Insight, Spring 2022

into Temple Israel of Boston

AT TEMPLE ISRAEL, WE...

The TI Scene: Living Judaism Together

TI member Laura Guggenheimer leading off the GBIO Assembly in January.

Clergy press conference to support Rachael Rollins.

First Annual Welcome Home Concert! Riverway Project Chanukah Party.

FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR

Laurence Bailen Board President

It has been wonderful to see so many of you together onsite or online at the myriad of opportunities that Temple Israel offers to gather to pray, to study, to celebrate, and to engage in social justice. This year we were energized by our Shabbat Tzedek service and a weekend of events both onsite and online. US Attorney Rachael Rollins spoke to us about the importance of being an upstander and not turning away from injustice. She also felt the warmth, spirituality, and excitement of a Temple Israel experience as she commented to me how happy and inspired she felt after the service. Shabbat Tzedek shows us how much more we need to do to make our community and our world welcoming to all. Yet this weekend of experiences always gives me hope. Hope in the power of community and the strength we enjoy when anyone who walks through our doors, either physically or virtually, feels like they belong. Our Temple Israel community continues to work on racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI). Although there is always more to do, we have made significant progress. I encourage your ongoing support and involvement in this work.

This winter, events at a fellow Reform congregation in Texas once again brought safety and security concerns to the front of our minds. As we plan to gather onsite and online this spring for many activities including Shabbat, Purim, Passover, and Stepping Out, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance our safety and security. Thank you to our incredible Executive Director, Dan Deutsch, who has helped lead our longstanding efforts to ensure a safe and comforting experience for anyone who comes to Temple Israel. Dan has fostered relationships with the local and national law enforcement community that have supported our efforts in doing everything we can to make certain our building and our online experiences are safe and secure.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, Temple Israel continues to thrive. We continue to offer education, spirituality, and connection. Thank you for a being a part of the Temple Israel community. We are stronger together.

Deutsch Executive Director

One of the things that I’ve discovered more and more over the course of this pandemic is just how talented our Temple Israel community is. As I get to know more of you through phone conversations, meetings of the committees you’ve joined, and even one-on-one interactions in person or in our Zoom post-services schmooze, I have become so impressed with all of you. My request is that you continue to share your talents with your TI community. We’re approaching the time of year when the Board of Trustees appoints a Nominating Committee to help us find new members for our Board of Trustees and Leadership Council for next year. They’re looking for talented individuals – and maybe that’s you! You may not yet be ready to join the Board, but please: get involved. We have many committees and study groups and social justice opportunities just waiting for you to join.

I’d also like to extend a personal invitation for you to join us this year at Stepping Out, our annual gala. This will be the first mixed presence gala at Temple Israel, where you can join us onsite or online. We’re working hard to make it an incredible evening, no matter how you join us. The invitation is live on our website and we can’t wait to have you celebrate all of the strengths of our community, together.

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

Dan

WE ARE PURIM JEWS AND PASSOVER JEWS

by Rabbi Suzie Jacobson

In his article, “Passover Jews vs Purim Jews - The Agony of our Dilemma,” Yossi Klein Halevi, describes the two threads of Jewish history and its representation in modern Jewish identity:

Jewish history speaks to our generation in the voice of two biblical commands to remember. The first voice commands us to remember that we were strangers in the land of Egypt, and the message of that command is: Don’t be brutal. The second voice commands us to remember how the tribe of Amalek attacked us without provocation while we were wandering in the desert, and the message of that command is: Don’t be naive.The first command is the voice of Passover, of liberation; the second is the voice of Purim, commemorating our victory over the genocidal threat of Haman, a descendant of Amalek.

“Passover Judaism” emphasizes the essential compassion of our Jewish values and moves us to empathize with the oppressed. “Purim Judaism” emphasizes the preciousness of Jewish peoplehood and reminds us to remain vigilant of the antisemitic threats in our own world. Through the Passover seder we reenact our mythic slavery to fortify our commitment to justice, and on Purim we use rituals of disguise, silliness and joy to emphasize our commitment to our Jewish identity and fortify our resolve to remain Jewish no matter the external threats.

