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.

w  w

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.

w  w

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.

w  w

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

A Prayer for Unity: Invocation for the CO House Of Representatives - 1/30/14

Invocation for the Colorado House of Representatives

January 30, 2014

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

In three days, the eyes of the world will be focused on a cold football stadium in New Jersey.  Most of Colorado will be gathered around our televisions, cheering on our beloved Broncos.  For four quarters, we will be brought together in our support of our gridiron gladiators.  For a brief moment in time, our hearts and our hopes will be united.

If only our ability to come together could expand beyond loyalty to our sports teams!  Think of what we could accomplish if we put aside our bickering and focused on making our State a better place.  For too long, the walls of this chamber have echoed with partisan passion and ad hominum accusations.  Now is time for change.  We pray for compassion and communion. 

Our God and God of all people.

You have given us a moral and intellectual core that allows us to discern the inequities and injustices around us.  Help us to use this gift wisely.

Bless these elected officials, O God.  Give them the strength to see beyond the petty and the political.  Help them to look deep inside themselves and into the eyes of those with whom they disagree.  Let them see you wherever they gaze.

Help them to remember why they were brought here.  Let them understand the positions and the passions of their opponents.  Let them move beyond the polemic to the poetic.

And in the process of doing so, God – may they become united: not only in loyalty to party and platform – but in their common vision for a better world, a better country, a better state of Colorado.

On this day of deliberation, we pray that those who seek meaning and purpose in their lives and through their work will find You in the potential to make a difference in their actions.

At this time of new beginnings, may Your presence guide even those who do not seek You.

We pray that you might be present to those who labor on behalf of our community.

Thank you for all of Your blessings.  And Go Broncos!

AMEN.

Finding My Voice

There's an old movie cliché where a man whose face is covered with bandages is lying in a hospital bed.  The doctor walks in, scissors in hand and asks:  "Are you ready to see what your new face looks like?"  "I'm not sure I am," the patient replies, "but let's get on with it."  The music swells to a crescendo as we see and hear the 'snip snip' of the scissors. The bandages fall to the floor and everyone in the room gasps - with horror or with joy, we don't know.  The doctor holds out a mirror.  The man takes it and tentatively brings it up to see what the future will bring….

This past week I haven't been able to keep that image out of my head.  No - I haven't undergone plastic surgery, but I have been on complete vocal rest due to a bruised vocal cord.  Today was the day we removed the metaphorical bandages and I was able to slowly start to speak. When I woke up this morning, I must confess, I was afraid to say anything.  What if I didn't have a voice anymore?  What if I never could speak or sing again?

The good news is, I do have a voice, but after a week of silence it’s raspy, rusty and frail.  I'm told that's to be expected, and, if I follow my doctor's advice, I’ll slowly but surely be good as new.  And yet, the experience of not being able to speak or sing has been very humbling and frightening.  There are no guarantees for what the future may bring.

I've learned a lot this past week - and I'm still learning.   I've learned how much I take my voice for granted.  I’ve learned how it feels to be vulnerable.  I’ve learned how hard it can be when I’m not fully engaged in a conversation.  I’ve had to move from the center of attention to the sidelines.  Anyone who knows me well understands how I might find that somewhat frustrating and difficult. 

At the same time, however, after the first few days of fear and frustration, I eventually gave in to the silence. 

I found myself listening a lot more than I had in the past.  I started to see my vocal rest as a method of purification – a cleansing of sorts.  I’ve learned how communication is not only the words we say – but how we approach the people around us.

I’ve also been much more aware of how our words can shape the world.

God created with words. In Genesis1:3 we find:

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי־אוֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר

Vayomer Elohim:  Y’hi or – vay’hi or.

And God said: Let there be light!  And there was light.

Words can also destroy.

In the book of Proverbs 18:21 we find the following:

מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁוֹן

 “Mavet v’chayim b’yad ha lashon

Death and Life are in the power of the Tongue.”

Rabbi Joseph Tulushkin, in his book, Words That Hurt, Words That Heal: How to Choose Words Wisely and Well writes about the impact that our words have on those around us and our own spiritual wellness.  The way that we chose our words can lift up or destroy relationships – even entire worlds.

Over the next few days, my doctor has instructed me that I should strive to only speak 6-7 sentences an hour…. It’s not going to be easy, but I welcome the challenge.  Each sentence I choose will have to be carefully weighed and savored.  There can be no wasted words.

Maybe we all should take some time and think about the words we use every day?

