Rabbi's Reflections

We are in the counting season.  By the time you are reading this (hopefully on May 1), it will already be day #24:  three weeks and three day of the counting of the Omer.  In the Jewish tradition, we count the days from the 2^nd day of Passover until we reach Shavuot on the 50^th day.  The Omer was the wheat portion which was measured as it grew before the springtime harvest which occurred just prior to the holiday.

We are known as the ‘People of the Book’.  I believe the title of that Book which most clearly defines us is the ‘Book of Numbers.”  7^th day is Shabbat, 7^th year is the Sabbatical, 40 days of rain, 40 days Moses spent transcribing the 613 commandments (I bet he would have killed for an iPad.  It certainly would have made the trip down Sinai a lot easier), 400 years in Egypt (I know—It says 430 years also).  Certain numbers appear to be more important than others.  It does appear that way when they are repeated so often.

In fact, there is the whole tradition of gematria.  Each Hebrew letter is assigned a numerical value” aleph-1, bet-2, etc.  Hence, the reason the increments of 18 are special because they reflect the value for the word life in Hebrew (Chet-8, Yud-10).  Words which have the value of 26 are also significant because they reflect the Hebrew letters for God in the Torah (yud-10, hay-5, vav-6, hay-5).

I have heard it said that life is just a numbers game.  Well, guess what, that is just fine with me.

One of the most memorable and favorite parts of almost any Seder is when a young person is sent to open a door for the Prophet Elijah.  How many times does one of the guests enter the doorway to a roomful of giggles.

By the time we send a child to the door, it is already late and participants are eager for the Seder to conclude.  It is rare those gathered take a moment to ponder the true meaning of this unique ritual.

Traditionally, the prophet Elijah is to return to earth in order to announce the coming of the Messiah.  That is all fine well and good but we are not Orthodox.  As Reform Jews, we do not believe in the coming of a Messiah.  Instead, we see the mitzvah of ‘tikun olam’ (repair of the world)  as the path to creating a Messianic Kingdom for all who inhabit the earth.  We take the biblical prerogative of being a ‘light unto the nations’ to be at the heart of our spiritual motivation.  In Judaism, there is a fine line, if any line at all, between faith and action.

Hence, when we send that child to the door, we are hoping that the spirit of Elijah will enter to inspire all assembles\d to greater acts of tzedakah and gemilut chesed (charity and loving kindness).  As we sing, bimheira v’yameinu (come speedily in our day), we are reminded to make the words of our Seder action points for a better world.

Happy Passover,

Rabbi Harvey Winokur

There has been a great deal of saber rattling lately with regard to the increased

possibility that Iran will be able to build a nuclear device in the near future and that Israel may target the Iranian site for an attack.  Recently, I read that Israel is unlikely to inform the U.S. of its final preparations and that Iran will be less than forthcoming in the future as well.

Suffice it to say, I was pleased when I heard that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is on top of the situation.  Choosing the Iranian produced ‘Separation’ has apparently opened the doors to closer diplomatic ties between American and Iranian filmmakers.  Seeing this opening, the U.S. State Department has decided to let the Academy negotiate for them to build on the success of their Oscar choice.

Apparently, the key to negotiating a peaceful solution has come down to agreeing to giving preference to Israel in next year’s Foreign Film category while supporting Iran’s request to establish a major film studio in Tehran next year.  And there is even talk of an Israeli-Iranian film collaboration.

While all this may seem a bit farfetched, consider that this year’s winner in the in the Best Picture Category was a silent film (the first since 1929) and the Best Actor went to a Frenchman who only uttered two words in the entire film.That being said, it is obvious that the Academy knows something that we do not and that they have an insight into international relations that is invaluable for world peace.

The fact that the Oscars were hosted for the ninth time by a Jewish individual and that when the Iranian winner was announced that the first face that was focused on was Steven Spielberg has to make you believe that Mideast miracles can occur.

I for one am looking forward to seeing Amidanijad at the Oscars in the front row next to Brad and Angelina. Aren’t you?

Happy Purim (SPOOF)

Rabbi Harvey J. Winokur

February is Jewish Disability Awareness Month.  The mission of JDAM is to unite Jewish communities and organizations for the purpose of raising awareness and supporting meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities and their families in every aspect of Jewish life. TKC is a recognized 'Accessible' congregation and I am a member of the CCAR Committee on Disability and Inclusion.