At Temple Israel of Boston, we are both Passover Jews and Purim Jews. We gather with joy on Purim to celebrate our precious peoplehood and we turn our hearts and minds to justice on Passover to give us spiritual and moral strength for the justice work ahead. As we gather this year for our wonderful holidays, may we remember the power and strength of our holy community and may we with compassion remember our obligation to heal this broken world.

YOSSI KLEIN HALEVI IN CONVERSATION WITH RABBI ELAINE ZECHER

Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor: What an Israeli Writer Learned From Reaching Out to Palestinians

Sunday, March 6 from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. This online event is free and open to all.

Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and codirector of the Institute’s Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI), which teaches emerging young Muslim American leaders about Judaism, Jewish identity, and Israel.

Yossi Klein Halevi will join Rabbi Elaine Zecher in conversation about his latest book, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor. In this series of letters, Halevi explains what motivated him to leave his native New York in his twenties and move to Israel to participate in the drama of the renewal of a Jewish homeland, which he is committed to see succeed as a morally responsible, democratic state in the Middle East.

This online event is offered in partnership by the Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Israel of Boston and Shalom Hartman Institute. Visit www.tisrael.org to RSVP and get the zoom link. Contact Brigid Goggin at bgoggin@tisrael.org with questions.

Let's Celebrate Together!

Links to all online programs can be found at www.tisrael.org

PURIM 5782: MARCH 16, 2022

Purim commemorates the downfall of a tyrant and the power we find in taking off our masks and embracing our true identities. On Purim, we retell the story of Esther, send care packages to our loved ones and those who are most vulnerable in our society, and celebrate as a community in the spirit of silliness and joy. At Temple Israel of Boston, we celebrate this holiday with activities for all ages!

Prep

for Purim...

SATURDAY, MARCH 12

9:00 a.m. Torah Study will focus on Purim texts. (Online)

10:00 a.m. Village Purim Puppet Show with Anna Sobel from Talking Hands Theater (Together in mixed presence, onsite and online)

SUNDAY, MARCH 13

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Purim 101, led by Temple Israel clergy. (Online)

MONDAY, MARCH 14

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Teen Purim Celebration, Contact Fallon Rubin for more information. (Onsite)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

• 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. All kids and families are invited to Purimpalooza! Join us in costume and embrace the fun! (Together in mixed presence, onsite and online)

• 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Purim with Riverway Project for 20s & 30s. (Onsite)

• 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. It's time again for our 21+ Purimpalooza! Join the full Temple Israel clergy for a reading of the whole megillah, irreverently read through the lens of our annual “Purim Against Humanity” Card Game. Who will the clergy be dressed as this year? (Together in mixed presence, onsite and online)

SUNDAY, MARCH 20

Join us for an outdoor Purim party! In partnership with FJECC Preschool, Village for Families with Young Children, and the Religious School. (Onsite)

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

PASSOVER 5782: APRIL 15 - 22, 2022

Passover is the ultimate liberation celebration that reminds us that even in the face of tyranny, it is possible to move from degradation to freedom. We gather together at the Passover seder to tell the Exodus story that has inspired oppressed people across the world for countless generations and remember that none of us are free until we all are free. At Temple Israel of Boston, we come together as a community to mark the seder together, infusing ancient symbols and traditions with contemporary ones as we reflect on the meaning of liberation in our world today.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

9:00 a.m. Torah Study will focus on Passover texts. (Online)

STAY TUNED! In the weeks leading up to Passover, we will offer many onsite and online opportunities to learn and prepare together, including Passover 101, Seder Plate Making, Poetry for Your Seder, a Family Passover Program, and more!

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

6:00 p.m. An abbreviated and festive Qabbalat Shabbat (Online)

Time TBD: Riverway Project (20s & 30s) First Night Seder. (Together in mixed presence, onsite and online)

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

10:00 a.m. Passover Festival Service and Torah Study (Together in mixed presence, onsite and online)

10:00 a.m. Seder for Young Children, with the Village (Onsite)

7:00 p.m. Our Grand Communal Seder is open to all! The Passover Seder is a story of resilience, redemption, and adaptation! With our clergy, we will celebrate the transformative ritual of Passover through questions, singing, and celebrating our redemption from Slavery in Egypt. (Online)

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

6:15 p.m. Yizkor Memorial Service (Online)

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

10:00 a.m. 7th Day Festival Service and Torah Study (Together in mixed presence, onsite and online)

