“Seeing is Believing”

As part of our ongoing outreach to younger children of members and members in their 20’s, “20 Somethings” (Generation Xers), organized a Shabbat meal for their contemporaries. I went downtown and met almost 30 young people for a beautiful Shabbat dinner, cooked primarily by Jason Symonds, who prepared two different types of chicken no less, as well as all of the supplements and desserts. We welcomed Shabbat by singing Shalom Aleichem, chanting the Kiddush and having a wonderful discussion.

The meal was hosted in the Party Room in the apartment building of Micha Weinblatt, who along with Lily Goldstein, Morgan Greenhouse, Andrew Haberman and Jason, pulled it all together. Already the young people are talking about exploring other opportunities for more sessions and programs.

We all should derive much nachas and be proud of our young people, as they are carrying on the B’nai Tzedek tradition into the next generation.

“Live from Potomac: It’s Saturday Night!”

An Evening with Al Franken

On Sunday night, June 6th, we presented the David Ifshin Annual Memorial Award to Minnesota Senator Al Franken. The turnout of between 300 – 350 people was the largest we have ever had for this annual event. The award is given in honor of David Ifshin who had a distinguished career as an attorney and who sought to build bridges between individuals of different political persuasions and thought, who lived life with zest and passion, who had a keen interest in contemporary affairs and whose life tragically ended way too soon at the young age of 47.

Franken’s appearance at the synagogue generated some controversy – I received an anonymous letter from someone who objected, as well as an email from someone concerned that Franken was too polarizing an individual. For all the concern about his being here, he actually was very non-controversial. He spoke personally and touched upon issues of faith and how it helps when dealing with loss.

I believe, as did David and his family who established the award in his memory, that the synagogue should be a place where a free exchange of ideas can occur. It should be a place where we are intellectually challenged and stimulated and where significant ideas and contemporary issues that affect us and our society are discussed and debated in a respectful manner. In this way, a synagogue fulfills its mission as a beit knesset, a place of assembly and of meeting. Although I do not have a copy of his talk, here is an excerpt from my introduction of him.

As many of you know, prior to beginning his current career as a public servant, tonight’s speaker began his career as a performer who did stand-up comedy and impersonations in a number of clubs and comedy venues. Oh, this must be a mistake …. I’m sorry, I am reading from my bio, rather than our speaker’s ….

Al grew up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and graduated from Harvard in 1973. He was elected to represent the State of Minnesota two years ago in the United States Senate, in a major landslide, and was sworn in July of 2009 following a statewide hand recount, just to be sure.

….In his short time since becoming a member of the United States Senate, he has focused on economic and environmental issues. In choosing Mr. Franken as this year’s honoree, he was chosen for a number of reasons, but primarily because he is good enough, smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like him.

Blessing a Governor

The early 1970’s when I was a student at the University of Maryland were contentious times. Confrontation between authority figures and the student body was the standard mode of interaction.

I served as the Director of State Affairs, which meant that I was liaison to the various branches of the Maryland state government on behalf of the 35,000 undergraduate students at the University of Maryland. In that capacity I spoke before committees of the state legislature and lobbied on bills that had an impact on students and student life. I worked closely with officials of the Maryland state government, including Marvin Mandel, Maryland’s first Jewish governor.

As a result, when I was invited by a close friend of his, Bruce Bereano, to offer a blessing at a roast/toast being held in honor of Governor Mandel’s 90th birthday at the University of Maryland, I was happy to be able to do so.

The speakers on the program included Congressman Steny Hoyer, who had served in the Maryland state legislature when Mandel was governor, John Hanson Briscoe, who was the Speaker of the House of Delegates at the time, Comptroller Peter Franchot, former Governor, Robert Ehrlich, and several other public figures. Senate President, Mike Miller, was the emcee of the event. After the series of speeches, Governor Mandel came up to the podium and said how pleased he was with how things went. He mentioned, being the astute politician that he is, he merely reminded all the speakers who came before him that he would be having the last word so they should be kind to him.

I was then called up to offer the benediction. Upon reaching the podium I said,” Governor, with all due respect, I would like to correct you. As you can see, it is not you who has the last word – but the rabbi.” I then proceeded to offer the prayer listed below and concluded with the Priestly Blessing. It was a great honor to be able to say this blessing over a former governor who had such an impressive array of accomplishments during his career of public service. It was especially meaningful because of my connection to him from over 35 years ago and because he was so deeply moved and touched by it.