Our guest speaker at our annual JDAM Shabbat, Leslie Lipson, is a member of the Georgia State

Advisory Panel for Special Education on which my wife Donnie is also a member of the Advisory Panel.  In addition, Donnie has worked with Leslie on the 'restraint and seclusion' issue and has been involved with the certification training involved with the Parent Support Project.  Please join us for this important presentation.

Jewish Disability Awareness Shabbat Speaker Leslie Lipson is the Project Director of the Parent

Leadership Support Project (PLSP) and the Safe Schools Initiative, and a staff attorney with the

Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO), a private non-profit corporation, which is the federally mandated protection and advocacy system designated by the governor of Georgia for people labeled as disabled or mentally ill.  

As Project Director of the Safe Schools Initiative, Leslie coordinates a multi-agency effort aimed at ending the dangerous practice of restraint and seclusion in Georgia public schools.  In July 2010, this effort resulted in the strongest state rule prohibiting seclusion and limiting the use of restraint to date.

Leslie also serves as an advocate attorney in multiple capacities for the GAO, providing technical assistance to the various advocate programs; presenting on multiple topics around the state; and litigating on behalf of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.  Leslie has trained over 3000 parents across the state of Georgia concerning the rights of their children to receive a quality education.  Leslie’s coordination of eight consecutive parent training projects, known as the Parent Leadership Support Project, has resulted in over 10,000 families experiencing the assistance of a lay advocate.  Currently, she is involved in the leadership and planning of a state-wide effort to end the School to Prison Pipeline for Students of color and with disabilities. 

Leslie is originally from Columbia, South Carolina, and is a member of the Georgia Bar.  She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.  She received her Juris Doctorate from the University Of Georgia School Of Law, Class of 2001. She is an active member of Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) and presented at their national conferences. Leslie is also a member of the Georgia Board of Education State Advisory Panel for Special Education.   Leslie co-chaired the Advocates for Students with Disabilities Committee from 2003- 2005 and 2009- 2010.  The Juvenile Law Committee of Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of the State Bar of Georgia awarded Leslie the Education Child Advocate of the Year in 2004, and in 2005 and 2009, the YLD presented her with an Award of Achievement for Outstanding Service to the Public from the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.

Rabbi Harvey Winokur

The Making of a Kehillah

It’s the spring of 1982 and the population of Atlanta is booming. Imagine this if you can, people are actually moving outside of the perimeter to live. There’s a young Rabbi, assistant Rabbi at another local area synagogue, who envisions Atlanta’s immense growth with opportunity and potential.

This story, like so many other Jewish stories, involves dinner at a Chinese Restaurant, a meal complete with dreaming, planning and thoughts to the future. As the months go by, conversations between Rabbi Winokur and his friend and fellow Temple Sinai congregant, Alan Abrams, continue and begin to build momentum. The idea was to start a new congregation, one that would serve those who were looking for a different kind of kehillah, a community that reached out in a new way to those who were interfaith or unaffiliated, those who wanted a new approach to worship and observance.

With 15 families, the new kehillah was born in the summer of 1982 and began gathering for prayer and learning. It wasn’t long before 15 families grew to 100 families, then 150. It seemed there were many people who appreciated a less traditional approach to Judaism and embraced the idea of this new kehillah. While the first few years were spent meeting and worshiping in a variety of interesting locations such as a bank, rented school classrooms,  and a variety of churches, all were still locations inside the perimeter. It wasn’t long before thoughts of a putting down roots started to arise and the idea of growth outside the perimeter was broached.

The move to Roswell in 1987 wasn’t an easy one for Temple Kehillat Chaim, but it felt like the right move at the right time. It was especially difficult because some members didn’t follow as the congregation established its roots outside the perimeter. But with progress, comes change. And with change, comes progress. The congregation successfully established itself in historic Roswell, a home that became our permanent location for the past twenty-four years.

There are many people whose efforts have had a significant impact on building the Kehillah that we know today. We hope that our 30^th anniversary year provides us with an opportunity to honor those individuals and celebrate their contributions. We are planning numerous events to commemorate our many achievements and celebrate together as we look to the future of this wonderful congregation.  We invite you to come with us on a journey this year that both celebrates our past, embraces our rich tradition, and welcomes progress and change to our beloved Kehillah.

Interview of Rabbi Winokur by Renee Sevy-Hasterok, incoming President, 2012.

In the TANAKH (Hebrew Scriptures) we read, “…for I, the Lord, am your healer.” (Ex. 15:26b)  “But I will bring healing to you, and cure you or your wounds.” (Jer. 30:17a) More and more the medical and scientific community has acknowledged the healing power of prayer and spirituality.

