What is Hanukkah? By Rabbi Jessica Oleon

Hanukkah* is right around the corner and I had a great time with the Confirmation class this week trying to unpack the “real” story behind the holiday.  Is it the Talmud’s version, “Mai Hanukkah?/Why Dedication?”, which is the first time we find the story of a miraculous single cruse of oil that keeps the Temple’s menorah lit for 8 days, or the version found in the Books of Maccabees and corroborated by Josephus about a brave band of guerillas fighting for their religion and their lives against a tyrannical king?  Is Hanukkah a celebration of the victory of religious extremists over assimilationists or a remembrance of the enduring power of hope and faith against great odds?  Or maybe just (and this is no small thing) a chance to gather with the people we love and create light in the midst of darkness.  I wish you could have seen our 10^th graders wrestle with these questions, and the story of Rabbi Hugo Gryn, who wrote about the hanukkiah his father made out of his margarine ration in a Nazi labor camp.  They were a sight to behold—another generation wrestling with our tradition and what it means to each of them to be a Jew.  And I’ll ascribe to their conclusion, at least for this year, that Hanukkah is all of these stories, all of these miracles.  And that’s part of what makes it worth celebrating year after year.

For Hanukkah fun (because I can’t resist the creativity), here are two more ways to think about lighting your lights this year:

From our own Aviva Goldfarb:  http://www.pbs.org/parents/kitchenexplorers/2012/12/04/edible-menorahs/

And from the geniuses at the Haifa Technion:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We-KRSy64r4

Enjoy and Chag Sameach!

 *Yes, I prefer one “h” and two “k”s in my Hanukkah.  But I also love curry sweet potato latkes that make my house smell like a South Asian take-out joint for weeks, so I accept that I might have minority tastes here.

From Julie

Our tour guide on last summer's Israel trip sent me a note during the recent Gaza conflict:

Shalom Rabbi Roos, Elizabeth and the Temple Sinai Nine,

I was delighted to find your message in my in-box today and to know that we're in your thoughts and prayers.  It has indeed been an extremely unpleasant eight days, even in Jerusalem, where life has continued as usual (with the exception of two rocket attacks that had everyone cursing and improvising protected spaces - my husband and I dove into our laundry room,
which has no windows).

As you may remember, both of our daughters are medics in a search and rescue unit in the Home Front Command.  Since they have been training for over two years to rescue people from collapsed buildings, naturally their units were moved into the areas targeted by rockets and put on alert.  Happily, they had very little to do.  Stav's team was rushed to an apartment building in Ashdod that took a direct hit, which as it turned out was in the parking lot adjacent to the building.  She had to race up nine floors, knock on the door of each apartment and make sure everyone was OK.  Luckily, no one was hurt,
but a few people were hysterical.  "What did you do?"  I asked her.  "We sit with them, give them a drink of water, calm them down and make sure someone stays with them."

Shaked had no action at all.  For the past few days her unit was stationed in an elementary school in Ofakim.  At night they slept on the kids' desks. During the day they tried to nap but kept being wakened by the school bell, which no one could figure out how to turn off.  She came home Tuesday night to get some clean underwear but not in the least big hungry.  The good citizens of Ofakim had been bringing over generous quantities of food to the school for the soldiers (she took a picture of the tables where it was all piled up - it truly was enough for an army!)

The reason why our girls and their units had so little to do was the phenomenal success of the Iron Dome missile interception system, employed for the first time during this operation (we like to call it 'steel yarmulke').  With an 85% success rate, very few rockets fired by Hamas were able to reach their targets in Israeli residential areas.  It has, in this short time, become a game changer.  Although the lives of the residents of Israel's south were severely disrupted, the fact that the casualties and
damage were so limited meant that the army didn't have to rush the ground forces in Gaza to stop the firing and that Hamas' power was fabulously emasculated.  This also means that the Israeli home front will no longer be vulnerable in the same measure to rockets fired by Hizbollah, Iran or any other hostile entity.

What's important for you to know is that the development of Iron Dome was accomplished, in part, thanks to a generous allocation of funds from President Barack Obama in the name of the American people.  As I see it, through this assistance each and every one of you has contributed to the strength of Israel and the Jewish people.

What else can you do?  Get President Obama to remain intensively engaged in the region.  The moderate Palestinians are backstage somewhere and they need to be brought forward, encouraged and strengthened.  In all probability, Prime Minister Netanyahu will be reelected this January.  The Americans must wield not only carrots, but sticks too, in order to jump start the peace process.  Some stones have been left unturned and Netanyahu's government has intentionally stalled any possible progress for four years.  Hopefully, he will now realize how important it is to present the Palestinians with an alternative to Hamas but he will need serious prodding.  Tell Obama not to let up on him.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.  May we go from strength to strength!

