This is the first issue I’ve been able to make my own, and I couldn’t be more excited. My goal is to make this publication more artistic, engaging, and fun for you, while celebrating the incredible people and events that make our community special.
Inside, you’ll find stories of connection, creativity, and inspiration highlighting the wonderful things happening all around us But this magazine is meant to be a reflection of all of us, and I’d love your help bringing it to life
If you have a story to tell, are doing great work in the community, or have photos you’d like to be considered for inclusion, please reach out. Your contributions are what will make this truly a community magazine Enjoy reading, and thank you for being part of this journey.
Logan Schulman lschulman@shirtikva.org
For Hanukkah, Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland has a talking menorah.
BY NORMAN MILLER THE METROWEST DAILY NEWS
JOHN LEGG AND JON SCHWARTZ POSE WITH THE AUTOMATED MENORAH
A Jewish temple is combining modern-day technology with ancient religious practices during Hanukkah.
Temple Shir Tikva, at 141 Boston Post Road (Route 20), has an automated menorah that not only lights itself for each of Hanukkah's eight nights, but also recites the daily blessings, according to Senior Rabbi Danny Burkeman
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 23, 2024
"What really excites me is that we're taking this ancient tradition and giving it a modern feel," he said This year, Hanukkah starts on Christmas Day and runs through Jan 2 That puts it, Burkeman said, right in the middle of school vacation, and some at the temple were worried there would be no one available to attend the nightly lighting of each candle or to say the daily blessings three on the first day and two on each following day
"We were wondering what to do about the blessing just in case someone is not there during the evening to say them," Burkeman said.
In stepped temple member Jon Schwartz and its IT specialist, John Legg, who came up with an idea to ensure daily blessings are said.
Back in October, Legg had to refurbish the existing menorah because it got damaged by water, Schwartz said At that time, they realized when Hanukkah was it can start anywhere from late November to late December, depending on the Hebrew calendar for a given year and became concerned about the blessings
"I have a background in robotics, and I've been building robots my whole life; I thought we could build the menorah to light itself," Schwartz said "I started writing the code to automatically light each night, and I started to think (that) if no one is there to light the lights, no one is going to be there to say the prayers, so why not make the robot do that?"
Schwartz said he contacted Burkeman to see if it would be OK to make the menorah be able to speak and he gave him the OK.
"A quick Amazon order and six hours of doing coding work, and it knows how to say all of the prayers in Hebrew," Schwartz said. "It can now light itself and take care of itself "
The blessings are actually a recording of Cantor Hollis Suzanne Schachner, Schwartz said
The menorah is programmed for every Hanukkah through 2043, he added.
Schwartz said the goal was to ensure the blessings were said each day during Hanukkah in case no one was there However, word has gotten out to other parishioners
"Now everyone wants to come out to see the talking menorah," he said
Burkeman hopes the lighting of the menorah can bring people joy.
"This is a lovely innovation," he said "We hope that during this time of darkness it brings people some light."
Student Rabbi Sara Klugman and Cantor Hollis
lead the congregation in prayers and candle lighting after shabbat services.
Schachner
ZACH SILVERMAN, THEO FINLAYSON, AND BENJI NABLE HANGING OUT IN THE CHADAR OCHEL (DINING HALL)
“Our students often cite the Shabbaton as one of the most memorable experiences of their entire learning journey at TST...”
Our Shabbaton is always a highlight of our calendar year. Framed by the falling flakes of mid-winter snow, our 6th grade class escapes to Eisner Camp in the Berkshire mountains for a weekend of learning, community, and joy
This year’s 6th grade class enjoyed many of the classic hallmarks of our Shabbaton weekend, including three cornerstone learning programs exploring their relationships with G-d, Torah, and sacred space, as well as many fun bonding activities like goofy mixer games, active scavenger hunts, and impromptu B. Mitzvah dance floor favorites
We also shared in meaningful Shabbat evening, morning, and Havdalah services with Rabbi Danny and our songleader, Noah, in the beautiful library of Manor House. (It’s quite the experience to be praying surrounded by the ornate, gilded paintings and architecture of antiquity!)
Each year, our students get their own “Shabbaton Mascot,” and this year’s class instantly fell in love with their new friend Percy the Parrot Our students often cite the Shabbaton as one of the most memorable experiences of their entire learning journey at TST, and we are so grateful to have had another amazing, memorable weekend with this class of our Hineini 6th graders.
RABBI DANNY BURKEMAN TEACHING THE SHABBATON ATTENDEES
Inside the 12th Grade RAC Trip to Washington D.C.
