July 31, 2009

Vaetchanan Deut. 3:23-7:11

Dear Friends:

Earlier this week, I took my sons on what, in very bad taste, I referred to as “The Dead Relatives Tour.”  With Ari having been at school in Washington these past two years, we never really went too long without seeing him.  For the next year, he’ll be in Israel.  Visits will be very few and far between.  With that in mind, I had the desire/need to strengthen his connections to the past of our family and of our people.  We visited the graves of my paternal grandparents in the section of the cemetery formerly operated by the Uzhlaner Young Men’s Benevolent Association, the organization of ‘landsman” from the shtetl of Uzhlan.  Later in the day, we went to another cemetery, to the arbiter ring section to visit my maternal grandparents.  When we go there I talk about visiting the socialists, the Arbiter Ring (Workmen’s Circle) was an early trade union.  We finished our tour by visiting the graves of my father and Risa’s.  Throughout the day, we placed stones on monuments and told stories.  I don’t know what the kids will internalize in terms of specific memories, but I hope they will remember the Mitzvah of k’vod ha-met, showing respect for the deceased.

Jewish life does not teach us to worship the dead.  It does, however, encourage us to incorporate the values of our ancestors into our daily lives.  Last year at the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe/High Holidays,) I spoke about standing on the shoulders of those who came before us, to quote a Doug Cotler song.  I know that my life is enriched by decisions made by my ancestors, and by the lessons I learned from them.

My bottom line?  When Ari goes to Israel, and actually, for both my boys, wherever they go and whatever they do, I want them to be conscious of bringing honor to the Paskoff, Gitomer, Kantrowitz, Himmel, Auerbach, and Gelfand names.

Of course, it goes back even before that.  Our actions reflect on all of our people, going back to Abraham and Sarah.  Among other reasons, that is why I cringe over each act of chilul ha-Shem (desecration of God’s name) committed by our people.  Seeing “rabbis” cloaked in the garb of religiosity, having engaged in acts of trading in body parts and money laundering makes me cringe twice over, first that such cruel, devious behavior exists at all, and second, at the shame people like this bring to our people.  We’ll have an opportunity to reflect on this a little more at services tonight.

Please remember our First Friday 6:00 service next Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom u’m’vorach. Have a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.

Sincerely,

Jack P. Paskoff,

Rabbi

July 24, 2009

Devarim Deut.1:1-3:22

Dear Friends:

Deadlines sometimes create awkward realities. If you get the Sunday News, you’ll see that I said I wasn’t sure if I would be fasting on Wednesday night and Thursday of the coming week for Tisha B’Av. Well, after I had to submit that column, I decided that I would fast. Let me fill you in.

First of all, Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the month of Av, is the day for us to remember the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem and the anniversary of the expulsion from Spain in 1492. Knowing that it was a day of mourning and sadness, it was also a day that the Nazis sometimes singled out for particular cruelty. Since the holiday originated with the destruction of the Temples, and the Reform movement in the late 19th century decided that after 1800 years, we could stop grieving over that loss, the holiday is little observed in the world of Reform Judaism. In the past, you have heard me describe our kids who visit Israel observing Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem. They often do so with great pride and with the spirit of defiance, as if saying, “Well, the Temple may be gone, but we’re still here, and there is not a Babylonian or a Roman to be found.” You have also heard me speak of Tisha B’Av as a moment to celebrate the creativity of the Rabbis of old in reinventing Judaism as a result of these calamities, rather than letting Judaism die.

So in light of the history of our movement, and remembering my observations, why would I choose to fast this year? In a story that I also mention in the Sunday News, that I will be glad to give you more details about, when asking what we did wrong in the year 70 to have prompted God to allow the Temple to be destroyed, the Rabbis concluded that the Temple was destroyed because of baseless hatred. More than once, people have asked me if hatred is ever warranted, to which I respond that the prophet, Amos, tells us to hate evil and love that which is good. So yes, at least according to that one piece of our tradition, it is OK to hate in that one context.

My fear is that we have far too much hatred in our world. It exists on the global level, and on the micro level of families and friendships. It’s a word that we use far too freely. How often do we hear very young children saying, “I hate you,” usually to their parents who have said “No!” And then we have to wonder where they learned the word in the first place.

