January 30, 2009

By Rabbi Robert H. Loewy

In the 1980’s I regularly attended meetings of our Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Committee. We tackled a number of significant issues:  Soviet Jewry, Anti-Semitism, abortion law, David Duke and more. But there was always one participant, Myron Katz, who was talking about the environment. We politely listened and then discussed the real issues. I had moved on from that issue by attending Earth Day at College, or so I thought.

It is not polite to speak badly of a classmate and colleague, but I have to tell you, I always considered Rabbi Warren Stone a bit of a nut. If he was not a “nut,” then he was a fanatic. Now I understand; he was a visionary. He was talking about the environment, ecology, energy preservation, and resource management, long before these topics were chic. To his credit, he has led his congregation, Temple Emanuel in Kensington, MD to be at the forefront of environmental activism and awareness. Even their web site is green ink! Through their programs and as they built their building, they did so with the environment in mind. As a result they have won numerous awards, including:

• Caring for Creation Award of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment
• “Green Menorah” Environmental Award
• EPA Energy Star Congregation
• National awards for Solar, Wind and Environmental Policies

They have also been featured on the Today Show after they rebuilt their synagogue making their sanctuary all natural with wood and other products, so that you feel as if you are in a tropical rain forest. Their Ner Tamid is powered by solar energy.

We can learn from Temple Emanuel by what they have already done and policies they have established. This includes: using thermostats more wisely and judiciously, dispensing fluorescent light bulbs to congregants, having a bike rack available for those who choose an alternative form of transportation to come to synaggoue, using flatware and biodegradable paper plates for Oneg Shabbatot, creating lessons for the religious school about the environment and our Jewish responsibilities, as well as programs for all the congregation. In addition, the Board of the synagogue has established a number of policies so that this is more than just changing light bulbs:

1. Schedule an updated energy audit of the Temple’s facilities, seek regular audits every five years, and implement further energy conservation recommendations where feasible.
2. Develop and implement a comprehensive landscaping plan for the Temple that takes advantage of native plant materials, avoids harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides, conserves water, and provides aesthetic and environmental benefits.
3. Complete and maintain a small biblically-inspired garden on the Temple grounds, and develop an educational experience relating the plantings to major Jewish holidays. Use native plants as substitutes wherever possible.
4. Work with the various Jewish and interfaith organizations to promote environmental stewardship at the local, regional, and national levels.
5. Review and evaluate Temple recycling programs and improve/expand recycling where feasible, including the use of high recycled content paper in the Temple Offices and Religious School.
6. Inventory and evaluate the cleaning products being used by the Temple, eliminate toxic cleaners, and substitute environmentally-friendly products where practical.
7. Explore the possibility of using “greening” strategies in the selection of food and the disposal of waste.
8. Working with the Rabbi and their Green Committee, to promote environmental awareness and education for all Temple members by:
1. Conducting an annual Shabbat service with an environmental theme, and a Tu B’Shevat service with a focus on environmental appreciation and healthful foods.
2. Arranging periodic service-related environmental readings at Shabbat services.
3. Providing environmental study opportunities through adult education courses, coffeehouse programs, book reviews, speakers, etc.
4. Incorporating the Jewish dimension of environmental stewardship into the religious school curricula, including lectures, field trips, readings, discussion, etc.
5. Conducting a periodic workshop on Judaism and the environment for religious school teachers.
6. Promoting carpooling and other transportation alternatives that improve air quality and reduce congestion and parking problems.
7. Working with the Rabbi and the Social Justice Task Force, to pursue opportunities for environmental advocacy.

Of course we need to ask ourselves, what is the Jewish angle on environmentalism? All of this falls under the category of what we call Tikun Olam, repairing our world. I am not going to go into the debate over global warming and shrinkage of the ozone layer. I will not pretend to understand the science involved, though many others do.

There are more obvious concerns to address: depletion of natural resources, dependence upon fossil fuels, chemicals which are hurting our environment, landfills that are overflowing, the so-called carbon imprint that each of us makes on the world around us and I could go on.

There is also an ongoing theme in Jewish tradition that starts with the Book of Genesis (2:15). When God teaches us that we have the earth to “till and tend it,” the rabbis then teach that God said to Adam: “Look at My works, how beautiful and praiseworthy they are! Everything that I created, I created for you. Take care that you do not damage and destroy My world, for if you damage it, there is no one to repair it afterwards.” (Midrash Kohelet Rabbah 7) Clearly caring for the world around us is a Jewish concern.

