Shabbat

It's not only our Temple that occasionally proposes a prayer or way of praying that is different from "the way we do things here." It happens in all Temples everywhere! At this morning's Shabbat service, we were asked to sit when reciting the Shema. Hold on. Read on. I'd say that the Rabbi made the case quite thoroughly and persuasively. He began by telling us that the discussion of whether to sit or stand dates back to the ages of Hillel and Shammai, in the first century C.E. Since the 1890s, we Reform Jews stand. Rising to our feet is like an exclamation point, the physical act necessary to emphasize the importance in our declaration of faith in One God. ON THE OTHER HAND, if we sit to recite the shema, we can really listen -- hear (shema) -- to the Oneness that we feel with God; we can take it in. We can be centered, focused, and receptive. This morning, after the Biennial choir sang a moving piece called, "Listen", it worked for me.

In his sermon, URJ President Eric Yoffie presented a few initiatives he'd like to see our congregations adopt in the coming years. Can I tell you that it felt very good to be nodding my head as he was ticking off some suggestions? For example, that we should have a forum for telling each other our stories (Congregant Gallery) and that we should green our buildings, inside and out (Green Team Committee; our computerized HVAC system; Community Garden). When he stressed that Israel first and foremost must remain first and foremost, I thought of our newly formed Israel committee and our Scholar-in-Residence this coming week (read on). The full text of Rabbi Yoffie's sermon will be on URJ's website next week. http://www.urj.org/

Switching topics (this is a personal one, having nothing really to do with Temple life, but it was Shabbat, and I was indulging myself), there are a few things I envy about the life of a rabbinic student. One of them is the opportunity to be taught by Rabbi Michael Marmur during their year in Jerusalem. (Another is a year in Jerusalem.) You can look him up, but suffice it to say that for me, Rabbi Marmur is the ultimate teacher. Four years later, I still remember his 3-series Learning Workshop I attended at the Biennial in Houston. Well, I got to learn from him again yesterday and today. In yesterday's session, he spoke about kavannah (intention), and the factors that can strengthen or lead to kavannah when one prays. Today, he discussed Abraham Joshua Heschel's insights on prayer based upon his reading of the Book of Daniel.

Okay, the Biennial has drawn to a close, and I'm about to check myself in online for my flight home. Looking ahead to this coming week in Nashville, I can assure you that Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz is on his way from Jerusalem! In the 60 seconds that I grabbed to introduce myself to him this afternoon, I can promise you that we are in for a treat! His energy and enthusiasm are infectious! Rabbi Klein-Katz is a senior educator in Israel, a scholar of text and a participant in many areas of Israeli Education. He'll be at Lunch with the Rabbi, Friday night services, Chevrah Torah, and he'll lead a workshop on Sunday for our 9th and 10th grade parents titled: What does Israel Mean to Me? I hope your schedule allows you to participate in any and all of these. I'll see you there.

Friday, Day 3 Biennial

Halleluyah, I have 30 minutes of internet connection during the day!

Piggybacking on my sister's Temple in Toronto, I'm grabbing some time and access in their "Volunteer's Suite" in the hotel. This is a first -- and a last -- for me all week. There is no Wifi in the Conference hotels, so I've posted my daily blogs after the hour-long commute to my sister's home, typically between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., eastern time zone. This doesn't seem so late if I imagine myself to be with you all in Nashville, central time. :)

While I have some quiet time, I'm thinking of some of the non-learning benefits of the URJ Biennial:

-being with my sister and her family. My three nephews are similar ages to Michael and my children. Y'know what they say about a grandmother's joy? Well, ditto for that of an aunt!
-being welcomed again by my sister's Toronto congregational family, renewing and building from the 9 years of friendship developed from many trips "across the border" from my former home in Rochester, NY;
-dinner with a large group from my former congregation in Rochester, NY
-lunch -- twice! -- with a very close friend from my former congregation in Rochester, NY
-new friendships formed from the PDRJ Conference
-I'd run out of fingers if I tried to count the people I've run into from my Jewish past -- the Biennial is Jewish Geography!

This evening's Shabbat service is at 6 p.m. I'll be worshipping alongside 3,000 others, many of whom surely count among your friends and family. And I'll be thinking of all of you, praying for your health and happiness, for a restful and joyous Shabbat.

Thursday, Day 2 at the Biennial

Here's a name for you: Eboo Patel.

Eboo dreaded the first day of school each year, that moment when the teacher reads the roster of names for the first time, always mispronouncing his. Growing up in a western suburb of Chicago in the 1970s, Eboo remembers being, "a brown dot in a sea of white on the playground". He was different, and it was hard. And then in 4th grade, at a classmate's birthday party barbeque (Eboo was overjoyed to be invited to the party of the most popular boy in the class!), while the party was in full swing outside, Eboo met Chaim, inside the house, in the kitchen. Turns out that at their respective homes, in addition to a wrapped gift for the birthday boy, the two boys' moms had sent them with a baggie of 2 kosher hot dogs for the birthday boy's mom to grill -- on a separate plate. A friendship began during that shared, awkward moment in the kitchen. In short time, Eboo and Chaim learned that they have more in common than dietary restrictions. Neither called their grandparents by the usual American names; they both had additional books to study once their school work was finished; and they both went to worship services on Friday.

Today, Eboo Patel dedicates his life to interfaith dialogue and global community. And he spoke to us tonight. It was awesome. Many of you have likely heard about and read the work of Eboo Patel. I invite you to research him on your own. Here's a quick link to get you started: http://www.ifyc.org/

Tonight, he told us that in the late 1800s, W.E.B. Du Bois predicted (correctly) that the challenge for the 20th century would be the "Color Divide". Eboo predicts that the challenge for the 21st century will be the "Faith Divide." And his life's mission is to bridge that divide.

In the evening program, Mr. Patel's speech followed the recognition of Dr. Avivah Zornberg, one of the most inspiring Torah scholars and instructors in the world today, whose reach extends to all continents, languages, ages -- and gender. I felt so proud to be part of our egalitarian, Reform movement. And then we heard from Eboo Patel.

A Muslim, speaking to the largest gathering of Reform Jews in the world, Mr. Patel told us that his work as Founder and Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core is informed by the teachings found in his faith's holy book, wherein he learned that, "God made different faiths that we may come to know one another". Tomorrow morning, he'll be speaking in a special session with the teenage attendees at the Biennial. He plans to ask them what values their Holy Books have given them in order to promote pluralism and peace in the world. Based on the enthusiastic shouts from the NFTY peanut gallery, I'd say that those kids are charged and ready!

Wednesday, Final Day at the PDRJ, Day 1 at the URJ Biennial

Here's what I know: The URJ Biennial is to Reform Jews what Disney World is to children. The same happy and welcoming faces, easy directions and signage, retail shops, entertainment, but get this -- no lines! It's really, really awesome, and I'm sad that you're not here with me. I could sure use some Disney Magic: I wish I could be in 8 places at once.

Here's what I'm talking about: While I was attending a Learning Session on "Tot Shabbat: New Tools for Engaging Young Families and Strengthening Your Congregation's Membership", I wasn't able to sit in on "Addressing Extreme Poverty: Best Practices for Global Engagement" (Social Action) or "Baby Boomers as the New Congregational Majority" (Membership & Programming) or "The Impact of Day Schools on the Reform Movement" (Education) or "Overseeing the Financial Health of Your Congregation" (Business & Finance) or "Living Moments in Time: Creating a Meaningful Synagogue Museum" (Beautification) or "Synagogue-Federation Relations" (Community Collaboration) or "Managing Conflict in Congregational Life" (Leadership & Management) or "Revitalizing High Holiday Worship" (Worship & Music) or "Rewriting the Israel Story: New Paradigms for Israel Engagement" (Israel Committee) or "Different Faces at Our Table: Welcoming the New Jewish Family" (Inclusion and Identity). Okay, back to what I did take home from today:

-a memorable conclusion to the PDRJ conference, that I know will be followed by ongoing networking and support with this terrific association of Program Directors around the country
-Biennial Greetings from H.E. Miriam Ziv, Ambassador of Israel to Canada
-a late-afternoon prayer service, entirely musical, led by eight Canadian Cantors (We are in Canada, eh?)
-materials for Roger Cone on Brotherhood (I'm returning to the Exhibit Hall tomorrow to see what I can grab for everyone else!)
-Anita Diamant (The Red Tent, The New Jewish Wedding, Living a Jewish Life) speaking on "A New Vision for Reform Judaism"

Looking ahead to tomorrow, I think I'll pass on the "Yoga Shalom" morning, and instead grab a coffee and a good seat for the Morning Addresses by Michael Oren, Israeli Amabassador to the U.S. and Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Also, I'll be sure to introduce myself to Tina Wasserman in advance of her January Culinary Scholars-in-Residence Weekend at Temple.

