COMMUNITY | D’VAR TORAH
thejewishvoice.org
October 11, 2013 |
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Find joy in the valleys, not only on the peaks The seeds we plant in ourselves will bloom Parashat Noah Genesis 6:9-11:32 By Rabbi Sarah Mack Special to The Jewish Voice You may have heard the sound as Jewish professionals everywhere breathed a sigh of relief last week with the advent of Rosh Hodesh Heshvan. That is because Heshvan, which follows Tishri, is the only Jewish month that contains no holiday or festival. The rabbis played on the ancient linguistic roots of the month, calling it Marheshvan, meaning “bitter Heshvan.” Some attribute this nega-
tive term to the lack of festivals, while others say it is because our matriarch Sarah is purported to have died during this month. It is an interesting choice of verbiage, for not even the month of Av – when we commemorate the destruction of the Temple – is described so dismally. In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), this month is described as yerah bul, “the month of withering.” (I Kings 6:38). Indeed, as summer fades, we need only look out our own windows to see the flora giving way to its winter state. Another commentator interprets the word bul to
mean mabul (“flood”), making or everyday activities, a time to Heshvan the month of floods – buckle down to the routines and no doubt because of the heavy daily duties that beckon each of rains that start falling in Israel us. Heshvan teaches us to find at this time of year, as well as joy in the valleys as well as on the proximity to our reading of the peaks. When the final summer crops parashat Noah. However we translate it, it have been gathered in, this also does appear that we have en- means that it is time to begin tered a dark and dreary part of planting again. Perhaps the festival-free month of Heshvan the year. Yet, there is a wisdom to our gives us space to grow. The calendar. How could we pos- rains that fall nourish the sibly top the “highs” of Tishri, seeds planted during the Yafilled with celebration, family, mim Noraim (Days of Awe), so joy and more honeycake than that our visions of transformaanyone really wants to eat? tion can bloom into reality. The Heshvan is just the reverse; it is quietude of Heshvan is the time a time to revel in the ordinary to act upon the inspiration we
gained from Tishri. The idea that blessings will indeed sprout from what appears to be decay has a name: faith. In this rainy season, may we be able to access our faith even when the sun does not shine. As we go forth into the new year of 5774, may we reap joy and harvest goodness from seeds lovingly sown in the preceding days and weeks. Rabbi Sarah Mack (RabbiMack@temple-beth-el.org) is a rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Providence.
A woman of many talents stars in beloved classic, Fiddler on the Roof By Irina Missiuro PROVIDENCE – Karen Kessler, who is appearing in the Community Players’ “Fiddler on the Roof,” enjoys a challenge. She met John, her husband of 23 years, at an ex-boyfriend’s wedding. She has two bachelor’s degrees and an MBA – and she’s currently juggling her acting duties alongside her work as the Ocean State Theatre Company’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations. Kessler also directs and choreographs Temple Beth-El’s Purim spiels every year. She recently met with The Jewish Voice to discuss her life and her work. While in college, Kessler decided that she needed to have a fallback career option in addition to her drama degree. She says, “I got a little nervous about whether I would actually be an actress,” so she picked up a speech and drama education degree. She needn’t have worried, having recently won a Motif award for best actress after appearing in the “Sugar Bean Sisters” with the Community Players, where she serves on the Board of Governors. A wearer of many hats, Kessler incorporates her varied interests in her numerous roles, “I really am using all my de-
grees.” She does admit to biting off more than she wants to chew sometimes. Scrambling to devote time to “Fiddler on the Roof” while focusing on the OSTC’s “Les Misérables” (see Sept. 27 issue of the Jewish Voice, “ Dr. Fred Scheff – in tune with himself”), Kessler laughs, “I’m surprised I’m still standing. I’m surprised I know my lines.” One of the reasons she wanted to make sure she participated in Fiddler on the Roof is her family, a source of support and inspiration. Her mother, who has attended nearly every show in which Kessler has appeared, played Golde, Tevye’s wife, when Kessler was growing up. The fact that the musical is part of her heritage is also a big draw. Another enticement is the dialect she’ll be using for the role; after all, Yente is “a Jewish busybody with a Russian accent.” While it’s tempting to go big, Kessler is cautious that the audience might miss the really great punch lines or see Yente as a caricature, “She is a little outrageous and, yet, I want to make sure that she’s believable.” Always attracted to largerthan-life characters, such as
Social Action Committee at Temple Beth-El By Sherry Royall Once a month, during the school year, we partner with a grade from the Religious School at Temple Beth-El and make cheese sandwiches, trail mix and cut veggies for Crossroads RI. Each month we have a different grade from Pre-K to 6th with us. Their par-
ents and anyone else are invited to join us. We work in the Temple boardroom from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. The food is then taken to Crossroads RI. We have been doing this for more than15 years. Sherry Royall is co-chair of the Temple Beth-El Social Action Committee.
William DonnelLy
Karen Kessler, center front, from the play “Belles”
Dr. Gorgeous from “The Sisters Rosensweig,” or her favorite role – Bella from “Lost in Yonkers,” a woman with questionable mental capabilities — Kessler enjoys working with Vinny Lupino, a good friend and director who “has a knack for choosing and directing plays with strong female characters.” Kessler herself likes directing, but can’t make such a great
commitment very often. She explains, “Your fingers are in everything,” and hers are already busy. It’s possible that she’s so skilled at playing extraordinary women because she is one of them. Not mad like Bella or feisty like Dr. Gorgeous or sharp-tongued like Yente, but multi-faceted and scrappy. Go see her in this production of the
classic. As Yente might have said, “If God lived on earth, he’d break your windows for missing the Community Players’ Fiddler on the Roof.” For more information or to order tickets: 726-6860 or thecommunityplayers.org Irina Missiuro (IMissiuro@ gmail.com) is an editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.
Israel study grants and scholarships Available through the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Grants are available to all high school, college and graduate students who are Rhode Island residents planning to study in Israel in a recognized study and travel program. The Rhode Island Jewish community supports an Israel experience as an integral part of a
student’s education and growing Jewish identity. Applications are due to Elanah Chassen at the Jewish Alliance: By October 15, 2013 for winter programs By December 2, 2013 for spring programs By March 14, 2014 for sum-
mer, fall and year-long programs For more information: contact Elanah Chassen (echass en@jew i sh a l l i a nc er i.or g), Education and Planning Associate, 421-4111 ext. 140.