Insight Spring 2023

Spring 2023|5783

February, March, April

Sh'vat,

INSIGHT

Purim & Passover Details

Pages 8 & 9

Kol

Pages 13 & 15

Adar, Nisan, Iyyar

into Temple Israel of Boston

Sasson & Hanoch Piven

INSIGHT IN THIS ISSUE...

15 SAVE THE DATE: HANOCH PIVEN

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LETTERS OF GRATITUDE

From:

Date: January 14, 2023 at 4:38 PM EST

To: Temple Israel of Boston

Subject: Shabbat Shalom: A Day of Rest

The [Shabbat Tzedek] service was beautiful, indeed. (With power, meaning, and total spirits uplifted). The music, the prayers, and the remembrance of those who have died in the last 30 days. Thank you for inviting me to this Shabbat experience.

Reflections from a member of St. Paul AME Church in Cambridge, who attended Shabbat Tzedek.

SOMETHING TO SAY?

Send your messages to ekoblick@tisrael.org

From:

Date: February 1, 2023 at 2:16 PM EST

To: Temple Israel of Boston

Subject: Newsletter Format

I really appreciate the [ChaiLights newsletter] now has an overview with upcoming event and zoom links in a very readable look.

Did you know? Temple Israel members can instantly update communication preferences directly in the portal! Anyone in the greater community can subscribe to our public newsletters by visiting www.tisrael.org/subscribe

December 16, 2022: It was a full house of those in their 20s and 30s for Riverway Project Shabbat.

January 27, 2023: Stephanie Meyers, TI member and nutritionist, was our first guest speaker in a year-long "Scientists in Synagogues" program.

NOTES TO OUR COMMUNITY

Passover is my favorite holiday in the Jewish calendar. It is coming up soon. It is a time to gather with family, friends, and our community, and to welcome the stranger. As I have learned from our clergy, the Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitzrayim, which is derived from the word that may be translated as “narrow place.” Each year, we think about how we can move from a narrow place to being more open, welcoming, and accepting of others. At our inspirational Shabbat Tzedek service this winter, Tanisha M. Sullivan, President of the Boston branch of the NAACP, implored us to think about what we can do to allow others to succeed, and open our minds and hearts to the possibilities in front of us. At Temple Israel, we continue to engage in our racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI) efforts. This ongoing work is part of our culture at Temple Israel, assuring that everyone who enters our community feels like they belong. Our Board and Leadership Council are working closely with our Inventing Our Future team and Annum Architects to develop a plan to innovatively transform our building. This transformation will strengthen our efforts to grow our vibrant, relevant, and engaged community. I invite you to join us as you hear more about this project in the months ahead. Thank you for being a part of the Temple Israel community and for your ongoing support.

Laurence Bailen Board President

Dan Deutsch Executive Director

This time of year in the Jewish calendar always has me thinking about our communal Exodus story, reminding me of all of those who came before us. We are standing on the shoulders of centuries of ancestors who all lived Jewish lives in meaningful ways and who paved the way for the Temple Israel community to take shape and find meaning in our traditions. Accomplishing this takes resources: financial, human, and capital. All of our members and those in our orbit continue to support us through generous contributions of time, talent, and financial support. Without your support we could not carry out the mission of Temple Israel. This year, I ask you to think of those who have supported the TI community in years past, and the future TI community which relies on you. Please give a gift from your heart and make a financial contribution towards our Friends Annual Fund.

Dear (R)Abby, Dear Benji,

When you picture God, what image do you see? — Benji D.

Do you have a question about Judaism, spiritual practice, Hebrew, or anything else for our TI clergy? Get your questions answered here! Submit your questions to ekoblick@tisrael.org.

Judaism believes that God has no physical form, so it can be hard to see any image in my head when I try to picture God. After all, what does energy look like? Maybe we can imagine God instead as a series of light beams, connecting all of us to each other, unifying everything that was, is, or will be into one complex web of interconnectivity. — Rabbi Andrew Oberstein

through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact.

TILLI Latke Competition & Chanukah Party

Online Candle Lighting

Chanukah Shabbat Mishpachach

Riverway Project (20s & 30s) Chanukah Cookie Decorating

THE NEVER ENDING CYCLE OF THE JEWISH HOLIDAYS

How do we measure time?

