The Bulletin
November - December 2011
What are you doing Saturday morning? Sleeping in late? Playing tennis or golf? Going to the mall? Catching up on errands? Or maybe just hanging out and relaxing at home? Everybody needs to “chill out” on the weekend and unwind from the pressures of the week. So I’ve got a great idea for you.
We Jews have an ancient tradition of not just “chilling out” on the weekend … but of totally re-energizing ourselves spiritually, physically, and emotionally by making the Sabbath day, Saturday – or Shabbat as it’s called in Hebrew – a day like no other. This amazing tradition actually dates back over 3,200 years to Mount Sinai, where Moses received The Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment states: “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”
But in modern 21st century America, how we can we keep the Sabbath holy? How we can we maintain our identity and our precious heritage? There are lots of ways to keep Shabbat.
One idea is just to start doing a little something different on Shabbat; maybe refrain from doing activities you can do during the week. For example, you might put off shopping on Shabbat. And take the day off from work if you can. Or just relax with your family and friends, take a stroll and enjoy the beauty all around us. Of course, attending Friday night or Saturday morning services with your Temple Beth El family is a joyous and uplifting Shabbat experience.
For me personally, I will always treasure the memory of running across the street to the bakery as a little boy and buying a Challah for my mother every Friday afternoon. And then looking forward to the big event of the week – a festive Friday night meal with my whole family, and hearing my Dad chant the Kiddush blessing over the wine each week. In fact, when I sing the Kiddush at Friday night services, I STILL hear my father singing along with me, even though he passed away when I was in college.
When I lived in Israel on a “non-religious” kibbutz for a year, Friday night was really special. Everyone would put on their finest clothes, and all 700 kibbutz members would gather together in the dining hall for the Sabbath candle blessing and Kiddush, followed by a festive meal.
The point is that we all have to do SOMETHING, whatever it is, to instill in our families that as Jews, Shabbat is a special time in our lives each week. It’s a time to take a time-out, give thanks for all we have, and become more God-like. After all, He (or most likely She) didn’t do anything but rest on Shabbat.
There was a great poet in early 20th century Israel named Ahad Ha-Am who said: “More than the Jewish people has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jewish people.” What did he mean by that? I think he meant that once Jews totally disregard the Sabbath and treat it as just another day; they begin to lose their distinctive ways as a unique people on the world stage.
It's a delicate balancing act, of course. We are a tiny minority in America, and we embrace the American culture of football, fun, and freedom to do whatever the heck we want to do on Saturday. But we can make tiny but meaningful adjustments in our lives that will pay great spiritual dividends.
My #1 Shabbat suggestion is to join our Torah study class each Saturday morning! For one hour, from 9:30 to 10:30, we study that week’s Torah portion and really gain incredible insights into life and our Jewish heritage.
Our Torah class is the hidden gem of Temple Beth El! Many of our congregants have never attended a Torah class so they have no idea what they’re missing! The class is a lively roundtable discussion, led by either Rabbi Tuffs or myself and we all learn from each other. I promise you, it’s not boring! And there is so much to learn! Some people like to stay afterwards and join us for Shabbat morning services, but you are under no obligation to do so.
And here’s another suggestion that I humbly offer all my friends. Pick up a wonderful new book all about Shabbat called The Gift of Rest, by David Klinghoffer and Senator Joe Lieberman. You'll love it!
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January - February 2011 I've had so many wonderful and memorable moments during my 10 years as the cantor at Temple Beth El. But the events of Sunday, November 7, 2010 top my list. That was the day I got the chance to fulfill the last of the 613 Mitzvot in the Torah, to write a Torah during my lifetime.
Well, I didn't actually write a whole Torah, but I carried out the spirit of the commandment by writing two letters in the Torah. To be totally honest, all I did was hold onto the quill as the letters “yud” and “reish” were inscribed by Rabbi Menachem Bialo, a marvelous young Rabbi who is repairing our Holocaust Torah, a 200-year-old Torah scroll used by the Jews of a town in Czechoslovakia who were murdered during World War II. Rabbi Bialo is a “sofer,” a Torah scholar who is specially trained in writing new Torahs and repairing old ones. On that Sunday morning, over 50 Temple Beth El members, who donated to our Torah Restoration Fund, were given the privilege of partaking in this once-in-a-lifetime event.
