On One Foot: Joshua Hammerman's Blog

Author of "Embracing Auschwitz" and "Mensch•Marks: Life Lessons of a Human Rabbi - Wisdom for Untethered Times." Winner of the Rockower Award, the highest honor in Jewish journalism and 2019 Religion News Association Award for Excellence in Commentary. Musings of a rabbi, journalist, father, husband, poodle-owner, Red Sox fan and self-proclaimed mensch, taken from essays, columns, sermons and thin air. Writes regularly in the New York Jewish Week and Times of Israel.

Friday, April 12, 2002

Shabbat-O-Gram for Iyar 1, 5762

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El, Stamford, Connecticut

The Shabbat-O-Gram is being e-mailed out in plain text, but if you wish to see it in all its html splendor (and with last-minute corrections and updates), you can click to it on the Web, at http://www.tbe.org/sog/020412.htm. If you wish to unsubscribe, contact office@tbe.org.

SHABBAT SHALOM (Hodesh tov, and Hag Ha-Atzmaut Sameach),

Today is the Rosh Hodesh for the month of Iyar, just five days before Israel's 54^th birthday. I write this at a time of great uncertainty, with only a glimmer of light now beginning to be seen amidst the crumbling buildings and destroyed lives in Israel and the West Bank. Perhaps the crushing of resistance in Jenin, coupled with the humiliating surrender of those who had convinced us all that they wished martyrdom most of all, will mark the beginning of a new realization and a new opportunity. With the mask off, it turns out that even some terrorists prefer life to death. Perhaps that will prompt their leaders to begin to second guess the path of destruction that has marked P.A. policy since September 2000, in many ways since 1993, and pan Arab policy toward Israel since 1917. It has not been easy to watch the news this week, with their selective memories and distortions of truth. But again, a glimmer, in the courageous and powerful voices of some of the most respected writers on the planet -- many of the best articles are hyperlinked in the "Required Reading" section below. Meanwhile, acts of horror are perpetrated on Jews in France, Tunisia and elsewhere, and anti-Semitism is all the rage on college campuses in this country. It is not easy to be a Jew.

So I'm going to Washington this Monday, along with well over 100 from Stamford and tens of thousands of others from across America. Just as our late '80s March on Washington for Soviet Jewry proved to be a turning point in the long struggle for their liberation, so, I hope, will this hastily arranged emergency gathering bring Israel closer to the realization of her life-long dream of peace within secure borders. Even if you cannot attend, we all must redouble our efforts to help Israel this week. Call and write the White House and our representatives. We are going to be supporting individual families of terror victims as a congregation and as a community. Stay tuned for more information on how you can support those efforts. Come to our community-wide rally in front of Agudath Sholom at 1:15 on the 21^st. Check out the announcement below for a very moving documentary film that will have its Connecticut premier here on May 2. Most of all, stay informed -- be on top of the news and be proactive in defending Israel among your friends and co-workers.

And finally, pray. Join with us at services -- we need to be together now, more than ever. Who knows -- we might even find things to celebrate there, like our fabulous b'nai mitzvah students, and the incredible explosion of spring outside our sanctuary windows. (When you see a tree blossoming for the first time in a season, say, "Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melech Ha Olam, shelo hisar b'olamo davar, u-vara vo briyot tovot v'ilanot tovim l'hanot ba-hem b'nai adam" Praised are You, Adonai, who has withheld nothing from the world and has created beautiful creatures and lovely trees for mortals to enjoy.") Be prepared to say it when you enter our sanctuary this week and look out the windows -- and be prepared to be awed by the sight.

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman

JOIN US IN WASHINGTON -- NATIONAL RALLY IN SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL

Monday, April 15, 1:00 PM at the U.S. Capitol Building

Stand in solidarity with Israel as it defends itself against terror and violence, and support for the campaign against global terrorism
For more information: www.israelrally.org. For background on the significance of the rally, see http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=6019

Chartered buses will be leaving from Temple Beth El's parking lot in Stamford at 6 a.m. sharp, returning by 10 p.m. Bring your own lunch and dinner. Cost: $36/person. Call the Federation office, 321-1373, for reservations or e-mail at dotty@ujf.org. To guarantee a spot, call by 2:00 PM on Friday. After that, any remaining space on an ordered bus will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

As of Thursday afternoon, we already have three buses going from Stamford!!

The buses will take us to RFK Stadium. We will take a short Metro trip to the capitol Building. Security arrangements are in place.

Call the White House to express support for Israel in her fight against terror. Respectfully thank President Bush for his concern and suggest that Israel's fight is also America's, and that America's support is needed now more than ever:

President George W. Bush

The White House

Washington, DC

202-456-1111

HEALING PRAYERS

With Israelis continuing to suffer so horribly, take a few moments this Shabbat to pray for those who are wounded, whose Hebrew names can be found at the "cholim" Web site, at http://www.torah.org/services/cholim/cholim.php3.

Community Wide Solidarity Rally for Israel

Sunday, April 21, 2002 1:15 p.m.

Congregation Agudath Sholom

301 Strawberry Hill Avenue, Stamford, CT

"Suicide Bombers Cannot Silence Israeli Children"

Documentary and Discussion

Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El

Dr. Mildred Pollner, President, Cinema Verite International, Inc. presents her documentary film. Panel discussion to follow. Below is a review of the evening, from a rabbi, whose congregation Dr. Pollner recently visited:

"Dr. Mildred Pollner, President of Cinema Verite International, Inc. presented her film documentary entitled, "Suicide Bombers Cannot Silence Israeli Children." Dr. Pollner interviewed Israeli children last summer after the Sbarro bombing. She manages to capture all the pathos of what it means to be a child in Israel today. There was not a dry eye in the audience when the film was over. No propaganda. She just lets the Israeli kids speak. It is a great program for Jewish and non-Jewish audiences."

THIS WILL BE THE CONNECTICUT PREMIER OF THIS FILM!! TELL YOUR FRIENDS

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Klezmer Conservatory Band Headlines Cantor’s Concert

The Cantor’s Concert is fast approaching! Make certain to send in your reservations now for the 31^st Annual Concert produced by Hazzan Rabinowitz, in cooperation with the Men’s Club.

The sounds of Klezmer will once again rock Beth El, with our special guest, The Klezmer Conservatory Band. The concert is Sunday afternoon, April 21 at 3 p.m. Please get your reservations in quickly!

Special reserved seating is offered to Angels ($360 for four tickets) and Benefactors ($180 for two tickets). Sponsors tickets are available for $100 (two tickets). General admission is $18 (students and seniors at $15).

Reservations for the concert and scrumptious dinner can be made through the Temple office, 322-6901, or via e-mail at office@tbe.org. Please act quickly so you do not miss this truly special event.

JUST THE FACTS: Services and Such

Friday Night: Candles: 7:12 PM

Shabbat Shalom Service (for families with children in grades K-4): 7:15 PM, in the lobby

Kabbalat Shabbat: 8:00 PM, in the chapel

Shabbat Morning:

P'sukey d'zimra (psalms and meditations) 9:15 and Shacharit: 9:30

MAZAL TOV to Ben Cohen, who becomes Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat morning;

Torah Portion: Tazri-Metzora -- Shabbat Rosh Hodesh: Read the Masorti commentary at http://www.masorti.org/mason/torah/index.asp. JTS commentary is at: http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/parashah/. USCJ Torah Sparks can be found at http://uscj.org/item20_467.html. UAHC Shabbat Table Talk discussions are at http://uahc.org/torah/exodus.shtml. Other divrei Torah via the Torahnet home page: http://uahcweb.org/torahnet/. Test your Parasha I.Q.: http://www.ou.org/jewishiq/parsha/default.htm. CLAL's Torah commentary archive: http://click.topica.com/maaaiRtaaRvQhbV2AtLb/

Children's Services: 10:30, in the chapel (grades 3 - 6) and downstairs in the Kindergarten room for younger grades.

