E-KI

April 8, 2004         Issue 14

 

 

Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel

 

8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027   215.887.8700    

 

 

Torah Time Online

On the Other Side:  End of Passover Reflections

Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach

Exodus 33:12

 

During the course of Passover, in addition to reading the Haggadah, we read the Torah’s account of the final Exodus from Egypt.  Stage by stage, plague by plague, our ancestors were liberated from Egypt until, finally, they reached the other side of the sea and began their journey to Mt. Sinai, the setting of this Shabbat’s Torah portion.

            When I think of the end of the flight from Egypt, the image of Israel dancing on the shores of the sea comes to mind.  Not only, the men, but the women of Israel danced, led by Moses’ sister Miriam.  Miriam, too, picked up the timbrel and danced in celebration of Israel’s safe deliverance.  Interestingly, the celebration did not last very long.  Faced with the prospect of a long uncomfortable journey, the people of Israel quickly returned to their usual complaining.  “The food is no good,”  “Moses is away too long,”  “Moses has too much power,” and on and on it went.

            Unfortunately the same pattern of special celebrations followed by the restoration of “the same old, same old” marks many of our lives.  We seem to have certain special moments lived above the fray and then long stretches of  the “everyday.”  Our tradition offers us special reminders of the peak moments to help lift us when our spirits are down.  In services,  after saying the Sh’ma,  we sing the Mi Camocha.   The Mi Camocha comes from the section of the Torah which includes the Song of Moses and the Dance of Miriam at the Red Sea.  We don’t read this passage from the Torah just once a year but daily and at every Shabbat service.  We recall in words and song the defining moment of liberation which shaped us a people.

            Gentle remembrances of the sweet and significant moments of our lives are an important part of living.  We all have our own special blessings and memories.  We can call on them at will for strength,  comfort and perspective. 

            So when Passover is done and the Haggadahs are put away and the family has gone home,  we need to remember to keep singing.   Every day has a new miracle waiting for us and every day lived has a blessing to recall.   Perhaps the perspective from the other side of the sea is to keep rejoicing, keep recalling and, always, to move forward.

 

Shabbat Shalom and Hag S’mayach,

Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D.

 

 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI

 

Worship Opportunities

Services This Week, Friday, April 9—Tot Shabbat at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel; Shabbat Passover services at 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel.  Saturday, April 10—Shabbat Passover morning services at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel.  Monday, April 12—Passover services, at 10:30 a.m.  Yizkor memorial prayers will be recited.

Services In the Week Ahead, Friday, April 16—Blue Jeans Shabbat at 7:00 p.m. in the Youth Lounge; Joint Shabbat evening services with Old York Road/Temple Beth Am at 8:00 p.m. in the Korn Sanctuary, K.I. (more details in the next paragraph).  Saturday, April 17—Shabbat morning services at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel, when we will celebrate the Bat Mitzvah of Alexis Nicole Baer, daughter of Natalie Baer and Michael Baer.

Shabbat Together with Temple Beth Am — Friday, April 16, at 8:00 p.m. at K.I.  Prayers and music in anticipation of Yom HaShoah (Sunday, April 18) will be included in this joint service.  Rabbi Leib of Beth Am will give the sermon; and both Cantor Elena Zarkh and Cantorial Soloist Sherrie Rosenblum will participate in the service, along with the combined adult choirs from both congregations.  Greetings will be offered by Karen Sirota and Steven Pollack, Presidents of KI and Beth Am, respectively.  Join us for an evening of song, prayer and unity at KI.

Cantor Luterman — January appearance rescheduled for Friday, April 23.

Cultural Opportunities

Cook for MasterWorks Preview Party— with Wendy Ward and Joan Shore in K.I.’s kitchen! We need your help to make thousands of hors d’oeuvres and pastries.  April 18-23 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Come one or come every day for some cooking fun!  Call Joan to sign up (215) 887-1763.

MasterWorks Is Coming!  Crafts and Antiques Festival —  contemporary crafts, designer furniture, antiques, clothing, and jewelry.  Preview Party on Saturday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. Special guest Robert Whitley, master craftsman, and Mira Nakashima, renowned wood crafter and daughter of George Nakashima. Hors d’oeuvres, pastries, and wine.  $25 ticket for Preview also includes admission on Sunday, April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Monday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  General admission is $8 ($6 with coupon in flyer or K.I. Bulletin).

Volunteer at MasterWorks—Teens and adults needed to work the admissions desk, cook and serve hors d’oeuvres and desserts, pour wine at the bar, and welcome guests to KI.  Information and sign-up: Lois Singer at (215) 947-5173 .

Mother’s Day Brunch & Program —Sunday, May 9 at 10:00 a.m.  Sponsored by the K.I. Brotherhood.  Program will be a piano recital by Ellen Bildersee.  $5.00 for mothers and children under 14 years old.  $10.00 for all others.  RSVP to Art Silverman at 215-643-8531.

From Emigrant to Immigrant: Reflections on Coming and Becoming — Temple Judea Museum exhibition of original artwork and archival materials through June 30, 2004. 

Art Display—Art from Social Action Committee Contest by children in our Religious School is now on display at Barnes & Noble in Jenkintown (window facing Walgreen’s). 