Kiddush:

or whatever juice you have

Shank bone or roasted beet (or a picture of either) Maror: Bitter herbs like horseradish. How about wasabi? Hazeret: Another form of bitter herb, like romaine Karpas: Parsley, celery, or other greens (or a green crayon, play dough or green M&Ms)

Beitzah: An egg (Are you vegan? Use a flower.) Haroset: Chopped apples, honey, and cinnamon will do the trick

STEPPING OUT APRIL 2, 2022

“We are honored and excited to host the first ever mixed presence Stepping Out gala at Temple Israel. We have been proud members of TI since 2014 and feel fortunate to be a part of such an incredible community. Our girls, Gigi (7) and Bella (6), are graduates of the FJECC Preschool and currently attend Religious School at TI. We have made wonderful friends through both Temple Israel and the Preschool and are truly grateful for the opportunity to host such an important and wonderful event. Our hope is that we can enjoy a much anticipated evening amongst friends and together support all the incredible work that makes TI so special.”

We are excited to bring th Temple Israel community together, both onsite and online, to support the Friends Annual Fund at Stepping Out 2022. Our goal with being in mixed presence for this event is to meet each other where we feel most comfortable. While some of us cannot wait to be back on the dance floor with our TI friends who feel like family, some of us are more comfortable joining from home on Zoom. Both are wonderful ways to support Temple Israel, and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

The Friends Annual Fund provides the essential resources needed to sustain our extraordinary educational opportunities, our innovative and timely social justice initiatives, and our extensive and inclusive spiritual experiences. To join us onsite or online, please send back the RSVP card you received with your Stepping Out invitation, or register online at www.tisrael. org/steppingout2022. For more information, contact Shoshanna Goldberg, Director of Membership & Development, at sgoldberg@tisrael.org or 617-566-3960.

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

- Kevin & Daniella Prussia, Stepping Out 2022 Hosts

OUTDOORS WITH TI

By Rabbi Andrew Oberstein

There was once a time when Judaism was inextricable from the natural world. Our holidays were built around the cycles of nature, intimately tied to the ebb and flow of the seasons. Our festivals were deeply rooted in the harvest schedule of ancient Israel, as our ancestors prayed for rain to sustain them. Our liturgy is absolutely teeming with nature imagery, inspired by the incredible sense of awe that our rabbis found while engaging with the wonders of creation.

Yet, somewhere along the way, we lost track of this imperative and became a primarily indoor religion. Most of us have experienced our most significant Jewish moments inside buildings, rather than out in the fields, on mountaintops, or beside the sea. However, at Temple Israel of Boston, we understand that there are so many ways to find spiritual connection and meaning, both within the walls of our building and beyond.

This year, in an attempt to rediscover the spiritual power of the natural world, we have launched a new initiative called “Outdoors with TI.” Designed as an intentionally intergenerational initiative, we aim to bring people together from all across the Temple Israel orbit for outdoor experiences that help us reconnect to our roots and celebrate the beauty of nature.

Every month, regardless of the season, we are finding meaningful ways to gather outdoors! We began with Shabbat morning bike rides on the Minuteman Bikeway and the Charles River Esplanade. We came together in February for a Winter Wonderland Walk on through the Arnold Arboretum. And in the coming months, we are planning to gather our community for hiking, outdoor yoga, kayaking, and so much more! To learn more about how you can find spiritual connection outside and join us for upcoming opportunities, reach out to Bonnie Stewart at bstewart@tisrael.org.

"Outdoors with TI is a great opportunity to get outside, meet new people in the TI community, and engage in conversation about Torah in a fun and alternative setting." - Nate Silver

SHABBAT TZEDEK WEEKEND 2022

QABBALAT SHABBAT WITH RACHAEL ROLLINS

"When I first began attending Qabbalat Shabbat services at Temple Israel, I saw the "Disturb Us" piece included as part of the text for private prayer. I immediately knew that it was a piece of writing that I would return to every week. I felt that a community that would urge its congregants not to let Shabbat be a way to shut out the world at its most difficult times but to use it as an opportunity to be better in tune with it was where I belonged. During Shabbat Tzedek, I had that feeling affirmed in both big and small ways. Not only did I have the opportunity to hear the words that sustain me and spur me on in times of difficulty read allowed, but to have the sentiment echoed by the clergy of Temple Israel, the youth speakers, and Rachael Rollins in her speech was a truly powerful experience."

