to get the file

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013
CHESHVAN/KISLEV/TEVET 5774
FROM RABBI ZEMEL
SEEKING ANSWER
TO BASIC JEWISH
QUESTION:
HOW CAN I BE A
PERSON?
DEAR FRIENDS,
After playing their last game
of the season, athletes often
say that they “left it all out
on the field.” They held nothing back. They did everything
that they could to help the
team, win the game or simply
demonstrate their respect for
the integrity of competition
and for their opponent. Leaving it all on
the field is a statement of dedication,
honor, and commitment.
It is a feeling not unlike the one we
strive for in the period that starts with
Elul and culminates with the holy days.
We are urged to be intense in our self
scrutiny and then to enter the year
having really struggled to come to grips
with who we are and the quality of the
relationship we have with the world
around us. We try to leave it all on the
field.
We then enter our sukkot for a nap
and quiet contemplation as we consider
the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, where we
learn (every year) that “there is nothing new under the sun.” The world is a
repetitive place.
This fall, as I reviewed the holy days
(a rabbinic pre-occupation), I came
to the conclusion that my erev Rosh
Hashanah sermon, which I particularly
loved, was the one least appreciated by
those who were forced to listen to it.
This is the sermon in which I attempted
to explore what I believe to be the
most fundamental of all Jewish questions: How can I be a person? I really do
CO N TI N U E D O N PAG E 9
;
Micah Celebrates
Hanukkah with Magic
and Art
By Shelley Grossm a n
Temple Micah Hanukkah celebra-
token, we have no idea how they do
tions are always special, but this
that.” The artists’ demos are designed
year the Hanukkah Extravaganza on
to rectify that situation.
Sunday, Nov. 17, should be outstanding
As in previous years, Micah artwith something for everyone to do or
ists (and some of their creative friends
learn. Not only will the Great Loudini,
and family) will offer for sale their
Micah’s favorite magician, perform
handcrafted jewelry, pottery, glass
his entertaining and baffling tricks at
art, knitwear, and other items that
two great shows
make excellent
in the sanctuary
Hanukkah presthat morning, but
ents (as well as
he will offer his
gifts for oneself).
Hanukkah magic
The Judaica Shop
kits for sale and
will market a wide
show purchasvariety of hanukers how to do the
kiot (Hanukkah
tricks!
menorahs) and
And the
Hanukkah canFifth Annual
dles—including
Hanukkah Craft
beautiful handand Gift Fair
crafted tapers—
(from 9:30 am to
and other Judaica
2 pm in the Social
for year-round
Carole Hirschmann at the 2011
Hanukkah Fair
Hall and Atrium)
rituals and celthis year showebrations, most
cases a record 20 craft artists in addiof the items made in Israel. Also, lots of
tion to three other vendors. For the
Hanukkah items for children. And Scott
first time, nine of those artists plan to
Hertzberg again will bring to Micah his
explain or demonstrate their craft durIsraeli Harvest featuring Israeli farm
ing the show.
products such as olive oil, dates, honey,
“One of the beauties of our
spices and other treats.
Hanukkah Fair is that it gives us an
This year the Hanukkah
opportunity to learn something very
Extravaganza will not only be fun and
interesting about some of our fellow
useful, it will be informative. The Great
congregants—that they are talented
Loudini and some of the artists will talk
artists producing beautiful work,” said
about their crafts and show attendees
Ellen Sommer, craft fair chair and manhow they do it.
ager of the Judaica Shop. “By the same
CO N TI N U E D O N PAG E 3 ;
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
2
C H E S H VA N / K I S L E V/ T E V E T 5 7 74
“Every person shall sit under
his grapevine or fig tree with
no one to make him afraid.”
M I CA H , C H A P T E R 4 , V E R S E 4
Vine
Vol. 49 No.2
TEMPLE MICAH—
A REFORM JEWISH CONGREGATION
2829 Wisconsin Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
Voice: 202-342-9175
Fax: 202-342-9179
e-mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.templemicah.org
Daniel G. Zemel
RABBI
Esther Lederman
ASSOCIATE RABBI
Rachel Gross
E XECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Meryl Weiner
CANTOR
Teddy Klaus
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Linda Siegel
INTERIM EDUCATION DIRECTOR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jodi Enda
PRESIDENT
Ira Hillman
VICE PRESIDENT
Marc Levy
SECRETARY
David Adler
TRE ASURER
Larry Bachorik
Sheri Blotner
Lynn Bonde
David Diskin
Helene Granof
Victoria Greenfield
Alison Harwood
Kate Kiggins
Joel Korn
Ed Lazere
Mary Beth Schiffman
VINE STAFF
Dorian Friedman
CO-EDITOR
Shelley Grossman
CO-EDITOR
Louise Zemel
COPY EDITOR
AURAS Design
PRODUCTION
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013
Hands-on learning engages 8th graders
PRESIDENT ’S COLUMN
MACHON MICAH IS HERE TO STAY
By Dor i a n Fr iedm a n
A dramatic drop-off in religious
By Jodi En da
In 2009, when traditional religious school
gave way to a newfangled idea called
“Machon Micah,” Rabbi Zemel offered
this bit of explanation: “We are deliberately being a bit audacious….We really
want to strive for something bold.”
We’re now in our
fifth year of bold. We
have transformed the
way we teach at Temple
Micah, moving from
a classroom-centered
program to a wideranging series of experiences designed to help
children and adults live
an American Jewish life.
