Rabbi's Reflections

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