Rabbi's Chronicles

The Joy of Giving

2012-01-18T08:21:00.000-08:00

A woman from out of town recently attended shabbat services for the bar or bat mitzvah of the grandchild of a friend of hers.

She approached me after services and inquired about a sign she saw in our building. She recognized the names of the people for whom the kitchen is named – Sophie Goldblatt and Paul Cooper and asked about them. I confirmed for her who they were.

She was excited when she realized that she knew the family and had lost touch, as they were neighbors many years ago. I was able to put her in touch with the members who had made the donation in honor of their parents.

What a wonderful tribute to know that these people were able to reconnect after all these years. It just goes to show, you never know the impact a donation may have!

Meeting Challenges to Ensure the Best

2012-01-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

Executive Director Alan Blank and I recently attended a fascinating week-long seminar at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago. Part of their Institute for non-profit organizations, we participated in the fourth year of a special program developed for rabbis and synagogue executive directors about synagogue management and administration.

We were taught by an outstanding faculty, all from the highly acclaimed Northwestern Business School. Sessions dealt with a full range of topics including marketing, communication and branding, as well as financial matters such as fundraising, and reading and analyzing financial reports. We also studied leadership models, customer service, crisis management and how to implement change.

I always enjoy studying material from other fields, especially the business model to see how lessons can be applied to our work as a synagogue. Alan and I both gained a great deal from the opportunity to study together with some of the leading professionals in the field, as well as to interact with colleagues and to exchange ideas and learn from them as well. Each professor was better than the next.

Upon our return we had a meeting of our staff to discuss and apply some of what we had learned. We talked about the nature of the mission, vision, goals and purpose of B’nai Tzedek, about what makes our synagogue unique, why people affiliate, and the role of the staff in achieving that mission.

We concluded that among the reasons people join are because of the personal connection they feel, the personal relationships – with each other as well as with our staff, clergy and tradition. The wide variety of programs we sponsor offers multiple opportunities for people to connect to each other, as well as to our faith and heritage. In so doing we create meaning and value, which kindles and fans the flame of Jewish identity and deepens their understanding of and participation in Jewish life. Many other ideas were expressed as well, including being a part of a community that recognizes and embraces our connection to Israel and being a part of a place which nurtures and encourages positive Jewish identity. Needless to say spirituality, life cycle events, quest for God, a place to learn about , explore and express our Judaism are also all part of the central and primary focus of what we do.

One comment at the seminar that I will recall and that made an impression on me is that we should not think of our synagogues or any non-profit organization for that matter as a non-profit entity. While we are not for profit institutions, it would be more accurate to describe us and to conceive of ourselves as non-taxable organizations. We learned that if we think of ourselves as non-profits, and do not think about the business side of running our synagogues we will be out of business and not be able to fulfill the worthy goals of our places of worship.

There are many challenges facing synagogues and other institutions as we try to cope with the changing perception of affiliation and ever-changing reality. We come away better equipped and prepared to meet those challenges, and hope that you will share the goal with us of doing what you can to ensure that B’nai Tzedek remains a dynamic and creative synagogue.

Briefing to Israeli Delegation

2012-01-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

Last month I was invited to attend a meeting in New York to brief staff members of Israel’s Knesset who were accompanied by members of the Israeli media. The session was part of a multi-day visit to educate Israeli opinion and decision makers about the American Jewish community. I spoke to them in Hebrew in my capacity as Director of Israel Policy and Advocacy at a luncheon sponsored by the Rabbinical Assembly at the Jewish Theological Seminary. My goal was to explain the nature of the partnership between the American Jewish community and Israel from our perspective. I wanted them to understand the nature of what we do and how significant our role as advocates on behalf of Israel is. I also sought to convey the role that Israel plays in the fabric and life of our synagogues.

To that end, I spoke about the high level of participation of Conservative Jews in national Zionist organizations such as AIPAC, Jewish National Fund, as leaders Jewish Federations of North America and of Israel Bonds. I also shared with them information about the work we did to help galvanize support for Israel in the United Nations to thwart the effort of the Palestinian Authority for member status without direct negotiations with Israel this past September. I spoke about our access to and lobbying of members Congress and the administration on behalf of Israel, as well as the visits to embassies that came to the aid of Israel to help extinguish the Carmel fire in December of 2010.

