August 2023

Dear Friends,

Tonight begins the holiday of Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av). According to our tradition, it was on the 9th of Av that both the First and Second Temples were destroyed (first by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and then by the Romans in the year 70 CE).  Jewish tradition further teaches that throughout our history many of the worst atrocities against the Jews fell on Tisha B’Av.

Throughout history, Tisha B’Av has served to keep Jews intimately linked to the value and importance of Jerusalem in our faith. By morning the loss of our ancient Temple, we have remained steadfast in our concern for the future of Jerusalem in every generation.

Observant Jews will begin fasting this evening and conclude tomorrow at sundown. This custom is an expression of solidarity in sadness. Most Jews, however, are not fasting – and yet – an urgent call for solidarity within our community is as strong as it has ever been.

On Monday, the Israeli parliament approved a sweeping proposal to overhaul the judiciary. This highly contentious decision has fractured the nation pushing Israel to a state of internal instability.

It is in the light of what is unfolding in the streets of Israel today that Tisha B’Av takes on new meaning. Whether you choose to fast or not, there is much to be concerned about. Jerusalem and the State of Israel are facing grave threats from within, and while there is little, we can do to change the destructive forces at hand, I encourage all of us to allow Tisha B’Av (and its lamentation of past destructions) to remind us of the importance and the fragility of Israel in the unfolding story of our people and our faith.

L’Shalom,
Steve

Dear Friends,

Despite the political polarization that plagues our national rhetoric on issues concerning the economy, health care, immigration, and more. . . July 4^th invites every American (regardless of what we may believe is best for our future) to stand proudly in celebration of something we do share – democracy, freedom and a unique American way of life.

Yesterday’s celebration of the Fourth of July invited our entire country to share in one of our only purely, American holidays. Indeed, the Fourth of July, with its fireworks that filled our night skies, serves as an annual reminder that we live in a country where diversity is celebrated and ingenuity of thought and belief are part of the fabric of our national identity.

These are values worth defending, and it is important to remember that if we fail to embrace what our fireworks are all about; if we fail to appreciate the liberties we have been afforded; and if we fail to stand up for the liberties of others, then the Fourth of July is reduced to a meaningless day for consumer discounts on furniture and mattresses.

L’Shalom,
Steve

Dear Friends,

We are very excited to welcome Beth Fine-Nelson to our staff. Beth has arrived at a time when we are reimagining ways to engage our community and build on the amazing programming which has been nurtured by Justin Deutsch.

Beth comes to us from Temple Sinai in Sharon, Massachusetts, where she served as the Education and Events Director. Her work as a Jewish professional spans decades, and she comes to HCRJ with a wide variety of skills in programming, education and communications.

Beth’s title will be Director of Communications and Engagement, and her kind demeanor and engaging personality will soon be associated with the kind of warm, welcoming spirit that we have all come to appreciate at HCRJ.  If you are ever near HCRJ during the day, please pop in and say “hello.”

L’Shalom,
Steve

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah portion, Naso, God provides Moses with instructions on how Aaron and his sons should bless the Israelites. This blessing, which is often referred to as the Priestly Benediction, is delivered by rabbis at weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and celebrations of bar/bat mitzvah and baby naming ceremonies. It is also recited by parents at the beginning of Shabbat as a way of invoking God’s blessing upon their children. The words of this ancient blessing can be found in Numbers 6:22-27:

May the God bless you and protect you!
May the God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you!
May the God’s face be lifted towards you [in favor] and grant you peace!

This ancient blessing has long been recited with hands extended over its recipients. According to our sages, the Shekhinah (God’s presence) was said to rest in the space between these extended hands. Thus, in every generation, all priests, rabbis, and parents who have chosen to bestow blessings through these powerful words became intermediaries or vessels of the Divine spirit.

Another powerful idea associated with these words is that they are stated in the second-person singular.  This is significant because the blessing was originally recited over all of the Israelites as a collective community. Here we come to embrace two important ideas.

Firstly, the language of this blessing serves to remind us that we are one people, and we share a collective destiny. Secondly, we are reminded that the Divine blessing is not generic. God sees and cherishes us as individuals. We each have needs, dreams, and yearnings, and as we receive this blessing, it remains unique to each of us as we receive it.

As this week continues to unfold, may you be blessed with Divine protection, abundance, and peace.

L’Shalom,
Steve

Dear Friends,

A number of weeks have passed since I returned from Israel. My intentions are to share insights and observations at an upcoming Shabbat service, but before too many weeks pass, I thought I would share a few observations regarding the protests that are currently taking place in the streets.

From the moment I arrived in Israel, there was a sense of dissatisfaction in the air. Fear, frustration, anger, and even helplessness were common sentiments in the conversations I had with friends and family. Most share a sense that the future of Israel was being compromised by efforts to remove the checks and balances of the judiciary. Civil liberties, Arab rights, women’s rights, gay rights, and countless other issues are among the concerns that emerge in conversations I had personally as well as by the Members of Knesset who addressed our group throughout the week. Many see Israel’s democracy as being threatened, and as a result, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets.

These protests span every demographic of Israeli society including faith, culture, ethnicity, profession and age group. On my first day in Israel, there were over 100,000 people marching around the Knesset, and on my final Shabbat in Tel Aviv, over 160,000 filled the streets. It was estimated that nearly half a million Israelis protested on that Shabbat alone, as a broad cross-section of the country seems to be coming together in demanding the protection of fundamental democratic practices within the government.

