, IL. President Stephen L. Naman Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Secretary Leslie J. Novitsky Arlington, VA Treasurer B.H. Levy, Jr. Savannah, GA Vice Presidents Jeannette D. Naman Houston, TX Max E. Tonkon Dallas, TX Directors Rabbi Arnold M. Belzer Savannah, GA The American Council for Judaism Post Office Box Jamaica Plain Station Boston, MA Rabbi Wolfgang Hamburger St. Joseph, MO Robert L. Steiner Washington, DC Executive Director and Newsletter Editor Rabbi Howard A. Berman Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA Publications Editor Allan C. Brownfeld Washington, DC Past Presidents Lessing J. Rosenwald Richard K. Korn Clarence L. Coleman, Jr. Alan Stone