Being Open to Discovery
September 2, 2018
This sacred season is replete with holy days, each unique yet wedded to one another through the theme of teshuvah - turning, returning, repenting, and renewing. As we step into each holy day we encounter opportunities to celebrate;...Read more...
LOOKING BACK - LOOKING FORWARD: An Awesome Beginning & Thank You
July 1, 2018
Dear Friends,
As we move more deeply into summer we enter the book of Deuteronomy in our cycle of Torah readings. Devarim, as it is known in Hebrew, offers words from Moses encouraging the Israelites to prepare for their future by taking a look at their past. Inspired by Torah, we'd like to take a moment to reflect on the first year of our rabbinic transition to a unique way of filling one leadership position with two rabbis in...Read more...
Spiritual Nourishment In Times of Transition
May 2, 2018
Ten years ago I created a support group for members who were in transition. At that time most of the vicissitudes were professional but some members were dealing with health crises, relationship or family changes and various types of loss. We met for many years until there seemed to be no need. Recently I have wondered if there may be renewed interest in a similar group. If you are going through any...Read more...
Celebrate Chanukah
December 12, 2017
HAPPY CHANUKAH by Rabbi Linda Potemken
Chanukah is here! I invite you to embrace these eight nights and to maximize their pleasure and meaning. Here are ten reasons I savor our festival of lights:
It's Time: Chanukah occurs two months after we danced with the Torah at our last autumn festival, Simhat Torah. We are due for another...Read more...Prayer Following Shooting at First Baptist Church
November 9, 2017
Our hearts go out to the victims of the recent mass shooting at the first Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, only weeks after the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas. The fact that this recent shooting took place in a house of worship further aggravates our sense of vulnerability and loss.
We open our hearts and add our prayers to ask for all healing possible for those suffering the consequences of gun violence. We pray...Read more...
Preparing for Shavuot
May 28, 2017
Our next holiday, Shavuot, involves a special type of preparation. This major festival celebrates the giving of the Torah and we have been counting toward that observance since the 2nd night of Pesach for 7 weeks, or as we say in Hebrew, sheva Shavuot! (Shavuot means weeks). The premise of Shavuot is that we become vessels for God and Torah. How might we do that?
Torah study, prayer and...Read more...
In Response to Hate
February 28, 2017
We were shocked. Saturday night hundreds of gravestones at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery were desecrated. Immediately people of all backgrounds - Jews, Muslims, Christians - ventured out to the cemetery to offer assistance. Yesterday I participated in a gathering of close to 200 faith leaders that culminated in a press conference denouncing the vandalism on the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
The Rev. Jay Broadnax,...Read more...
Praying With My Feet
January 20, 2017
We studied the Shema and V'Ahavta last Tuesday at Hebrew School, exploring the commandment to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all that we have. This is a text that we are called upon to contemplate every day, as the Shema is part of daily prayer. I use the term “contemplate” mindfully, rather than using the terms chant or pray. This text falls in the part of the service that invites our questioning even more than our...Read more...
Thanksgiving, FUSE & Spreading Goodness
November 17, 2016
4Ever Grateful is the name of the talent show and community gathering that we will celebrate with our FUSE partners. It will be held the afternoon of November 20th and will feature a group from each community offering a number for the show. Kudos to our chorus for bringing a Beth Israel presence to this event. We have also been asked to provide desserts - something at which we excel!
FUSE is...Read more...
Comfort oh Comfort: The Work of Repair
November 10, 2016
“Comfort oh Comfort My People/My Nation” are the words of the Haftarah that we chant on the first Shabbat of consolation following Tisha B'Av, the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. They are from the 40th chapter of the book of Isaiah, a text that begins with a proclamation of hope and reconciliation. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and declare to her that her .. iniquity is expiated”. In other words, the...Read more...
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