Insight Summer 2024

Summer 2024|5784

May, June, July

into Temple Israel of Boston

Iyyar, Sivan, Tamuz

We hosted a special second night seder — a creative, joyous, interactive, fully immersive experience, led by the Temple Israel clergy. We used our whole building and engaged all five senses to live inside this age-old story. We were treated to a creative menu, the center of our storytelling, designed by the chefs who brought Julia Child’s kitchen to life in the HBO show Julia. See more Passover photos on page 3!

Passover 5784

At our Second Night Passover Seder, we began our journey in the TI Garden, and made a few stops on Nessel Way for rahtzah (washing hands) and gourmet karpas.

We sang, danced, made art, asked questions, assembled our own charoset, and engaged all our senses: it was truly an immersive, multi-sensory experience.

NOTES TO OUR COMMUNITY

Jessica Greenfield

Board President

For four days in March I had the privilege of being among 80 Reform synagogue presidents at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ’s), Scheidt Seminar in Atlanta, learning to become impactful leaders and change agents for our movement. My fellow seminar participants represented 10% of the diverse voices resonating across 850 North American Reform congregations of all sizes and backgrounds. The attendees present included those from urban centers and rural communities, red and blue states, large synagogues and intimate havurot, from California to Texas, Wisconsin to Florida, Alaska to New Hampshire. We were joined by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the URJ, and its outgoing chair, Jennifer Brodkey Kaufman, and her successor, Shelley Niceley Groff, and other key leaders of URJ’s national programs. This year we focused our time around actions we might undertake together to pursue URJ’s vision of “a world in which Judaism enables all people to experience peace and wholeness (shalom), justice and equity (tzedek), and belonging and joy (shayachut and simcha).”

Throughout the experience I reflected on how Temple Israel’s mission of living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact aligned with and stood apart from our broader movement. I was reassured that we remain extraordinarily organizationally robust, while rooted in the Reform movement’s traditional values emphasizing personal autonomy in religious practice, liturgical adaptation to current social context, egalitarianism, social justice, and engagement with the wider world. I was proud that we match the URJ’s “commitment to the safety and vitality of the Jewish people and to a secure and just state as a home for all Jews and for all its inhabitants” through multiple perspectives towards an authentic community connection to Israel. I was inspired by the ways we have proactively enacted the movement’s newest ideals of “vibrancy, belonging, intentional engagement, and creating equitable places of belonging.” I felt so fortunate for the strong clergy, staff, and lay leaders who have nurtured us to this position of strength.

I hope that each of you will also find an opportunity to reflect on the gifts engagement with Temple Israel’s sacred community offers, and that you will find, within these pages, your next Temple Israel experience of holiness, strength, learning, and joy.

Dan Deutsch Executive Director

It is seldom that we are aware of the magnitude of a moment in time as we are living through it. I am certain that when the next chapters are written about our American Jewish history, this will be the moment. We are living through a pivotal time in Jewish history, and I am so proud of how our congregation is responding to the emerging challenges that we face. We are making space for debate and dialogue, and supporting one another as we try to make sense of what is unfolding. Having had the chance to connect with so many of our members, I can share that our resilience, commitment to community, and ability to question how we can care so deeply about the future of Israel and the safety of all humans tied up in the conflict in Gaza and Israel is profound. If you have not recently joined us, I encourage you to come and be a part of the dialogue and debate by being present at Temple Israel and participating in one of our many opportunities. This continues to be a time that calls for us to simply be together in community.

In this issue we have chosen to highlight many aspects of how Temple Israel is helping our members live active Jewish lives. From firsthand accounts of those who have recently visited Israel, to the many life cycle moments that have been etched into the Jewish journeys for our community members, the through line is community and the power of our ancient traditions. We hope that you can join us on June 6 for our Annual Gathering. Our night will be an opportunity to celebrate all that we have accomplished together as a congregation this past year, and we will look ahead to the future. We will also honor leaders, including Alison Freedman and Frank Friedman who will be concluding their board service. Thank you for being a part of our Temple Israel family and strengthening our community this year.

THREE LESSONS FROM THREE HOLIDAYS

Rabbi Elaine Zecher Senior Rabbi

Three Jewish biblical holidays occur this year between the beginning of spring and the start of summer, and with them come three valuable lessons.