Benediction

Marvin Mandel
May 4, 2010

We gather together tonight to honor a man whose career spans over four decades, a man who came from humble beginnings and who ascended to a position of prominence and leadership;

Whose career of distinction and public service was recognized with one of the greatest honors a public servant could ever have ever bestowed upon him – a sandwich named after him at Ruth & Chick’s deli.

As Governor, he sought to help the little guy – and not just because he too was a little guy.

Rather because he understood that the purpose of government is to help, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “to uphold the fallen, to heal the sick and to loosen the bonds of oppression.”

We have heard about his distinguished career and all he did for our state and his impressive accomplishments for the principle of tikun olam, making our society a better place.

So we give thanks to you O God for his leadership and for his years of service.

We ask, May God almighty grant you continued blessing to go m’hayil l’hayil, from strength to strength.

And I invite him to come forward so that I may ask God’s continued blessing for you, Governor Mandel, with the words that would have been recited at your Bar Mitzvah… (Birkat HaKohanim – The Priestly Benediction).

AIPAC Luncheon Invocation - March 22, 2010

We come together this year, on the eve of the holiday of Passover, with a sense of concern and anxiety -- which heightens our appreciation for the urgency of our mission, the nobility of our calling and the importance of our work.

We share our concern about the fate of the State of Israel and on behalf of the people of Israel.

Knowing that she is strong, nevertheless, we are concerned that the voices of those who seek to weaken her, of those who wish to limit her ability to do what she must to protect her citizens are growing louder and must be countered.

We are united in the conviction that the efforts of those who dare to question the very existence of the Jewish state, and of those who want to diminish the bonds that unite us must not and will not prevail.

And so we gather in our nation’s capitol to express our support and solidarity with Israel, for we recognize that the relationship between Jews around the world and the people of Israel strengthens and nourishes both communities.

We share the notion that we dare not let differences divide us, nor shall we allow imperfection be an impediment to love.

And so, let our message from this gathering go forth -

To the people of Israel, we say:
Anu etchem: We are with you.
Atem lo bodedim: You are not alone.

To the government of Israel, we say:
We stand with you in your quest for peace and security.

To the leaders of our government, we say:
It is incitement and indoctrination and promulgation of hate that is an insult and affront to the American people.

Make no mistake about it. We are loyal citizens of this great democracy.

We come to Washington like other advocates for various causes to exercise the rights granted to us by this great nation and to express our steadfast love and support for it and the state of Israel in the belief that America stands tallest when it shows the world that it is loyal to its friends.

Let us remind our elected officials that we are most proud of our nation when it is on the side of the right and the just which is why we believe that it exemplifies the best in all of us when it stands with Israel.

And finally, and most important of all, to the Almighty God:
We ask and we pray:
Ribbono shel Olam, Master of the Universe,
Adonai oz le’amo yetan – May the Lord give Strength unto His people.
Adonai yeverach et amo beshalom, May the Lord bless His people with peace.

An Interesting Couple of Weeks

One of our former music teachers, Ann Laurie Josephs, used to teach her younger children a popular catchy song the kids would sing enthusiastically called, “What Does a Rabbi Do?”

Over the last couple of weeks I have been in the thick of things with the Obama administration’s denunciation of the Israeli government’s decision to issue housing permits for construction on vacant land in North Jerusalem. I wrote a letter to Congressman Steny Hoyer which, in internet parlance, “went viral.” It was picked up on several national blogs including Commentary and The National Journal. I heard from people around the country, and even in Canada, some telling me they had received it from several different sources. I think one of the reasons it was so widely circulated and well received is because all too often rabbis equivocate and do not take clear positions on behalf of Israel.

