E-KI January 20, 2005 Vol. II No. 3
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online Shabbat Shirah – Parashat Beshalach – Exodus 13:17 Judges 4:4
Waves of Faith: A Religious Response to the Tsunami Jane Eisner's recent theological reflections in the Philadelphia Inquirer on natural disasters is predicated on a common fallacy about the nature of faith. She combines the idea of an all-powerful God with a predictable God who is controlled by eternal laws more powerful than God. Fortunately for the faithful, religious thought can be more elastic and more respectful of the Divine will than Ms. Eisner suspects. Although far from satisfactory to me, the Book of Job turns the question of Divine justice on its head and chastises the book's namesake for assuming he has the capacity to understand God's will. Indeed, in many theological traditions, the will of God is inscrutable. Closer to my own view is a kind of finite theism which accepts the notion that God both self-contracts in order to allow creation to function and is empathic to suffering. Thus, in a Midrash from my own tradition God is depicted as weeping when the Egyptians drown in the sea. Christ, in the Christian tradition, dies to atone for humanity's sins. In the Buddhist tradition, the primary focus of the faith is relief from pain through action, not an explanation of the origin of the suffering. Indeed, in most religious traditions, disasters and sufferings serve to teach us something about how small people are in the big scheme of things and, at the same time, something about how great our response can be to the needs of others. Personally, I don't accept that God caused the tidal wave which has brought so much misery to so many. Instead, I take some small measure of solace in the fact that the wave of destruction has been countered by a wave of love and concern by so much of humanity. My God is to be found in the tears, both Divine and human, and in the determination to rebuild lives and resurrect hope. Natural disasters do not put my faith in the hot seat. They remind me of the fragility of life and the ethical courage and personal faith we all need to live meaningful and respectful lives in a world that is less controllable than any of us dare imagine. Faith, in my opinion, is not about limiting God, its about empowering hope, love and strength "when our own strength fails us." Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
Worship & Study Opportunities This Week – Friday, January 21 – Blue Jeans Shabbat at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Rabbi Maslin will speak - Jewish Vignettes from a Tour of Southeast Asia. Saturday, January 22 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library. Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary, when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Alex Becker Coll, daughter of Andrea Becker and Milton Coll. In the Week Ahead – Tu B’Shevat—Celebrate on January 25 by supporting the Jewish National Fund. To purchase trees, call Beryl Halpern at (215) 635-0452 or go to www.jnf.org. Friday, January 28 – Shabbat Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel – Rabbi Peter Rigler will speak. Saturday, January 29 – Mini-Minyan at 9:30 a.m. in the Youth Lounge; Junior Congregation at 10:30 a.m. in the Youth Lounge; Torah, Toast & Tefillah: Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m. in the Library; light breakfast at 10:00 a.m. in the lobby; Shabbat morning service at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel. Coming Up –Family Shabbat Dinner on Friday, February 4, at 6:00 p.m. followed by Family Shabbat Service at 7:15 p.m. led by the 5th Grade of our Religious School. Dinner reservations ($11/adult $7/child) before January 28. $12.75/adult and $8.75/children after January 28. To guarantee reservation, payment must be received by Wednesday, February 2, at noon. Information: (215) 887-8704. Our Cantorial Legacy— A musical Shabbat service on Friday, February 11, at 8:00 p.m. Our Adult Choir will sing choral arrangements of favorite melodies by great Jewish cantors and composers: Sulzer, Lewandoski and Gerowitch. Cantor Lefko will present the sermon-in-song. Purim Spiel – Interested in helping Cantor Lefko create a skit to celebrate Purim? (Purim is Thursday evening, March 24.) Call the Clergy Office (215) 887-8702 or e-mail Cantor Lefko at CantorAEL@kenesethisrael.org. Listen to Most recent Shabbat evening sermon – click on this link! http://www.kenesethisrael.org/Sermons/ShabbatService.htm Adult Education News from the Meyers Library— Library hours are: Sunday 9:30-12:15, Tuesday 4:30-6, Wednesday 10-3:30, and Friday before 8:00 p.m. services. (You can also visit the bookcarts at the Oneg.) For Adults: The Myth of Ritual Murder: Jews and Magic in Reformation Germany, by R. Po-chia Hsiak; A Fire in Zion: The Israeli- Palestinian Search for Peace, by Mark Perry; Night, Dawn, and The Accident, by Elie Wiesel; The Romance Reader, by Pearl Abraham; Kosher by Design: Picture-Perfect Food for Holidays and Everyday, by Susie Fishbein; Be My Knife, by David Grossman. For Children: Purim, Building a Jewish Life, by Joel L. Grishaver; Brainteasers from Jewish Folklore, by Rosalind Charney Kaye; How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have and Other Tales, by Julius Lester, illus. by David Shannon; Secret of the Sabbath Fish, by Aronin; The Sabbath Lion, a folktale from Algeria retold by Howard Schwartz and Barbara Rush. Adult Ed Classes Advanced Beginners’ Hebrew with Rabbi Rav Soloff on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., from January 13 to February 24; Rabbi’s Spring Forum – Entering the Gates of Prayer – with Rabbi Peter Rigler on Sundays, January 30 and February 6, at 9:45 a.m.; Gardens in the Bible - Linda Nesvisky on Thursday, February 3, at 7:30 p.m.; Book Discussion—In the Image by Dana Horn, led by Rabbi