Purim is when we take silliness seriously. From the Book of Esther, we learn of the bravery of the queen who hid her Judaism for reasons not made clear in the text. Yet, what emerges is a moment of truth telling. Queen Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, had learned that the wicked Haman (Boo) would mastermind the destruction of the Jewish people, and called upon Esther “to appeal to the king to plead with him for her people.” But she feared for her life because she knew that only those summoned by the king could approach, so she refused. Mordecai persisted with these words:

“Do not imagine that you, of all the Jews, will escape with your life by being in the king’s palace. On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.”

Then Esther sent back this answer to Mordecai:

“Go, assemble all the Jews who live in Shushan, and fast in my behalf; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will observe the same fast. Then I shall go to the king, though it is contrary to the law; and if I am to perish, I shall perish!”

(Esther 4:11-16)

Purim teaches us through this interchange between Mordecai and Esther that both had a role to play to alter the fate of the Jewish people. We need both the Mordecais, who beckon our better instincts, to act even when we feel paralyzed, and the Esthers, who rise above fear and doubt, to assert the power and agency they hold.

Passover teaches us empathy. The narration in the book of Exodus shapes the pivotal moment when we turn from a collection of families tied to the same father into a nation. We learn what it means to be a stranger, to move from degradation toward dignity, to enter freedom and redemption after slavery. The Haggadah transforms the story into a ritual we share around the seder table. It is there with the story of the Exodus that we remind ourselves that:

“In every generation because of our humanity, we need to see ourselves as if we went free from Egypt.”

I regard this instruction of the seder ritual as the most formative and informative moment. We place ourselves in another generation to gain access to what it might have felt like to go forth from Egypt. Instead of anticipated grief where we focus on slavery and servitude, we anticipate possibility through the movement forward out of the depth and darkness into the open welcoming space of freedom. Empathy allows us a different way of being. We access the redemptive quality of liberty with one foot after the other taking us forward out of the mud onto the dry land toward possibility. And then comes Shavuot. It is a harvest festival just like Passover, according to the Torah, yet its historical connection gives it a greater significance. The freedom celebrated at Passover is unfinished without the denouement of what happens seven weeks later. We receive the Torah. How wonderful to be free, but what does it mean without the guidance of the sacred scroll? Yet it is the biblical book of Ruth that manifests the deepest meaning of Torah. In this story, Naomi is left a widow with her two widowed daughters-in-law. Naomi beseeches them to return to their people. One of the daughters-in-law, Ruth, refuses. Instead, she declares her commitment.

“Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus and more may GOD do to me if anything but death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1:16-17).

This interaction sets in motion acts of lovingkindness between the two and then for the community. The book ends with the lineage of the house of David emerging from Ruth, who entered the story as an outsider and completes it as a vital member for the continuation of the Jewish people.

May the lessons of our tradition we learn through the experience of these holidays inspire us toward bravery, empathy, and lovingkindness.

sameach!

Cycle of Life Moments at Temple Israel

The synagogue, and particularly Temple Israel of Boston, plays a unique role in each of our lives. Here is where we enter the full cycle of living from our first to last breath. Here in the sacred circle of community, we celebrate life’s joyous and difficult moments together. Here Jewish tradition supports us by holding us through rituals that allow us to be truly present as we are ushered and surrounded in those precious experiences of life.

Baby Naming

Rabbi Suzie came to our house and brought so much joy to the naming of our son Simon! She encouraged us to talk about why we chose his name, and it was important to acknowledge Danny's late mother whom he was named after. Rabbi Suzie then asked our Zoom family and friends to give Simon a blessing, and it was such a special moment. We felt so surrounded with love and welcomed to the community.

— Dinah Super and Danny Bassgate

Qabbalat Tanakh

The Qabbalat Tanakh ceremony was meaningful because it felt like we were able to take a moment in time to reflect on where Beau is at in his Jewish education journey. We honored that he received his own tanakh and is encouraged to pose questions and build his moral conscience as he continues to grow.

— Sharon Novie-Greenberg and David Greenberg Consecration

Being a part of Consecration was a very moving experience, celebrating my son, Henry, and his peers as they entered into their Jewish learning journey. Every child had such excitement and pride as families were called to the bima together to receive a blessing and the child’s gift of their very own Torah. Gathering together to commit to teaching our children, and celebrating them as they begin this process, was an important experience that made us truly feel like a part of a community.