Mincha-Ma'ariv-Havdalah: 6:45 PM. MAZAL TOV to Adam Judd, who becomes Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat afternoon

Morning Minyan: Daily at 7:30, Sundays at 9:00

Spiritual Journey on the Web: Jerusalem of Gold -- and of Love

With Israel's Independence Day coming up next Tuesday night, this week's journey takes us back to a place, and a song, that can help us understand what the current fighting is all about. I discovered the "Jerusalem of Gold" Web site a few weeks ago totally by serendipity (which is exactly where these spiritual journeys are supposed to begin), while looking for something else. I was immediately taken by the story of the song, just as its music has long enraptured me. So saunter over, if you please, to http://www.jerusalemofgold.co.il/. Once you're there, click on "music," and search for a file with the song so that you can hear it, or if you're a reformed Napsterite like me, find it in your own MP3 files.

The story of the song is almost as enchanting as the song itself. Like the fact that the title came to Naomi Shemer from a Talmudic story of Rabbi Akiva, who romantically dreamed of being able to offer his wife a "Jerusalem of Gold," which to him must have been the most precious gift imaginable. He, after all, lived in amidst the rubble of the recently destroyed (and never completely cleaned up) second temple. Akiva's yearning is matched by Shemer's own, as for her, this song was as much a dirge as a tribute, bemoaning the still deserted marketplaces and empty Dead Sea road. Recall that this song was written just BEFORE the Six-Day War. Recall also, that those marketplaces were in fact well populated at the time -- by Arabs, who were essentially invisible to the Jewish dreamers and songwriters of that era. No, we are not totally blameless in the tragedy that has since followed this miraculous June victory.

Check out "Jewish Sources" and you'll see that for the sages, the "Jerusalem of Gold" was an actually article of jewelry, one that Akiva presented to his wife Rachel in gratitude for her steadfast devotion to him during the hard times. Read about it with greater clarity at Rabbi Judith Abrams' excellent Maqom site http://www.maqom.com/jun17_99.html. It turns out that the Akiba - Rachel story is sort of a Jewish version of the "Gift of the Magi. (http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/Gift_of_the_Magi.html"). A perfect way to imagine Jerusalem -- a city that can be attained not simply with great sacrifice, but with an infinite love for one's fellow human, and an infinite desire to give. That is also seen in the famous account of the Two Brothers, another seminal Jerusalem story. See it at http://www.ou.org/yerushalayim/threeweeks/love.html.

Now here's a twist. Is it possible that the Jewish Two Brothers story has Palestinian parallels? Check it out at http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/940505_Pal_Midrash.html. BTW, if you want to hear and see the Palestinian love for Jerusalem expressed artistically, you can find examples at http://www.pallinks.com/palestinians/. With all this love, why is there so much hate? God only knows….

------------------------------------------

Back to Akiva: The love story between Akiva and Rachel is one of the most beautiful in Jewish literature. Read about it at http://www.bjeny.org/images/Judaic_Curricula_/Rabbi_Akiva__From_Shepherd_to_/rabbi_akiva__from_shepherd_to_.htm, which will also help prepare you for the upcoming minor festival of Lag B'Omer.

Then go to http://www.jewishscouting.org/other/lagb_omer.html, and you'll read something else about Lag B'Omer and Rabbi Akiva.

"The Talmud speaks obscurely of a plague occurring on one Omer that killed 24,000 students of the second-century Rabbi Akiva. What kind of a plague was it that apparently only affected Rabbi Akiva's talmudic students and nobody else and came to an end on Lag Ba'Omer (the thirty-third of the forty-nine days)? Most modern scholars assume that the plague referred to was not an illness.

Rabbi Akiva supported a rebellion against the Roman conquerors of Israel led by a famous Jewish military leader by the name of Bar-Kochba. Moreover, Akiva declared Bar-Kochba to be the Messiah who would liberate the Jews from Roman domination. Although Bar-Kochba did achieve some early military successes, eventually the Romans suppressed his revolt with incredible brutality. Among Bar-Kochba's leading soldiers were thousands of Rabbi Akiva's students. Thus, it is likely that Lag Ba'Omer was a day on which the Jews either achieved a short lived victory over the Romans or gained some respite from the slaughter of battle."

There are fascinating parallels to our time. There is no real respite for Israel from the plague of terrorism right now. But the battle has been joined and Israelis I'm hearing from are at least exhaling right now, if not breathing easy. They are trickling back to the cafes and pizzerias. They are preparing to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut next week, if not with the public partying of years past, at least with the knowledge that when the time came to fight for the nation's survival, once again Tzahal came through; if not with the miraculous might of June '67, than with an equally miraculous grace under far greater pressure. Those who claimed Israelis were weak-kneed and complacent, they were the ones with their hands up in Jenin. The battle has been won. The war is far from over.

But soon, soon, I do believe, the marketplaces will be bustling once again, with Jews and Arabs, making commerce, not war. And soon, in our lifetime, we'll all go down to the Dead Sea together, without war, without fear, by way of Jericho.

REQUIRED READING AND ACTION ITEMS

ON ISRAEL AND TERRORISM

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/099/nation/Powell_s_trip_is_called_a_way_to_buy_time_for_Sharon_sweep+.shtml

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=151223&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y&itemNo=151233 Surrender at Jenin, from Friday's Ha'aretz

http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=express&s=gitell041002 The Big Israeli Victory We Haven't Heard About

http://www.honestreporting.com/Critiques/2002/28_biglie.asp Broadcasting the "Big Lie," from honest reporting.com

http://www.topica.com/lists/gordis/read/message.html?mid=802544863&sort=d&start=0 Rabbi Danny Gordis' moving account of this week's events in Israel, "Even the Heavens hate You."

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=150508 -- Why the Haifa bus bombing may have been a result of pressure on Israel to end operations prematurely.

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/45393.htm George Will, "When Nuance Excuses Terror"

http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020415&s=diarist041502 -- Yossi Klein Halevy "Agoraphobia," very powerful analysis

http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020415&s=wieseltier041502

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/110degrf.asp?ZoomFont=YES Powell's Disastrous Trip:
The Secretary of State isn't helping the situation. In fact, he might be dismantling the Bush Doctrine, by William Kristol & Robert Kagan

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/?id=105001909 Arafatuous: Media doubletalk obscures the horror of the Mideast war, BY CLAUDIA ROSETT

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=105001897 They Live to Die: Only war can stop the suicide bombers. BY REUEL MARC GERECHT

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/editorial/14155.htm KOFI ANNAN'S WARPED STANDARD, New York Post

WRITING LETTERS TO ISRAELI SOLDIERS

As Israel prepares to celebrate her 54^th year of independence on the Fifth of Iyar, (April 17), The Jewish Agency for Israel is initiating a worldwide immediate campaign to give the opportunity for Diaspora youth to connect and identify with Israel’s soldiers.

Within the framework of this campaign, children, youth and students from Jewish communities throughout the world are asked to send personal letters to the soldiers who are now defending the State of Israel in a war against Palestinian terrorism. At this time, it is especially important to express unity and mutual responsibility for one another throughout the Jewish world.