So on Tisha B’Av next week, I’m not going to necessarily sit on the floor and read from the Biblical book of Lamentations, but I will fast. I will remember the pain of our people in past years, but in truth, my biggest hope is that my fast will remind me to examine my own attitudes towards hatred, and that it might inspire me to be a little more accepting. I also hope that it might inspire me and strengthen me to do my part to help remove genuine evil from the world.

Even as we remember Israel in ruins on Tisha B’Av, let’s go together to see Israel very much alive. Let me know if you might be joining us on our trip. We’re close to our 20 commitments for the trip to be a “go,” but we would love to have you too. Please be in touch by the middle of August if you’ll be coming with us.

I hope to see you for our Friday Forum tonight.

Shabbat Shalom u’m’vorach. Have a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.

Sincerely,

Jack P. Paskoff,

Rabbi

July 17, 2009

Mattot-Masei   Num. 30:2-36:13; 28:9-13

Dear Friends:

There is a passage in our old siddur (prayer book) that refers to a time when, in most places in the world, “knowledge was the secret lore of the princes and priests.”  It goes on to way that even during that era, we valued learning for people of all classes and all walks of life.  Our stellar rise from unschooled (but not unlearned) immigrants in the late 19th an dearly 20th century to college graduates in the course of one generation, along with the number of Jewish Nobel prize winners in any number of disciplines testifies to the fact our love of learning extends beyond the religious.  We are, and have been, the People of the Book (or the scroll or the kindle, depending on your generation.)

Those books were not always easy to come by.  Until fairly recently, it would not have been uncommon to see dark skinned Jews from Arab lands now living in Israel holding books and newspapers upside down.  In their native lands, there were simply not enough books to go around. Students would sit facing each other with a book in between. One of the partners learned to read upside down.
Some of you know that one of my favorite stops in Israel is Yad L’Kashish, Lifeline for the Old. This agency was founded with the goal of helping our eldest members of society feel useful and valued for their contributions, even if, as their founder, Myriam Mendelow once commented, they only have the use of one finger. The original project of the senior workers at Yad L’Kashish was the book bindery. School books couldn’t just be disposed of when they were tattered. They would be rebound.

Next Friday night, July 24, we will have the opportunity to speak with our congregant, Sandy Asher, and my friend and colleague, Rev. Randy Riggs of the 1st Presbyterian Church. They are two key players in the Lancaster Book Challenge, “a community wide initiative to promote early reading success, raise literacy awareness, and help teachers inspire the love of reading in children.” In part, this is accomplished by seeing that school libraries can always have new books.

Let’s build on our traditions and on our history so we can learn together how to better serve the cause of social justice in our community.

Shabbat Shalom u’m’vorach. Have a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.

Sincerely,
Jack P. Paskoff,
Rabbi

July 10, 2009

FOR WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS, PLEASE VISIT THE WEEKLY NEWS SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE

Pinchas   Num. 25:10-30:1

Dear Friends:

After my 2 weeks at camp, I’ll be returning to the office Monday morning, rejuvenated, but not nearly as well rested as most years. You see, this year camp had an outbreak of Influenza A. It seems to be making the rounds at many summer camps this season, as it would in any setting where people live in such close quarters. That being the case, the faculty was helping out in areas beyond our usual expertise, putting in time to support the staff in the infirmary and the office. The remarkable thing was the spirit that was maintained at camp, even when we had this rather significant distraction. The joy, the friendships, and the living Jewish experience continued unabated.

Among the great joys of time at camp is the nature of the conversations we have among colleagues, college age staff members, and campers.  As camp has often been a laboratory for what a living Reform Jewish community can be, the discussions often focus on that issue. While it was not the intent of our founders in the 19th century, we have all come to know and value Reform Judaism as the movement that allows us to make informed personal choices about the role and practice of Judaism in our lives. Of course, there is an inherent tension in this thought process. How do we establish a community out of individuals making decisions that create a meaningful Jewish experience in their unique lives? I am reminded of the statement Hillel made 2000 years ago—Al tifrosh min ha-tzibbur—Don’t separate yourself from the community.  Is it really possible to create community when we are bound simply by the value we place on individuality?

