E-KI
May 5, 2005 Vol. II No. 18
Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel
8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 215.887.8700
Torah Time Online
Shabbat Kedoshim – Leviticus 19:1- Amos 9:7
Where are the borders of Jewishness?
I was privileged to sit in on the culminating session of a special conference on Jewish Literature this week at the University of Pennsylvania. Leading scholars from all over the world were present. The papers they delivered were insightful. The discussion which followed was lively. At the core of the discussion was a nagging question about exactly what makes a given piece of literature Jewish or not Jewish? Merely writing something in Hebrew or in Yiddish does not make it Jewish. Conversely, if a non-Jewish person writes on something profoundly Jewish, let’s say the Talmud, is that Jewish literature? Here at KI, I recently reflected on this same problem inherent in the work of Philip Roth, who is Jewish, often writes on Jewish topics and insists that he is not a writer of Jewish literature! The topic even came up in a recent Confirmation Class when we discussed Jewish group self-consciousness at (regular) school and how it compares, for example, to African American group self-consciousness.
Where are the borders of Jewishness in our lives? Where are those borders clearly demarcated? Where are they porous? These questions are part of a larger complex of issues inherent in the tension between this week’s Torah and Haftarah portions and the line between Jewish and non-Jewish in our lives. The Torah teaches us “to love our neighbors as we love ourselves” (Lev. 19:18) which seems to be a universal dictum. But what if “neighbor” primarily refers to someone who is Jewish and not gentile? Do we love the Jewish person more? If not, what happens to the whole philanthropic basis of Jewish communal life and, most particularly, its social services? Furthermore, the Haftarah from Amos (9:7) teaches us that in the eyes of God, Jews and Ethiopians are alike and that there is no divine priority in favor of the Jews.
To draw the map of our lives and delineate exactly the Jewish borders – morally, culturally and spiritually – is not an easy task. Rather it is a task we need to explore together. We need to figure out what is Jewish in our lives, to what extent the core of our existence is Jewish, and what we are supposed to do about it. Obviously, one’s humanity and one’s Jewishness cannot be fully separated. But “where the Jewish begins” and what the implications of our Jewishness may be is not so easy to determine. Together, we need to look deeply into this matter.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES AT KI
Worship & Study Opportunities
This Shabbat – Friday, May 6 –Family Service at 7:15 p.m. led by the 4th Grade of our Religious School. Saturday, May 7 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Havurah Service at 10:30 a.m.; Morning Service at 10:30 a.m., when we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Robert Nathaniel Rozansky, son of Iris Raylesberg and Robert Rozansky; Havdalah Service at 5:30 p.m., when we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Matthew Arthur Monheit, son of Marcy and Michael Monheit.
In the Week Ahead – Friday, May 13 – Tot Shabbat at 6:00 p.m. Evening Service at 8:00 p.m. with guest speaker, Barbara H. Bergen, of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Saturday, May 14 – Torah Study Havurah at 9:00 a.m.; Morning Service at 10:30 a.m., when we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Ethan Samuel Wolf, son of Ellen and Stuart Wolf.
Coming Up -- Friday, May 20 – Blue Jeans Shabbat at 7:00 p.m.; Sisterhood Shabbat at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 21 – Shabbat at Rydal Park at 2:00 p.m.
Attention Singers — Cantor Lefko and Adult Choir with Sisterhood members will share a service filled with music composed by Jewish women for Sisterhood Shabbat on May 20.
Listen to Most recent Shabbat evening sermon – click on this link! http://www.kenesethisrael.org/Sermons/ShabbatService.htm
Social Action Opportunities
Help the Homeless – Volunteers are strongly encouraged to attend a training session at St. John’s on Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. We have more than 90 volunteers already, but we still need help with our week (May 15-22) at St. John’s Lutheran Church (Melrose Ave & Old York Road). If you are interested in helping with any part of this project, contact Marjorie Curtis-Cohen (215)884-6169 or margie7610@comcast.net. Sponsored by the Interfaith Housing Alliance and the KI Social Action Committee.
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 May 24. Info: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.
Exercise with KI at the Pic”KI”nic—on Tuesday, May 24, from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. Barbecue supper at Alvethorpe Park. Novelty games, activity centers for children, music, and Fun Run/Walk to benefit Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Donation of $10 ($40 for a family of four or more) includes activities and all you can eat. Donation of $20 also includes a Fun Run/Walk tee shirt. Register by May 15. Information: Janet Luterman (215) 887-8704 x133.
We are looking for a Race Clock – to display at the end of our 5k run on May 24. Any suggestions about where we can borrow one? Contact Rabbi Rigler (215) 887-8702.
Cultural Opportunities
KI Men’s Softball – We need you to cheer us to victory! Next game on Tuesday, May 10, at 6:00 p.m. at Ridgeway Field. Everyone is invited to come support our team.
Rabbi Simeon J. Maslin —" Aharon Appelfeld: The Story of a Life" on Thursday, May 12. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. KI member luncheon fee is $8.00 with a reservation by May 4, $10.00 for guests and member reservations after May 4. Send checks to KI, Attn: Cultural Council. Information: Doris Parker, 215-886-9267.
Kehillah Celebrates Israel at KI — on Thursday, May 12, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to sing, dance, shop and jump (moon bounce) for Israel at the community’s fourth annual celebration of Israel’s Independence Day. Israeli dancing with Rak/Dan. Admission is free with suggested $18 donation. Proceeds go directly Israel. Contributions from last year’s event purchased computers for Netivot, our sister community in Israel. Help is needed on the day of the event. If you can help any time from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m., contact Rabbi Stacy Rigler (215) 887-8704.
