A number of years ago, our Congregation did a survey on the prayer lives of our members. It was a fascinating glimpse into the ritual practices of our congregation, collectively and individually. While the feedback was “expected,” that is we live in an age when ritual is fluid and we move in and out of “tradition,” the majority of our congregation was satisfied with the practices at CMI, while others found their own personal expressions deeply meaningful. There were those who practiced family traditions, and some who did nothing. It was a wide spectrum in which our members participated. In response to some expressed needs, a Shabbat minyan began. It has met every Shabbat morning at 10:00 a.m. and continues to do so under lay leadership. Even while they struggle with numbers, the group has been most faithful and welcoming -- a place where individuals can come on a Shabbat morning to say kaddish during shiva, or study more deeply the Torah portion, or have an opportunity to use newly learned chanting skills.
Now, the Central Conference of American Rabbis has published a new prayerbook, Mishkan Tephilah. It is an opportunity for us to step back and re-think, study and develop a community response to prayer/worship. Just as earlier generations of Reform Jews went from negative feelings about a solely Jewish State to including Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day) in their worship service, or removing the traditional notion of physical body resurrection, so must we reflect on our communal “philosophies” and help to create a liturgy that reflects these (note the plural, please!).
To this end, the Adult Education and Ritual Committees will sponsor a series of study-discussion opportunities. These will be held in different venues: following services, at Sunday morning breakfasts as well as in private homes.
I will lead the first of these sessions on Friday evening February 15 on the history of liturgy: "How we have prayed" In March, the Cantor will lead a session following services. Other subjects to be studied are "ritual choreography," the language of prayer and the siddurim through the Ages.
A new prayerbook is an opportunity for us as a religious community to think and re-think our individual and collective practices. Be a part of our ongoing search for the sacred and how to express it in our own day.
The relationship between a congregation and its Rabbi is built on trust – trust that each will live up to the expectations of the other. We often refer to that trust as a “sacred covenant.” Among the acts of trust that you, my congregation, bestow on me is to act as your shaliach tzedakah, your "agent for charitable giving." In the course of my work -- with my congregation, within the Jewish community and the wider community as well – I find circumstances where we can help others in need as well as support causes and organizations that do work in keeping with our values. The Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (RDF) is the vehicle to provide that help. I thought I would share with you some of the ways your contributions have helped. This past year, your generosity enabled a new American who had lost her sight to undergo successful eye surgery at Yale’s Ophthalmological Clinic. We also supported the Hillel Foundation’s memorial to Professor Liviu Librescu from Virginia Tech, a Holocaust survivor who had given his life protecting his students during the tragedy on that campus. In addition, some of our young people were sent to summer camp and others to leadership training provided by our Reform movement. We gave scholarships for youth activities and to our own nursery school. The Hartford Seminary, which encourages dialogue among the 3 Abrahamic traditions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), was given an RDF grant. We co-sponsored a film series at Yale organized by students from the Union of Progressive Zionists as well as the great work of Rabbis for Human Rights-Israel. Our focus this past year on the environment enabled us to purchase special light bulbs that generate sufficient light while requiring less energy. We helped support our Confirmation Class’s visit to Washington, DC to dialogue with our Representatives for the environment. Planned Parenthood and the Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter, ACES and the St Raphael Hospital’s Cancer Campaign all received contributions. In addition, individuals were helped with medical assistance, transportation needs, and food relief.
This is just a snapshot of the good work that your contributions enabled during this past year. As our tradition teaches, "The blessing of tzedakah is greater for the person who gives than the person who receives."
Thank you and may you know blessing!
I cannot think of a more important challenge today than the creation of caring communities. In the past, the strength of Jews - in fact, of all Americans – lay in strong and vibrant communities where individuals took care of one another. Built on the keystone of the family, religious institutions, neighborhoods and villages, people were cared for and supported in times of need just as they had an "extended family" with whom to share moments of joy.
Today's world mitigates against this. Globalization has refocused our efforts and concerns. Work done in one place is often utilized hundreds if not thousands of miles away. We don’t see the "fruits of our labors" or its effects. And this new reality can create a disengagement, a disconnect from our immediate neighbors. In fact, people in this country move on average every 7 years. We have become communities of strangers.
And so we find a growing need to create, to re-create, communities of caring, extended families who, when the need arises, can provide that support and help that so many find missing.
The areas of our Caring Community are: visitation, shivah, food and knitting. Our Visitation group is attending to 40 congregants, some of whom are elderly, shut-ins, in-hospital, or post-hospital. Some receive regular phone calls just to check in, others receive holiday cards. This has been possible because of the many dedicated volunteers. Shivah support is a developing part of our Caring Community effort. We hope to make available help with the meal following the funeral, and providing minyan services during the period of mourning. (In addition, our Ritual Committee is training a group for performing the mitzvah of shemira, being with the deceased prior to burial.) The Cooking group, known as Life is Delicious, has been preparing food for shut-ins over the last few years. Their kugels and chicken soup, brisket and cookies have been consumed to rave reviews. A knitting group has made comforters for people who are in healing.
Over the years, we hope to build on these areas. All that will be necessary is you – volunteers, to become a part of a Caring Community. If you are interested in any of these areas of involvement, call the Temple office. And if you need any of these services, allow us to do the mitzvah.
May the New Year be one filled with acts of lovingkindness toward one another as we go about the business of becoming a more caring community.
Our 7th grade class, as part of their preparation for the celebration of their b'nei mitzvah, spent a retreat weekend at a camp in Chester, CT. It was a full weekend, with learning, games, services and getting to know our professional staff and each other in a very special way. The students were introduced to their Torah portions for the first time as they try to read, though haltingly, the very first words from the ancient text. They practiced leading a service and experienced Shabbat with games and the recitation of blessings. And they talked with the Cantor, the Principal and me about the deeper meaning of the journey they are on. But we adults too can learn from them in important ways, and this year, one thing struck me especially. On Saturday morning, following services and the Torah service, we went on a hike. It was to give them some physical activity following a morning of sitting, singing, and studying. As we came to the furthest end of the lake around which the Camp is built, we emerged onto a beach filled with pebbles. I picked one up and challenged, "Let's see who can skip the stones furthest." Everyone, adults and kids alike, joined in, sharing their individual techniques with many who had never skipped stones. We must have spent the better part of a half hour as we watched the enthusiasm of this simple activity. The comment was made, "these kids have iPods, computers, plasma TVs and the fanciest of objects technology can provide, but none could improve on the fun they were having." When we got back to the Camp, Ms. Grinfeld asked, "So far, what was the high point of your time up here?” "Skipping stones and the hike" beat all the others, at least up to that point.
It made me think. How often do we go in search of excitement and we think that it can be found in the complex and the expensive. That weekend, I learned (again), it isn't necessarily so. Go for a walk. Skip stones. Pick wildflowers. It can't be beat. It is certainly a moment I will remember.
The crisis in the Middle East continues. People are dying on both sides and, we, the American Jewish community, wait, wonder and hope. The only thing for sure is suffering for the victims. Whether we feel that Israel was justified in its defense or has overreacted, our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters in harm's way as well as to their innocent neighbors caught in the middle.
Having been asked, "What can we do?", the following list is provided:
In April, fifty-five of us, including half a dozen members of the First Presbyterian Church and the CMI Confirmation class, attended the rally to SAVE DARFUR in Washington, DC. The bus left our parking lot at 4:00 a.m. and we returned 19½ hours later at 11:30 p.m. Our itinerary began with a too-abbreviated tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum followed by the rally itself. Many wondered, “Why did you go?”
It is a question we ask ourselves, and yet we know that passivity is death. What are the facts?
1. Since February 2003, the Sudanese government has encouraged a genocidal campaign against its western province,
DARFUR.
2. The government is using a proxy militia known as janjaweed (“evil men on horseback”) to attack, rape, and murder
the Darfurians and destroy their villages.
3. It is estimated that nearly 400,000 villagers have been killed and over 2,000,000 displaced, now living in refugee
camps, many in neighboring Chad.
4. There are 14,000 refugee workers trying to provide food, clothing, shelter and medicine to the displaced.
These workers are from NGO’s like the American Jewish World Service, but U.N. member nations have failed to meet their
financial obligations and supplies are being cut in half.
5. The African Union has provided 7,500 troops to ostensibly protect the two million. These soldiers are mostly
untrained and ill-equipped for their mission. The U.N. is talking about providing a larger international force some
time in October.
So here we have the first genocide of the 21st Century, and we Jews who were victims of genocide in the last century stand and wait and wonder. How could we not identify with the Darfurians, questioning as did our fellow co-religionists in Europe half a century ago, “When will help come? Where is the world?” And so we went to Washington. We went as Jews to answer that question and to respond -- Hineini, “We are here.”
But we also went for another reason. We Jews have always felt that among the most important lessons we can teach our children is never give in and never give up. Each child must feel empowered and obligated to try and help make the world a better place. We went as parents and children. We went as teachers and students. We went as a family to raise our voices collectively and feel the energy of the tens of thousands who joined with us.
Now we are back and our efforts must be to continue on behalf of those who have no voice. What can we do?
1. Send postcards and letters to President Bush and to our Senators that we support aid to the Darfurians and
an effective military force – either U.N. or NATO – to protect the lives of the innocent people.
2. Write to the U.N. addressed to Kofi Annan and ask for an International tribunal to be established at the World
Court in the Hague. Genocide is a crime against humanity that should be prosecuted and Sudanese officials should be
held accountable.
3. Financially support the aid efforts of the American Jewish World Service (45 West 36th Street
New York, NY 10018), the Reform Movement’s Sudan Relief Fund (633 Third Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10017), or
MAZON's "Food for Darfur and Chad" at www.mazon.org.
4. Write Op-Ed pieces and letters to the editor and educate others.
5. Wear a green ribbon or wristband in solidarity.
6. Go on one of the many marches and rallies here and in New York, especially in front of the U.N.
In the end, our efforts will not be in vain. Elie Wiesel tells the wonderful story of the man standing on the street corner calling on the people to repent. Day after day, this goes on. Finally, a boy who has been standing near by approaches. “Why do you do this? Don’t you see that people aren’t listening?” the boy asked. “I don’t do this in the end to change others. I want to be sure they don’t change me!” I believe in the end, you do change others as well and, in our efforts, we assure our own commitment to making our life and the lives of others, better.
The Holocaust was a tragedy, a human tragedy. It not only took the lives of 6 million Jews and 5 million other "non-combatants" – gays, unionists, the handicapped, Polish Catholic priests, Protestant peace workers – but it exposed the underbelly of hate and violence that resides in the human heart. The 20th Century had begun on a note of optimism, hope that through advances in technology and culture, human progress was assured. The Holocaust showed us, however, that technology and culture could be twisted into the tools of destruction and death.
We look back and we find the last 100 years marked from Armenia to Rwanda – it was the Holocaust Century, and, at its core, the Nazis attempt at genocide of world Jewry. Now, we are at the beginning of the 21st century. It is happening in the DARFUR region of Sudan. More than 200,000 Africans have been slaughtered by the paramilitary and the Arab government in Kartoum. MIG 29 planes – Chinese gifts to the oil-rich Sudanese authorities – strafe and bomb the poor villages and then the village is attacked by men on horseback, who machete and shoot men, women and children at will, burn their villages, and rape, pillage and plunder what is left. Reportedly, another 200,000 have died of starvation or have been killed in refugee camps along the Chad border. The UN has declared Darfur the "world's greatest humanitarian crisis." But the dying continues.
We have the power to stop it! We cannot stand idly by again. Never Again! Our congregation has joined a coalition along with the Interfaith Cooperative Ministries and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New Haven. We ask you to send a note, postcard or e-mail to Congress to "STOP THE GENOCIDE IN DARFUR."
On Sunday, April 30, we will join a caravan going to Washington, DC to speak out. This demonstration is being co-sponsored by Ruth Messinger and her organization, the American Jewish World Service, along with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.
I don't know how many of you saw Hotel Rwanda – and wept! I did. Instead of mourning another genocide, help us stop this one! Write and "pray with your feet" on April 30.
For additional information and to send a postcard online, log on to any of the following websites:
www.millionvoicesfordarfur.org
www.ajws.org
www.jewishnewhaven.org