Insight, Summer 2022

TEMPLE ISRAEL, WE...

embrace Torah in all its dimensions as our enduring source for inquiry, discovery, and inspiration. explore spirituality and innovate our traditions of ritual and prayer. pursue justice, in partnership with others, to realize our vision of what the world ought to be. are Ohavei Yisrael, Lovers of Israel, committed to the vitality, peace, and well-being of the Jewish people in Israel and throughout the world.

strength from our diversity and wisdom from all who walk through our open doors.

The TI Scene: Living Judaism Together

Tikkun Olam Day at the Religious School

Outdoors with TI at the Blue Hills

TI Cares: Purim Riverway Neighborhood Shabbat

Wyner Lecture Weekend with Cantor Jonathan Comisar

FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As the days are getting longer and warmer, I am looking forward to being outside and being together with our Temple Israel community. Before we know it, we will be outside in the garden at TI for Shabbat services. Spring started with an incredible mixed presence Stepping Out Gala: Live from TI It’s Saturday Night! It was wonderful to be together to celebrate and thank you for helping make TI the special place it is. Thank you to our hosts, Daniella and Kevin Prussia, our clergy, Dan Deutsch, Shoshanna Goldberg, and all of the TI staff. Temple Israel continues to be busy: weekly Shabbat services, Torah study, Havdalah, education, enrichment, and spiritual offerings through the Center for Adult Jewish Learning, and busy social justice initiatives through Tikkun Central. From our youngest Village friends and Religious School to our thriving Riverway community to an active 50s and 60s group and very strong TILLI (Temple Israel Lifelong Learning Initiative) program there is something for everyone to experience a sense of belonging.

Laurence Bailen Board President Dan Deutsch Executive Director

Your Temple Israel Lay leadership also has been busy. The Board of Trustees, among many activities, affirmed an updated REDI (Racial, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) statement, nominated wonderful new leaders to the Board and Leadership Council, and affirmed the beginning stages of an exciting Inventing our Future project. Inventing our Future will lead to enhancements to our building to continue our forward momentum allowing us to grow our innovative education, prayer, and social justice initiatives. Our clergy and staff continue to amaze us with their resiliency during the ongoing pandemic. They continue to help us navigate and support us during our celebrations and during our challenging times. It is hard to believe that they are already starting to plan High Holy Days 5783! Thank you for all you do for making Temple Israel a remarkable community.

One of the things that I love about my work at Temple Israel is watching members of our community connect to each other, at Qabbalat Shabbat, one of our many programs on Zoom, or schmoozing outside as they wait for religious school pickup. Community is built in these small moments of meaning as people get to know each other, tell their stories, and build relationships.

Our oldest child is currently in the 7th grade and I was recently able to participate in the Religious School’s Tikkun Olam Day. The 6th and 7th graders were focusing on the modern day refugee crisis and sharing immigration stories. Those seated at our table took turns sharing family stories of leaving other parts of the world in pursuit of freedom and opportunity. My family’s story is similar, and over the years I have shared it with our children many times, including on a trip to Ellis Island in 2019 when we found my grandfather’s name in the manifests. But there was something extraordinarily moving to hear my child tell the story to a group of their peers. I was so grateful to the Religious School for providing this opportunity for connection for parents and students, where we could share our stories and learn from each other.

I was able to experience another moment of connection and story sharing recently through a REDI conversation at TI. REDI is our racial equity, diversity, and inclusion work. Temple Israel has made this a priority over the last two years, hosting many small-group conversations to explore different perspectives on identity, belonging, and community. At this most recent REDI conversation, the diverse gathering of TI members shared stories and perspectives about identity and how to foster a more belonging community. It was refreshing to hear the different points of view and the overwhelming amount of support for the work that we are doing together. If you are interested in helping us with our REDI work, please reach out and let us know; we would be happy to bring you into our sacred work.

I’m also proud to tell the story of the generosity of this community. Thank you to all who have contributed to our friends Annual Fund. Each year we rely on your community contributions to balance our operating budget. Each gift to our Friends Campaign allows us to better carry out our mission. I am so grateful to all of you. I hope that you can join us on June 9th for our Annual Gathering when we will thank all of our leaders who have helped to make this year another successful one for Temple Israel.

