Rabbinic Leadership Experience 2009 present Rabbi - Temple B nai Sholom, Huntsville AL. Worship - Tefillah

Transcription

1 832 Crnad Ave. SE Huntsville, AL Cell: Skype Name: bethbahar Blg: Rabbielizabethbahar.cm Rabbinic Leadership Experience 2009 present Rabbi - Temple B nai Shlm, Huntsville AL Temple B nai Shlm was funded in 1876 and is in the ldest synaggue building in cntinuus use in the state f Alabama. We are an active cngregatin wh takes pride in ur chir, ur adult educatin prgraming and ur interfaith wrk with the cmmunity. We are the nly cngregatin with a Rabbi in a tw-hur drive radius arund the city and we prvide supprt t Jews frm all ver Nrth Alabama and Suthern Tennessee. Being the center f Jewish life, we serve the brader Jewish cmmunity by prviding an array f religius and ritual bservances as well as educatinal and cultural activities. As the nly Refrm rabbi in Huntsville, I have supprted a diverse cngregatin, frm scientists and engineers that wrk fr NASA and the Army t fifth generatin Alabamians. Wrship - Tefillah Shabbat Weekly Friday Night Service - Enhanced services with meditatins and cmmentaries n prayers, intrduced visual tefilah and mdern explanatin: Increased service attendance by fcusing n experiential prayer Transitined the cngregatin t integrate Mishkan Tefillah, as many were still cnnected t UPB and Gates f Prayer. Increased Trah reading and study n Friday evenings by interactive cnversatins, mving away frm the frmal sermn. Wrked with the chir directr t develp innvative musical Shabbat fferings that increased cngregatinal singing as well as participatin resulting in the grwth f the chir. Classical Refrm Service - Develped a mnthly Classical Refrm Service primarily in English based n the Unin Prayer bk Sinai Editin as a respnse t thse wh yearn fr this wrship. Saturday Mrning Services Instituted a mnthly Shabbat service designed fr ur upcming b nei mitzvah students t learn abut wrship, lead sectins f the service and nurish the cngregatin with yuth invlvement. High Hlidays Yamim Nraim High Hliday Cmmittee - wrked with a dynamic team f lay leaders and chir directr t annually review and then find ways t enhance and imprve the High Hliday experience fr ur members. Rsh Hashanah Lunchen Wrked with key leaders in hsting a Rsh Hashanah lunch at Temple immediately fllwing services with ver 100 participants.

2 Wrship Innvatins include: Family Services Created a special service fr ur yung families that d nt ften take time ff frm schl r wrk, t ensure that the significance f the High Hliday seasn was experienced by these husehlds. Inclusive Handut Crafted explanatry messages fr ur member t share with thers wh have limited knwledge abut Judaism, s they culd learn abut the High Hly Days Meditatin Service Created a cmmunal meditatin service, n Ym Kippur afternn, that allwed fr quiet and reflective time in the sanctuary. These mments f silent allwed participants t reach tward the Divine. Over the years we did: Walking meditatin f the Bk f Jnah with statins, Labyrinth walk whse fcus was putting dwn ur pain, Variety f Translatins f Psalm 27 and hw each spke t ur hearts, and A Healing Service. Slicht Develped a new prgram that heightened members awareness f hw this service framed the Hly Days. Hsted a variety f prgrams: Apple Martini Party, Mvie and Discussin, Musical Cncert, and recrafted the majestic liturgy fr a late evening service. Tashlich After the cmmunity lunch, we gathered t perfrm tashlich using cntemprary readings and stries. This became a family friendly event where participatin increased. Life Cycle Derech Chayim Guide participating families in Jewish rituals and custms t help them experience the spirituality f their meaningful event, whether it is a baby naming, bris, bar/bat mitzvah, cnversin, wedding r funeral. Jewish rituals allw us t pause and fcus n the value f relatinships, the passing f time and t encurage us t recnnect with Gd. Lastly, I fllw up with a visit a few mnths later t ensure that they feel a part f the Jewish cmmunity and at hme in ur cngregatin. Study Limmud Crdinate an array f learning pprtunities that appealed t varius interest grups in Temple B nai Shlm including: Yuth Grup, Sisterhd, Brtherhd, NACHaS (Religius Schl), Pardes (Preschl), and Chir. Wrked with the bard t strategically think abut the new types f learning pprtunities that wuld engage ur members. Rabbinical Student Mentr - I am part f a new experimental prgram with Hebrew Unin Cllege alng with five ther rabbis arund the cuntry t mentr a student t cnsider wrking in a smaller sized cngregatin utside f a large metrplitan area. Spirituality ver Lunch - Develped men and wmen s spirituality grup based n Rabbi Lawrence Kushner s bks. We met regularly fr several years. The Kitchen Cabinet - Organized a Sacred Aging discussin grup based n Rabbi Richard Address bk and blg and invited lcal experts t share their knwledge with the grup. Adult Educatin Classes - I rganized, taught and led a nce a week evening Adult educatin prgram annually. Tpics included: Intrductin t Judaism, Prphetic Literature, Jewish Ethics and Fun Stries frm Jewish Histry. Cnfirmatin Class - Expanded Cnfirmatin Class t include a fcus n the Bible, Interfaith Pilgrimage, Life Cycles, Israel and current events. Designed a curriculum fr the Jewish Suthern appetite. Page 2 f 9