I also spoke about the role that Israel plays in our individual congregations. Among the things that I referred to were congregational trips to Israel and the regular recitation of the prayer for the State of Israel at shabbat services. I made mention of the pride we take in sending so many young people to Israel along with the educational programs we have sponsored to help prepare our young people for Israel related issues and anti-Israel propaganda they may encounter on college campuses.

Advising Presidential Campaigns

2011-11-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

I received an invitation to attend an off-the-record meeting at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee with members of the Obama campaign staff. Those in attendance included a handful of representatives of Jewish organizations, as well as Peace Now and J Street.

The off-the-record meeting was opened by Ira Forman, who is directing the outreach to the Jewish community, saying, “I appreciate your coming and were you to receive a similar invitation from the Republican National Committee, you would attend and speak with them and give them advice as well.” It was also made clear to us that we were speaking to the campaign committee and not directly to the White House.

After some niceties and discussion of various issues, I spoke and suggested that there are three primary issues of concern to our community.

I lumped together in the first category domestic and economic issues, including health care and social security. The second area, which Ira alluded to in his introduction as well, was the lack of civility in political discourse today and how the negative antagonistic atmosphere between the parties is turning off so many young people to the political process.

Then I said, “And the third area is the ‘elephant in the room’ – Israel and the Middle East.” In addressing this, I knew that there would be some individuals whose positions about Israel would be different than mine. Nevertheless, I acknowledged that there may be differences on some issues, but that there was surely consensus in the Jewish community that Israel should not be singled out as being the primary cause of the problems in the region. I also said that for Jews, the “kishke,” test, is important – whether or not the candidate feels it in his gut. I specifically pointed to the president acting the “right way” when exercising the veto in the United Nations that would have condemned Israel for its settlement activity, but that the good will was squandered by Ambassador Rice’s statement that accompanied the veto and which equivocated significantly on the issue.

Finally, I also praised the president’s most recent statement at the United Nations primarily because it forcefully articulated the America’s position of support for Israel. Clearly there was no daylight between the United States and Israel and even more significantly, there was no attempt to try to balance support for Israel by adding supportive statements about the Palestinians. In conclusion I said this is the kind of message that our community has been looking for and waiting to hear.

As the only rabbi in attendance, I welcomed the opportunity and thought it was important to give our input so that the candidates know the feelings of the Jewish community and what issues are of concern to us.

Update from Israel

2011-11-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

In recent days we have met with Dore Gold, Israel's former ambassador to the United Nations, as well as Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon. Both expressed concern that the window to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is closing.

We also enjoyed an evening at the exquisite and fascinating newly renovated Israel Museum with a private dinner there. We are in the Negev now, with stops at Masada as well as Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls. While in the Negev we also are seeing the work of the IDF and its brave soldiers. You cannot but be impressed by the message we hear consistently from the young men and women of how they work so carefully in such precarious conditions to save lives, even of those who seek to take theirs.

Our visit to the south included a stop at Sderot to see the indoor playground built by the JNF so that children would be able to have a place to play – They have 15 seconds when an alarm is sounded to run and take cover in a bomb shelter. We will also visit the Rabin Center and Independence Hall, the place where Israel declared its independence.

Yesterday we met Steph Wertheimer at the Itscar factory who spoke to us about Israel's technological achievements and who impressed us with his humility and gentle manner. He is the founder of the company bought by Warren Buffet several years ago, Buffet's first purchase outside of the U.S. Click on the following link for more detailed information about Itscar and its purchase by Warren Buffet: http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/mar2008/sb20080314_011498.htm.)

We continued with the theme of Israel's remarkable hi-tech innovations with a visit to Better Place where we test drove electric cars. This company, which was founded by Shai Agassi, is prominently featured in the book "Start-up Nation.” Here is a link to more detailed information about Shai Agassi and Better Place: https://betterplace.com/the-company-leadership-detail/index/id/shai-agassi.

We are now getting ready for shabbat which we will celebrate at the Western Wall, the Kotel. Earlier today we heard from Nitsana Dirshan Leitner of Shurat HaDin, Israel Law Center, about the amazing work she is doing to stop the terrorists in their tracks by unrelentingly pursuing in courtrooms the banks and financial institutions that transfer money and make it possible for them to act. Here is a link to Shurat HaDin’s website: http://www.israellawcenter.org/.

