Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

You are here: Home / Blog

Blog

The Purim Fun Continues!

by

This week Rabbi Gabrielle and Idelle Hammond-Sass led a wonderful Purim Torah study and Jewish Studio Art Process. Participants learned about creative Rabbinic commentary on the Purim story and discussed their own understandings of Purim. Afterwards, participants set intentions then created art together. After creating, participants wrote about their art then shared their creations!

Hamantaschen Making with Carol and Jon

Saturday , March 16, 4:00ish – 6:00ish. Carol and Jon will be hosting a Hamantaschen Baking Party at their home. If you plan to attend please email Carol.

AARC Purim Schpiel and Purim Party

Join us Saturday Evening for a Purim/Havdalah Service and Potluck, March 23rd 6pm-9pm, at the JCC of Ann Arbor and Zoom. Join us for merriment, a Purim shpiel, potluck meal (vegetarian, nut free). Come dressed up in your finest Purim costumes or grab one of our masks and greggors on your way in!

Community Purim Party

Community Purim Event, March 24th, 10:30am-12:30pm. This will be a co-Sponsored event by HDS, the JCC, AARC and other local Jewish Orgs. Details on the flier below.

The Jewish Leap Year And The Coming of Spring

by

This year is a special event in the Jewish calendar, it is a leap year in the Hebrew calendar as well as the Gregorian calendar. The Jewish leap year occurs in 7 of the 19 years in the calendar cycle, or about once every 3 years. In the Jewish leap years we add in an extra month called Adar II. In non-leap years we only have one month of Adar. The leap years ensure that the Jewish holidays fall in their appropriate or respective seasons.

Adar II has been known to be a month of joy, primarily because the month always includes Purim but also because it brings in Spring for the northern hemisphere. According to the Talmud, ‘When Adar enters, joy increases.’

Another way the leap year has been conceptualized is to consider that we have the ability to alter our world and our experience when regularity challenges us. If the norm creates a disruption, we have the ability to make changes for the better. This can be related to the Purim story, to a leap year, or life in general.

What are you going to do with your extra day (or extra month!) this leap year? We look forward to celebrating Purim together in a few weeks and bringing in the Spring season together in community.

A Survivor’s Legacy: The music of Cantor Saul Nadvan, article by Rav Gavrielle in the March 2024 Washtenaw Jewish News

by

This article by Rav Gavrielle appeared in the March 2024 Washtenaw Jewish News. See the link here and scroll to page 28. For the youtube of the January 2024 concert honoring Cantor Saul Nadvan click HERE.

Also on the same page of the Washtenaw Jewish News, in the right column, check out the article on the March 10, 2024 AARC book group (discussing the book Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story of a City and a People by AARC member Deborah Dash Moore)

A Full Schedule of Wonderful Events For the Month of March!

by

Believe it or not March is around the corner with hints of Spring, Purim, and more! We hope that you will join us for some or all of this month’s events!

