From the Rabbi's Desk...
 
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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March 19, 2010
A More Spiritual Passover
CTI welcomes back rabbi, author, and Kabbalist Simcha Raphael for a special teaching session on Saturday titled “Kabbalah for Your Seder Table: Making Passover More Spiritual.”
Rabbi Raphael visited us last fall to discuss his book “Jewish Views of the Afterlife.” His lecture fuelled lots of discussion, and he’s agreed to return and share some of his thoughts and stories about Passover with us.
Rabbi Raphael is a good friend, and a lantzman from Montreal. He received his first ordination from the founder of the Renewal movement, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, and is currently studying for his second rabbinical degree at the Academy for Jewish Religion.
Come hear Rabbi Raphael on Saturday at 7:00pm as he answers the question, “How will this Passover be different from all other Passovers?”
Pottery Midrash
There’s another reason to be at CTI on Saturday evening.
Renowned potter and congregant Irene Helitzer will display some of her midrash pottery crafted for Passover.
Midrash refers to the Jewish tradition of taking a concept, a teaching or even a stray Hebrew letter, and expanding it into a legend, a myth, or within a moral content.
Irene has produced Passover chess sets, salt and pepper shakers, matzo holders, and Seder plates. She was commissioned to produce one of her Seder plates for use by the British Parliament in 2008. Each of her pieces tells or expands on a Passover theme.
She’ll be displaying her work before and after Rabbi Raphael’s talk.
This is amazingly creative work which opens our eyes to new ways of viewing Jewish tradition.
You can see some of Irene’s work on
her web site.
Second Passover Seder
The deadline is Monday to reserve your space at CTI’s annual second Passover Seder.
In past years, more than a hundred congregants, family members, and friends have attended. We’ll also be joined by some of Glen Cove’s clergy as we celebrate the festival of Jewish and universal freedom.
There is no secret that we are a community that likes to commit at the last minute. However, because so much food has to be ordered, we ask that you call or e-mail now to reserve.
As I’ve mentioned, no one will be turned away if they are facing financial challenges. We remain firm at CTI that “all who are hungry for physical and spiritual sustenance shall come and eat.”
Help Needed for Seniors Outreach
CTI will be helping the Atria Glen Cove Assisted Living Home to hold a Seder on the afternoon prior to the first night of Passover.
The Seder is scheduled for 3:00pm on Monday, March 29, and volunteers are needed both to help with the Seder and to work with the kitchen staff to assure that Seder plates are properly arranged.
We understand that most families will be preparing for their own Seders, however this is an important mitzvah that will require a commitment of about one hour.
Please e-mail me if you are able to assist.
Programming Notes
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Sunday at 10:15am in the CTI library, Kyle Essex will be conducting his regular “drummer’s circle” workshop. You don’t need any previous experience, or your own drum. All will be provided.
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Knit and Knosh will be held Monday, March 21 at the home of Fredda Klopfer. Please let Fredda know if you are coming or if you have any questions. Beginners through advanced are welcome.
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Scrabble night is back. Whether you are a beginner or a maven, you’re sure to enjoy Scrabble night sponsored by Men’s Club. The games begin Tuesday at 7:00pm. We will be joined in play by some non-CTI members who were attracted by some of the pre-event publicity.
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Last week’s “rained out” movie night has been rescheduled to this Wednesday at 7:30pm. We will be showing the 2004 Israeli movie “Walk on Water.” The movie stars Lior Ashkenazi, Knut Berger, and Caroline Peters, and was directed by New York-born Israeli director Eytan Fox.
Most of the dialogue takes place in English, although there is some Hebrew and German that is subtitled.
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Our synagogue kitchen will be “koshered” for Passover effective Monday. We ask that all non-Passover items remain outside our kitchen doors. The synagogue will provide appropriate refreshments during the eight days of Pesach.
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CTI’s next Men’s Shelter dinner program is approaching, and we are looking for new volunteers to prepare meals for those in need. Please contact Amy at 516-369-3171 for more information.
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CTI has formed a team and is looking for walkers to participate in a very special cause:
Every Woman Matters:
A Walk for Women and Their Families.
A meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:00pm to discuss an important partnership between CTI and the new Katz Women's Hospital. Roz Herbsman and Megan Stiles from the Katz Women's Hospital-LIJ Medical Center will discuss details of a 5K walk that is planned for the morning of May 16 at the Jones Beach Boardwalk. The walk and meeting is open to women, men and their families.
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Learn Hebrew Month
April is “Learn Hebrew Month” at CTI.
We’ve had a number of false starts due to inclement weather and illness, however we are ready to resume on April 1, running all five Thursdays through the month.