I’m pleased to say that our Gates of Green Committee, under the enthusiastic leadership of Susan Levin, who is out of town tonight or otherwise she would be with us, has begun moving our congregation in a similar direction. Many of the old adages still apply: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Specifically, we have ceased using Styrofoam cups, which most contend is non-biodegradable and instead we are using the ceramic cups leftover from last year’s gala, which have been sitting in boxes and gathering dust. Newspaper recycling is available by depositing newspapers only in the container in our parking lot. We are also being much more conscious of the kinds of plates, plastics and papers that we have in the building and when we choose to use them. This past summer we held an evening of Environmental awareness and the relation between God and God’s creation is part of our religious school curriculum. You will also note that in each monthly bulletin, there will be a helpful “green” hint.

I am looking forward to beginning recycling of paper, plastic and glass through the services of Phoenix Recycling. This will include all the junk mail, magazines, letters and envelopes that I regularly trash. We will have special receptacles throughout the building. It will cost us initially to retain the service, but there is the possibility that by reducing our waste, it will result in a lower cost for garbage removal. The goal however is Tikun Olam. Thus, if it costs a little more, so be it. Sadly, this recycling is only for what happens in the building. You cannot bring your paper, cans and plastics here.

Many of the items that Temple Emanuel is doing will be on our agenda for consideration. This includes an audit sub-committee, which will be working with our Temple Administrator Louis Geiger to evaluate energy consumption and product utilization throughout the building. If it is feasible, I would love to see us explore the possibility of solar energy to augment what we consume from Entergy. In all future projects, we will take into account the environmental impact of our actions. How about a bike rack?

This is just the beginning of what we will be doing at 4000 West Esplanade Ave., but what about in our homes? If you have not already replaced your old light bulbs with the new energy savers, by all means do so. The higher cost of the bulb is made up quickly with the amount of energy that you save.

We can lobby for the Parish to restart recycling, but in the meantime Phoenix recycling can come to your home every two weeks. It has truly bothered me to not be recycling since Katrina. I have felt guilty. $15 a month is a low price to assuage that guilt. I have also personally been conscious of my water consumption in the morning, when I brush my teeth and when I shave. The faucet really does not need to be running the whole time. You just have to adopt a different pattern. Let us be more conscious of how we use our cars and not allow the lower price of gasoline to blind us to the reality. We can walk more often or ride bikes. I know oil helps to fuel the Louisiana economy, but at least let us wean ourselves from dependence on foreign oil. Disconnect items like phone chargers from the wall when you are not using them; they are consuming energy for no purpose. Our parents were right all along; turn off the lights when you do not need them. Contrary to the myth, turning them back on does not require more energy, though I believe that it did have an impact on the filament of the old style of bulbs. As we purchase our next car or new appliances, let energy efficiency be one of the variables we consider. There are thousands of possibilities. It is simply a matter of educating ourselves and establishing a mindset that says, “I care about the world around me and I need to do my part to repair it.”

There is a classic Jewish folktale of two people fighting over a piece of land. Each claimed ownership. Finally they brought the dispute to the learned rabbi, who sat and listened, but could not render an opinion. Finally the rabbi said, “Since I cannot decide to whom the land belongs, let’s ask the land.” The rabbi put an ear to the ground, and after a moment stood up. “My friends, the land said it belongs to neither of you- but that you belong to it.”

And so, as we tackle this overwhelming subject, let us play our role in repairing the world. This is not an all or nothing proposition. Rather we should do as much as we can within reason. We are only limited by our creativity and commitment. For our rabbis teach, “It is not up to us to complete the whole task, but neither are we free to desist from fulfilling our share.”

AMEN

December 19, 2008

By Rabbi Robert H. Loewy

Michael Milken, Jack Abramoff, Ivan Boesky, Meyer Lansky and now we have Bernard Madoff to add to the Jewish Financial Hall of Shame. Historically we Jews have prided ourselves on financial acumen and success. Many of the prominent investment houses of 20^th century America bore Jewish names. I believe that we can still be proud. Note how many in the Obama financial team marshaled to respond to the current fiscal crisis are Jewish. These are honorable men and women, who will be striving to do what is right. Then along comes Bernard Madoff, once Chair of NASDAQ, now a name of pain and embarrassment.