We meet on Sundays, but also
on Saturdays. And sometimes on
Wednesdays, or whenever a Jewish
holiday occurs. We teach our children
by grade, among grades and alongside
adults. We have all-community events
with hands-on learning opportunities,
stimulating discussions and insightful
speakers aimed at people of every age.
We teach Hebrew at temple and, via
Skype, at home. We use art and music
and movement and poetry to teach and
experience prayer.
We do mitzvot.
We try new things.
We have fun.
This year, we are engaged in a search
for a new education director. And, just as
the creation of the machon itself made
some people nervous, this change has
caused trepidation as well. During two
meetings this fall, congregants asked
Rabbi Zemel and members of the temple
board and the search committee if a
new education director presaged a new
education mission. Were we, they asked,
embarking on another major shift?
The answer is, emphatically, no. We
are not changing direction. On the contrary, we will look to a new education
director to make what we do even better
by completing implementation of the
mission envisioned years ago by Rabbi
Zemel and honed by a large and diverse
group of congregants.
Some history: the machon grew out
of a lengthy study triggered by Rabbi
Zemel’s conviction that the 20th-century
religious school model was no longer
working in 21st-century America. In the
last half of the last century, Jews became
a part of the fabric of America, with lives
that were indistinguishable from those
of everyone else. In and of itself, this was
not a bad development – it reflected
increased acceptance and assimilation
and decreased discrimination. But it
opened the door to questions about
a larger Jewish identity. Often, Rabbi
Zemel said, people came to temple “with
great uncertainty about what it means to
be Jewish.”
The machon would be a place to
build and examine Jewish identity.
From the outset, it was guided by
three principles: moving Jewish education
into Jewish time, learning through experience and generating meaningful community involvement. It was for everyone:
children, teens and young adults, parents,
non-parents, grandparents and empty
nesters, couples and singles, and people
with any level or type of Jewish education, experience or involvement—or
none.
We were in this together.
Rabbi Zemel outlined some themes
the machon would explore: Jewish peoplehood, Jewish survival, holiness, universal ethics, poetry and beauty, a sense
of deep mystery about God, culture
and historic experiences, Torah, Hebrew,
modern Israel, and associations with
other Jews.
This was not to be a place to memorize history, prayers, Hebrew or anything else. It would be a place to learn,
through Judaism, how to be a person.
As the saying goes, it’s not your
grandfather’s Sunday school. (Sorry,
Grandma, you were still in the balcony.)
Learning at Temple Micah is a lively,
exciting, thought-provoking and, yes,
messy affair. And likely to remain so.
To be sure, the messiness leads to
challenges. Since the machon’s inception,
some members (primarily those with
school-age children) have complained
CO N TI N U E D O N PAG E 5
3
;
school attendance after bar or bat mitzvah is a major national problem. At
Machon Micah, an innovative 8th grade
teacher has created a program that just
might help to solve it.
Laura Tomes debuted her new
approach in September. Micah’s 8th
graders and their parents are joining up.
Of the 27 Micah students who became
b’nai mitzvah last year, 23 are enrolled in
the new class.
Tomes’s new curriculum, “Judaism as
Ritual and Culture,” takes learning out
of the classroom and into Jewish homes,
museums, and places of historical and
cultural importance. Learning revolves
around once-a-month field trips. To
prepare, students study a binder of
reading materials and discussion questions to draw them more deeply into
each topic. Over the school year, they’ll
cover eight themes that offer different
Hanukkah FROM PAGE 1 ;
The “magic” of magic
is the mystery of how the
trick is done. But Loudini
is a magician who shares
some of his secrets—for a
price. Among other collections of his tricks, he markets Hanukkah-dabra, a
box containing eight of his
Hanukkah-related tricks, one
for each night of the holiday,
with written instructions
on how to perform them.
Hanukkah-dabra will be on
sale at the Nov. 17 extravaganza and all proceeds will
go to the temple. Even better,
Loudini himself plans to hold
a seminar on how to perform
the tricks.
Why is he doing this? The
Great Loudini, whose real
name is Louis Melamed, is
Louise Zemel’s first cousin
(both were named for her
opportunities to create and affirm a
Jewish identity.
The first session, for example,
focused on Israel. Students met in the
temple’s sukkah, read about life in modern Israel over a delicious Israeli dinner,
and watched a movie. October’s program focused on the theme of kashrut,
and students visited the kosher kitchen
of a temple member to learn more about
the halacha, the rituals, and the ethical
underpinnings of Jewish dietary laws.
Later months will explore the Torah,
lifecycle rituals, American Judaism, the
multicultural nature of the Jewish world
and more.
Tomes, a doctoral candidate in
American Jewish history at Georgetown
University, conceived and designed the
program with Rabbi Zemel. She says
the curriculum is “intended to be very
different from kindergarten through
7th grade. It feels different. We want
grandfather). “Louise is my
favorite cousin and I have
a soft spot in my heart for
(Rabbi Zemel) and I like
Micah,” he said. He plans
to phase out
the Hanukkahdabra kits, he
continued, “and
I thought it
would be a nice
thing to donate
them to Micah
so the temple
could use them
for fundraising.”
Melamed
fell in love with
magic at a young
age, “like most young boys,”
he said, but unlike most
youth, he has made a career
of it. “I performed my first
magic show at age 14 for 70
children in the JCC preschool day care program and
the students to take on a new level
of responsibility… as they begin their
lifelong journey of learning as a Jewish
adult.”
In return for their effort, she notes,
is the lure of a reward: Those who attend
five of the eight class meetings and keep
up with their independent course work
are invited to a fun-filled weekend field
trip to New York City in May.