Adult Education & Speakers

Adult Education -- Do You Have to Believe in God to be Jewish?, Rabbi Ruth Sandberg, Thursday, April 15, 7:30 p.m.;  Book Discussion—The Far Euphrates, Wednesday, April 21, 2:00 p.m.; Jewish Ethics, Jeremy Goldstein, Thursday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. See Adult Education Brochure for more details

Techines: Women’s Personal Prayers— created over hundreds of years and still used today.  Study session with Rabbi Stacy Rigler on Tuesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. in the Krauskopf/Ginsburg Auditorium.  Refreshments.  Admission is free.  Sponsored by WRJ/Sisterhood.  RSVP to Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 by April 21.

Distinguished Scholar in Residence— The 350^th Anniversary of Jewish Life in North America, Dr. Jonathan D. Sarna, Professor of  American Jewish History at Brandeis University.  Friday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2,.  Friday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m.— Brotherhood Shabbat, The Emergence of American Judaism; Saturday, May 1 at 9:00 a.m. Torah Study Havurah; Sunday, May 2 at 10:00 a.m. Brunch  ($6/person with reservation only) and at 10:30 a.m. free lecture American Judaism in the 21^st Century.  Dr. Sarna’s visit has been made possible by a generous grant from Eve Mennies in memory of Bernard Mennies.

Book Review — Good Harbor by Anita Diamant, reviewed by Dr. Irene Reiter, on Monday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m.  Dessert buffet.  Free to Sisterhood members.  $3 for guests.  RSVP to Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926 by Monday, May 3.

Cultural Council 60+ — Classical Music Composers of Jewish Descent, guest speaker Jill Pasternak, Host of Temple Classical Radio.  Thursday, May 13, 2004, lunch at 11:30 a.m.  Sponsored by the Rosenau Fund.  KI member luncheon fee is $7.00 with a timely reservation by May 6^th, $10.00 for guests and late reservations.  Contact Doris Parker, 215-886-9267.

B’nai B’rith Honors Rabbi Sussman—Tribute Brunch by York Road Wingate-Ben Gurion Unit No. 1988 on Sunday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Melrose Country Club.  Invitations were mailed.

Preschool and Religious School

Senior KIFTY Thousand-Bracelet Project—in memory of the victims of terror in Israel.  Bracelets available for $5 each at KIFTY Kafe and KIFTY Canteen.

Social Action Opportunities

Annual Interfaith Luncheon - Women, Named and Unnamed, in the Pentateuch, Rabbi Stacy Eskovitz Rigler, on Tuesday, April 20, at 11:00 a.m. at K.I.  Sponsored by the Interfaith Committee of WRJ/KI.  Community is invited.  Information & reservations:  Mickie Levin (215) 698-0314.

March for Women's Lives - Sunday, April 25 in Washington D.C.  Join the KI delegation and support freedom of choice. Strengthen the voice of the Reform Movement at this crucial time. Bus leaves KI at 6:30 a.m.  Bus leaves D.C. at 4:30 p.m. for return home.  The cost is $30.00 per person.  Contact Chantal Feinberg, Social Action Chairman, for information and reservation at 215-782-1483 or CLF7441@aol.com Register now—bus is filling up quickly!

Build New Playground at Wall Park — Help fill 1500 volunteer shifts (8:30 a.m.-noon; 12:30-4:30 p.m.; 5:00-8:00 p.m.) from May 12 to 16.  Everyone welcome.  No skills required.  Childcare & meals provided. Just show up or call Nomi Saunders at 215-635-3806 to register for a shift or two. 

Greeting Cards Benefit Sefer Project – Need to send a greeting card?  Isabel Hirshberg, a first grader in our religious school, has won the Social Action Art Contest and designed a greeting card, available for $5 in the Administrative Office (Religious School Office on Sunday). Each card purchased represents a donation of one new book to the Sefer (Book) Project, which provides books to children in need.   You can also help the Sefer Project by donating new and gently used children’s books.

Ways To Get Involved

K.I. Israel Committee – Upcoming meeting Thursday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Rabbi Sussman’s study.  For more information contact Bill Dodies.

We Need You - The membership committee is embarking on an ambitious quest to recruit new members to join our K.I. family. We can’t do it without your help! It’s a great chance to share your love of K.I. with prospective members and meet current members as well. Contact Leza Raffel at (215) 884-6499 for further details.

K.I. Outreach Committee – Are you part of an interfaith couple?  Are you a Jew-by-choice?  Are you a Jew-by-birth interested in relearning Jewish traditions?  The K.I. Outreach Committee is interested in your participation and/or your input.  Contact Sharon Buckingham (215) 885-9429.

Shabbat Shalom Tablecloth – Join our growing list of congregants who have already added their names to our beautiful name-embroidered tablecloth.  ($25/one-line name).  For information, contact Babe Hernes (215) 379-5438 or Doris Parker (215) 886-9267.

Celebration Fund – Is there a special occasion occurring in the near future for you or a loved one?  A milestone birthday?  A special anniversary?  Birth of a child or grandchild?  Share your happiness with our congregational family.  Contributions to K.I.’s Celebration Fund underwrite our beautiful Oneg Shabbat.  Contact the Administrative Office, (215) 887-8700, for further details.

Sisterhood Gift Shop – Gift Certificates now available!  Gift Shop is open  Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday during Religious School hours and by appointment.  Please call Mickie Levin (215) 698-0314 or Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926.  For extra Passover hours, call (215) 887-8700.