Enroute to Israel at 30,000 feet: Perspective and Anticipation

Dear Friends,

I write this post while enroute to Israel.  I have always found it easier to write on airplanes than any place else.  Perhaps it's because of the lack of interruptions - no phones, meetings or other disruptions that can take me away from the focus I need.   But perhaps it is also because of perspective:  the fact that I am writing at 30,000 feet somehow helps me to have a different view of the myriad of details and activities that are a normal part of my daily routine.

I truly cannot say how many times I have travelled to Israel.  I can count at least 20 trips - but there may be more..... I first went in 1975 as an exchange student when I was Junior in High School.  Those 6 months changed my life forever and put me on a journey that can only be described as a love affair with the Hebrew language and the State of Israel that continues and grows to this very day.  Every time I return to Israel, I never fail to feel the same excitement and anticipation that I felt as a 16 year old as I board the plane and look ahead to the adventure that awaits.  Sharing Israel with others is an especially rewarding experience.  This year, Sue and I - along with Janet Bronitsky and Mark Suprenand - are leading a group of 45 congregants.  For most of the people in our group, this will be their first trip to Israel.  Seeing the excitement on their faces and knowing that this trip will literally change their lives is both an awesome responsibility and a great joy.

The timing of this particular trip could not be more significant.  The medieval poet, Yehudah Halevi wrote:  " לִבִּי בְמִזְרָח וְאָנֹכִי בְּסוֹף מַעֲרָב"  "My Heart is in the East, and I am in the uttermost end of the West."  This encapsulates the centuries- old longing of the Jewish soul to travel to Israel - even when we were firmly ensconced in our Western-world milieu. Recent events have served to intensify my desire to be in Israel.  The kidnapping of  three teen-aged boys - Naftali Frankel, Gilad Shaer  and Eyal Yifrah by Palestinian terrorists 2 weeks ago has highlighted both the vulnerability and unity of the Jewish people.  All Jews - regardless of political or religious affiliation - are unified around the anguish of these families.   Last night, I was honored to participate in the "Bring Back our Boys" solidarity Rally as president of the Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council.  Seeing such a diverse cross-section of the Denver Jewish Community coming together in solidarity with the the Frankel, Shaer and Yirah families - as well as the entire State of Israel - was a powerful experience.  The fact that the next day, we would be able to travel to Israel and share our solidarity with the Jewish state and it's people makes our pilgrimage all the more powerful. 
In addition, the recent unfortunate decision by the Presbyterian Church  - USA (PCUSA) to become intertwined with the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement (their denials and protestations aside...) has highlighted the fact that the State of Israel has few true friends.  The sadness, disappointment and sense of betrayal I experienced as a result of this action taken by my PCUSA colleagues has shaken me - and the vast majority of the Jewish world- especially here in America where we have worked so hard to build bridges of dialogue, community and friendship - deeply.  The opportunity to experience the reality of the State of Israel - warts and all - and share this with members of my congregation is the perfect solace at a time of disappointment.  

I cannot promise how often I will be able to contribute to this blog.  Our itinerary is jam-packed.  Nonetheless, I will try to keep you all updated on our adventure.

Until then, I bid you Shalom from 30,000 feet.