How to Send Letters:

These personal letters can be sent in a number of ways:

1) Handwritten or typed letters-

a) These can be sent to Israel to fax 972-2-621-6133 or 972-2-621-6214

b) The letters can also be sent by express mail (delivery within 72 hours) directly to Israel (it is best to send letters in a centralized manner):

Letter for an Israeli Soldier

The Jewish Agency for Israel

POB 92

Jerusalem 91000, Israel

c) The letters can also be forwarded to our office in New York:

Letter for an Israeli Soldier

The Jewish Agency for Israel

633 Third Avenue 21^st Floor

New York, NY 10017

2) Email Letters- We suggest sending the letters as attachments to:

LetterToSoldier@jazo.org.il

These email letters will be printed in the Jewish Agency offices in Jerusalem, placed into individual envelopes and delivered to soldiers.

Letters should be sent as soon as possible. All of the letters will be distributed immediately by the Education Department of the Jewish Agency through IDF representatives. If there are any questions, contact asherit@jazo.org.il

All letter writers should include their name and address to allow the soldiers to answer. All means of self-expression are acceptable and welcomed! In light of the war in Israel and the launching of "Operation Defensive Shield," the Jewish Agency is initiating a special project that will give concrete expression to the concept of world Jewish solidarity with Israel.

VOLUNTEER FOR ISRAEL NOW!

Volunteer Opportunities

2 - 4 week programs for ages 18 to 65

Physicians
MDA (Magen David Adom)
Maintenance and Supply Services
Kibbutz Volunteers
Work with Children with Special Needs
Civil Guard

Qualifications:

ENTHUSIASM AND LOVE OF ISRAEL!

To register, please contact: (212) 339-6063; Fax: (212) 318-6145; E-mail:ipc@jazo.org.il

Yom Ha-Atzmaut links and readings:

http://www.zipple.com/holidays/yomhaatzmaut.shtml

http://www.jajz-ed.org.il/festivls/zkatz/atz/

http://info.jpost.com/2000/Supplements/Haatzmaut/index.html -- an old Jerusalem Post supplement -- don't miss the photo albums from 1948!

http://www.clal.org/update_holy_days.html -- CLAL article by Rabbi Yitz Greenberg

http://www.masorti.org/mason/have/siddur/index.html -- Masorti prayers for the State of Israel and for Yom Ha-Zikaron (Remembrance Day)

You can go to the following sites to buy Israeli products: http://www.export.org.il/BuildaGateIEI/iei/search_tree.php or

http://www.shopinisrael.com/

Quote of the Week:

Another moving dispatch "from the front" by our own Jan Gaines in Netanya:

MATZO AT THE ROADBLOCK

It was the eve of the last day of Pesach and I was doing my civil guard duty. That evening there was yet another terrorist alert- - -Israeli intelligence had determined that there would be an infiltration in the Tulkarm/Kalkilya area, only a few miles from us in Netanya. So early on in my 4 hour evening shift we drove out to the road block at the Green Line, only a mile or so from Tulkarm.

Already there were 4 army reservists checking each car. Backing them up were 2 border police units, with flares, spikes in the road, and large blocks. And there we were, three 16 year old pre-army Russian/Israeli boys, one blond 19 yr. old Israeli girl, one middle aged French immigrant, one 18 yr. old sabra ready for the army in 3 months, and our boss, a professional policeman in charge of the civil guard. Only 2 of us were armed, the rest just giving moral support.

It was a cold, rainy night. And since it was the last night before the end of Pesach, the only food around was matzo, brought along by the border police. This shift goes through the dinner hour from 6:00 p.nm. to 10:00p.m. and hardly anyone has had any dinner. Most of us were starving. We fanned out along the highway, just kind of watching. I felt pretty useless but at least the sight of an American grandmother who was there to support them may have been a boost to all of these kids. And they are just kids, including the reservists just out of the army, no more than 22 or 23 years old.

After about 20 minutes of just staring into the darkness at the open fields and thinking how easy it would be for a terrorist to just walk through them, and into Netanya, in the dark, I felt a tap on my shoulder and a young Yemenite soldier held out a piece of matzo- - -no butter, no jam, no humus- - just plain cardboard matzo. With a big grin he asked if I was hungry. "Sure, " I said, and we munched the matzo together, laughing. Then he went over to the next civil guard with his matzo offering, again with a grin and a laugh.

And as I looked at the scene of these young people defending their country with the threat of daily terroristk activity right on our doorstep, I asked myself what other country would put up with the death and violence forced upon us by a people who can only hate and not compromise, a people who are fed with the illusion that if they kill enough of us we will leave this land and they can have it all. What if France or Spain or Norway or all of those hypocritical European nations were being attacked the way we are? Would they be so sympathetic to these killers if they themselves were being blown up?

How easy it is for the rest of the world to blame the victim. How history repeats itself over and over for this embattled country, on the verge of destruction not once but over and over in our 54 year history:

1948, 1956, 1973, 1991 and in between. Every time we are winning the world screams ‘STOP1" Every time we are under attack the world is silent. Our roadblock breaks up shortly after 9:00 p.m. and we go back to patrol the Netanya city streets, in the police van. I wonder why the roadblock ended and it was only the next morning on the news that I heard a terrorist HAD BEEN STOPPED at another roadblock on his way to blow up more Israelis. This time it wasn’t us. Next time it might be.

In the meantime, my memory will be of that grinning Yemenite soldier offering all of us a taste of matzo, a taste of our BREAD OF AFFLICTION.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

JEWISH MEDITATION

with Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener

Sunday April 28^th- One Session Only 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Jewish Meditation is an old/new tradition. Once practiced by small circles of mystics, the world wide interest in meditation has contributed to a reflourishing and expansion of this practice. Uniquely Jewish forms of attention practice and contemplative devotions have been restored to congregational and personal worship. We will explore and practice some of the basics in this two-part class with the idea of deepening our personal practice of both meditation and Judaism.

The cost is $10.00 RSVP to 322-6901 ext. 306

(The Youth Lounge will be open for childcare from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. For your convenience, 1^stsession students may go to the Youth Lounge when school ends at 10:45 a.m. and remain until 12:00 p.m. 2^ndsession siblings may go to the Youth Lounge at 10:00 a.m. and remain until school starts at 11:00 a.m.)

Scholar-In-Residence

Hazzan, Dr. Joseph Levine

May 3-4, 2002

Kicking-off a special weekend honoring Hazzan and Sandy Rabinowitz

Kabbalat Shabbat 8:00 p.m.

Shabbat morning service 9:30 a.m.

Friday Night Outdoor Services

resume, weather permitting,

May 10, 2002 at 7:00 p.m.

Eighth Annual Elders Day

Shabbat, May 11, 2002

Honoring Norma and Milton Mann

Services begin at 9:30 a.m.

Congregational Family Luncheon to follow

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

USY (9-12) SPRING CONVENTION, April 12-14^th

KADIMA (6-8) REGIONAL PROGRAM, April 21^ST

EIGHTH GRADE OVERNIGHT PROGRAM, April 13^th,AT USY SPRING CONVENTION

Trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage

Date: April 28, 2002- Sunday

Time: Bus departs TBE at 10:30, return late afternoon.

Cost: $36- includes transportation, museum fees, and guided tour of the museum, plus kosher lunch at the Museum.

Send checks to TBE, write on check "seniors trip". Anyone wanting more information can call me at home. Phone 203-329-9516.

All checks must be in by April 4th, as the Museum requires payment in full by April 7, 2002. There are no refunds and the date will be not be held after April 7th, 2002 if they don't have the full payment.

