INSIGHT Winter 2021

AT TEMPLE ISRAEL, WE...

build community and encounter the sacred through

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

FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

This year we have much to celebrate as we were able to join together both online and onsite for High Holy Day services. It was wonderful to see so many of you, in what ever way you were able to join us. Outside, under a tent, our family services allowed our families with children to experience singing and prayer together. Thank you to our clergy and staff for ensuring we had a safe, spiritual, and meaningful holiday experience.

Laurence Bailen Board President

In October, we formally installed Rabbi Andrew Oberstein as our newest member of the amazing clergy team. Rabbi Oberstein has hit the ground running and is already making a positive impact.

Our racial equity, diversity, and inclusion work continues, led by Vice-President Jessica Greenfield. This year during our #10Days10Ways initiative, between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we shared personal stories from Bethel AME and Temple Israel members. These stories highlight progress we have made and show how much more we need to do to be more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. Our goal is to be sure all who come through our doors, both physically and virtually, feel welcomed and that they belong.

Our religious school, Tent, TILLI, and Center for Adult Jewish Learning are all off to wonderful starts as we continue to navigate Covid. Thank you to Rabbi Suzie Jacobson and all of the education staff for their commitment and dedication to teaching all ages. The FJECC preschool is also completely onsite, as they were last year, and continuing to thrive under the leadership of Amy Bolotin, our new FJECC director.

Thank you all for being a part of the Temple Israel community. We are stronger together and we are grateful for your ongoing support. This community is unique and special because of the people who sustain it.

As we enter the darkest part of the year, I continue to reflect on all that we have accomplished as a congregation this past fall. I am most proud of how incredibly our community has navigated the pandemic, highlighted by our communal experience of the High Holy Days. This year it took detailed planning by our amazing staff and continued support of our lay leaders to deliver opportunities to be a part of the holidays, both onsite and online. As I look back, what stands out for me were the many conversations I had with community members who were blown away by the emotional feeling of returning to our building after significant time away. (If you have yet to experience this, we will be here - ready to welcome you when you are ready.) Just conversing and connecting with one another onsite continues to be a profound experience. We continue to evolve and invest in keeping our congregation connected to one another.

Deutsch Executive Director

The Temple Israel community continues to be generous in many ways. Many of you have already contributed to the Temple Israel Friends Annual Fund, and we thank you for doing so. The Friends Annual Fund comprises 9% of our annual budget and truly what allows our congregation to do the extra things that help us stand out. If you have yet to do so, please join the hundreds of households that have already contributed. An additional way to support Temple Israel financially is to attend our Stepping Out Gala on April 2, 2022. We'll have options onsite or online, and we promise you a wonderful evening with opportunities to laugh, connect with fellow congregants, and support Temple Israel.

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

Dan

FINDING WAYS TO EXPERIENCE SPIRITUALITY

"It is impossible to tell people what way they should take to serve the Divine. For one way… is through learning, another through prayer, another through fasting, and still another through eating. Everyone should carefully observe what way their heart draws them to, and then choose this way with all their strength."

- Martin Buber, Way of Man According to the Teachings of Hasidism

"Many people say, 'I’m spiritual but not religious.' I want to reclaim the idea of being religious as foundational to the life of the spirit. We nurture our inner lives through the essence of Judaism: learning, connecting to the sacred, and engaging in acts of justice and compassion. Spiritual living is not some superficial fluff but reaches to the depths of our souls. Actions inspired by our religious tradition make the spiritual possible."

- Rabbi Elaine Zecher

"Pirkei Avot teaches that 'all who work with the community should do so for the sake of heaven.' Justice can be pursued anywhere, and this text encourages us to find holiness everywhere. My spiritual practice is embodied by acknowledging that our restorative work in the world is a sacred enterprise."

- Rabbi Dan Slipakoff

“'Singing is praying twice' - music has a tremendous power to bind us to the divine. Reb Nachman said "get into the habit of always singing a tune, it gives new life and sends joy into the soul." On the soaring phrases of music and song, our spiritual imagination blooms and joyful transformation occurs. Singing can be a deeply mystical experience."