- McKenzie Johnson

TORAH STUDY: LESSONS OF LIBERATION AND RACIAL EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

"Inclusion is very important to me as someone with special needs. I remember being one of the first people with special needs to have a Bat Mitzvah on Shabbat at Temple Israel — that was a turning point for me. Before that, people with special needs weren’t allowed to have a Bar or Bat Mitzvah on Shabbat — they would have to do it on Thursdays. But my mom and dad helped change that by advocating for me. When I was 15, my family and I were invited to a Shabbat of Inclusion to talk about what it’s like to have special needs — that really helped! Temple Israel has changed my life for the better by all that it has done for me for the past 29 years: the way that it has included me and always being caring towards me, including calling on me to recite part of the service at Torah Study on Shabbat morning, which is very special to me. I love my Temple—it’s my home.

- Esther Greenspan

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

BETHEL AME SUNDAY SERVICE

"I attended Qabbalat Shabbat, Torah Study, Havdalah, and then the Sunday morning Bethel AME service. Attending all these grounded me in reflections on the civil rights legacy and partnerships. At AME, I had a very meaningful 1:1 breakout room discussion with one of their congregants. It is such a gift to have this AME-TI relationship, where we can share ideas and spiritual experience and strategies for making the world more peaceful and just, and also strengthen each other."

- Ellen Messer

RIVERWAY REDI CONVERSATION& TU B'SHVAT

"I learned so much about myself and other members of the Riverway Project during our REDI conversation. I hope there are many more opportunities for us to continue to learn, grow, and make positive changes in our community together. Following this conversation with a Tu B'shvat service that incorporated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s teachings brought light and hope into my home on a cold winter's day."

- Perri Lomberg

A CLOSER LOOK AT MIXED PRESENCE AT TI

By Dan Deutsch, Executive Director

…for to see your face is like seeing the face of God. (Genesis 33:10)

"Our community now experiences the life of the synagogue online and onsite. Both provide the opportunity to be present. Our former President, Marc Maxwell, described it as mixed presence. I love this term because it honors each person wherever they find themselves in prayer, in learning, in mourning, and in celebration. Mixed presence provides the opportunity to behold one another’s presence.

Whether online or onsite, we can see and be seen. " - Rabbi Elaine Zecher

Here at Temple Israel, our mission of living Judaism together is at the core of everything we do. One of the most crucial aspects of this mission is praying together. At the start of the pandemic, we realized that we would need to move quickly to figure out how we can make praying together continue even through the uncertainty of those early days. We’re proud of our mixed presence approach; creating meaningful points of connection for those both onsite and online.

In mixed presence, all who join need to feel that they were connected to everyone equally, whether onsite or online. We have invested in technology that allows us to project a Zoom gallery into the walls of our gathering spaces, so that those onsite can see those online and feel truly together. We have had to upgrade our technology as things evolve, including two-way sound and amplification, which allows for a dialogue between those onsite and online. I have been so impressed with the ways in which our clergy and facilitators have used this technology in creative ways, bringing physical movement and sound into everything we do.

As we look forward to the future, we will continue to invest in our physical spaces so that we can improve and expand our mixed presence offerings. We know that our ability to connect with one another through the pandemic and beyond will hinge on these improvements. In the next year, you will see continued investments as we overhaul lighting, sound, and video capabilities in several of our key spaces including the Levi Auditorium, Sanctuary, and the Slater Lounge. Our next phase of improvements will include ambient sound so that those who are online can hear the congregation onsite ,which will help us feel even more in each other's presence. We also anticipate improved lighting and cameras.

Ti congregant Lesly Inker recently told me, “Community is always important, but these days, it seems vital. The beauty of Temple Israel’s approach to mixed presence is it allows all of us to be present and part of community, no matter where we may be.” I am proud of the work that we continue to do to make Temple Israel the warm, engaging, and communal place that it is – no matter how you join us. We are living Judaism together!

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

Onsite or Online...Your Home Is Here!