REMINDER!!!

Annual Cantor's Concert, featuring the Klezmer Conservatory band of Boston:

April 21 @ 3 PM

Temple Beth El To Honor Hazzan Rabinowitz

The Committee to Honor Hazzan & Sandy is looking for former Junior Choir singers to participate in the upcoming festivities! If your son or daughter ever participated in the Beth El Junior Choir, please call Roz Perlson (323-7328), Kathy Paseltiner (356-9735) or Carol Kalter (968-1075) to give his/her name, address and phone number. Thank you.

May 4 - Dinner Dance at Temple Beth El
May 19 - Community Event to Honor Sidney and Sandy Rabinowitz

Send us any memories, history, personal observations, programs, photos or other memorabilia. Those wishing to honor the Hazzan with a gift to the temple can do so with an entry in a journal being prepared for the May 4 event. Watch your mail for details or contact Roberta Aronovitch (for information) at 203-322-6901 ext 304 or by e-mail at execdir@tbe.org

Junior Choir Reunion! Friday, June 14, 2002

The Committee to Honor Hazzan & Sandy is looking for former Junior Choir singers to participate in the upcoming festivities! If your son or daughter ever participated in the Beth El Junior Choir, please call Roz Perlson (323-7328), Kathy Paseltiner (356-9735) or Carol Kalter (968-1075) to give his/her name, address and phone number.

SHA’AR

Outreach to Young Jewish Singles

So, you’ve come to the Greater Stamford area and you are interested in the who’s who and the what’s what in the Jewish world. Well, you’ve come to the right place to find out. Through a grant provided by Michael Steinhardt, project SHA’AR was developed to provide information about and/or formulate welcoming Jewish educational, cultural and social programs that are geared to the interests of young Jewish singles. SHA’AR is your link to existing Jewish organizations in the Greater Stamford community.

SHA’AR will provide information about the existing Synagogues, so that you can find the one that fulfills your religious needs. A number of programming options will be available to fulfill your Jewish religious and educational desires. Additionally, SHA’AR can connect you to the popular Young Jewish Professionals singles group to accommodate your social interests.

Our program is unique, due to the fact that SHA’AR involves you in the development process of the project and that its coordinator is 26, single and can relate to and understand the needs of the young Jewish single.

For more information please contact Dan Rozett, Coordinator of SHA’AR, United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien.

203.321.1373 ext. 115 or dan@ujf.org

www.ujf.org

Beth El Cares

BETH EL CARES and AMERICARES HOME FRONT NEED YOU!

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2001 (FLEXIBLE HOURS)

Please volunteer to help us refurbish and repair the home of an elderly Stamford resident. No experience needed, though we are also looking for people with painting and home repair experience to assist the group.

TO SIGN UP OR TO GET MORE INFORMATION CALL:

Art and Sue Greenwald at (203) 329-1662 or e-mail adg521@optonline.net

JOIN THE MAY MITZVAH TEAM!

SHABBAT SHALOM

The Shabbat-O-Gram goes out weekly to hundreds of Beth El congregants and others. Feel free to forward it to your friends, and if you know of anyone who might wish to be included, please have them sign up at www.tbe.org. You can unsubscribe by contacting our office at office@tbe.org.

For more information on my synagogue, check out Beth El's Web site at www.tbe.org. To check out some previous spiritual cyber-journeys I have taken, see my book's site at www.thelordismyshepherd.com.

Wednesday, April 3, 2002

"Two Jews, One Opinion" (Stamford Advocte)

"Two Jews, One Opinion"

(The Stamford Advocate 04/03/2002)

A story is told of a Jewish congregation where half the people stood up for that seminal prayer known as the Shema, while the other half sat. The two sides bickered endlessly about what was the proper practice, until the rabbi finally appointed a committee to investigate the matter. The committee went to a nearby nursing home to interview a 98-year-old resident, the oldest surviving member of the congregation. Each side made its claim to liturgical correctness, but in each case the old man said "No, that's not the original tradition." Then the rabbi lost patience and exclaimed, "I don't care what the original tradition was. Do you know what goes on in services every week? The people who are standing yell at the people who are sitting and the people who are sitting yell at the people who are standing."

"That was the tradition," the old man said.

In the wake of the Passover massacre and other acts of terrorism against Israeli civilians, it is time for Jews around the world to express an unprecedented degree of unity. Jews have long taken pride in their cultural proclivity for argumentation. Since Talmudic times, it seems, the standard quip has been, "Two Jews, three opinions." But the current crisis requires a falling-into-line that will seem to many dangerous and unnatural.

Awkwardly, with not a little trepidation but with an even greater fear of the alternative, I raise the new banner: Two Jews, One Opinion.

I say this as long-time dove and critic of Ariel Sharon. I cheered the Handshake on the South Lawn and bristled at the folly that was the War in Lebanon. I've labored effortlessly for equality for Israeli Arabs and I cried when Yasser Arafat paid a condolence call to Leah Rabin. But now I see the need to set aside parochial concerns and the dreams of yesteryear. I am ready to throw unquestioning support to Israel's unity government and await my marching orders.

I am not proposing that all Jews become mindless automata. Fat chance of that happening anyway. Jews are innately too wary of absolutism to place unlimited trust in human beings. Even the ultra-Orthodox do not follow their sages as blindly as one might think. Just before Passover, a story was circulating in Israel among religious Israelis that in the ultra-Orthodox enclave of B'nai Brak, at the home of a revered rabbi, a toilet seat broke. When the rabbi's wife was seen at the local hardware store purchasing a new seat, large numbers of his disciples assumed that their mentor was promoting a new, stricter way of removing all traces of leaven from the home. Instantly, toilet seat sales boomed in B'nai Brak.

Whether this actually happened is secondary to the idea that religious Israelis were joking about it. For while traditional Judaism does advocate unyielding obedience to the Torah, it never promotes blind submission to the will of another human being. For Jews, the mind is an impossible thing to waste.

In fact, Judaism and Jews are at a severe disadvantage in this war. A faith that espouses reason and reveres the sanctity of life must confront a cult of suicide that glorifies martyrdom. A tradition that encourages conscientious objectors to flee the battlefield must deal with those who are bringing the

battlefield to every cafe in Tel Aviv and pizzeria in Jerusalem. A people that has spent decades ripping apart its own leaders, most especially the one

currently occupying the Prime Minister's office, must face a nation that has blindly followed its larger-than-life patriarch into this most foolish cataclysm.

I am not a tribal Jew. I am a Jew with a universal vision of peace, with a desire to share with the world the highest values of my faith. I long to have my passport stamped in a neighborly Palestinian state and to sip Turkish coffee with Arab friends in Jericho and Ramallah. But right now, I recognize that Judaism's message will be rendered irrelevant if I am incapable of first responding to the blood of my brother screaming from the earth. For this is what Jewish tradition would call an Obligatory War, a war of survival, the one exception to the rule that encourages conscientious objectors. For the Jew right now, there is no alternative but to become completely engaged on behalf of Israel.

In the book of Numbers, two and a half of the twelve tribes were given the right to settle outside the land of Israel, under the condition that they extend complete support to the fledging nation. I am from among that privileged group, living in prosperity far from the carnage. But last week as my family in Connecticut comfortably prepared to reenact the departure from Egypt, innocent Jewish blood was being spattered all over the collapsing door posts of a Netanya hotel. God may have passed over that atrocity, but I will not. Neither will I allow the Jewish people again to become the world's paschal lamb. I am now a foot soldier in this needless war that Arafat has wrought, and I will voluntarily exercise my God-given right to shut up. There is a time to argue and debate and a time to simply do what needs to be done.