Rabbi Joe Black

Korach, Demagogues, and Presbyterian (USA) Divestment

Dear Friends,
I write this post on Shabbat Morning from Beautiful Telluride Colorado where I am attending the 41st annual Telluride Bluegrass festival with family and dear friends.  Last night I led a Shabbat Service with the gracious and welcoming Telluride Jewish Community.  Today I will spend the rest of Shabbat relaxing in the pure mountain air listening to many of my musical heroes.
I love this festival.  It is the perfect mixture of virtuoso musicianship, relaxation, family bonding and almost Utopian community-building.  For four days every summer, this far-flung mountain village with breathtaking views of the western San Juan Mountains becomes a community of "Festivarians" who share a love of acoustic music and a desire for peace and tranquility.
Unfortunately, as much as one would like to shut out the outside world while on vacation, the news does not go on holiday.  In the State of Israel, the search for three kidnapped boys - Naftali Frankel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach  - continues while the entire country joins with others around the world praying for their safe return.
And in the midst of our prayers for these boys, we learn of how the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church -USA (or PCUSA) has voted to divest itself from three companies that do business in the West Bank - thereby giving another boost to the Anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (or BDS).
It's ironic to me that this week's Torah portion, Korach, coincides with the  PCUSA's vote.  One of the lessons of Korach is the danger and power of demagoguery.  The text reads:
1. Korach the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi took [himself to one side] along with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben. 2. They confronted Moses together with two hundred and fifty men from the children of Israel, chieftains of the congregation, representatives of the assembly, men of repute.
3. They assembled against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the Lord is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above the Lord's assembly?"
4. Moses heard and fell on his face.
Korach is portrayed by the rabbis as the ultimate manipulator.  His diabolical brilliance is seen in the way that he utilizes half-truths and preys on the fears of those who will listen to him.  He tries to position himself as a savior of the people by speaking "truth to power" on behalf of their "legitimate" rights of leadership and status by claiming that it is arrogance and self-aggrandizement that gives Moses his power when, in actuality, it is Korach's desire for power that ultimately does him in.
Unlike others who have commented on this issue, I do not believe that most of the PCUSA delegates were motivated by blatant anti-Israel or anti-Semitic feelings.  I do, feel, however, that they were manipulated by  a well-organized campaign from a group within the church that calls itself the Israel-Palestine Mission.  This group has a long history of attempting to de-legitimize Israel and Zionism in general.   The anti-Israel activists within the church have been very methodical in their systematic deconstruction and mis-representation of the history of the Jewish State.  The study guide, "Zionism Unsettled," that squarely places the blame of the entire conflict on the shoulders of Israel is on the church's website. (Here is the link:  http://store.pcusa.org/2646614001).  Yes, the church has distanced itself from this insidious text, but, as of this writing, it is still available for sale to its member churches.
Last week, I, along with representatives of the JCRC and ADL, met with a few local delegates from the PCUSA who were going to be attending the convention and voting on this and many other issues that would be coming before the General Assembly.  We talked about how important this issue was to the Jewish community and we wanted to share our concerns and listen to theirs as well.  It was a powerful meeting.  For me, the biggest take-away was that most of the people in the meeting truly felt that they loved and supported Israel.  They also did not make the connection between divestment and the global BDS movement.  My colleagues in the ministry shared with us their pain at the divisions that this issue was causing-both within the church and the potential for harm in relationships between the Jewish Community and the Mainline Protestant denominations.   We talked about how we shared so much in common:  our mutual support for GLBT rights, concerns about gun violence, poverty, homelessness, women's rights and so many other issues that should bring us together - not force us apart.  And yet, as much as I feel connected to my clergy colleagues over these issues, when it comes to Israel, the fact that their movement could be so eager to visualize a peaceful solution in the Middle East that they are willing to blindfold themselves and sacrifice the truth by buying into a one-sided, blatantly anti-Zionist and (yes - I will say it) anti-Jewish narrative that ignores our historical, spiritual and cultural connection to the land of Israel is very upsetting.
Moses, when confronted with Korach's distortions of the truth, "fell on his face."  The leadership of the Jewish community  cannot and will not follow his example.  While I am deeply disappointed and feel a sense of betrayal from my Christian colleagues, I will not allow this to poison what needs to be a strong relationship.  Now is a time for renewed dialogue and outreach.  While damage has been done to  Jewish-Presbyterian (USA) relationships, we cannot allow the demagogues to win.

Shabbat Shalom from Telluride.
Rabbi Joe Black.
PS - I want to encourage everyone to attend the solidarity rally for the three kidnapped teens that will take place this Tuesday night at 6:00 pm at the JCC.

Welcome Home Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl!

Like many of you, I have been following with rapt attention the story of US Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s release from five years of Taliban captivity in exchange for five Afghan detainees from Guantanamo Bay.  In particular, I am drawn to the multiplicity of reactions from all corners of the political spectrum.  There are those who support the decision of President Obama and his advisors for making a quick decision in the face of evidence that pointed to a rapid decline in Sgt. Bergdahl’s health – while others are critical due to the fact that US law states that congress must be notified in advance of a prisoner exchange.

