Shabbat Bereishit– Genesis 1:1
Isaiah 42:5

Bereshit Barah Elohim...

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. . .

According to our calendar it has been 5766 years since Creation. Why 5766? The rabbis came to that figure many centuries ago by counting up the generations and ages of the characters in the Bible. They didn’t know from Darwin or evolution. As we know, however, the ages of the universe, our galaxy, the solar system, and Earth can be estimated using modern scientific methods. Over the past few decades, measurements have led to the estimated ages for the universe of between 7 billion and 20 billion years. So we live with the scientific on the one hand and on the other hand with our faith system. Many Jewish scholars readily acknowledge that the first six "days" of creation are not necessarily 24-hour days And so we Jews could understand the language of our Creation stories in Genesis as metaphor rather than as a literal reading of how the world was made. Today in America there is a movement afoot to redefine science and the origins of our world through a different lens.

In Pennsylvania, Sherie Hied, a mother of five who believes that God created the earth and its creatures, was grateful when her local school board voted last year to require high school biology classes to hear about “alternatives” to evolution including the theory known as “Intelligent Design.”

In Georgia a sticker is placed on high school textbook warning biology students as follows “This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.”

President Bush weighed in on the debate and said, “I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought. You’re asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, the answer is yes.” And so the President follows the principle, “Teach the controversy.” After all what could be wrong with that?

“Intelligent Design” simply put is bad science and bad theology. In a New York Times article Steven Stough, a Republican who teaches life science in Dover, Pennsylvania, is noted as saying, “You can dress up intelligent design and make it look like science but it just doesn’t pass muster.” Intelligent design is a new way to say “Creationism.”

The Intelligent Design theorists want to be perceived as offering simple, but appropriate critiques to the idea of evolution. Among them that the world is so complex, that human life so diverse, they say, there had to be a designer. The Darwinian view that living things emerged through random evolution and natural selection is, they claim, unproven.

The problem we Jews should have with Intelligent Design is not that we reject a notion of the Creator or God as designer -- indeed this is our belief that we celebrate today – but we should reject Intelligent Design theory because this idea is being taught (1) as science and (2) in the public school classroom. The theory of Intelligent Design is not a scientific theory. For the idea of God is about faith. Our public schools must maintain a clear separation of Church and State. This principle embedded in our Constitution has been our Jewish community’s most important gift in America and has helped our people thrive. If Intelligent Design makes it way into our children’s classrooms as a “scientific theory,” it will amount to our teachers being asked to teach theology.

In 1987, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down a Louisiana law that mandated teaching 'creation science' in schools because the premise of the research was based on biblical texts. The truth is that since then the Christian fundamentalists have been seeking a way to regroup. As Intelligent Design does not draw directly from biblical sources, Christian fundamentalist groups have seized on it as a possible way to force Creationism back into the classroom.

In 1987, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down a Louisiana law that mandated teaching 'creation science' in schools because the premise of the research was based on biblical texts. The truth is that since then the Christian fundamentalists have been seeking a way to regroup. As Intelligent Design does not draw directly from biblical sources, Christian fundamentalist groups have seized on it as a possible way to force Creationism back into the classroom.

While the Intelligent Design movement is small, it is very well funded. Even though nine out of ten scientists polled reject Intelligent Design theory as science, proponents are waging battle.

Please watch e-KI for “action updates” and ways that you can get involved in this important struggle.

Shabbat Shalom!

KI DINNER CLUB - Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. in K/G. Pizza Week (+ salad & drink) or Hoagie Week (+ chips & drink). Parents, siblings & students all welcome at $5/person per day. RSVP on Thursday for following Tuesday. For more details, click here or contact Fran (215) 887-8704.

JOIN KI PUPPETS AT PRESCHOOL SHABBAT - Parents with babies and toddlers, join us on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. in the Youth Lounge (when Preschool is in session).

PARENT CHILD MUSIC CLASS WITH MISS TAMMY of Children's Music Express - Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., from October 12 to December 14. Ages 6 months to 4 years. Sponsored by KI Preschool. For information, click here.

SEEDLINGS PARENT/CHILD PLAYGROUP WITH MISS TAMMY - Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., from October 12 to December 14. Ages 12-24 months. Sponsored by KI Preschool. For information, click here.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME - BARNES & NOBLE - on Thursday, November 17 from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Beth Berman, Preschool Director, will be reading the stories. Vouchers, available in the Preschool, will net the school 15% of total KI sales. Voucher also good for 10% off at Houlihan's that night.

KI COLLEGE CONNECTION – We’d like to maintain contact with all member undergraduate college students. We will send the Bulletin, birthday cards, e- mail greetings, connection to the URJ college KESHER network, holiday gift packages. Send your college student’s address to Chris Smith by e-mail. Program underwritten by KI Brotherhood.

YIDDISHKEIT: GROWING UP JEWISH IN AMERICA - Temple Judea Museum exhibition open until November 13.

CULTURAL COUNCIL 60+- Rabbi Lance Sussman—“Divergent Paths: Fundamentalism and Modernism in Contemporary Religion” on Thursday, November 10. KI member luncheon fee is $8 for members and $10 for guests with reservation & payment by November 3. $12.00 at the door. Send checks to KI, Attn: Cultural Council. Doris Parker, 215-886- 9267.

SUNDAY SHUL SCRAPBOOKING! Come bring your pictures and join us as we Scrapbook together each month. Sunday morning November 13 at 9:40 a.m. in the Boardroom If you are a beginner or have questions contact Pamela Saltzburg at (610) 941- 4774, e-mail Pam, or click here for more information. Otherwise we will see you there – no RSVP necessary.

FIRST ANNUAL "USO CANTEEN" - on Sunday, November 13, at KI. Big Band sound with Brian Pastor's 17-piece orchestra, special appearance by the "Andrews Sisters." Donuts, coffee, soda and sandwiches are included. Tickets: $25 ($15 for students) A portion of the proceeds will go to support "Liberty USO," serving military personnel in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area.

BACH's GOLDBERG VARIATIONS - on Sunday, November 20, at 3:00 p.m. Bach Festival of Philadelphia presents renowned harpsichordist Jory Vinokour, direct from Carnegie Hall.

WHAT CAN YOU DONATE for LIGHT UP THE NIGHT, Bids, Bites and a Bit of Jazz – on December 10, 2005, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., KI will host a goods & services auction to raise funds for KI’s youth programming. Do you have a good or service you could offer? If you have a vacation property or time-share, please consider donating time at the property. If you have theater or sports subscriptions, you could donate tickets. If you are a professional, consider offering a one-hour consultation. (Lawyers: How about offering to write a will?) Let your creative juices flow and call Sharon Buckingham at (215) 885- 9429 to discuss donations.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR SOCIAL ACTION PLEDGE CARDS or click here for a new one.

HURRICANE KATRINA- People returning to New Orleans need help repairing their homes, November-January. Brotherhood offers opportunity for you to help. Minimum three days; you pay transportation; housing, tools & training provided. NFTB assessing volunteer interest before proceeding with project. Information: Rick Gusdorff (215) 782- 1446 or click here.

DARFUR CALL TO ACTION - Please help the Social Action Committee as we join with the American Jewish World Service e-activism campaign for Darfur, Sudan. We hope you'll sign the Darfur Call to Action from American Jewish World Service on their website.

Jewish Family and Children's Services invites you to become a Kesher Volunteer. A free eight- week training program in Jewish values, listening skills, healing and issues of aging is being offered to prepare volunteers to brighten the lives of Jews in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice and who are homebound. Beginning October 27 (note change of date) from 7:00-9:00 pm at Keneseth Israel. For more information call Lonnie Beer at 215 646-2115, ext. 116 or click here. This program is cosponsored by the Kehillah of Old York Road.

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 Tuesday, November 1. Information: Gladys Segal (215) 635-5815.

ONE SUNDAY, TWO MITZVAH OPPORTUNITIES - on Sunday, November 6, you can (1) help sort food collected by the High Holiday Food drive for Federation's Mitzvah Pantry from 9:30 a.m. to noon OR 12:30 p.m to 3:00 p.m. at SHARE Food Program Warehouse, 2901 West Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia. Information: Mark Rubin (215) 831- 0525 or by e- mail. OR (2) you can deliver food packages for the Jewish Relief Agency from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from the JRA warehouse at 9986 Gantry Road, Philadelphia (Northeast). Information: Rachel Dunaief (610) 660-0190 or by e-mail. Flyer for both, click here.

MONTHLY LUNCH AND LEARN PROGRAM FOR SENIORS who want to continue to live vital and independent lives. Meets 4th Thursday of each month at KI. Sponsored by Jewish Family and Children’s Services’ STAR Program. Next meeting is Thursday, November 17 from noon to 2:00 p.m. Program: “Ethical Wills.” For more information, reservations and transportation, contact Michele Kramer (267) 808- 6264 and leave a message including your name, phone number and mailing address. (There is no program in October due to the holidays.)

NEW FROM THE MEYERS LIBRARY Library hours are: Tuesday 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. when Religious School is in session, Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Friday before 8:00 p.m. services. (You can also visit the bookcarts at the Oneg.) For Adult: Dr. Khaled Abou el Fadl and Dr. Shanes Inati, eds., Who are the Muslims? Where they live and how they are governed; Jonathan Rosen, Joy Comes in the Morning, a novel about the life of a woman-rabbi; Daniel Silva, The Confessor. For Children: Dr. Israel Eldad and Moshe Aumann, eds., Chronicles: Biblical history retold as news of the day; Mara Kay, In Face of Danger, set in 1930's Germany; Carol Korb Hubner, Whispering Mezuzah and other Mysteries.

Adult Education—on Sunday, October 30, at 10:00 a.m.—”Jewish Supreme Court Justices,” Dr. Norman Olson; on Tuesday, November 1, at 7:30 p.m.—”Jews in the Civil Rights Movement,” Joan Sadoff, M.Ed.