By our birthdays? Through accomplishments? With the years since the loss of a loved one? There are many ways to number our days, as the Psalmist offered. Yet, what they presented did not mean that time moves in a linear fashion, especially in Judaism. Time is a human invention, a description of the movement of nature to which we are inextricably linked.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher Senior Rabbi

We move through the seasons; rise early to catch the beauty of the sunrise and marvel at the awe invoked by the setting of the sun over the horizon. The cycle of the growing season heightens our awareness of birth to death and rebirth with new sprouts peeking through the earth. The sun, moon, and stars follow a natural course of rotation of the earth with no cosmic time stamp.

Humans invented time, perhaps as an act of control. Before what is known as the “common era” no one ever celebrated the new year by subtraction. “Happy new year! It’s one year earlier!” said no one ever.

In a world that feels unpredictable, the Jewish holidays and Shabbat provide a familiar pattern, returning again and again to remind us that the past, present, and future repeat themselves continually. I find stability in this truth.

As we enter a new season of celebration from Purim on the 14th of Adar (March 7) to Passover one month later on the 15th of Nisan (April 6) to counting the Omer, an agricultural connection to the growing season, to arrive at Shavuot on the 5th of Sivan (May 26), we again count our days and imbue them with meaning.

Purim reminds us of the strength to speak up against evil intentions through the story of Esther’s bravery and Haman’s treachery—with a bit of silliness thrown in.

Passover lifts up the power of empathy to enact compassionate intention as if we, ourselves, were slaves. The seder ritual provides the narrative that freedom is continually made possible by our efforts.

Shavuot gathers us at the foot of the mountain to acknowledge that our redemption from slavery grounds us in Torah, ever a source of enlightenment and truth.

“There is nothing new under the sun,” Ecclesiastes wrote. Except that the world keeps turning, and we continue to mark time. Remember that the holiday begins the night before, initiated by the beautiful, awe inspiring timeless setting of the sun.

PASSOVER PURIM SHAVUOT

CELEBRATING ISRAEL'S 75TH

This year marks the 75th anniversary since the creation of the State of Israel. For 2,000 years, Jews made their home throughout the world. In prayer, in study, in word, and in deed, the desire to return to the land where our ancestors sojourned was nourished with hope and belief of what could be possible. It was not without its challenges and consequences, but also with triumphs of perseverance and creativity. We have much to learn, to celebrate, and to commemorate. We look forward to many opportunities to celebrate Israel’s 75th:

MONDAY,

FEBRUARY 27

Identity Politics and Jewish Peoplehood: A Conversation with Dr. Mijal Bitton and Rabbi Elaine Zecher

Monday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. Onsite & Online

What does it mean to truly belong in a Jewish community? How does the current discourse around identity politics challenge our conception of Jewish peoplehood? What are the divergent historical strategies within the American Jewish community to advocate for Jewish interests? How do these different strategies relate to debates today both within the American Jewish community, and between Israel and American Jewry? Join us as we explore these questions together, led in conversation by Dr. Mijal Bitton and Rabbi Elaine Zecher. This free community event is hosted in partnership by The Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Israel of Boston and the Shalom Hartman Institute. All are welcome.

Dr. Mijal Bitton is Scholar in Residence at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. Mijal is a teacher, writer, and leading thinker on questions relating to Jewish American identity, pluralism, gender equity, and sociological diversity. She is co-founder and Rosh Kehilla (communal leader) of the Downtown Minyan in New York City. Mijal received a B.A. from Yeshiva University and earned her doctorate from New York University, where she conducted an ethnographic study of a Syrian Jewish community with a focus on developing the field of contemporary Sephardic studies in America. She is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship.

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

Religious School Israel Day. A day of learning and celebration in honor of Israel's 75th anniversary.

APRIL 18-27

The Boston community "Spark" Israel Trip

Rabbi Oberstein has joined the endeavor sponsored by the Combined Jewish Philanthropies and is accompanying the 20s/30s cohort to Israel. He will share his experiences with the congregation in April.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Qabbalat Shabbat Celebrating Israel. We will mark Israel’s 75th with song, food, study, and celebration.