I am especially grateful to Dr. Fred Lippman and his wife, Judy, who donated to the Torah Restoration Fund in my name, and gave me the honor of writing a letter in the Torah. I saw Fred and Judy, and some of their children and grandchildren there on that crisp Sunday morning, and I thanked them and exchanged greetings. Just three weeks later, on another gorgeous Sunday morning, we would all be gathered in our beautiful sanctuary again, this time to say good-bye to Judy, who had suddenly passed on. One of her last good deeds on earth was to make sure that future generations will read from our Torah.
I also want to thank Lynn Strauss and her group of “Holy Rollers,” who have worked tirelessly on this most meaningful project, and are still working hard to restore some of our other Torahs in need of repair. By the way, on that day when we wrote letters in the Torah, the section that we restored was the portion of B'shalach, which includes the “Song at the Sea,” the victory song that Moses and Israel sang after they were saved by God at the Red Sea.
As each person approached the Torah, Rabbi Bialo pointed out the next word that needed restoration and explained its meaning. I was thrilled and awestruck when I sat down to do my word, and it was “asheera,” the Hebrew word meaning “I will sing.” I could never have picked a more fitting word for myself!
To me, it was much more than a coincidence. It was a “wink from God,” telling me that He is always there to help us to navigate our path in life and become all that we can be.
November - December 2010
Five years ago, our Temple got a total “makeover” … thanks to a gal named Wilma. Hurricane Wilma, that is. And what a blessing in disguise that difficult time turned out to be!
Now our most precious possessions – our Torah scrolls – are also getting a makeover. This time, some of Temple Beth El's leading ladies are coming to the rescue, cleaning and repairing our six Torahs. Rabbi Tuffs lovingly calls this dedicated group of women “The Holy Rollers.” Under the guidance of a “Sofer,” a local Rabbi who writes and repairs Torahs, these women, led by Lynn Strauss, have dedicated themselves to sprucing up our beloved Torahs.
“The Holy Rollers” also include Jessica and Marcia Lawrence, Eva Abramczyk, Elaine Rudner, and Micki and Chyenne Mallinson. Chyenne, who will become a Bat Mitzvah on November 20th, has made the repair of our Torahs her mitzvah project, and is raising funds toward that goal.
Lynn says she was motivated to tackle this formidable task because of our “Holocaust Torah” and its amazing story. It was one of 1,564 Torahs found in Czechoslovakia after being collected by Nazi officials who had planned to display them in a museum dedicated to the extinct Jewish race.
The hidden Torahs were discovered by a Jewish art dealer from America while on a business trip to Czechoslovakia in 1963. Czech officials revealed that they wanted to sell the Torah scrolls, but stipulated that one buyer had to purchase all of them.
A prominent philanthropist stepped forward and bought all of the Torah scrolls, some of which had blood stains and bayonet holes on them. Others had heartbreaking notes from Holocaust victims tucked inside. One simply pleaded: “Save us!” Another said: “What will happen to us?”
The philanthropist donated the Torahs to Westminster Synagogue in London, where the Torahs were repaired and the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust was created. The first scrolls were released to synagogues around the world in 1965, and many congregations in south Florida received “Holocaust Torahs,” which they usually placed in prominent display cases for all to see.
But when Rabbi Tuffs came to Temple Beth El in 1997, he decided that our Torah should be USED by living Jewish children and adults, and not be treated like a museum piece. After all, that's what the Nazis wanted to do.
So each year on Yom Kippur, we bring out our 200-year-old Holocaust Torah. It comes from a little village in Czechoslovakia where there are no more Jews. When we open the ark at the beginning of Yom Kippur, and I have the honor of chanting the timeless Kol Nidre prayer, our Holocaust Torah proudly stands witness just a few feet away … living testimony that God's law and the Jewish people are eternal. When we read the Laws of Holiness from Parashat Kedoshim on Yom Kippur afternoon, it is from our beloved Holocaust Torah.