Importantly, “Judaism as Ritual and
Culture” is part of a broader education
program that was rolled out this year
for high-school students called Micah
Mitzvah Corps. Together, the programs
aim to keep teenagers engaged long
after their b’nai mitzvah with a series
of meaningful, relevant and fun learning activities that reflect the essence of
Machon Micah and the heart of Temple
Micah’s commitment to education. (For
more on Machon Micah, see President’s
Column on page 2.)
I’ve been doing magic for
the last 39 years,” he said. He
combined it with his advertising and marketing business, using magic to promote
products and
services. He
also employs
magic in Jewish
education, giving seminars
to conferences
of Reform and
Conservative
Jewish educators. “It’s a great
way to engage
the kids,” he
said. He has also
developed a box of Passover
tricks “and a collection of 13
tricks to go with the Torah
portions in Genesis—a magic
trick to augment the stories.”
As an added attraction to
the craft fair this year, nine
•
of the artists will talk about
their craft and show how
they do it. Four glass artists
will show and tell about different techniques for turning
pieces of glass into useful
items and glass powder into
pictures. Two jewelers will
show how various materials are turned into beautiful
beads. Two fabric artists will
discuss special yarns used
in knitting and printing and
dying textiles. And a mosaicist will show how she turns
old plates into new mosaics.
In addition to showing
how beautiful objects are
made, the demonstrations
should illustrate why the
artists make them. “I enjoy
working with glass because
it is so creative,” said Trish
Kent, one of the four glass
artists. “I never make the
same thing twice.”
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
•
4
C H E S H VA N / K I S L E V/ T E V E T 5 7 74
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013
5
MEMBER PROFILE
IT TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY…
…to organize, prepare and produce High Holy Day Services. Thanks to the resourceful and unflag-
ging volunteer chairs who, with our indefatigable and unflappable staff, produced Micah’s 2013/5774 holy
day experience. Here is a list of volunteers. Not included because of space—not lack of appreciation—are
the scores of volunteer ushers, oneg contributors, committee members and others without whose help it
wouldn’t have been Temple Micah’s kind of services. The whole congregation thanks you!
Committee Chairs:
HH Co-chairs: Becky Claster, Amy
McLaughlin, Fatema Salam
HH Ushers: Doug Grob
HH Security: Doug Meyer, Lee Futrovksy
Hineni/Rides: Tina Coplan, Evelyn Sahr
Doctor: Gail Povar
Rosh Hashanah Oneg: Larry Rothman,
Harriet Kinberg
Yom Kippur Break-the-Fast: Marina
Fanning
Childcare & Children’s Services chairs:
Jocelyn Gehrke and Eliza McGraw
Signs: Susan Lahne, Shelley Grossman
Prayer Books: Carrie Langsam
Shofar Blowers (Ba’alei Tekiyah): Hero
Magnus, Robert Weinstein, Teddy
Klaus, Micah Reinharz, Bill Page,
Daniel Stern, Aaron Klaus
Kol Nidre Soloists: David Adler, Jennifer
Gruber
Music:
Pianist: Thew Elliot
Flautists: Ruth Simon, Liz Poliner
Cello: Eli Blum
Clarinet: Lora Ferguson
Solo: Jan Greenberg, Lila Klaus, Bill Page
Joanna Blotner Honored with Social Justice Award
By Dor i a n Fr iedm a n
Lifelong Micah member Joanna
Blotner was honored in October with
a 2013 Heschel Vision Award, given
annually by Jews United for Justice.
The award, named for Rabbi Abraham
Joshua Heschel, recognizes “local leaders
who follow in Rabbi Heschel’s footsteps,
fusing activism and deep moral commitments” to “empower people from all
walks of life.” Blotner received the award
at a gala celebration at Temple Sinai on
October 27.
Well known to many members,
Blotner has devoted her brief but inspiring career to faith-based social justice.
She got her start in organizing through
the Religious Action Center of Reform
Judaism (thanks largely, she says, to
Rabbi Zemel’s advice and guidance) and
went on to work in the Religion and
Faith Program of the Human Rights
Campaign, where she served as lead
faith organizer for the 2012 Marylanders
for Marriage Equality campaign. Today,
she continues important work at the
Religious Coalition for Reproductive
Choice, advancing reproductive justice
and access to care for all women and
families.
Congratulating Blotner, Rabbi Zemel
commented, “Joanna is a model of what
we are trying to teach in the Temple
Micah experience. She represents the
best of that to which we aspire.”
The award—given this year as well to
a local philanthropic leader and a local
family whose five members are deeply
engaged in social activism—recognizes
Blotner’s leadership and impact on two
initiatives in particular: Her organizing
efforts in support of last year’s marriage
equality referendum in Maryland and
her role in creating “Prop 8 Passover,”
an interfaith Passover seder hosted
this past March in conjunction with
the Supreme Court’s oral arguments in
California’s Proposition 8 case governing same-sex marriages. In these and
other efforts, Blotner’s work has taught
her that “the only way to really win
[on issues concerning human sexuality
and equality] is to bring faith into the
Choir: David Adler, David Asher, Geoffrey
Barron, Sue Baum, Laurel Bergold,
President’s Column FROM PAGE 2 ;
Silver Polishing: Louise Zemel
Stuart Brown, Gary Dickelman,
Webmaster: David Diskin
Barbara Diskin, David Diskin, Lora
Ticket Assistance: Geri Nielson
Ferguson, Jan Greenberg, Genie
Apples & Honey: Dorian Friedman
Grohman, Ed Grossman, Jennifer
that the schedule is not predictable enough, that the all-community events conflict with other commitments and that the time
they spend at temple is either too long or too short.