Julie 

Rabbi Asch on Standing With Israel

As I have been following the news from Israel this past week and a half, I have felt many emotions: sadness, anger, worry. It’s not surprising that Israel is in the forefront of our minds in times like these. When we see pictures on the front page of the paper and hear the news on our radios, we can’t help but follow the events as they unfold.  However, to me, part of standing with Israel is remembering that there is more to Israel than this latest conflict.

While it might not always be at the forefront of my mind, the Israel I picture isn’t the one I see on the front pages. For me, Israel is much, much more. I think of the “cheese ladies” in the local grocery store who took interest in me and my roommate, chatting with us about how we liked living in Israel and encouraging us to by the feta with 65% fat, which was much better than that with only 33% fat. I think of my landlord’s daughter, who came all the way across town to deliver a homemade cake my first Shabbat in the apartment because the family wanted to welcome me to Israel. I think of the quiet that crept over the Jerusalem streets as the sun set on Friday and how everyone, religious or not, would wish each other Shabbat shalom. I think of the man who gave my roommate a ride home from the furniture store and then insisted she and I come to Shabbat dinner since we were new to the city. I think of the delicious the apples and honey flavored Yoplait sold in the grocery stores for Rosh Hashanah and of spotting a sukkah on every little balcony and in every courtyard on Sukkot. These are what I think of when I think of Israel.

So, as we stand with Israel during this conflict, I encourage you to think of the Israel that isn’t in the news; the one that isn’t always at the forefront of our minds. There is a whole country there, all year long, that never makes headlines. 

Cantor Croen on Standing With Israel

My heart today is with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton as she arrives in Jerusalem.  I pray for her to have the wisdom, strength and presence of mind to effectively support the leaders in this crisis.  May she find a way to help them agree to a cease fire which could lead to real negotiations for peace.  During this “shuttle diplomacy” starting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, then meeting with Palestinian leaders and finally with Egyptian officials, may Secretary Clinton help these diverse leaders find language they can each agree to and understand in order to avert continued escalation of the very tense and explosive situation that currently envelops Gaza and Israel.

May Secretary Clinton’s presence in the Middle East become a successful conduit for a real path towards peace.

Rabbi Portnoy on Standing With Israel

My son in Tel Aviv has been targeted by missiles this week, so it's hard to be objective. Nor am I ever really objective about Israel. Ever since my first year of study there (1971-1972), and certainly after my dear friend, Shmuel Levi, was killed on the Golan in the 1973 Yom Kippur war, it's been very personal. I am very protective of the homeland of the Jewish people, and I resist all attempts to deligitimize the right of Jews to live there in peace and security.

But I don't live there, even though a piece of my heart always has, and now a member of my family actually does. I never make political pronouncements about what Israel should or shouldn't do, whether governed by Labor or Likud. I do not directly live with the consequences, and therefore I do not decide on the details. I am often equally aggravated by the self-righteousness of American Jews on the right and the left who know what needs to be done, and when and by whom. And then they return to the comforts of their homes in Chevy Chase or elsewhere, and complain that they haven't been listened to.

So I've been watching the news obsessively (mostly in Hebrew), and hoping that the news will get better, although I'm unsure what "good news" would be. No peace is simple (as much as we yearn for it), and every political decision has consequences. I am grateful for the "Kippat HaBarzel" ("the Iron Dome", Israel's anti-missile defense system, more literally translated as the "Iron Kippah") and our American government's support of it. I do not envy Israel's political leaders for the decisions they have to make.

According to polls, 90% of Israeli citizens support the current action in Gaza. Many fewer support a ground expansion of the "Mivtza Amud Anan" (which, by the way, does not mean "Pillar of Defense", but rather "Pillar of cloud", referring to the presence of God during the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus). I am with them, but they will be the ones who decide.

So, as our tradition teaches us, pray for the peace of Jerusalem....and Tel Aviv...and Sderot...and Ofakim...and Ashdod....and....all the inhabitants of the land.

Rabbi Mindy Avra Portnoy

Rabbi Roos on Standing with Israel

Sinai members are concerned about Israel, escalating violence in the Middle East and its implications for everyone in the region. Many have asked questions and sought a way to express their feelings through the temple community. Most are simply confused or unable to express exactly what's on their mind. It's complicated.

