Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation

You are here: Home / Blog

Blog

The Jewish Community Celebrates Pride Month!

by

AARC Favorite, Dori Midnight’s Queer Morning Blessings

As Keshet’s opening Pride Month page says, ‘Welcome, You Are a Blessing!’ Happy Pride to the AARC LGBTQ community and its allies! Pride Month reminds us of the importance of welcoming everyone to the table and celebrating all that they are. This month also gives us the opportunity to shine a light on the LGBTQ community, advocate for them, and honor them. Jewish tradition specifically teaches that the infinite variety and diversity of humanity is a mark of Divine artistry and creativity (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5). So we honor you, our LGBTQ community and celebrate you during this very special month!

If you would like to get out and celebrate Pride Month, check out the following events in SE Michigan and Online!

NextGen Detroit Pride Shabbat, June 1oth: https://jewishdetroitcalendar.org/event/pride-shabbat/

Pride shabbat at Temple Beth Emeth, June 10th: https://www.jewishannarbor.org/event/tbe-pride-shabbat/

Jewish Democratic Women for Action invites you to “Celebrating PRIDE with Purpose and Activism” with three notable LGBTQ+ leaders: June Gutterman, recently retired CEO of Jewish Family Services of Ohio; Laurie Osher, a state representative from Maine; and Jon Cohen, director of community mobilization for Keshet. June 16th, 4pm- https://www.keshetonline.org/event/celebrating-pride-with-purpose-and-activism/

Join Joy Ladin and Keshet CEO Idit Klein for Pride & Joy, an online gathering in honor of Pride month and to celebrate Keshet’s successful Dare to Dream campaign, June 23rd, 7pm- https://www.keshetonline.org/event/pride-joy/

Beit Sefer Celebrates a Year of Resilient Nature Based Jewish Learning

by Leave a Comment

Beit Sefer wrapped up its 2021/2022 school year last weekend with a year end celebration and art show at the Farm on Jennings. The Beit Sefer program spent much of the 2021/2022 year outdoors, exploring Judaism’s relationship to nature. In addition to our traditional curriculum, the year focused on the changing of the seasons and what lessons the students can learn from nature. Some examples of this year’s lessons include blessings for harvest, Tikkun Olam and environmental stewardship, and the Jewish calendar’s relationship with agriculture. The impetus for the nature based curriculum was born out of COVID safety precautions, but served as a profound opportunity for families to explore Jewish learning in a new way.

It was a bittersweet celebration last weekend as our Beit Sefer director, Clare Kinberg, announced her retirement. Clare has brought so much to the Beit Sefer program, and she will be dearly missed. Thankfully, she remains a member of our congregation and community- so she will still be a presence in families’ lives in the future.

Please enjoy the photo collage below with some fun snapshots from the year. As you can see, it was a joyous year spent in community! If you would like to share any thoughts, memories, or gratitude for Clare, we will keep the comments open on this blog or you can email us at aarcgillian@gmail.com.

How Do YOU Do Jewish? Teach Us on Shavuot!

by

By Rabbi Ora Nitkin Kaner

You’ve probably heard the saying ‘two Jews, three opinions.’ It contains a kernel of truth: the idea that Jews thrive on arguing and sharing our opinions and beliefs with one another! But the phrase also reflects the diversity of perspectives, histories, cultures, and experiences present in Jewish communities; for as much as we might have in common (attending High Holiday services, or observing Shabbat in some fashion), we also have a lot of differences (what kashrut means to us, or what kind of God we believe in, or what our favorite Jewish food is).

This Shavuot, we have the opportunity to learn about and from our differences! The theme of this year’s Tikkun Leil Shavuot is ‘How Do YOU Do Jewish’? The evening’s learning will focus on the practical side of doing and being Jewish, and offer a window into how different community members express themselves Jewishly. 

Members have the opportunity to teach (for 5, 10, or 15 minute time slots) on “How I Do Jewish.” This can be interpreted very broadly, and could range from “How I Bake My Favorite Cheesecake” to “My Most Meaningful Prayer Experience” and anywhere in between. Rabbi Ora will offer an hour-long class focused on the ‘doing’ aspect of ‘Doing Jewish’: “How To Create and Lead a Meaningful Shabbat Service.”

Do you, does your family, or did your ancestors ‘Do Jewish’ in a particular way? We want to learn about it! If you’re willing to present, please email Rabbi Ora with your topic and how long you’d like to teach for. We look forward to learning from you!