But it became clear at the meetings this fall that the thing
people worry about most is that the machon as we know it will
disappear, that Temple Micah will return to the old model that
never worked all that well in the first place.
That will not happen.
For this year, under the able leadership of Linda Siegel, our
interim education director, the machon will chug along with
some fine tuning but no major changes. By the end of 2013, we
will identify a permanent education director, who will begin
work July 1.
The new director must not only accept and embrace Temple
Micah’s mission for education, but embody it. He or she
must have the vision to take that mission to new heights, to
strengthen the curriculum further and increase and intensify the
engagement of our congregants.
No. We’re not recreating the religious school of our grandfathers. We’re laying the groundwork for the American Jewish
lives of our granddaughters and grandsons. (For one example of
Machon Micah’s continuing innovation, see story, “Hands-on learning engages 8th graders,” on page 3.)
Worship:
Torah Readers (Ba’alei Kriya): Lila Klaus,
Hazel Rosenblum-Sellers, Jordy Parry,
Hero Magnus, Anna Ustun, Jana Korn,
Emma Youcha, Izzy Stein
Haftarah Readers: Micah Reinharz, Hallie
Watts-Rich, Jacob Korn, Lizzy Zetlin,
Lila Klaus
Gruber, Janet Hahn, Laura Hubbard,
Howard Jaffe, Barbara Klestzick,
Zachary Lynch, Marjorie Marcus,
William Page, Bob Rackleff, David
Schneider, Sonia White, Suzanne
Saunders, Alex Shilo, Ellen Sommer,
Daniel Yett
•
forefront—and to make sure that people
know they can bring their religious
beliefs to the voting booth in a positive
way,” she reflects.
Blotner says she’s especially honored that this year’s Heschel award is
given in memory of Elissa Froman, a
good friend, mentor and fellow Jewish
activist who lost her battle with cancer
earlier this spring. Froman was just 29
years old.
•
LET YOUR CREATIVE JUICES
FLOW WHILE HELPING AN
AT-RISK TEEN
Micah volunteers are helping at-risk teenage girls at the
Sasha Bruce residential program on Capitol Hill try their
hand at creative writing. Do you teach? Write poetry,
plays or stories? Just looking for an opportunity to
support a vulnerable young person in a meaningful way?
No experience necessary to join the Micah team on the
second and/or fourth Wednesday of the month from
6 pm to 7:30 pm.
Sasha Bruce Youthwork is a residential program for
runaway, homeless and at-risk youth near Capitol Hill.
Micah’s partnership with the organization is a project of
the Beyond the Walls Team. For more information about
volunteering for the writing project, contact Marilyn Park
or Lisa Saks at [email protected].
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
6
C H E S H VA N / K I S L E V/ T E V E T 5 7 74
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Here’s a sampling of Micah
activities in November and December. For a detailed schedule
of all upcoming events, check
out www.templemicah.org.
FRIDAY, NOV. 8 – 7:30 PM
Community Shabbat Dinner
After services, join other members
in a delicious catered dinner. Meet
new friends. Catch up with people
you know.
SUNDAY, NOV. 17 – 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Hanukkah Extravaganza
(See story on page 1 for details)
SUNDAY, NOV. 24 – 10 AM – 2PM
Book Fair at Politics and Prose
Hear the Youth Choir sing at 11
am. At 11:30 am, listen to Al From
talk about his new book, The New
Democrats and the Return to Power,
and get him to sign it. Buy gift and
personal books and help the temple—a portion of the proceeds of
most sales goes to Micah. Politics
and Prose Bookstore is at 5015
Connecticut Ave., NW.
FRIDAY, NOV. 29 – 6 PM
ONEG, 6:30 PM SERVICE
Spectacular Hanukkah Kabbalat
Service
Bring your menorah and candles and
light up the sanctuary at this amazing family-friendly service.
SUNDAY, DEC. 8
Share Your Hanukkah Coat
Donations
Deadline to drop off coats purchased
for low-income families.
FRIDAY, DEC. 27 – 6 PM
ONEG, 6:30 PM SERVICE
Kabbalat Shabbat at Temple
Sinai
Annual joint service of Northwest
Washington’s Reform and
Conservative synagogues. Join members of Adas Israel, Temple Sinai and
Washington Hebrew Congregation at
Temple Sinai, 3100 Military Rd, NW.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013
SUCH INTERESTING
SPEAKERS ON SO MANY
DIFFERENT TOPICS!
Temple Micah now features two monthly lecture series—on
Sunday morning and Wednesday noon. Here are the speakers
scheduled for November and December. For more details, visit
www.templemicah.org.
SUNDAY SPEAKER SERIES
10:15 am to 11:15 am
Nov. 3 — Mark Mazzetti, Pulitzer Prizewinning New York Times correspondent, on
his new book, The Way of the Knife: The
CIA, a Secret Army, and a War at the Ends
of the Earth
Dec. 8 — Diana Butler Bass, a leading voice
for progressive Christianity who writes
broadly on American religion and culture,
on “Faith and Practice in a Post-Religious
World”
Feb. 2 — Patty Stonesifer, President and CEO of Martha’s
Table, on “Doing the Good in Washington.”
LUNCH & LEARN
Wednesdays from noon to 2 pm
Please contact Barbara Green, lunchandlearn@templemicah.
org, or call the temple office, 202-342-9175, for reservations and
details.