Movin’ Out at the Merriam Theater on Sunday, May 22. $128/person includes brunch,transportation and a seat for the 1:00 p.m. show. Send checks payable to KI (with WRJ Theater Trip on the memo line and envelope) to KI. Only six seats left! Questions: Barbara Bronstein (215) 673-1435.
Learn about Exercise and Nutrition – Maintain freedom and independence while living in your own home. STAR at KI program on Thursday, May 26, from noon to 2:00 p.m. Transportation available. Information: Michele Kramer (215) 673-7741 x. 227.
Ruth G. Kahn Concert: The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia – Ignat Solzhenitsyn, Music Director and Conductor, and Leila Josefowicz, violin soloist, on Saturday, June 4, at 8:00 p.m. at KI. $30 admission includes dessert reception. Send check (payable to KI) to KI, Family Concert Series. Tickets will be held at the door. Seating is limited. KI Music Arts Committee. Information: (215) 887-8700.
Nashirah, the Jewish Chorale of Greater Philadelphia – Inaugural concert on Sunday, June 5, at 3:00 p.m. at the Gershman Y (Broad & Pine Streets, Philadelphia). Robert A. M. Ross, Music Director. General Admission Tickets: Orchestra, $36; Center Balcony, $18; Side Balcony, $10. For reservations and ticket information, call Barbara Steinberg (215) 887-8702.
Adult Education
Dr. Irene Reiter reviews “The King & I: The uncensored Tale of Luciano Pavarotti’s Rise to Fame. . .“ on Monday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. Free to WRJ members; $4 for guests. Refreshments. Sponsored by WRJ. RSVP to Joan Kamen (215) 947-5926.
Aaron Lansky Speaks at KI – on Sunday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m. Lansky, recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Award, is founder and president of the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. The Center has created special programming, translated Yiddish titles into English, enlisted Steven Spielberg to digitize the entire collection of Yiddish books, and helped foster a Yiddish renaissance in this country. He is the author of Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books. Event is co-sponsored by KI’s Library Committee and the Meyers Foundation of Philadelphia.
Book Discussion of Seize the Day by Saul Bellow– on Wednesday, May 18, at 2:00 p.m. in the Meyers Library. Matt Nesvisky will lead the discussion.
Yale Reisner – “Raising Atlantis: Restoring Jewish Memory in Poland” – on Monday, May 23, 7:45 p.m, at Gratz College (Old York Road & Melrose Avenue in Melrose Park). Reisner is Director of Ronald S. Lauder Foundation Genealogy Project at the Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw, Poland. $5 at the door. Sponsored by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia and Gratz College. Information: (610)363-7956 or JGSGP@comcast.net.
Preschool and Religious School
Color the KI Discovery Garden—on Sunday, May 15th from noon to 2:00 p.m., children and families of the Religious School are invited to paint a ceramic tiles that will become part of a permanent mosaic as well as a memory for children and families as they grow at KI. $20 per tile or 3 tiles for $50. All proceeds benefit the Discovery Garden. Information: Barb Cutler (215) 885-3798.
Help the Religious School Reach Accreditation. We need several families who would be willing to answer some questions about their family’s Religious School experience. We also need volunteers of different ages (both kids and adults) to complete the following sentence in any creative or traditional way “My synagogue is like a home because. . .” or “My home is like a synagogue because. . .” If you are willing to be a part of this exciting process please email Rob Staples (rstaples13@comcast.net ) or Rabbi Stacy Rigler (Educator@kenesethisrael.org ).
Be an Advocate for KI! There are still limited spaces available for Religious School and Preschool for next year. If you know people who might be interested in KI, please give the name to Kathy Goldenberg at (215) 885-2425 or Rabbi Stacy Rigler at (215) 887-8704.
Community Time – on Sunday, May 15th. Join us as we Celebrate Israel. The final Community Time of this school year, on Sunday, May 22, from 11:15 a.m. to noon, will include special awards and presentations.
Ways To Get Involved
Are you an H-R pro? Could you offer limited assistance to KI? Please contact Evan DuBro at edubro@kenesethisrael.org.
Announcements
Free Tay-Sachs & Canavan Screening – during May at area locations. Information: (215) 887-0877 or ntsad@aol.com or www.tay-sachs.org. Sponsored by National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association of Delaware Valley.
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: Joseph Ellis, His Excellency, George Washington; Ha Jin, Waiting; Alexander McCall Smith, The Sunday Philosophy Club; Lucjan Dobroszycki and Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gemblett, Image Before My Eyes: a photographic history of Jewish life in Poland, 1864-1939; Seymour Hersh, Chain of Command, the road from 9/11- Abu Ghraib; Edward Cohen, The Peddler's Grandson: :Growing up Jewish in Mississippi. For children: Opal Wheeler, Moses, illustrated by Linford Donovan, (for younger readers); Carla Greene, Moses the Great Lawgiver, illus. by Anne Lewis; Robert D. Abrahams, Sound of Bow Bells, the story of Sir David Salomons; Sylvia Rothschild, Keys to a Magic Door, the biography of I.L. Peretz, illus by Bernard Krigstein; Nina Jaffe, The Uninvited Guest and Other Jewish Holiday Tales, illus. by Elivia.