Others are focusing on the fact that Bergdahl’s capture 5 years ago was preceded by what appears to have been an act of disobedience.  Many reports state that he had previously expressed concern about the Afghan war.  He left his post and walked into the hands of his captors.  Some are calling his actions desertion.  They blame him for placing other soldiers’ lives in danger – especially those who were sent to rescue him after he was discovered missing[i].

Still others question whether the release of five dangerous terrorists was a fair trade for the release of one POW.  Add to this the fact that he may have broken a sacred code of military conduct prior to his imprisonment and the negative rhetoric only increases.

As a Rabbi, a Jew and a Zionist, I cannot help but compare this situation to that which the State of Israel faces on a daily basis.  How many times have the leaders of the Israeli Government and the Israel Defense Forces found themselves in the difficult position of having to release convicted murderers in exchange for the lives – or even the dead bodies – of Israeli soldiers?  When Gilad Shalit was freed after 5 years of captivity, the Israeli Government released 1,027 prisoners who were directly responsible for the deaths of over 569 Israelis[ii].  The policies expressed by President Obama and his cabinet reaffirm a shared principle with the State of Israel that not one soldier will ever be left behind.

Most of us have never met Sgt. Bergdahl.  But we can understand the pain of his parents and family as they waited for five tortuous years to hear some positive news about their son.  In Israel, there is no family that has not been touched by the reality of war.  The anguish of Gilad Shalit’s parents was shared by an entire nation.  While the decision to free him in exchange for over a thousand murderous terrorists was controversial – everyone understood that there was no other way.

Another concern I have about this unfolding story is in regards to the many Ad Hominum attacks that have been levied on Sgt. Bergdahl.  If, as some claim, he deserted his post, why did he do so?  Was it an act of political defiance or the result of an emotional breakdown?  What was his mental state in Afghanistan?  Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that he was a broken man – a soldier who could no longer fight – whose repeated exposure to the horror of war and the constant fear that it instilled in him caused him to act irrationally.  Does this mean that he deserves to be abused by others in the court of public opinion?

I do not know the current physical or mental state of Sgt. Bergdahl or what he experienced five years ago when he walked into the hands of the enemy. I cannot imagine what he must have endured in captivity.   I pray that he will find a path toward a renewal of body and spirit and that he will be provided with the best care possible.  And yet, there are many other Military Veterans who walk the streets of our cities and towns and who, effectively, are still on the battlefield.  They relive their experiences on a daily basis.  We see their haunted eyes on the street corners as they beg for change and a modicum of compassion. The recent scandal revolving around the Veteran’s Administration has shown us that access to quality health care – whether for mental or physical ailments – is scandalously lacking in many of our VA facilities.  Unless and until mental illness is perceived as a condition that befits compassion, not condemnation, action and not alienation, our nation is not living up to its commitment to honor and take care of those brave men and women who risked their lives so that we could live in freedom.

But, of course, Veterans are not the only ones who lack access to basic mental healthcare.  The stigma attached to mental illness is a main reason that it occupies such a lowly place on the priorities of both Federal and State legislatures.

I write this article the day before the Festival of Shavuot.  In a few hours, we will gather together and give thanks for the gift of Torah.  Shavuot teaches us to value learning.  The revelation at Mt Sinai taught us an entirely new way to view the world around us. Torah opens our eyes to new truths every day. May we never stop learning – may we never stop growing and may there soon come a time when we will be able to see the Divine Spark implanted within every human being.  Welcome home Sgt. Bergdahl!  You, like every one of us, are a gift from God.

Chag Sameach – Shavuot, 5774

A Seder Prayer in the aftermath of the Kansas City Tragedy

Our God and God of our ancestors. 
You who watch and weep at the death of your innocent children
On this eve of Passover, as we tell our story/Your story, help us to find a safe place for our fear, our grief, our anger. 

"In every generation there are those who rise up against us."
This week ugly truth has once again raised its head. 

"In every generation we are required to view ourselves as though we, individually, went forth out of Egypt."
This week, we taste the dust and feel the degradation  of our ancestors. 

