In this issue
March -April 2013 Adar- Iyar 5773
For more information, Calendar of Events, Rabbis' sermons, and for Emergency School Closings be sure to check our website at www. nssbethel.org or call 847-432-8900.
Learn Passover Palooza pg.7 Frankel Lecture pg.13
Pray Pesach Service Schedule pg.3 Passover Pray & Play pg.7 Passover Supplement pg.16
From the Desk of Rabbi Schwab
Community Chametz Fest pg.3 Marc Epstein pg.6 Yom Hashoah Event pg.7 Sisterhood Membership Tea pg.8 Dinner with Rabbi pg.9 Blood Drive pg.11 A Night of Dreams pg.14
Mission Statement We are a congregation of families and individuals who come together to pray, to study, and to create a warm and welcoming community. We seek to preserve and enhance our People's traditions within the context of Conservative Judaism. We aspire to strengthen our Jewish identity to meet the challenges of a changing environment. We endeavor to provide resources to help us relate to God, understand the ways of God and enrich the Jewish content of our lives. We encourage our members to serve worthwhile causes within our Congregation and the wider Jewish and world communities. We are committed to support Israel. We educate our children so they commit to the cultural, spiritual, and ethical values of our People. March- April 2013 / Adar- Iyar 5773
The Secret of Passover: Why We Love the Holiday of Matzah So Much! Everyone waxes nostalgic from time to time. Some of us do it quite often. We look into our past and we re-live a powerful experience, a meaningful event, a lovely time. And we remember the special feelings of that time, the magic of that moment, and we cherish it. There are all kinds of occasions in our lives that can become the subject of our nostalgia but I would guess that most represent occasions when we were surrounded by people we love, at moments of significance, especially during times of joy. I don’t know about you, but each year thinking about my upcoming Passover Seder unfailingly sends me into the world of nostalgia. Years of past Sedarim cycle through my head. Precious memories of times spent with family members, some of whom who are no longer alive and some of whom who are no longer part of my Seder because of distance and life circumstance, suddenly become tangible and vivid. I can smell the food, hear the laughter and feel the warmth. Through the experience of these memories I re-connect with my own past, with my treasured relationships, with my personal family history and with my Jewish heritage, all at once, in an emotionally compelling way. During those moments of remembering I understand that all those years of experiencing Passover Sedarim in such a way have created a powerful and positive legacy that naturally creates joyful anticipation in advance of the current holiday each and every year. While many of us complain about the lack of bread and the poor taste of matzah (although there are some who love it!?), the reality is that this is one of the most meaningful and most celebrated holidays on the Jewish calendar. Much of that, I believe, stems from the powerful entwinement of our personal memories with the collective memory of our people. This is a holiday, which perhaps like no other, actively builds Jewish identity and connects us as individuals to the on-going story of the Jewish people. “I” becomes “We”. Our family customs become intertwined with the ancient customs of our ancestors. Our present intermingles with our past – creating a new future. The Passover Seder, in many ways, acts as our Jewish compass helping us to better understand who we are and, therefore, guiding us to where we need to go. Every year I tell anyone who will listen that the more one puts into the preparations for the Seder night, the more one will get out if it in return. Making the content of the Seder interesting, interactive, meaningful and fun allows the Seder experience to go even beyond a wonderful meal with family and friends accompanied by delicious food (already a great foundation). With some forethought, participants can come away with a deeper appreciation for their freedoms, a greater understanding of the Jewish past, a deeper connection to their family history and a greater affinity for their Jewish identity. Any time we have (continued on page 2) 1