BOB SLIPAKOFF | JUPITER, FLORIDA

"Distance davening from Florida and Philly has been my mode since joining TI in 2019. After onsite worship for the High Holy Days and Rabbi Slipakoff’s installation, I settled for streaming worship and Torah study, and was not able to be present until Purim 2020...and then the pandemic struck. I was isolated in a new location, having recently relocated sans lifelong friends and family, and hunkered down. Yet, TI’s miraculous (no hyperbole!) pivot to online community building, worship, and education filled my calendar and spirit with countless opportunities to get involved and make profound relationships despite my “newby” status and the gulf of physical separation. Many folks in the zoom groups I participate in are from overseas and different time zones, benefitting from mixed presence access. And the advances in audio-visual technology that TI has blessed us with are an astonishing upgrade from the single camera pre-pandemic livestream days. My still infrequent onsite visits are made sweeter by TI’s best in class virtual contact and I feel like I’m belonging and living Judaism like never before."

SARA ANDERSON | DALLAS, TX

"Temple Israel provides me with the community experience that I’ve missed since the beginning of the pandemic. After having to quit suddenly a local volunteer job in March 2020 and then achieving no real sense of belonging after months of online political campaigning, I was eager to find a group with more cohesion. So when my best friend, Betsy, a Dallas to Boston transplant, clued me into TI’s Afghan resettlement program, I jumped at the chance to participate. Though I’ve only visited Boston a handful of times and have never stepped foot in the actual building, the warmth and welcome I received from the other volunteers transcend distance. I’ve connected with congregants of all ages and am constantly impressed by their generosity of material and self. The group has inspired me to seek more local opportunities so that I too can work directly with refugee families. I count the strength of the TI community as helping to ban my covid isolation, even from seventeen hundred miles away!"

FRIEDHELM GLAUNER | MANNHEIM, GERMANY

"Since 2014, my partner David and I have been streaming Temple Israel services. In 2017, when we were asked to be a part of the “How Awesome Is This Place” Exhibit, I wrote: “We experience Temple Israel as a welcoming community based on respect with open arms, minds, and hearts. Although we would love to be involved in congregational life more directly, we consider Temple Israel our spiritual home.” For us, Temple Israel’s online presence was –and still is– a beacon unconditionally offering its guidance. Before the pandemic, TI was there, but distant. Now though, being involved in congregational life isn’t out of reach anymore as it seemed in 2017. Having met Rabbi Zecher, Cantor Einhorn, and a few congregants in Jerusalem and participating in a Qabbalat Shabbat service at the Western Wall in February 2020, gave me the confidence to join Zoom events, where we study Torah, Talmud, Jewish philosophy, and modern midrash or read poetry together with clergy and congregants."

By Brigid Goggin

Temple Israel launched The Center for Adult Jewish Learning (CAJL) in 2016 as an opportunity to build upon the strong foundation of clergy teaching and guest scholarship that has always been at the core of this community. Under the leadership of Rabbi Suzie Jacobson and the Adult Education Committee, we established a model of classes and events to bring incredible faculty and programming to Temple Israel and became one of the most active centers for Jewish learning in the Boston area.

In March 2020, we made the unexpected shift to learning online, and entered a new stage of opportunity and connection. Over the past two years, our community of learners has grown. From our Zoom boxes, we have learned from scholars all over the world, built deep relationships, and discovered personal nourishment. New opportunities for partnerships have developed with other Jewish organizations, universities, museums, and more. The Open Door, an area of CAJL that focuses on introductory content for Jewish learning and living, was able to expand our reach and welcome in more people looking to step into Jewish life.

This year, mixed presence learning (online and onsite together) brings all we have been able to achieve locally in our Boston home together with the joy of our expanded community online. No matter where people are in their lives or in the world, they can find meaning and connection with Judaism and each other here at Temple Israel. TILLI, Temple Israel’s Lifelong Learning Institute, has paved the way for what mixed presence classrooms can look like for adult learners, hosting two mixed presence classrooms with over 30 students this fall, and 6 mixed presence events. This spring will bring even more mixed presence learning spaces, and we can’t wait for what’s to come! To learn more about the Center for Adult Jewish Learning or how to join an upcoming class or event, contact Brigid Goggin at bgoggin@tisrael.org.

CAJL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE PARTICIPATING FROM...