- Cantor Alicia Stillman

The Spiritual Practice Lab is a space to discover, learn, and practice the spiritual voice that is most meaningful to you in your own Jewish ritual life. Join in as we explore the prayers at the foundation of our liturgy through different spiritual forms and modalities, including meditation, philosophy, poetry, music, dance, art, and more. Come explore the many spiritual pathways at Temple Israel at www.tisrael.org/spiritual.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE LAB HIGHLIGHT:

HOW DO I GET MY SOUL TO LONG FOR YOU?

A 2-Part Conversation with Rabbi Elaine Zecher

Meets online on Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. EST on December 9 & 16. Join Rabbi Elaine Zecher for a 2-part conversation as we explore together what it can look and feel like to talk about experiencing God. We will use the recently published book Because My Soul Longs For You: Integrating Theology into Our Lives as a jumping off point, but prior reading is not expected or required. All are welcome – let’s get started! Register at www.tisrael.org, or contact Brigid Goggin at bgoggin@tisrael.org

"Spirituality gives our lives meaning and purpose. Maybe we feel it in a synagogue, maybe on a mountaintop, or even looking into the eyes of a baby. Whenever we’re reminded that we’re part of something greater than ourselves and that life has infinite value, we’ve entered the realm of the spiritual."

- Rabbi Andrew Oberstein

"I once thought I needed to define God in order to believe. A Catholic theologian helped me understand God as mystery and to instead seek God through conversation and experience. My spiritual life is grounded in a sense of profound humility - the universe is greater than myself, I have so many questions, there is much to discover."

- Rabbi Suzie Jacobson

Whether onsite or online...

This is your home and you belong here!

"When we joined Temple Israel in the middle of the pandemic, we of course attended all services, classes and activities virtually (except for the unforgettable in-car-only Chanukah service on top of the garage next to TI!). We hadn't ever met anyone face-to-face or stepped foot inside the physical temple. Yet we felt immediately connected to and accepted as part of this close-knit community. This made our joining for the very first time in person, on Rosh Hashanah, literally a "Shehecheyanu" moment. We look forward to many more such moments and experiences at TI in the years to come. We feel like we have arrived in our spiritual home. Along with life and health, this is the greatest blessing we can imagine in the midst of a pandemic."

-

Dimitra Dimopoulou, Dan Muscato, and Maria

"Yesterday I had the incredibly moving pleasure of attending both the Family Service with my daughter and son-in-law and their four children, and then attending the Adult Service in the Sanctuary. I found both powerful. I actually love the big ZOOM jeopardy board on the walls, and the feeling of intimacy and sweetness of the community gathered together. You’ve built and built on an amazing community. Thank you so much."

- Louisa K.

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

"Thank you for the incredible work you did today and your mastery of the technology. I and many others are grateful to be back at TILLI both to learn and connect with our friends."

- Natalie S.

Temple Israel Resettles an Afghan Family Seeking Safety

Continuing

Working with resettlement agencies and Jewish organizations, Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, and the Jewish Community Relations Council, Temple Israel has joined with other synagogues and faith communities resettling families seeking refuge from Afghanistan. In early November 2021, Rabbi Zecher, Rabbi Slipakoff, and members of our Afghan Resettlement Core Team welcomed a wonderful family of five at Logan Airport, as they seek safety here in the Greater Boston area.

Welcome the stranger for there is so much that we share: love, desire for acceptance, belonging, a good and healthy life. Our mutual work and companionship has just begun and we hope that you will join our effort in any way you can. To learn how you can help, please contact Tali Puterman at tputerman@tisrael.org.

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

our legacy, and with smiles, great warmth, and the hard work of many volunteers, a wonderful family is welcomed into our midst.

Q&A

with FJECC Preschool Director, Amy Bolotin

What inspired you to “come home” to the FJECC?

During my time as a parent at FJECC, and the brief time I was on staff, I felt like I belonged here - at the school and in the congregation. I appreciated the school’s emphasis on play-based learning and the integration of Jewish life in classrooms. It felt like a community to which I could contribute to in meaningful ways as a parent. I was drawn back here by the opportunity to be a part of FJECC again - and to have the opportunity to be an integral part of the continued success of FJECC. The program has such a strong foundation - thanks to Helen Cohen’s incredible work as founding director. I want to be a part of helping to secure FJECC’s future - and to help foster FJECC’s place in the local community of Jewish Early Childhood programs.