— Sarah Champlin and Dave Toupin, parents of Henry Toupin

B'Mitzvah

What a blessing it was to share the day with our nearest and dearest, those truly a part of who Benjamin and Ezra are and are continually becoming. From our family, to our chavurah, to our closest friends — we were surrounded by love. During the service, Benjamin and Ezra taught us such important lessons about patience, reflection, embracing differences, and choosing a path of peace and justice. And with the passing of the Torah, they made us incredibly proud to be honoring the generations before them, by both embracing traditions and making them their own.

— Rebecca and Mike Fishbein

celebrated the B'Mitzvah of their children, Ezra and Benjamin on March 2, 2024

Confirmation

“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 to Jerusalem 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 receiving Torah from Sinai, we also celebrate and learn from our 10th grade students who have completed a year of study. Buttressed by our Temple Israel mission statement, “Living Judaism Together: Through Discovery, Dynamic Spirituality, and Righteous Impact,” our confirmands have engaged in study and discussion on the topics of God, Torah, and social justice, have affirmed their strongly held beliefs, and explored the big questions yet unanswered. Their energy and commitment to Jewish learning is a shining example for us all!

Join us for Qabbalat Shabbat on Friday, May 26

when the Confirmation Class of 5784 will serve as our teachers, sharing their perspectives on what Judaism means to them, and inspiring us all to consider what Judaism means to us. We congratulate this year’s class:

Lila Berinsky

Claude Carrick

Lucia Mindell

Isaac Morris

Havi Rosi-Kessel

Ilana Schwartz

Conversion

When I started coming to Temple Israel with my partner, I found myself continually wanting to learn more and more about Jewish texts, traditions, and values. As we started incorporating Judaism more deeply into our lives, I felt drawn to incorporate myself more officially within Judaism. This led me to a meaningful and educational conversion process, culminating with immersion in the mikveh last October. I’m so glad to have connected with such a welcoming community and a tradition I love at TI.

–Alex Semendinger

Adult B'Mitzvah

Becoming a Bat Mitzvah at the age of 48, and then experiencing with everyone the shock of October 7th, led me to start going to Torah study on Saturday mornings, where after my Bat Mitzvah I continued to learn, debate, and simply BE with my fellow Jews. It was with this sense of solidarity in my heart that I went to Israel, for the first time in my life, this past month. Becoming a Bat Mitzvah has connected me more than ever to Temple Israel and to Am Israel.

— Dimitra Dimopoulou

Maya Seide

Elliot Strand

Jalen

Weatherhead

Wedding

We could not be happier to be getting married at Temple Israel, a place that holds so much meaning for us and is a cornerstone of our community. Meeting with Rabbi Andrew has prepared us emotionally and spiritually for our marriage, and working with Alyssa Ferrara to prepare the space has been so easy. We are so excited to be having our wedding here, and we can't wait for our guests to see where we come every Friday night!

— Ben Jackson and Jules Fischburg

Sacred Moments at Temple Israel

Qabbalat Shabbat

Two years ago, something extraordinary happened: We turned around!

Qabbalat Shabbat services regularly take place in a variety of locations around the synagogue: outside in the garden on warm summer nights, the main sanctuary for large formal gatherings, or in Levi Auditorium with its high windows that share the sunset over Longwood Avenue. Two years ago, we shifted the orientation of the room and with it, created a different kind of embrace of the Shabbat experience. In circling our chairs in concentric circles around our candlesticks, we looked up from our prayer book and into each other’s eyes, and in doing so something special began to happen — we all felt it. The softness of the circular shape of the room became magnetic — drawing people in — the bustle and buzz of conversations and friendships developing, and the sweetness of a comforting hand. The excitement of seeing the faces of our members on the Zoom gallery wall — joining us from home or camping trips, or other countries. And we all feel it — feel the deepening of community, the effervescence of voices and musicians singing and playing together, that our Shabbat circle is better and stronger than the sum of its parts. And by the end, we’ve felt gratitude; we’ve been comforted; we’ve learned; and we’ve been elevated. We are transformed! One of our members relayed how Qabbalat Shabbat has been a transformative experience for her following the loss of a beloved family member. The warmth and encouragement knowing who she was sharing her space with created a sense of arriving back home. For her, our weekly Shabbat service has centered her at a time of profound disorientation. While she sits among the congregation she is aware of herself and feels the generations within her family, as well as all the meaningful events she has experienced here in this community. People come to Temple Israel for various reasons. For some, coming to Qabbalat Shabbat is about connection to community and solidarity with their people, or a wonderful spiritual lift at the end of the week; for some, it is the music and singing; for others, it is learning and scholarship; and yet for others, all of these combine to open a doorway into their inner life. Isaiah’s words are as relevant now as ever before:

Adult B'Mitzvah

Teachers, writers, scientists, musicians, and engineers; ages ranging from 28 to 67 years old — welcome to our robust, diverse Adult B’Mitzvah cohorts, a four-semester adult journey of Jewish learning and self exploration that culminates in teaching, chanting Torah, and leading worship. Welcome to Adult B’Mitzvah at Temple Israel!