3 Schlar Visits Organized, recruited and wrked with visiting schlars, musicians and artists annually t inspire ur cngregants and integrate them with the theme f the year. Partnered with ther cngregatins t bring varius big name schlars t the area specifically Harvey Cx and Amy Jill Levine - every ther year. Nrth Alabama Cmmunity Hebraic Schl (NACHaS) Began NACHaS as a jint entity f bth the Refrm and Cnservative cngregatins in Huntsville intended t enhance the learning f this cmmunity s yuth. This rganizatin was established when: A taskfrce cmprised f members frm bth cngregatins was develped t create the schl by ensuring the needs f bth the Cnservative and Refrm cngregatins were heard and acknwledged. The taskfrce set up the structure f the schl - including a jintly run bard, vlunteer teachers frm bth cngregatins and an agreed upn curriculum. In partnership with the taskfrce, we fundraised t purchase the curriculum and develped a resurce rm fr the teachers and parents. Once the schl was established: Develped curriculum and wrked with a vlunteer bard and teachers t ffer educatinal supprt. Intrduced Hebrew Thrugh Mvement t incrprate mre Hebrew language int the schl. Created a Tefillah (Prayer) sheet t use nce a week specifically t help the kids learn the prayers frm kindergarten n up. Huntsville Jewish Heritage Center Began the Center t reflect ur rich histry as an educatinal resurce fr bth the Temple and the brader cmmunity. Partnered with the curatr f The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta, lcal experts and a temple member. Interfaith/Cmmunity Outreach Kehilla Outreach and Cmmunity Building Serve the cmmunity as a spiritual leader and wrked t be a shining example f the pssible thrugh public appearances. Pulpit Swaps - Engaged in pulpit swaps with varius cngregatins annually. Guest lecturer Delivered lectures at University f Alabama Huntsville, Oakwd University and Alabama A&M University n Jewish faith and practice tday. Cmmunity Spkespersn - Regularly appear n the lcal ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX netwrks as a spkespersn fr the Jewish cmmunity as well as the lcal paper al.cm. Memrial Day - Annual participate in the city-wide memrial service, wrking with lcal veteran s grups and lcal, state and federal pliticians. Hlcaust Cmmemratin - Annual participatin n the Arsenal army base fr a Hlcaust cmmemratin and have spken n the base t further supprt ur trps. City-wide Interfaith Pilgrimage - hst and educatr with the Office f Multicultural Affairs with the City f Huntsville and Interfaith Missin Service. Page 3 f 9