TUESDAY, MAY 9

Donniel Hartman from the Shalom Hartman Institute. We will host a greater communal gathering in partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute, featuring Hartman's President, Donniel Hartman.

Rav Kook, the first chief rabbi of Israel, taught that the old will be renewed, and the new will be made holy.

PURIM

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, from our Purim Shpiel featuring our clergy, to our family-friendly Purimpalooza, to our signature 21+ event, “Purim Against Humanity.”

MONDAY, MARCH 6

Purimpalooza: Family Celebration

5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

A family Purim celebration with costumes, crafts, activities, and pizza!

Purimpalooza: Teen Celebration

5:45 - 8:45 p.m.

A celebration just for teens! Contact frubin@tisrael.org for more information.

Purimpalooza: Riverway Project Pre-Party

6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Get into the spirit with others in their 20s & 30s before the community-wide Megillah reading!

Purimpalooza: 21+ Megillah Reading

7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Join the full Temple Israel clergy for a night of silliness and fun for a 21+ reading of the whole Megillah, irreverently read through the lens of our annual Purim Games. Costumes encouraged! This event is mixed presence. You can join onsite at Temple Israel or join online with Zoom. All are welcome! Link available at www.tisrael.org/purim.

PASSOVER

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.

TUESDAY, MARCH 28

Pesach 101 (online)

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Pesach (Passover) is when we gather together at the seder table to tell the Exodus story and celebrate liberation in the face of tyranny. But what do all of the rituals really mean? Join Temple Israel clergy as we explore together the history, texts, traditions, and creativity of the holiday and discover new meaning for our own lives. All are welcome to this free, online session. RSVP to McKenzie Johnson at mjohnson@tisrael.org to get the Zoom link.

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

Celebrate the first day of Passover with our annual Clergy Matzah Brei Cook Off, followed by a festival service and Torah study.

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. (onsite) Clergy Matzah Brei Cook-Off. Our very own TI clergy will prepare and present five dishes for everyone to taste test and vote for the winner of the annual cook-off trophy!

10:00 - 11:30 a.m. (onsite and online) Passover Festival Service and Torah Study. This is a mixed presence service; join us onsite at Temple Israel or on Zoom, Facebook live, or stream on our website. Find the link at www.tisrael.org/passover.

WEDNESDAY,

APRIL 12

7th Day Passover Festival Service (online) 10:00 a.m.

Celebrate the seventh day of Passover with a festival service led by Temple Israel clergy. This service is online only and open to all. Find the link at www.tisrael.org/passover.

MORE PROGRAM INFORMATION TO COME, INCLUDING A SECOND NIGHT SEDER! STAY TUNED.

Community Reflections on Shabbat Tzedek, our Sabbath of Justice

During the summer, I was walking in the Boston Commons with my family when I ran into Tanisha M. Sullivan, President of the Boston NAACP, who instantly recognized me from her many visits to Temple Israel over the years. When it came time to extend an invitation to our Shabbat Tzedek speaker, our long time friend and advocate for racial justice enthusiastically agreed. Tanisha applauded our community’s Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) efforts and also left us with a challenge: “Have you started to feel the stretch yet? Are you truly doing this work to your capacity?”

Tanisha reminded us that each of us as individuals has immense value to offer, and as a community we have the capacity to do more. We have “right now” problems, and this community has the “right now” solutions. As the Director of REDI and Justice Organizing, Tanisha’s words continue to resonate with me and challenge me. Am I holding back? Are you holding back? Are we holding back?

On Saturday morning, we engaged in Torah study, followed by REDI Conversations, and then a VoteRiders presentation with Rev. Monica Spencer, who flew from Georgia to be with us this weekend. That evening, the Riverway Project (20s & 30s) engaged in a REDI Conversation with dinner and Havdalah, and some joined for an online musical gathering. On Sunday, our community participated with Bethel AME Church in their Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. service. While I am delighted by the turnout at all of these opportunities, I recognize that we could have had significantly higher attendance. Tanisha’s words remain with me. Are we feeling the stretch yet?

If you have not yet participated in a REDI Conversation, our goal is to have as many congregants as possible engage in one over the course of the 5783 year. If you have already participated, we now have a REDI Deeper Diver Conversation. We have many more opportunities to engage. Please email me at tputerman@tisrael.org to discuss.