What do you feel makes the FJECC program so special?

It’s the people! And the ways in which they are committed to making the program successful. From the staff to the parents and then the Temple Israel community; the PTO and the members of the board give so much of their time and energy to the school. It’s inspiring and it is a gift.

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

What do you value about the FJECC relationship with Temple Israel?

I know that this is an organization that cares deeply about the health and success of both the school and the people who make up this school’s community. Throughout my interview process, the word collaboration came up a lot - from the search committee, from staff, from parents and from Temple Israel senior leadership. As a Temple Israel member, I have been impressed with the senior leadership’s approach to change and innovation. They have worked very hard to articulate and stay true to their core values and the TI mission while also driving change that has been necessary to sustain the future of the congregation. This is not easy work to do and they have done it with grace and authenticity. It really is an honor to be included on the TI leadership team. I look forward to the opportunities for collaboration with Temple Israel and their staff as we all move toward the future.

What are some of your strategic goals for teaching and learning at the FJECC?

The first stage is relationship building. Making space for each individual to connect - whether that is a teacher finding their way into a team, a child feeling safe and confident, or a parent with a concern or a question or wanting a friendly ear. As we all begin to be in relationship with each other, together we pursue excellence - in whatever form that takes for our community. My goals include deepening the commitment to a curriculum that is constructed based on the interests and passions of the children and the staff, to developing modes of communication between home and school that meet parents’ needs and support all children in their learning. Another long-term strategic goal is to adjust the basic programming schedule so that it meets the needs of working parents. We must do this while also staying true to the original mission of the FJECC and to what makes our community thrive. That will be a carefully and intentionally crafted process that will involve the Board, the parent community and the staff.

What opportunities do you see for FJECC over the next couple of years?

There are opportunities to innovate (think communications between home and school, documenting children’s learning) and there are opportunities to deepen learning for faculty. I’d like teachers to have access to the kinds of professional development and learning that will inspire them and spark their passions. This has been a very difficult year or two for our profession and as we move past the pandemic, teachers will need new inspiration and fuel to continue. For parents, the opportunities will come as we welcome them back into the building - and I do have hope that this will happen. I want to understand better what parents are looking for when they walk into their child’s classroom; what are they hungry to know more about? The answers will be varied, not every parent is looking for connection in the same way - and every parent is looking for connection in some way. So there will in be an intentional process.

How can we as a community help to author this next chapter in the life of the FJECC?

Be ready to be in conversation with me and with Board members. I welcome input and ideas, wants and needs from all stakeholders. I want honest and authentic feedback from those around me. Each concern is an opportunity to create change, change that is based on the needs of the community and that community’s desire to make our school the best place it can be.

Learn more about the FJECC Preschool at www.fjecc.org.

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

SHABBAT TZEDEK 5782

January 14, 2022

Every January, Temple Israel honors the legacy, and celebrates the life and values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special Qabbalat Shabbat speaker. This year, we are delighted to welcome Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.

Rollins is the first woman ever elected as District Attorney in Suffolk County and the first woman of color ever elected District Attorney in Massachusetts. Since taking office in 2019, Rollins has implemented humane and data-supported policies that no longer criminalize mental health issues, substance use disorders, food and housing insecurities, and immigration status, instead focusing her limited resources on the most violent and serious crimes and keeping Suffolk County safe. Among some of her larger initiatives and policy implementations are her first in nation Discharge Integrity Team to help investigate officer involved shootings and allegations of excessive force. Rollins also created an Integrity Review Bureau (IRB) that looks not only at postconviction claims of actual innocence, but also reviews unconstitutional, unethical, and unjust convictions, as well as sentencing disparities. Over 240 years of wrongful convictions, and counting, have been overturned by her IRB.

Rollins was a Governor Deval Patrick appointee to the Judicial Nominating Commission and a past president of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association. She has been honored as the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Lawyer of the Year in 2018; The Boston Globe’s Bostonian of the Year and Emerge Massachusetts’ Woman of the Year in 2019; and one of the Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 Exceptional Leaders in 2020.

Stay tuned for more details about all of the opportunities during MLK weekend and beyond.