Since the early 1990s, the Jewish community has been developing innovative liturgies and finding ways of opening up traditional prayer services so that the needs of Jews who are ill and those who care for them are more openly and effectively addressed. In some communities, these services are free-standing — e.g., a creative

healing service on a regular night of the month — and elsewhere, the existing, set prayer is "expanded" or "deepened" by integrating special melodies, readings, focused meditations, and the like. In still other settings, they have taken the form of Psalm Fellowships, groups of Jews who gather regularly to read or chant the biblical Book of Psalms, which are further developed into supportive networks for prayer, discussion and community.

Back in 1998 when we established the Caring Corps at Kehillat Chaim to be in touch with families suffering a death or illness, we also began to experiment with some healing services.  The services were held  for several years but for various reasons were discontinued.

With the increase in spirituality evidenced by the response to opportunities such as Ayeka, we are desirous of reintroducing Healing Services to the Kehillah.  We will experiment with several different times and formats over the next few months to see which best fits our congregation before we settle on one.

Our first Healing Service will be Friday evening, December 16 at 7:00pm in the Chapel.  It will be a brief (20+ minute) worship experience for those who are ill, recovering or are caregivers.  Through prayer, meditation, song and other rituals, we will look to answer previously unmet need for spiritual renewal and community.

As with all but the Holyday services, no RSVP is necessary.  If you feel the need, please drop in.

Donnie, Iyal and Morasha join me in wishing you a Happy Chanukah.

Rabbi Winokur

America's Table: Celebrating Our Diverse Roots and Shared Values

I am sure if you are like me you look forward to Thanksgiving weekend, for any number of reasons: a four-day weekend, getting together with extended family and friends, football, dozing on the couch after a bit too much turkey.  But, how many of us look forward to the Thanksgiving Day meal as an opportunity to truly of give thanks while acknowledging the blessing of freedom we have been given as Americans.  America has been known as a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities indicating a successful blending through assimilation.  But of late, the more accurate description is that of a tossed salad.  We are thrown together but when you look at us you can still see our unique identities.

In a world too often threatened by differences, Thanksgiving is a day to appreciate how our various backgrounds make America vibrant, while our democratic values unite us and keep America strong. For that reason, the American Jewish Committee created “America's Table: A Thanksgiving Reader” which tells this story and helps us express gratitude for being part of it.  The American Jewish Committee's Belfer Center for American Pluralism first published America's Table after 9/11, and distributes it annually.

Profiles of individuals, whose lives and work exemplify these themes, complement a brief narrative. The narrative is intended to be read aloud prior to the Thanksgiving meal by simply going around the table and taking turns or having a leader designate parts.  We have done this at times at our table and it has elevated the Thanksgiving experience for all of us.

To download this year’s copy click on the link below:

http://www.ajc.org/atf/cf/{42D75369-D582-4380-8395-D25925B85EAF}/AmericasTable2008.pdf

The profiles can be read at the Thanksgiving table or at another time. You also may want to read the profiles published in the 2004 and 2005 editions of America's

Table, which are provided on this Web site.

May we give thanks for the bounty of the earth which is lent to us by our creator and the family and friends who are able to enrich our lives with their love and care.

Rabbi Harvey J. Winokur

First and foremost, may you be inscribed for a year of health and happiness. . .

Now to the business at hand - As Mark Silberman mentioned is his Rosh Hashanah morning talk, we have created a Leadership Development class.  At this time, eight members of the Kehillah have signed up to participate.  There will be monthly meetings on Wednesday evenings beginning this month through May (see the full schedule later in this issue).  Enrollment is still open.  We would love to have a few more future leaders sign up.  Contact me for an application.

As I mentioned in my talks about the Shofar service, several members of the Kehillah joined Dr. Betsy Gard and me in a groundbreaking adult spiritual curriculum known as Ayeka.  Ayeka was created to enable Jews of all backgrounds and affiliations to discover, explore, and deepen their own unique relationship with God.   What is spiritual education?  Education which invites, allows, and enables me to walk the path of living in the Image of God.  Education for transformation is wholly different than education for information.  Ayeka creates a safe space to personally engage.  No one is attacking, criticizing or judging .  Everyone is on the same path of soulful discovery.