— Tali Puterman, Director of Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Organizing

"At the invitation of the dynamic Boston VoteRiders volunteer team, I was invited to Temple Israel’s Shabbat Tzedek, to commemorate the work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Tanisha M. Sullivan, President of the Boston branch of the NAACP, called us to action; and in the presence of the Spirit of the Lord we witnessed the strength and efficacy of humanity in worship, witness, and works of justice. The weekend reminded me of the importance of individual works of justice; and the power of collaborative works of justice. I am grateful for the work of the Boston Team, Temple Israel, and Bethel AME Church as they live out Micah’s words; 'and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.' The work of democracy, calls us to do likewise."

— Rev. Monica Spencer, Georgia Organizer, VoteRiders

"Shabbat Tzedek was particularly impactful for me this year. During Friday’s Shabbat service, Tanisha Sullivan acknowledged that our community already does great justice work and charged us to do more – to go from walking to flying. Reflecting on Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, Kivie Kaplan, and other leaders that came before us, I thought of Pirkei Avot 2:16, 'It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.' With deep-seated racial prejudice and inequities present at all levels of our society, we must all do the hard work to confront it, like those that came before us, and also pass this charge on to our children."

— Seth Kroll, Temple Israel Congregant

"I moved to Boston early in the pandemic and this was, therefore, my first onsite Shabbat Tzedek. I had only a vague idea what to expect: certainly a focus on social justice; undoubtedly a reminder of the ideals and aspirations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; probably an assessment of what we as a congregation were accomplishing in this arena. I completely underestimated the power of this weekend. From Tanisha Sullivan’s eloquently delivered challenge to us to do more, to the life-, work-, and faith-affirming energy of the joint service with Bethel AME Church and in the candid and forward-looking introspection of the REDI Conversation, this was a weekend of affirmation, inspiration, and resolve. It was an experience for which I am profoundly grateful."

— Deborah Seidel, Temple Israel congregant

"Since joining Temple Israel in 2021, our family has experienced some very special TI moments. However, nothing had prepared us for the incredible experience our family had last Sunday at Bethel AME Church. Celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in a space that was “filled with the Holy Spirit” was a unique privilege and a joy. We were welcomed with such warmth and generosity, and the music lifted our hearts and resonated in our souls. Rev. Carrington Moore and our own Rabbi Dan Slipakoff took us on a deeply meaningful journey of learning and reflection, and we have now pledged as a family to work on the habits of humility, forgiveness, repentance, and remembrance. At the end of the service, with tears in our eyes, we promised our hosts we would return – and we certainly plan to!"

— Alaka Ray, Temple Israel congregant

A New Experience:

The Riverway Project's Online Direct Service Volunteering

This year, Temple Israel of Boston’s annual Shabbat Tzedek celebration engaged the full spectrum of our community in the pursuit of justice. While many Riverway Project participants joined onsite and online for Qabbalat Shabbat, we also gathered the following day for Riverway Havdalah, dinner, and a Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) conversation specifically for those in their 20s and 30s.

On Monday, January 16, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Riverway Project community took part in an online direct service project in partnership with Repair the World and Hunger Free America, all from the comfort of our own homes.

Riverway Leadership Team member, Hannah Moverman, reflected on her experience volunteering:

"One of Hunger Free America’s projects is managing a database of food pantries across the country. We worked to update the database by calling pantries to obtain information such as their hours, location, accessibility, and more. It was initially heartwarming to see the impressive list of 4,000 pantries! But, as I started making phone calls, I was shocked by something else: how difficult it was to get the necessary information. Every pantry I called was closed that evening, thus sending my calls to voice mailboxes. Their limited hours pose a significant barrier for many working people who cannot contact the pantries, let alone get there, during their business hours. An additional obstacle for some is that the voicemail recordings and websites are mostly in English only. Through this volunteer work I became aware of these and many other challenges. Recent inflation has left even more of our neighbors in a state of food insecurity and needing support from local resources. And I now realize it’s not so easy for everyone to access what they need at their local food pantry. This is why it is so important that organizations like Hunger Free America and Repair the World continue to exist, and that members of our community participate. I am grateful for this eyeopening experience and hope to contribute to this invaluable cause in the future.”