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

PURIM AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT TEMPLE ISRAEL

By Susan Porter, Temple Israel Archives

As we look forward to Purim, let’s consider how Purim celebrations became an important part of Temple Israel’s yearly calendar. When Rabbi Solomon Schindler, our first trained rabbi, arrived in 1874, Congregation Adath Israel was a traditional shul with a very small congregation. The approximately 40 member families were upwardly mobile, mostly German-born immigrants whose American-born children attended public schools and a religious school that focused on German cultural heritage. With the approval of most of the Trustees, Schindler immediately began to institute Reform practices that infuriated some, but also attracted new members (58 families by 1880), and he pressed for changes to the religious school as well. While the Board insisted that students continue to study German, they allowed Rabbi Schindler to extend school hours and update the curriculum to include Hebrew, religion, the Bible, and singing.

Schindler hoped to get the students excited about Jewish holidays, especially Chanukah and Purim, two minor festivals that would appeal to children. After introducing a well-received musical Chanukah program in 1876, he launched a children’s play for Purim in 1878 that quickly became an anticipated annual occurrence. In 1881, it grew into a full-fledged, ticketed celebration that included a “Theatrical Evening Entertainment” consisting of an original play written, produced, and directed by Schindler and performed by the children, a “Ball” that took place after the seats were removed from the hall, and a “supper” in the upper hall later in the evening. The evening was a great success; not only had the children “delivered themselves very credibly,” but it raised the extraordinary sum of $225 after expenses. The Trustees were delighted; in 1877, convinced that “the school is fully if not more important than any branch of the temple,” they had agreed that members would pay no surcharge for religious education. But running the school was expensive, and the Purim plays and entertainments remained “an intellectual as well as a financial success,” raising hundreds of dollars every year, eventually making the school self-supporting, and attracting new members. By the mid-1880s, when there were 100 member families and the congregation had constructed a new building, the Temple was able to establish a library from the proceeds that, by 1891, held 1,000 books. Today, more than 150 years later, Purim celebrations continue to be popular yearly Temple Israel religious school events, and the surcharge policy remains in effect.

The 1882 Purim play, “Seppi,” was “An Alpine Fairy Tale” written by Rabbi Schindler and performed in German by a cast of children who played a family, shepherds, maidservants, and the Ice-King and his daughter.

To learn more about the Wyner Archives at Temple Israel, visit www.tisrael.org.

AN EVOLVING "TILLI" MEETS THE TIMES

By Judy Berkowitz. TILLI Co-Chair

As the waves of the Covid-19 pandemic rise and fall, we are learning what works and what does not. We have learned that TILLI, Temple Israel's Lifelong Learning Institute, is a very hip, young-minded group. Political and social topics draw large crowds. One member said she participated because saw that there was a great deal she could still learn, and that with this knowledge, she could take action to make a difference. A member new to Boston commented that having more TILLI days increased the opportunity to make new friends at Temple Israel. Many of us have also learned that we can explore our interests and be more engaged by becoming TILLI Study Group Leaders. TILLI members are using their agency — individually and collectively — to build a community within the Temple Israel community and improve the lives of others.

So, why should someone consider participating? As TILLI’s membership grows and becomes more diverse and as life around us changes, TILLI responds and evolves. TILLI is about culture and politics and cooking, theater, economics, literature, music. TILLI study groups may be a one-day event or a 6-week semester. TILLI is diverse in age, gender, and religious affiliation. Learning may be secular and/or rooted in the Jewish commitment to racial diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are a community within a community that uses peer-to-peer relationships and peer-to-peer learning to broaden our knowledge and enrich our lives.

We invite you to join at whatever level works for you. There is no cost associated with the Winter Session. The 2022 Spring brochure and online registration are now available at TILLI.org. Many of the study groups and all of the Lunch and Learn speakers are available via Zoom. When the pandemic allows it, we will meet in person, too. Come with old friends or come to make new ones. TILLI welcomes you.

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

Welcome to our newest members!

