Weekly Reflections - Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism

Culminating the Celebration of Sixty Years of Community

This month we are completing the formal programming of our 60th Anniversary as a congregation. While the first worship service actually took place on August 23, 1957 (which we will celebrate as well), our year-long celebration sought to honor the hard work of the original founding members who spent many months before that first service to conceptualize the philosophy and by-laws of Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism.

As it was for the original 37 families who set us on our way, so too it has been for us! This year-long celebration has brought our community together through work and cooperation. Our fifteen amazing events have helped us to generate a stronger sense of community, build leadership, expand congregational engagement and broaden our vision for the future. Fun-filled activities for members of all ages have enabled us to learn more about each other and even meet each other’s pets. These celebrations also enabled us to raise over $55,000. We are grateful for the support that everyone has brought to this incredible year.

As we look back on sixty years, we can take great pride in the fact that we have served the Jewish community well. Central to our mission is an effort to embrace all who enter our doors, and for over half a century, we have remained steadfastly committed to this core value. In all that we do and in every program we plan, we strive to be intimate, inviting and inspirational.

This past year has come to remind us that Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism is a place to call your spiritual home. We are a family of families with relationships rooted in shared experiences. We are dedicated to the ongoing cultivation of new and dynamic ways of engagement through worship, study, social programming and acts of loving kindness. From infants to seniors, we seek to engage individuals with opportunities to explore the values and customs of our heritage while building life-long relationships with each other, the synagogue and God. Like a family, we seek to support each other in times of need and celebrate our blessings in times of joy.

This congregational family is central to nurturing our God-given capacity to have a positive impact on each other and the world. This is our legacy. It is rooted in the past, anchored in our membership today and is something worth preserving for the future.

Our year-long 60th Anniversary celebration has enabled us celebrate all that we share today, and in the spirit of honoring who we have become and what we still hope for the future, please consider leaving a legacy gift for the HCRJ of tomorrow. Like those who stood here before us, it is now our turn to consider ways to ensure that our children and grandchildren will have the same firm commitment to Judaism and its ethical values as our ancestors did before us.

April 26, 2017

Dear Friends,

In this week’s Torah portion, Tazria-Metzorah, the Torah addresses a wide variety of skin diseases, providing us with a lens into an ancient world where sickness seemed incurable by human beings. These passages in Leviticus are some of the most difficult to read, especially in light of the fact that modern medicine can treat these ailments today with creams and pills. As we read these ancient treatments of the human body, it is truly amazing how far we have come in our abilities to treat many diseases and afflictions that once were considered life-threatening.

This month is National Donate Life Month (NDLM). NDLM features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those that have saved lives through the gift of donation. April may be drawing to a close, but our need to maintain awareness of medical advances is ongoing. As our Torah portion this week serves to remind us, treating ailments and diseases is sacred work that involves everyone in the community.

L’Shalom-Steve

April 19, 2017

Dear Friends,

Jewish mourning practices are both private and public. Private mourning observances include rituals such as lighting a yahrzeit (memorial) candle or visiting the grave of a loved one on the anniversary of his or her death. Jewish mourning rituals also include public observances which broaden the memorial experiences to include a community for those who are grieving.

Most of us are familiar with the memorial service which takes place on Yom Kippur afternoon, but few are familiar with the fact that this kind communal observance takes place throughout the year as well. The memorial services which take place year round are called Yizkor services. They are observed in congregations around the world on the final days of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. Yizkor means “may (God) remember,” and through this special service we strive to weave the memory of those who are no longer with us into the fabric of our lives and the rhythm of our years.

This coming Friday night we will be observing a third kind of Yizkor service. This service is for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day). Through special prayers and music, this observance helps us to memorialize those who perished in the Holocaust. Our observance this year will be led by Rabbi Steve Gross, Rabbi Laura Sheinkopf, David Wizig and the members of our 6th grade class who studied the Holocaust this year.

Through each of these Yizkor observances, we pray that the memories of those we loved and whose presence once blessed this world will continue to bless us throughout our days.

L’Shalom-Steve

April 12, 2017

Dear Friends,

For countless generations, the Passover Seder has provided us with an ongoing reminder of our responsibility to work for freedom and justice in the world. By retelling the story of the Israelite journey from slavery to freedom, we seek to stir within our souls a collective desire to pave a path for the redemption of all. May the Seders we have shared and the matzah we continue to consume bring us a sense of empathy for the needs of those around us every day.

Happy Passover.