— Hannah Moverman

To learn more about future opportunities to get involved with the Riverway Project community, please reach out to Nalani Haueter at nhaueter@tisrael.org.

Friday, March 24 & Saturday, March 25 at Temple Israel of Boston

By Cantor Alicia Stillman

When we think of ‘sounds of joy’ – we think of whimsy and children laughing. When I think of ‘sounds of joy’ I think of the psalms of Qabbalat Shabbat that enliven our Shabbat worship with music and the lush imagery of splendor and the sacred in nature. On March 24-25, 2023, we will combine both!

Kol Sasson, the Hebrew phrase drawn from the book of Jeremiah and sung at Jewish weddings, means "sounds of joy" - and is the clever and wonderful name of the University of Maryland’s Jewish a cappella singing group –which means all their music, harmonies, and rhythms are created through their voices, and they’ll be sharing their voices with us!

The music we share at Temple Israel of Boston is a wonderful vehicle for learning, for pleasure, for the heavenly purpose of simply bringing people together…Jewishly. The past year our sound spaces have been vibrant with the songs and stories of Linda Hirschhorn, Rabbi Micah Lapidus, Melvin Myles, and so much talent from within our congregational family; and as we round the calendar into Spring we welcome our last artist in residence of the season, Kol Sasson.

Founded in 1997 as the University of Maryland’s premier Jewish a cappella group, Kol Sasson’s student singers are comprised of an array of backgrounds, studies, and cities, and create their dynamic repertoire to reflect the voices and students from within. They’ll be joining Qabbalat Shabbat on March 24 for services, bringing a special workshop to our religious school children who attend that evening. Save the date for Saturday evening when our downstairs chapel transforms into a warm coffee-house space to enjoy a Kol Sasson concert developed just for us. Their music ranges from English and Israeli pop to traditional Jewish melodies – make sure to add your voice to theirs when they bring their harmony to Boston. Check out kolsasson.com for a preview!

Be part of TILLI's Spring 2023 Session... Make Thursdays your TILLI Day!

By Natalie Schatz, Barbara Koff, and Priscilla Golding

Now in its 14th year, TILLI, Temple Israel Lifelong Learning Institute, continues to grow by providing a broader set of opportunities for the Temple Israel community and those in our greater orbit to both teach and enrich their lives by participating in peer-led study groups. The TILLI format allows study group leaders to bring their rich experiences and knowledge to design and lead stimulating, interesting courses. In this process, participants have the opportunity to research and learn more about a topic that has always interested them. Topics range widely, as diverse as the interests and experience of our congregants, including science, history, literature, law, music, art, and politics.

Starting on April 13, some of our Spring 2023 session courses include: The Vision of August Wilson, The Hearing Brain, Affordable Housing, Photography and Social Change, and the Ordeal of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The Spring program takes place at Temple Israel with study groups offered in person for six weeks on Thursday. Many of the study groups are presented in mixed presence, onsite and online. In addition, there are Lunch and Learn sessions with a speaker between morning and afternoon sessions. All these interactions build your network of friendships and a sense of community.

During the pandemic, TILLI expanded to a year-round program that includes community and cultural events beyond the study groups. This winter’s ongoing program focuses on First Amendment Freedoms: the Foundation of Democracy with speakers, documentaries, and films – all online. In addition, these winter and summer sessions include virtual museum visits, book reviews, walking tours, and lessons in cooking. Find more infomation at www.tilli.org.

Judith Berkowitz and Larry Koff, former TILLI co-chairs, show our new swag.

Tour of Jewish Brookline held this summer.

Postcard writing for the mid-term election.

Temple Israel and the FJECC Preschool Welcome Award-Winning Illustrator, Hanoch Piven

March 17-19, 2023

Temple Israel of Boston and the Frances Jacobson Early Childhood Center (FJECC) are delighted to be hosting Israeli artist Hanoch Piven the weekend of March 17-19, 2023. Piven is an award-winning illustrator, educator, and seasoned “creative instigator,” whose artwork is unique in both form and methodology. By reinventing the meaning and use of everyday objects, he forges associations between these and the subject of his creation. Piven's art is playful, inclusive, and transformative.