The summer prior to a cohort launch is generally when I have the opportunity to talk with prospective students, hearing their individual stories about what brought them to Temple Israel, what drew them to Judaism, and what fed the hunger they feel for extended learning and Jewish experience right now. This enriching path is not during a summer vacation; quite the contrary. It is at a time in their lives when they are raising families, earning advanced degrees, and beginning or changing careers. They are here because they want to be.

Every two years Temple Israel launches a new cohort of adult learners, and to hear their stories of how and why they arrived here is compelling and deeply moving. There is a saying that the Jewish soul yearns to return home. And here more than anywhere, I experience this through their eyes, while they consider how traditions could be relevant and more meaningful in their lives today. Students learn to read Hebrew and explore topics they would otherwise not be able to engage with, asking questions with curiosity, humility, and vulnerability. For many, this experience frames the experience of their inner spiritual life and strengthens their connection to Jewish peoplehood, becoming a mountain-top moment they never forget.

The Adult B'Mitzvah class is an extremely special experience for me: Not only do I get to expand my understanding of many important Jewish topics (language, music, literature, etc.), but it’s also provided me with an amazing group of co-learners. I feel so grateful to share this journey with many fellow Jews, one of whom meets with me outside of class to continue studying and learning Hebrew.

For My House will be a House of Prayer to all people (Isaiah 56)

— Han Spinner (ABM ‘25)

What's A Sofer?

Did you know that Temple Israel is the home of ten beautiful Torah scrolls? Each of these scrolls has its own distinguished history and unique journey to Temple Israel. The person who writes and cares for these scrolls is a trained scribe, or in Hebrew, a sofer.

Spending the last several days reading through decades-old files and hand calligraphed notes on the history and condition of our scrolls, I was drawn backwards through time to the library of Rabbi Shlomo Koenig’s Torah scroll, written over the course of seven years by a Romanian sofer circa 1830. One scroll is described as having “beautiful script,” written in one of the yeshivot in Vilna, Lithuania in 1910. Another, characterized by its dark black script on plaster-backed sheepskin, is from Bohemia, 1830 — this sofer was trained in Poland. Another, our small Ukrainian Torah that has accompanied many Temple youth group retreats, is from 1840. And finally, our precious Holocaust Torah, written in Beit Avi script, circa 1730, by a mitnagid, a non-chassidic scribe in the Austria-Hungarian Empire. Having Bohemian, Austrian, and Hungarian characteristics, it is thought to have begun its journey in Prague before making its way to Blatna, Czechoslovakia, where it was last used before the German invasion and the Holocaust.

Like an archeological investigation, the scrolls take us back through time, the sof’rim silently identifying themselves through the ornate nature of their calligraphy, with whom they would have apprenticed, and from which region of the world, the kind of quill feathers used in their writing, the various countries they would have traveled through…all this in the sacred DNA of the ink, parchment, and wooden rollers. I think about our Torah scrolls and recognize that we too are living their history.

Temple Israel, though well into its 170th year, is hardly living in the past. We continually move forward, living our mission while listening to what our history has to teach us. As we ourselves evolve, we welcome a modern sofer to help us care for our Torah scrolls with her expertise and love. For thousands of years, the tradition of writing sacred text has been reserved exclusively for learned men — but Temple Israel does not live in its past, and began to search for a modern scribe more reflective of our inclusive, progressive values. Our search led us to Soferet Rachel Jackson, who will be working with us to ensure our scrolls are healthy, read, and loved for centuries to come.

I think about the original scribes. Through their devotion to their craft and artistry, their Torah lives through us today as we roll, chant, and re-roll these sacred scrolls. How they would smile to know that teenagers hundreds of years later sing their words during holiday worship; that adults chant alongside B'nei Mitzvah as the Torah stories come to life each year. We are grateful for their stewardship and commitment as we appreciate our role in the lives of these Torahs. Their memories are indeed a blessing.