Nov. 13 — Judith Viorst, author, poet and columnist on “Life
Lessons”
Dec. 11 — Rabbi Esther Lederman, our very own, just back
from maternity leave
7
LOCAL RABBI, FRIEND OF TEMPLE MICAH TAKES NEW NATIONAL ROLE
By Shelley Grossm a n
Rabbi Jack Moline, a good friend of
Rabbi Zemel and of Temple Micah,
is leaving his pulpit at Agudas Achim
Congregation in January to become
executive director of the National
Jewish Democratic Council.
He spent more than 26 years at
Agudas Achim, a Conservative synagogue in Alexandria. He has been a
familiar face at Micah, speaking and
participating in a variety of programs.
Newsweek named him one of the top 25
pulpit rabbis in the country in 2008 and,
in 2010 and 2011, one of the 50 most
influential.
Organizational and advocacy work
will not be new to Moline, however. He
was the Director of Public Policy for the
Conservative Rabbinical Assembly from
2009 until this past May and is a past
chairman of the board of the Interfaith
Alliance. Even so, in his new post he
anticipates some dramatic changes in
his life’s work.
“I will focus much less on the pastoral and ritual duties that make up so
much of my congregational responsibilities and much more on advocacy and
development,” he said. “One thing that
will not change—I will still use every
opportunity to teach.”
Despite his excitement at the new
challenges awaiting him, he said he
leaves the pulpit with some regrets.
“The privilege I have enjoyed to be
invited into people’s lives at moments of
significance is the most precious aspect
of the rabbinate. Most people have to
earn the kind of trust that is almost
automatic with a rabbi. I hope I have
learned well enough how to earn that
trust with the people near to me. I hope
my training and title do honor to the
position,” he continued. “But I am more
concerned that I fulfill my new responsibilities in a way that does honor to my
training and title.”
Moline voiced one other regret: “I
never was able to talk Danny Zemel out
of rooting for the White Sox.” •
SIDDUR STUDY GROUP
SUKKOT IN SPRING
WHAT: Study the prayers in Mishkan T’fillah, the Reform
Siddur (prayer book); learn about the structure and content of Jewish worship and how the Reform approach
compares with other strands of Judaism; discuss your
relationship to prayer, worship and the prayer book. A
relatively new Micah group, Siddur Study will celebrate
its first anniversary in December. Members of the group
volunteer to lead different sessions. No prerequisites. You
don’t need to read Hebrew. Each session is a separate discussion, so drop in at any time. Siddur Study also has an
online discussion group, open to all: SiddurStudyAtMicah@
GoogleGroups.com.
WHAT: Do an important mitzvah and have fun with
fellow temple members by spending a day or two helping to rehabilitate the house of a low-income homeowner.
Whether you are an experienced DYIer or don’t know
which is the working end of a paint brush, your participation is warmly welcomed. Tasks may include decluttering, painting, gardening, carpentry, simple plumbing and
electrical repairs. Free coffee/pastries in the morning and
lunch in the afternoon. An excellent opportunity to learn
some handy skills and try out tools. All tools supplied, but
you can bring your own. Teens 14 years of age and older
are welcome, and eligible for community service credits,
but must be accompanied by parent or other responsible
adult.
WHEN AND WHERE: The last Saturday of the month after
the Kiddush following services—usually about 12:30 or
12:45 pm. It meets in the Downstairs Library.
WHO: Coordinator is Virginia Spatz, 202-342-9175 or
[email protected]
WHY: “I have a strong interest in prayer so I was delighted
to help get this group rolling and really enjoyed preparing
the first few sessions,” Spatz said. “I believe that studies
like this one give us a chance to grow in terms of knowledge and skills and to explore new ideas within Judaism.
I’m learning new things about poetic structures of the
prayer book, for example. At least as important is the
opportunity to develop connections with others in ways
that count. The sessions so far have drawn a variety of participants. Through these studies, we get to know others in
a way that includes personal experience but isn’t stuck on
cocktail-party or professional-networking topics.”
WHEN AND WHERE: Once a year, in the spring (April or
May) generally on three Sundays at the job site.
WHO: Roberta Goren, house captain; Ed Grossman and
Doug Meyer, co-house captains. Email them at
[email protected].
WHY: “It really is a terrific program,” Goren said. “You
feel so good doing something helpful for people. It is fun
because you are doing it as a team, not by yourself. You
get to meet Micah members you don’t know in a very
informal setting and—while painting a room, for example—see a whole different side of people you’ve known
for years. The best thing, at the end of the day, you can
see the results of what you’ve done and the difference
you’ve made is often stunning.” Ed Grossman added, “It is a
mitzvah, learning, and social experience combined.”
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
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C H E S H VA N / K I S L E V/ T E V E T 5 7 74
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013
Temple Micah: A True Work of Art
By Dor i a n Fr iedm a n
As Temple Micah’s new building was
taking shape in 1994 and 1995, Eva
Jacob, a talented artist and member of
the congregation, documented the process in a series of charcoal sketches. “It
was a wonderful project,” recalls Jacob,
whose artistic interests had turned to
charcoal landscapes around the time
construction got underway. “I thought,
let me document the building process
and the vision for the temple” at every
stage. She did so almost weekly for
more than a year, from inside and outside the building, and from the perspective of a neighbor’s apartment across
Wisconsin Avenue.
Once, a friendly roofing contractor
even offered to help her climb 40 feet
up a ladder to the ridge of the unfinished roof—where she perched for an
aerial view of the busy construction site
CO N TI N U E D N E X T PAG E
Temple FROM PREVIOUS PAGE ;
below. Jacob’s drawings were
displayed in the sanctuary
when the building was dedicated. Many of the pictures
were sold, while she gave
others as gifts. Jacob donated
all proceeds to the temple’s
landscape fund, which paid
for many of the trees and
shrubs that line the property.