In addition to making calls and sending letters to members of Congress on this important issue, I also participated in a meeting with members of the Presbyterian clergy to talk about an upcoming proposal to be introduced to their General Assembly, which would be hostile towards Israel. A few rabbis and representatives of the American Jewish Committee were invited by local clergy sympathetic to Israel and are concerned about the hostile impact of the resolution on Jewish-Presbyterian relations. I also attended a meeting of our local Federation, of which I am a Board member, to discuss the process of choosing a new Executive Director. Other responsibilities in the community over the last few weeks included teaching a class at the “Routes” program of the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning, entitled, “How to Read the Bible.” Later that same day I spoke at a conference at the University of Maryland on the issue of religious pluralism and religion and democracy in Israel.

In addition to these responsibilities outside of the synagogue, and my regular ongoing classes that I teach in the congregation, I also met with the children in the nursery school to speak with them about the upcoming holiday of Passover. I taught a couple of workshops for parents about how to bring Judaism into their lives on a daily basis. I met with our 11th and 12th graders to speak with them about how to respond to anti-Israel propaganda on college campuses. One night I went downtown to speak with children of members to discuss some programs we can offer for the “Next-Gen.”

The rabbi of the first synagogue where I worked taught me that as important as our work in the community is, we must always be there for our congregants and make that a priority. It is a message I have never forgotten. Meetings with congregants range from private conversations about personal issues to offering support or comfort during difficult times, as well as providing counseling and advice when they are facing various personal challenges. I enjoy sharing and preparing for the life cycle events that transpire in people’s lives, be they happy or sad.

I led a meeting of Washington area rabbis at our synagogue about the impact Israel has on our lives as individuals and as rabbis. The discussion was a most interesting one in which I asked colleagues to talk about the role which Israel played in their decision to become a rabbi, as well as how to treat concerns when speaking from the pulpit. The greater part of a day was spent a few weeks ago at the mikveh as part of a beit din, a rabbinic court, which welcomes and certifies individuals who choose to convert to Judaism. One night I reviewed a book and led a discussion for our Sisterhood about the book entitled, “The Inner Soul,” by Rabbi Niles Elliot Goldstein.

I am often amazed by the diversity of my job as a rabbi. One of the things I so much enjoy and cherish about it is the multi-faceted dimension of it. The child of a member met with me the other day to discuss the possibility of becoming a rabbi. I gave an enthusiastic endorsement of how meaningful and fulfilling it can be!

A Most Unusual Shabbat

There was a great deal of anticipation last Friday night as we anxiously awaited the arrival of Israel’s Ambassador to the United States. Our synagogue has been honored to have hosted his predecessors: Ambassadors Rabinovich, Shoval, Ayalon and Meridor.

I have known Michael Oren for a number of years. From the moment he walked into the synagogue and came up to the bema, it was clear that something was wrong. He sat down and whispered to me that he had just come from speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu after having been summoned to the State Department to be read a formal letter of condemnation over the announcement made during the visit to Israel of Vice President Biden about the approval of housing permits for construction in Jerusalem. Right before I got up to introduce him, he said to me that he really was not sure what to say, and what not to say in light of what had just happened.

Somehow, he got up and spoke eloquently about the “risks associated with peace.” Midway through his talk, as he was delineating the threats and challenges faced by efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel, Sally, his wife, stepped out to take a phone call. She stood in the back and tried to get her husband’s attention. He had to take an urgent call from Prime Minister Netanyahu. It was 3:00 a.m. in the morning in Israel, so we knew the situation was serious. He excused himself saying he had to take this call from his boss. He came back, resumed his talk and was again interrupted for the second time. After the service, Ambassador Oren met in my office with Congressman Eliot Engel, the leader of the pro-Israel forces in the House of Representatives, and a member of B’nai Tzedek to discuss the implications of what had happened. All who were at B’nai Tzedek that night felt they were witnessing history. I couldn’t help but think of the saying, “Inside the Beltway.” This was inside the “inside of the Beltway.”

Throughout the week I was involved in a number of conversations with public officials and leaders in regard to the crisis of the rift between the United States and Israel. I wrote a letter to Congressman Steny Hoyer and a number of other members of Congress. The letter was widely circulated and distributed on the internet, and I have received numerous comments from across the country in support of what I wrote.

I can’t promise that this coming Shabbat will be as dramatic, but do hope you will come and join us, nevertheless.

Below is my introduction of the Ambassador.