Shavuot will be held at the JCC of Ann Arbor on June 4th, 7pm-10pm. We will participate in an evening of learning and then go outside for an al fresco dairy desert potluck. Please RSVP here.

Schedule of Events:

Shavuot 2022: How Do You Do Jewish?

7:00-8:15 pm: How To Create and Lead a Meaningful Shabbat Service with Rabbi Ora

Have you ever wanted to lead a Shabbat service for AARC but haven’t known where to start? Or are you looking to level up your skills? In this interactive, creative, and practical session, you’ll think about how to choose a theme, create flow, craft a dvar Torah, and make the most of your creative and musical skills!

8:20-8:35 pm: Seeing, Finding, Showing My Jewish Self in Games with Hannah Davis

It’s natural to want to see ourselves in the stories we consume. I play video and tabletop games a lot, and I look for Jewish content and themes in them. And if there isn’t much to find, I start making my own! Here are some Jewish stories I’ve found – or made – in games.

8:40-8:55 pm: Teaching Religion Responsibly with Lauren Zinn

9:00-9:25 pm: Edot of Ruth: On ‘Doing Jewish’ and Doing the Heavy Work of the Divine with Marcy Epstein

After a brief drash about mitzvot (Jewish doing; מִצְוֹתַי) in the Book of Ruth, we shall study a connection to edot (testament) to the chukim (divine decrees) at Sinai. We’ll then discuss the reconstruction of edot as “difficult witnessing” in the here and now. There’s a hands-on challenge to this session: while we talk, participants may explore sketching a small edot (by way of emblem or picturing the witness/witnessing) in charcoal on paper, something to bring home as a minhag mitzvah of decorating our Jewish homes for this holy day. Supplies provided!

9:30-10:00 pm: Outdoor Shmoozing, Cheesecake, and Havdallah!

Jewish Perspectives on Abortion

by

A quick primer in light of recent news regarding Roe v. Wade

Abortion Rights Rally in Minnesota

The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association (RRA) and Reconstructing Judaism (RJ) put out a statement on May 3rd condemning the leaked documents indicating that the Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade. Reconstructing Judaism strongly conveyed the movement’s belief that access to reproductive choice is a human right and must be protected at both the state and federal level. The RRA and RJ will be participating in a Jewish Rally for Abortion Rights on May 17th at Capitol Hill. Read the full statement and get details on the rally here.

Amongst the current political turmoil surrounding the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it might hearten you to know that Jewish thinkers have been pondering the morality of abortion for millennia. According to Tomas J. Silber, a Jewish physician and medical researcher, Jewish law puts fetuses and embryos in a different category than infants. This is exemplified by the fact that Jews do not say Kaddish for a fetus, but do perform the ritual for an infant. Additionally, if a mother converts to Judaism while pregnant, the baby is considered Jewish, and therefore the baby does not need to immerse in a mikvah (Talmud Bavli Yevamot 78a).

Some of you may remember Rabbi Ora’s Shavuot teaching in 2019 on Jewish perspectives on abortion. Our congregation looked at multiple historical Jewish texts that discuss abortion, including:

Talmud Bavli Yevamot 69b:

Rav Chisda says: And if she is pregnant, until 40 days from conception the fetus is merely water. 

Mishna Oholot 7:8:

If a woman is having difficulty in giving birth [and her life is in danger], one cuts up the fetus within her womb and extracts it limb by limb, because her life takes precedence over that of the fetus. But if the greater part was already born, one may not touch it, for one may not set aside one person’s life for that of another.

The National Council for Jewish Women (NCJW) has stated that “Jewish sources explicitly state that abortion is not only permitted but is required should the pregnancy endanger the life or health of the pregnant individual. Furthermore, ‘health’ is commonly interpreted to encompass psychological health as well as physical health. NCJW advocates for abortion access as an essential component of comprehensive, affordable, confidential, and equitable family planning, reproductive, sexual health, and maternal health services.”

There is strong support for abortion rights in Reconstructionist and Reform Judaism, as well as historical precedent that supports women’s access to abortion. The Conservative movement has condoned abortion “if a continuation of pregnancy might cause the mother severe physical or psychological harm, or when the fetus is judged by competent medical opinion as severely defective.” The Orthodox movement supports abortion when a mother’s life is at risk, but leaves further discretion on a case-by-case basis. Outside the Jewish world, the PEW research center has found that 60% of American support access to reproductive choice.