Several of Jacob’s sketches still grace the walls of the temple’s
public and office space. However, Jacob said, the most meaningful part of her artistic venture was seeing the temple’s new
sanctuary rise literally from the ground up.
Eva and Fred Jacob have retired to be near family in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she now paints landscapes of
Wisconsin scenes and does commissioned portraits. She asks
clients to donate any fees to a charity of their choice.
9
(left) Temple Micah as seen from across
Wisconsin Avenue and (below) looking down
into the first floor.
•
Rabbi’s Message FROM PAGE 1 ;
View of the sanctuary with scaffolding
;
JEWISH SYMBOLS ARE EVERYWHERE IN TEMPLE MICAH’S DESIGN
Temple Micah’s architects, members Judith Capen and
Robert Weinstein, used Jewish symbols throughout the
building’s design in a deliberate effort to make the building
distinctive and to embody the essence of Judaism.
“The challenge for us as architects, and one the Temple
Micah congregation supported totally, was to understand
what makes a spiritual space spiritual” and how to achieve
that vision through design, Capen has written. Her book
about the couple’s experience, Against the Odds: A Small
Reform Congregation Builds a Building, was excerpted in
the Vine last summer (July/August 2013 issue). Here, the
couple reflects on the Jewish design elements that make
our building special. Have a closer look next time you come
to temple!
• Throughout the building, our unified color scheme references the ‘priestly colors’—blue, crimson, and purple—
of the Bible.
• The blue coping wrapping the exterior of the building
represents a single blue thread in a traditional tallit or
prayer shawl.
• The exterior brickwork reveals subtle Stars of David in a
pattern that was inspired by an intricate weaving.
• The two columns flanking the temple’s front entrance
evoke the paired columns (“Joachim” and “Boaz”) of
Solomon’s Temple in ancient Jerusalem. The architects
repeated this motif in the sanctuary with windows that
create two abstract “columns” of light.
• Etched glass panels on the classroom doors were inspired
by key Jewish themes. Symbols of Shabbat—wine, challah, a spice box—grace the temporary classroom panels,
while windows in the building’s new addition depict
memorable Bible stories.
• And the simple but elegant frieze that rings the sanctuary’s upper walls is inscribed with Biblical quotations
chosen for their significance. Ted Cron (z”l), a founding member, designed the Hebrew type. The metallic gold words, books of the Bible, divide each passage.
“Depending on how the light is coming into the building,
sometimes the text pops out while other times it almost
disappears,” observed Robert Weinstein. “I think that’s
reminiscent of the Torah—sometimes bright and clear,
and sometimes opaque.”
(Some of this information was borrowed from a summary on the temple’s website where you can find other
interesting details on Temple Micah’s distinctive architecture and symbolism. Visit www.templemicah.org/aboutus/
ourbuilding.)
think that all of Judaism flows from the
asking of this question. It is why Judaism
is a universal religion. It is why the values
embedded in our literature have found
resonance throughout history. It is why
we fit so comfortably here in America and
have thrived in our own land. It is because
Judaism asks the most basic question:
How can we as moral beings contend with
the world around us?
In retrospect and upon hearing from
many of you, I have come to realize that
this sermon simply had too much packed
into it. It is, perhaps, three separate sermons:
1. Judaism recognizes that humans are
part of creation but also separate from
it. We have amazing abilities but are burdened with self awareness.
2. As self-conscious beings, we are
required to contend with our moral failings. This is a human struggle—the search
for a moral path.
3. Judaism is a vehicle that allows us to
simultaneously channel and celebrate our
humanity and our struggle, a phenomenon
that is symbolized by the Shabbat table.
To elaborate on the first “sermon”:
It is no accident that the Jewish year
begins with the ethical imperative to seek
to wipe the slate clean. It is our annual
heroic effort to return to the starting
line—biblical creation—where, for a split
second, the world experienced the paradise that was Eden.
Our Rosh Hashanah mandate is to
work at coming to grips with what we are
and who we are. We are of creation—biological creatures—but we have this nagging knowledge that we are different. We
are alien from our environment. We have
a moral impulse that beats constantly.
Judaism recognizes and celebrates this
as a unique gift. On Rosh Hashanah, as
we delve into ourselves, we ask ourselves
the most basic question. How can I be
a human being when human beings like
me are so filled with faults and defects?
We even do evil! How can I be a human
being and maintain dignity and hope?
This was the thrust of the first part of my
sermon—this coming to grips with what
separates us from the rest of creation.
The link to all of my holy day sermons can be found on the Temple Micah
homepage, www.templemicah.org (should
you be generous enough to consider
another attempt). If you are among the
many who I suspect will not turn back to
read the sermon, fear not: You will hear
more from me on this subject.
With November, we march on to celebrate Thanksgiving and Hanukkah on
the same day. The first Hanukkah candle
will be lit Wednesday evening, Nov. 27,
making Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, the first
day of Hanukkah. How can that be? For a
complete explanation of how this occurs
and how it will not happen again for more
than 77,000 years (not a typo), check out
http://jonathanmizrahi.blogspot.com/.
We, at Micah, will hold a Hanukkah
Extravaganza on Sunday, Nov. 17, featuring
The Great Loudini, our favorite magician,
and the Fifth Annual Hanukkah Craft and
Gift Fair. And, of course, our spectacular annual Shabbat Hanukkah service, this
year on Friday, Nov. 29. Bring your menorah and candles!