Soferet Rachel Jackson evaluating the condition of Temple Israel Torah scrolls.

Eye Witness Accounts from the Recent Temple Israel Trip to Israel

Many members of Temple Israel have traveled to Israel since October 7. They wanted to bear witness to the horrific attack by Hamas terrorists and its devastating effect on the people of Israel: Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouins, and Israeli Palestinians and Arabs. Our focus was on what was happening in Israel, and these excerpts describe what they witnessed. Their full texts, as well as accounts from others, can be found on our website.

We met with Hersh’s parents, Rachel and Jonathan. Hersh was taken hostage on October 7th after attending the Nova music festival, where roughly 400 young people barely older than my son and daughter were murdered. Forty young people, including Hersh, were taken hostage.

Hersh was my son’s counselor on his school trip to Israel last spring. He had been excited to learn that our son and several of his classmates were returning to Israel last September. Hersh offered to take our son to a soccer game before he left for Thailand. He has not yet made it on that trip.

I met with an alum of Seeds of Peace (a program for Israelis and Palestinians to develop relationships and tangible paths toward lasting peace) the day before he was to be deployed to the north as a reservist. He requested a deployment in the north to avoid combat with the Palestinians and their families whom he knew and with whom he was friends. He, too, continues to believe that peace is possible. He chose to share his precious time with me before his deployment to convey that message to at least one American.

— Andrew Zelermyer

I went to Israel to demonstrate empathy and solidarity [with those in Israel with whom I feel a familial connection and] who are facing an existential threat and suffering in a manner that was previously unimaginable and unprecedented in our lifetime. In the United States, we witness the hatred driving the defacement and erasure of the hostage posters. In Israel, nothing mars the beautiful faces of family in horrific captivity. They stare out at you everywhere you go so that you will not forget the barbaric kidnappings, humanitarian crisis of their prolonged captivity, and high priority of their release. The “Thank you for being here” we heard repeatedly throughout our short visit underscored the vast meaning of our empathy and support by being present in those brief moments.

— Michelle Feller-Kopman

We come back with no answers, but with a better awareness of the complexity of Israel, within and beyond its borders. And a reminder that Israel is our Jewish homeland, to which we are connected, with all its faults, and beauty, and anachronistic complexity, including picking lemons for a grateful farmer on a beautiful day, tying us back to the land, the irony of which is not to be underestimated.

— Marc Maxwell

We left Israel feeling very sobered, even sad. There is a war going on, and everyone has lost a family member or a family member of a friend or neighbor. When we asked people what they thought would happen when the war ends, everyone said the same thing: “I don‘t know.” And yet, everyone is going about their daily business, plus extra effort to help the evacuees, and smiling and planning for the next day.

— Janet and Bernie Aserkoff

October 7 confronted me like nothing I’ve ever encountered. It took my breath away. I have not been OK. In Hostage Square we met with families of hostages. They have not had time to grieve. The hostages are being kept only 30 minutes away in Gaza, but it’s like they are continents apart. The message from Israel is clear. We need to keep the plight of the hostages in the media. We need to make our voices heard. We need to be loud and demand their release. We need to cry, scream, and shout their names. We cannot be silent. We need to keep international pressure up.

I want to make sure the world has not forgotten our hostages and what really happened on October 7.

— Nikki Nudelman

What we learned from visiting our brothers and sisters in Israel, and being in Israel, is that it is not just life and limb that October 7 has taken; it is above all else Israel’s sense of security and strength, and hope for the future. There is not an Israeli who does not know someone who was killed, injured, or taken hostage in Hamas’ gruesome attack; who does not know someone who is serving; who has not attended a funeral or shiva in the months since October 7. Many Israelis we met thanked us for our visit and asked implicitly that we find our own role in helping to return Israel to security, strength, and hope for the future.

— David Nalven

Eilu v’ Eilu: A Debate on Jewish Values and American Public Policy During the Gaza War

On April 1, we were joined by former Bush administration official Dr. Tevi Troy and Rabbi David Saperstein, U.S. Ambassadorat-Large for International Religious Freedom during the Obama administration. The debate explored the large questions and ideas around Israel and the Gaza war. We explored various viewpoints as we made sense of our present world. This event was sponsored by the Smith Family Innovation Fund in honor of Rabbi Ronne Friedman.