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

Jonathan Comisar is an ordained cantor as well as a highly esteemed and sought after composer of Jewish themed music throughout North America. He has received numerous commissions and artist residencies from synagogues and Jewish organizations throughout the United States. In addition to his Jewish compositions, Comisar is also a musical theater composer and a member of the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop.

Join us for this special Artist-in-Residence weekend, which promises to be an exciting and inspiring musical experience:

• Friday, February 4, 2022: Join us for an enhanced Qabbalat Shabbat service with Jonathan Comisar

• Saturday, February 5, 2022: A Saturday evening mixed-presence program of listening, learning, and discussion, based on Comisar’s original cantata from Washington's letter to the Jews of Newport: No Bigotry No Sanction.

• Sunday, February 6, 2022: Sunday brunch-and-learn, musical mixed-presence program on the music and influence of Leonard Bernstein, The Jewish Life of Lenny: A Jewish American Icon.

In this community, how do we ensure that all people feel seen, known, and supported?

How do we help people see Temple Israel of Boston as their spiritual and communal home, fostering a sense of warmth and belonging that transcends demographics?

These are some of the questions that our newlyfounded Engagement Strategy Team will seek to tackle, as we strive to develop new and innovative ways to connect people to each other, to Judaism, and to our vibrant and dynamic congregation.

The Engagement Strategy Team is spearheaded by people representing the breadth and diversity of this community. We seek to bridge various distinct areas of congregational life, breaking down the silos that naturally emerge in a large congregation, and replace them with bridges that span the wide range of what Temple Israel has to offer. In addition to robust lay leadership, we are comprised of staff representing various corners of our community including Clergy, Programming, Membership, Development, Communications, and Engagement. As a collective, we bring our unique perspectives to the table, collaborating to discover what might be possible when we unite to explore the infinite potential of this bustling synagogue.

ENGAGEMENT AT TEMPLE ISRAEL

By Rabbi Andrew

Our Engagement Strategy Team seeks to be a well of resources for this congregation, nourishing the totality of our community by helping Temple Israel’s wide range of initiatives and committees see their work through an engagement lens. We will work to better understand the extent to which our members currently feel connected to our community and to take action to improve their overall sense of belonging here. We are interested in exploring the initial touchpoints of interaction in our community, to ensure that those who enter our congregation are met with a sense of extraordinary embrace and are connected to initiatives and people who will enrich their lives and make Temple Israel feel like home. We will pay special attention to the natural transitions that occur as personal interests and life circumstances change, so that individuals stay supported and involved. Intrigued by the innovation and creativity found in our Small Groups Initiative and in the many other classes and projects that exist, we will work to enhance, strengthen, and create new ones through shared interests, identities, and curiosity. All of this will be done through the partnership of community and staff working together.

When we work together, the possibilities are endless. If you are interested in learning more about the Engagement Strategy Team, please contact Rabbi Andrew Oberstein at aoberstein@tisrael.org.

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

Finding ways to connect people to each other, to Judaism, and to our vibrant and dynamic congregation.

Oberstein

Welcome to our newest members!

(JULY 5 - OCTOBER 28, 2021)

