What does it mean, this
community?
Yom Kippur morning 5773
Temple Beth Jacob of
Newburgh
Rabbi Larry Freedman
September 26, 2012
Have you ever
tried to explain what Judaism is to someone who isn’t Jewish. I’m talking about someone who really wants to
understand Jews. They know we’re a
religion but then we tell them we’re not just a religion. We explain that we are a culture except that
there are Jews around the world who share neither language nor foods with us
and even their holidays, our holidays, are celebrated a bit differently. And that’s when your friend might venture,
“so you’re a race, right?” But, uh, now
hold the phone there, let’s not go there.
We are not a race. We got in a
lot of trouble for that one. We are a
complicated thing.
We are very unique
among the families of the world in that we identify as a people and within that
people there are many expressions of connection to that people. And among those many types of connections,
there are mixtures with infinite combinations.
The life of any one Jew is almost never exactly like the life of any
other Jew and yet, Jews we all are, Jews we all enjoy being.
One classic way of
understanding the palate Jews draw from is the triptych God, Torah,
Israel. I dare say that everything we do
as Jews, every moment that means something, every good feeling we get is a
reflection of one of those three: God, Torah, Israel.
Look at this
moment. Look at this gathering. Some of the power of this moment has to do
with God, with the religious experience.
We gather before God, invoke prayers, feel spiritual. We come here out of a sense of religious
obligation and we take seriously the images our machzor offers us. We feel better having been here.
Then again, look
at this gathering. Some of the power of
this moment has to do with Torah, with the intellectual experience. The realm of Torah is the realm of thinking
about the words and their meaning in our lives, and it is the realm of ethical
demands that insist we figure out how to be better. Torah moves us with attention to ritual so we
can live out the words of the actual Torah.
Then again, look
at this gathering. Some of the power of
this moment has to do with Israel, the people of Israel, of coming together
with family, of having the big dinner with the same foods, of sitting next to
each other here in the same seat you’ve sat in forever. Feeling the presence of friends and family no
longer here. Knowing that at this moment around the globe, millions and millions
of Jews are doing the same thing is very moving. And let’s not forget the non-Jews who have
joined us and also among the people of Israel having joined us each in his or
her own way.
I have not
adequately explained. I do not think I
can because each of you has your own experience. Each one of us experiences Judaism and the
joy of being Jewish through the lens of God or Torah or Israel. Only you can identify how you experience
your Jewish identity and where your experience comes from. These three experiences of God, Torah and
Israel are like overlapping circles, like a Venn diagram. To be in one circle often means you are in
two. At times you may be in the center
experiencing a moment of all three, a feeling of God, an awareness of Torah and
ethnic warmth of the people of Israel. And
then you slide back into the corner of just one circle. Our lives as Jews are very fluid.
Take a
moment. Look around. Think deeply.
Why are you here? At the very
worst you are here because someone made you but still, it means you have been
welcomed into the Israel circle. And
even then, you might be feeling other moments of connection. Take a second. Right now, right here, are you feeling a
religious connection? Then you are in
the God circle. Are you aware of customs
and meaning and thought and ritual and find they move you? Then you are in the Torah circle. Are you moved to be back with people who
share your culture? Then you are in the
Israel circle. Think of how this
experience speaks to you. What is the
emotion you feel or hope to feel on this day?
What helps you cultivate that emotion?
If you weren’t here, what would you miss?
Last night we sang
Kol Nidre. The prayer Kol Nidre works on
all these levels as well. It’s a prayer
of humility that starts off the tone of Yom Kippur, that we go before God to
ask that we be forgiven of all the oaths and promises we made that we should
have kept but just, after trying, couldn’t.
We have let ourselves down, we have let God down and we ask, before we go
on, that God forgive us.
And, Kol Nidre is
a moment of Torah where we actually had the Torah scrolls out as
witnesses. The ethics and morals
contained in those books are displayed before us reminding us to try to uphold
them. Last year we failed in ways large
and small and so we stand in front of that which we let down to apologize. The image of Kol Nidre is that of a court and
so we were all part of the beit din, the judges. We wear our tallitot as judges robes and we
stand for the solemnity of the proceedings.
But even if you
did not know the underlying message of the visuals of Kol Nidre, there is the
sound of Kol Nidre, three times that haunting melody plays, a melody that rings
through the minds of the people of Israel.
If nothing else, we want to hear that melody, that sound, because we
hear it together and know that we are together amongst the Jewish people on a
solemn day in our calendar and that feels right.
As we move through
Yom Kippur, there will be moments of God, Torah and Israel. Sometimes the moment is obvious. Prayers are God centered. The ideas in the liturgy, the customs, the
actual study session this afternoon night is Torah centered and the social
aspect of being together, sharing an experience together, not to mention break
fast tonight is truly people centered, a moment of Israel.
But most of the
time, every moment is a mixed moment of some of this, some of that. That is the power of Yom Kippur and all of
Jewish living. It hits us on so many
levels. That is why it is sometimes hard
to describe why we enjoy being Jewish, why we like being in this
congregation. Being part of Temple Beth
Jacob is some mixture of God, Torah and Israel.
It connects us spiritually but then really it is about learning and
customs but then really it is about shared experiences and community. But then really it is about all three, in
different combinations.
Temple Beth Jacob
is a space where your Jewish identity in all its ways can be nurtured. It is the place that allows you to revel in
who you are. The truth is, many of you
wonder why you belong. You question the
need for such a place or at least you question your reason for engaging this
place. And if that is not you, we all know people like that. And the truth is, in the excitement and work
to create our joint venture, some of you may not be feeling the love. If you haven’t been over to 290 North Street,
you may feel distant from your community right now. I understand.