(NOVEMBER 3, 2021 - JANUARY 21, 2022)

BOSTON

George Garcia

Grant Glovin & Rebecca Lichtin

Paul Goldsmith & Courtney Aquadro

Elif Karatas & Ethan Kenvarg

Hannah Yarmolinsky & Daniel Dennehy

Emmet Dennehy

BROOKLINE

Arielle Cedar & David Duchovny

CAMBRIDGE

Debora Spar & Miltos Catomeris

Patricia Tung & Josef Simon

Jacob Simon

Noah Simon

CHARLESTOWN

Molly Jones

JAMAICA PLAIN

Donald Budge & Ly Nguyen

Ella Budge

METHUEN

Zachary Kerr & Jason Bisson

SOMERVILLE

Rebecca Cohn & Andrew Greenspon

Benjamin McIntosh

Delilah McIntosh

WATERTOWN

Caroline Kaufman

MEREDIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Michelle & David Feller-Kopman

Stewart EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO RABBI OBERSTEIN AND RIVERWAY COORDINATOR

Matthew Feinberg MEMBERSHIP AND

Bonnie

Rich Cajoux DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY

An Update from Temple Israel's AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT TEAM

"The Talmud teaches us that 'hospitality to wayfarers is greater than welcoming the Divine Presence.' When Temple Israel received word that families fleeing Afghanistan would be arriving in Boston, we did not cautiously ask 'Should we do something?' Instead, we stepped forward declaring, 'Here we are, how can we help?'

A large team of congregants has emerged as our community continues to support the resettlement of a wonderful Afghan family of five. As organizers, companions, volunteers, and donors, over 100 Temple Israel congregants found ways to contribute. In creative and caring ways, our team continues to support the family across all areas of life: health, food, clothing, housing, education, and everything in between. The family continues to show remarkable resilience and flexibility as they adapt to life in America. This ongoing relationship exemplifies the nisim b’chol yom, the daily miracles we can create and receive when we love our neighbors as ourselves."

- Rabbi Dan Slipakoff

"I was looking for a way to get involved in helping with the Afghan resettlement effort when I saw that Temple Israel was sponsoring a family from Afghanistan. I signed up to be a member of the housing committee to best utilize my skills as an Interior Designer. We didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for the family’s arrival but what time we had we used to coordinate donations, clean and furnish the apartment, and purchase whatever else was needed to make the apartment a warm and welcoming space for them."

- Amy Drucker

"Working with some truly wonderful other volunteers (most of whom I had not known previously, so this continues to be a true gift), and with the family itself has been quite mind-bending for me. Although I have always been committed to the concept of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, I am honestly used to doing it passively. This is the first time I am conscious of undertaking a project that, on its literal level, is not for my sake or for the sake of someone in my circle, and the power of acting completely for the sake of another has been transformative and very emotional."

- Paula Noe

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

From the moment we met the family at the airport, we were off and running. I asked if there were any urgent medical needs and learned of several problems on the spot. Because of the deep resources of our Temple Israel membership, I was connected the next day with a physician who alerted me to the Refugee Medical Program at Boston Medical Center and that allowed us to begin to get appointments. The work with the family continues to be both frustrating, time consuming, and intensely gratifying. Although I often feel ignorant of the next step, the Health Team has worked well together navigating the administrative, bureaucratic, and medical needs and we are beginning to get the pieces in place three months in. “Our” delightful and resilient family continue to amaze and inspire us with their ability to cope. Our energetic team support each other beautifully. I’m happy I took this on and look forward to seeing the family need us less in the coming months."

- Libby Keller

I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of the resettlement committee for the Afghan family sponsored by TI. I had such a positive experience working with the Syrian family sponsored by TI six years ago.

"Again it has been a joy and so satisfying to participate. My specialty is as a retired math teacher. The first time I visited the family early in the fall 2021, I brought with me printouts of KenKen puzzles. All three children, ages 7, 9 and 14 greeted me warmly and participated actively with broad smiles and guesses as to what might fill in the blanks. I immediately felt like a family member.

I have since communicated with the oldest son's seventh grade math teacher and have been very impressed will all the assistance the Brookline Schools have given to the family. The kids and the resettlement committee are such a pleasure to work with."

- John Bookston

Reflecting on our Musical Moments

By Cantor Alicia Stillman

"Da capo" is an Italian musical term that means "from the beginning." It asks us to repeat a section of music from the beginning; music, after all, has a soul and a life and needs to reflect back on its themes before moving towards the finale.

Having had the joy of sharing a musical year and a half at Temple Israel - there has been so much richness we have experienced together in our learning, worship, and celebration; and there is still so much more to come. It seems like an ideal time to repeat Da Capo: to take stock of our shared musical memories and see what delights await.

As we explored our mixed presence experience with each other in the winter of 2021, we learned how to share ourselves musically and spiritually on zoom and livestream, onsite and online. The opportunities were limitless: we revisited the life and legacy of Debbie Friedman, celebrating her music on the 10th anniversary of her death. Resonating with powerful memories, we sang from the bima and from home - assured that we would all indeed make beautiful music together. Our online guests who shared Shabbat with us were Dan Nichols and his soul-stirring music; Galeet Dardashti, her worship reinvigorated by her Persian heritage that filled our online sanctuary with stories and songs from her journey. Or and Feliza Zohar performed a Yom Ha’atzmaut concert from their studio in the northern Galilee, and Elana Arian guided us spiritually from our bima, as we began to reenter our space and come home.

- Temple Israel congregant

- Temple Israel congregant

Our work together has been about uplifting our Jewish experience through sacred musical moments with artists in residence, from whom we learn and grow in our own Judaism, and from which our understanding of the world and our place in it continues to grow. I recall our summer in the garden as we welcomed our Jewish Bluegrass Band: Kol Kachol, Noah Aronson, Deborah Sacks Mintz, and Cantor Jonathan Comisar, and are looking forward to so much more; the coming year we can look forward to meaningful experiences of gathering in song, prayer, and learning with Saul Kaye and Elana Jagoda Kaye, Nefesh Mountain, Vocolot, members of the Ebenezer Baptist Church choir, and partnerships will local Boston Jewish musicians. And as always, our beloved TI Band, and wonderful singing ensembles of all ages!

As passionate as I am about music, I also believe that music is the means through which we connect deeply with one another. The conduit through which we experience wonderful and profound moments. We like to dream and plan for these fantastic musical moments so we can awaken with greater joy, and deeper appreciation for what we share. And we can only do this together. As we move toward the coda and finale - we pray that the music we hear and the love in our hearts will continue to ring for many years to come.

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

"Thank you for opening our hearts and minds through beautiful music and memory."

"We so much enjoyed the "Welcome Home” concert. Though we were not there in person, it was almost like being there in person. Such beautiful voices, wonderful choices, and hearing Cantor Einhorn and Cantor Stillman together was such a treat."

Temple Israel of Boston's Ner Tamid Society

For more than 165 years, Temple Israel has provided a home to the Boston Jewish community. We are proud to uplift our spirits in song, to unite in our commitment to justice, and to serve as a refuge in times of joy and in times of sorrow. The Ner Tamid is the light that shines above the ark in every synagogue of the world, a symbol of our presence and determination to sustain our traditions, even as we respond to change. The Ner Tamid Society honors supporters who perpetuate the legacy of Temple Israel. By including Temple Israel in your estate plans, you ensure that the eternal light continues to burn strongly for generations to come.

With your bequest or other planned gift to Temple Israel, you become a member of the Ner Tamid Society. You name will be inscribed in the Ner Tamid Society honor roll, and you will be invited to events exclusively for Ner Tamid Society members. Join us, and be part of a legacy that lives on in every generation of Temple Israel.

For more information, please contact Shoshanna Goldberg, Director of Development, at sgoldberg@tisrael.org or 617-566-3960. You can also find more details online at nertamid.tisrael.org.

USPS 50648

Founded in 1854

Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism Issued 4 times/year Printed on recycled paper

Rabbi Elaine S. Zecher

Cantor Alicia Stillman

Rabbi Suzie Jacobson

Rabbi Dan Slipakoff

Rabbi Andrew Oberstein

Rabbi Ronne Friedman, Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Bernard H. Mehlman, Senior Scholar

Cantor Roy B. Einhorn, Cantor Emeritus

Laurence Bailen, President

Jessica Greenfield, Vice President Barbara Cevallos, Treasurer

Dan Deutsch, Executive Director

Amy Bolotin, FJECC Preschool Director Emma Koblick, Director of Communications 617-566-3960 | www.tisrael.org facebook.com/TempleIsraelBoston twitter.com/TI_Boston

Temple Israel 477 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02215-5396

www.tisrael.org/insight | 617-566-3960