When you come to Ayeka sessions you  begin to explore what traditional Jewish texts and your own personal experience can teach you about your relationship with God and how we can use this relationship to enhance our lives and to bring out the best in ourselves and in all our personal relationships.  Two Kehillah members who took the class wrote the following:

       “The Ayeka class helps me remember the little things I can do to stay spiritually connected to God

        through my daily life.  It helps reduce my stress and maintain my mood better than any therapy

        or medicine! “

       “For so long I have been searching for a way to have a more personal relationship with G-d and

         The Ayeka program cleared the path for me. The modules are designed for self discovery and the

         interaction between all the participants is amazing! I DO believe I am a different person because

         of Ayeka and G-d is now really a part of my daily life! I look forward to where the next sessions

         will take me!”

Judaism is not about acquiring content, conveying content, or knowing more and more. It’s not about information.  It’s about transformation.  It’s about becoming.  It’s about using the information to evoke a better kinder, holier you. It’s about removing the obstacles that hinder our souls from

emerging.

If getting in touch with your spiritual side is one of your resolutions, join us on Sunday, October 23^rd at 9:30 am in the Chapel for a ‘Taste’ of Ayeka.  Classes will continue weekly at the same time after that.

For more information go to http://www.ayeka.org.il.

G’mar Tov,

Rabbi Harvey Winokur

As I write this article, I am struck by the fact that the Nominating Committee is about to send out the proposed slate of Board members and the position of president and executive vice president are blank.  It made me realize that we need to think together about what it means to build community, and about how one's personal identity is tied up with being part of that community. The two poles between which human identity swings are that of solitude, of being by one's self, and that of refreshing that sense of self by coming together with other people.

In a study by the Medical School of the University of California in San Francisco, one of the factors leading to longevity is congregational affiliation. We live longer and we live better when we do not have to celebrate our family and person milestones by ourselves and when we do not have to mourn our losses alone. There are people on whose shoulders we can cry, people with whom we can dance and celebrate, sing and exult. In being with each other, we are able to gain information and wisdom, acquire comfort and consolation.
 

Indeed, our tradition teaches that the primary way God speaks to us is when we are in community. God instructed Moses to bring the Ten Commandments down to the foot of Mount Sinai and present it to all the Israelites who were gathered there.   It was not to be kept secret and shared by whispered voices.

The issue of leadership which is raised by the absence of candidates for these positions begs the question of what does it take to build a kehillah (community)? We need to fashion increasingly innovative ways of responding to each other that allows community to develop.  It means setting aside the differences that divide us and keep us from sitting down with one another.  It means using the temple as a tool to increase our mission for social justice and tikun olam.  It means putting our heads and hearts together to agree on a common vision for the future.  We need involvement. The great sage Hillel says, “Don't separate yourself from the community.” We recognize that involvement is a two way street.  We cannot ask you to give of your time unless your efforts are rewarded and your expectations are fulfilled.

I hope that by the Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 15, the above positions will have candidates filled in.  Regardless, may we learn from this experience.  Let the transformation of our community begin with each of us. Let us recommit to the reasons we joined Temple Kehillat Chaim in the first place.  Beginning with each of us, we can set off ripples that will transform our synagogue.  If we can do this, then community will not only become stronger, but TKC will once again be a place where we can encounter each other and ultimately that for which the Kehillah was established in the first place: a community committed to Jewish values where the everyday encounter with the spiritual is made possible through each other and God.

Shortly after I became a Spiritual Directory last year, I learned that the annual conference of the Spiritual Directors International would be held in Atlanta.  I wanted to take this opportunity to invite you to share an opening evening with me later this month.  Spiritual Directors International, the global learning community committed to advancing spiritual direction around the world, is meeting from April 28-May 1 downtown at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel.  The theme is Cultivating Compassion.

Programs on Friday through Sunday require a paid registration but the opening session on Thursday evening is free and open to the public.  Please join me.  Everyone is welcome!

Here is the schedule:

Thursday Evening, April 28

FREE and open to the public

5:00 p.m. Exhibitor and Conference Bookstore opens

7:00 p.m. Welcome to Spiritual Directors International Cultivating Compassion

7:45 p.m. Henri Nouwen and the Compassionate Life
Henri Nouwen is a revered spiritual writer who embodied compassionate care in his life ministry, and service. For Nouwen, the compassionate life is always impacted, and shaped by the God of all compassion. Together we will learn what it means to flesh out the practical dynamics of compassion within the context of community.

8:30 p.m. Author and Musician Celebration and Social
Meet dozens of talented authors and musicians who will present workshops and attend the Cultivating Compassion educational events. Fantastic opportunity to mingle, meet dozens of authors, and peruse the bookstore.

If you would like to ride with me, please email at rabbi@kehillatchaim.org.

Finally, please note the extraordinary holocaust program that we are hosting on Sunday, April 17.  The secret of the Priest’s Grotto.

Happy Passover!