If you feel inspired to take action regarding access to reproductive choice, consider donating to Planned Parenthood or sign the petition circulating locally to amend the Michigan constitution to establish reproductive choice and codify Roe v. Wade in Michigan.

Planning for Shavuot

by

Learn about Shavuot AND Help Us Plan This Years Observation!

SURVEY LINK HERE!

History of Shavuot

Shavuot, or the ‘Feast of Weeks,’ is celebrated 50 days after Passover. The holiday coincides with both the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai and an ancient Jewish grain festival. In ancient Israel, Jews participated in three agricultural festivals per year where they would bring the fruits of their labor to the temple as offerings. The three holidays are Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. These agricultural based holidays allowed Ancient Jews the opportunity to gather in community to engage in ritual and celebration together. There is archeological evidence that Jews came from as far as the Mediterranean during the Greek era to reaffirm their faith and practice. When the Temple was destroyed in the first century CE, the harvest festivals transitioned from a central festival of offerings to a synagogue based practice. In diaspora, we have come to reconstruct and make relevant these holidays to provide meaning and connection in modern times. As an observance of the giving of the Torah, many Jews spend Shavuot engaged in the practice of learning.

Past AARC Observances of Shavuot

Shavuot 2021 we celebrated the end of Beit Sefer and Shavuot together by having blintzes at Aaron Jackson’s house! The congregation also attended a community wide lecture about Jewish approaches to Justice.

In 2020, we attended a nationwide (covid shutdown) Shavuot with Reconstructing Judaism.

2019 was our last in person Shavuot. We celebrated the holiday with Kehillat Israel and hosted lectures by scholars from both of our congregations. And of course ate cheesecake!

Shavuot This Year

Rabbi Ora has invited the congregation to submit their interest in a slate of potential programming choices. Please make sure that you take a few minutes to complete this survey! As always, let us know if you have any input, questions, or concerns!

FILL OUT THE SURVEY HERE!!!

A Joyous Mimouna!

by

The conclusion of Passover this year was marked with a joyous Mimouna celebration at the house of Jeff and Rena Basch. The Mimouna bonfire echoed a tradition that originates in Morocco as a cultural holiday and is celebrated in Israel with picnics and barbecues in the park. The weather was warm and everyone was so glad to be spending time together, releasing the constriction of the passover holiday by eating carbs and sweets! (pictures below!) The event was such a success we are hard at work planning more outdoor social gatherings for the summer, if you are interested in hosting something- let Gillian know!

The origins of the holiday vary depending on who you’re talking to. For some, Mimouna celebrates the yarzheit of Maimonides. For others, it began as an interfaith celebration of community and liberation in Morocco. The nation of Morocco is home to many Sephardic jews and Muslims; on the final night of Passover, these two communities would come together and share a meal filled with sweets and carbs. It was a time that Muslim neighbors could expect to be invited into the homes of their Jewish friends to celebrate the conclusion of the holiday. Many communities around the world have used this tradition to reconstruct opportunities to celebrate community and interfaith friendships.

At our Mimouna bonfire, Clare Kinberg shared a beautiful Mimouna family tradition. Clare blessed people with mint leaves dipped in buttermilk and dates and shared a blessing of fertility. This blessing was shared from her Moroccan relatives. The fertility blessing was not limited to childbirth, Clare encouraged everyone to think about what aspects of their life they would like to ‘fertilize’ or nourish. This could be something like a garden, a career, a relationship etc. It is a beautiful tradition that we were lucky to share on this beautiful evening. To learn more about the tradition, check out this article written by her niece, Rabbi Yohanna Kinberg.

photo credit: Emily Eisbruch

Serenity Shabbat!

by

THIS SERVICE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 29TH AT 6:30

Many of us have been touched by addiction, either as a personal struggle or as a loved one of someone who lives with addiction. This special Shabbat service will focus on addiction awareness and the wisdom of Jewish tradition as it relates to the spiritual practice of recovery. Everyone is welcome, including members of the recovery community, friends and family who have been affected by a loved one’s addiction, and anyone interested in this unique spiritual experience. Hosted by the Lior Project, this service will be one of a series of addiction and recovery-focused events hosted by congregations throughout the Ann Arbor area.