AARC Book Group, March 10. The next two AARC book group meetings will be on Sunday, March 10, and on Saturday, May 11. The meeting will start with a lunch at Greg Saltzman’s and Audrey Newell’s house (near the JCC) from 12 noon – 1 PM. Then, there will be a hybrid in-person/Zoom book discussion from 1-2 PM. Please RSVP to Greg at gsaltzman@albion.edu if you want to attend the lunch or get the Zoom link. On Sunday, March 10, AARC member Deborah Dash Moore will discuss her book, Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story of a City and a People 
Second Saturday Morning Shabbat Service, March 9th 10:30am-noon. Hybrid at the JCC of Ann Arbor and Zoom. Meditation, prayer, discussion, community. Everyone is welcome! Zoom link will be sent out the week before the event. 
Rosh Chodesh Adar II, Sunday March 10th at 9 am on Zoom. Join Rav Gabrielle for Rosh Chodesh prayers, zoom link will be sent out the week before the event. 
Pop in Study Session with Rav Gavrielle on Zoom, March 13th, 7 pm-8:30pm at the JCC of Ann Arbor. Join Rav Gabrielle and Idelle Hammond Sass for a Purim text study, journaling & art making and possibly mask making!
You are all invited to join us for Hamantaschen baking Saturday afternoon, March 16, 2024  from 4:00ish – 6:00ish.  We are happy to have you drop in for part or stay for a potluck dinner & socializing after cookie baking is done. Bring your rolling pin, and a side dish, snack or drink to share.  We’ll sample our baking efforts and have coffee and tea for the grown-ups as well. 
Invite a friend!  This event and our Purim celebration are great, family friendly events. Be sure to let the organizers know that you are coming by emailing Carol.
Typically, we rotate in bakers and makers with lots of playing for the children and socializing for the grown-ups in between. Can’t make it? Feel free to bake your own to share. If you can provide gluten free and dairy free options, let Gillian know.  We will provide lots of dough & nut free fillings (but if you have a fav filling please bring it in case I don’t have it). 
Saturday Evening Purim/Havdalah Service and Potluck, March 23rd 6pm-9pm, at the JCC of Ann Arbor and Zoom. Join us for merriment, a Purim shpiel, potluck meal (vegetarian, nut free). Come dressed up in your finest Purim costumes or grab one of our masks and greggors on your way in!
Community Purim Event, March 24th, details TBD. This will be a co-Sponsored event by HDS, the JCC, AARC and other local Jewish Orgs. Save the Date!!

Celebrating LGBTQ Love This Valentines Day with AARC <3

by

For this month’s Zoom Pop-In Study with Rav Gabrielle, AARC members participated in a torah study about LGBTQ love. AARC has made a commitment to be a welcoming and inviting Jewish congregation for all people. As part of this commitment, AARC tries to bring everyone into the big tent of our community and celebrate them. We celebrate our LGBTQ members this Valentines Day and every day! To get a little snapshot of this week’s teaching, you can read Rav Gabrielle’s summary below.

Rabbi Gabrielle Pescador writes:

According to ultra-orthodox Rabbi Mike Moskowitz (Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBT synagogue), when we study Torah, we don’t respond to the text but to people. No person is hypothetical.  Torah is for everyone.

Some highlights from our pop in study session:

We studied the Deuteronomy 22:5 about the prohibition against a man dressing like a woman and woman dressing like a man:  “A woman must not put on man’s apparel, nor shall a man wear women’s clothing; for whoever does these things is a to’eva to God.”  (To’eva is commonly translated as abhorrent or an abomination, although there is dispute amongst the rabbis of the mishnaic period on the true meaning of the word).

 Rabbi Mike Moskowitz has a fresh perspective on this verse.   He understands it as “the very source that not only permits transgender Jews to wear clothing that supports their gender identity, but also arguably obligates them in doing so.”  He asserts that with identity comes responsibility.   In other words, we are obliged to be ourselves and to not pretend or hide our true nature and because of that we are also obliged to provide sanctuary and be allies of LGBTQ folks in our communities. 

(Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, “I’m a Boy and These Are My Clothes”, https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/im-a-boy-and-these-are-my-clothes/ )

Rabbi Alyson Solomon of Temple Beth Israel Eugene says that Rabbi Moskowitz’s framing of Torah is aligned with the message of Deuteronomy 22:8, of our obligation to create safe spaces and prevent harm:  “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.” 

Our tradition teaches us that we are all created in b’tzelem Elohim, in the mysterious multi-faceted image of God. If we hide our uniqueness or force others to do the same, then we are causing pain and suffering to ourselves and others.  We read the 2 verses mentioned above before the High Holy Days in parshat Ki Teitzei, a parsha that includes many other mitzvot that are designed to prevent us from causing harm and to help us become more empathetic and compassionate human beings.

We hope that you enjoy this tidbit from this month’s Pop In teaching with Rav Gabrielle and can join us next month, details will be sent out in the weekly mailer!

Save the dates for the AARC Retreat!

by

May 31 to June 2, 2024 

Lots of excitement is brewing about the rebirth of a tradition fondly remembered from years past: a congregational RETREAT!   

