Rabbi Fisher's Hadashot article – January 2009
I was a bit surprised when I glanced at the January calendar and realized that there is not a single Jewish holiday (there is one minor fast day) in the 31 days of this secular month. Chanukah is over; Tu B’Shevat is not until February. No national feasts or public celebrations to plan. This year, one could mark January as the perfect time for relaxation, for being able to retreat back into oneself, away from the hustle and bustle of communal activity.
Such a vision contrasts with the month’s Torah cycle. Half-way through this month we will complete the book of Genesis and begin reading the book of Exodus. No longer are the tales within our Shabbat readings about individual heroes and how they relate (or don’t) with their loved ones. Our people’s story moves beyond the tales of specific families, their struggles and joys, high and low points. We begin to see our people become just that – a people -- a community, a set of tribes bound to each other for a larger purpose. Such a transformation is powerful. To build a holy community, one necessarily steps beyond the familiar boundaries of home to forge potentially lifelong, powerful connections with others who share traits and values with you, but who are not your closest kin. One buys into a vision of reaching out, supporting others, being part of events and activities which cannot be accomplished by just one person or family alone.
For many of us, much of the end of December and the beginning of January were spent with our families. Winter vacation is often a time to stop and catch one’s breath, hang out together – whether in a different location or at home – and be with loved ones. I encourage all of us to allow the Biblical transition we have this month to be a push to make a parallel transition within our lives. Let us bring ourselves and our families together into a communal whole at B’nai Shalom. One great way to begin or continue this journey is at the Synaplex “Ignite Your Friday Night” Shabbat services and dinner on January 23. When we celebrate together, gathering with others in the B’nai Shalom community who are also looking to be part of something larger, we all grow and all of our lives are enhanced.
In the words we say when we finish one book of the Torah to move on to the next: Hazak Hazak V’nithazek. “Be strong, be strong, and we all will be strengthed.”
Rabbi Fisher's Weekly Message
Hazzan
Dinkin's Hadashot article –January 2009
It was an honor and a privilege to recently participate in a significant ceremony at The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. As a graduate of the school, (Cantors Institute 1972), I was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Music. There were thirty one men who were bestowed with this recognition on Tuesday, December 9th.
I mentioned in synagogue on the Shabbat “after,” that CBS was in my thoughts for much of that day. I have been here half of my professional life. This is my double chai year (36). I am grateful to the boards and congregation for enabling me to be a part of your world for these past eighteen seasons.
I enjoyed my visit to the Seminary. It was a unique opportunity to visit with colleagues, many of whom I have only seen at conventions from time to time, and in some cases, had no contact since I began there as a student in the late 1960’s.
The unexpected to me here served as the most emotional. I am not by nature a union fellow, or a rah-rah person (exceptions being hockey and football ). However, the thrill of watching and listening was overwhelming. There were a few gentlemen well into their eighties, three of whom were Holocaust survivors. There were no stories or bios shared, but the obvious in some circumstances was moving.
History did not enable some of my fellow Hazzanim to be schooled, and the JTS was sensitive to these footnotes, and the Doctorates were given.
I was fortunate to have my father and son there, and a brother and brother-in law.
My closest and most cherished companion is my memory. I embrace my recollection of people and places I love within our Jewish community.
Todah Rabah,
Hazzan Dinkin
Director of Congregational Learning Rabbi Flam's Hadashot article –January 2009
What defines a successful religious school and youth program?
It is a school that nurtures the hearts and souls of its students along with encouraging them to develop a lifetime’s worth of Jewish knowledge and values. It is a program that acknowledges that there is more than one way to teach and that each student has individual learning needs. It is a context in which each student receives the opportunity to learn from their teachers, their peers and the world around them. It is a place in which the teachers are diverse, collaborative, and representative of the values of the entire congregation. It is an environment in which students are given the opportunity to explore who they are as Jews and why the community is incomplete without their unique contribution.
If you looked up “Congregation B’nai Shalom Religious School” in Wikipedia, these definitions listed above would appear. Now, you know what we are. But if you keep reading, you’ll find more about who we are…
We are a small and vibrant school with a phenomenal staff, some who have been part of B’nai Shalom for decades and others who grew up in the community. Each teacher brings passion and insight to our educational team. Over the past few months, the 7th grade completed an amazing family history project in which the students created a video and museum exhibit to share their personal history with our school community. We had a community-wide event at Barnes and Noble, during which Rabbi Fisher told a story and we created arts and crafts as a community. Finally, our Hanukkah family program paired informal learning with a celebratory atmosphere. Parents and children learned with their whole being about different ways to be a hero, including a community-wide Tikkun Olam (social responsibility) project and Maccabee games.
The definition of who and what we are is constantly changing. Each month we, as a school and as a congregation, continue to grow and develop in positive directions. Ultimately, what will lead to continued success at CBS is a supportive community willing to work together for the benefit of our youth. In other words, what will define us tomorrow begins today.
The Congregation B’nai Shalom religious school will nurture your child’s heart, mind and soul while providing them with the building blocks of Jewish life.
Now beginning enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year.
For more information please contact Rabbi Jennifer Flam.
Read Preschool
Director Liz Kaufman's article from this month's issue of Hadashot
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