A moving visit to Mt Herzl with Ariel Kotler of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the Herzl Museum was followed by a stroll through the open air market of Mahaneh Yehudah where we enjoyed falafel and other delicacies. Here is the link to JNF’s website: http://www.jnf.org/about-jnf/.

Shabbat shalom.

Some Interesting Washington Receptions

2011-11-08T09:22:00.000-08:00

October 3, 1990, is the date that Germany celebrates the unification of East and West Germany. On October 3, 2011 the German embassy sponsored a celebration at the residence of the German ambassador. It was a somewhat surrealistic experience to be a guest at the residence of the German ambassador in Washington for such a celebration, but such is the extent of the reconciliation between Germany and the Jewish people, some 66 years after the end of World War II and the end of the Holocaust.

The following week I was invited to a small reception at the home of the Vice President to celebrate the Jewish new year. We gathered outside on the patio near the pool on a beautiful evening. Vice President Biden spoke extemporaneously about his strong affinity for the Jewish people. He said the thing that he, “an Irish Catholic boy,” admires so much about the Jewish community is that “it always thinks about others and how to improve the world.” Using the Hebrew term, “Tikkun olam,” he acknowledged that the Jews have a right to be bitter, but instead are always hopeful and thinking about how to help the rest of the world. He also spoke of his concern about the attempts to isolate and delegitimize the State of Israel.

Needless to say, it is always still a thrill to receive an invitation to go to the White House. However, since I have been to the White House a few times and had never been to the residence of the Vice President, I was especially excited and looking forward to attending a small reception in September at his home for American Jewish community leaders.

When we came through the receiving line to have our picture taken with him, I told the Vice President how much we appreciated his heartfelt words and that I would even incorporate some of what he said into one of my High Holiday sermons. I asked him if he was misquoted in the New York Times article the previous week which said that he was strongly opposed to the granting of a pardon for Jonathan Pollard. He told me that he was not misquoted and that he felt strongly about this issue. As he continued the conversation I was uncomfortable since there were a number of other people waiting in line to have to their picture taken with him, and I had not studied the issue well enough to be able to have an in-depth conversation about the matter. I told him that I would welcome the opportunity to speak about it in further detail with him at a later time, and he said he would welcome it. I gave him my card – we will see what happens.

Response to NY Times Editorial

2011-10-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

October 27, 2011

Mr. Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr.

Publisher

The New York Times

620 Eight Avenue

New York, NY 10018

Dear Mr. Sulzberger,

I am writing to let you know how appalled I was by the insensitivity of The New York Times editorial following the release of Gilad Shalit (October 18, 2011). This was a difficult gut-wrenching decision which touched raw nerves and raised difficult issues which required grappling with difficult sensitive matters for Israeli society. The nation and its leaders were forced to weigh the difficult decision of whether or not to release unrepentant terrorists convicted of acts of murder for one Israeli soldier. Interestingly, despite the fact that polls indicated over 50% of the country felt that the release of over 1,000 convicted terrorists would pose a security risk for Israel, nevertheless, 79% of the public supported the action.

Rather than focus on the decency, humanity and difficulty of the decision or the moral issues it raised, you chose to view it exclusively from a political perspective. Rather than highlight the contrast between barbaric actions of the freed prisoners and their reception and the mood in Israel, you chose to focus on how this action would affect Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political standing and posturing.

While Israel wanted to make a deal due to concern over the uncertainty of the future nature of the Egyptian government, the truth is, it was Hamas, who weighed political concerns and agreed to terms they had previously rejected in order to boost their position and to weaken the Palestinian Authority.

Instead of mentioning any of this, you cynically contend that Prime Minister Netanyahu would prefer to deal with Hamas. You also write with certainty what his future intentions are. I thought you only report (or misreport) current affairs and offer editorial comments. I did not know that The New York Times is also capable of reading minds.

All I can say from the bottom of my heart and with true sincerity is – shame on you for such an insensitive and truly obnoxious editorial, the most offensive I can ever recall reading in your paper.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt

Director, Israel Policy and Advocacy

Rabbinical Assembly

Chairman, Rabbinic Cabinet

Jewish Federations of North America

My Recurring Dream

2011-09-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

I had my recurring dream the other night, the one which comes especially this time of year. There are variations of the dream, but the scenario is always the same. This time, I dreamt that I suddenly realized at 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon that it was first day of Rosh Hashana and that I had forgotten to let the cantor and members of the congregation know that I would not be there for the first day of the holiday. Variations of this dream are that it is the High Holidays and I am standing in front of the congregation and left my sermon either on my desk at home or in my office, or that I have not yet written or completed writing it. I always wake up in a panic and am relieved to discover it was merely a bad dream and not reality.