 

A New King: Forgetfulness and Gun Violence

December 14, 2013

My Dear Friends,

I write this post just before sunset on a beautiful Shabbat afternoon in San Diego.  I am attending the Biennial Convention of the Union for Reform Judaism and the Women for Reform Judaism, along with about 14 other members and staff of Temple Emanuel.   There are approximately 5,000 delegates from all over the world attending this Biennial. It has been an amazing experience up until now and I will be writing more about it in future blog posts and sermons.  This afternoon, however, my thoughts are focused on the fact that, once again, our beloved city of Denver has become the focus of world attention with the occurrence of yet another act of gun violence.

Normally, I refrain from writing and posting Blogs on Shabbat.  Since I was unable to be with the congregation last night and this morning, I now feel a need to share my thoughts with you.

This morning, we finished reading the book of  Bereshit (Genesis).  This afternoon and throughout the week to come we will begin a new chapter of Torah - Shemot (Exodus).  In Shemot 1:8 we find the following:

Vayakam Melech Chadash al Mitrayim asher lo yada et Yosef

A new king rose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

The rabbis ask a question:  "How long did it take until the memory of Joseph was forgotten?"  Some say that it took an entire generation, others say that it was only a few years.  But there is one Midrash that states that the legacy of Joseph only lasted for a short while - during the 7 years of famine.  In other words, it wasn't a new Pharaoh at all - it was the same leader who, once Joseph's services were no longer needed, cast him and his memory aside.  Joseph's legacy of planning for the future - of caring for the long-term vision of Egypt's survival - was burdensome and, as such,  replaced with the old system of profligate spending and irresponsible governance that preceded Pharaoh's dreams of famine and plenty.  This, in turn, led to the enslavement of the Children of Israel.

How could Pharaoh not remember all of the good that Joseph had brought to Egypt?  Why would he see the Children of Israel as a threat and not an asset?  The answer lies in the fact that society tends to reject new thinking until there is no other choice.  Unless and until we are confronted with a crisis and change becomes the only route we can follow, our instincts are to follow the path of least resistance.   All too often, when an immediate crisis is over, the need for urgent change falls away - at least until the next crisis arises.

What relevance does this have to the horrible acts of violence that took place at Arapahoe High School yesterday?  To start with, this event occurred on the one year anniversary of the school shootings in Newtown Connecticut.  If you recall, in the immediate aftermath of that horrible tragedy, there was a call for action against gun violence.  The horror we all felt as we helplessly watched the heart wrenching stories of death, destruction and heroism that took place at the Sandy Hook Elementary school (especially in light of the memory of Aurora) caused us to search deep in our souls and try to comprehend the root causes of violence.  Our state Legislature passed laws that called for stricter controls on firearms.  And then, as our passions cooled and attention was focused elsewhere, opponents of gun control took action.  They were vituperative and effective.  The smear campaigns against vulnerable legislators were swift and unyielding.  The backers of  recall campaigns against those who supported ANY limits on firearms put these elected officials in their sights, took aim and fired.  They flexed their muscles and took no prisoners.  The horrific images of Sandy Hook and Aurora were replaced by the victory dances of the Gun Lobby.  The rhetoric became increasingly more defamatory.  The polarization grew.  And nothing was changed.

So today, here we sit - feeling the pain of yet another senseless act of violence inflicted upon and by our children.  We put aside the pain of the recent past in favor of political posturing and, once again, we find ourselves replaying the tapes and reliving the grief that accompanies tragedy.

Vayakam Melech Chadash al Mitrayim asher lo yada et Yosef

A new king rose over Egypt who did not know Joseph

The time has come for us to put aside our selective memories and work - TOGETHER - from all sides - to find a way to address this epidemic of violence.  Legislation is not the only answer; but neither is it the problem.  Better access to mental health services that will both provide help to those who are suffering and identify potential problems before they occur is yet another path that must be pursued.  We need to bring ll sides to the table to stop the killing.  Unless and until we admit the fact that we are in a crisis,  every moment that we delay brings the next senseless tragedy one step closer.

Pray for the families of the children affected by this most recent tragedy.  But, at the same time, pray that we might remember how we feel right now, and use that memory to affect real change.
Shabbat Shalom,


Rabbi Joe Black

My Remarks From the 2013 "Thanksgivukah" Interfaith Service at Temple Emanuel

Denver Thanksgiving Interfaith Service

November 28, 2013

“Thanksgivukah”

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

Temple Emanuel, Denver, CO.

Here’s an old story:

A mother asked her son: “Johnny, what did you learn today in Religious School?”