And so, Mr. Sharon, tell me what I must do.

Joshua Hammerman is rabbi of Temple Beth El of Stamford, CT, a columnist for the New York Jewish Week and author of "thelordismyshepherd.com: Seeking God in Cyberspace."

Jews Must Skip Debate During War (Advocate)

Friday, March 22, 2002

Shabbat and Pesach-O-Gram for March 22-24-- Nisan 10, 5762

Rabbi Joshua Hammerman, Temple Beth El, Stamford, Connecticut

Shabbat Shalom and Hag Kasher V'Sameach

The Shabbat-O-Gram is being e-mailed out in plain text, but if you wish to see it in all its html splendor, you can click to it on the Web, at http://www.tbe.org/sog/020322.htm. If you wish to unsubscribe, contact office@tbe.org.

This O'Gram covers the next two weeks -- with plenty of material to get you through the holiday. Enjoy!

ISRAEL ANNOUNCEMENTS

UPDATE ON JERUSALEM SUICIDE BOMBING

For the latest: http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/pages/Flash1.html

Thursday, March 21, 2002

(GPO 2) UPDATE: ISRAEL TV CHANNEL 2 REPORTING TWO DEAD AND AT LEAST 41 WOUNDED (7 SERIOUSLY) IN THIS AFTERNOON’S SUICIDE-BOMBING IN JLEM (KING GEORGE ST, BETWEEN CORNERS OF HAHISTADRUT & AGRIPPAS). ISRAEL TV CHANNEL 2 ALSO REPORTS THAT FATAH "AL AQSA MARTYR BRIGADES" HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATTACK. (COMM BY GPO)

IMRA: Israel Radio reported that PA security chief Jibril Rajoub and other Palestinian officials reiterated that the PA would not take action to control Arafat’s Fatah "AL Aqsa Martyr Brigades" or any other illegal militias.

--------------------------------------------

IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Website: www.imra.org.il

HEALING PRAYERS

UJC NEW YORK RALLY SUNDAY

The United Jewish Communities, in partnership with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, is organizing a Gathering on Sunday, March 24 to demonstrate that We Stand With Israel. The program, scheduled to last from noon to 2 PM, will be headlined by Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, and there will be a live feed from Israel. Prime Minister Sharon, Foreign Minister Peres and a number of other Israelis will be part of the broadcast, which will be delivered by satellite feed to scores of communities across North America.

You can join them from the comfort of your own home, via webcast at www.ujc.org . It is recommended that you log on half an hour ahead of time to make sure that you can access the program.

JUST THE FACTS: Services and Such… (scroll down to the bottom for other Beth El announcements)

Friday Night: Candles: 5:50 PM

Kabbalat Shabbat: 8:00 PM, in the chapel

SPECIAL ADDITIONAL SERVICE: TALKING AT THE BORDERS: Interfaith Families and Extended Families Walking the Line: 7:30 P.M. Join Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener for an engaging service and a thought provoking discussion on the challenges and joys encountered by interfaith families and their extended families

MEDITATIVE MINCHA Shabbat afternoon, March 23^rd at 4:00p.m. All those in a meditative mood are invited to join Rabbi Cohen-Kiener. Featuring niggunim, chant and contemplation to enjoy the day of rest. RSVP to 322-6901, extension 306.

Shabbat Morning:

P'sukey d'zimra (psalms and meditations) 9:15 and Shacharit: 9:30

MAZAL TOV to Daniel Madwed, who becomes Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat morning;

MAZAL TOV to Richard and Tara Shapiro, on the naming of their daughter Ashley Lauren

Torah Portion: Tzav -- Shabbat Ha-Gadol: A look at the sacrificial system, and a special haftorah for the Shabbat before Pesach. Read the Masorti commentary at http://www.masorti.org/mason/torah/index.asp. JTS commentary is at: http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/parashah/. USCJ Torah Sparks can be found at http://uscj.org/item20_467.html. UAHC Shabbat Table Talk discussions are at http://uahc.org/torah/exodus.shtml. Other divrei Torah via the Torahnet home page: http://uahcweb.org/torahnet/. Test your Parasha I.Q.: http://www.ou.org/jewishiq/parsha/default.htm. CLAL's Torah commentary archive: http://click.topica.com/maaaiRtaaRvQhbV2AtLb/

CONTEMPLATIVE LEARNER’S MINYAN: 10:00 A.M., led by Rabbi Cohen-Kiener:

Children's Services: 10:30, in the chapel (grades 3 - 6) and downstairs in the Kindergarten room for younger grades. This week, the chapel service will be "hosted" by grade 4.

Morning Minyan: Daily at 7:30, Sundays at 9:00 (N.B. THERE IS NO EARLY MORNING MINYAN ON THE FIRST TWO AND LAST TWO DAYS OF PASSOVER).

PASSOVER SERVICE SCHEDULE

N.B. CHILDREN'S SERVICES WILL BE HELD ON THE FIRST TWO AND LAST TWO DAYS OF PASSOVER

ALL HAMETZ SALE FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON (I will be selling our hametz to Alberto Eyzaguirre early on Wednesday morning. Should he choose to, Alberto will sell it back to us following Passover. So -- BE ESPECIALLY NICE TO HIM THIS WEEK!)

Wed. March 27: FAST OF THE FIRST BORN… Siyum for the first born (quick study session following the tradition that will enable first born to end their fast on that morning) -- to be held immediately following morning minyan.

Wed.: Candles at 5:56 PM

Thurs. March 28 and Friday March 29: Morning service at 9:30 AM (9:15 for Psukey d'Zimra). Please note that Stamford Schools are not in session on the second day of Passover (Something about it being a very Good Friday, I hear). Take this opportunity to join with us here -- and bring the extended family!

Friday, March 29: Candles at 5:58. Shabbat Hol Ha-Moed service: 8:00 PM

Saturday, March 30: Psukey d'Zimra at 9:15 AM, Shacharit at 9:30. Family Service. We read Song of Songs on the Intermediate Shabbat of Passover. The lunch will be co-sponsored by the Braun's and Greenmans in honor of the upcoming Bat Mitzvahs of Jennifer Greenman and Joelle Braun.

MAZAL TOV to Robin and Greg Druckman on the naming of their daughter Shayna Druckman at this service, and a special welcome back to Shayna's grandparents, Ron and Belle Agronin.

Spiritual Journey on the Web: Call Me Ashke-sephard

This week's journey begins with my own article in the week's Jewish Week, at http://www.thejewishweek.com/top/editletcontent.php3?artid=1862, which in turn was based on a sermon I gave here a couple of weeks ago. I make the claim to being a Jewish mutt, and that all the old lines of division between Jews are dissolving. Unfortunately, some are not going down without a fight, and, as you can see from the below material on a new Conversion Crisis, even in wartime, "Who is a Jew" is rearing its ugly head once again in Israel. What I thought I'd do was to transform that article into a web journey, complete with hyperlinks and annotation, to encourage you to explore more fully the shifting sands of Jewish identity. For what is Passover but an annual Jewish Identity Booster Shot? Let's prepare to once again sit around the Seder table with family and friends by gaining a better understanding of what it means to be a Jew in this crazy, complex world.

My Boston-bred sister Lisa, who is Orthodox and now living in Israel, recently married a Jew by choice originally from Texas, whom she met on their settlement on the West Bank (see where at http://www.geocities.com/m_yericho/). In the scheme of the Jewish world today, that match comes as no shock.

