From the Rabbi's Desk
May 2024
Friends, On April 8, many of us witnessed the eclipse as it traversed a swathe of North America. For those of us in Connecticut, it was a partial eclipse of about 90%. If you could travel as Polly, Nava, Ilan, and I were, perhaps you witnessed totality. What an amazing sight. Thanks to a wonderful friend, we were invited to spend a long weekend around Lake Placid, New York (thanks to Claire, Cy, Micki, and David for a beautiful weekend). On the morning of the eclipse, we went for a short hike along the lakeshore. On our hike, Polly observed a place that seemed perfect for viewing the eclipse. The place she picked was on a golf course, away from the condos and homes nestled along the shoreline. She predicted that not many people, if any, would be there and we could experience all the changes in nature as the moon transited the sun. About half an hour before the beginning of the eclipse, we returned to this spot, and we were the only people around. Nava and Ilan played with sticks and stones because what else do kids really need to have a good time (cell phones are only a sad replacement for those kids not lucky enough to have plenty of sticks and stones around). Polly and I sat on the gravel cart path to soak up the sun’s warmth and waited. We all put on our special eclipse glasses in time, and the most amazing show on earth began. We started naming what the sun looked like as the moon crossed – a cookie with a bite, a fat banana, a skinny banana, a golden taco, a frowny face. Every few minutes, we would look around and notice the qualities of the light, sounds, and temperature. Just before totality, the birds started calling uncharacteristically; the light began to soften to a twilight blue-gray, and the air became colder. When totality began, there was an odd kind of darkness. The snowcapped mountains in the distance were still light, yet we were in darkness. We took off our glasses. Jupiter and Venus were visible as the sun was now the moon’s black disk with white light casting out all around and an amber solar prominence peeking around the edge; in an instant, totality ended with a brilliant diamond flash of light. I am still in awe of what I witnessed. Generations before us were awed as well. There are many biblical and Talmudic references to eclipses. For the most part, eclipses were associated with catastrophic events during the times of the Prophets (most notably Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel) and deemed to be bad omens in the Talmud (see BT Sukkah 29a), even though the rabbis understood that these were predictable periodic natural events. Indeed, there was a solar eclipse in the Middle East in 763 BCE, and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah would have experienced about 90% of totality, just like in Connecticut. Amos and Isaiah would have experienced something similar to many of us. Polly and I had agreed before the eclipse that we wouldn’t try to take pictures, say prayers, or do anything else during the eclipse. We just wanted to experience a fantastic event that Polly and I may never see again. Also, we wanted Nava and Ilan to have a lasting memory to carry with them through their lives. Reflecting on the eclipse, I am not filled with dread of catastrophic events to come. Instead, I am given a new respect for my place in the unfolding of God’s creation, the universe, and its grandeur. Pictures, videos, or NASA animations could not capture this grandeur. You just had to be there. I pray for this sense of grandeur to be a light guiding us through our brief yet spectacular lives on this amazing planet. Our existence is undoubtedly a Divine gift. L’shalom, |
Cantorial Notes
May 2024
And if, when it is all over, I’m asked what I did with my life, I want to be able to say “I offered love.” Terri St. Cloud If there is anything my dad did and did well, he offered love. He was a good hearted person and a great role model. My father gave tzedakah to those in need. He wanted to help make other people’s lives better. He would also do that with a helping hand, a good joke, with just his smile, and with his generosity to those who needed it. The Torah teaches us to feed the poor, clothe the naked, take care of the widow and the orphan, and to give tzedakah, and not to treat anyone in a way that we would not want to be treated. I think my dad did a great job following those teachings. He was a mensch and my family and I were really blessed. Many of you know that it is not easy to lose a parent or someone you love. When it happens, it’s hard to think about the next thing you need to do and sometimes you feel like your brain has become a giant cotton ball. You walk between mourning and life that keeps moving. This community held me and my family up with its love, your love. From the beautiful services to your kind words, stories, cooking, and bringing delicious foods for the meal after the funeral and shiva. All the work that went on in the kitchen to make sure everything went smoothly. Heartfelt gratitude goes out to all of you. Looking out at everyone who came, filled my heart with such love. My Temple Emanu-El family and the extended family of the greater Jewish community helped to ease the pain of loss. I only felt love for my father and those who reached out to comfort me and my family. We will forever be grateful for your outpouring of love and caring. We are so blessed to have all of you in our lives. With much love, Hazzan Sherry
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Presidential Message
May 2024
Yesterday, at our Temple’s April Writers Circle, our group discussed how poetry communicates ideas and emotions through the essence of word economy. Lately we have been inspired to each write a poem based on the same writing prompt. We found it remarkable that we each reflected and presented such unique perspectives on the same concept. That is the beauty of writing as art. We are grateful to have formed this connection over our shared interest in writing. We also talked about how we appreciate how Rabbi Marc not only recites poetry with appropriate pacing and impactful intensity at Shabbat and other occasions, but also the fact that he always chooses just the right reading for the occasion. That demonstrates the richness of our Temple’s form of spiritual and prayer practice. There is room for art and music. We allow ideas and the history of the Jewish people to float around our minds, hearts, and souls. This month, it’s time to recognize significant contributors to our Temple life. Please join us at the last Share Shabbat service on Friday, May 3 when we recognize all of our dedicated religious school director Lisa Marcus, her assistant director Amy Orce, all of our educators and school staff. The following week on May 10, please attend Shabbat so we can celebrate the recipients of this year’s Howard Ilson Memorial Temple Emanu-El Distinguished Service Award: Erica and Rich McCaffrey and Jennifer and Scott Zettler. There are many worker bees in our community who quietly do so much behind the scenes and we are so grateful to all of them for all of their help. Thank you to all of you. On a more serious note, please plan on joining Rich McCaffrey and the Security Committee on Sunday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. for an important presentation about security. It will include the viewing of a documentary about the Tree of Life Synagogue tragedy and we will discuss lessons learned. Thank you to Brotherhood for providing refreshments. Please schedule your portrait for the 65th Anniversary Temple Directory. Many thanks to Sue Fornara, Brian Alpert and the Directory Committee organizing this valuable publication that will help us all recognize each other and network better. Check out the additional dates, schedule your session and consider placing a celebratory ad. Please SAVE THE DATE for June 2, when we’ll be having our Deli Day event featuring Jewish Storyteller Anna Sobel, yummy pastrami and corned beef sandwiches from Rein’s Deli, and a delicious array of Jewish festival foods! It has been a whirlwind lately, as we fast approach the conclusion of our religious school calendar this month and our Temple’s fiscal year in June. Our Board of Trustees has been busy preparing the Annual Report we will soon share with the congregationa. We will look back on all that we have accomplished this year and look forward to continuing important work. See you at our Spring festivities,
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