The larger question is what we will do
in our homes to celebrate both of these
holidays. What beyond the jokes of turkey
and latkes? One idea might be to read the
letter from George Washington to the
Jewish community of Newport, R.I., with
its famous words proclaiming the United
States a nation that “gives to bigotry no
sanction…”
Light the first Hanukkah candle at
home on Nov. 27. Celebrate Thanksgiving
with friends and family on Nov. 28 and
come to Micah to celebrate American
Jewish life and both holidays on Nov. 29.
Double chag sameach!
Finally, I am beginning Part 2 of my
sabbatical on Dec. 10 and will be away
until March 17. Once again, Louise and
I will be spending most of that time in
Israel. We are enormously grateful for this
time away. I leave the congregation in the
very capable hands of Rabbi Lederman
and the rest of our dedicated and talented staff.
Shalom,
Rabbi Daniel G. Zemel
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
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C H E S H VA N / K I S L E V/ T E V E T 5 7 74
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013
TZEDAKAH
AUCTION FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Carolyn Margolis, by Michelle Sender, Judy Mannes
and David Dantzler, Susie and Harvey Blumenthal
BUILDING FUND
IN HONOR OF
Dorothy Kirby’s 93rd birthday, by
Thomas and Rochelle Brunner
Birth of Zoe Rebecca to Esther Lederman
and Scott Gant, by Bobbie and Ed Wendel
IN MEMORY OF
Herbert Brown, by Judith Capen
and Robert Weinstein
Carolyn Margolis, by Beverly and Harlan Sherwat
Herbert Blumenthal, by Lora Ferguson
ENDOWMENT FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Pearl Levenson Simmons; Louis
Levenson, by Brenda Levenson
Herbert Blumenthal, by Michelle and
Leonard Tow, Michelle Sender
FOX-MEHLMAN FUND
(scholarships and grants for educational
and camp programs)
IN MEMORY OF
Vivian Liebenau, by Norman and Susie Blumenfeld
GENERAL FUND
IN HONOR OF
Rabbi Lederman and Scott Gant, and new
baby Zoe, by Stuart and Francie Schwartz
Zoe Rebecca Gant, by Nancy Lang
Robert and Carolee Walker making my
birthday spectacular, by Norma Tucker
IN MEMORY OF
Carolyn Margolis, by Kathy Sklar, Mary
Beth Schiffman and David Tochen
Edward DeGrazia, by Norman and Susie Blumenfeld
Herbert Blumenthal, by Barbara and Skip Halpern
Favl Waisburd, by Sonia Weisburd
Rita Welles, by Barbara and Skip Halpern
Joseph Seiger, by Judy Hurvitz
HINENI FUND
THE RABBI DANIEL GOLDMAN ZEMEL
FUND FOR ISRAEL
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Rabbi Lederman’s speedy recovery,
by Gerald Liebenau
Rabbi Zemel’s 30 years at Temple Micah,
by Jerome and Fleurette Hershman
the birth of Zoe Rebecca Gant, by Valerie Barton
and Sean Schofield, David and Livia Bardin,
Susie and Harvey Blumenthal, Sheila Platoff
and Bob Effros, Lora Ferguson, Jonathan and
Carrie Ustun, Susan and Richard Lahne, Learita
Scott and Robert Friedman, Marlyn and Milton
Socolar, Stan and Kathy Soloway, Patricia Kent,
Jane and Chaz Kerschner, Stan and Ronna Foster,
Gwen and Marc Pearl, Jonah and Sallie Gitlitz,
Lucy and David Asher, Mary Beth Schiffman
and David Tochen, Beverly and Harlan Sherwat,
Robyn Garnett, Richard Fitz and Kathy Spiegel
Judith Rosen’s speedy recovery, by
Learita Scott and Robert Friedman
Shira Zemel’s marriage, by Lucy and David Asher
Rabbi Zemel’s naming of Harper and
Theo, by Greg and Sasha Adler
Mayer, Pauline and John Mandel; Howard,
Jacob, and Judith Grob; Marjorie Engel and
Shirley Shenkman, by Helen Mandel Grob
Joseph Grossman, by Ellen Sommer
LIBRARY FUND
IN HONOR OF
Ken Goldstein preparing Sam for becoming Bar
Mitzvah, by Norman and Susie Blumenfeld
MICAH HOUSE
Amy and Joshua Berman, Kate and Paul
Judson, Rita and Gary Carleton, Todd Goren,
Debbie Billet-Roumell and Jim Roumell, Ardell
Simmons, James Bodner and Victoria Greenfield,
Sid and Elka Booth, Mark Levine, Ken and
Nancy Schwartz, Kathy and Larry Ausubel
IN HONOR OF
Zoe Rebecca Gant, by Deborah and Marc Strass,
Jessica and Harry Silver, Marsha Semmel
IN HONOR OF
IN MEMORY OF
Robert Sugarman, by Carole
Sugarman and Mark Pelesh
Carl Hirschmann; Hans and Freida Hirschmann,
by Carole and John Hirschmann
Malcolm Sherwat, by Harlan and Beverly Sherwat
Walter Page, by Bill Page and Mary Hollis
Suzanne Oppenheimer, by Howard and Jill Berman
Benjamin Lazar, by Learita Scott
and Robert Friedman
Abel Jacob Winston; Lucille Levin Winston,
by Carole and David Wilson
Vivian Liebenau; Richard Futrovsky, by
Rhoda, Jerome and Howard Mortman
Donald Rothberg, by Lynn Rothberg
and Jennifer Rothberg Tanzi