BY BRIDGET O’DONNELL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNA FRIEDMAN
The 12th-grade Religious Action Center L’Taken trip was a fantastic experience for me to combine my Jewish identity with the opportunity to advocate for important political issues that I’m passionate about. During our time on the trip, we spent three days exploring DC and participating in workshops that would prepare us to lobby on Capitol Hill for the first time Another powerful moment of our trip was visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This was my first time experiencing a museum like this, and it was moving to see such an important part of Jewish history. One thing that I noticed was how well the museum was able to preserve and display the historic artifacts and exhibits
MILES ESTERMAN, ALEX SOBOL, AND GRAHAM HENRICH LOBBY IN THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE KATHERINE CLARK
Additionally, I enjoyed the service we attended on Saturday morning My favorite part was the D’var Torah, which talked about the role teenagers play in our country's future This inspiring speech made me realize how much of a difference I was making for the first time; it showed me that young people caring about the future is something we cannot take for granted. Another aspect of the service I enjoyed was seeing other Jewish teens from all over the country doing the same thing as us using our voices in such a powerful way. On our last day of the trip, we spent the morning lobbying on Capitol Hill, and I had the chance to speak to Senator Ed Markey’s staffers about legislation regarding assault weapon legislation It was amazing to see how the Senate functions on a day-to-day basis and feel the change we’re making firsthand The trip inspired me to get more involved in local politics because I’ve learned how I can use my voice to be the change I want to see in the world!
12TH GRADERS ENJOYING THEIR TIME ON THE PLANE
Margaritas & Megillahs
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHELDON GOLDER
On March 8th, close to 200 members of the TST community gathered at the Temple for Margaritas & Megillahs, a Purim-inspired adult-only event that kicked off the community phase of the $7 5 million “Imagine The Possibilities” campaign The event was well-attended by members of all ages and cohorts, from new members, to ELC parents, to Hineini and AISH parents, to founders, and the party kept going until nearly eleven o’clock at night.
The event, run by TST’s Shanna Gershman and her company The Black Fly Group, featured dynamic and immersive signage with professional photographs of TST and its members, artistic renderings of future capital projects, professional sound and lighting, speeches from TST President Jackie Loren and Rabbi Danny, and hours of music and lively conversation The event was also highlighted by a signature margarita creation by TST member Jackie Adelson, crafted exclusively for this year’s campaign
ELIZABETH BROSGOL, SUE VAN DYKE, AND LESLIE ROSENBLATT ENJOYING PURIMTHEMED MARGARITAS
TYLER SUNDET MAKING A TASTY TREAT AT THE SMORES BAR
CHAI-LIGHTS
CONGREGANTS
SUSAN COHEN AND ROBERT KOSTER
In kicking off the evening, Jackie reminded the room that “We do not just imagine the possibilities we celebrate them! Because this campaign is about more than buildings and projects. It’s about people. It’s about community It’s about ensuring that our congregation remains a place of meaning, connection, and inspiration for years to come ”
Truer words have never been spoken
As a reminder, all donors who make a gift of $180 or above to the campaign will be recognized on a personalized brick in the paved walkway in front of the Temple, so make your donation today.
BEAUTIFUL LOBBY SIGNAGE COURTESY OF SHANNA GERSHMAN AND THE BLACK FLY GROUP
JESS ADANI WITH HER PARENTS, BERNIE AND PHYLLIS FEINGOLD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAN BROSGOL WITH MIRIAM GOODMAN AND DANIELLE KEINAN
STEPHANIE LERNER, JENNA FREIDMAN, MARISSA BROCKMAN, RABBI DANNY BURKEMAN, AND CANTOR HOLLIS SCHACHNER LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN HAVDALLAH
Cantor Hollis exploring the arts - music, pottery and cooking
ARTICLE BY MARISSA BROCKMAN AND CANTOR HOLLIS
January and February were busy months at TST, but there was something, or rather someone, missing- Cantor Hollis! While we missed her music and energy each Shabbat and around the community, we are so glad she was able to enjoy a two-month sabbatical, learning and recharging. Director of Community Engagement Marissa Brockman sat down with Cantor Hollis to hear all about her time off. In the spirit of Pesach, we asked her four questions:
What were the Chai-lights of your sabbatical? 1.
What are you most excited to implement and bring back to TST from your time away? 2
What did you miss most about TST? 3
What else do you want to share about your sabbatical with the community? 4
Two of Cantor Hollis’s highlights of her time away were being able to reconnect with family and explore local Jewish music She was able to spend time with family locally, and travel to Florida and New York as well During the typical flow of life, it can be challenging for her to attend certain gatherings and programs, such as an in-person service at Central Synagogue in NYC Over MLK weekend, Cantor Hollis was able to attend Shabbat Services there in person. She shared that being in a space with several thousand Jews praying and singing together was a powerful experience in a beautiful setting. Locally, she was able to explore different styles of Jewish music, specifically from artists with Mizrahi backgrounds. Cantor Hollis highlighted attending a performance of Yoni Battat, a musician with Iraqi and Polish ancestry. “His performance opened my ear to a whole new realm of Jewish music that I don’t get to lead. I was able to appreciate the expertise and colorful culture of Jewish music in Boston,” she shared.
