Rabbi Sid’s moving Yom Kippur Sermon gave us three tasks:
You can now accomplish task 2 at Adat Shalom. Our gift shop, moved to the administrative wing, and under the new and enthusiastic management of Haya Laufer and Sylvia Mandler, is now carrying Israeli items, including both Israeli-made Judaica and secular household items and jewelry made in Israel. The gift shop is open during Torah School on Wednesday afternoons and Sunday mornings. At other times, you can purchase items by asking Sheila Feldman, our executive director, for assistance.
Most of us are pretty good at shopping. Task 1--advocating for Israel--is more daunting. What keeps many of us from advocating for Israel is our own insecurity about speaking out on complex issues when we are not as informed as we think we should be. There are two aspects of becoming more informed. The first, keeping up to date on current events in Israel, is relatively easy in the Internet age. Ha’aretz, the Israeli equivalent of the NY Times (liberal and erudite), is available online at www.haaretzdaily.com. So is the more conservative Jerusalem Post at www.jpost.com. The biweekly Jerusalem Report, which offers thoughtful, in-depth coverage of issues affecting Israeli society, offers select articles online at www.jrep.com.
The second way to become more informed is to learn more about Israel in general. Understanding Israeli society in its complex diversity is a difficult task to undertake from afar. Adat Shalom’s Israel Connection can be a very valuable resource in helping both the afiçionado and the novice gain a better understanding of Israeli culture. This year, the Israel Connection is offering a film series, a literature discussion group, speakers and a host of other activities. I urge you to take part in some of these events.
As many of you know, I was in Israel this past summer for a family simcha. While I have been there many times before, being in Israel in this time of crisis made it an especially moving trip. My cousins, sons, and I were literally the only non-Israelis on our flight to Israel in mid-July and throughout our 10-day trip we never came across another foreign tourist. Even while being extremely cautious about safety, we found a multitude of things to do and new places to go. The welcomes we received in every shop, restaurant and tourist site we visited were overwhelming. I hope that I will be able to join many of you in late January when Rabbi Sid takes a Federation mission to Israel.
Following an evaluation process conducted last Winter and Spring which provided both the lay leadership and Rabbi Fred valuable feedback, we are currently working together to finalize a new three year contract covering the period from July 1, 2002 to June 20, 2005. We hope this contract will soon be approved by both Rabbi Fred and the Board.
The new contract fulfills the promise made in the last contract for a yearlong rabbinical sabbatical in Rabbi Fred’s seventh year of employment at Adat Shalom. As most of you know, Rabbi Fred came to us as a student rabbi and has been with Adat Shalom for his entire rabbinic career. The sabbatical, which will begin July 1, 2003 and run through June 20, 2004, will give him time for additional education and reflection, personal spiritual exploration and activism.
Who will perform Rabbi Fred’s many duties during his sabbatical? We are just beginning the process to find a rabbi who can serve us for one year. The search committee is being co-chaired by Gail Ross and Stan Newman. They started the process by advertising with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Assembly.
So far, we have put together a committee comprised of representatives of various organizational constituencies, such as the religious committee, the personnel committee, and the Torah School. Also among the committee members are a couple individuals who do not represent any particular constitutiency but who came forward and expressed strong interest in working on the search process. If you share this interest, please contact Gail Ross.
Just as Cantor Rachel’s maternity leave is providing us with the opportunity to learn from Cantor Sue Roemer, Rabbi Fred’s sabbatical will provide us with an opportunity to experience a different rabbinical style in many aspects of congregational life. This exposure to different voices, styles, ideas and strengths is a healthy opportunity for a congregation and one to which we should look forward as a chance for growth.
L’hitraot,
Judy Gelman