But the project has already proven successful in terms of community
building and energy and, while it is a little early to close the books on it,
it seems financially our goals are being met as well.
I can’t resist
reminding you of amazing opportunities to come together. October 7, at 11:30: we will enjoy our sukkah and hear the latest
on the Kol Yisrael project, what has been done, what needs to get done. We’ll dispel rumors and answer
questions. October 19 and 20, Aaron
Kintu Moses is coming to tell us about the Jews of Uganda, the Abayudaya and
talk about a school he is building. Then
the weekend of November 16 the Motyl chamber orchestra is coming to play music
that sprang from the Holocaust. Amazing
opportunities to learn, to be part of Israel past, present and future, to feel
connected. In November 2013, I’ll be
leading a Federation trip to Israel which surely is a connection to God, Torah
and Israel all rolled into one. And Tot
Shabbat is back monthly, open to anyone.
Anyone: members or not. Tell your friends and neighbors.
All our holiday
celebrations are fun and uplifting, Shabbat is a refreshing meaningful moment
whether you join us every Friday night or just sometimes. Torah study every Shabbat morning engages the
mind and soul. And there is more and more and more. So many reasons to support this institution.
Our Jewish
identity wanders among the spiritual, the intellectual and the ethnic. But it should not wander alone. We have no ascetic tradition. We feel more engaged when we are with
others. We feel more proud of our
Judaism when we are in community. We
feel more uplifted when we rise among our fellows. We can’t do that alone and we don’t want
to. But don’t just listen to me.
In place of the
customary Yom Kippur appeal, it’s my please to invite Gay Miller, temple
president and Rachelle Harmer, treasurer to express their experience of
community and what belonging means to them.
Gay Miller
I am honored to stand before you this morning
as president of Temple Beth Jacob.
Clearly I am committed or ought to be.
Many who have stood here before me giving the
high holiday appeal have talked about growing up Jewish and what it was like as
a member of Temple Beth Jacob for many years.
I cannot do either, because I did not grow up here, have been a long
time member, nor was I raised as a Jew.
I am a Jew-by-choice. I have been a member of Temple Beth Jacob for
about 8 years after moving back to Newburgh.
Before becoming a member here, I was a member of Monroe Temple for over
20 years and before that a member of congregation Beth Israel in San Diego, California.
As with many people who choose Judaism, I was
introduced when I was married. When I
became pregnant we knew that our son was going to be raised Jewish and that was
when we joined congregation Beth Israel, a reform congregation. I went to many programs for interfaith
families and that is where my real introduction and journey to Judaism
began.
This was not an instantaneous or simple
journey. With the exposure come
increasing levels of commitment and a desire to be fully embraced by the Jewish
experience. Ultimately, after many
years, I took the final step and converted.
If it were not for these well established and
welcoming reform congregations, I might not have embarked on this journey.
If there were not Temple Beth Jacob with its
many committed members representing a variety of perspectives this opportunity
would not be available to others.
I believe that there is a reason that all of
us belong to this synagogue.
Whether we are here for the holidays or Friday
nights, whether we are born Jewish, are a Jew by choice or a non-Jew, whether
we agree with organized religion, we are all making a statement.
We believe that being a Jew matters.
With that in mind, I am asking you to commit
to making Temple Beth Jacob a viable reform congregation long into the future.
High Holy Day Appeal
Speech Rachelle Harmer September 26, 2012
Two years ago, and some of you may remember that I was told
I was doing the High Holy Day appeal and after much thought, I considered it to
be an honor…this year I was told I would be giving part of the appeal and after
much thought, I think it is an honor…but if they tell me I am doing appeal
again next year, I am
NO FOOL…
So, once again I want to welcome all our congregants,
families and friends.
Like the Harmers, many of you probably joined initially to
give your children a Jewish Education.
You may have been looking for something for yourselves, such as Torah
study, Jewish culture and values…or maybe you joined to forge a stronger
connection with the Jewish community or to find new friendships. Temple Beth Jacob is here for you today and
hopefully for many more years to come.
We at TBJ literally survive from day to day on what monies
come in throughout the year. Membership
dues cover about half our budget. We rely on other avenues like fundraising,
which includes our gift card-scrip program, donations and this annual appeal to
balance our budget. We have no financial angel to shower us with unlimited
funds.
Your generous support is needed more than ever during these challenging
economic times. Unfortunately, some of
our congregants have lost their jobs and are having difficulty making their
mortgage payments and paying other household bills.
Perhaps you can give a little more this year to cover for
those who have no choice. But always
remember, and I’ve said this before….never give until it hurts….but give until
you feel good! Last year we raised a
little over $25,000. at our annual appeal. Our goal this year is to increase
that amount by at least $290.00 which symbolizes our new address..
Please help us keep Temple Beth Jacob alive and
vibrant. As a family we must work
together. Each and every one of us must assume
the responsibility and obligation as well as take the pleasure and pride to
ensure that Temple Beth Jacob is here for our children and our children’s
children. Give today, so that we can look
forward to tomorrow so we will be here for the generations to come.
With your help, we look forward to Temple Beth Jacob’s
future with hope and faith that the year 5773 will be one blessed with peace,
prosperity and good deeds. May we all be
inscribed in the book of life and may the coming year be filled with good
health, laughter and joy and with a renewed commitment to our Jewish Community.
Please take out your pledge cards, turn down what you can
and hand them to one of our Officers who will now come around.
Thank you…
L’Shanah Tova
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