And then, it's off to "The Forgotten Congregants: Singles, Divorced, and the Challenge of Keeping them Involved and Cared For". But I sure would love some Disney magic to allow me also to see "Green Advocacy: Going Beyond Greening Your Actions" or "How to Create a Youth Culture in Your Synagogue" or "A Ramp Is Not Enough: Broadening Programming and Accessibility" or "When Intermarriage Touches Your Life" or "Launching a Capital and Endowment Campaign" or "Cancer, Chronic Illness, and Mental Illness: Caring Community for Patient and Family". Hey, it's a clear night in Toronto -- "When I wish upon a star ... "

Tuesday, Day 2 at the PDRJ Conference

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! How do we communicate our programs to our members? Off the top of my head: Kol Shalom monthly bulletin – print and/or electronic version; High Holiday booklets; Print Inserts and Verbal Announcements at Friday night services; Brochures (Social Action and Adult Ed); Placards on easels in the lobby; Postcards; Telephone; Face-to-face; Emails (including our weekly “This Week at Temple”); Temple’s Website … and here are some more offered by my PDRJ colleagues: Community newspapers; Electronic Signage Outside and Inside (kiosk); YouTube; Facebook; Flickr; Twitter; Texting; Webcasting Shabbat services. …. Interesting ideas for us to think about … Here’s something else to think about: Who is reading, listening to, noticing these communications? (125 of our 530 email recipients open Temple's weekly email – should I feel encouraged or discouraged about this percentage?) And how about this – on any given day, I hear from someone who feels bombarded by too much communication and from someone who claims they never knew about a recent event. Right now, as I’m typing this blog, I’m wondering: How many Temple members are reading this blog? Let me know.

Monday, Day 1 at the PDRJ Conference

Today was a great day!
It's really something to put faces to names, to connect in person with people I've spent the past year emailing with, to bond over our shared work of building community within our congregations. I am one of 18 members of PDRJ (Program Directors of Reform Judaism) fortunate enough to convene with one another during this 2-day conference prior to the 4-day URJ Biennial. Though the annual meeting usually draws about 25-40 members (out of more than 100 in the PDRJ), the 18 is working just fine for me, figuratively and literally.
Some Highlights of the Day:
-Keynote Speech from the URJ Director of Programming. Rabbi Elliot Kleinman guided us in articulating the skills and resources we use and the networks of connections we create, both personally and professionally in our congregations.
-Discussion of Dr. Ron Wolfson's book, The Spirituality of Welcoming. How well does our Temple embody a welcoming home for our members and visitors? What was your experience the first time you walked into Temple? How about the first time you called, emailed, or checked us out on the website? What is your worst customer service memory? What about your best? Do either of these sound like our Temple?
-Text study. Both this week's (Lech L'cha) and this coming week's (Vayeira) Torah portions are loaded with inspiring messages -- to do what is asked of us (even if it is mundane), to find inspiration in the undesirable; to hurriedly and happily welcome visitors, guests, each other!; to create and maintain peace in our homes.
-Lunch & Dinner. I don't even remember eating. Fortunately, the tables were spacious enough to accommodate our notepads, because we never stopped sharing programming and membership ideas with one another.
-Mitzvah Project. Of course Program Directors organizing a group project plan well enough to bring enough scissors for everyone. We huddled together on the meeting room floor, cutting bolts of fleece to fashion warm and cozy scarves for the homeless in Toronto. And then I donned my own scarf to catch the subway back to my sister's home for the night.
Good Night :)

Packing for My Trip

Though there is a slight southern chill in the air here in Nashville on Saturday evening, having lived just east of the Toronto, Canada border for 9 years, I know what real cold awaits me in the week ahead. I'll be staying with my sister's family at their home in North York, and I'm packing my winter outerwear for the brisk walk to/from the subway for my daily commute to the URJ Conferences.

In my carry on, I'm packing essentials for a productive week --

Books for my own edification: The Spirituality Of Welcoming: How to Transform Your Congregation into a Sacred Community, by Dr. Ron Wolfson; ReThinking Synagogues, A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life, by Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman; Temple's Mussar Moments text - Everyday Holiness, The Path of Mussar, by Alan Morinis; and Temple's November Book Club read - Last Rights, by Stephen P. Kiernan.

Temple Materials to Share with Other Professionals: A Prospective Member Materials Folder; the November Kol Shalom; our Adult Education brochure; and our Social Action brochure,

my PDRJ (Program Directors of Reform Judaism) Nov 2-3 Conference Agenda; my URJ Biennial Agenda; and spiral notebooks!

I haven't left Nashville yet, and I'm already so grateful for this 6-day opportunity to meet and work alongside other Reform Synagogue Program Directors, Professionals, and thousands of lay leaders in our mutual commitment to a vibrant and relevant Jewish home for our congregants. This is not my first Biennial nor am I new to the "kallah" (retreat and study) experience. But, this is my first as your Director of Membership & Programming, which is uniquely motivating for me. In my mind as I attend each session and thru this daily blog, you all are virtually in Toronto with me. As it suits you, I hope you'll follow along and share your thoughts with me throughout the week.