From the Rabbi's Desk...
 
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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March 13, 2009
Saturday Night Coffee House
CTI turns into Greenwich Village Saturday night with our second Maleveh Malkah Coffee House.
The ballroom and stage area will be transformed into an Israeli style "finjan" coffee house by our Women's Group and we will be entertained by the quartet of Steven Pardo, Brad Turow, Andrew Friedlieb, and Danny Schreiber.
There will also be some guest folksingers, comedians, and storytellers. And who knows, Elvis may enter the building.
The Maleveh Malkah tradition is a Chassidic one where through song, story, and dance, we entice Shabbat to remain in our midst for a few more hours.
Our last Maleveh Malkah attracted more than 60. We'll begin at 7:30pm with Havdalah, and party from there. Join us for a great night out.
Shabbat Across America
Please book your place now for Shabbat Across America, where more than 100 are expected for a great meal and services led by our house musical group.
Shabbat Across America is an event that is held simultaneously in hundreds of communities across the United States and Canada.
Aside from a great meal and our full Musical Shabbat, there will be a separate service especially for those under twelve that will include song, story, and prayer.
CTI is famous for being a "last minute" congregation. However, in this case it is important that you book now so that we know how much food to order.
Please call or e-mail the office (tiferethisrael@optonline.net) to reserve your place. Cost for adults is $24. There is no charge for children.
We begin at 6:30pm.
Exodus Decoded
Next Wednesday's movie of the month is a "must see," especially with Passover around the corner.
"Exodus Decoded" is a documentary produced by archeologist Simcha Jacobovici and filmmaker James (Titanic) Cameron that presents compelling scientific evidence that the Ten Plagues listed in the Haggadah actually occurred.
This award winning documentary has drawn both praise and criticism. Once the movie is over,
we will critically discuss what we've seen. You can read a reasonable
pro and con discussion
regarding this movie online.
Either way, this is an important movie for us to consider as we approach Pesach.
The movie begins at 7:30PM.
Transliterated Prayer Books
This Saturday morning CTI will be "test driving" a dozen copies of a new prayer book that contains much of our regular Shabbat services in transliterated English.
We currently use a transliterated prayer book on Friday nights providing the opportunity for everyone to follow and participate in the service in Hebrew, English, or Hebrew transliterated into English.
The new siddurim (prayer books) are designed for those who struggle with Hebrew but would like to follow the words of the service.
The prayer books have been specially marked with page numbers that parallel those in our regular siddur.
If this new siddur proves popular, the program may be expanded to other services.
This and That:
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As our Friday night service continues to expand, the Cantor and I would like again to extend an invitation to musicians to "sit in." During the next few weeks, we will be joined by guitarists, banjo players, drummers, and others. Please bring friends to listen or participate.
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CTI's next "Healing Service" will be held Saturday, April 4 at 7:00pm. Additional details will follow.
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Don't forget to mark Saturday, March 30 in your calendar as we mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of poet and author Shalom Aleichem by viewing the classic 1971 movie "Fiddler on the Roof." Come in costume, or as you are. Singing along with the movie will be encouraged.
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Mission
Friends, there is some significant work going on behind the scenes at CTI which I would like to share with you.
The CTI board is developing a mission statement for our congregation. While the exact wording and phrasing is currently being fine tuned, I think it is worthwhile to share some of its guiding principles with you.
The Mission Statement will stress the importance of CTI being an all inclusive congregation that respects Jews of all backgrounds, regardless of their levels of observance, orientation, or family structure.
It also means serving with care and openness those families of mixed backgrounds so that every person feels unconditionally welcome and embraced.
The Board and clergy are committed to these principles.
While we are a Jewish organization that promotes study, prayer, camaraderie, and a connection with Israel, we can indeed ensure that God "remains in this place" by practicing universal respect.
Indeed, as a prayer adapted from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel reminds us on Page 359 of our Shabbat prayer book, "No religion is an island."
Golden Calf
On Shabbat morning, our Torah reading will take us through the story of the Golden Calf.
As the Torah recounts, while Moses was on Mount Sinai discussing and recording Torah with God, the people became restless. They gathered gold and silver, and smelted a Golden Calf which they worshipped as an idol.
So, as we review this story in 2009, are we to believe that this was a one time communal sin, or is there some relevance we can glean for today.
Indeed, what are the American Idols of 2009? And is there something we can learn from the past? I will be speaking about both Jewish and American idols in my Shabbat morning sermon.
Tonight I will be speaking about evidence from the Torah that "every Jew counts" and that it is a requirement that every Jew put in their "two cents."
Please join us tonight for Kabbalat Shabbat as we welcome the Sabbath with song and dance. We'll begin promptly at 8:00pm.
Shabbat shalom v' kol tuv,
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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