4 Scial Actin Tikkun Olam Serve as a key leader in partnering with lcal clergy in develping services and actin prjects that benefited the barder cmmunity: Faith in Actin Alabama - Active participant and ne f the funding members f Faith in Actin Alabama an rganizatin which is attempting t create prisn refrm and racial justice in Alabama. Additinally, rganized a vigil in cncert with lcal clergy regarding mass incarceratin and systemic racism. Prayer march arund the Temple - Develped creative liturgy t break dwn the walls which divide us fllwing with 2016 Electin, based n the image f Jshua breaking dwn walls arund Jerich. Interfaith Ptlucks - Organized with lcal clergy in respnse t current events that enhanced ur prfessinal relatinships. Huntsville's Remembrance Prject In partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, wrking t cmmemrate victims f racial terrr. Wedding Week - hsted wedding week at the Temple, when gay marriage first became legal in the State f Alabama. Special services in respnse t specific spiritual crisis in the cmmunity. Wrk with lcal clergy t ffer a lving and kind vice t thers in need. Bstn Bmbing - Organized a memrial service fllwing the bmbing with lcal elected fficials and clergy with ver 100 participants frm many huses f wrship. Mass Shting at UAH campus served in a key liturgical rle in ur cmmunal service t cmmemrate victims fllwing the mass shting which tk place there. Memrial service fr three Israeli teenagers - Organized Memrial Service fllwing the kidnapping f three teenagers last in Cmmunity Clergy - Led and rganized the Cmmunity Trnad healing service in 2011 fllwing a devastating strm including varius religius, racial, ecnmic and gegraphic grups in the Nrth Alabama regin Administrative and Financial Minahel and Memni Fundraising/Develpment Based n strng interpersnal relatinships with ur members, I have bth the ability and cmfrt level t slicit members fr fiscal supprt fr key prgrams and needs. A key rle f tday s rabbi is t have a mastery f develpment skills. Sme key areas that I raised funds fr are: $7000 t install a new security system $20,000 t update the green space f the Temple - installed a fence, a playgrund, and vegetatin t beautify the space $35,000 fr the develpment and creatin f the Huntsville Jewish Heritage Center $3,000 t update and beautify the Temple s curtyard Organizatinal Supprt Technlgical Supprt - Organized and led varius cmmittees t help update the Temple technlgically - migrating the cngregatin s website t Shul Clud, creating a PayPal accunt and Facebk page. Page 4 f 9

5 501(c)3 - Participated in filing 501(c)3 paperwrk fr the cngregatin s that we culd be listed n Amazn and engage in ther fundraising endeavrs t passively generate mney Human Resurces Supprt - Led a search with a cmmittee t help find a Temple Administratr and wrk with the cmmittee t better versee and supprt ur staff. Electrnic Cmmunicatin - Revamped Temple cmmunicatin t a weekly n Tuesdays and Friday updates in additin t a mnthly newsletter t ensure clear and accurate cmmunicatin with ur members. Yuth and Family Mishpachah Pardes Preschl - Created a preschl prgram at the Temple frm scratch: Turned a strage rm in Temple B nai Shlm int a preschl classrm by sliciting dnatins and develping and executing that visin. Purchased curriculum that is apprpriate fr ur children fr a weekly Friday mrning Shabbat Schl. Created a Shabbat ritual fr the children t participate in weekly with different Shabbat Helper. Wrked t develp a successful business plan fr the preschl with a cmmittee f individuals including marketing, utreach, and meetings with area preschl directrs. Supprted a search fr hiring f the teachers. Tt Shabbat led a quarterly Shabbat experience t ensure that all ur members (yungest n up) find a hme at the Temple. Yung Adult - Organized varius grups fr yunger members t meet with me - Mishnah and Martinis, Bible and Beer, The Lunch Bunch. Yuth Grup - Supprt bth junir yuth grups and BBYO by ensuring facilitatrs, suggesting prgraming and being present t have fun with the kids. Yung Families Grup - Created a Yung Families grup fr families t have playdates nce a quarter at varius member s hmes n Shabbat mrning. Cmmunal Activities and Affiliatins SEACCAR (Sutheast Area Regin f the Central Cnference f American Rabbis) Vice-President f SEACCAR present Secretary f SEACCAR SEACCAR Bard Member SWARR (Suthwest Area Regin f the Central Cnference f American Rabbis) member 2009-present Interfaith Missin Services - bard member 2010-present, wrking n visining with them and helping create interfaith services in the city as well as an Interfaith Pilgrimage Leader Sutheast Huntsville Clergy Assciatin bard member 2009-present Anti-Defamatin League Wrked with the ADL t establish Huntsville City Schls as N Place fr Hate certified. Greater Huntsville Interdenminatinal Ministerial Fellwship participant CCAR Member since 2009 Wmen s Rabbinic Netwrk Member 2009 ARZA (The Refrm Zinist Organizatin) HUC student representative Schl Year AIPAC Member and regularly attend the annual Rabbinic Sympsium Page 5 f 9