Temple Israel Trip to Israel: Palestinian Perspectives November 7 - 15, 2024

Travel with us to Israel as we engage with Palestinian communities in the aftermath of October 7th and the war in Gaza. This unique trip will be centered around Palestinian voices and will also include an opportunity to connect with our sister congregation in Haifa. For more information, contact Emma Glaser (eglaser@tisrael.org).

5TH ANNUAL TIKKUN ZOOM SHAVUOT

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 5:00 P.M. - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 6:00 P.M.

We are thrilled to be hosting our 5th annual Tikkun Zoom Shavuot, celebrating the revelation of Torah at Mount Sinai with 25 hours of continuous learning. To celebrate, we spend all day and night learning from teachers, artists, and community members as they lead us in study, prayer, art making, music, and more. Be sure to tune in to Temple Israel’s own “Tiny Desk” concert, live from Cantor Stillman’s office!

Last Shavuot, we offered 36 sessions with over 40 session leaders, and hosted over 1,000 participants from around the world, learning together in community. The majority of facilitators were members of Temple Israel and other partner synagogues, with session topics ranging from all corners of Jewish life. Last year’s classes included:

• “The Making of a Torah Scroll”

• “The Influence of our Hebrew Bible on the Magna Carta”

• “Yidishe Dikhterins — Yiddish Women Poets”

• “Michael Twitty’s Kosher Soul: Exploring the Faith and Food Traditions of an African American Jew”

• “Fromage and Fellowship: Crafting a Captivating Cheese Board for Community Connection”

We will continue to offer all 25 hours online, with an added opportunity in the last few hours to learn in mixed presence. You can pop in for an hour or two, or brew a pot of coffee and stay with us for the long haul.

Learning sessions begin at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11. We will end together with a celebratory gathering at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12. Join us!

Is there something you’re particularly passionate about? We want to learn with you! Contact Lily Kaufman at lkaufman@tisrael.org to learn more about how to lead your own Shavuot learning session.

The holiday of Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, seven weeks after the biblical exodus from slavery in Egypt. Shortly after we observe Shavuot, we celebrate the federal holiday Juneteenth, which marks the emancipation from slavery in the U.S. We invite you to participate in “Shavuot to Juneteenth: A Journey Toward Liberation” in multiple ways, onsite and online. Our celebration will conclude on June 19th, when Temple Israel will plan to meet at a local Juneteenth celebration with Embrace Boston. More information on how to celebrate will become available via Temple Israel's website and email communications.

Annual Gathering of the Congregation DINNER. LEADERSHIP. STORIES. CELEBRATION

Thursday, June 6, 2024 • Dinner at 6:30 p.m. • Program at 7:00 p.m.

Once a year, we gather to take a close look at the larger vision that is Temple Israel of Boston. We celebrate all that we are able to do to ensure that Temple Israel is the vibrant focal point of Jewish life in and around Boston. We rejoice in the many moments both personal and communal that have lifted our Jewish lives and imbued them with meaning. We revel in our leaders and the sacred volunteer work they provide to our community, and express gratitude for the tireless effort of our clergy and staff. We may look to the past, but really what we do is plant seeds for the future to guarantee that we nourish and sustain our present so that our next generation and those after them stand upon a strong and engaged foundation for the future.

This year at the Annual Gathering, we are honoring

you!

Everyone matters. Everyone is counted.

In Numbers 1:2 we learn that a census was to be taken of the Israelites, "...listing the names, head by head."

N'DIVEI LEV: GIFT FROM THE HEART

It takes a whole community to build a sacred space. For the ancient Israelites, to build a mishkan, their sanctuary, each brought the offering of their hearts. That was the extra effort, the willingness to step up and forward beyond themselves. They called it Nadiv Lev then, and we honor sacred work offered with the gift of the heart to Temple Israel. We will honor our 5784/2024 N’divei Lev who have offered the gift of their hearts in their volunteer work for Temple Israel.

YISHRAT LEV: LEADERSHIP FROM THE HEART

We have chosen the name Yishrat Lev, a description that comes from the Book of Kings. King Solomon described his father, King David, with this image that connotes integrity that comes from the heart. Those entering our inaugural honor roll have shown their dedication and commitment with integrity that comes from the heart. We are honored by your service and are grateful for your leadership.

VOTING RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

“A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted.”

— Babylonian Talmud

Berakhot 55a

As Jews, we have a responsibility to ensure that every voice is heard and every vote is counted in the coming elections.