Now our Holocaust Torah badly needs repair. Through the years, many of the letters have become chipped or faded and need to be re-written. It is a costly endeavor, but something that we must do. To help raise funds for this project, I have recorded a CD of my favorite Jewish songs, along with musicians Richie Shapiro and Don Hecht, who superbly accompany me each week at Shabbat services. It will soon be on sale at the Temple Gift Shop. All proceeds will go toward our Torah restoration project. I hope you will buy a few copies and give them to your friends for Chanukah!
And on Sunday, November 7th, Rabbi Menachem Bialo, who has been restoring our Holocaust Torah, will be at Temple Beth El, for a once-in-a-lifetime event. You can contribute to our Torah restoration project on that day by joining Rabbi Bialo as he repairs the letters of our precious Holocaust Torah. For a donation of $100 per letter, any family or individual will have the thrill of writing their own Torah by holding onto the quill as the Rabbi repairs a letter. Rabbi Bialo will explain the meaning of the letter to you; a photo will be taken of the momentous event when you helped to write a Torah. Please contact Lynn Strauss at 305-205-5151 to make an appointment.
“You haven't changed a bit!” That's what several people exclaimed to me with big smiles and hugs at a recent reunion. Happy to see me after all these years (and stunned that I showed up), they all meant it as a big compliment. It was a reunion of folks who'd worked for a newspaper where I was a reporter in the '90s (I used to be a reporter before becoming a Cantor). And I guess they were surprised that I still had most of my hair, teeth, and marbles.
But later on, their comments really got me thinking.... Was it true that I hadn't changed a bit? I hope not!
Through years of soul searching, personal growth, hard work – and some very lucky breaks along the way – I had undergone enormous changes in my life. I was now the Cantor at a beautiful Temple, leading a congregation of marvelous people in prayer to God every week. Hopefully, I had become a kinder, wiser, and better human being than I was 20 years ago.
“You haven't changed a bit!” struck a nerve with me that day ... and that's a good thing. Each year on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (and even each week on Shabbat), we Jews are supposed to take time out from the bumpy ride of daily life and examine our lives.
Are we becoming the people we are truly supposed to be?
Are we living up to the highest ideals of Judaism?
Have we made maximum use of God's precious gift of life?
Do you think that when you come to High Holiday services this year, that God will embrace you and gladly say, “Great to see you ... you haven't changed a bit!" I don't think so!
I want Him to say, “Welcome home ... you've changed so much!” May - June 2010
All Americans know that Memorial Day is the last Monday in May. But did you know that Israel has its own Memorial Day? It's called Yom HaZikaron, which means The Day of Remembrance.
Yom HaZikaron is always commemorated the day preceding Israel Independence Day. The Hebrew date for Yom HaZikaron is the 4th of Iyar, which fell on April 18th this year.
Yom HaZikaron is different in character and nature than America's Memorial Day. It begins at sunset (as do all days and holidays in the Jewish calendar) with a two-minute siren that is heard throughout the entire state of Israel.
Anyone who has ever been in Eretz Yisrael for Yom HaZikaron will never forget it. When the wailing siren roars at 8 pm, signaling the start of the holiday, everything comes to a sudden halt. All daily activities and traffic come to a complete stop. It is an unforgettable experience to see traffic come to a halt, and drivers get out of their cars and stand silently in prayer.
The next morning at 11 am, the second siren sounds ... and again all activity is stopped for two minutes, as a holy silence overcomes Eretz Yisrael. There is a feeling of awe and sanctity in the air. Following the second siren, memorial prayers are said in public ceremonies throughout the land. All day long, radio and TV stations broadcast memorial programs, and the entire Jewish nation is in mourning.