Piven's work has been published in newspapers and magazines across the world, such as Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, London Times, Der Spiegel, and Israel's Haaretz. Piven is also the author of a series of awardwinning children's books and apps, TV shows, interactive exhibitions, and advertising campaigns. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from and create with this unique artist!

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

6:00 p.m. Qabbalat Shabbat with Hanoch Piven, onsite and online

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

9:00 a.m. Torah Study and Teaching with Hanoch Piven and co-author Shira Hecht-Koller, onsite and online

10:30 a.m. Art-Making Workshop with Hanoch Piven, onsite only, following Torah Study

4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Family Art-Making Workshop with Hanoch Piven, up to age 6, Havdalah and pizza, onsite only

WE NEED YOUR STUFF!

Do you have a junk drawer or box with lots of little knick-knacks?

You know, the puzzle piece you found under the couch…the lone earring that you never wear? The toy car with just two wheels?

Yarn, ribbons, buttons, old photos, screws, broken electronics, party favors, etc.?

We will need LOTS of random things for the “buffets” in our workshops! Look for marked bins in the Temple Israel lobby, by the library, and outside the FJECC preschool entrance. For more information, contact fjeccassistdirector@tisrael.org

On any given Monday night at Temple Israel, you can walk downstairs to the social hall to find teens gathering for dinner. Teens who come from different schools, neighborhoods, and synagogues come together every week to share a meal and take classes that bring them together through their own unique Jewish identities. The teens at The Tent know that each week they will be greeted with a smile, warm food, and educators who are ready to meet them where they are.

Just over a year ago the Teen Education Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Group was launched with three teens, two parents, and two educators. The Teen Ed. REDI Group was focused on listening to and learning from the experiences of our community members. One of our main goals was to collaboratively build a future that is more inclusive and welcoming, with space for everyone to feel like they belong. As a group, we aimed to create long-term goals, shorter-term objectives, and tangible action steps to enact sustainable change.

One outcome of this group was the creation of "Tent Talks" at Tent dinners every Monday night. This idea came from the teens’ desire to get to know the different members of our community on a deeper level and to ask the question, “Why do you come to The Tent every week?” One of the teens in the group shared that she dreamed of “creating a space where it’s easy and discussion is supported in talking about everyone’s connection to their own Judaism. To be able to connect to others' struggles and successes creates more space for people to share what helps people connect to their Jewish identity.” That dream has started to become a reality as each Monday night this year, we have had different teens, educators, clergy, and parents share their “why” with us.

Teen "Tent Talks" Build a Welcoming & Inclusive Space

By Fallon Rubin, Director of Teen and Youth Programs

One teen shared how food is a big part of her Judaism. “My family is really big on cooking and hosting meals, so it’s something I can use to connect to my culture especially around the holidays.” She continued on to rank all of her favorite Jewish foods, and the teens were very quick to point out whether they agreed with her rankings. Another teen shared her family story. She said that, “It’s not something I usually tell because I’ve known it all of my life it’s become such a big part of my family, I forget not everyone knows it.” She continued to share about her grandparents who survived the Holocaust and ended by saying, “I am telling this story because my grandparents are a large part of why I practice my religion and ultimately come to the Tent. I feel closer to my grandparents when I practice Judaism because I feel like I am honoring a religion they have passed on to me and they also practiced and believed in.” Others have shared their stories, their favorite things about being Jewish, and also about experiences on RYFTI Kallah and trips with The Tent. These "Tent Talks" have given our community a way to highlight the many different stories that come together when all of our teens gather in one space.

We believe that our teens are brilliant, compassionate leaders of change in the world. We want each of them to feel equipped to bring their fully authentic selves, with all of their complex identities, desires, and needs, into any community and be able to advocate for their own and others’ belonging. We know that there is not one thing that defines a Jewish community, and we believe it is the honoring of differences that creates the power, brilliance and sustainability of our community.

We are thrilled to bring our TI community together, onsite and online, to support the Friends Annual Fund! You will have the opportunity to mix and mingle at an exclusive digital art gallery opening, attend an informative “TI Talk” where you'll learn all about the cutting edge of this new and exciting art form, and experience first hand how digital art is created. Enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing, and catching up with your friends. This promises to be an evening to remember.