ARLINGTON

Joshua Buckholtz

BOSTON

Abigail Babson

Melissa Berlin

Anna Booras & Aaron Gotlieb

Hillary Caplan & Griffin Sefcik

Michael Goldstein

Jennifer & Maxwell Goossens

Jenny Halis & Eric Bortnick

Allison Grinberg-Funes

Caroline Gross & Jake Kahane

Jessica Jacobs & Mike Culver

Emily Johnson

Elizabeth Morse

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Paresky

Miriam Leeser & Robert Cooper

Sarah Mironov

Jordan Pelavin

Derek Soled & Beret Amundson

Robert Wexler & Gayle Slattery

BRIGHTON

Jodie Liebowitz

BROOKLINE

Bayle & Richard Drubel

Elizabeth Drucker

Justin Green & Jenny Slayton-Green

Jill Greenberg

Amy Harwin

Beth Kaiserman

Jennifer & Jonathan Kerner

Lexi Holzberg Kritzer & Michael Kritzer

Jason Mogel & Julie Rikelman

Rachel Michael & Michael Hession

Grant & Kelsey Reckhow

Erica Jaffe Redner

Evelyn Rodriguez

Ronenn Roubenoff & Barri Falk

Dana & Eric Smith

Carrie Stanziola

Douglas Teich

Daniel Temko & Gabriella Aberbac

Stephen Wright

CAMBRIDGE

Haley Archer-McClellan

CHESTNUT HILL

Nancy & Peter Goldberg

Elizabeth Klein

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Ian Walsh

DEDHAM Shari Krauss

JAMAICA PLAIN

Sarah Bernstein & Eric Rosen Erica Mattison

Samantha Morrison-Ma Michael Wartofsky & Imtiyaz Hussein

MARBLEHEAD

James & Barbara Schaye

MEDFORD

Natasha Lerner & Joseph Landry

Mika Solo & Taylor Herman

QUINCY

Alex Prager & Chiara Wegener

RANDOLPH

Ryan Mansfield

ROSLINDALE

Eve Neiger Elizabeth Stocksdale

SOMERVILLE

Hannah Weissman Gabi Souza-DuBenion

WATERTOWN

Joshua Driesman & Jay Feinstein Annie Fortnow Michelle Oberman

WEST ROXBURY

Hanna Pastor & Jake Feldman Tara Schwartz

"Given the number of alternatives in the Boston area, choosing a temple seems like it should be a weighty decision, that might involve meetings with clergy, attendance at various services, and comparison shopping. But for me, joining Temple Israel involved none of those. Not even a test drive. What drew me to TI was its formidable reputation as a welcoming spiritual home for people of all colors and flavors, its emphasis on learning and understanding, and its active engagement with social justice issues. And the fact that I like and respect everyone I know who belongs there was a definite plus!"

- Jill Greenberg

Israel: “Troubled Committed” A Year of Study and Conversation

As the Talmud teaches, “all of Israel is responsible for one another,” – we are part of a peoplehood that welcomes a plurality of beliefs and opinions, but demands personal, active engagement. This year, the Center for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Israel of Boston is embarking on a year of study and conversation that seeks to invite all to enter what Donniel Hartman of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem calls “troubled committed” – a space where we are allowed, even encouraged, to engage in dialogue regarding conflicting issues and values, while acknowledging our relationship to Israel and the necessary stake we have in it’s future as modern Jews.

We invite you to join us, with “troubled committed”, as we seek to engage in conversations with open hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged without vilifying those who disagree, and invite complexity into our own long held perspectives. We seek to heed the moral urgency of the moment, while remembering that complex change requires creativity, commitment and patience as we look towards creating a just and safe Jewish future where our children remain committed but have the luxury of being less troubled.

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

Can We Talk About Israel?

Friday, February 11 at 6:00 p.m. Qabbalat Shabbat

Join us onsite or online for an engaging conversation between Rabbi Suzie Jacobson and Daniel Sokatch, New Israel Fund CEO and author of the new book Can We Talk About Israel? A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted. This book is a primer on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and attempts to grapple with a century-long struggle between two peoples that both perceive themselves as (and indeed are) victims, and explain why Israel (and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) inspires such extreme feelings.

Sunday, March 6 at 1:00 p.m., Onsite or Online

In partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute, we welcome Yossi Klein Halevi, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and co-director of the Institute's Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI), which teaches emerging young Muslim American leaders about Judaism, Jewish identity, and Israel. His latest book, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, is a New York Times bestseller.

Daniel Sokatch in Conversation with Rabbi Suzie Jacobson

Yossi Klein Halevi in Conversation with Rabbi Elaine Zecher

TEMPLE ISRAEL PARTICIPATES IN THE MUDDY RIVER CLEAN-UP

In early October, Rabbi Oberstein and eight Riverway Project participants headed down to Charlesgate Park in downtown Boston to clean up the Muddy River. By the end of the 90-minute clean up, the group managed to fill five bags of trash totaling 50 pounds. All of this would have ended up in our waterways had the group not been there to clean it up.

"I greatly enjoyed my experience volunteering with the Muddy River Initiative through TI's Riverway Project. As someone in the process of converting to Judaism, it was wonderful to meet other members of Temple Israel and put into practice the concept of tikkun olam, while enjoying a beautiful fall day in Boston!"