Tonight, as we gather around our tables; as we open our books and see the crumbs from seder's past spilling into our fingers; as we count the wine-stains on our pages and remember how our cup is always lessened with human suffering, help us to find perspective, strength and faith. 

We pray for the victims of violence in Overland Park and everywhere hatred bursts forth from the barrel of a gun. We hold them and their loved ones in our outstretched arms. 

There will be empty seats around our tables this year. We remember them. 
There will be old nemeses stopping by as well: uninvited, unwelcome, but part of us nonetheless - our past present and future. *(see below) 

When we open Elijah's door, who will be on the other side?  Hope? Futility? Dream or nightmare?

May our worship, our laughter, our tears and our stories bring to fruition the ancient hope of peace. May violence and hatred be drowned out in a final Halleluyah as we sing from our hearts. 

We will never be defined by brutality. We will always be defined by our vision of a better world. 

L'shanah Haba-ah B'yirushalayim. Next year in Jerusalem.   AMEN
Rabbi Joseph Black - Denver, CO


*Some say that the tradition of opening the door for Elijah has it's roots in medieval anti-semitism. The Christian leadership  of the towns required the Jews to open their doors for inspection during the seder so as to make sure that no Satanic rituals were being perfomed. Passover was always a tense time for JEws living in the midst of Christian Communities who accused them of blood libel and Christ-killing.

Gribbines- A Poem for Passover.

I wrote this poem about about 7 years ago.  It was published as part of an essay on Parashat Bo I submitted for the Men's Torah commentary (Jewish light's Press- Jeff Salkin, Ed.) I like to bring it out around Pesach time- especially if I'm making chicken soup.  Enjoy. 

Gribbenes (parashat Bo)

© Joe Black -  Pesach, 5768

This year, on Pesach, I ate my father’s food:

Gribbenes, Gehachte Leber, and Gefilte Fish*

My Doctor tells me it hardens my arteries

But I think it softens my soul.

I wonder if Pharaoh ate gribbenes?

His heart hardened, melted, hardened, melted –

Like schmaltz

Floating on the surface

With each successive reconstitution --

Thawing, cooling, thickening, slickening

Until, finally

It merges into the mixed multitude

of shredded leeks, onions, bones and flesh that gather

On the bottom of the pot.

Pharaoh, after some prodding, hardened his own heart.

It was he who chilled his veins, sinews and arteries.

It was he who refused to open his eyes to the greasy truth

That haunted him with each successive plague:

Night after sleepless night – he felt them:  

The shortness of breath

The sharp pain that radiated

From the back of his neck to the tips of his fingers…..

If only, godlike, he could have seen the blockage

If only hearing, seeing, welcoming freedom’s cry

Could somehow miraculously have melted away his stubbornness

Flowing effortlessly into the banks of the Nile.

But then, of course,

We would have no story.

Dayenu.

*  Gribbenes is rendered chicken fat.  Gehachte Leber is chopped liver, and Gefilte Fish is….Gefilte Fish…..

Rabbi's Report - Annual Meeting - March 21, 2014

Temple Emanuel Denver
Annual Meeting
Rabbi’s Report
Rabbi Joseph R. Black
March 21, 2014

Dear Friends,

In the Jewish mystical tradition, numbers have important significance.  The ancient practice of Gematria involves taking the numerical value of words and phrases and finding hidden meaning in these numbers.  Since tonight is the 139^th annual meeting of Temple Emanuel, I thought I would try to find some significance in the number 139.  Looking into the torah, I discovered that the Hebrew word, ונחלמה (V’nachalmah) added up to 139.  V’nachalmah means “and we dreamed.”  The past 12 months since we last came together in our congregational meeting has been a year of dreaming and visioning for our congregational leadership and staff.  We have brought our dreams to fruition with new programs, new staff and new perspectives on what it means to be a vibrant and cutting edge Synagogue community.

