JULY-AUGUST 2015 TAMMUZ ~ AV ~ ELUL 5775 WWW.BETHELNR.ORG
A MESSAGE FROM OUR RABBI, DAVID A. SCHUCK Dear Friends, Earlier in the summer, I was honored to share in the celebration of Rabbi Sirner’s decades of leadership, and I was deeply moved by the myriad ways that he and Lenore have touched so many people. The evening was a testament to the warmth, love, and respect that Rabbi Sirner has generated through his rabbinate. I feel extremely fortunate to begin my leadership with the benefit of the forty-three years of service that Rabbi Sirner dedicated to this synagogue. I am blessed that he warmly welcomed me to Beth El and made this transition smooth. I look forward to learning from his wisdom and example. Yet even in the best of circumstances, transitions are invariably challenging. Think about our people’s transition from slavery to freedom. A mere three months after the Israelites fled Egypt, they found themselves standing at the foot of Mt. Sinai. The moment was full of the promise of a new beginning; the Voice that would change the world forever was about to reveal the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments. Yet in that moment of promise the Israelites were scared. They knew that everything was about to change. Rashi, quoting an earlier midrash, suggests that Moses sensed their fear and thus normalized their feelings. He says: “,uae ,ukj,v kf” “All beginnings are difficult.” Like a parent comforting a
nervous child, Moses puts his arms around their shoulders and reassures them that they must take those first steps into the unknown even though they are frightened. As is always the case, Moses is teaching all of us. When we face a new beginning with openness and optimism, with faith in God, ourselves, and one another, not only Rabbi will we persevere, but we will each grow and David A. Schuck our community will thrive. Moses does not pretend that it will be easy—All beginnings are difficult—but he believes that people will rise to the challenge. His words resonate thousands of years later as we stand on the precipice of this new beginning at Beth El Synagogue Center, and I have no doubt that we will all rise to the challenges that we will encounter. All beginnings are difficult. Many people have asked me about the changes that I want to make. Others have encouraged me to consider changing something that they want to see done differently. I want to be clear about my approach to this transition: this is a special time at Beth El, a time of inquisitiveness and [continued, page 4]
5 1 0 2 s ’ l E h t e B s e i r e S m l i F l e Summer Isra
Remember to fill out the Summer 2015 sur vey at b e t h e l n r. o r g / youthcommunity so we can be in touch with your children over the summer! Ever yone who fills out the form w i l l re c e i v e a handwritten note from us or an inperson visit!
New Officer, New Staff Position........ page 3 Tisha B’Av......................................... page 6 President’s Message.......................... page 5 Inclusion Confusion.......................... page 7
Shabbat Shaboom........................... page 14 Religious School Registration.......... page 15