ha
H desh February-March 2023
From Rabbi Lerner Should Jews Proselytize? Ideas travel fast in our contemporary world. One tweet and suddenly, a video clip spreads like wildfire around the globe. True or not, these social media posts have incredible power. When used in combination with other content – memes, videos, and graphics – they can push people to endorse new opinions or even change their existing ones. In the ancient world, ideas did not move quite so quickly. They often spread as one civilization came into contact with another. People became attracted to new ideas or they were forced upon their civilization as a result of military conquest. In the Second Temple period (500 BCE–100 CE), Jewish perspectives spread through many areas bordering the Mediterranean. Especially during the centuries under Roman rule, Judaism’s notions of justice, ethical monotheism, the Sabbath, and making learning accessible to all were quite attractive. Eventually, through the spread of Christianity and Islam, these values (and others) did catch on throughout much of the world. So, how is it that the Jewish religion and the Jewish people remained such a small percentage of the world population? Why are we such a small group? (continued on page 16)
Shevat-Adar-Nisan 5783
Glatzer Weekend: Mar. 24-26 This year marks the 45th year since the inception of the Glatzer Fund at Temple Emunah, an annual event that honors the memories of Dr. Nahum Glatzer and Mrs. Anne Glatzer, distinguished and active members of Temple Emunah (see page 5). In their spirit, we bring eminent Jewish scholars to teach and study with us. This year’s Glatzer Weekend will feature scholar-in-residence Yosef I. Abramowitz, who will join us for a Friday night dinner and talk, a Shabbat morning D’var Torah and a post-kiddush talk, and a Sunday morning brunch and talk. Watch your mail and email for details. Yosef I. Abramowitz, an AmericanIsraeli human rights activist, educator, and entrepreneur, is a pioneer of the solar energy industry in Israel and East Africa. Co-founder of the Arava Power Company, Israel’s leading solar developer, he was named by CNN as one of the six top global “Green Pioneers,” and as Person of the Year by the Israel National Business and Energy Conference. Nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, Abramowitz heads Energiya Global Capital, an impact investment platform that provides healthy returns to investors while advancing the environmental and humanitarian goals of providing affordable green power to underserved populations in Africa and elsewhere as a fundamental human right.
Support Glatzer Weekend
March 6-7 Celebration and silliness for all ages! Purim Carnival March 12 See page 3.
We hope you will join this year’s Friends of Glatzer to support and honor the memories of Anne and Nahum Glatzer. Donations may be made either electronically or by sending in the Friends of Glatzer form with your check to the Temple Emunah office. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to having you join us. L’Shalom, The Glatzer Planning Team: Sandy Goldstein, Terri Swartz Russell, Judi Canter, Francine Jacobs, Susan Cook