What follows are some of the key highlights of the past year for me and the staff:

 
Worship initiatives.
Erev Shabbat Initiatives:
During the 7 weeks between the festivals of Passover and Shavuot, we offered a variety of worship options for the congregation.  These ranged from meditation, to visual tefillah, to a “Classical Reform” service, to a healing service.  We also experimented with the flow of the service – beginning with a “pre-oneg” in the foyer where we offered wine, cheese and hors d'oeuvres and began the evening with singing, candle-lighting and Kiddush as a large community before we split up into our respective services.  Following this experiment and after each service we requested feedback from the congregation.  We have gathered all of this feedback together and the clergy is currently involved in re-thinking what worship should and could be for the congregation.  We hope to initiate these new paradigms next year.

Rosh Hashanah Unplugged:

Building on the enthusiastic reception we received last year, we expanded Rosh Hashanah Unplugged and brought it into the sanctuary.  We added additional musicians and upgraded our sound, staging and visual offerings. Instead of offering “unplugged” as a parallel service, we had two options:  A 5:30 “traditional” service and a 7:30 “unplugged” option.  While there is always room for improvement, the overwhelming response was very positive.  We look forward to continuing this tradition into the future.
 
Yom Kippur Shema Koleynu Service
Continuing our desire to be innovative, we offered an alternative, parallel worship experience for Yom Kippur morning.  Shema Koleynu was designed to be an intimate, contemplative worship service that focused on creating a sense of sacred community and connectedness through the use of simple music, shared experience, meditation and the breaking down of barriers between service leaders and worshippers.  The idea for this service initially was envisioned as providing an option for members that was similar to the Rosh Hashanah experience at Camp Shwayder.  It quickly evolved into something more.  Under the leadership of Steve Brodsky, Cantor Sacks and Ron Leff and me, it was universally acclaimed by all who attended – both service leaders and worshippers alike.  One of the biggest problems with the service was the fact that there were not enough seats for all who wished to attend.  As such, we are currently working on finding a way to offer it in the sanctuary on Yom Kippur morning – not as a parallel option, but as one of the two services that will be offered.

Shabbat Mornings:
 

o   Our Weekly Torah Study (Parashat HaShavua) is continuing to grow and flourish.  On any given week, anywhere from 35-50 people come to Temple at 9:00 AM, sit around a table and study the weekly Torah portion.  This class is taught by all of our clergy.  The fact that each of our Clergy members brings their own unique perspective and experience to the table means that every week is different and exciting.  The community of students who gather every week has become very strong.  At the same time, new people are continually joining the group.  This is a vital and exciting part of our Shabbat and Educational vision.
o   Our Community Shabbat Morning Services is also flourishing.  We no longer fit in the Meditation room and have moved into one of the Social Halls.  Cantor Sacks is the coordinator of this service and a constant presence, while Rabbi Immerman, Rabbi Foster, Steve Brodsky and I rotate in and out.  This service has grown exponentially.  Utilizing new music, visual tefillah, lay-led divrei torah (short torah commentary) and lots of enthusiastic participation, it is a wonderful addition to the spiritual life of Temple Emanuel.

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Additional Programmatic Innovations (not a complete list):

Expanded Adult Education Offerings:

In order to fulfill our congregational vision of being a community of life-long learners, we have added to our offerings for Adult Education – under the leadership and coordination of Cantor Elizabeth Sacks.  These have ranged from hosting the iEngage program, to weekly Talmud classes, book groups hosted by our Librarian and Assistant Principal, Rita Dahlke, Cantor Heit’s “Lunch and Learn,” and a variety of topical and affinity group discussion groups.  We hosted Dr. Joel Kaminsky, of Smith College as our Scholar in Residence as well as an unforgettable weekend with Anat Hoffman – Chair of Women of the Wall and the Israel Religious Action Center.

HESED (Healing, Empowering, Serving at Emanuel Denver)

HESED is our community organizing initiative at Temple Emanuel.  This past year, we concluded a year-long focus on mental health with a special community “action”.  Attended by state senators, representatives and other political leaders in the Denver and Greater Colorado Community, over 300 people filled our Feiner Chapel as we heard testimony about the devastating impact of Mental Illness and the need for support of legislation that would afford more care in our communities.  This action was the culmination of many listening Campaigns, classes and information sessions that the HESED committee (under the leadership of Sandy Mandel and Rabbi Immerman) organized.  This coming year, HESED will be focusing on the issue of Violence Prevention.