I will leave it to the disciples of Freud to interpret this dream. I interpret it as meaning that the holidays will soon be upon us and that I must begin preparing for them, or I won’t be ready.

For me, getting ready for the holidays entails deciding which of the themes that I have thought about all year long I am going to address in my sermons. It means reviewing the liturgy and prayer book. I meet with the staff to be sure that the logistical arrangements are taken care of so that all will go smoothly. I also make a point of studying and reading either new materials or reviewing texts and books which I have previously learned in order to help to put me in the mood and proper frame of mind.

But it is not only rabbis who need to prepare for the holidays. Each and every one of us can benefit from preparing. Just as athletes stretch and warm up prior to taking the field and musicians have their routine to warm up before they begin their work, similarly, we can learn from them the importance of advance preparation as we approach the holidays. In fact, a story in the Talmud and attributed to the Hasidic Masters as well, tells us of sages who pointedly would prepare for prayer by spending an hour or so meditating before they would begin their worship.

There are any of a numbers of ways to begin to prepare for the holidays. One way is to think and reflect on the themes of the season – return, repentance, Teshuvah, new beginnings and reconnecting with family and tradition are a few of them. Another way to explore the meaning of the season is by reading about it.

And hopefully if you do all this, you will be ready and won’t wake up in a cold sweat worrying that you missed the High Holidays.

What I Told our Kids about the Terror Attacks in Israel

2011-05-04T14:26:00.000-07:00

After the recent terrorist attack in Jerusalem and murder of the members of the Fogel family in the Israeli settlement of Itamar, I spoke with the children in our religious school about these acts of violence.

I told them that one of the first stories I learned from the Midrash when I was in rabbinical school, and one which I have frequently told, is the one which likens the people of Israel to a lamb. We are compared to a lamb because a lamb is a fragile and sensitive animal. Anytime any one part of the lamb feels pain, the entire animal feels that pain. The rabbis teach that this is also true for the Jewish people.

I told the children that we are an extended family. Whenever any of our people are hurt or attacked, we all experience the pain and sense of loss, just like the lamb. I made a point of telling them, “I tell you this not to scare or frighten you. You should never be scared to visit Israel or think it is an unsafe place.” Rather, I explained, I shared this with them so that they would always understand that we are one people and that whatever happens to a Jew anywhere in the world, affects all of us since we have a shared fate and common destiny.

I took the time to do this because I think it is important, especially in these times when there are concerns about people not having a strong connection to the State of Israel, that rabbis do all we can to help to educate our youth and young people to understand that we are one people. Rather than merely lament the diminishing of the connection, rabbis must lead and do all that we can to strengthen and educate our congregants to appreciate this bond.

I concluded by telling our children, “Hopefully many, many years from now, you will still remember the message I have tried to impart to you and will always understand your responsibility to and for your fellow Jews.”

A New “Mah Nishtana:” Four Questions for Our Time

2011-05-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

Prepared by Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt
April 18, 2011
As a supplement which you may use at your seder

Bechol haleilot, On all other nights we eat hurried and rushed meals. Haleila hazeh, Tonight we are gathered together as a family without other distractions.

What can we do to strengthen our bonds as a family and to ensure that we focus our attention and time on the ones we love?

Bechol haleilot, On all other nights we speak about mundane matters. Haleila hazeh, Tonight we retell the story of our history and emergence as a people.

What can we do to ensure the survival of the Jewish people so that the generations that come after us will also gather and tell our story and feel it is theirs?

Bechol haleilot, On all other nights we may not be particular in regard to what we eat. Haleila hazeh, Tonight we are guided by Jewish law and focus on eating only what is permitted.

What Jewish customs, practices and observances can we try to perform on a more regular basis?

Bechol haleilot, On all other nights we do not think of our past, our origins or where we came from. Haleila hazeh, Tonight we are reminded we were once slaves.

What does this mean, and how can we transform this message into showing compassion for others?

Rabbinical Assembly Convention

2011-04-11T10:04:00.000-07:00

I just returned from the Annual Convention of Conservative Rabbis. The setting this year was a little bit different and out of the box – it was in Las Vegas, and the theme of the convention was, “Out of the Box Judaism.” The conference was extremely stimulating and intellectually rewarding.