As my 10-day experience in Israel unfolded, these protests were constantly in the background. While it was challenging to fully understand what was going on, it was very apparent that Israel is currently immersed in a state of devastating internal upheaval.

There are legitimate fears regarding Israel’s future as a democracy, and there are legitimate concerns that the consequences of the current government’s efforts to tinker with the checks and balances of the judiciary could be devastating for generations to come.

While there may be very little we can do as American Jews, we should not allow the crisis unfolding on the streets and in the courts to compromise our commitment. Our support needs to remain steadfast, and remaining informed is more important than ever.

In the coming months, HCRJ programming promises to include some important Israel focused opportunities. We will also be sending out a survey to gauge interest in a future HCRJ trip to Israel. As Israel celebrates 75 years this year, we are planning to be fully engaged in the celebration!

L’Shalom,
Steve

Dear Friends,

Chanukah represents a daring innovation. It is not a holiday that is mentioned in the Torah or the Holy Scriptures, but it does hold great significance in the unfolding story of the Jewish people. For this reason, the sages in the Talmud (Shabbat 21a) instruct us observe this post-biblical festival with the lighting of candles over the course of eight consecutive nights. In doing so, we recognize the importance of the story of Chanukah and symbolically enhance our sense of wonder regarding miracles both past and present.

In addition to the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, Chanukah commemorates the miraculous victory of the Maccabees, the rededication of the Temple, and the ongoing survival of our people against countless oppressors. In each instance, the miracles of our faith can be seen as a partnership between God and humanity.

As we light our candles tonight and mark the fourth night of Chanukah, the Chanukiah (Chanukah menorah) will shine bright, adding light to a darkened world. May these blazing candles serve to open our eyes to the miracles around us, open our hearts to a world in need of healing, and open our minds to seek partnerships between God and humanity.

Happy Chanukah​​​​​​​!

L’Shalom,
Steve

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow is Yom HaAtzmauut (Israeli Independence Day) and in the spirit of solidarity with Jews all over the world, we honor and celebrate the centrality of the Jewish State in the life-blood of Jewish history, heritage, culture and spiritual sustenance. As a modern political entity, Israel is only 74 years old, but in this short period of time Israel has become one of the most successful centers for technology, industry, medicine, agriculture and science in the entire world.

Indeed, we can take great pride in the fact that Israel has established herself as one of the most democratic, forward-thinking nations in the world, and we will do so this week at Shabbat services.

Please join us to celebrate Israel’s 74th at HCRJ with a very special Shabbat service on Friday night at 6:30pm featuring music, meditations and an Israeli oneg. We will also be honoring our teachers and bidding farewell to our graduating seniors.

Happy Yom HaAtzmauut!

L’Shalom,
Steve

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow, Jews around the world will observe Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. This annual day of remembrance designates sacred time devoted to recalling the horrors of the past as a means to shape the present and the future.

We must never forget that the atrocities of the Nazis demanded a complicit society. We must never forget that the horrors of the Holocaust were rooted in fear, intolerance and hate. The slogan, “Never Again,” can only be realized if the entire world is committed to overcoming the voices which perpetuate and promulgate hateful rhetoric in society at large.

This Friday night at 6:30pm, we will set aside sacred time during Shabbat services to remember and reflect. Our remembrance will be shaped by special music and meditations, and as our observance takes place against the backdrop of the unfolding horrors in Ukraine, we will seek ways to understand the slogan “Never Again” as it applies to the world today.

L’Shalom,
Steve

Dear Friends,

Tonight is Purim, and Jews around the world will be reading the Book of Esther and celebrating in a wide variety of ways. At HCRJ, our custom is to celebrate Purim on the Sabbath closest to the holiday (see details below).

To increase your joy around this fun-filled holiday, consider the following: 

1. Attend one of the many congregations observing Purim tonight.

2. Learn more about the history and customs of Purim by clicking here.

Happy Purim! We look forward to seeing you on Friday night.

Steve

Dear Friends,

This year, our Deli Shabbos has a distinctly different feel to it. On the one hand (as Tevye would say), it feels different because we are finally able to gather again, and I am looking forward to seeing you on Friday night for a Shabbat worship experience which beautifully integrates melodies from Fiddler on the Roof. On the other hand, the situation unfolding in Ukraine invites us to consider the profound impact Jews have had on that part of the world.

In a recent article that has been shared around the Jewish world, Rabbi Irwin Keller emphasizes, “It is important to resist schmaltzy Fiddler-style nostalgia for Jewish life as it was once lived in the Ukraine, but it is also right to notice how that land is imprinted on us, and how we are imprinted on it. There are not many places you can go in the world that doesn’t have some Jewish imprint. In Ukraine it is profound.”

Click here for the article. 

As you read or listen to this article, it becomes very clear that Jewish life would not be the same without the history of the Jews in the Ukraine. It is also clear that the Ukraine would not have been the same without the Jews.
As this war continues to unfold, we pray for a shift in the tide in this dark sea of conflict – so that harmony can replace hostility, relief can supplant pain, and hope can end despair.

L’Shalom,
Steve