Following the service, we will come together to enjoy a kosher for Passover vegetarian potluck! The service will be hybrid; to participate please sign up here.

2022-Shabbat-Services-Flyer-V5

Meet Armin Langer

by

AARC hosted Armin Langer for the weekend of April 8 – 10 for a Shabbaton. Armin will graduate from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in May 2022 .  He also received a PhD in sociology from Humboldt University of Berlin in January 2022.  Since 2020, Armin has served as the student rabbi for Congregation Am Haskalah, a Reconstructionist synagogue in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.  He was a visiting cantor for the Egalitarian Synagogue of Malmö, Sweden, from 2017 to 2020.  Armin previously led the Salaam-Shalom Initiative in Berlin, a Jewish-Muslim group combating antisemitism and Islamophobia together.

Resume

Shabbaton with AARC rabbi candidate Dr. Armin Langer took place
Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10

There will be a membership meeting on Tuesday, April 19 at 7 pm via Zoom to vote on extending an offer to Armin. RSVP here, and the Zoom link will be emailed to you.

Passover 2022 Resources

by

Please enjoy this list of resources for your Passover holiday this year!

Restaurants Catering Passover Meals: 

Plum Market: Visit plummarket.com/springcatering to see their Passover Menu. 

Zola Bistro: Visit https://www.bistrozola.com/family-passover-celebration-menu/ to see their catered meal and seder plate. 

Zingermans Deli: Visit https://www.zingermanscatering.com/passover/#Passover-Menu to see Zingerman’s catered seder plate, seder meal for one, and seder meal for the family. 

Grocery Stores with Passover Supplies: 

Plum Market North and West has your regular Passover fare including matzoh, gefilte fish, and Manischewitz cookies in a can!

Kroger on Washtenaw has an online Passover selection you can find here.

Meijer locations in Ann Arbor are currently having a sale on many Kosher for Passover items. You can order these items online and pickup curbside!

Online Haggadah Resources: 

If you’re looking for something simple and ready-made, download this Zoom-gaddah, a ready-to-use Powerpoint Haggadah!

Clare Kinberg compiled an excellent list of creative themed Haggadot in 2018, and Avodah put together an extensive list of Haggadot and seder supplements for adults and kids; the list includes rituals and readings for COVID, immigrant rights, food justice, racial justice, gender justice, and more.

And of course we would be remiss to discuss Haggadot without mentioning our own Carol Levin’s beautiful family Haggadah. 

Go to Haggadot.com to customize your haggadah with meditations, skits, coloring pages and more! 

Or download one of their ready-to-print favorites 
Comedy Seder
Haggadah for Justice
Heroes Haggadah (NEW!)
Women’s Seder
Minimalist Haggadah

If you have some resources you would like to add to the list, please comment below!

Passover Plans 2022

by

Passover Seder Sign Up

One of the things that I love about our congregation is the way that opportunities are built in to be a part of a tight-knit community and make personal connections with people. One of the really special ways that we do this is to make sure that every member has a Seder table to join for the Passover holiday. Being invited to someone’s Seder table is a really meaningful opportunity to experience the Passover Seder through the perspective of another family. The way that everyone approaches the Seder is always different, getting to experience this can provide new insights and ways of looking at the Passover story.

How the process works is that two sign ups are created for people to offer seats at their Seder table and request seats at a seder table. Once that we have all of the information about available and needed seats, we will match families to each other and exchange contact information. If you are interested in participating, sign up here!

Serenity Shabbat

Fourth Friday Shabbat will fall during Passover this year. We will be having a Shabbat service and potluck that is focused on addiction awareness and the wisdom of Jewish tradition as it relates to the spiritual practice of recovery. Everyone is welcome, including members of the recovery community, friends and family who have been affected by a loved one’s addiction, and anyone interested in a meaningful spiritual experience. 

Mimouna Pizza Party Bonfire

We will also be hosting a Mimouna Pizza Party Bonfire at Jeff and Rena Basch’s house at the end of Passover. Mimouna is a Sephardic tradition that celebrates the end of Passover as well as the harvest. Learn more about Mimouna here. Its a really fun way to mark the end of the Passover holiday. Come enjoy pizza, donuts and other chametz at the end of Passover at Rena and Jeff Basch’s house. More details to come!

We hope that you will find an opportunity to connect with each other during the passover holiday this year. As always, let us know if you have any questions!