- Kasey LeBlanc

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

"Aleinu - it is upon us to care for this planet and pitching in with fellow ‘Muddy Buddies’ in the Riverway community. The experience was both an engaging way to deepen relationships with each other and have an impactful way of living out our Jewish values.”

- Jamie Cassidy Merrill

RACIAL EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (REDI) CONVERSATIONS

Temple Israel has embarked on a journey to ensure that everyone, regardless of race or other personal identities and experiences, is made to feel that they belong. We are not alone in this. TI’s action is part of the Union for Reform Judaism’s national Racial Justice Campaign. But make no mistake: the need for change here at TI is urgent. We have heard too many stories of people of color and others being treated differently and therefore feeling like outsiders -- often because of our unconscious biases. We can and need to do better.

A “REDI Conversation” is a relational opportunity for Temple Israel staff, clergy, lay leaders, and congregants to connect with one another and engage in a conversation about racial equity, diversity, and inclusion with the goal of fostering a culture of belonging at Temple Israel. Here's what we've heard from people who have participated already:

To join the REDI Conversation facilitation team or to take part in a REDI Conversation, contact Tali Puterman at tputerman@tisrael.org.

“Very informative and helpful.”

“I am continually blown away about how fortunate we are as a community to continue to be proactive around inclusion.”

“I'm very energized by the conversations.”

“The breakout sessions were fascinating given the different perspectives on identity from the members of my group.”

RFYTI: Temple Israel’s Teen-Led Youth Program

"Throughout my life, Temple Israel has provided me with an encouraging space to take agency in developing my unique practice of Judaism through learning, teaching, justice work, and community building. As a “life-long” member of TI, I hold visceral memories from the pre-school playground as well as foundational moments in developing my personal pedagogy as a madrich. I have also been blessed with friends, mentors, and profound experiences of connection through community during my high school years at Monday Night School (now “The Tent”). The consistent support and love I’ve received at TI has allowed me to explore and refine my own beliefs and desires to deconstruct supremacist beliefs in my own life and communities. I feel grateful for the opportunity to make space for our teens and Justice League students as they take ownership of their own unique Jewish identity, place in community and justice practice.

"As Developer of Youth Justice Programs and Education, I am committed to opening space for the brilliance of our tzaddiks-in-training to shine and lead our community. As I witness our young leaders walk their life-long path, I delight in joining them at the crossroads of their “practice.” I have no interest in averting these often-uncomfortable moments with “right” and “wrong.” My desire is to foster each student’s trust in themselves by responding to their questions with a diverse range of Jewish perspectives before reflecting their questions back at them. It’s a delight to work with the TI Education Team to offer these co-created experiences with our youth while integrating the somatic racial equity, diversity, and inclusion work we’ve committed ourselves to into our own practices. I believe in myself, our students, and our community as we pursue moonlit tikkun olam and honey-soaked joy on our journey towards ‘olam ha-ba."

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

- Ari Zimmet, Temple Israel’s Developer of Youth Justice Programs and Education and RYFTI Advisor

"I have grown up at this synagogue and watched my older sister take the position of RYFTI president when I was in the seventh grade. I looked up to her and admired her passion for Judaism. It helped to redefine what it meant to be a practicing Jewish teen. I began looking at the position at Temple Israel as anything I made it out to be. Being co-president has allowed me to have a platform for myself and others to practice leadership skills and Judaism in different ways. It has been vital to developing my identity as a young Asian Jewish woman."

-Greta Huang, RYFTI Co-President

Temple Israel of Boston's Ner Tamid Society

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

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

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

USPS 50648

Founded in 1854

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

Rabbi Elaine S. Zecher

Cantor Alicia Stillman

Rabbi Suzie Jacobson

Rabbi Dan Slipakoff

Rabbi Andrew Oberstein

Rabbi Ronne Friedman, Rabbi Emeritus

Rabbi Bernard H. Mehlman, Senior Scholar

Cantor Roy B. Einhorn, Cantor Emeritus

Laurence Bailen, President

Jessica Greenfield, Vice President

Barbara Cevallos, Treasurer

Dan Deutsch, Executive Director

Amy Bolotin, FJECC Preschool Director

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

Temple Israel 477 Longwood Avenue Boston, MA 02215-5396

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