6 Schlarly Endeavrs Develping a bk f hmilies and meditatins based n the Haftart. Annually create a haggadah specific t the cngregatin and tpically related t study the cngregatin has engaged in ver the year. Awards Rabbi Jeffrey L. Balln Interfaith Leadership Award frm Interfaith Missin Service 2017 prayer vigil with the Huntsville Islamic Center in respnse t immigratin ban. Listed by the Frward as ne f America s 33 mst Inspiratinal Rabbis 2015 The Janie Plus Bayer Yung Leadership Hnrary Award, 2015 frm the Birmingham Jewish Federatin. Rabbi Jeffrey L. Balln Interfaith Leadership Award frm Interfaith Missin Services 2011 fr the trnad respnse service. Publicatins My blg: rabbielizabethbahar.cm Why Jews Dwn in Dixie are Praying in Arabic (2015) Ding Justice, Lving Mercy and Walking Humbly (2015) "The Hunger Games," Passver, Katniss, Mses (2012) - LifePints: We're cmmanded t prtect Gd's earth (2010) Jerusalem the Msaic The Orchard Magazine Spring (2007) Educatin Hebrew Unin Cllege Jewish Institute f Religin, Cincinnati, OH Rabbinic Ordinatin, 2009 Master f Arts in Hebrew Letters, 2009 Rabbinical Thesis: Religin and State by Hayim David HaLevi, a translatin and cmmentary n a cllectin f essays n the funding f the State f Israel (Referees: Mark Washfsky and Haim Rechnitzer) Brandeis University Waltham MA Bachelr f Arts in Philsphy 2002 Page 6 f 9

7 Cntinuing Educatin Shalm Hartman Institute Rabbinical Trah Study Seminar Participant Leadership Huntsville graduate Mussar (Jewish Ethics and Spirituality) Class HUC NY received a schlarship with 13 ther rabbis acrss the cuntry Octber 2014 Prepare and Enrich Facilitatr (Pre-Marital Cunseling Training), HUC-JIR 2008 Pastral Cunseling Level 1 Certificate frm Banner Desert Medical Center, AZ, in accrdance with Assciatin f Pastral Cunselrs 2007 Rabbinic Delegatin t El Salvadr with American Jewish Wrld Service 2007 Related Rabbinic Experience Rabbinic Intern, Adath Israel Cngregatin, Cincinnati, OH Taught weekly Classes n Jewish Prayer and n Shabbat taught a class n the parshah Began a yung adult grup called Mishnah and Martinis Assisted with Shabbat services Cvered fr the senir Rabbi fr life cycle events Regularly visited the many hspitals and nursing hmes in the area, and had a Sunday bagel breakfast at a Cedar Village Nursing Hme (A Jewish nursing hme) fr the lder members f the cngregatin Student Rabbi Anshe Emeth Pine Bluff, Arkansas Student Rabbi Temple Shalm, Winnipeg, Manitba, Canada Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tutr, Wise Temple, Cincinnati Student Rabbi Temple Beth El Dubuque Iwa Page 7 f 9

8 The Art f Challah Making Persnal Statement Challah baking requires patience, diligence and skill. It is an art t be able t ensure that the dugh is nt t sticky, yeasty, flaky r dry. Mst Friday afternns, as I prepare fr Shabbat, I can be fund in my kitchen cntemplating the weekly Trah prtin while kneading dugh. It is a precius mment during a very busy time t breathe and take stck in the many blessings in my life. This weekly traditin is ne f the things which I find bth relaxing and nurishing. As I cntinue t develp as a rabbi and amateur-challah-maker, I see many parallels between these tw aspects f my life. Anyne can pick up a laf f challah at the lcal market but it takes frethught t prepare it frm scratch. One must make sure all the ingredients are n hand as well as pssessing the perfect recipe. I have been blessed t have been the recipient f knwledge frm my Oma z l, my mther z l and my mther-in-law. Additinally, after having served in the same cngregatin fr the past nine years, I have acquired ther recipes frm my cngregants wh tell me rabbi, my recipe is the best! It is an intimate act t share a family recipe and I feel hnred that I have had wnderful relatinships with thse wh want t share their secret recipe with me. The gift f these recipes is a cnsequence f the deep and persnal relatinships I have built with my members. The recipe is symblic f the rabbinic and persnal relatinship that has ensued ver ur interactins. One imprtant take away, beynd baking, is that a successful baking prcess nly ccurs when there is balance between the ingredients, that t much f any ne specific ingredient can ruin the bread. If the dugh is t stiff r dense there is mst likely t much flur. If it is crumbly then there was insufficient kneading. The dugh must have the prper time t rise, rest and be shaped int laves. There is a science and an art t baking. True magic cmes when chemistry ccurs between the ingredients and the chef. The right cmbinatin can frm a sweet, airy laf f challah cming frm lve. Similarly, true magic at the Temple takes place when the right chemistry ccurs between the rabbi and the cngregatin. There are n real shrtcuts t challah baking. If yu miscalculate a step, yu dn t end with challah. This parallels the tender caring relatinship that a rabbi and a cngregatin need t build and fster int sacred partnership. It takes time and seasns, life-cycle events, and cmmunal events, t allw healthy and internal grwth as well as grwth within a cmmunity t ccur. Over the years my cngregatin and I have wrked tgether t create ur recipe fr a wnderful challah, even thugh there are the ccasinal lumps in the dugh. I have learned that patience and persistence will help ease the pain f unkntting the lumps. I have als learned anther lessn alng the way, that humr and chclate always makes everything better. As an engaged cngregatinal rabbi, I have learned the value f listening with pen ears and an pen heart t all perspectives. When issues have arisen, as partners, we stp t see what is in frnt f us, we name it, address it and we d the hard wrk t mve the issue t reslutin. As a rabbi in an intimate cmmunity, I try and be available as much as pssible t my cngregatin. I understand that many cme t the Temple fr an array f reasns. Fr sme, Jewish rituals can ften be a barrier t entering in and finding cmfrt frm Judaism. Perhaps they never fully understd why r hw t murn, celebrate a birth, cme tgether fr a bar/bat mitzvah r pray n Shabbat and the hlidays. As parents prepare fr Bar/Bat Mitzvah, r a cuple preparing fr their wedding, they can becme easily verwhelmed by the prcess f making sure that their life-cycle event is perfect. I believe strngly that all life-cycle events are entrances. I have learned that my welcming presence ften guides them alng their path. As a rabbi, I strive t make thse pprtunities Page 8 f 9