But now she tells me that she has decided to become Sephardi. (for lots of this subject, see the Sephardi Connection at http://www.sephardiconnect.com/, and also check out the American Sephardi Federation at http://www.amsephfed.org/)

Please understand, no one in this world looks less Sephardi than my red-haired, freckle-faced, fair-skinned, dimple-cheeked sister. If I were in the Israeli rabbinate, I would surely investigate this — except that they’re the ones who authorized it.

It seems that when her husband, Asher, converted, an Ashkenazi and a Sephardi rabbi were both present. Asher asked them which tradition he should adopt, Ashkenazi (European-based, see http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/Ashkenazim.html) or Sephardi (primarily Middle Eastern, Spanish based) and was told to take neither but to wait for the time when a new indigenous Israeli tradition is established. So for the time being, he took on Sephardi ways, and when my sister married him she went along for the ride. (What are the differences between the two? Go to http://www.landfield.com/faqs/judaism/FAQ/07-Jews-As-Nation/section-3.html, also http://www.escape.com/~elyaqim/ashk/)

And a nice ride it is, thank you very much. For now, with Pesach approaching, Lisa will be able to get away with things that would make most American Jews turn karpas-green with envy. She gets to eat the rice and legumes ("kitniyot") that Sephardi Jews have always eaten, foods that their more stringent Ashkenazi cousins have avoided. Cleanup is also not as difficult as in an Ashkenazi kitchen. (For Sephardi customs on Pesach, and lots more, go to http://www.midrash.org/)

All of this, and the only drawback is having to do "hagba" (lifting the Torah) with those heavy, encased Torah scrolls. So where do I sign up to become Sephardi?

A few years ago, the Masorti (Conservative) movement in Israel came out with a rabbinic ruling indicating that it was OK for Ashkenazi Israelis to adapt a Sephardi posture with regard to kitniyot on Pesach (see the ruling at http://www.tifereth-israel.org/legumes.html). The feeling was it would make sense to relax the practice in order to allow all Jews in Israel to "break bread" together on the holiday, so to speak.

But Israel is Israel, with a majority Sephardi population, and America is America, where the European legacy prevails. So when I offered my congregants the Masorti ruling as a valid Passover option, and when I told them that, as a vegetarian, I would be adopting it myself, people went ballistic. It was as if I had just sanctioned the eating of pork, except that a number of certified pepperoni pizza eaters were among those who scoffed at the impudence of my OK to eat kitniyot.

Despite the resistance of these inveterate Ashkenazim, it’s clear the distinctions are dissolving, almost as fast as you can say "Sadducee." (Read about Josephus' views on this 1^st century sect at http://www.jewishgates.org/history/eyewitness/josects.stm, or, in simplified version at http://religion.rutgers.edu/iho/pharisee.html) For the pattern of the past several centuries of Jewish life has been to create acute cultural divisions, pump lots of anger into these feuds, and then to see them run out of gas within a few generations. We Jews divide like amoebas, but our internal conflicts tend to dissipate quickly. The Litvaks (http://litvakai.mch.mii.lt/religious_tradition/) and the Galicianers (http://www.geocities.com/turkel.geo/Galicia.htm), bitter enemies in the Old Country, now lie down like the lion and the lamb (if they even know what they are); the Zionist Revisionists (http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/j/jabotins.asp, http://www.odessit.com/namegal/english/jabotins.htm) and Laborites now share a unity government (for the whole shebang on Zionist history, go to http://www.hum.huji.ac.il/dinur/Internetresources/zionism.htm#leaders and go to town!); and today’s chasidim act more like their former arch enemies, the Mitnagdim (http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/363_Transp/Orthodoxy/Misnagdim.html), than did the original Mitnagdim two centuries ago, who defined themselves by the fact that they hated chasidim.

As for the religious denominations, growing numbers of Jews shun the old labels, choosing to identify themselves as "post-denominational," "Reformstrucative" or "Renewal-Orthoprax." Rarely do the labels matter anymore because the sands of Jewish identity are shifting too quickly. (All the movements of Judaism are described on a basic level at http://www.jewfaq.org/movement.htm)

That’s a good thing, for just as Israel needs to maintain its unity government, the rest of the Jewish world is also aching for unity.

A few weeks ago, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a landmark decision granting unprecedented recognition to non-Orthodox conversions that occur in Israel. While the Orthodox authorities haven’t been happy, the response on all sides has been amazingly muted. We’ve all come to realize that it’s ludicrous for Jews to haggle over questions of "Who is a Jew" when terrorists are answering that question loud and clear. We all seem to be intuiting that this is not the time to emphasize our differences — those that haven’t already dissolved. (Unfortunately, see below for an update on this issue)

So call me Sephardi this year when Pesach rolls around.

Call me Sephardi when I say the Kaddish ("YIT-gadal") (What is the Mourner's Kaddish? See http://www.tifereth-israel.org/dvarlav.html) but Ashkenazi when I say "Good Shabbos." I like to combine a Sephardi diet with an Ashkenazi soul; my blood churns Ladino hot (http://www.hareshima.com/Study/Ladino.asp, http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0798/ladino1.asp) and my humor spouts Yiddish (http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/) irony. I daven Orthodox (http://www.godaven.com/), hum chasidic (http://www.bethelsudbury.org/prayer/nigdesc.htm), philosophize Conservative (http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/rl/jcu-belief.html, http://www.crosscurrents.org/heschel.htm), innovate Reconstructionist (http://www.rrc.edu/reconstructionism/), meditate kabbalist (http://www.elatchayyim.org/) and do social action Reform (http://www.rac.org/). I’m Likud (http://www.likud.org.il/) on terrorism and Labor (http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Politics/labor.html) on human rights. I’m Meretz (http://www.meretz.org.il/) meets Yesha (http://www.moetzetyesha.co.il/); and they do meet — in me. I’d have been a Zealot on Masada (http://www.jewishmag.com/26mag/masada/masada.htm) yet a Pharisee in Yavneh (http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/biography/ben_zakkai.html), a Saul supporter on Gilboa (http://www.imakenews.com/gems/e_article000002700.cfm) and a Davidite in Jerusalem. I’ve got the Gaon of Vilna (http://members.aol.com/LazerA/VilnaGaon.htm) in my mind and the Baal Shem Tov (http://members.aol.com/LazerA/baalshemtov.html) in my heart. Dig deep enough and you may even find that I’ve got a little Karaite in me, too (http://www.karaite-korner.org/)

In short, I’m a Jewish mutt.

All of Jewish history culminates in each of us. We all are the synthesis of Torah and time. Seemingly irreconcilable opposites are reconciled in the intractable, complex matrix of the individual Jewish soul.

So good Shabbos to you, a zisen Pesach … and please pass the legumes.

Quote of the Week: (this week, a full editorial)

NO EQUIVALENCE
Editorial, Wall Street Journal, March 14, 2002

General Anthony Zinni is returning to the Middle East today in search of a cease-fire. On Tuesday the U.S. sponsored a United Nations Security Council resolution supporting a Palestinian state. And State Department spokesman Richard Boucher has called for Israel to "exercise the utmost restraint and discipline to avoid further harm to civilians"--as if the difference between Palestinian suicide bombers and Israel's measured response isn't abundantly clear. Even President Bush said yesterday that Israel's recent military actions are "not helpful."

