ORGANIZATIONS
26A Federation Star January 2013 COLLIER/LEE CHAPTER OF HADASSAH
www.hadassah.org / 239-676-3052
Hadassah update Shelley Skelton President
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s we move forward together into Hadassah’s second century, I am compelled to use a quote that I have used before: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” from a story by Charles Dickens that begins in the year 1775, but with a little imagination, could have been written today. Coincidentally, as I was searching my brain for a subject to begin my first President’s message of the New Year, a friend called me espousing the wonders of a newspaper she had just uncovered in her memorabilia. She was so thrilled about it that she wanted to share it with everyone. I am just going to include parts of it, and as I do, you will notice that the words are almost exactly the same as something that could have been writ-
ten today, although these words were written in the early 1950s. • “The State of Israel emerges as a “little power” in the United Nations as a result of its efforts to find a way out of the Korean crisis.” • “UN Adopts Israel’s Peace Proposals” • “Israel constantly working for Peace” • “An immediate cease-fire is called for” • “It is a distinct pleasure to send hearty congratulations to Hadassah on the celebration of its 30th anniversary!” • “...we were nice girls, devoted Zionists, who raised quotas for strange things with names hard to spell, the meaning of which we were always explaining to everybody. We were indeed Zionists in a world where being a Zionist was more than a little odd...” • “As early as October, Mr. Sharett expressed Israel’s deep concern lest the fighting in Korea ignite
HUMANISTIC JEWISH HAVURAH
World peace.” And so time marches on and the headlines are often similar. Hadassah has just marched out of its first 100 years and we are beginning our second century of carrying on the extraordinary work of Hadassah. The efforts of our dedicated volunteers, highly qualified personnel, medical researchers, scientists, doctors, generous donors, and everyone involved in this monumental achievement help to support Hadassah’s initiatives. We also graciously thank all of our friends, colleagues, committee members and board members, without whom none of this would be possible. And we pride ourselves on turning the worst of times into the best of times! Our daytime and evening study groups will continue to meet on a regular basis. In December 16, there was a luncheon for our Major Donors and Keepers of the Gate, hosted by Nancy Wiadro and Ruth Stockinger, at Quail West Country Club. Vice President of Education Elyse Morande entertained at her home for an evening with June
Sochen, an outstanding educator, author and communicator. We will be lunching and watching a Fashion Show at Vanderbilt Country Club on Friday, January 22 with our own chapter members as models, planned and coordinated by Iris Shur and Lynn Weiner. Our Associates, chaired by Gil Rashbaum and Rob Nossen, are presenting “Coffee and Tea, Hadassah and Me” on Thursday, January 31. And our famous annual Mah Jongg and Card Party, chaired by Elaine Soffer, will take place on Monday, January 28, with a fabulous lunch at Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club. And please look for your invitation to a gala evening, “The Borscht Belt Bash,” to be held on Sunday, February 10 at the Club at Olde Cypress, under the leadership of Lauren Becker. These are just a few of the events to look forward to this year. I hope to see you at many of them.
www.humanisticjewishhavurahswfl.org / 239-495-8197
Rabbi Wine’s secular history of the Jews Paula Creed President
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lear your calendar for “Lunch with the Rabbi” at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, January 18 at Shula’s in the Hilton Naples, 5111 Tamiami Trail North, (US41, just south of Pine Ridge Road). Rabbi Adam Chalom, Dean for North America of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism and Rabbi of Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation in suburban Chicago, Illinois, returns to visit the Humanistic Jewish Rabbi Adam Chalom Havurah. He will introduce Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine’s posthumously published book, A Provocative People: A Secular History of the Jews (International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, 2012), which he edited for publication. Reservations are required. Contact Dena Sklaroff at denas27@aol. com or 239.353.0909. ~~~ In the fall of 1997, Rabbi Wine gathered a group of illustrious scholars at the Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills, Michigan, who, together with faculty of the Interna-
tional Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, addressed the topic or “Reclaiming Jewish History.” Why does Jewish history need to be reclaimed, and from whom? The participants came from several continents and from diverse religious persuasions. What they shared was a commitment to seeking and exploring the truth. The issue had never been dealt with before in any public Jewish symposium. It had too much potential to upset the Jewish community because it dealt with the credibility of the story of the Jewish people as it had been presented by the biblical and rabbinic traditions. The familiar story of our history, dominated by patriarchs, prophets, miracles and divine revelations, has entered into the core literature of Jewish and Western society. It includes familiar names: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David and Solomon. It has familiar dialogue between God and man. Western poetry, painting and sculpture are infused with this story. Jews are attached to this story for obvious reasons. It glorifies the Jewish people and places them at the center of world history. It is shared by the Christian world and gives prestige to the Jewish people in Christian eyes. In the last centuries, historians and biblical scholars began to question the truth of the ancient story. An alternative story, without miracles and supernatural intervention, emerged. This story differed greatly from the traditional one. Scientific biblical criticism and archaeology challenged the
reality of the patriarchs, the Exodus, the Mosaic authorship of the Torah, and the firmly held belief that monotheism goes back to Abraham. “While these conclusions would have been very disturbing to the lay public fifty or more years ago, the consequence was a shameful dichotomy,” stated Rabbi Wine at Colloquium ’97. “In the outside world, the traditional story continued to be taught, even by liberal clergy. In the inside world of scholars and academicians, the alternative story was circulated. The alternative story never penetrated into the consciousness of the broader world.” The dialogue and confrontation among the speakers was as exciting as the presentations. It was clear that the attempt to discuss the history of
the Jews in this secular context was as novel for most of the speakers as it was for most of the audience. So successful was this event that Rabbi Wine announced that a book was emerging out of the experience. Humanistic Jews are grateful Rabbi Wine undertook the task to retrieve our history from the ideological chains of the past. Despite the innumerable tragedies faced by Jewry through the ages, he stresses the triumph of the Jewish people. This humanistic history of the Jews is a celebration of achievement and of courage in the face of centuries of persecution, massacre and murder. (Portions of this article are attributed to Humanistic Judaism, Vol. XXVI no. II pp. 3-4)
Jewish Heritage Video Collection The Jewish Heritage Video Collection (JHVC) is now housed and maintained at the Federation’s offices. The JHVC video library contains nearly 200 films and television programs carefully chosen to stimulate learning, thinking and discussion about Jewish history and culture. The Collection also provides courses that address vital issues of Jewish history, identity and culture. These courses will be available to schools, organizations and congregations in the area. For a list of available titles organized by category (Children, Comedy, Holocaust, International Jewry, Israel, Jewish Experience in America, Religion and Identity), visit www.jewishnaples.org. For more information, call us at 239.263.4205.