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

In July, I begin year 7 of the great honor to serve as Senior Rabbi of our synagogue community. For the past six years, each Friday, I have offered Shabbat Awakenings as a way to move toward Shabbat, present new ideas, and to consider world and local events through Torah and a Jewish lens. A few times I shared the voice of the Reform movement. Each week has allowed me to maintain a writing practice and a way to reach the hearts, souls, and minds of our community and those in our TI orbit

Each Shabbat Awakenings ends with an invitation for response. This has allowed me to further the conversation and, for some, probe deeper or interact through respectful disagreement (and answer a random question about when services begin or how to get High Holy Day tickets). I have appreciated greatly how Shabbat Awakenings has opened pathways to those who love and appreciate Temple Israel and who may not be actively involved in our programming.

Pirkei Avot, the ethical teachings of the rabbis of the Mishnah, emphasized the following about Torah:

Turn it over, and [again] turn it over, for all is therein. And look into it…And do not move away from it, for you have no better portion than it. (5:22)

Each week, I am reminded of these words as I sit down to write. I have tried to mine the depth of our tradition for meaning. I have found ways of using Pharaoh or Balak, the king of the Moabites, as an allegory for leaders of our country engaged in reprehensible behavior, or have brought in voices outside of our community, like Frederick Douglass whose inspirational words lifted us all. In these past two years, as we have sought comfort and strength, I have used Shabbat Awakenings as an encouragement for hope, perseverance, and moving forward. We all had to figure out how to navigate in an unprecedented world of a pandemic. Our weekly Torah portion, the holiday cycle of the year, and the refreshing image of Shabbat nourished our souls and gave us all some well-deserved strength.

I plan to take this seventh year, during some but not all weeks, to share some pieces from the past six years that speak again in informative and hopefully inspiring ways.

Please accept my gratitude for the support and encouragement of your thoughtful responses and your appreciation for the ideas presented.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher Senior Rabbi

Purim

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

Passover

חספ

Riverway First Ever First Night Seder

Etched Glass Seder Plate Workshop

The Return of the Matzah Brei Cookoff

Our Year of Study and Conversation about Israel

A key part of this year’s Study and Conversation about Israel has been intentional smaller group gatherings for personal reflection and discussion after our larger community events. These spaces have helped deepen relationships and build connections within our community and provided opportunities to practice being in dialogue with one another regarding conflicting issues and values and inviting complexity into our own long held perspectives.

“Can We Talk About Israel? A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted” with Daniel Sokatch

In November, we welcomed Daniel Sokatch, CEO of New Israel Fund and author of the book “Can We Talk About Israel: A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted” to explore what makes talking about Israel hard in the Jewish community, ways we can step into productive discourse, and how we can be part of a healthy and safe future for Israel and all those who live within and next to her borders.

In March, Rabbi Zecher joined Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and co-director of the Institute’s Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI), for a conversation about his book “Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor” and an exploration of what motivated him to move to Israel in his twenties, how his perspectives have (and have not) shifted over the years, and his commitment to see Israel succeed as a morally responsible, democratic state in the Middle East.

In Conversation with Wajahat Ali

In May, we welcomed writer Wajahat Ali to discuss his 2018 article and short film “A Muslim Among Israel Settlers,“ documenting his experiences traveling to Israel with The Shalom Hartman Institute’s Muslim Leadership Initiative, and meeting and talking with Jewish Settlers in the West Bank, as well as his new book Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American, one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Year.

Together, we explored the rise of white nationalism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism, the polarizing debates about Israel and Palestine, and what hopes we can hold for the future, all with boldness, honesty, and humor.

Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism: Untangling Knotty Questions

This spring, we explored different definitions of antisemitism and their impact on the discourse about Israel and Palestine.

Dr. Alon Confino of UMass Amherst, Dr. Rebecca Kobrin of Columbia University, and Emma Saltzberg of the JDA Project – USA led us in a conversation about the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, a scholarly document designed to faciliate understanding of what antisemitism is, what it isn’t, and the wider context of contestation over the definition of antisemitism around the world.

