At a Glance: May Highlighted Calendar of Events

Lilith Salon Tuesday, May 2 at 12:30pm at the Rusty Bucket

Women of IHC are invited to Sisterhood sponsored Lilith Salon in May. It is more free flowing than a book club with far fewer pages to read! Articles are emailed ahead of time. For more information and to let us know you are coming, please email Marjorie Gullett. Lilith Salon also meets on May 21 at 12:30pm.

Coffee Hours with Rabbi Chernow-Reader, Friday, May 5 from 10:00-11:30am

Come chat and grab some coffee with Rabbi Chernow-Reader at Monon Coffee Company in Broad Ripple. She will also have coffee hours on May 19 from 10:00-11:30am.

Mahjongg Mavens Friday, May 5 at 2:30pm

Grab your tile set and play a game (or ten) with the other IHC Mahjongg mavens. This addicting game of skill, strategy, and luck is a great way to spend time with other IHC enthusiasts. This Circle also meets on May 12 at 10:00am and May 19 at 2:30pm.

Tot Shabbat: Shavuot, Friday, May 5 at 5:30pm

Our youngest friends and their parents/grandparents can come to this short, kid-friendly service with a fun activity to follow. Click here to let us know you are coming.

Mitzvah Stitchers, Sunday, May 7 at 11:00am

If you love to knit, crochet, sew or embroider and love to schmooze while you stitch, then Mitzvah Stitchers is perfect for you. Email Barb Levy to have your name added to the email distribution list so she can provide you the Zoom link for meetings.

Rosh Hashanah Retreat Meeting Sunday, May 7 at 7:00pm

Have you felt the joy of attending Rosh Hashanah Retreat? Are you interested in making sure others feel that same joy in 5784? Be a part of Rosh Hashanah Retreat's first meeting on Zoom to help Rabbi Chernow-Reader plan this meaningful day.

Euchre Circle, Monday, May 8 at 10:00am

All levels of play are welcome to come and have some fun, meet new people, and compete for a prize. This Circle also meets on May 15 at 10:00am and May 24 at 6:00pm.

Email Melanie Gottlieb for more details.

Sisterhood Spring Meeting

Wednesday, May 10 from 6:30-8:30pm

Learn more about what Sisterhood does for you, IHC, and our community while connecting with Sisterhood friends, new and old. We will also be voting on the 2023-24 budget and changes to bylaws and policies. Please register to attend by May 5. Click here to register and get more details about the spring meeting.

IHC Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 11 at 7:00pm on Zoom

The Annual Meeting's agenda includes updates from temple leadership as well as the election of new board members and temple executive committee members. Watch your Weekly Update for the Zoom link.

Family Adventure Circle Meetup Saturday, May 13 at 10:30am at the Allardt home

Come out to the Allardt home for a summer kickoff gathering! There will be a bounce house and card making craft. Drinks and popsicles provided. Please let Monica Allardt (317-445-3576) know you are coming so she has an idea of how many people plan to come.

It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere Wednesday, May 17 at 6:30pm

Join the Wine O’Clock Somewhere Circle for a blind Chardonnay tasting. Everyone should bring a bottle of their favorite Chardonnay to share. We will taste test each (using bags to cover the bottles) and vote on our favorite, and then reveal the winner. Email Melissa Noparstak if you plan to attend or have any questions.

Board Game Social Circle, Thursday, May 18 at 6:00pm

Take a break from the computer and phone screens and play some tabletop games face to face. We will try both classics and the latest in board games. No experience required. Contact Lou Harry for more details.

IHC Music presents, Celebrations: An Indianapolis Children's Choir performance Sunday, May 24 at 4:00pm

Read more about this performance on page 7.

We Celebrate the B'nai Mitzvah of:

Sadie Sniderman, who will be called to the Torah on May 6, 2023. She is a seventh grade student at Sycamore School. She loves animals of all stripes, music, ice skating, horseback riding, and spending time with her friends and extended family. Sadie plays soccer for Dynamo and basketball for her school team. Sadie’s parents are Jennifer and Mark Sniderman. She has an older brother, Leo.