9 f engagement appealing t thse wh enter ur drs. Alng with fstering strng interpersnal cnnectins and creating strng bnds, I always make certain that the family shines at their mment, leaving them with an everlasting afterglw as they lk back. During a life-cycle event, I remind peple t take a mment t lk ut frm the bima int the cngregatin and see their family s face shining back at them this mment f cnnectin with thers, is ften a rare event in tday's wrld. These are mments that must be savred and might nly happen a precius few times in their lives. In speaking with my cngregants, I have heard their yearning fr spiritual grwth. In Judaism, spirituality is bth mre mundane and mre mysterius than we ften realize. Spirituality is mre than feeling gd, it is abut a stirring deep inside f us reaching ut tward the Divine. Taking faith seriusly means that we will be frced t grw as it tuches many aspects f ur lives. The pwer f Trah is fund in its teachings there is One Gd, we are all created in that Image, Lve Yur Neighbr as Yurself. Well designed, thughtful and prbing Trah study and educatin, challenges neself frward t a greater depth f spiritual awareness and knwledge. In rabbinic thught, there is a statement, Ain Trah bl ei kemach r N Trah withut flur. This was understd t mean that there is n Trah withut the financial supprt t study and engage in spiritual grwth prvided t Rabbis and Yeshivt. T this very true statement, I wuld like t add this thught t Ain challah bl ie Trah r N challah withut Trah. We cannt create a fulfilling challah, withut first having sme Trah (flur) t wrk with. Engaged and active cngregatinal members are what makes a cngregatin grw and develp. It is imperative that thse wh chse t cnnect with the cngregatin are always treated with respect and hnr. The cngregatinal envirnment must be welcming, safe and inviting. The rabbi must be in partnership with ther active and cmmitted lay leaders that create this envirnment. Our members are the bedrck f the cngregatin. They are the nes wh grw the cngregatin by inviting their friends, frming cmmunity and staying active. Tgether we need t make certain that the cngregatinal cre values are always at the frefrnt. As a rabbi in bth the cngregatin and in the greater cmmunity, it is imperative t lead bth in frnt as a spkespersn, figurehead and as a symblic exemplar. It is imprtant t ffer strng inspiratinal sermns, newspaper editrials and scial media psts incrprating the missin f the cmmunity and Judaism that everyne has a hme in ur Temple n matter their views in respnse t current events. I have built relatinships with many peple in the brader Huntsville cmmunity living ut the value f Lve yur neighbr which has given me the ability t engage in effective scial justice wrk. Many f thse relatinships tk years t cultivate as trust was built. Once a fundatin f trust was established, we were able have in depth cnversatins like I had with the Islamic cmmunity abut Israel/Palestine and ther challenging tpics. Scial justice wrk des nt happen in a vacuum, nr is it smething that just happens, it ccurs nly after much intentinality and by design. Over the years, I have learned and cntinue t learn mre and mre abut being a rabbi and challah-maker. The mst imprtant lessn is true f bth: the best tasting challah cmes frm recipes and ideas passed dwn t me, mdified t fit the mdern kitchen, and enjyed in cmmunity with family and friends. Page 9 f 9