Having lived in Israel for a year following graduation from college, I will never forget the mood and feeling of Yom HaZikaron on the kibbutz where I was living, Kibbutz Sdot Yam. Everyone gathered for a memorial service in the Dining Hall, which was adorned with huge black-draped portraits of the community's fallen soldiers in Israel's wars dating back to 1948. Relatives and friends spoke about the fallen heroes, especially a 21-year-old soldier named Kobi Kahane, who had been killed in action in Lebanon just a few weeks before.
I was good friends with Kobi's mother, Ahuva, and I will always remember those sad days and what it does to a family to lose someone in war. Overnight, my effervescent red-headed friend, Ahuva, aged 30 years and her hair turned white with grief. Hundreds of mourners, myself included, walked behind her son's flag-draped casket as he was buried in the kibbutz cemetery.
When sunset arrives on Yom HaZikaron, the flags flying at half-mast are returned to full mast, and the celebrations of Israel Independence Day, Yom HaAtzmaut, begin.
The connection between the two days is felt by all. Freedom isn't free ... and the Jewish people have indeed paid a very steep price for their homeland.
More than any other nation on earth, Israel yearns for peace, and the chance for all to enjoy God's blessings of life and freedom. May peace soon come for our brothers and sisters in Israel, and for good people everywhere.
And this Memorial Day, let's emulate Israel ... and stop and honor those Americans who gave their all so that we may live in freedom in our beloved United States of America.
Quite often people come up to me in the temple and ask all sorts of questions, so I thought it might be fun to answer some questions about laws, customs, and ceremonies in the Jewish tradition. Here are a few that I thought might be interesting for everyone: ******************************************************** What exactly is the Haftarah that we read on Shabbat and holidays after the Torah reading?
A commonly asked question, especially by parents of our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students. First of all, in America it is commonly pronounced as HAF-TORAH, leading many to believe that it's part of the Torah, when it is nothing of the sort. Simply put, the Haftarah is a reading from the Prophets that supplements and follows the Torah reading.
The custom of reading the Haftarah dates back to the 2nd Century B.C.E. when King Antiochus forbade the Jews to read the Torah in public. In fact, it was this very struggle, and the defeat of the Syrian-Greeks and their attempt to spiritually annihilate the Jews, that we celebrate at Chanukkah.
Since the writings from the Prophets (like Jeremiah, Isaiah and Hosea) were not banned, it became the custom to read them in public, and in time the rabbis assigned particular passages from The Prophets to each Torah portion, finding some meaningful connection between the two each Shabbat.
You might be surprised to learn that The New Testament tells of Jesus reading a Haftarah from The Book of Isaiah during a Shabbat service in Nazareth.
Why is the word "Amen" used during worship services?
The Talmud states that the word "Amen" is an acrostic formed from the first letters of the three Hebrew words El Melech Ne'eman, meaning "The Lord is a trustworthy King." Amen is also said to mean "truly" or "so be it."
When the Jews worshiped in The Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the response to the blessings of the High Priests was "Blessed be His glorious name forever and ever." But after the destruction of The Second Temple in 70 A.D., "Amen" was used instead.
What is the Talmud? The comments and interpretations of the Jewish Bible made by rabbis in Israel and Babylonia during the first five centuries of The Common Era. Since the Babylonian Talmud was completed after the Jerusalem Talmud, its decisions are the more accepted ones. Why must a synagogue have windows?
This requirement is stated in the Talmud, where it is stated that the sky inspires reverence.
Why aren't there any statues or sculptures in synagogues?
Because the second of The Ten Commandments decrees that no graven images be made and that "thou shalt not bow down to them nor serve them." Only decorations and art that are not three-dimensional are allowed in a temple.
Why is kneeling rarely seen in Jewish worship services?
When Christianity adopted kneeling as a posture of prayer, the rabbis forbade it for Jews. But bowing and kneeling were an integral part of the rituals and ceremonies in the Temples in Jerusalem. Still today in Orthodox and Conservative synagogues, the cantor kneels and prostrates himself on the floor when an account of the ancient Temple service is read on Yom Kippur.
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