Rabbi Weinblatt’s Introduction of
Ambassador Michael Oren
March 12, 2010

As anyone who follows the news, which is just about everyone here tonight, knows - Ambassador Michael Oren has just returned earlier today from a whirlwind trip to Israel. The primary purpose of his trip was to relax at a spa in order to rest up and prepare for this evening. In between he managed to have a little time for business and squeezed in a meeting or two with Envoy Mitchell, Vice President Biden, and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

I have known and been friends with Ambassador Oren ever since I first met him a number of years ago when I was a rabbinic fellow at the Hartman Institute. After a very distinguished academic career and as author of a number of important scholarly articles and several major books about the Middle East conflict, he left his position as senior fellow at the Shalem Center and answered the call to serve as Israel’s ambassador to the United States.

There is no finer choice Israel could have made to represent the Jewish nation at this difficult time than Michael Oren. He is bright, articulate, passionate and most of all a truly devoted servant of the Jewish people. I am gratified to see such a large turnout this evening. What Mr. Oren doesn’t know is – people are not really here to hear him speak. They are here to see if they are going to collect on their bets to see if he would actually show up. I saw someone last night who is a member of another congregation. I mentioned that the ambassador was coming to speak at our shul this evening. The guy said to me, “Hasn’t he already been at B’nai Tzedek a couple of times?” And I just said to him, “Yeah. This is his third visit.”

Ambassador Oren: the members of B’nai Tzedek are among the most loyal supporters of the State of Israel, with many of our congregants holding leadership positions in our local Jewish community as advocates for the Jewish state. It has been my pleasure to lead a number of congregational visits and trips, and you have even spoken to a few of our groups when we were in Jerusalem. Many of our members have deep connections and ties to the land of Israel, and our children have traveled there, with some serving in Israel’s armed forces and a couple of our members have made aliyah.

Each of your predecessors, since the dedication of our facility by Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich has been to B’nai Tzedek. We are pleased that you are accompanied this evening by your wife, Sally, who joins with you in your sacred work. I will warn you in advance – I cannot predict how your talk will be received, but I can guarantee you Mr. Ambassador that you are at home here, with friends, and that you will at least be far more welcome than you were at the University of California in Irvine. It is my pleasure and honor to welcome, His Excellency, the Ambassador of Israel, Michael Oren.

“Of Shuls and Country Clubs:” A Frank Conversation

This is the time of year we receive inquiries from people wishing to join our synagogue. It is also when we learn which of our members will not maintain their affiliation.

People leave a synagogue for any of a variety of reasons. Sometimes they join another congregation. While I wish they would stay, I respect and understand that we may not meet everyone’s needs or expectations or that their religious philosophy may cause them to be more comfortable in a different setting. One of the nice things about living in a diverse Jewish community is that individuals have choices and options.

What concerns me are those who decide not to renew because they assess the frequency of their attendance or participation at synagogue events, and they conclude that their “limited use” does not justify the expenditure. As I have written and said before, synagogue affiliation should not be viewed in the same way one looks at belonging to a country club.

My goal is to build a vibrant and vital synagogue which touches the lives of many and plays an influential role in the Jewish community as well as in the lives of its members and their families. Even if one does not take advantage of all that our shul has to offer, I hope those who are not active realize how important it is to continue to be members.

We can only achieve our goal of serving the Jewish community when we have a strong membership. I cannot emphasize enough that by being a member you are supporting all that we do. You should feel good knowing that your support enables us to do what we do on behalf of the local and greater Jewish community. Paying dues helps allow us to maintain our facility, so you are indirectly supporting the religious education of our youth, as well as other educational, social, cultural programs and acts of hesed (loving kindness). Think of it as a contribution, as tzedekah you are giving to strengthen the Jewish community and to help to ensure that our facility, staff and programs are here for the benefit of all.

I urge individuals who can increase their contributions to do so at this time, as our needs are greater than ever. If someone is experiencing a true financial setback, we want to be there for them. Financial hardship should not be a reason to drop out of the synagogue. We are always willing to help to ensure that members can and do stay affiliated. I want you to know that we have had more requests for dues and fees variances than ever before. The only way we can survive these rough times is if those who can afford to contribute do. In the final analysis, it is a choice. I urge each of you to stay as members and increase your contribution regardless of your level of involvement. Do not exempt yourself from the obligation to support the synagogue, and do not leave the responsibility to others.