These classes will be led by our Hebrew School (Limud) teacher Liliana Halac, who has shown great success working with many who have previously given up.
This course is ideal for beginners or those looking to brush up on their aleph bets. Cost is $60 for the five classes, which will run from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
The early start time will allow Liliana a half hour to rest after teaching our CTI children. It will also enable those who are Israeli dancers to repose before the start of their 7:45pm Israeli dance class.
Funeral Rituals
Rabbi, author, and feminist Regina Sandler-Phillips will join us on Sunday, April 18 at 10:30am for a class and discussion on “Chevrah Kadishah: Sacred Funeral Rituals.”
Rabbi Sandler-Phillips will teach about the beautiful and sacred rituals of Tahara (ritual washing) and Shamrut (reciting psalms) which are often conducted before a funeral.
This is part of our ongoing effort to empower congregants to make good life cycle decisions.
There will be more information about Rabbi Sandler-Phillips’ talk in the weeks ahead.
A Note of Thank You
Seymour Kary, beloved congregant and prayer leader, has asked that I convey his sincere appreciation for all of your support during his recent illness. He says that your calls and visits have “been a blessing.” We hope to see Seymour back at services soon. Refu’ah Shelaima! (A full recovery!)
Judaism and Gospel Mix
What will happen when sacred Jewish melodies collide with Gospel music?
All will be revealed on 8:00pm, Wednesday, May 12 at the famous B’nai Jeshurun synagogue in Manhattan.
The concert is being held by the Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR) on the evening before this year’s ordination ceremonies.
The concert will feature Neshama Carlebach, daughter of the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, whose music comprises the core of our Friday night services.
Neshamah will be backed up by the Green Pasture Baptist Gospel Choir, along with a number of AJR trained cantors and cantorial students.
Orthodox rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz, a mentor and a frequent scholar-in-residence at CTI has often stated that we can learn a lot about music and prayer from our Christian neighbors.
Let’s see how these two traditions merge. Tickets are priced at $36 and can be booked through me at rebirwin@ctionline.org. This will be a “hot ticket” and I have thirty-five available.
You can read more on
the program's flyer.
A Drop in the Honey
I attended a conference this week on the subject of creating “holy space” within synagogues.
A number of speakers shared their ideas on how places of prayer should be structured. They discussed what colors heighten spirituality, how to best arrange seating, and which prayer books (siddurim) to use.
The conference provided much to think about, but as is often the case, it was one simple comment which resonated for me on the drive home.
A colleague noted how important it is when involved in synagogue life to not just look at a space, but rather the actions carried out within that space. It is also important that we keep our eyes open—not only to the needs and tastes of our own friends and neighbors, but to those who have other needs or tradition or those who may be falling through the cracks.
He used “honey” as an example. A jar of honey can remain pure and smooth as long as we tend to it and protect it from moisture. But all you need is one drop of water, and crystals begin to form. Pretty soon, the entire jar is crusty and its contents difficult to use.
It’s an interesting image as this week we begin the Book of Leviticus, the third book of the Torah. It is considered by some the most boring and obscure book of the Torah, containing a series of sacrifices and rituals to thank, apologize to, and plead with God.
But while we no longer sacrifice animals or bring grain and produce to the temple, we do in 2010 bring our hearts and our good intentions.
It is therefore important that—in all of our actions, in our deliberations and our interactions—we always remain pure.
It is interesting to note that a jar of honey which becomes crystallized can be restored to its purity by placing it in a microwave oven.
The concept is not that different than was the case thirty-five hundred years ago: when an individual or community sinned, it performed great sacrificial rights in order to restore itself to its previous purity.
The end result today, as it was in ancient times, is that we want God to remain “in this place.”
At CTI that means ensuring that we take care of each other. That may mean attending a Shiva minyan and supporting a mourner who we hardly know, to cooking meals for the needy, to keeping an eye out for someone who does not have a place to celebrate the first night of Passover.
A jar of honey can so easily turn into crystal. In all of our interactions, whether at home, at work, or in the community, may we take the time to guard our tongues and to remain compassionate to others in our community and beyond.
We do not sacrifice goats and sheep in 2010, but we retain a responsibility to perform sacrifices of the heart.
From pure jars of honey come communities of love, care, and compassion.
As we begin the Book of Leviticus and continue with our Passover preparation, may we work to ensure that we fill our holiday with compassion and, above all, sweetness.
After all, the expression A Zissen Pesach is more than a popular greeting. It reminds us of the imperative to embrace freedom, to comfort and liberate those in chains.
In so doing, we can truly savor the pure sweetness of this Passover season.
Shabbat shalom, v’kol tuv (with all goodness).
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
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