August 26, 2010
Journeys Class
As CTI's Mission Statement reminds us, everyone who falls under Judaism's umbrella is "on a journey."
No matter where you fall on the spectrum, it will be our goal during the upcoming Jewish year to provide you with an educational opportunity.
The first in our suite of educational programs for this Jewish year will begin Sunday at 8:00pm as we relaunch our Journeys class.
The class is tailored to those considering conversation, or wanting to know more about their Jewish spouse's religion, or for those members of the congregation looking to go back to basics the of Judaism.
This Sunday's class will kick off with an introduction, and an overview of the High Holidays.
Cancer Support Group
Our synagogue is currently discussing the formation of a professionally facilitated cancer support group.
The group will be tailored for survivors and those currently being treated.
Please contact me if you are interested.
Free Children’s Books
CTI is about to launch a remarkable program which will bring free Jewish children's books to every family who registers.
This is a fully sponsored program, and there is no catch.
The
PJ Library
program supports families in their Jewish journey by sending Jewish-content books and music to children from ages six months to eight years of age on a monthly basis.
With the help of the Grinspoon Foundation and generous donors from our congregation, children will receive free books or CDs of Jewish content. In addition to the families in our synagogue and our CTI Nursery School, the program is also open to families not affiliated with other synagogues who live in Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, Glen Head, Greenvale, Brookville, Roslyn Harbor, Locust Valley, and some surrounding communities.
You will not be put on any mailing list. This is just as advertised: free children's books and music for children on a monthly basis. But you must register.
Please contact Sandy Toback to sign.
Free Book on Concience
We also have a free book offer for CTI Adults. One of progressive Judaism's most important books, Conscience: the Duty to Obey and the Duty to Disobey discusses the role of personal conscience, morality, and ethics within Judaism.
When is it permissible to question or even disobey the Torah?
What expression in the Torah is used for "conscience?"
We have about 15 copies of this award winning book written by Rabbi Harold W. Schulweis. This is a must read.
You can pick up your copy at the synagogue office by
e-mailing Esther
(after Monday August 30th) in the CTI office.
Elders Bar and Bat Mitzvah
On Shabbat morning, October 23, synagogues around the world will read the Torah portion that recounts the ageless story of how Abraham and Sarah were blessed with a child in their senior years.
It is a message to us that good things can happen at any time in our life.
CTI will be taking that message to the next level that Shabbat as we again hold a Seniors Bar/Bat Mitzvah service.
Two years ago, CTI performed a bat mitzvah service for five residents of The Regency assisted living home. The five included two Holocaust survivors.
We will do the same this year. Any senior who has not had a bar or bat mitzvah is welcome to participate. Cantor Gustavo and I will be happy to teach blessings, or any appropriate part of the service.
Please contact the Cantor if you are interested.
New on Line Products
Each year, CTI benefits from the shopping that we do.
Our nursery school receives a one percent rebate based on our King Kullen receipts.
We also receive a percentage of sales from Amazon.com, Wal-Mart on line, Overstock.com and other business when their web sites are accessed through CTI's shopping.
This week CTI adds a new partner, although I admit that I have a slight conflict of interest.
Effective this week Holstee.com, a web site that markets environmentally friendly products, joins our group of business partners. Seven per cent of all Holstee sales will be returned to CTI.
Included on the product list is a 100 per cent natural laundry detergent, Laundry Tarts, co-produced by our daughter Jessica. Like all CTI parents, we are tremendously proud of Jessica and encourage you to watch her
YouTube video.
You can also order any other environmentally friendly products at the
Hosteen web site. Kudos to Adam
Congratulations to Adam Levine on the remarkable job he did Tuesday leading the CitiField crowd in the singing of The Star Spangled Banner.
Adam, and the extra two hundred friends, congregants, family, and other supporters who were in attendance no doubt played a role in inspiring the Mets to a bottom of the ninth inning 6-5 victory over the Florida Marlins.
We are endeavoring to obtain the video of Adams performance which included clips of Adam's volunteer work.
Yasher Koach (strength and congratulations) to Adam.
Prayer: Obligation or Commodity?
Increasingly across the Judeo-Christian tradition, rabbis, ministers, priests, theologians and lay leaders are debating how to make religious services more interesting and entertaining.
A revolution is currently underway among young people to forego synagogue membership and services, and form small intimate congregations in living rooms, classrooms, and basements.
Many have pushed aside conventional religious services and affiliation, and now define their primary religion as "spiritual, not religious."
It is a message to synagogues and churches that services need to be relevant, spiritual, and moving in order to ensure that these religions survive to the end of this century.
This Chavurah movement should be applauded for its success in returning Jews to the essence of Judaism, which includes innovative prayer, camaraderie, and the performance of communal and personal acts of lovingkindness.
However, there is a danger in this as we continue to plunge deeper into the "what's in it for me" society. Increasingly, the value of a religious experience is rated by whether a congregant receives a "high" from the service.
Although our own services do not suffer from a lack of energy and enthusiasm, it is worthy to note that the root of the Jewish prayer tradition does not emanate from what a Jew receives from prayer, but rather what a Jew provides in return.
The idea of a Jew praying three times a day is based on obligation.
Obligation is a word we tend to shy away from. Life magazine begat People magazine, which begat Us magazine which begat MySpace and various Me and I web sites.
Yet there is something precious about the idea of people feeling "obligated" to begin their day with the ritual of a walk, or a reading, or a few minutes of silence, or moments of prayer.
In the previously mentioned book, Conscience: the Duty to Obey and the Duty to Disobey, Rabbi Harold Schulweis recalls the way his grandfather prayed: "For him, prayer was a chov, a debt owned to the Master of the Universe, a debt to be paid off in three daily installments: morning, afternoon, and evening. Inner intention or rationale was laudatory, but ultimately discretionary."
There is a connection between this idea of obligation and this week's Torah portion, Ki Tavoh. We are reminded that we have an ongoing relationship with God who created this world and sustains life. We are also reminded that it is up to us to retain our emotional and spiritual connections with Jewish tradition through the performance of mitzvot (commandments).
It means that while it is vital that services in synagogues remain relevant and meaningful, it is also important that we never forget what a precious gift life is.
And for that, there are spiritual debts we "owe." They include being considerate of others, exhibiting patience and kindness, initiating acts of lovingkindness and yes, prayer.
This prayer should not only take place when we desperately need something, but also to acknowledge blessings God provides us each day.
We as practitioners of Judaism need to focus not just on what religion can do for us, but also on the blessings that we can provide in return.
If we think of prayer as a thanksgiving sacrifice each day, then our own spirituality and connection to God will be greatly enhanced.
Indeed, within Judaism, belief begins with the giving, rather than with what we receive.
I will have more on this theme this weekend on the forty-forth anniversary of my bar mitzvah. What have I learned as a Jew and as a citizen of the world, since I became a Jewish adult?
We'll begin Friday night at 8:00pm with our musical Kabbalat Shabbat, followed the next morning at 9:30am with our Saturday Shabbat services.
As has been the case during the past few weeks, we will be joined by a number of prospective new members considering us for the High Holidays and beyond. Please be here to welcome these guests and future congregants to our warm and embracing community.
Best wishes for a Shabbat shalom. Kol tuv (with all goodness),
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
