Weekly Reflections - Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism

March 2, 2016

Dear Friends,

For the past 25 years, Donna Cameron served as our pianist at Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism. In this capacity, Donna did far more than simply accompany us in worship. For Donna, playing the piano and, sometimes, the viola was a calling. She found spiritual grounding and personal, religious expression through her weekly presence with us on Friday nights. She was always eager to expand her Jewish musical repertoire, and she embraced every new piece of music as an opportunity to touch our souls through the sacred gifts of her God-given talents.

Donna blessed us with her verve and her love of life. She was feisty and fun. She was sassy and playful. Donna was central to our identity as a congregational family, and she considered us to be her family as well.

On Friday morning at 10:30, we will hold a memorial service for Donna in the sanctuary of HCRJ, which she considered to be her spiritual home. This sacred service was put together by Donna herself and contains a number of compositions that she arranged for a string quartette. Please join us as we bid farewell to our dear friend. Donna will be greatly missed, and fondly remembered by all who were privileged to have been graced by her presence.

L’Shalom–Steve

Reflections on My Favorite Day

My favorite date on the secular calendar is March 4. It is not my birthday, nor is it a holiday. To my knowledge, this date has no historical significance whatsoever. The only reason I delight in the date is the fact that it is the only day on the entire calendar that can be read as a sentence (as long as you misspell fourth): March forth!

Marching forth is exactly what we are doing as a congregation. In less than a year, our programming calendar has literally exploded on all fronts. Here are some of the most promising programs that we have proudly introduced:

In the realm of social action, we have launched a new committee that is committed to broadening our reach to serve those who need us most. In response to our inspiring Yom Kippur afternoon experience with the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, a committed group of social action minded members honored our pledge to partner with the church in an effort to address needs in Houston’s Fifth Ward. In December, over 30 of us took a bus tour of the neighborhood and returned with countless ideas on how we might work together to make a difference. Now, our new Social Action Committee is committing itself to March forth.

Senior Chai programming is also moving forward. Each month, through weekly yoga classes, art classes, presentations and historical tours, HCRJ engages scores of retirees who have the desire to remain active. In less than a year, our programming has become so successful that there is often a waiting list for courses and tours. Senior Chai has quickly become a sacred community, and as we continue to build on our successes, we will continue to March forth.

In June, we received a grant from the Houston Jewish Community Foundation to create a center for interfaith outreach. This center is an outgrowth of HCRJ’s longstanding efforts to be inclusive of interfaith families. Through it, we seek to establish an environment where the non-Jewish partner in an interfaith relationship can strengthen the Jewish community in a way that brings a sense of pride. Participants are encouraged to share different approaches to interfaith marriage, parenting and grandparenting. Our goal is to help families create homes that honor the values found in each faith and, as they do, find ways to March forth together on a united spiritual journey.

My bragging about our remarkable year of new programs would not be complete if I did not mention a very unique social group called, Adult He-Brew. This group blends epicurean passions with a deep love of process. The group will first focus on the art of brewing beer, coffee, tea and more. Currently, they are brewing 20 gallons of beer for the HCRJ gala on April 7. This group hopes to March forth into exciting new frontiers of food and beverage appreciation.

As we continue to March forth as a community, please consider joining us, and may each step we take along the way be a means to connecting us in fellowship and faith.

February 24, 2016

Dear Friends,

This week’s Torah portion contains one of the most dramatic events in the entire Torah: the incident of the Golden Calf. From this story, we find a powerful message regarding leadership, as we consider the responses of Moses.

When Moses sees that the Israelites have constructed an idol, he responds with anger and rage. He smashes the tablets of the law that he has brought down from the mountain and exposes a very volatile part of his character.

After his fit of rage, Moses recognizes his mistake. Hoping for a second opportunity to demonstrate proper leadership and direction, Moses removes himself from the situation. He prays to God; he asks for forgiveness for himself and the Israelites; and he makes himself vulnerable by taking a stance of humility.

Whenever we find ourselves in a position of leadership and/or authority in the face of crisis, it is imperative to maintain clarity of mind. Whatever the situation may be, this Torah portion is instructive:
– Taking time regain perspective
– Distancing ourselves from emotional entanglement
– Humbling the heart
– A little prayer

These actions can go a long way toward establishing effective leadership in times of crisis. Leadership that is shaped by these behaviors can be very effective in minimizing conflict.