The reason for the Administration's sudden re-engagement on the issue is no secret. Vice President Dick Cheney is in the region trying to build support for regime change in Iraq, and the deteriorating Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a sore spot in our relations with the Arab world. The trouble is, this activity comes just as Israel has started to win some important victories in its war on terror. And worse, it threatens to undermine the moral case for our own war--a case President Bush couldn't have put any better than he did Monday, declaring: "There can be no peace in a world where differences and grievances become an excuse to target the innocent for murder."

A couple of years ago, perhaps, it was still possible to argue that Palestinian violence was the work of a few Islamic extremists, and that punishing Yasser Arafat only made it harder for him to rein them in. But in the summer of 2000 Israel offered Mr. Arafat a state, and Mr. Arafat launched a war. The lion's share of recent attacks have been carried out not by Hamas or Islamic Jihad, but by the military wing of Mr. Arafat's own Fatah movement. And after Saturday night's deadly suicide bombing at the Moment cafe in Jerusalem, Mr. Arafat's state radio praised the bomber as a "heroic martyr."

In short, the targeting of innocents is Mr. Arafat's explicit strategy to address the "grievance" of Israeli occupation. Israel, on the other hand, has pursued a policy of carefully targeting militants, and has been risking its soldiers over the past week to arrest suspects and confiscate weapons in Palestinian towns and refugee camps. Some non-combatants have been killed, but there is no moral equivalence here--certainly not the kind implied by U.S. proposals for monitors to keep peace between the two sides, or by Colin Powell's declaration last week that "if you declare war on the Palestinians and think you can solve the problem by seeing how many Palestinians can be killed, I don't know if that leads us anywhere." The message all this sends Mr. Arafat is unmistakable: Ratchet up suicidal bombings of Israeli civilians, induce a military response, and the U.S. will heavily pressure Israel for concessions.

The Saudi peace "plan," meanwhile, seems to be going nowhere fast. [I]f Crown Prince Abdullah were serious, he might have presented it to Ariel Sharon as Israel's elected leader, not to a New York Times columnist. He might also have presented it two years ago, when it could have made a difference, instead of urging Mr. Arafat to reject the hugely concessionary offer made by former Israeli Prime Minister Barak at Camp David. Now there's even talk among the Arab League of removing any reference to "normalization" at all. Without that, it amounts to nothing but a demand for unconditional surrender.

We understand the Bush Administration's concerns as it makes the case in foreign capitals for an expansion of the war on terror. But the White House should understand that both strategic and moral consistency means sometimes telling people what they don't want to hear. To wit: The U.S. has already spent more than a decade sponsoring talks for Israel to return to something like the 1967 borders, and the Palestinian grievance over Israeli occupation must be addressed by a return to the negotiating table, not violence aimed explicitly at innocent civilians.

The definition of such violence is terrorism. It is the very kind of anti-civilian terror as an instrument of politics that President Bush so eloquently condemned on Monday. Until such time as the Arab world is ready to seek solutions by civilized means, the U.S. has no moral alternative to standing firmly behind Prime Minister Sharon's war against such terror.

REQUIRED READING AND ACTION ITEMS

ON ISRAEL AND TERRORISM

At the suggestion of our own Jami Shapiro, who is studying in Israel this year, look at the article on how Israelis are coping at the new web site Israel 21c (an excellent site) , home page : http://www.israel21c.org:7001/ISRAEL21c/bin/en.jsp?enPage=HomePage. The article itself is at http://www.israel21c.org:7001/ISRAEL21c/bin/en.jsp?enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enDispWho=Articles%5El103&enZone=democracy&enVersion=0&. And one more thing: HAPPY PESACH JAMI!

This week's Jerusalem Report also has an article on how Israelis cope (not online) and interesting columns by former Beth El Scholar in residence Hirsh Goodman, at http://www.jrep.com/Columnists/Article-1.html, and editor David Horovitz, at http://www.jrep.com/Columnists/Article-0.html

The events of September 11^th and continuing strife in the Middle East have brought Islamic culture and beliefs into the American consciousness, and, for many Jews, have deepened questions about the relationships between Judaism and Islam in historical and contemporary times. For those who are confronting these issues, Dr. Raymond Scheindlin, a noted scholar of Jewish and Arabic culture and literature, offers a guided reading list, which is found below. He lead an on-line discussion of these issues the week of April 15^th. To learn more, click on http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/reading/islam

http://www.senate.gov/~inhofe/fl030402.html -- for a stirring defense on Israel given on the Senate floor.

http://www.themedialine.org/news/index.asp

http://www.walk4israel.com/ Writing to Israeli terror victims

THE CONVERSION CRISIS (SEE BELOW FOR BACKGROUND)

http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.03.22/oped1.html -- Rabbi David Hartman, "Indifference, not Conversion, Is the Real Crisis"

Passover:

USCJ Passover Guide and Seder Supplement, by Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner: http://www.uscj.org/perekyomi/passover_guide.htm

From CLAL:

Steve Greenberg: Passover -- http://click.topica.com/maaaiRtaaRvPXbV2AtLb/

David Kraemer: Pesach - To Ask Questions -- http://click.topica.com/maaaiRtaaRvPYbV2AtLb/

Dianne Kohler Esses: To Tell the Exodus Story http://click.topica.com/maaaiRtaaRvPZbV2AtLb/

An Interactive Passover Holiday Card -- http://click.topica.com/maaaiRtaaRvP0bV2AtLb/

New Israel Fund’s new 20 page Haggadah Supplement is now available for downloading at http://www.newisraelfund.org/content.cfm?id=1597&currbody=1.

The Forward: Finding Personal Meaning in Passover Rituals: http://www.forward.com/issues/2002/02.03.22/fast7.html

http://www.rabassembly.org/info/pesahguide/ Rabbinical Assembly guide to Passover practice

http://www.thejewishweek.com/bottom/special.php3 Jewish Week Passover supplement

Kashrut.Com - The Premier Kosher Information Source on the Internet http://www.kashrut.com/Passover/;

http://www.ou.org/chagim/pesach/default.htm;

http://www.kosherquest.org/html/passover.htm

http://www.kosher.com/?ad=11 -- Order Passover food online

http://all-worldtravel.links2go.com/more/www.kosher.co.il/ An extensive array of Kosher links

www.iabolish.com/passover/ a valuable new web site that provides materials and activities about modern day slavery; are appropriate for Passover.

CRISIS IN ARGENTINA:

Approximately 220,000 Jews live in Argentina, more than 50,000 below the poverty line -- and the number is rapidly accelerating. The current financial crisis has had a devastating impact on all institutions of Jewish life there. Included in this are many Masorti institutions. Contributions to the Argentina Masorti Social Assistance Fund can be made payable to the "World Council of Synagogues, Inc." and sent to World Council of Synagogues, 155 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010. All contributions are tax deductible.

EMERGENCY PRE-PASSOVER FOOD DRIVE FOR PERSON TO PERSON

This past year Temple Beth El’s High Holy Day Food Drive exceeded all previous years. Because of present economic conditions more families are coming to the Person-To-Person Food Pantry for help. This is particularly true at the end of each month.

In 2001 Person-To-Person’s pantry provided over 112,000 meals to over 906 different families. In January 2002, 517 families requested food supplies totaling 7,000 meals. Other emergency providers are also reporting increased demand and reduced supply.

During this month, in which we celebrate Passover, we remember the commandment in the Haggadah, "Let all who are hungry come and eat." Person-To-Person is not looking for matzos or gefilte fish, but is in need of cereal, pasta, rice, soups and canned fruits and vegetables.

Please do your part by bringing one or two bags of food to the Temple by Friday, March 22^nd. If you prefer, take the food bags directly to the Person-To-Person Food Pantry behind St. Luke’s Church at 1864 Post Road in Darien, CT. Empty bags are available in our lobby.

