Beth El

Rabbi Ruberg's Latest Monthly Message

Rabbi Tendler's Latest Monthly Message

Thank You for a Twenty Year Relationship

by Rabbi Arthur Ruberg

Rosh Hashanah marks for me the completion of twenty full years as the rabbi of Beth El. In 1988, Rosh Hashanah came “early,” just after Labor Day. The Sunday of Labor Day, my sermons still unfinished, I did what I was advised would be the best way to meet most of my new congregants. I went to the beach and “hung out” for a while. Off we went – Miriam and I, holding the hands of our four-year-old daughter and six-year-old son, to the edge of the beach at 81st Street. Each time I was introduced to a congregant, one or the other child would tug at my hand and drag me away. I remember thinking on that late summer day – “they must all be wondering how a man who can’t control his own children can handle a congregation that has had eight rabbis in twenty years.” But although I had officiated at several Shabbat services before that day, it was that afternoon on 81st Street that confirmed what I had been told about this community – that the people were friendly and welcoming, proud of their synagogue and its history, proud of their faith, and willing to be led by its rabbis.

Twenty years later, I still believe that to be true. My family and the Beth El family have become one and the same. We have shared so much since then. I celebrated two B’nai Mitzvah of my own on the Beth El bimah, as well as those of literally hundreds of “adopted” children. Some of those members I met at the beach that day are no longer with us in the land of the living, and I miss them deeply. The children born that summer by now have stood with me at Bar Mitzvah, at Confirmation, and are well into college. The B’nai Mitzvah during my first years at Beth El have become parents whose young children are almost ready for Sunday School. And some of the young adults I married back then are now leaders of our synagogue.

I am thinking of many of the sub-groups within the synagogue as I approach my twenty-first High Holy Days here. But I want to single out one special group – the men and women of this congregation who were adult members in 1988, and are still here at Beth El today. I salute you. Many of you stayed with our shul during the years of rabbinic and leadership change in the decades prior. And while the world and the Jewish world have changed significantly during these last twenty years, you have remained part of the core of this, the oldest Conservative synagogue in this area, one which has stayed alive and vibrant in a demographically changing Jewish community. All in all, there are just over 200 families or member units who were here twenty years ago who will be sitting in our pews on September 29. I hope to call most, if not all of you on the phone during the days before Rosh Hashanah to say thank you for your continued membership and involvement.

Looking back, Pam Gladstone, our superb Executive Director, was still just an active congregant and Shabbat attendee twenty years ago while not yet professionally engaged at Beth El. Cantor Jacob Tessler was my very talented partner on the bimah when I came, and then for many subsequent years.

In the past year, I believe that we at Beth El have all been energized and blessed by our new religious leadership team of Rabbi Susie Tendler and Cantor Gordon Piltch. Together with the 200+ original congregants, and the many who have joined since then, I look forward to preserving and growing not only the synagogue’s membership, but our opportunities for Jewish learning and living.

Some of you have quoted to me my very first Rosh Hashanah sermon. In it, quoted such unusual sources as my Tante Sura, my Uncle Berl and Grover from Sesame Street. The sermon ended with the well-known words from the Torah service – “Chadesh yamenu Kekedem” (renew our days as of old). Conservative Judaism is about combining the old with the new, our traditional system of Torah and mitzvot with modern applications and methods. I still believe that this congregation’s mission is to combine the best of our tradition with the opportunity for change when needed. But this year, I also want to say Shehechiyanu – a thank you to God and to you who have allowed me to guide you and be part of your lives these past twenty years.

Miriam and I, along with my now grown “almost rabbi” Jeremy, and my working woman Adina, look forward to greeting you on Rosh Hashanah with the traditional wish: “L’Shana Tova Tikatevu,” may you all be inscribed for a special, wonderful and sweet Jewish year, 5769.

To reach Rabbi Ruberg by email, write to RabbiAR@bethelnorfolk.com.

Shanah tova u’metukah!

by Rabbi Susan Tendler

This past week I spent in beautiful, green Burlington, Vermont at the CAJE (Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education) conference. Although I had been to Burlington once as a child, all I could remember was Lake Champlain and the home of Ben & Jerry’s. I was truly struck by the beauty of the town--both its natural beauty and the beauty of its commitment to action.

