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B’shalach A New Morning Prayer

March 17, 2015 by Clare Kinberg

by Ellen Dannin

B’shalach A New Morning Prayer

Lord of the outstretched hand,

who brought our ancestors out of

confinement in Egypt,

release all those bodily confined

for the pursuit of justice.

Release us from the prisons

and the callouses we have constructed

around our hearts.

Release our hands from the shackles

we have placed on them,

and guide them to their avodah [worship / work].

Release our minds from the deceptions

in which they are imprisoned.

Remove exhaustion

from our eyelids and bodies.

Release our spirits from terror and fear.

Renew us that we may be renewed,

set us on our journey to the land

we are to enter.

We are and we are not our ancestors.

We will not turn aside.

New Member Profile: Sally George Wright

March 11, 2015 by Clare Kinberg

Sally George, far left, with her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.

Sally George Wright recently moved permanently to Michigan from Montana, where she had lived on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, home to the Assiniboine, Sioux and other Native American tribes. In her profession as a clinical psychologist, she had been working there with traumatized children and their families for about ten years. While living on the Fort Peck Reservation, the closest synagogue was a five hour drive, making Jewish community difficult. The ability to be active in a Jewish community, to access the healthcare at the U. Mich hospital system, and, not least, to be near her daughter and 2-year-old granddaughter, who live in Saline, drew her to Ann Arbor.

Before living on the reservation, Sally George lived in Billings, MT where she was Vice President of Congregation Beth Aaron (Reform). Her leadership at Beth Aaron included the year 1993, when during Hanukkah a cement block was thrown through the window of another leader in the Jewish community. Even though the KKK and other white supremacist groups had been agitating in Montana and other Northwest states for many years, the Billings community stood up strongly against anti-Semitism and other expressions of religious, racial and ethnic hatred. The members of Sally George’s congregation had already formed a mutually supportive relationship with members of a nearby Black church, and together they formed the nucleus of the legendary response, recounted in more than one book and a movie, Not In Our Town. Billings residents of different religions organized vigils in solidarity and nearly 10,000 of them placed Hanukkiot in their windows so that anti-Semites wouldn’t know who was Jewish. Though the wider community’s actions in support of Jews was bold and forthright, opinions within the Jewish community about how to respond to violent anti-Semitism ranged from the “lay low” variety to the more confrontational. Sally George still vividly remembers chairing some of the meetings within her congregation where differences were aired. Suffice it to say, she comes to AARC as a tempered Jewish community leader.

After attending our warm and participatory high holiday services, Sally George knew that AARC was the congregation for her. She is an accomplished flutist and former children’s choir leader, and enjoys the singing and instrumental accompaniment in our services. Although she has yet to find and unpack the box with her instruments, she looks forward to playing again. She is also looking forward to studying Hebrew, getting to know other AARC families, and especially reaching out to other older members for Shabbat dinners and other socializing.

Let’s Make a Shpiel Recap

March 4, 2015 by Clare Kinberg

Photos and text by Sherri Buroker

Purim joy was evident among AARC members and guests this past Sunday, March 1.

The celebration kicked off with the kids creating groggers, crowns fit for the finest queens and kings, and mini candy Megillahs!

The Beit Sefer classes challenged the entire party with their inventive and original games “Hamantaschen to Hamantaschen” and “Purim Jeopardy,” and the adult “Purim Shpiel” lifted the room in laughter!

Our feast (by Exotic Syrian Bakery) was delicious, our homemade hamantaschen were delectable, and our costumes transformed the party into a colorful display!

As the Megillah was read amid the community, we did not disappoint with our hooting and hollering!

Along with all these elements, I believe our best Purim spirit was inspired by our energetic cheer”leader,” Rav Michal, and simply witnessing the kids celebrating together.

Purim games — Rav Michal cheering on the kids

A Purim Vocabulary

February 19, 2015 by Clare Kinberg

“The whole megillah.” When my daughters come up with words I don’t recognize, my first resource is Urban Dictionary. Very informative. And yep, “whole megillah” is there, one of the many Yiddish or Hebrew inspired phrases that have become bonafide street English. The whole megillah means “something long, complex, and possibly tedious,” as in when Jews read the Megillah Esther (Scroll of Esther) from beginning to end, all ten chapters, with breaks for hooting and hollering, each Purim. And yes, AARC is going to read the whole megillah this year….well almost. Because of the age-old “tedium” problem, there are many abridged, English language, family-friendlier, megillot to choose from. But you can still expect all ten chapters.

“Shpiel.”I won’t even go into the Urban Dictionary definition; shpiel is simply a play or story. It’s traditional for congregations to stage and enjoy purimshpiels (Purim Plays) that riff on characters and themes from the Scroll of Esther. This year, we will intersperse our shpiel with our megillah reading. Just for fun….and to break up the tedium.

“Hamantaschen.” Those triangular pastries intended to remind us of the villain Haman’s hat. The whole community, especially the kids, is invited to Carol Lessure’s home to bake hamantaschen Saturday afternoon, February 28, 2015 from 3:00ish – 6:00ish. She is happy to have you drop in for part or stay for a potluck dinner (Havdalah too) after cookie baking is done. Bring your rolling pin, cookie sheet and a snack, drink or side dish to share.

And the feast or Seudah, in Hebrew. There are four feasts in the Megillah Esther, but we’ll be having only one. We need to know how much to order, so please RSVP using this link.

When’s it all happening? March 1, 11:30-2 at the JCC, of course.

Oh, that picture at the top was just to get your attention. I used it for a cover of Bridges Journal in 1993, with this description: This image is of Queen Esther giving birth to Kurush (Cyrus the Great), her son by Shah Ardashir (Ahasuerus). The painting, by an unknown artist, is an illustration from a late seventeenth century edition of an epic poem, Ardashir Ndma (The Ahasuerus Book), written in 1332 by Jewish-Persian poet Maulana Shahin. Iranian Jews often used the Hebrew alphabet even while writing in the Persian language as a way of preserving their religious and national heritage. They shared the cultural tastes of their Muslim neighbors, using Persian literary and artistic styles in setting to verse and illustrating some well-known Jewish themes, including even the Torah. Ardashir Ndma is the story of the Book of Esther and continues with Esther and Ahasueras’ life together, with embellishments from Jewish and Muslim legends, Talmudic and Midrashic references, and Persian fairy tales. The whole megillah plus more!

Vote Now for Food, Land and Justice!

February 15, 2015 by Clare Kinberg

AARC members Idelle Hammond-Sass, Rena Basch and Carole Caplan are leading lights of our community’s Jewish Alliance for Food, Land and Justice. The Alliance’s program for 2015, Preserving Shmita, is in competition for support in the Ann Arbor Federation’s Jewish Community Impact Fund vote. The proposal is a request for $8,000 to continue programming for the entire community on sustainable, healthy, fair food and food systems and earth stewardship. You can read about last year’s Shmita programming here and here.

This year’s proposal includes many creative ideas for deepening existing connections to Jewish ethics and values such as a Farm-to-Shabbat Table initiative, envisioned as a community-wide event occurring every season with Shabbat dinners sourced from locally sustainably grown food with farmers present; training and networking for Jewish event planners in support of sustainable food initiatives between farms and food service providers; and creation and dissemination of farm-based Jewish curriculum for religious school within each congregation, supported by a Food Festival day of education/experiences at a local farm.

Voting on the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor’s Impact Fund proposals is open until February 27th. You are welcome to vote if you have donated a minimum of $18 to the Federation in 2014 or 2015. As part of AARC’s efforts at Tikkun Olan, we offer our members a Flexible Giving Option, in which you can make choices about how your donation to the Federation will be used. You can read more about Flexible Giving and find a donation form on our website’s Tikkun Olam page.

Our local involvement with Food, Land and Justice connects us to a dynamic worldwide movement of Jews. Soul Fire Farm, a CSA family farm in New York, is honoring Shmita– giving the land a Sabbath–and also publicizing their restorative justice program. Another good connection to Shmita and sustainability is the Hazon Shmita Project.

Don’t forget to vote!

Caleb’s drash

February 15, 2015 by Margo Schlanger

Mazel tov to Caleb on his becoming Bar Mitzvah! Here is his d’var torah, on Parashat Yitro

Welcome, Shabbat shalom.

This week’s Torah portion is called Yitro, Exodus 18 through 20. The Israelites have just left Egypt, and crossed the Red Sea, and they are in the wilderness. In the first part of the portion, Moses meets up with his father-in-law Jethro (His Hebrew name is Yitro, thus the name of the portion). Jethro notices that Moses is carrying too much responsibility by solving everyone’s little arguments and disputes. Jethro suggests that Moses should have other people solve the Israelites’ minor disputes and bring only the big problems to Moses. Moses follows Jethro’s advice.

Meanwhile, God tells Moses to tell the Israelites to prepare for God to come down to Mount Sinai to talk to the people. The people follow God’s wishes and wait for God to come down. When God comes down in a theatrical show of thunder, lighting and the trembling of the mountain, God makes a set of rules that are now known as the ten commandments.

I will read the ten commandments in my Torah portion today. [Read more…] about Caleb’s drash

Hand in Hand Jewish-Arab Education in Israel

February 11, 2015 by Clare Kinberg

AARC is a co-sponsor of the visit to Ann Arbor of Lee Gordon, co-founder of Hand In Hand, Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel. He will be here March 20-22 for a series of open community events highlighting the work of these bilingual and multicultural Jewish-Arab schools. The weekend’s events will give you the opportunity to be a part of this diverse intercultural Ann Arbor gathering in support of a shared society in Israel.

Community members are invited to all events:

Friday, March 20, 7:30 PM: “Continuing Together, without Hate and without Fear” Guest sermon, Social Action Shabbat service. Temple Beth Emeth, 2309 Packard Street

Saturday, March 21, 8:00 PM: “Building a Shared Society Together: Multicultural Education and Peacemaking in Israel,” an interfaith, multicultural gathering. St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church/Temple Beth Emeth, 2309 Packard Street

Sunday, March 22, 4:00 PM: “Overcoming the Jewish-Arab Divide in Israel: Building a Model of Integrated Schools and Leadership,” hosted by Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor. Jewish Community Center, 2939 Birch Hollow Drive

Please RSVP to handinhanda2@gmail.com indicating which event(s) you plan to attend.

Co-sponsors: Temple Beth Emeth, St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church, Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, Jewish Cultural Society, Beth Israel Congregation, Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation, Chelsea First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, First Unitarian Universalist Association of Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Hillel.

Our Tu B’Shevat Seder

February 11, 2015 by Clare Kinberg

by Rachel Baron Singer

Thoughts of trees, fruit, and burgeoning greenery are generally sparse during Midwestern winters, but on the evening of February 3^rd(the 15th of Shevat), I was fortunate to attend an event where all three were front and center. To celebrate the New Year of the Trees, members of AARC gathered at the beautiful home of Carole Caplan for a potluck dinner and Tu B’Shevat seder. Growing up, I’d always loved this little holiday where machberot [notebooks] were pushed aside for a day of planting seeds and eating dates at Hebrew school. So I was beyond thrilled to recapture a little bit of that magic as an adult.

Written and led by Ellen Dannin, the seder kicked off with an explanation of the four different types of trees found in the Torah, including the Torah itself—a tree of life! We then shared poems and passages about trees and nature, all of which were personally selected by the attendees. This gave the seder a lovely personal touch, and gave us all a chance to share how we each interpret nature.

Finally, we all had the opportunity to sample the various fruits the Kabbalists of 16^th century Safed believed mirrored the order of the universe. These were broken into three groups: Fruits that need protection (nuts, pomegranates, coconuts), fruits with an inedible pit to protect their hearts (peaches, dates), and fruits that can be eaten whole (grapes, figs, blueberries). It was a wonderful way to pay homage to nature from a Jewish perspective, and to escape the ice and snow for an evening!

Reconstructionist “Virtual Bet Midrash”

February 4, 2015 by Clare Kinberg

Jewish Reconstructionist Communities (JRC), the Reconstructionist movement’s umbrella organization, is offering a new distance learning opportunity that individuals all over the country can participate in. The “Virtual Bet Midrash” (Virtual House of Study) is a series of learning sessions taught by leaders in the Reconstructionist movement. Each session is presented using a conference call format, and subsequently made available as a recording. The series runs from February through April 2015. The next teaching will be February 19, “Jewish Prayer in a Time of Eco-Crisis,” taught by Rabbi Josh Jacobs-Velde. Rabbi Jacobs-Velde is the co-founder of ZMANIM (www.zmanim-seasons.org), an organization that explores and celebrates connections between Judaism and the natural world. For a full listing of the sessions and to register, go to Virtual Bet Midrash .

Getting together with a friend may be a fun way to study. If you do decide to take part, let me (Clare) know; we’d love to have you write a blog post about the session or the series!

Meet Laura Shpiro and Justin Edmondson

January 30, 2015 by Margo Schlanger

Laura wrote last week about the thoughts on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. But we haven’t yet introduced her, and Justin, to the congregation, although they joined a few months ago. So here’s Laura’s profile of the two of them. Welcome!

Justin and I moved from Los Angeles to Ann Arbor in October 2011. Justin was in Los Angeles completing his post-doctoral fellowship in Theoretical Heliophysics at Jet Propulsion Labs. I was born and raised in LA, except for the four years I spent at Brandeis, and even attended law school in my beloved city of Los Angeles. Justin and I met on JDate (and I am a big proponent of the site!), and fell in love pretty darned quickly. When his fellowship ended, it made sense for him to choose a position at the University of Michigan, where he obtained all three of his degrees. Plus, Momma Mary Lou (Justin’s mom) lives in Ann Arbor, making the moving to Ann Arbor a no-brainer. Since every region has use for social justice attorneys, I had little excuse not to pick up and move. Plus, you know, I love the guy.

Although it took us three years to join AARC, we knew it would be our home within a month of moving to Ann Arbor. We are rather political, extremely liberal, and believe the answer to a better world lies in tikkun olam. Indeed, our most heated argument is over who is further left, politically. Obviously, the answer is that I am. (The writer of history is she who wields the pen!)

Our first experience with AARC was attending High Holiday services; looking around the room, we knew we had found our home. The more AARC congregants we meet, the more we fall in love with the congregation. We’re looking forward to many years together!

Shalom, ahava v’tzedek (peace, love and justice),
Laura

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by Ellen Dannin

Photos and text by Sherri Buroker

by Rachel Baron Singer

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