How does $50 billion dollars disappear overnight? It doesn’t. Over decades one man has been conning thousands. At this time it is not clear who else was involved. “Bernie,” to those who knew him, was the kind of person people trusted. He was interconnected with an economic strata of America, especially Jewish America, that provided him with unprecedented opportunity. Through word of mouth and friendship networks he was entrusted with enormous sums of money. I know that many of us who are ignorant of finance turn to “experts,” people whom we trust will not steer us astray. That trust was what was so horribly violated.

What did Madoff do? As I understand it, he simply accepted money from individuals and institutions for investment and over time instead of investing, he provided them a return on their dollars by giving other people’s money, a so called Ponzi scheme. I am sure it is much more complicated than that, but the bottom line is that the money they gave him, that they invested for security, safe keeping and future support, is now gone. Perhaps some of it is in secret accounts around the world or spent by Madoff and some can be recovered. But it certainly is not invested or earning interest.

Of particular concern to us as a Jewish community is the estimated $1 billion impact upon the Jewish philanthropic world of which we are rightly proud. His major investors list reads like a who’s who of Jewish institutional and charitable agencies, family funds and numerous prominent Jewish individuals: Yeshiva University- perhaps as much as $100 million in endowment, Steven Spielberg’s Wunderkinder Foundation, Elie Wiesel’s foundation, Hadassah, a Massachusetts Foundation that gave funds for teen Israel trips- now closed, a California fund to assist at risk youth in Israel- closed; 30 million from philanthropist Mort Zuckerman who is involved in cancer care, education, scholarship, food for the poor; The Shapiro Foundation in Boston, which donated $25,000 to us after Katrina lost $145 million; numerous Jewish Federations (Los Angeles Federation $6.4 million, Washington DC- $10 million of endowment lost); along with many individuals who entrusted life savings and retirement to this man.

We are really just beginning to ascertain who has been hurt by this crime. The immediate reality is that programs are being cut, people are losing jobs and there will be a similar ripple effect over the next year as budgets, already stressed by recession, will be decreased.

How can we respond to this moment, other than with shock and disgust? We realize that this is the anti-Semite’s delight. It confirms all their negative stereotypes of cheap Jews, who will cheat their own mother. Of course it ignores all the philanthropy and good that is now lost and is the dominant theme of our community.

We feel great sadness, for this is what we call in Jewish tradition, a “Chilul Hashem- profaning the name of God.” We are proud of communal accomplishments and positive contributions to our world. On Yom Kippur we recite our sins as a community and so when something like this happens, we feel shame as a community, even if we had nothing to do with it. We who are a God intoxicated and God guided people profane God’s name when one of ours does wrong. Judaism provides numerous teachings on thievery, business ethics, caring for the poor, and being responsible with others’ possessions. Madoff’s actions are anything but in keeping with Jewish tradition.

Appropriately we demand “Din- justice.” Bernard Madoff and any others involved should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and stripped bare of any funds, so they can make up for their sin. Justice also involves determining how the SEC or other supervising agencies failed to safeguard the public and ensure it does not happen again.

Next arises a call for “rachamim- compassion” for the many hurt by this crime. People are suffering and fearful. We can certainly empathize with them. Rabbi Brad Hirschfield of CLAL surprisingly advocates compassion even for Madoff, who he believes was initially helping people with profits. His theory is that when profits decreased, out of shame and arrogance that the all-powerful financial genius could not continue with success, he devised his scheme. My inclination is that Hirschfield is being way too generous of spirit. I’m guessing greed may have been a more powerful impetus for his actions. Regardless of his motivation, compassion may lead to understanding, but not forgiveness.

If this was a member of our immediate family and I have been involved in something similar on a vastly smaller scale, we would try and help. And so aside from anger, incredulity and embarrassment, I suggest that another response for us as individuals and as a community is to step up and fill the philanthropic lacunae that have now been created. There are enormous holes in the Jewish communal network of needs. We did not cause it, but the needs do not go away. We are not billionaires, but whatever we can do, we should. Many have already begun to respond in this way. Of course this could not come at a worse time in our economy. “Chaval- Too bad!” We do not have the option of choosing when crises will arise, but we do have the choice on how we will respond. We are a people who confront adversity with creativity. Let Bernie Madoff’s crimes and shame be transformed into something positive, turning our communal shame into pride.