Conflict in Israel/Palestine: Is There Room for Dialogue? Rose Feinberg Memorial Lecture with Mira Sucharov

The

Why is the concept of “dialogue” so controversial? Why do some people object to the term “conflict?” In May, we welcomed Mira Sucharov, Professor of Political Science at Carleton University and public commentator on IsraeliPalestinian and Diaspora Jewish affairs to take us through the debates over dialogue, activism, and peace building in the Israeli-Palestinian domain. Sucharov highlighted the work of grassroots groups and civil organizations in Israel and Palestine, while suggesting avenues for Diaspora Jewish communities to advance a vision of equality and justice for all.

"Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor” with Yossi Klein Halevi

“The

Be part of Temple Israel of Boston's THIRD ANNUAL TIKKUN ZOOM SHAVUOT!

Saturday, June 4, 5:00 p.m. through Sunday, June 5, 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 5, 6:15 p.m. Dairy reception, onsite.

Sunday, June 5, 7:00 p.m. Nefesh Mountain Concert, onsite and online.

25 Hours Of Online Study Together

We begin our all-nighter on Saturday evening, June 4 at 5:00 p.m. and study together through Sunday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. Learn alongside people from around the world as dozens of teachers, artists, and facilitators lead us in study, prayer, art making, music, and more over the course of 25 hours in the zoomosphere.

Shavuot Closing Celebration And Concert

With Nefesh Mountain

Join us as we culminate our 25 hours of study with a dairy reception, onsite, on Sunday, June 5 at 6:15 p.m, followed by a mixed presence concert with Nefesh Mountain beginning at 7:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 7:00 P.M.

A mixed presence celebratory live concert with Nefesh Mountain!

Open to the public, all ages welcome. To register, visit www.tisrael.org/shavuot.

In the first hours of the morning I found shelter by being present with kindred spirits seeking to learn and simply be together in the night. Sharing, creating, and being lifted by my friend and collaborator, Em Mueller, enhanced an already amazing Shavuot experience.

– Bob Slipakoff, co-leader of last year’s 3:00 a.m. session: “Diving into the Night: Prayers, Poems, and Chants”

On Shavuot we go BIG, celebrating the revelation of Torah at Mount Sinai by learning together in a yearly Torah all-nighter

This year's Stepping Out raised $93,500 for the Friends Annual Fund.

We could not have achieved this milestone without our amazing community. This was truly a special night for us to come together in mixed presence, to celebrate Temple Israel.

Special thanks to our hosts, Daniella and Kevin Prussia, for their hard work to make this event happen.

Class of 5782 Confirmation

Join us for Qabbalat Shabbat on Friday, June 3rd at 6:00 p.m. at Qabbalat Shabbat, onsite and online, when the Confirmation Class of 5782 will serve as our teachers; sharing with us their perspectives on what Judaism means to them, and inspiring us all to consider what Judaism means to us.

"The whole people gathered as one in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moses, which the Eternal commanded to the people Israel" – Nehemiah 8:1

In Reform Judaism we embrace this ancient tradition within the book of Nehemiah, which recalls one of the most critical Covenant Renewal ceremonies in tradition – the moment when the Israelites, having just returned from decades of exile, reconnect with Torah and re-affirm their identity as a holy people. In the Hebrew Bible, this is a true "Confirmation" moment.

At Temple Israel we treasure the experience of Confirmation as an integral part of our Shavuot experience. As we gather to relive the receiving of Torah from Sinai, we also join as a whole community to celebrate and learn from our 10th grade students.

Every year, we invite our 10th grade students to participate in a year of study. Buttressed by our Temple Israel mission statement, “Living Judaism Together: Through Discovery, Dynamic Spirituality, and Righteous Impact,” our confirmands engage in study and discussion surrounding the topics of God, Torah, and Social Justice. They have explored their relationship with God, been active participants in TI Torah Study, and articulated how their Judaism inspires their pursuits of justice across a spectrum of meaningful causes.