Steve

April 5, 2017

Dear Friends,

Passover begins on Monday night, April 10, but Jews around the world begin preparing for Passover many weeks ahead of time. One way to prepare involves the custom of removing all leavened products from the home. This custom is based on the passage from Exodus which reads:

For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove the leaven from your homes … you shall guard the unleavened bread, because on this very day I will take you out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day for your generations as an eternal decree. – Exodus 12:15-17

This commandment regarding leavened products applies not only to the consumption of bread, but to owning or deriving any benefit from any kind of leavened product in any way, shape or form. Therefore, as we begin our preparations for Passover (in whatever form it may take in our lives), consider donating your leavened products to the HCRJ Food Drive.

Donate to the HCRJ Passover Food Drive: Rid your pantry of chametz or any other foods that you feel may help to feed the hungry. Bring your non-perishable foods to the collections bins outside of the Sanctuary.

L’Shalom-Steve

Reliving the Story of Our Past to Shape the Story of our Future

The Torah is written in a way that invites engagement. The porous nature of the ancient narratives and laws encourages debate as we seek to find meaning and direction in our lives. In other words, Jewish scriptures are meant to be lived, not simply read.

Nowhere is this tradition of scriptural engagement more broadly practiced than through the Passover Seder. Each year as we recount the story of the Exodus we do so through a dramatic, spiritual reenactment. We gather with family and friends and act out the story of our ancestral redemption with ceremonial foods and the script of the Haggadah. In this way, we try to apply the lessons of our past to our own lives today.

The central message in the Seder is this: It is our responsibility to use the lessons of our past to motivate us to address the ills of the world today and build a better tomorrow. The Haggadah reiterates this important message in as many ways as it can. Through the foods we eat, materials we read and the songs we sing, we remind ourselves over and over again that “until all are free, none are free.”

In today’s world, suffering, persecution, hatred and violence are plagues we face every day. These are the societal afflictions of our day, and while we may know that we have an obligation to lighten the burdens of those who are suffering, most of the time it is difficult to know exactly what to do.

While Passover cannot provide us with a single answer to this ongoing challenge, the customs and restrictions we observe during this weeklong festival can serve to inspire us to address the hardships that surround us. Here are some things to contemplate as we engage in the rituals that shape our holiday observance.

Consider the Seder meal as a teaching tool for social justice. The words of the Haggadah are designed to inspire us to take action. To that end, perhaps there is a place in each of our Seders this year where we can come up with a few personal goals for addressing the needs of the world around us.

Our dietary restrictions can also serve to remind us of suffering in the world, and I am not referring to the kind of suffering that comes from eating too much matzah. In depriving ourselves of certain kinds of foods, we have an opportunity to reflect on the fact that there are many who go without food every day. Thus, our sacrifices at the table can be a way of encouraging us to respond to the message in our Haggadah: “Let all who are hungry come and eat.”

If your family rids the home of hametz, please bring your non-perishable foods that are not Kosher for Passover to the temple. We will send the foods we collect to a local food bank. If you wish to contribute to a hunger program during this season, please consider making a donation to Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Information regarding such donations can be found in this bulletin on page 6.

Our Haggadah teaches us that it is our responsibility each year to relive the redemption of our past in order to help bring about a redemption for the future. Allowing our Seder rituals and dietary restrictions help us in this imaginative journey is just the beginning. What we do with what we learn, represents a beginning as well. Let us make a special effort this year to be instrumental in fashioning a bridge toward freedom, peace and happiness for all peoples.

March 29, 2017

Dear Friends,

Even if you cannot read Hebrew, you can see in the image above that one of the letters is much smaller than the rest. This small letter, which is referred to as the “shrunken ALEF” happens to be the smallest letter found in the entire Torah, and its placement at the beginning of the Book of Leviticus invites interpretation.

What is the purpose of this small ALEF? And why has the custom been preserved throughout our history?

One commentary points out that the letter ALEF is the first letter in the Hebrew word “Ani” which means “I”. Thus, it is argued that this shrunken ALEF is the Torah’s way of suggesting that we should posture ourselves with humility and respect as we begin the Book of Leviticus.

This posture of humility is something that we should strive to achieve on a daily basis, as an inflated ego interferes with good communications and diminishes the human capacity to learn and grow. Thus, this long standing tradition in the calligraphy of Torah serves to remind us that a little humility can go a long way in generating a kinder and gentler world.

L’Shalom-Steve

March 22, 2017

Dear Friends,

This week, half of the office staff is off attending conferences learning new and exciting ideas to bring back to HCRJ. As Rabbi Gross attends the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) convention in Atlanta and Hilary Kamin attends classes through the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute in Chicago, we (Melissa and Justin) are busy holding down the fort here at home.