Join Temple Israel’s Voting Rights and Reproductive Justice teams in partnering with the Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center and the Center for Common Ground’s Reclaim Our Vote Campaign as we fight for democracy in our non-partisan campaign.

Through postcarding, house parties, text banking, and telephoning voters in several states through October, we will work together to:

• Overcome barriers to voting that target communities of color in states such as Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas

• Win ballot measures to protect our freedoms, especially access to reproductive justice

Please refer to the timeline below and consider engaging with us at any point during this effort.

Tikkun Central

Tikkun Central is our community’s efforts toward righteous impact. Learn about our current initiatives and our Temple Israel-wide Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion culture shift:

• Environmental Justice

• Food Justice

• Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

• Gun Violence Prevention

• Immigrant Justice

• Racial Justice Initiative

• Refugee Resettlement

• Reproductive Justice

• TI Cares

• Voting Rights

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Rabbi Dan Slipakoff (dslipakoff@tisrael.org), Director of Social Justice

Tali Puterman (tputerman@tisrael.org), Director of Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Organizing Andy Lesser-Gonzalez (alessergonzalez@gmail.com),

Tikkun Central Co-Chair

Nancy Tauber (nancytauber@comcast.net), Tikkun Central Co-Chair

Miriam Spectre (mspectre@tisrael.org), Social Justice Coordinator

A Purim Celebration to Remember!

On the evening of Saturday March 23, we welcomed over 350 guests to a massive Purim celebration, the likes of which Temple Israel has never seen. We came together to observe the mitzvot of Purim with a fabulous feast with fantastic food, great drinks, and delicious desserts.

We retold the Purim story with hilarious improv comedy thanks to our new friends from the Improv Asylum, and gave generously to the Friends Annual Fund and to those in need.

Our Purim celebration was a reminder of the strength of the Temple Israel community, and the resilience of the Jewish people. It was heartwarming to see guests of all ages enjoying themselves in elaborate costumes, catching up with old friends and forging new relationships. If laughter is the best medicine, then we all left in good health, or at least in good cheer. How better to counter the weight of dark times than with a reminder of all we have to feel grateful for in and amongst this congregation!

As an added bonus, we raised over $50,000 for the Friends Annual Fund. Thank you to everyone who helped make Purim 5784 a night to remember.

The Future is Bright at FJECC

(Frances Jacobson Early Childhood Center)

As FJECC Director I often encounter Temple Israel families who tell me, “We’ve heard such wonderful things about the school, but the cost is too high,” or, “We would have loved to send our child to FJECC but we couldn’t make the schedule work.” We are excited to say we are making broad access to FJECC a priority with several meaningful changes:

• Expanded hours! All FJECC children can now enroll for a full day (until 5:30 p.m.)

• FJECC families have priority status for Temple Israel’s new summer camp. (FJECC teachers are co-directors!)

• FJECC calendar more consistently aligns with the surrounding public schools

• Scholarship awards increased by 30%

• FJECC is one of nine newly contracted communitybased programs to provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) to residents of Boston.

At FJECC we believe that access to high quality early education is a fundamental right that all children deserve but currently do not have, and that families should be supported in their efforts to secure that high quality early education. Mayor Wu has a strong commitment to the same belief and is working to ensure that every 3- and 4-year-old child living in Boston has a seat in a high quality, affordable preschool.

FJECC is honored and proud to be a partner in that effort! Beginning this fall, we will have 12 Universal Pre-Kindergarten spots available in one of our classrooms. For families residing within the city of Boston, this means the cost of a 6.5-hour school day for your 4-year-old is covered by the city.

FJECC’s excellence and sustainability is tied to our partnership with — and life within — Temple Israel. Any member of the greater Temple Israel community can now consider FJECC as an option for their families — including FJECC and Temple Israel staff.

INTRODUCING OUR NEW SOCIAL WORKER

With gratitude to the Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and Jewish Family & Children’s Service, our congregation is able to participate in a special and important pilot program to bring a Community Support Liaison (social worker) into our community for one day a week at no cost to you.

We welcome Yasmin Lotan to Temple Israel.

Our Community Support Liaison is a trained social service professional serving as short-term support to Temple Israel of Boston congregants — helping to locate resources, offering coaching, and providing referrals — in addition to hosting 1 - 2 monthly mental health and wellness workshops and support groups focused on specific, emerging needs.