The retreat is a magical chance for members to celebrate Shabbat, relax, unwind, form new friendships, strengthen old ties, enjoy nature through hiking or boating, savor wonderful meals, dance, craft, and more.  

Please save these date for the 2024 AARC retreat

  • Friday May 31 (around 4:00 pm or arrive after that when you can)
  • Saturday, June 1
  • Sunday June 2 (ending around 3:00 pm)
    • (note: this is the weekend following Memorial Day weekend)

The lovely Chenango Lake Retreat Center in Howell has been reserved for the 2024 retreat.  Currently engaged in retreat planning is a terrific team led by Leora Druckman, Steve Merritt, and Adrianne Neff.

While the budget is not yet finalized, we are thinking about (subject to tweaking) a sliding scale of $150 to $250 per adult and $75 to $150 per child (with children under 3 free).   The goal is to have as many people as possible attend and participate without letting finances get in the way.  At the same time, we do need to at least cover our costs of a minimum of $10,000 (a recent increase in the cost of food is impacting this).   

The retreat will offer:

  • A chance to celebrate Shabbat as a community
  • Six wonderful meals
  • Lodging for 2 nights
  • Chenango lake (with canoes and kayaks) trails and beautiful surroundings. 
  • Dancing Saturday night with music from ‘Twas Brillig and the Mazel Toves plus dancing led by Drake Meadow
  • Camp fires with singing and s’mores
  • Art workshop by Idelle Hammond-Sass
  • And many more activities led by our talented members

Steve Merritt stevemerritt2@gmail.com would love to hear from anyone interested in offering a workshop or activity at the retreat or if you’d like to volunteer to help out in other ways. 

Registration for the retreat will likely open in March.   Stay tuned to the AARC emails for further updates and info.

Enjoy these photos from past AARC/Havurah retreats:

An Action Packed Weekend at AARC

by

It was an action packed weekend filled with fun, food and music! It was so wonderful to be surrounded by joy amongst the darkness of winter and to be reminded of the change that is inevitable and always in process. Please enjoy these photos from this wonderful weekend!

Folk dancing for Shabbat Shira led by Drake!
Deb and Nancy Folk Dancing Through the Red Sea!
Rav Gabrielle, Laurie White and Seth Kopald Led The Musical Shabbat Shira Service
Dancing on Shabbat Shira
Musicians performing on Shabbat Shira
Chilren’s Tu B’Shevat Seder
Rav Gabrielle’s Presentation on Cantor Saul Nadvan
Performing the music of Cantor Saul Nadvan

Shabbat Shira This Friday at AARC!

by

Shabbat Shira is observed during the reading of Beshalach in reference to the Song at the Sea that was sung after the Israelites crossed the sea during exodus.

The Shirat Ha’Yam in the Torah is set up visually differently than most other text. Often readers chant in an alternate melody and perform Hagbah to show the congregation the poetic layout of the text in recognition of its uniqueness. Liturgically, Rabbis often incorporate the singing of Mi Chamocha as part of the service.

Interestingly, There is a Midrashic tradition to feed birds on the weekend of Shabbat Shirah. This tradition comes from the Midrashic interpretation that fruit trees spung from the earth and children fed birds with its fruit when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. After eating the food set out from the children or possibly the Manna left for the Israelites, the birds then joined in song.

Come learn more and celebrate Shabbat Shirah this Friday, January 26th at 6:30pm at the JCC of Ann Arbor and on Zoom. We will have a musical shabbat service in honor of this tradition including drumming, dancing, and singing. We hope that you will join us!

Join AARC and Community Partners for A Community Tu B’Shevat!

by

For Tu B’Shevat this year Rabbi Gabrielle has been working together with partners from the Jewish Cultural Society, The Jewish Community Center, and The Jewish Federation to build a robust and invigorating Tu B’Shevat event. At 10:15 Rabbi Gabrielle will be leading a Kabbalistic Seder and will be joined by other community leaders for other workshops over the course of the morning. Make sure that you register for the super fun event!!

Register Here