There is an old Yiddish saying that reminds us that it is tough being Jewish. History has told us how true that can be. I would also add the corollary to that. It’s tougher being a good Reform Jew.

What does it mean to be a good Reform Jew? First and foremost, it means that the decisions I make are going to be well reasoned decisions based on learning, not on what’s most convenient. Second, I hope it means that we struggle with the issue of community and peoplehood. What compromises can I reasonably make in my own autonomy to safeguard the community and the people?
I watch people at Camp Harlam. Most are Reform Jews, but there are also Conservative, Reconstructionist, and unaffiliated Jews. We mostly use our movement’s new prayer book, but even sitting in the same worship space, some use a different siddur. Some wear kippot and tallit. Some do not.  We are united around the holiness of experiences like outdoor Shabbat services, the joy of friends, and the ability to be Jewish among people who understand us, for whom our Judaism requires no explanation. We share the love of Judaism, and the joy it brings us.

I am proud to be a lifelong Reform Jew. I am proud of the contributions of our movement to our people and to social justice throughout the world. I am proud of the creativity we display culturally, and of our willingness to challenge long held beliefs when the world around us shows us a different truth. I am proud of our camps, our Israel experiences, and our young people who make this living community their home for one month each year.

May you know the joy and holiness of this Shabbat in the same way we all will at Camp Harlam. Shabbat Shalom u’m’vorach. Have a Shabbat of peace and of blessing.

Sincerely,
Jack P. Paskoff,
Rabbi

July 03, 2009

Chukkat-Balak Num. 19:1-25:9

Dear Friends:

“How beautiful are your tents O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.” As Bilaam opened his mouth in this week’s parasha (Torah portion), believing that he was cursing the people of Israel in accordance with the wishes of King Balak, only words of praise came forth, most notably, these words which have become the standard opening song of mornings services for Jews around the world. More than wanting you to read the words or hear the song, I want you to see the houses of the modern day people of Israel. Attached, please find a flyer for our congregational trip in December. Plan on coming with us, and invite friends and family to join us too.

Of course, it’s a cliché to say that it’s the trip of a lifetime. The fact is, though, that it’s the trip of two lifetimes—yours, and the life time of the Jewish people. We will span over 3000 years of our people’s pain and glory. Yes, you do have to see it to believe it.

Those of you who attended our Confirmation service this past spring know how much of an impact Israel had on our kids. Some went on five-week Camp Harlam and NFTY trips. Some came on congregational trips. All were moved and came back with a different perspective on the meaning of Judaism in their lives. They were moved by the history and the daily reality of today. They were moved by the 3000 year old ruins juxtaposed against buildings with ultra-modern glass and steel architecture. They were moved by the natural beauty of Ein Gedi and the creations of humans through ingenuity and technology.

Perhaps you need to think about Israel differently than you have been. Take Israel off your list of vacation destinations and start a new list, the list of places you need to visit as a pilgrimage, the list of places you need to visit to understand events playing out in the world today. Reading the newspaper will never be the same after you visit Israel. You’ll meet people on the Israeli right as well as the left. They’ll share their views and their stories with you. We’ll see the Green Line marking the West Bank from Israel proper. We’ll see the separation barrier that has been source of such controversy. We’ll see the settlements now in the news from a distance. We’ll see and hear the sights and sounds of at least five different faith traditions.

Among others, while we are there, we’ll be able to speak with two of our congregants. Dan Jacobson will have just been inducted into the Israeli Defense Forces (Tzahal), and our son, Ari, will be finishing his first of two college semesters at Hebrew University. I’m sure they will have unique experiences to add to our understanding.

While the trip is still six months away, we need to start lining up commitments and sending in forms. Please contact me with your questions, let me know to expect you, and spread the news of our trip to others. On all of our trips, non-Jews have been as moved as the Jews among us. Don’t limit your outreach to your Jewish friends.

On our Shabbat in Jerusalem, we’ll decide if we want to pray at a Progressive synagogue in Jerusalem, see the frenzy of singing and dancing at the Western Wall, or pray together at the slightly more serene Southern Wall. Shabbat will never be the same, either.