The city and particularly the university are green! Not only are there beautiful mountains looming over the lake and grassy areas lining the streets but recycling was everywhere. Even in the hotel. But it goes farther than that; much deeper than separating trash and recycling. At lunch I went to throw away my banana peel and found 3 choices in front of me: trash, recycle, compost! Where on earth does one have those 3 choices readily available? Then in the student center I went to discard something and found another 3 disposal options to choose from: batteries, cartridges, and I believe the third was CDs! Where was I and how did this come to be? It seems so simple and yet I have never had so many readily available options for my “trash”.

The issue of trash and waste extends beyond the surface of my skin… reaches my core… questions I often ponder and struggle with, and in this I believe that I am not alone. I often get bogged down in the feeling that as one small person in this world and in history I am quite inconsequential. On the other hand, I believe wholeheartedly that each of us can make a tremendous difference in the lives of others and in the world. More so, as human beings, as Jews, and as partners with God, we should always strive to do so.

At CAJE I met Dr. Ron Wolfson, who I know was a scholar-in-residence here at Beth El and whose work has greatly impacted my own work. In his newest book, God’s To-Do List: 103 Ways to Be an Angel and Do God’s Work on Earth, he reminds the reader of an old Jewish tradition of keeping two slips of paper, one in each pocket. The first reads: I am but dust and ashes, quoting Genesis 18:27 and on the other is written: For my sake (alone) the world was created (Sanhedrin 37a). The point is that at all times we should seek to maintain a balance between humility and pride, mundane and holy, insignificant and significant. When we are on top of the world feeling invincible, reaching into our pockets, whether metaphorically or actually doing so, can remind us that we are human beings with limited time on earth. On the other hand, when we face what seems like an insurmountable obstacle or can hardly make it out of bed, we are reminded that we are indeed important, special, holy, and have a great purpose here in this world. Each of us matters, and our existence leaves an imprint on this world.

This takes me back to where I started. Sometimes the idea of our lives, our behavior, mattering seems overwhelming. How can we use our God-given gifts for good, to leave the world a better place than the way we found it? We have ample opportunities but often, I concluded, we take the easier way out. Yes, there are times that I will gather all of my recycling and take it home with me to responsibly deposit it in my bin at home, but at other times I cannot be bothered to lug my waste around; and on the other hand, something as mindless as throwing out batteries seems like a cardinal sin to me. I will carry and collect batteries until the ends of the earth to dispose of them responsibly (and for those of you who are not aware of the toxins left behind from batteries, please take a moment to do a web search and bring your used batteries to my new receptacle at the synagogue or to the Green Store on Colonial Ave).

Now why on earth would I be focusing on recycling and such now? Because as I met Ron Wolfson and begin to read his book, I am struck by the timeliness of such matters, and wonder, as my professor at UVA, Julian Bond, would often ask: coincidence? I think not! We are coming upon Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of the new year. Each year at this time Jews commit to looking inside ourselves, examining, and evaluating our own behavior. We think about those we have wronged and how we are going to be better individuals next year as well as better Jews and better partners with God.

We talk about doing teshuvah, returning to a holier path, but in reality it seems so hard to make any real change; and even if we start out on our path, old habits die hard and we often lose sight of our commitments. How many times have you committed to a certain behavior and then in a given moment been able to justify reverting back to old habits or taking an easier path. Or just the opposite, to know that we should make an effort to be more welcoming, to go out of our way a little more for others, but that day we don’t feel quite right or are a little lazy--tomorrow, we say, we will make up for it! In a split second, actively choosing to keep your resolution can seem negligible and that no one else will know. I know I am guilty of this, haven’t we all been? But here we are on the eve of another new year with resolutions to be made and hopefully kept this year. Rather than overwhelming yourself with drastic ideals, pick one or two changes to commit yourself to. Rather than an all or nothing approach, resolve to improve and do or not do more often. Give yourself standards and time frames to measure up to, and give yourself reminders that although you are but dust and ashes, for your sake (alone) the world was created!

On this note, while writing this I am committing to upscale the recycling here at Beth El; please contact me if you would like to help with this endeavor!

May this holiday season be fulfilling and life changing for you and your family. May it inspire you to reach the heavens and make the earth a healthier and more peaceful place for all!

Y’he sh’lama rabba min sh’mayyav’chayyim tovim aleinu v’al kol yisra’el. Let there be abundant peace from heaven and good life for us and for all of Israel. Amen

Shanah tova u’metukah! Wishing you a sweet and happy year!

To reach Rabbi Tendler by email, write to RabbiTendler@bethelnorfolk.com.