EmanueLEADS

This innovative program was designed to train and identify new leadership in our congregation.  Under the stewardship of Deb Herman and Ellen Abrams, a group of current and future leaders of our community met to study and learn about a variety of topics revolving around Reform Jewish leadership.  Sessions were led by national and local experts including:  Rabbi Daniel Freelander – Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism, Cantor Sacks, Janet Bronitsky, Cathy Rolland – Director of Early Childhood for the URJ, Sharon Elfenbein, Alan Gass, Scott Levin, Nancy Gart, and Doug Sesserman – CEO of Jewish Colorado, Rabbi Jordan Friedman, Hal Applebaum – from the Jewish Agency for Israel, and me.

“Celebrate Jewish Art”
Our Gallery space for Jewish artists in our congregation continues to be a nice addition to congregational life. 

Increased Emphasis on Integrating Camp Shwayder into Congregational Life
Last summer, Rabbi Immerman took on the role of “Camp Rabbi.”  This was a wonderful way to build bridges between Shwayder and Temple Emanuel.   We will continue with the model this summer.  In addition to Rabbi Immerman, Joshua Fixler, a 4^th year rabbinical student with strong Shwayder ties will also be serving at camp as Education Director.

Josh Nelson Fundraiser
Continuing our tradition of offering a concert of contemporary Jewish music as our main fundraiser of the year, the weekend with Josh Nelson was an unqualified success.  Under the direction of Francie Miran, our Development Manager, and led by lay co-chairs, Susie and Perry Moss and Karen and Jim Herman, and a very hard-working committee, the weekend was an unqualified success – financially, programmatically and communally.  Not only did Josh and his band put on an amazing concert on Saturday night, he also led a “Warehouse Shabbat” service at the Mercury Café for our Young Adults and gave a rousing family concert at Religious School.

Anat Hoffman Weekend
Hosting a major figure like Anat Hoffman was an incredible achievement.  Cantor Sacks did an outstanding job of coordinating and juggling a myriad of activities, classes, and community-wide events.  She set a very high standard for professionalism and excellence in programming.  It was especially nice to share our pulpit with Temple Sinai on Friday night as we presented Anat with the Isaac Mayer Wise award.  Special thanks go out to our sisterhood for their help as well as the Hornbein Fund for their co-sponsorship as well.

Shwayder at 65
Almost 65 years ago, Temple Emanuel was gifted by the estate of Maurice Shwayder with a beautiful parcel of land on Mt. Evans – just outside of Idaho Springs.  Over the years, the “Shwayder Magic” has impacted and nurtured countless thousands of Jewish Souls.  During the course of the year, we have initiated a Campaign to both celebrate the Shwayder legacy as well as raise funds so that future generations will be able to continue the tradition.  Under the leadership of our members, Jamie and Marc Idelberg, Mieke and Scott Esserman, Jill Katchen and Steve Brodsky – as well as other dedicated volunteers – and working closely with Jodie Abrams and Francie Miran, we are planning a series of activities and events around the weekend of August 15-17.  We have started a Capital Campaign to help ensure Shwayder Camp’s future.

Community Garden

This past year, during Mitzvah Day, we planted a community garden in the courtyard outside of the Library.  Rabbi Immerman spearheaded this effort and we benefitted from our garden by harvesting fresh vegetables that we incorporated into our Shabbat Dinners at Temple.

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Sharing our Dreams with The Temple Leadership
Over the past three years, I have come to appreciate the dedication and love that Connell Saltzman, our outgoing president, has for our Temple.  He cares deeply about the congregation and has given of his time, resources, expertise and counsel without reservation.  He has been an outstanding president and I feel blessed to have been his partner, Rabbi and friend. Over the course of my tenure here at Temple we have developed a sense of trust and partnership that I value deeply. 
Our incoming President, Ellen Abrams, has been working closely with Connell, Janet and me to ensure that the transition will be smooth.  Ellen is a dedicated and hard-working, visionary leader who shares our dream of helping Temple Emanuel enter into a new world of cutting edge leadership and innovation.  I am very excited about partnering with her over the course of her presidency.
Our trustees and officers have worked tirelessly to ensure that our vision is in line with our deeds and that we will have the resources and resilience to continue to grow.