And now I prepare for my Shabbat at Camp Harlam. I hope yours in Lancaster will be as beautiful. There will be a 6:00 service tonight, and 9:00 Oneg. Enjoy Lancaster’s First Friday in between.
Shabbat Shalom u’m’vorach. Have a Shabbat of peace and of blessing. Additionally, I hope Independence Day provides a meaningful time to reflect on the meaning of freedom and on the many blessings our country offers us.

Sincerely,
Jack P. Paskoff,
Rabbi

Tonight, First Friday Shabbat evening service at 6:00, Oneg Shabbat at 9.  Tomorrow, NO Torah study/Shabbat morning service. 

The congregational trip to Israel, led by Rabbi Paskoff, is beginning its final planning stages.  Deposits must be in by September 1 for the trip, which leaves on December 27 and returns on January 5.  If you have questions or want details, please contact the Rabbi at or 397-5575.  Please see the attachment above.

Rabbi Paskoff and School Principal Holli Viau are on staff for two weeks at Camp Harlam for the next week.  If you’ve never been there and want to know if it’s right for your kids, come visit on Sunday, July 5.  You’ll get a full tour, see campers in full swing, and get answers to all your questions.  Contact us at the Temple if you would like to come; if the 5th isn’t convenient, call the camp office at 570-629-1390 to make other arrangements.

The 2009 Youtheatre Ensemble, directed by Barry Kornhauser, presents “The Heart Knows Something Different,” a dramatic examination of America’s foster care system.  (Some mature content.  Recommended for ages 12 and up.)  The performances are on the historic Fulton Theatre main stage and are FREE to the public.  Opening Rehearsal:  Thursday, July 9 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; performances: Friday, July 10, 12 noon & 4 p.m.; Saturday, July 11 at 10 a.m.; Sunday, July 12 at 7p.m.  Donations will be accepted for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Lancaster County.  For more information about the play, please contact Barry, 394-7133 ext. 105

Adult Jewish Growth is sponsoring a trip to Alvernia College on Saturday, July 18, to view A Blessing to One Another, an historic exhibit of photos, video, footage, documents and artifacts recording the extraordinary contributions of Pope John Paul II to strengthen relations between the Catholic and Jewish faiths. More details to follow.

Summer is a time when people typically consider affiliating with a synagogue. If there are individuals or families you know in the Jewish community who might be searching for a congregation to join, please pass the relevant contact information to the Temple office for the Rabbi or committee chair people to contact. Also, please encourage them to come to services to see what we are all about.

Don’t forget our other weekly/monthly meetings for study and support: weekly Wednesday minyan at 7:45 a.m.;Talmud study, Tuesdays at noon; Women’s Torah Study, second and fourth Thursday of the month, 7 p.m.  The cancer support group meets the third Thursday of the month at the Temple, beginning at 7 p.m.  See your Bulletin calendar for days when Talmud and Torah study will NOT meet.  Talmud study resumes on July 14, minyan resumes on the 15th. 

July 23 Women’s Torah study will be also be Rosh Chodesh and will be al fresco.  Please see the attachment above for details.

Shaarai Classifieds
    United Way of Lancaster County is advertising for a Director of Education.  The person should have a Master’s Degree.  She/he should be knowledgeable about education, and understand the dynamics of social work theory as well as work well with volunteers.  Call United Way, 394-0731, for more information.

Jobs needed:

    Darian Healy, recent University of Maryland graduate and former counselor & Asst. Supervisor at Camp Harlam, is available for babysitting or childcare. Will happily provide references. Please call 475-3892.

          Entrepreneurial opportunity
          Senior management position in retail
          Environmental Manager
          Office manager
          Office manager—healthcare specialty
          Light landscaping
          Light factory work
          Light maintenance work
          Human resources

CareerLink works within Lancaster County to provide training & networking for people seeking employment http://www.jobs4lancaster.com/

Also, HACC has a targeted retraining program for people looking for employment – again, they’re tied in with CareerLink http://www.hacc.edu/StudentServices/Admissions/upload/tadwapplicationandinfol.pdf