Yasmin Lotan, MSW was born and raised in Israel and recently moved with her family to the Boston area. She has ten years of experience supporting and assisting people who are coping with all kinds of disabilities, chronic illness, mental health issues, and more. She is also experienced in facilitating support groups and workshops. Yasmin has already made an impact meeting some of our TILLI and Riverway members. Going forward she will be facilitating the monthly bereavement group. If you want to connect with Yasmin, please contact Amy Sherr at asherr@tisrael.org.

BOMBARD Archivist

Welcome to our newest staff!

AYLA ROMANO-MEADE Administrative Coordinator of Education

LILY KAUFMAN Director of Programming and the Center for Adult Jewish Learning

ROB MCPHERSON Events Coordinator

WOLFE Receptionist

ELIZABETH

SADIE

Ann Abrams' Next Chapter

Join us to celebrate Ann Abrams' retirement

June 21, 2024 • 6:00 p.m. • Onsite and Online

Rabbi Ronne Friedman often said, "It is a blessing to work with those that you love," and I am fortunate to be so blessed: I've had a job for almost 39 years that from day one has always been a labor of love, has always been much more than "just a job," and has enabled me to form warm relationships with staff, teachers, and congregants of all ages and from all walks of life. I am very, very grateful to have had this rich, purposeful, joyful, and often fun career, and I am ready to pass the torch. (I know, you thought I'd say, "start a new chapter!" Oh, I said it!). Please know that although I will be retiring from my librarian job, I'm happy to say that my wife, Deb, and I will continue to be part of the Temple Israel community, as congregants.

And, I won’t be playing pickleball, just yet (although I look forward to doing so, someday!). I have been teaching English to adult immigrants for the last six years, and look forward to having more time to do more teaching.

I would very much like to properly thank you, the congregation, for providing me with this amazing career! So, I hope you'll come to TI, onsite or online, on Friday evening, June 21, 2024.

—

Ann Abrams

What do you like about the library?

In the words of students who like to hang out in the library...

Benjamin, Grade 4:

Books come from nature. And nature holds all the secrets of the universe.

It's a nice, peaceful place.

Because you are a nice librarian.

Haiku by Mila, Grade 5:

Library Ann helps

Me leave with something better Than I had planned.

I love this place!

You can be free and have fun.

Sam, Grade 10:

I love the books, the general vibe, the quiet, it’s a good place to study, and the hot chocolate!

Wolfy, Grade 6:

LibraryAnn is sweet!

Gavin, Grade 7:

Oscar, Grade 7:

Nile, Grade 7:

Eve, Grade 8:

Markyourcalendar!

Coming Soon at TI

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 • 6:30 p.m. Pride Liberation Seder

Temple Israel will be co-sponsoring a Pride Liberation Seder with Temple Sinai, Temple Beth Zion, and Congregation Am Tikva. This seder, first developed by Am Tikva in 1985, uses the Passover Haggadah model to retell the story of LGBTQ+ Liberation, providing queer history, explaining the variety of queer symbols, and using personal stories from a variety of our LGBTQ+ experiences. Stay tuned for more information about this Pride event as the date gets closer.

Summer

at TI!

JUNE 17 THROUGH AUGUST 23

Temple Israel’s summer camp is the place for kids 21/2 through 6 years old!

We are thrilled to announce that we are hosting our first ever summer camp at Temple Israel. Camp will be held for ten weeks. Through activities, games, and creative play, our campers learn, explore, and dive into play. Our joyful summer camp program is staffed by experienced early childhood educators and provides families who are part of our greater Temple Israel community with a full day of summertime care. Learn more at www.tisrael.org/ summer-camp or email camp@tisrael.org.

Teen JUST-US: A Summer Justice Internship Program for Teens

Teen JUST-US Boston is a unique summer internship experience for Jewish teens entering 11th and 12th grade who are committed to making a difference in their own communities. Participants pursue their passion and purpose through direct engagement with local agencies and organizations that work to make the world a better place. Learn more at www.tisrael.org/teen-just-us-boston or email Fallon Rubin (frubin@tisrael.org).

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. Your 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

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

Jessica Greenfield, President

Shawn Kravetz, Vice President

Karin Freed, Treasurer

Dan Deutsch, Executive Director

Amy Bolotin, FJECC Preschool Director

Emma Koblick, Director of Communications

617-566-3960 | www.tisrael.org facebook.com/TempleIsraelBoston instagram.com/tisrael_boston

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 5:00 P.M.WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 6:00 P.M. 25