To attend, please send back the RSVP card you received with your Stepping Out Invitation, or register online at www.tisrael.org/steppingout2023. For more information, contact Shoshanna Goldberg,

Director of Membership

& Development at sgoldberg@tisrael.org or 617-566-3960.

"We are deeply honored and excited to be hosting this year’s Stepping Out gala. We came to know Temple Israel of Boston when our daughter Savannah started preschool at FJECC and immediately felt like we found a home in the TI community. Our youngest, Asher, will soon graduate from FJECC and has joined his older sister in the religious school. We have made wonderful friends, deepened our connection with Judaism, and shared many special moments as a family at TI. Each year, we look forward to the gala as an opportunity to have fun and help support the community that means so much to us. We can’t wait to celebrate together with many of you at Stepping Out 2023!"

— Caitlin Rollins & David Paredes

Temple Israel is grateful to our event sponsors.

We See The World Through Your Child’s Eyes! Join

the preschool community at The Frances Jacobson Early Childhood Center

What makes the FJECC so remarkable?

Did you know that the FJECC is open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., on the lower level of Temple Israel? Enrollment is open for students ages 1.9 - 5 years, and Temple Israel members receive discounted, priority acceptance.

Did you know that the FJECC now offers expanded programming for toddlers (20 months - 2 years, 8 months) Monday - Friday? And, beginning in September 2023, with extended day coverage until 3:00 p.m.?

Did you know that FJECC families are welcome to attend Temple Israel services, including High Holy Day services, for free?

Have you been to one of the MANY joyous events offered by The Village for Families with Young Children at Temple Israel? Did you know that FJECC families attend Village events in droves?

Have you explored The Rita and Adam J. Weiner and Family Outdoor Classroom? It is certified through Nature Explore and offers an immersive urban oasis for our students and families.

As we emerge from two years of pandemicrestrictions, life at the FJECC is evolving and growing. As always, our mission is to provide exceptional education for young children that is a seamless blend of the secular and Judaic. At the intersection of the two is the belief that each child in our school is uniquely capable and has the right to play, learn, and grow. We are as curious about your child as your child is about the world. As well, we understand and value the importance of a family’s overall sense of belonging. When your child attends the FJECC, your family has a home and a support system of experienced educators and peers to help navigate the early years of parenting. Contact us for a visit; we’re looking forward to meeting you!

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!

BOSTON

Julia Fischburg and Ben Jackson

Rosa and Michael Franck

Mira Franck

Ezra Franck

Nicole Lydon

Marcos Pareto

BROOKLINE

Elizabeth Ascoli and Brett Erickson

Yonatan Tsapira

Adam Erickson

JAMAICA PLAIN

Erica and Daniel Esrick

Clara Esrick

Cole Esrick

NEWTON

Jessica Erdmann-Sager and Jay Torian

Isabella Torian

Josephine Torian

ROSLINDALE

Kenneth and Sandra Kozol

Benicio Kozol

WATERTOWN

Katerina Harding

WEST ROXBURY

Dina Brownstein and Joseph Kriesberg

SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE

Purchase tickets at www.newenglandjewishlabor.org/labor-seder-2023

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

Chris Noe, 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 of Boston

Temple Israel

477 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02215-5396

If the walls of Levi Auditorium could speak, they would share many memorable stories of community gatherings, joyful celebrations, and soul-nourishing worship. One of the most memorable moments has to be the Passover service in April of 1965 when Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared a sermon with our community. The power of Dr. King’s words and legacy echo through our synagogue as we continue to pursue righteous impact and seek racial equity and beloved community. On February 1, 2023 Levi Auditorium once again welcomed the King family. We were joined by Martin Luther King III, his wife Arndrea Waters King, and their friends from Georgia who were visiting sites of meaningful impact to his father. Two congregants who were present to hear the words of the Reverend Doctor King in 1965 were able to share their memories and personal accounts to his son, Martin Luther King III. Our time together reminded us that freedom is won in every generation, and that each of us must strive to embody Dr. King's dream of peace, love, and equality. We look forward to welcoming Martin Luther King III at a future date to be with the entire congregation!

MARTIN LUTHER KING III VISITS TEMPLE ISRAEL OF BOSTON!