Rita Welles; Carolyn Margolis; Roberto Benda;
Don Rothberg, by Sid and Elka Booth
Herbert Blumenthal, by Judy Hurvitz, Ellen
Sommer, Arlene Brown and Eugene Bialek,
David and Barbara Diskin, Sid and Elka
Booth, Myra and Mark Kovey
NEXT DOR FUND
RELIGIOUS OBJECTS FUND
IN HONOR OF
IN MEMORY OF
Rabbi Lederman’s speedy recovery,
by Harlan and Beverly Sherwat
Rabbinic Intern Josh Beraha, by Rabbi
Marc and Dr. Linda Raphael
Rebecca Blatt and Bret Hovell, by
Philip Blatt and Paula Breen
Carolyn Margolis, by Paul Greenberg
and Rick Billingsley
Ellen Passel, by Norman and Susie Blumenfeld
Rita Welles and Herbert Blumenthal, by
Paul Greenberg and Rick Billingsley
IN MEMORY OF
Herbert Blumenthal, by Jessica and Harry Silver
MUSIC FUND
IN HONOR OF
Teddy and Meryl, by Jessica and Harry Silver
IN MEMORY OF
IN MEMORY OF
Dr. Harold and Mrs. Paula Selbert, by Lincoln Mayer
(to assist congregants in need)
PRAYERBOOK FUND
IN HONOR OF
IN HONOR OF
Bobbie Wendel and Shelley Grossman,
by Jessica and Harry Silver
Lynn Rothberg’s good health, by
Beverly and Harlan Sherwat
Alan Carpien, by Deborah Kraut
SOCIAL ACTION FUND
IN MEMORY OF
Mazal Tov
B’NAI MITZVAH
The congregation wishes a hearty mazal tov to:
THOMAS MANDE
Meryl & George Weiner on the marriage of their daughter,
Rebecca, to Craig Wood
Learita Scott on the birth of her first great grandchild,
Odelia Savanna Garfield
Adrienne & David Umansky on the birth of their grandchild,
Miles Aaron Faust
Brian Altman & Jerry Boegler on the birth of their child,
Stella Beatrix Boegler Altman Elizabeth Drye
and Jerry Mande
TORAH PORTION: Vayeitze
MITVAH PROJECT: To
be announced
PARENTS:
JORDYN HARRIS
PARENTS: Monika
Sariel Ende-Alonzo, Anthony and Ammira Alonzo, on the
birth of their daughter and sister, Shoshana Raya on Oct. 2
Beverly and Stan Frye on the marriage of their son, Mitchell,
to Nikki Knowles
Ruth Schimel, author, and Kathleen Sindell, technical and
production editor, on publishing Choose Courage: Step Into
the Life You Want
Al From, on his new book The New Democrats and the
Return to Power
and Ken Harris
Vayishlach
MITZVAH PROJECT: Jordyn is
planning a shoebox event to
fill gift boxes for children in
emergency rooms at Children’s
Hospital in Washington D.C.
or Johns Hopkins Hospital in
Baltimore. She is also volunteering
to repair bikes at the Bike Shop,
a nonprofit Arlington bike store.
TORAH PORTION:
DANIEL HALPERT
NOVEMBER 23 – 20 KISLEV Jim Halpert
and Karen Kornbluh
TORAH PORTION: Vayeishev
MITZVAH PROJECT: Daniel
assisted toddlers and their
families attending the child
care center at Martha’s Table.
PARENTS:
CO N D O L E N C ES
The Temple Micah community extends its deepest
condolences to:
Neil Welles on the passing of his mother, Rita Welles
SALLY BINSWANGER
DECEMBER 7 – 4 TEVET
Susan and Elias Benda on the passing of their cousin,
PARENTS: Karen
Roberto Benda
Harvey Blumenthal on the passing of his father,
Herbert Blumenthal
Matt Adler on the passing of his grandmother, Marilyn Marcus
and
Ben Binswanger
TORAH PORTION: Vayigash
MITZVAH PROJECT: Sally’s best
friend is her dog, Red. She will
be collecting supplies for and
volunteering at the Animal
Welfare League of Arlington.
Jodi Kolker Ferrier on the passing of her mother,
Marcyne Kolker
50TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
Jim Halpert on the passing of his father, Edward Robert Halpert
REBECCA SHAPIRO
DECEMBER 14 – 11 TEVET
IN HONOR OF
Jan D. Greenberg on the passing of her aunt, Elaine May
IN MEMORY OF
Joseph Seiger, by Harlan and Beverly Sherwat
Carolyn Margolis, by Jeffrey and Sharon Davis
Marcyne Kolker, by Shellie, Adam,
Andy, and Casey Bressler
NOVEMBER 9 – 6 KISLEV
NOVEMBER 16 – 13 KISLEV
Rita Welles, by Arlene Brown and Eugene Bialek
Betty Ustun, by Jonathan and Carrie Ustun
11
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
Susan Lutzker on the passing of her mother, Beatrice Schulman
May their memories be for a blessing.
Monica Miller
and William Klein, Robert
Shapiro and Lisa Davis
TORAH PORTION: Vayechi
MITZVAH PROJECT: Working
with a senior citizen.
PARENTS:
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C H E S H VA N / K I S L E V/ T E V E T 5 7 74
This year’s sixth graders collected
8,159 items of underwear, making
the 2013 clothing drive the most
successful ever. Donated garments
provide dignity to our neighbors
in need at the Community Council
for the Homeless / Friendship
Place. Sincere thanks for the
overwhelmingly generous response!
Vıne
2829 WISCONSIN AVENUE , NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20007- 4702
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