Your holiday is always sweeter if it’s shared!

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO BACK INTO THE MIKVA………. (At the worst possible time, the conversion crisis hits again)

As expected, the Orthodox establishment is trying to circumvent a recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling that gave unprecedented recognition to non-Orthodox conversions performed in Israel. Below is the text of a letter I hope that you will send (cut and paste or change as you see fit) by e-mail, or by fax, to your local Israeli consulate and to the Israeli embassy. Please send a copy to the Masorti office by e-mail masorti@masorti.org or by Fax: 972-2-6246869) and they will pass it on to the relevant authorities in Israel. You may also wish to contact Rabbi Danny Allen at the Foundation for Masorti Judaism in Israel for more ways to help. For a fuller explanation of the matter, scroll down and read the letter sent by our Conservative leadership to Prime Minister Sharon.

Dear Prime Minister Sharon,

As a Zionist, and as a Conservative Jew, I turn to you out of my deep concern for Jewish unity and out of a desire to avoid a schism between Israel and Diaspora Jewry. I am concerned that a law (The Law of Conversion) intended to circumvent the recent ruling of Israel's Supreme Court mandating the recognition of Masorti/Conservative and Reform conversions would be contrary to democratic values and show contempt for the Israeli judicial system.
During these troubled times we stand together with Israel. The passage of this legislation, at this time, would be a disastrous blow to the unity of the Jewish people.

Respectfully,

Send to:
New York, U.N. Consulate1-212-499 5510 israel.un@israelfm.org
Washington, Embassy of Israel1-202-364 5500, ask@israelemb.org

The original letter…

To:
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Office of the Prime Minister
HaKirya
Jerusalem

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Out of a deep feeling of concern regarding the unity of the Jewish people, and a desire to prevent an erosion in the relationship between the State of Israel and the Jews of the Diaspora, we are turning to you concerning the matter of "The Law on Conversion." The Israeli Supreme Court decision on conversion, of February 20, 2002, was welcomed by an overwhelming majority of world Jewry. The decision of the court was an historic milestone toward official recognition, by the State of Israel, of the religious movements that make up the majority of Diaspora Jewry.

For this reason, we would presume that the acceptance of this court decision and its immediate and full implementation would not only be the logical step of a democratic government, bound to uphold the law, but it would also serve as a concrete contribution toward the unity of our People and the strengthening of Israel-Diaspora relations.

Sadly, it turns out that there are those who refuse to accept this Supreme Court verdict and who seek to overturn it. Once they failed to achieve this aim by way of the elimination of the "nationality" clause from the national identity card -Teudat Zehut - (causing damage to the security of the State) they sought to enact legislation that would circumvent the decision of the Supreme Court. An ultimatum has been issued to the government to pass legislation that would broaden the powers of the Chief Rabbinate and extend to it a monopoly over conversion. We urge you to reject this demand. Any law seeking to overturn the Supreme Court decision, be it "The Law on Conversion," or an attempt to impose that which was never agreed upon by the Ne'eman Commission, or any other version that would seek to prevent the implementation of the Supreme Court decision, could lead, heaven forbid, to a deep schism and an open confrontation, between Diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel, and to the erosion of freedom of religion and conscience of Israeli citizens and residents.

Sadly, today the State of Israel is in one of its most difficult hours. Those of us who live and work in the Diaspora, stand with you in the brave fight against terror and violence. Especially in these difficult times we all must strive for Jewish solidarity and unity.

We call upon you not to surrender to the demands of Shas, and not to lend a hand to the prospective legislation that would be so harmful to this unity. A vote for "The Conversion Bill" would be, in our view, a deep insult and a rejection of our entire movement, as well as a hard blow to the unity of the Jewish people. A vote for "The Law on Conversion" could, heaven forbid, create open confrontation between Israel and the Diaspora. Surrender to the demands of Shas would be, in our view, an undermining of the Jewish and the democratic nature of the State of Israel.

Mr. Prime Minister, please, to not allow such a thing to happen.

"For the sake of my brothers and my friends I say: May peace reside within you. For the sake of the House of the Lord I shall seek your welfare. May the Lord grant His people strength, May the Lord bless His people with peace."(Psalms 29:11)

The Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor, Mr. Gershon Kekst, Chairman of the Board of Governors

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, Director Ms. Judy Yudoff, President

The International Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbi Joel Meyers, Director Rabbi Reuven Hammer, President

The Foundation for Masorti Judaism in Israel
Rabbi Daniel Allen, President Rabbi Gordon Tucker,Chairman of the Board

The Woman's League for Conservative Judaism
Ms. Bernice Balter, Director Ms. Janet Tobin, president

The Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs
Rabbi Charles Simon, Director Mr. Robert Levine, President

The Cantors Assembly
Cantor Steven Stein, Director Cantor Sheldon Levin, President

Merkaz USA
Rabbi Robert Golub, Director Ms. Evelyn Selig, President

Masorti Olami-The World Council of Conservative Synagogues
Rabbi Joseph Wernick, Director Rabbi Allen Silverstein, President

The Masorti Movement in Israel
Rabbi Ehud Bandel, President Dr. David Brakestone, Chairman of Board

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

MAZAL TOV to: Alice Jaffe on the birth of a grandson, Elias Leo, born to Tatiana & Stephen Jaffe

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

ALL YOUTH, GRADES K-8: Baseball League registration closes Friday, March 22nd. For more information, contact Marcie youth@tbe.org or call 322-6901, ext. 324.

KADIMA (Grades 6-8): CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE & PIZZA!! Chocolate Seder will be this Sunday, March 24th, 5-7 pm, $10. Please e-mail Marcie youth@tbe.org or call 322-6901, ext. 324 to sign-up.

ATID (Grades K-2) & KESHER (Grades 3-5): Bridgeport Sound Tigers Hockey Game trip, Sunday, April 7th, $30 - includes Center Club Seating, transportation by bus and snacks. For more information, contact Marcie youth@tbe.org or call 322-6901, ext. 324.

USY (Grades 9-12) Spring Convention is coming!!!! April 12-14, North Haven Holiday Inn. For application/information, contact Marcie youth@tbe.org or call 322-6901, ext. 324. REGISTRATION DEADLINE is April 1st - no exceptions!

8TH GRADERS: 8th Grade Overnight at USY's Spring Convention. April 13-14, North Haven Holiday Inn. For application/information, contact Marcie youth@tbe.org or call 322-6901, ext. 324. REGISTRATION DEADLINE is April 1st - no exceptions!

MORE UPCOMING PROGRAMS WITH RABBI ANDREA COHEN-KEINER!!

Friday evening March, 22^nd at 7:30 pm

TALKING AT THE BORDERS

Interfaith Families and Extended Families Walking the Line

Join Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener for engaging service and a thought provoking discussion on the challenges and joys encountered by interfaith families and their extended families

TELL YOUR FRIENDS (INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE UNAFFILIATED)!!!

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Shabbat, March 23^rdat 10:00 a.m.

Spend Shabbat morning with Rabbi Cohen-Kiener

CONTEMPLATIVE LEARNER’S MINYAN

A spirited, spiritual service filled with stories, song and meaningful prayer

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Shabbat afternoon, March 23^rd at 4:00p.m.

All those in a meditative mood are invited to join Rabbi Cohen-Kiener for a

MEDITATIVE MINCHA

Featuring niggunim, chant and contemplation to enjoy the day of rest

RSVP to 322-6901 extension 306

Coming soon….