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SHARING OUR DREAMS AS A TEMPLE STAFF

NEW STAFF

Jason Oppenheimer – Director of Youth Engagement
We were pleased to welcome Jason Oppenheimer to our staff team this year.  Jason brings with him a wealth of experience as both a Youth Worker and Educator and, in a very short time, has brought new energy and excitement to our Youth Program.

Shannon Luedke – Clergy Assistant
Shannon is the newest member of our staff team.  Her friendly smile, hard work and organizational skills have been a welcome addition.  She keeps me organized (not an easy task) and juggles a myriad of responsibilities with ease and grace.
 
CURRENT STAFF:
Rabbi Foster continues to be good friend, a trusted colleague and an important mentor.  His commitment to my success means the world to me.  I continue to be humbled and honored to be able to follow in his footsteps.  Over the past 4 years we have worked hard to create a paradigm for what we truly feel is a model for other Emeriti/Successors. I appreciate his candor, advice and partnership.  He is a “Rabbi’s Rabbi” and I feel blessed to be able to learn from him and build on his vision for the sacred congregation. 

Rabbi Brian Immerman

Rabbi Immerman is not only a wonderful rabbi – he has brought a wide portfolio of skills to our congregation.  His passion for youth, social justice, torah and community has enabled him to bond with our confirmation class and forge strong connections with individuals, families, staff and committees as well. His love for and excitement about Shwayder Camp is one of the key reasons that we have created the position of “Camp Rabbi.”  He has worked to strengthen and grow our Hineyni Project for Young adults.
Rabbi Immerman took the vision of HESED and brought it to fruition – culminating in the amazing program in our Feiner Chapel where members of the congregation and other communities shared their stories with legislators and community leaders and showed support for increased funding and programs for mental health.

Cantor Regina Heit’s beautiful voice is only matched by her beautiful soul.  Her boundless energy and enthusiasm never cease to amaze me.  She is a passionate teacher of Torah and a wealth of knowledge about everything from Torah to the history of the Monarchy, to Heavy Metal Rock Music.  She is a counselor to many and a dear friend to all.  I especially appreciate the way she has embraced the changes that are taking place in services and other areas in which she is intimately involved in the congregation.  Her leadership in this year’s Purim Shpiel was especially wonderful.

Cantor Elizabeth Sacks

We were very fortunate to bring Cantor Sacks onto our staff in a full time position this year.  Not only has she done an outstanding job of coordinating our Adult Education programming, Shabbat morning Community Service, Family Havurah program and Family Education programming, but she also has shared her many talents as an administrator and organizer – by taking a leading role in our Shabbat and High Holiday Initiatives, and seeing that every detail of the incredible Anat Hoffman weekend was an unqualified success.  I cannot say enough about how much Cantor Sacks brings to our community and how fortunate we are to have her as an integral part of our professional staff team.

Ron Leff, our Director of Education, is a wealth of knowledge.  He is committed to creating the best possible educational environment for our students.  Ron also plays a vital role in our staff by helping all of us see the big picture when, all too often, we get wrapped up in our own arenas.  There have been a lot of changes this past year and it hasn’t always been easy to implement them – Ron has been and continues to be such a team player.

Susie Sigman is an invaluable resource.  Her creativity, positive attitude and willingness to work hard and think outside the box ensure that we have a diverse and excellent variety of program offerings.  We are honored that she has been recognized by her national peers by being elected as president of the PDRJ – Program Directors of Reform Judaism.

Francie Miran – Development Manager
Francie has done an excellent job coordinating multiple projects for our congregation.  Not only did she spearhead the Josh Nelson Project events, but she also worked tirelessly to ensure that our ECC Fundraiser and Shwayder Campaign are on track.  She has helped to bring new awareness of the Live On Endowment Campaign and is vigilant in her constant search for creative and meaningful ways to support our community.  Her contributions to the overall wellbeing of our congregation go far beyond her fund-raising acumen.  She is a vital part of our staff team.