Over the last week, the walls of the synagogue have been filled with learning, socializing, food, mitzvot and laughter. Between Yoga, Mah Jongg, our new Sage-ing Circle class, the aniMeals on Wheels social action project, Watercolor Class, the Interest Group and Easter egg stuffing, there has not been a moment of quiet.

Last Friday, we continued our 60th Anniversary celebration with an Irish Shabbat that celebrated the heritage of Irish Jewry. Over 75 members enjoyed a meal together and then we gathered for a beautiful Shabbat service highlighted by special music and a sermon by Robert Cremins.

As we continue the 60th celebration, we hope you will join us for the remaining programs:
Sunday, April 2 – Bowling Party
Saturday, April 15 – Spring Cars, Coffee and Conversation
Sunday, April 23 – Mah Jongg Game Day
Saturday, May 13 – Afternoon Tea at Brennan’s
Saturday, May 20 – 60s Party

And though we have spent much of the last week making coffee for these wonderful activities, watching the temple buzz with such life and community brings a sense of pride that we are honored to be a part of.

L’Shalom,

Melissa Wolfson and Justin Deutsch
Executive Director and Program Coordinator & Office Administrator

March 15, 2017

Dear Friends,

This week’s Torah portion contains the story of the Golden Calf. Through this ancient tale, important lessons concerning leadership are presented as we observe Moses responding to the chaos that surrounds him in two very different ways. One response is negative and the other is positive.

The first response is filled with rage. Moses sees the Israelites worshiping a golden calf and throws the 10 Commandments to the ground causing them to shatter at the base of the mountain. Like a child throwing a fit, Moses allows his emotions to compromise his behaviors. Such emotionality leads to poor judgment, and through this first part of the story, we come to understand that allowing ourselves to become emotionally involved in any conflict can lead to highly destructive behaviors.

In contrast to this first demonstration of rage-filled action, Moses later helps us to see and understand a more appropriate model for leadership in times of crisis. After his angry outburst, Moses chooses to remove himself from the situation. He prays; he asks for forgiveness; and he humbles himself before God. In short, Moses takes a “time out,” and for this, Moses is rewarded. For it is only at this point, that Moses is permitted to attain a glimpse of God’s presence.

The juxtaposition of these two responses serves to teach us that whenever we find ourselves in a position of leadership in the face of crisis it is imperative to maintain clarity of mind. In his second series of actions, Moses does everything he can to maintain a non-anxious presence. He takes the time to find clarity of mind; he does not allow himself to become emotionally entangled; he humbles his heart; and he quiets his soul through prayer.

These are things we can all try to practice as we face the inevitable chaos of life. In times of disappointment and frustration, emotional distance, humility and prayer can go a long way in helping us to keep calm and react in positive ways. And when we do, we, like Moses, may just get a glimpse of the Divine Presence as an added bonus.

L’Shalom-Steve

March 8, 2017

Dear Friends,

It is often said that, “We make plans, and God laughs.”

This simple tidbit of wisdom is an ongoing reality for all of us and is central to the popularity of Purim. Purim is a holiday which glorifies and celebrates role reversals and plot changes in the unfolding story of life. This is based on the fact that the Book of Esther is filled with unplanned twists and turns. Consider how many times the plot shifts in the megillah:

1. Queen Esther, who initially appears to be a demure, closeted Jew, puts her life on the line to save the Jewish people by standing up to the King and challenging his decree.

2. Haman, the Jew hating villain of the story, plots to annihilate the Jewish people and ends up setting the stage for his own demise.

3. And in the end, the Jews of Shushan, who were once powerless subjects, become powerful actors with a sense of control of their own destiny.

Each of these plot twists serve to remind us of the tensions which exist between free will and human destiny. We can make all the plans we want, yet life can change in an instant through unexpected and uncontrollable events. Similarly, we can find ourselves in a seemingly helpless situation, but as a result of the choices we make or circumstances beyond our control we find ourselves headed down a path of recovery, renewal and hope.

The story of Purim helps us remember that while human destiny may not be entirely under our control, our freedom to choose will always impact the world around us. There are moments in life when we can be like Esther, and we must stand up for what we believe is right. There are moments in life when we can be like Haman, and the choices we make lead to our demise. And there are moments in life when we, like the Jews of Shushan, find that we are suddenly in a place where the choices we make can have a major impact on the destinies of others.

As we celebrate Purim this weekend, may we be aware of the fact that every choice we make has a consequence, but in the end, God always has the last laugh.

Happy Purim – Steve

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