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

Annual Gathering of the Congregation

Thursday, June 9 ● 6:30 p.m. Dinner ● 7:15 p.m. Mixed Presence Program

Join us at the Annual Gathering on June 9, to celebrate the past year of living Judaism together in new and innovative ways. We want your presence, onsite or online, as we reflect on what we've accomplished and share in the excitement for the year to come.

We will honor our 5782/2022 N'divei Lev, Judy Herman and the Afghan Resettlement Team who have offered the gift of their hearts in their volunteer work for Temple Israel. We will elect new leadership for the Board and Leadership Council and express our gratitude to those who have completed their leadership terms serving our community.

RECOMMENDED SLATE OF CANDIDATES

Board of Trustees members for the term ending in June 2025:

Josh Segal (first term)

Sam Wilderman (first term)

Ellen Clegg (renewal, second term)

Sandy Starr (renewal, second term)

Marc Zimman (renewal, second term)

We thank our Board of Trustees and Leadership Council members who are stepping down this year:

Naomi Gordon (Board of Trustees), Daniel Saul (Board of Trustees), Lisa Gross (Leadership Council), Louise Freedman (Leadership Council), and Allison Hertz (Leadership Council).

Leadership Council members for the term ending in June 2024:

Chris Palmer (first term)

Amy Nishman (first term)

Nick Morse (renewal, second term)

Jennifer Grella (renewal, second term)

Lonn Drucker (renewal, third term)

Ben Holtz (renewal, third term)

Andrea Lesser-Gonzalez (renewal, third term)

Liz Lyster (renewal, third term)

N'divei Lev Award Recipients

Judy Herman and the Afghan Resettlement Team Respectfully submitted by the Nominating Committee: Shari Noe (chair), Marc Maxwell, Daniel Saul, Lauren Lapat, Stephanie Pearl, Maria Isabel Rosario, Michael Meyers, Rachel Kogan, Andrew Franks, and Dan Deutsch.

FIRST TERM NOMINEES

Josh Segal

Sam Wilderman

Amy Nishman

Chris Palmer

Please join us, in mixed presence, as we celebrate the past year!

In Celebration of Our Cemetery:

A Place of History, Contemplation, and Spiritual Renewal

Sunday, June 12 at 11:00 a.m.

Temple Israel Cemetery, Wakefield, Massachusetts

We will observe a Service of Remembrance at Temple Israel Cemetery in Wakefield. Led by Rabbi Slipakoff and Cantor Stillman, we will reflect and remember as we share a peaceful walking tour of the grounds and join together in prayer; commemorating and celebrating the lives of those we remember.

The Temple Israel Cemetery in Wakefield is a place of natural beauty and communal memory- preserving more than 160 years of the rich history of Temple Israel.

Taking its inspiration from Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, the Temple Israel Cemetery was established in 1859. Much more than a simple burial ground, the cemetery was landscaped to have the feel of a public park -– a place of solace and inspiration meant to be enjoyed by the living. Over the following decades, the beautiful grounds next to Lake Quannapowitt underwent significant expansion and improvements, while remaining a central feature in the life of the congregation. The minutes of the 1910 congregational meeting note that “our cemetery, which is the most important adjunct of the congregation, is beautiful; and everything in connection therewith is in the finest possible condition.” This dedication to preserving the cemetery’s natural beauty and profound tranquility continues to this day, and the Temple Israel Cemetery continues to play an important role in the lifecycle of the congregation’s members. It is a place of history, contemplation, and spiritual renewal.

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

The tree seemed to give shelter and comfort to those gathered beneath its boughs, as if it was hugging them.

We want to hear from you!

We welcome your poetry, prose, or visual art as we find new and creative ways to express the beauty and meaning of our cemetery.

For more information or to submit material, contact Sue Misselbeck at susanm@tisrael.org.