Jodie Abrams – Camp Director

In her first full year as Camp Director, Jodie has seamlessly integrated herself into the staff team.  She and her staff have worked tirelessly to bring new programmatic and organizational facets to Shwayder and has also become involved in several national camping initiatives.  We are thrilled to have her on board.

Doug Altman –Assistant Director
Doug also has strong Shwayder ties and has seamlessly become an integral part of our staff team. 

Rayna Wandel – Religious School Assistant

Rayna brings a wealth of experience to her position.  In addition to her responsibilities with the Religious School, she also is in charge of our Temple Bulletin.  Her bright and cheery disposition have added a wonderful energy to our office. 

Cindy Wolfe, Renee Sultanovich and the entire Preschool staff ensure that our youngest and most precious students are nurtured and exposed to a wonderful learning environment.  We are sad to see Cindy go this year and we wish her well in all of her future endeavors.

Julie Lucas, our bookkeeper, keeps us all in line with her laughter and enthusiasm.

Rita Dahlke, our religious school Assistant Principal and Librarian does a wonderful job making sure that everything is in place in our school programs.  Her exciting vision for our Library is quickly coming to fruition and we are very excited about where she is taking us.

Sura Veta, our receptionist, is the voice of Temple Emanuel – her warm welcome makes everyone feel at home the minute they call or step through our doors.

Cairo Lopez and the rest of the maintenance staff do an incredible job of keeping our building spotless and making sure that every service and program is set up.

 Finally – a word about my co-CEO.  Janet Bronitsky.  It’s hard to believe that this will be Janet’s last year at Temple.  For almost 25 years, she has nurtured this congregation with love, firmness and absolute dedication.  As many of you know, Janet never minces her words.  She speaks her mind and lets you know what she is thinking – no matter what.  I so appreciate that.  She has helped me learn about this congregation in almost every arena – from finances and budgets, to personalities and potential mine-fields. Together with our congregation leadership, we work to bring our Temple to new heights of program, involvement and spiritual depth. We all have been incredibly fortunate to have her as our Executive Director.  She has created a legacy of excellence that will help propel us firmly and responsibly into the future.  There is no doubt in my mind that she is the best in her field – bar none.  Thank you Janet.

w  w

I cannot possibly speak to you tonight without publicly acknowledging my beloved wife.  In two weeks, we will be celebrating our 25^th wedding anniversary.  Sue -it has been an amazing journey and I look forward to the next 25 years together.

As we enter into our 139^th year as a congregation- there is so much for which we can and should be thankful.  Temple Emanuel is a place where dreams become reality.   Thank you for entrusting this sacred congregation in our hands.  I know that I speak for the entire staff when I say that we are truly blessed.

Thank you for providing me with this incredible opportunity to serve this sacred community of Temple Emanuel.  May we grow and dream together.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

 

 

Invocation for the CO State House. February 27, 2014

Invocation for the Colorado State House of Representatives

February 27, 2014

Rabbi Joseph R. Black – Temple Emanuel, Denver, CO

God – you dwell on High.  You lie down with those in the street.

God – your voice rolls down like thunder.  We find You in the silent questions that plague us in the middle of the night.

God – You set a standard for our behavior.  You are filled with mercy and compassion for our frailties.

God - on this day of deliberation – help these legislators find You – not in the absolute or categorical imperatives that draw lines in the ideological sands of partisanship; but rather let them see you in their doubts, in their questions, in their struggles to fulfill the needs of our community.  Help them to find the words and the stories to stir each other’s  souls.  Open their hearts to the possible and the improbable.  Help them to find the human and the divine in their colleagues, their constituents and in themselves.

In times of instability, help us to stay balanced.

In times of Torpor, help us to feel uneasy.

Push us to find humor and banish hubris in the daily interactions of our lives.

Give us - all of us - this day:  a moment of tranquility and transcendence, so that we might rise above our ordinariness and glimpse the glory of Your greatness.

Let us see it in ourselves.  Let us see it in these deliberations.  Let us see it in one another.

Then, and only then, will we merit the gifts You have bestowed upon us.

AMEN