“I am blessed to work in a community that gave me the time off to take care of myself [and I am lucky] to have a family to return to.”
For the 2nd year in a row, Cantor Hollis attended the B’teavon food retreat hosted at Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia. This 4-day culinary exploration of Jewish food culture provided an opportunity to learn with some of the leading chefs, food historians, restauranters, and thought leaders around culinary culture in Jewish tradition. The retreat is organized by The Gefilteria, who came to TST about 6 years ago to offer a session on Ashkenazi food tradition Among the presenters were TST members Rachel and Tyler Sundet and their Co-Founders Rachel Miller Munzer and Alon Munzer Tyler led sessions in curing your own nova and smoking your own whitefish, and Rachel on Rugelach making and black and white cookies We are fortunate to already have an amazing partnership with the Mamaleh’s team and offer programs such as TST in the City. Cantor Hollis would like to be able to bring in other culinary scholars for hands-on workshops Her vision for the future is to build a Shabbat dinner tradition and cultivate a cohort of TST volunteers to cook and bring a taste of Shabbat out of the sanctuary and into the social hall for our community
The morning before returning to Shir Tikva, Cantor Hollis thought “Oh yay, I get to go play with my friends tomorrow!” She shared that what she missed most about TST was the people! Getting to wiggle with the ELC students each Friday for Shabbat, her B Mitzvah students, congregants, and colleagues “I am blessed to work in a community that gave me the time off to take care of myself [and I am lucky] to have a family to return to ”
Judaism teaches about health and well-being through the principle of Pikuach Nefesh, the Jewish law that mandates prioritizing the preservation of human life above almost all other religious obligations Cantor Hollis shared it can be difficult to commit to this practice during the regular pace of life, and a sabbatical provides dedicated time to focus on physical and mental health by spending as much time as possible in the pottery studio and frequently attending hot vinyasa flow yoga. We are grateful that the community provided Cantor Hollis with well-deserved time off, and even more grateful that she remains a pillar of the community since 2001.
TYLER AND RACHEL SUNDET WITH RACHEL AND ALON MUNZER SPEAKING AT THE B’TEAVON CONFRENCE
RACHEL BARITZ
NEW TST MEMBER
Meet Rachel Baritz
Rachel Baritz recently joined our Temple community, bringing with her a diverse background in work, travel, and personal interests Originally from Massachusetts, Rachel spent the past few years traveling for work in South Dakota and Northern California before ultimately deciding that it was time to return home The process of readjusting has been challenging at times, but she now feels that she is beginning to settle in.
Professionally, Rachel is a Physician Assistant who recently transitioned from clinical practice to a teaching role. This change reflects her interest in education and a desire to share her expertise with others Despite the demands of her career, Rachel maintains a balanced lifestyle by engaging in various hobbies She enjoys cooking, reading, and running, and she makes it a point to attend the gym regularly
“From day one, TST’s open and inviting environment helped me feel at home. I’ve connected with a diverse group of individuals in no time.”
Additionally, she spends time at a local art studio, where she works on multimedia and painting projects. Her interests are not limited to indoor activities; she also appreciates seasonal pursuits such as visiting the beach during the summer and skiing in the winter
Family also plays an important role in Rachel’s life She is close to her sister, brother-in-law, and young nephew, who live on the South Shore, and her father who lives in Natick Although she experienced the loss of her mother during her college years a loss she still feels deeply Rachel continues to build meaningful relationships within her family and community.
Looking ahead, Rachel is primarily focused on attending Shabbat services and exploring other social groups offered by the Temple
Chai-Lights
Dan Brosgol
Executive Director dbrosgol@shirtikva org
Christina Loftus
Office Manager
cloftus@shirtikva.org
Marissa Brockman
Director of Community Engagement
mbrockman@shirtikva.org
John Legg jlegg@shirtikva org IT Specialist
Logan Schulman
Events and Communications Associate
lschulman@shirtikva.org
Rabbi Danny Burkeman rabbidanny@shirtikva org
Cantor Hollis Schachner cantor@shirtikva org
Rabbi Lisa Eiduson rabbilisa@shirtikva org
Assistant to the Clergy
Karen Edwards kedwards@shirtikva.org
Student Rabbi
Sara Klugman sklugman@shirtikva.org
Alison Weikel
Director of Education
aweikel@shirtikva.org
Jenna Friedman jfriedman@shirtikva.org
Director of Youth Engagement
Emma Lurie edadmin@shirtikva org
Education Administrator
Development Coordinator
Talia Hirsh thirsh@shirtikva org
Jacquelyn Loren jloren@shirtikva.org
President, Board of Trustees
Stephanie Lerner slerner@shirtikva.org Director of ELC