I want you to know a few things about Sinai standing with Israel. These are my views but I believe they represent the general perspective of our temple. I believe that a Jewish homeland in the place of our biblical ancestors is a fundamental principle of Jewish religion and culture. I embrace and support the State of Israel as that Jewish homeland. I believe in peace and the safety of all people. I also believe in the right to self defense and recognize that Israel's military operation in Gaza was only launched in response to hundreds of rockets sent against innocent Israeli citizens over a period of many months. While I believe that the Israeli action against Hamas in Gaza is justified, I will not celebrate it or think it is anything other than tragic. Over the next days or weeks, I will write more about the ongoing operation and what it means for us to stand with Israel. Other members of the clergy will also voice their opinions, which may differ from mine. We invite your input and feedback along with your questions.

In the meantime, here are some internet sources for those who seek more information:

Three leading English language Israeli newspaper websites:
www.haaretz.com
www.jpost.com
www.ynetnews.com

You can follow the Twitter feed of the Israeli Defense Forces @IDFSpokesperson

You can check out Al-Jazeera's English language page for a perspective from the Arab world:
www.aljazeeraenglish.com

Inclusion Lifts Sinai

Lisa Greenman, co-chair of Sinai's Access & Inclusion Committee, writes:

There have been so many developments since our June meeting that Ann and I would like to update you now for fear of losing track.  There is no particular order to this list. 

·         Representatives of the Access & Inclusion Committee met by phone with Temple Sinai’s JSSA (Jewish Social Services Agency) synagogue liaison.  JSSA is going to launch a new initiative to promote and support synagogue access and inclusion and will also seek to play a significant role in the destigmatization of mental illness in the Jewish community.

·         At our June 12 meeting we discussed the “roadmap” document, which outlines goals and objectives for the coming year and beyond.  But at the same time – who has time to wait when it’s clear what should be done?  - we have already begun implementing some of the objectives.  The draft document has been improved by many suggestions.  The very enthusiastic response it has received has been so encouraging and gratifying.  We hope to have the document finalized by the end of August – but again, we are moving forward already with many of the ideas contained in it.  Ellen Agler, incidentally, has been extraordinarily active on the issues this committee is concerned about.   

·         Ann Sloane and I have had a great meeting with the new Director of Congregational Learning, Cantor Rebecca Robins.  Not surpisingly, Rebecca is very sensitized to issues related to disability, special needs and inclusion and is very enthusiastic about working together with this committee.  Even before our meeting, she had already begun reaching out to religious school families that have self-identified as having special education needs.  We had a great discussion with Rebecca and we look forward to working with her. 

·         Ellen Agler has added information about accommodations for those with disabilities in a letter that will go out to congregants in August.  It will say something along these lines: Accessibility for Members with Disabilities and Special Needs Temple Sinai welcomes adults and children with disabilities and special needs, and makes accommodations so that access to our Services and programs goes smoothly.  If you need a ride to services or a temple program, special parking or seating arrangements,  to discuss special learning issues or other individual needs,  please contact the temple office at 202-363-6394 so we can help reduce or eliminate barriers to your participation. In addition, there will be language added to the membership application.  There will also be information about accommodations placed in a prominent location on the Temple Sinai website, which is presently being redesigned. 

·         Ann Ingram and Marilyn Brown attended a WIN-sponsored meeting on disability issues at Blessed Sacrament.  WIN is planning to launch a disability rights advocacy campaign and Temple Sinai members are encouraged to participate.  Robin Shaffert is taking a leading role in this in connection with the Temple Sinai Social Action Committee.

·         Jinny and Bob Stern volunteered to participate in a task force that is looking at non-construction options for improving parking at Temple Sinai. 

·         Ann Sloane and I have reached out to the Building Committee to ask that in the short-term a ramp to the lower door by the elevator be created.  We understand that longer-term, larger scale approaches are being explored, but in the meantime we feel this is a need that cannot wait. 

·         Following discussion at our June meeting, Ann Ingram reached out to Ellen Leibenluft, past co-chair of the Ritual Committee and a new member of the Board of Trustees, to see if she would talk with our committee about issues relating to mental illness, destigmatization and inclusion in our community.  Dr. Leibenluft, who is a psychiatrist, has agreed to talk with us about how we might approach these issues. 

·         We have submitted material for the Temple Sinai Yearbook, which is distributed during the High Holiday services.  They include an announcement of the Shabbat service honoring Jewish Disability Awareness Month, which will take place on Friday, February 8, 2013.