L’Shalom – Steve

February 17, 2016

Dear Friends,

This week in congregations all over the world we read the portion of the Torah which commands us to construct a Ner Tamid, an Eternal Light which is to burn in front of the Tabernacle and remind us of the eternal presence of God. This powerful ritual light continues to hang over the arc which houses the Torah scrolls in every synagogue around the world. It is a powerful symbol for every Jew, and it reminds us that we, as a community, keep God’s presence alive in our lives as we engage Torah.

Our sacred community is, in part, energized and illuminated by our desires to bring our collective talents and passions together. When it takes place within the walls of our congregation, it can serve to connect us in a very special way to our faith. This idea is poetically articulated by the Ba’al Shem Tov (founder of Jewish mysticism) who stated the following in regards to the sacred nature of marriage.

From every human being there rises a light that reaches straight from heaven – and when two people who are destined to be together come together – a single brighter light shines forth from their united being.

As we continue to bring our collective talents together, whether it be for worship, Mitzvah Day, religious school or even to brew beer – may this idea of a single brighter flame resonate within each of us. For this is the eternal flame that transcends time and space.

L’Shalom–Steve

February 10, 2016

Dear Friends,

In the Babylonian Talmud, our sages make the following observation concerning human intimacy and physical space:
“When love is strong, a couple can make their bed on [the width of] a sword-blade, however, when love is no longer present, a bed of sixty cubits does not provide sufficient room” (Sanhedrin 7a). This is equally true as it relates to our relationship with God, and it is reflected in the Torah portion we read this week.

In parasha Terumah, the Israelites are instructed to build a sanctuary so “God may dwell among them” (Exhodus 25:8), and as we read the blue prints for the construction of this holy tabernacle for God, we would expect to find a grand space. On the contrary, the tabernacle is an extremely small structure to be carried through the wilderness.

Like a couple who can find enough space to share together on a bed which is the width of a sword-blade, God’s presence in our lives does not need grand sanctuaries to reside. For each of us today, the human heart is a modern day tabernacle. With love, we invite God in, and there God may abide forever.

L’Shalom–Steve

February 3, 2016

Dear Friends,

It is estimated that this Sunday Americans will consume 1.25 billion chickens wings during the Super Bowl. This exercise in excessive consumption equates to over eight million pounds of chicken, and the gluttony does not stop there. According to the Snack Food Association, Americans double their average daily consumption of snacks on Super Bowl Sunday, consuming more than 33 million pounds of goodies in one day.

I am not sharing these figures with you to make you feel guilty. After all, part of the joy of the Super Bowl includes all the finger foods.

That said, when we contrast our food intake in one single day with that of the 17 million families in the United States who do not know if they will have enough food from week to week, this day of excessive consumption invites us to consider the food needs of those who are hungry.

This weekend, we have an opportunity to make a difference through a charitable effort that comes every year on Super Bowl Sunday. The event is called The Souper Bowl of Caring, and HCRJ has been participating in this nation-wide effort since 2009. Each year, we join millions of participants throughout the United States in collecting funds that go toward feeding the hungry. To learn more about this wonderful organization and to donate directly, please visit their website at www.souperbowl.org.

Our own efforts at HCRJ will take place at our Family Shabbat Dinner on Friday night and the Family Breakfast on Super Bowl Sunday. Please look for an enormous soup pot and donate generously. Every dollar you give goes directly to feed the hungry.

For those who will not be attending these events at temple, you can participate in this important effort as well. Please visit www.souperbowl.org and donate there.

Last year $2.1 million dollars were collected for hunger relief in Houston alone. That’s an enormous amount of hunger relief in the span of a weekend.

So . . . as we enjoy the Super Bowl this Sunday and as we indulge in our annual super bowl fiesta fare, take a little time to share in the abundance we have at our finger tips. Please give generously at the HCRJ collection pot or at the Souper Bowl of Caring website listed above – because no matter who may win the game – we know we can create a winning scenario with the gift of sustenance for those in need.

L’Shalom–Steve

The Sacred Art of Remembering

On New Year’s Day, our family spent part of the afternoon watching old family videos. We started with videos of our annual summer road trips and then explored a number of birthday parties. Part of the fun was watching how each of us has changed over time (that is, everyone but me as I am always behind the camera). The other shared joy was reminiscing and recounting memories associated with each of these events. It’s amazing how many additional family stories can be discovered when we take the time to remember them.