Johnny: “I learned how, when the Israelites came to the shores of the Sea of Reeds they saw that Pharaoh’s army was closing in on them. So Moses radioed for reinforcements and God sent a fleet of Drones who attacked the Egyptian army. That gave the Israelites time to build a pontoon bridge and they crossed the Sea of Reeds. As soon as they crossed the sea, the Egyptians followed after them, so Moses and the Israelites blew up the bridge and the Egyptians sank to the bottom.”

Johnny’s mom looked at her son and asked: “Johnny, is that REALLY what they taught you?”

“Well, not, exactly, but if I told you what they really taught me, you’d never believe it!”

The Story of Chanukah is about a miracle – most of us know about it: It’s the story of how the oil in the Temple that was supposed to be enough to burn for one day, lasted for eight days. Truth be told, it’s not the most impressive of miracles. I mean, think about it:

· Compared to the parting of the red sea

· Compared changing water into wine (in the Christian Bible)

· Compared to splitting the moon in two (in the Koran)

It's pretty meek......

And yet – the story of the miracle of the oil is an essential element of the Chanukah story. I’ll come back to that in a bit, but first, this morning we have come together to acknowledge and celebrate a remarkable and rare event – the convergence of the quintessentially American Holiday of Thanksgiving and the Jewish Festival of Hanukah. The last time the two holidays fell on the same date was in 1888. The next time won’t be for another 79,000 years.

Now I could take the time to explain how the peculiarities of the Jewish and Gregorian Calendars work and why this anomaly has occurred on this year in particular – but I don’t want to bore you. And besides, you can always Google it on your own time – so I won’t - except to say: This is it, my friends. We will never see it again. Live it up!

Actually –if we look at the historical record found in the book of Maccabees, there is another reason that we celebrate the festival of Chanukah for 8 days besides the story of the oil. The Maccabees were a small band of fighters from the ancient city of Modin (a city that today has been reborn as a thriving bedroom community in Israel equidistant between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.) These brave fighters who, under the leadership of Judah - son of Mattithias, defeated the Hellenized Assyrians in 160 BCE . They marched into Jerusalem and when they came into holy the Temple they found it desecrated by Pagan statues and Greek gods. They rededicated the Temple and since it had been several years since anyone was able to offer sacrifices, they decided to celebrate the 8 day festival of Sukkot – or Tabernacles –in the Winter month of Kislev. Sukkot was the grandest and most joyous of the festivals. So Hanukah is really sukkot in winter.

The story of the oil that lasted 8 days came later – much later – in Jewish history.

Now let’s turn to Thanksgiving. When the Pilgrims came to America they saw themselves as the “New Israelites” - escaping from religious persecution in England. For the Pilgrims, England was their Egypt, and Plymouth Rock was the first step into their new Promised Land. They survived the winter, planted and harvested their first crops and gave thanks for the bounty given to them by God. In creating the holiday of Thanksgiving, like the Maccabees 2000 years earlier, the Pilgrims looked into the Bible and adapted the harvest festival of Sukkot as a time for giving thanks to God.

So, setting the calendar aside for a moment, the combination of these two festivals isn’t that unusual after all. Both have their roots in Biblical tradition. Both have important Universal messages that are essential for all of us to hear – and it’s these messages that I want to focus on this morning.

There’s a story from Jewish tradition that comes from the legendary community of Chelm. Now, for those of you who don’t know about Chelm – let me explain. Chelm is no ordinary city. The Chelmites, we are told, were clueless, not too bright and absolutely unaware of the world around them. They had their own peculiar kind of logic – that made perfect sense to them – but to everyone else, they were a mystery. Here is a story from the Wise Men of Chelm:

A certain Wise Man of Chelm journeyed to the city of Minsk and obtained lodging at a local inn. Seeing a stranger, the innkeeper tried to entertain him. He put the following riddle to the Chelmite: "Who is it that is my father's son, yet he is not my brother?"The Chelmite racked his brain for the answer, but in vain.

"I Give up!" he said finally. "Now tell me, who is it?"

"Why it’s me!" cried out the innkeeper triumphantly!

The Sage of Chelm was amazed by the cleverness of the riddle, and when he returned home, he lost no time in assembling all of the other Wise Men.

"My masters," he began gravely, stroking his long beard. I am going to ask you a riddle and see if you can answer it: Who is it that is my father's son, yet he's not my brother?"

The Sages of Chelm were greatly perplexed. They thought and thought and finally said:

"We Give up. Tell us, Who is it?"