Watercolor painting by Linda Okun

BOSTON

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

Christelle Francois RECEPTIONIST

Willie Lewis FACILITIES/MAINTENANCE

Kevin White DIRECTOR OF

It Takes a Village

by Heidi Smith Hyde, Village Coordinator for Families with Young Children

On Sunday, March 20, over 80 families gathered for a Purim block party on Nessel Way. It seemed particularly fitting that this celebration, organized by the Village, FJECC, and Religious School, took place on the first day of spring. Spring symbolizes hope and the chance to start anew, and after two challenging pandemic years, our families with young children were ready to party! What a treat it was to see our children dancing and playing and crafting while their adoring parents and grandparents looked on. The Village, led by Rabbi Suzie Jacobson, is TI’s place for families with young children (ages 0 – 5) to connect, learn, and celebrate Judaism, while meeting new friends and having fun. All year we have offered families multiple ways to connect, whether onsite, online, or together in mixed presence. In the fall, the Village hosted a series of outdoor holiday celebrations, including a Havdalah craft night held in TI’s spacious courtyard. In October we met at a local park for a sports party and obstacle course!

In the winter when case numbers began to rise, we moved our offerings online. Over 50 families gathered on Zoom for a Shabbat singalong with local performer, Vanessa Trien. Our Tu B’Shevat puppet show featuring Anna Sobel from Talking Hands Theater also drew many families in need of connection.

At the heart of our programming is Shabbat. Every Friday afternoon at Tot Rock Shabbat (held on Zoom), little ones in highchairs munch on challah as the blessings are recited. On alternate Saturday mornings you can find us in the garden, singing, playing, and praying with Wayne Potash and clergy

Being together in community has sustained us during this unprecedented time, and with the arrival of spring we look forward to providing our Village families with even more opportunities for engagement.

Village article

Upcoming Village Opportunities

SUNDAY, JUNE 26

VILLAGE BACK TO SHUL PICTURE DAY

Join us for family pictures with an experienced child photographer, and then have fun in the Temple Israel playground with your Village friends.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

COMMUNITY MURAL PAINTING PROJECT

Village families are invited to paint a Noah’s Ark mural in Temple Israel’s very own Rainbow Room (Room 105). This project will be led by two community muralists.

For more information and to register, contact Village Coordinator Heidi at hhyde@tisrael.org

TI Teens VIsIT The MassachuseTTs sTaTe house

Our Tikkun class (led by Rabbi Dan Slipakoff and Ari Zimmet, TI’s Developer of Youth Justice Programs and Education) focused on empowering our students with the tools to pursue social justice in our society and acquire the know-how to repair civic brokenness by using their personal stories to help enact change within our government. The research and lobbying skills learned in this class will no doubt serve these students well as they encounter opportunities to use their voices to make an impact throughout their lives.

The class culminated on March 7th at the Massachusetts State House, as we were among the first visitors to enter the building in over two years!

Our students (Jack Babson, Isaac Morris, and Jane Robinson) met with their state senators and representatives to lobby for bills which they found meaningful. They shared their views on nuclear power safety standards, support for students with diabetes, and addressing biases within the education system, respectively.

We commend our students for their diligent research and their impassioned presentations, and we thank their representatives for their time and engaging dialogue around these important topics.

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

This winter, one of our Tent classes turned their course of learning into a course of action.

PHOTOS: Ari Zimmet, Rabbi Dan Slipakoff, Jack Babson, Isaac Morris, and Jane Robinson

S'lichot: September 17

Rosh Hashanah: September 25-27

Yom Kippur: October 4-5

Sukkot: October 9-16

Simchat Torah: October 17

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 of Boston

INSIGHT

Temple Israel 477 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02215-5396

Non Profit US Postage PAID Permit 50648 Boston, MA

MaRK YouR caLenDaRs!

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 - SATURDAY, JUNE 5

Be part of Temple Israel's Third Annual Tikkun Zoom Shavuot and Concert with Nefesh Mountain!

25+ hours of learning alongside people from around the world, culminating in a closing celebration and mixed presence concert with Nefesh Mountain on Sunday evening at Temple Israel. See page 9.

THURSDAY, JUNE 9

Temple Israel Annual Gathering of the Congregation

Join us at the Annual Gathering on June 9 to celebrate the past year of living Judaism together in new and innovative ways. We want your presence, onsite or online, as we reflect on what we've accomplished and share in the excitement for the year to come. See page 13.

and righteous impact.

Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality,