This past week, the community came together to commemorate the Shoah, that horrendous period in Jewish history when 6 million of our people were murdered only because they were Jewish. No one asked if they were Orthodox, Reform, Secular or totally assimilated. It did not matter how they defined themselves or how other Jews defined them; in the eyes of the Nazis, they were all the same.
At last Wednesday's program, we heard from Thea Aschkenase, who survived the Holocaust. We also heard from Jacob Maril one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, whose story of persecution and harrowing escape reinforced our fears that genocide and murder are only too frequently occurring phenomena even today.
Their stories also brought to mind several other periods in the not too distant past of the Jewish people.
Thea's heroic story continued with her attempts to reach Israel, then known as Palestine which was under the mandate of the British. After several attempts that were foiled by the British, she made it to Palestine and began her new life there.
Jacob's walk from Sudan to Ethiopia reminded me of the thousands of Jews who walked from Ethiopia through the deserts in their attempts to reach Eretz Yisrael, their holy land as depicted in the Bible. Just as many of Jacob's compatriots lost their lives through brutal attacks, hunger and thirst, so did many Ethiopian Jews.
The one striking difference between Jacob's journey and the one taken by thousands of Ethiopian Jews was that they had a destination in mind: the destination was the Land of Israel, their ancestral home and center of their hopes and dreams for millenia.
So too did Thea's desire to go to Israel come from her desire to live in a Jewish state where fear of persecution and hatred would be forever a thing of the past. Only when Israel became a state in 1948, did that dream come true.
This week we mark the 64th Anniversay of the founding of the State of Israel. Whatever one's political view of Israel is today, we can only imagine what Jewish life today would be without an Israel-a homeland for the persecuted among us, a safe haven for Holocaust survivors, a new home for a lost segment of our people, our Ethiopian family, the free and open society that welcomed over a million Soviet Jews after the Iron Curtain fell.
This melting pot of Jews is continuing to create and shape our Jewish present and future. Israel cares about its Jewish family outside of Israel just as much as I hope we care about it. It partners with us in improving Jewish education, in offering Birthright Israel trips and in helping to develop Jewish culture in all its many forms.
Let us all be proud of Israel's many accomplishments in its very short existence of only 64 years..and let us all celebrate our relationship with Israel by attending at least one of the many community Israel celebrations over the next few weeks.
Yom Huledet Sameach, Eretz Yisrael! Happy Birthday Israel!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Israel, AIPAC, Iran and Us.
I returned from the AIPAC policy conference with a renewed understanding of how are elected officials view Israel. Whether Democrat or Republican, the support for Israel is overwhelmingly positive. Support for Israel seems to be the common denominator on Capital Hill, even if our elected officials can't agree on anything else.
I am sure that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, feels the love. His exhuberant welcome at the AIPAC event on March 5 was probably a wonderful relief from the pounding and split opinion of him in Israel. But in DC he is a hero!
President Obama gave one of his most positive speeches on Israel and outlined for the assembled delegates how his administration has supported and defended Israel in international forums. He enumerated the items and assured a sometimes skeptical community that his support for Israel is steadfast and unwavering.
Netanyahu and Obama differ on the startegy to prevent Iran from having the capablilty of developing a nuclear weapon, although both agree that all efforts must be made diplomatically first. Where they differ is what the redline is and when does the diplomacy end.
Support for Israel within the Jewish community is strong, but nuanced. With the emergence of JStreet and other more liberal opinion groups, support for Israel can take many different approaches, and those who sometimes say they are pro-Israel, have a very different way of expressing that support.
We will delve into that issue -Who and what constitutes support for Israel- at a community breakfast forum on Sunday morning March 18 at 9:30 AM at Congregation Beth Israel in Worcester. Our guest will be Professor Steven Cohen, arguably the most prominent sociologist of the American Jewish Community. Check this site for the details.
At this time, it is important to provide the context that can help us better understand the issues that the American Jewish community faces in its ever changing relationship with Israel. Hope to see you at the forum on the 18th.
I am sure that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, feels the love. His exhuberant welcome at the AIPAC event on March 5 was probably a wonderful relief from the pounding and split opinion of him in Israel. But in DC he is a hero!
President Obama gave one of his most positive speeches on Israel and outlined for the assembled delegates how his administration has supported and defended Israel in international forums. He enumerated the items and assured a sometimes skeptical community that his support for Israel is steadfast and unwavering.
Netanyahu and Obama differ on the startegy to prevent Iran from having the capablilty of developing a nuclear weapon, although both agree that all efforts must be made diplomatically first. Where they differ is what the redline is and when does the diplomacy end.
Support for Israel within the Jewish community is strong, but nuanced. With the emergence of JStreet and other more liberal opinion groups, support for Israel can take many different approaches, and those who sometimes say they are pro-Israel, have a very different way of expressing that support.
We will delve into that issue -Who and what constitutes support for Israel- at a community breakfast forum on Sunday morning March 18 at 9:30 AM at Congregation Beth Israel in Worcester. Our guest will be Professor Steven Cohen, arguably the most prominent sociologist of the American Jewish Community. Check this site for the details.
At this time, it is important to provide the context that can help us better understand the issues that the American Jewish community faces in its ever changing relationship with Israel. Hope to see you at the forum on the 18th.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Winter in March
OK....did we really believe that we could get through a winter without snow. The possibility existed, and as we crept closer to spring, we became infatuated by the idea.
Well, reality does usually set in, and it did yesterday. But I still find it hard to believe that in good old New England, yesterday's weather was able to spook eveyone and cause as many cancellations as it did. On my trip up Salisbury Street, that beautiful majestic drive to the Worcester JCC and Federation, the road was clear, well plouged and easily manageable. When there is a REAL storm, the street is a hazard, slippery, treacherous and one to avoid.
Maybe it's because there have been so many unused snow days, or maybe the weather forecasters, given the uneventful winter to date, felt they needed to create a major snow panic or maybe it's because we have grown dare I say it....soft!
Whatever the reason, I hope that will be the last snowfall of the season (sorry skiers) and that spring will really be just around the corner.
And don't forget...It's Adar, Be Happy, It's Purim!
Well, reality does usually set in, and it did yesterday. But I still find it hard to believe that in good old New England, yesterday's weather was able to spook eveyone and cause as many cancellations as it did. On my trip up Salisbury Street, that beautiful majestic drive to the Worcester JCC and Federation, the road was clear, well plouged and easily manageable. When there is a REAL storm, the street is a hazard, slippery, treacherous and one to avoid.
Maybe it's because there have been so many unused snow days, or maybe the weather forecasters, given the uneventful winter to date, felt they needed to create a major snow panic or maybe it's because we have grown dare I say it....soft!
Whatever the reason, I hope that will be the last snowfall of the season (sorry skiers) and that spring will really be just around the corner.
And don't forget...It's Adar, Be Happy, It's Purim!
Friday, February 17, 2012
We're in it together
Our Worcester Community Religious School is thrilled to welcome Temple Sinai to our midst.
At a recently held Sinai board meeting, the vote was unanimous to join efforts with Beth Israel and Temple Emanuel in its initiative to create our new religious schol, scheduled to begin classes this fall.
We are indeed fortunate to have bold leadership at this time in our community's history who are willing to not just talk about change, but to see it actually happen.
Our community will be strengthened by this leadership and provide us all with new and innovative solutions to the challenges that we face a a Jewish community.
At a recently held Sinai board meeting, the vote was unanimous to join efforts with Beth Israel and Temple Emanuel in its initiative to create our new religious schol, scheduled to begin classes this fall.
We are indeed fortunate to have bold leadership at this time in our community's history who are willing to not just talk about change, but to see it actually happen.
Our community will be strengthened by this leadership and provide us all with new and innovative solutions to the challenges that we face a a Jewish community.
Friday, January 27, 2012
It's Time to Learn
Last week I along with JFCM president Natalie Rudolph visited the MetroWest Jewish Day School in Framingham.
We met with staff, board members and visited the classrooms. Our community has a presence at the school not only with 5 students from our area, but staff as well. In addition our young emissaries spend a day a week there developing a greater understanding of Israel.
In our community, the Yeshiva continues to provide a sound educational experience to its students and would welcome visitors to see its dynamic program.
Hebrew High continues to provide a great Jewish educational experience for our teens, and our adult education courses, lectures and discussions inspire us to discover more about ourselves and our relationship to any and all things Jewish.
This fall a new community afterschool religious school will open its doors for the first time and welcome students from Beth Israel and Temple Emanuel in a joint educational endeavor.
Yes it's time to learn...take advantage of all the community has to offer...you will not be disappointed.
We met with staff, board members and visited the classrooms. Our community has a presence at the school not only with 5 students from our area, but staff as well. In addition our young emissaries spend a day a week there developing a greater understanding of Israel.
In our community, the Yeshiva continues to provide a sound educational experience to its students and would welcome visitors to see its dynamic program.
Hebrew High continues to provide a great Jewish educational experience for our teens, and our adult education courses, lectures and discussions inspire us to discover more about ourselves and our relationship to any and all things Jewish.
This fall a new community afterschool religious school will open its doors for the first time and welcome students from Beth Israel and Temple Emanuel in a joint educational endeavor.
Yes it's time to learn...take advantage of all the community has to offer...you will not be disappointed.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Another year
It seems that at this time of year everyone is coming up with their top ten lists-movies, songs, events.
Did you ever consider coming up with your own top ten lists? Would they include family milestones-births, marriages, bar/bat mitzvahs? Vacations?Finding a job?A new home?Being promoted?
We all have different criteria for determining what we would consider as our own top ten. Mine would include a big birthday this past year, visiting Russia for the first time and experiencing the regeneration of Jewish life there, spending the summer in Israel, and number one would be becoming a grandfather for the first time.
It would probably be a lot of fun for families to get together before the end of 2011 to develop their own top ten list. What a great way to remember those things we consider to be the most important events of our year and to keep a permanent record of our top ten events.
I hope that all of you will end this year on a very happy note and begin 2012 in the same way!
Did you ever consider coming up with your own top ten lists? Would they include family milestones-births, marriages, bar/bat mitzvahs? Vacations?Finding a job?A new home?Being promoted?
We all have different criteria for determining what we would consider as our own top ten. Mine would include a big birthday this past year, visiting Russia for the first time and experiencing the regeneration of Jewish life there, spending the summer in Israel, and number one would be becoming a grandfather for the first time.
It would probably be a lot of fun for families to get together before the end of 2011 to develop their own top ten list. What a great way to remember those things we consider to be the most important events of our year and to keep a permanent record of our top ten events.
I hope that all of you will end this year on a very happy note and begin 2012 in the same way!
Friday, December 2, 2011
December
The Chanukah-Christmas dilemma is upon us. This year Chanukah actually coincides with Christmas. For a very interesting article on how one family deals with this issue I would direct you to the December issue of our emagazine www.jewishcentralvoice.com
We will also be celebrating Chanukah this year by devoting one night's gift to Beit Singer, a home for at risk children in our Partnership2Gether region of Afula/Gilboa. This project in partnership with Beth Israel, Beth Tikvah, Temple Emanuel, B'nai Shalom Temple Sinai and the Worcester JCC will officially kick off at the family Chanukah Havdallah Happening at B'nai Shalom on Dec 17 from 6-8 PM.
There will be lots happening in our community over the next few weeks in celebration of Chanukah..check out www.jewishcentral.org for all the great info.
We will also be celebrating Chanukah this year by devoting one night's gift to Beit Singer, a home for at risk children in our Partnership2Gether region of Afula/Gilboa. This project in partnership with Beth Israel, Beth Tikvah, Temple Emanuel, B'nai Shalom Temple Sinai and the Worcester JCC will officially kick off at the family Chanukah Havdallah Happening at B'nai Shalom on Dec 17 from 6-8 PM.
There will be lots happening in our community over the next few weeks in celebration of Chanukah..check out www.jewishcentral.org for all the great info.
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