So, too, it is with the collective memories of a congregation. Over the course of nearly sixty years, our community has shared countless memories around holidays, lifecycle events, social programs and more. With multiple rabbis, strong personalities, challenges in temple politics and shifting trends in liturgical music, Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism has become a treasure trove of stories and memories which are begging to be shared.

Our Director of Music, Dr. Jane Becker, is the longest continuously employed member of our professional staff and, as such, she bears witness to countless tales from the pulpit to the pews. For thirty years, Jane has had the joy and the challenge of shaping the musical elements of our worship experiences under the vision of four different rabbis, dozens of boards and countless critics. On Friday night April 8, we will be honoring Jane for her years of devotion to our community with a special Shabbat service and oneg, and a significant part of this special evening will focus on thirty years of memories.

Coupled with this Sabbath trip-down-memory-lane will be a celebration of our ten years together at HCRJ. This event will take place on Thursday night, April 7. This evening of fine food and music promises to be an event to remember as we reflect on a decade of my leadership (and roast me, too).

Please save April 7 and 8 on your calendars. Each event invites us to find joy and laughter in the sacred act of remembering.

January 27, 2016

Dear Friends,

What a crazy winter it has been. As I am writing this Weekly Reflection, it is almost 80 degrees outside. If your yard is like mine, the trees are not sure what to do. There are new leaves on the branches while the old leaves have not fully fallen. When the idea of marking an annual anniversary for trees was conceptualized by our ancestors, none of them could ever have imagined a winter like this.

Crazy as it may be the holiday of Tu B’Shevat (15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat) is here for us to enjoy. On Monday, Jews around the world observed, Tu B’Shevat (Jewish Arbor Day), and through it, marked our collective consciousness regarding our environment.

In honor of this special day in our tradition, take some time this week to consider some of the ecological challenges that face us today. Let Tu B’Shevat serve as a means to appreciate the delicate ecological balance of the earth and its ongoing call to us to protect it for generations to come.

L’Shalom–Steve

January 20, 2016

Dear Friends,

In our Torah portion this week, we read the familiar story about the miracle at the Sea of Reeds. Standing at the shores of the sea, the Israelites recognize that their journey into the wilderness has been a journey into the unknown and that the sea before them is impassable. As Pharaoh’s army is on their tail, the Israelites feel trapped, hopeless and defeated. They have nowhere to go. Nothing short of a miracle can save them – and a miracle is what they received.

As we read this passage on the heels of Martin Luther King Weekend, we are reminded that some of the greatest miracles in life are generated by the human spirit for goodness and truth. Indeed, the real miracle of every generation is to live in ways which maximize the God given gifts that each of us has been afforded.

We are blessed with the capacity to think and feel and see and – most of all – to act. When we act in response to the needs of others, to feed the hungry, heal the sick and clothe the naked, to root out hatred and prejudice in society, and to use our talents to make this world a better place, then and only then are we – like our ancestors who crossed the Sea of Reeds long ago – able to fully bear witness to the greatest miracles of our day.

L’Shalom–Steve

January 13, 2016

Dear Friends,

As Jews, we have long recognized that it is our moral responsibility to stand up against injustice, hatred and intolerance in society. Messages of social justice are replete in Bible, and the following teachings are just a few of many passages that challenge us to understand the world through a lens of righteousness and truth in every generation.

Thou shalt not stand by idly by the blood of thy neighbor.
– Leviticus 19:16

If your brother becomes poor,…uphold him.
– Leviticus 25:35

Justice, justice you shall pursue.
– Deuteronomy 16:20

This weekend, our nation will pay tribute to the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who, through his words and actions, brought these biblical teachings to life. During his short life, the Reverend could only dream of a time when the injustices that surrounded him would give way to a society where the laws of the land protected the freedoms and the rights of all peoples regardless of the color of one’s skin, the beliefs of one’s heart or the origins of one’s heritage.

We share Dr. King’s dream today, and seek to honor his message and his legacy on Friday night with a service reflecting our ongoing desire to eradicate barriers perpetuated hatred and prejudice in society. It is our hope that as we remember him, we will find a renewed sense of courage and strength to fight for what is right in every generation.

L’Shalom–Steve

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