Peter Rigler. Jewish Genealogy Society of Greater Philadelphia—open meeting on Sunday, February 13, at KI. Refreshments at 1:00 p.m. Panel discussion at 1:30 p.m—Obtaining Documents from Ancestral Countries. Lunch ‘n’ Learn – about the Torah portion of the week with Rabbi Sussman on Thursday, February 17, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Call the Clergy Office by noon on Wednesday, February 16, for reservations and information. If you would like to receive e-mail reminders about Lunch ‘n’ Learn, call the Clergy Office (215) 887-8702. Kehillah Night of Jewish Learning: Jewish Heroes—Saturday, February 5, registration at 7:00 p.m. Rabbi Sussman is unable to teach his class. However, Rabbi Maslin will teach during the first session: Heroic Jewish Travelers through the Ages. Free Career Counseling and Job Placement – program for Jewish women up to age 55, who are unemployed or under-employed and live in the Delaware Valley. Contact Jewish Educational & Vocational Service Career Strategies cs@jevs.org or (215) 854-1874. Cultural Opportunities Israeli Folk Dancing -- with Don Schillinger, RAK-DAN Israeli Dancing, on Mondays from 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm. in the Rothschild Auditorium. Program runs through May 23. $7/adult and $4/student (under 21) per session. [Note: no sessions on February 21, March 21, April 25, or May 30.] Jewelry Making Class – artist Aliza Herman will teach you how to make your own silver bracelet. Fridays January 21 and January 28 at 11:00 a.m. Bring your own pliers! To register, call Sharon (215) 782-8188 or Missy (215) 402-0855. Sponsored by KI PTA. Portion of proceeds will benefit the new Preschool Playscape. WRJ Theater Trip – Movin’ Out at the Merriam Theater on Sunday, May 22. This dance musical, which won a Tony in 2003, is choreographed by Twyla Tharp and features 24 of Billy Joel’s classics. $128/person includes brunch (at KI at 10:30 a.m.), transportation (bus leaves at noon) and a seat in the orchestra for the 1:00 p.m. show. Send checks payable to WRJ (with WRJ Theater Trip on the memo line and envelope) to KI. Questions: Barbara Bronstein (215) 673-1435.
***Our Religious School
closing number is 324***
Hebrew Eagles Tees— 100% cotton long-sleeve tees with Eagles logo in Hebrew and English. $18 either dark green with white print OR white with bright green print. Supplies are limited. Proceeds benefit KIFTY. Information: Janet Luterman (215) 887-8700 x133. Community Time – Celebrate Tu B’Shevat on Sunday, January 23, at 11:30 a.m. Preschool Open House and Family Fun Day—on Sunday, January 23, 2005, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Visit the Preschool, meet the staff, Rabbis, Cantor, and the KI puppets. Learn about our programs and our special community. Music by Andi Joseph, the Musical Mommy, other activities and snacks for families looking for a wonderful preschool experience. Invite your friends! Social Action Opportunities Volunteers are needed to help feed hungry Jews in the Northeast! Volunteers are needed to deliver Shabbat packages from the Mitzvah Food Pantry at Congregation Beth Sholom on the first and third Thursday of each month. The packages can be picked up between 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m Please contact Jessica Charmont jcharmont@philafederation.org (215) 832-0855. Cook for Sharing Is Caring –Help assemble meals in the K/G kitchen for clients at Newman Senior Center (Klein Branch JCC) from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on January 25 (last Tuesday of the month). Information: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815. For the Consultation of Conscience – Join Jewish leaders and advocates from across the nation in Washington, DC, March 13-15, to hear from key policy and government leaders about the issues that shape our lives and to explore the connection between ancient Jewish texts and current events. Conference sponsored by URJ’s Religious Action Center. Information: Clergy Office (215) 887-8702. Ways To Get Involved Attention, Genuardi’s Shoppers – If your card is already registered with eScrip, you will now automatically be renewed and your contributions will continue to KI. Any questions? Ruth Schoenberg (215) 677-0326. Shabbat Pulpit Flowers --You can now sponsor the Shabbat pulpit flowers in honor of a birthday, anniversary, baby naming, safe travel, recovery from illness, or any other happy occasion. You can also sponsor the flowers in memory of a recent passing or a Yahrzeit anniversary. An acknowledgement will be listed in the weekly Shabbat folder recognizing your generosity. Please make your check for $45.00 payable to: "WRJ Sisterhood," and mail to, Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, Attn: WRJ/Sisterhood-Pulpit Flowers. Questions: Michele Gusdorff (215) 782-1446. Your information must be received at least one week in advance to be listed in the Shabbat folder. Membership News—KI’s Membership Committee is looking for current members to partner with our new members and help them become integrated into the KI family. This is a great chance to discuss with new members all the cultural, religious and social action opportunities available at KI. If you are interested in participating, or just want to join the Membership Committee to share your love of KI with prospective members, please call Andy Brookman at (215) 887-0777. Sharing Our Simchas – Share your happiness with our congregational family. Consider underwriting our beautiful Oneg Shabbat. Contact the Administrative Office, (215) 887-8700, for further details. Sisterhood Gift Shop – will be open on Sunday mornings during Religious School hours and by appointment. Call Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 or Administrative Office (215) 887-8700.
This E-KI Update can be
emailed to you weekly. Email your request to:
Note: Announcements for E-KI
|