"He is the innkeeper of Minsk!" cried the sage, triumphantly!

I love that story. We laugh at the foolishness of the Chelmite, but the truth is, oftentimes we are just like our wise man: we fail to see that it is us – as individuals and as a community - who are the central players in the riddles and the problems that life poses to us all.

In just a few hours, we will gather around our tables with Friends and family and give thanks for the bounty that God has bestowed upon us. Truly we are blessed. Most of us here this evening have food on our tables and clothing on our backs. We have loved ones who share our lives and homes that provide us with shelter. Most of us have meaningful work which helps us to support ourselves and our families. Giving thanks to God for all the good that has been bestowed upon us makes sense at this holiday season. But is it enough? Can we, as people of faith, be satisfied merely with thanking God for our lot in life, or is there more that we must do?

On Thanksgiving, we rejoice in our blessings and bounty. But if all that we do is rejoiceand give thanks – we truly have missed an important truth: The message that Thanksgiving must be combined with reaching out beyond ourselves if it is to have any meaning whatsoever.

The society in which we live - with all its goodness, has a dark side as well. It’s very easy, in our culture of consumption, to simultaneously give thanks for what we have, and turn our backs to those around us who, for whatever reasons, do not or cannot share in our bounty. And this is compounded by the fact that there is a subtle – and sometimes notso subtle message we receive when we look at those less fortunate than ourselves and find ourselves slipping into the cadence of condemnation that fills our airwaves, our inboxes and our subconscious.

Especially at this point in our history – this time of economic and political instability- when so many of our friends, neighbors, fellow congregants and family are facing job and food insecurity, health care confusion, and a host of other ills brought about by our modern world.

Especially at this difficult time when, too many people, instead of coming together to find ways to reach out and help – are closing ranks; casting aspersions; looking for scapegoats; shaming and blaming the most vulnerable elements of society.

We live in a time of extreme polarization.

We live in a world and a nation where enormous amounts of wealth and power lie in the hands of a tiny fraction of the population. The inequities and imbalances within our society are so vast that they hearken back to an earlier and darker time in world history.

As people of faith we are both commanded and compelled to give thanks for the blessings and work to change the injustice in our society. This is our prophetic heritage. The great teacher and rabbi, Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote 50 years ago of what he called the “theology of common deed.” This means that

“….. God is concerned with everydayness, with the (seeming) trivialities of life...and that the outcry of the poor is an outcry of pain in which the sickness of our total society comes to expression... Supersonic planes and substandard housing, esoteric science and vulgar ethics; an elite of highly specialized experts and a mass of illiterate and unprepared laborers...”[1]

Religion becomes a mockery, he reminds us, if we remain callous to these everyday ironies and inequities with which we are confronted.

My friends, our prayers of thanksgiving cannot be fully realized if we are only giving thanks for what we have- and not working to make a change. If we cannot see ourselves in the suffering of others, then we cannot truly give thanks.

Like our Wise Man of Chelm – we must see that is each of us who is required to take our place in helping to solve the riddle of life.

This morning we have come together to give thanks. Today we come together to acknowledge that there is work that is yet to be done. But we also are here to acknowledge that we need help – God’s help – in finding the paths, the prayers and the strength to fill the voids that we see around us.

So now, let’s get back to the story of the oil that lasted 8 days. As I said at the beginning of my words, it’s not clear whether or not this story is historically verifiable. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter. There’s one aspect of this narrative that I find compelling. Think about it: nobody was expecting a miracle when the lamps were lit in the Temple. They expected the oil to burn until it was depleted. But it kept on burning. It took a while before the Maccabees and the priests in the Temple realized that something new and unusual was happening – right before their eyes. They had to watch that flame. They had to open up their eyes and see it burning and burning. No, it wasn’t a huge miracle. It took time to unfold in front of them. But when it did, they knew that they were in the presence of something remarkable.

Right now, in this sanctuary filled to the brim with pilgrims from many different traditions, we too could be witnessing something wondrous happening. Not only because of the uniqueness of the confluence of holidays – but because of the holiness and the potential within all of us who are here. Maybe this morning, we can light a flame within ourselves. Maybe we can make a pledge – to give of ourselves to make our congregations, our communities, our cities, our nation –our world – just a little bit better. Then we can truly celebrate our festival of Thanksgiving.

AMEN

---

[1] Adapted from "The White Man on Trial," published in a collection of Heschel's essays, The Insecurity of Freedom[Farrar Straus, 1996; paper, Schocken, 1972], pp. 101-102