Olivia Levi, who will be called to the Torah on May 20, 2023. She is a seventh grade student at Creekside Middle School. Her favorite sports include swimming and softball. Olivia’s parents are Sandra and Metin Levi. She has a younger sister, Sofia.

We Celebrate with:

New members:

Shira Belkov and Brad Miller

Rogan Goldblatt

Caitlin Green ~

The baby naming of Debbie & Steve Pearson's grandson, Liam Madhu Danala.

We Mourn with:

Rhonda Gerson-Hurwitz, daughter of Audrey Gerson z''l

The loved ones of Harvey Kagan z''l

Blair Karsch, brother of Dana Karsch Wagner z''l

The family of Jill Rose z''l

Carol and Elliot Segal, family of Eva Kolten z''l

Ann Shepherd, sister of Daniel Chomyn z''l

Sarah Skwire, Abigail Waschow, and Penelope Waschow, family of Marjorie Skwire z''l

Barbara Wolfson, Phillip (Adrienne) Frank, Lainie (Steve) Hurwitz, and Clair (Brian) Jacobson, family of Lenard Wolfson z''l z''l stands for stands for zichronam livracha, which means "may their memory be for blessing"

The best efforts were taken to create these listings since the last issue of the Kulanu. Please reach out to communications@ihcindy.org if you believe there was an omission or error

Rabbi Roxanne Shapiro, RJE Director of Lifelong Learning

Who shall go up the mountain?

As Exodus 19 recalls, we all stood at the base of Mt. Sinai. Moses had led us out of our camp to the foot of the mountain to wait…to wait for God. We were there. Jewish tradition teaches that we all stood at Sinai, even if we do not remember it.

Yet, we were warned to not go up the mountain. Only Moses could ascend Moreover, when we saw the thunder and the lightning and the mountain smoldering, we were afraid We said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will obey: but let not God speak to us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:16) We were scared and completely comfortable letting Moses be our liaison

That day, Moses went up the mountain to receive Torah from God as we heard the thunder, watched the clouds, and awaited Moses’ return Moses received Torah and this we now celebrate during the festival of Shavuot

Yet, today, if it were all to happen again in the same way, would we be too afraid and just send Moses? Or would we climb that mountain?

Reform Judaism encourages each of us to climb the mountain for ourselves Of course, that mountain is not necessarily literal, but figurative

What is at the peak of the mountain you climb?

As a rabbi, I often see the mountain as having God at the top [though, yes, I do believe that God is all around us, not just on a mountain] The mountain represents that which we have to figuratively climb in order to make that connection

I believe that many of us desire to climb that mountain – the same mountain. I also believe that what I define as God at the top of the mountain may have a different definition for someone else Judaism, as with any other faith/ethical belief system, provides for us a path/guide up that mountain; but how do we understand that map?

As an educator, of course, I am going to say that it is through the pursuit of knowledge and understanding that we understand the map You see, even if the trail guide is in the “language” of a particular religious tradition, the map is going to be different for each of us We see it through our own lens

To understand our map, we engage in study We study the texts and teachings with which we feel comfortable and we study the texts and teachings that challenge us We learn and grow so much when we wrestle with our tradition, just as Jacob wrestled with the being until dawn (Genesis 32) Grappling with the text can only make us stronger Climbing the mountain can only make our connection deeper

This Shavuot, as we hear the retelling of our time at Mt Sinai, may we think about where we stand on that mountain today are we at the base? Are we afraid to climb, shouting for Moses to do it for us or have we started our ascent? Do we stand at a halfway point? Are we stuck, not knowing which path to take next or are we reaching the summit?

We, at IHC, invite you to take the journey up the mountain with us If we take the steps together, through study, questioning, and experiencing, the path up the mountain is not only more easily traversed; it is also more engaging along the way

Chag Shavuot Sameach!

Have a happy and meaningful Shavuot!