One of the things I find so interesting about these conventions is the balance between practical and theoretical. One hour I was studying medieval Hebrew texts pertaining to laws of Tzedekah and noting how they apply to today. In the next hour I was moderating a session dealing with the future of the Conservative Movement. At another time we were dealing with questions about the issue of Halakhah, and then we were in sessions dealing with finding effective ways to use the new social media as a platform to get our message out and to reach our congregants.

And with all of this, there also was time for informal conversations and sharing. And yes – even Elvis made an appearance. One night an Elvis impersonator sang while we had refreshments, while another night we were treated to a Frank Sinatra impersonator, and we also visited the Hardwood Suite at the Palms Hotel. All in all, an “out of the box convention.”

Reuters Insensitivity

2011-04-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

I was shocked and appalled to learn of the conscious stylistic choice on the part of Reuters to refer to a terrorist attack in Israel as, “Israel’s term for a Palestinian strike.” A bomb going off amidst civilians aimed at causing irreparable injury and loss of life surely seems to me to qualify as a “terrorist attack.” If that is not a terrorist attack, then what is it?! Perhaps it should be referred to as a “bag set among civilians that accidentally happened to explode for no apparent reason.”

The absurdity of the language you choose to use is astounding. It clearly appears to reflect a political agenda – to minimize the sense of revulsion at a barbaric act committed by Palestinians and instead places the onus on the victims. I certainly hope you reassess and reevaluate your use of the English language. Shame on you.

Bar and Bat Mitzvah

2011-02-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

A recent article in the Sunday New York Times discussed the phenomena of families having a bar or bat mitzvah outside the framework of a synagogue. There are children who are being prepared for this traditional rite of passage by “online tutoring” with an anonymous person who may only meet the student and family infrequently, if at all. They hire what is commonly referred to as a “rent a rabbi” to officiate at a setting other than a synagogue.

Needless to say, I find the trend disturbing.

Ours is an oral tradition, passed on from one generation to the next. The teacher who trains and prepares the child, as well as the rabbi, can have a tremendous impact and considerable influence on helping a young person, as well as the family, connect to their heritage. A mentor can play a critical role in developing a child or family’s Jewish identity.

The article got me thinking about the reasons and advantages of having a bar or bat mitzvah at a synagogue, and especially at B’nai Tzedek.

While the “individualized” services may be personal, it overlooks the centrality of community in Judaism, as well as its role as the transmitter of our heritage.

As I point out to the children and parents, the children begin the service sitting in the midst of the congregation. They are invited and called up to the bimah when we get to the prayers preceding the reading from the Torah. I do this to symbolize the fact that the children are being invited to take their place as members of the congregation. They are becoming part of the community and of the people of Israel.

Prior to the service, I meet with the children and their parents in the Holt Family Chapel, at which time I remind them of the importance of kavannah, which means intention and spirituality. To help set the proper mood, I invite the parents to give their child a personal blessing at this special time. It can be a very beautiful spiritual moment.

In preparation for their bar/bat mitzvah, our children learn a number of synagogue - related skills designed to give them the tools so they will be knowledgeable, feel comfortable and be able to participate in services at any shul. The children learn to chant both the Friday night and Saturday morning kiddush, as well as how to do an aliyah. They study the blessings before and after reading from the Torah and Haftarah, the cantilation notes to chant Torah and Haftarah and a number of other prayers.

In addition to becoming familiar with the liturgy, the children and families participate in a number of workshops which present the meaning of bar and bat mitzvah, study their Torah portion and prepare a D’var Torah about the Torah reading. They also have the benefit of working with our experienced and skilled staff led by Cantor Kapell and bar and bat mitzvah coordinator, Liane Aaron, as well as our tutors and instructors who help to teach the children their individual portions.

I firmly believe there is a great advantage in forging a relationship with a synagogue community and being a part of a congregation. It offers the opportunity to develop a relationship with their synagogue and their rabbi – all of which cannot and does not happen with one of the “boutique” services discussed in the New York Times article.

A child I met with not too long ago told me that she disapproved of a non-synagogue service she attended precisely because it was too focused on the child. She wisely recognized that this venue did not convey the significance of becoming a member of the larger Jewish community.

Hopefully bar or bat mitzvah will be the pathway to a meaningful Jewish life, one which will continue long after the memories of a beautiful day and experience will have receded.