AMEN

April 17, 2009

By Rabbi Robert H. Loewy

         It’s all Tory’s fault. She is the one who pushed me into the Facebook age, utilizing the computer to have ongoing dialogue with all sorts of people, with many others aware of your conversation. Her argument was that this would be an additional way to connect with members of the congregation. And she has been correct.

However, like many of you, Facebook has reconnected me with friends and acquaintances from across America. This includes Warren and Tony, two guys who were on my freshman college dormitory floor in 1968, with whom I had no contact or to be honest even thought about in 40 years. The timing was appropriate as my daughter Sara is about to graduate from college and my last child, Mica, will begin her freshman year in August.

Perhaps it is also appropriate to be talking about my college years on this Shabbat, where we read the commandment for the Priesthood prohibiting the drinking of wine or any other intoxicant. I’ll send that rule with Mica as she goes to Georgia.

My college years came at a particularly tumultuous time in our nation’s history. United States forces were enmeshed in what was by then an unpopular Vietnam War. Campus riots had broken out at Columbia and other universities across America as the children of privilege identified with the disenfranchised of our country. During the Spring of 1968 we experienced first the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King and then a few months later, Robert F. Kennedy. The concept of America as melting pot was itself melting. The civil rights era of cooperation was over as African Americans called for “black power.” Individual groups were advocating for their unique identities- feminists, gay activists, Latinos, Native Americans, Italian Power, Irish power, even Jewish power.

With that as background, I began my freshman year at Cornell University in beautiful Ithaca, NY. I know that everyone thinks that their campus is the most magnificent in America, but I would argue that Cornell could certainly be in anyone’s top ten. Located in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York, the campus is situated between two magnificent gorges atop a large hill overlooking the valley below. Magnificent old tall tress dot the campus. The quads are flanked by ivy covered buildings, hence the name “Ivy League.”

It was in this idyllic setting that I began my college years. Cornell students tended to be pretty bright with a good awareness of the world, but still we were college kids. We were there to learn and have a good time. My freshman floor reflected much of America, mostly white Christians, a number of Jewish students primarily from the New York metropolitan area, one African American student, geographically diverse (I had never heard of Bemidgi, Minnesota), some rich, while others not as rich. We were a campus community like many others.

Then, as I was reminded by my Facebook reconnection, 40 years ago this week- April 19, 1969, black students occupied Willard Straight Hall, the main student union building during Spring Parents’ Weekend. They were protesting racial issues on campus; lack of minority recruitment, irrelevant curriculum, the lack of an African-American studies program and general racist attitudes in the administration and student body. This would not be the first building takeover, nor the last, but it was noteworthy. Upon resolution of the dispute the students emerged with right arms raised in what was then known as a “black power fist,” but holding weapons with the left. That picture spread across America on the cover of many a newspaper and magazines, making the Cornell takeover different for all others.

I remember the weekend distinctly. In my mind, I had been raised precisely for this moment. My hometown of Hempstead, New York on Long Island was not your stereotypical Jewish suburb, in fact the opposite. Though my section of the community was white, primarily Catholic with a few Jews, the central high school was about 80% black. My parents had been leaders in interfaith and interracial relations. I’m not going to say I had a large number of African-American friends, but I certainly had many classmates. I’m sure it will not be a surprise to any of you that my primary social activity revolved around synagogue youth group and my NFTY region, hence what I do to this day. Still, based upon my background and my religious values, I sympathized with the cause of the students who took over the building.

But did it have to be Parents’ Weekend! Of course my parents were there as events unfolded, made more poignant since my father was an alumni. They had arrived on Friday night; the takeover occurred over that evening; we woke up to the news on Saturday morning and followed events all day. Saturday evening we went out for dinner, attended a concert and then they dropped me off at my dorm. Word spread that some of the so-called “jock fraternities” were planning to attack the Straight and evict the demonstrators. (After the fact we learned that weapons were not initially brought in, but were smuggled in when those rumors became known.) I decided to become part of what was referred to as a “defense perimeter,” wimpy white students like myself, who hoped by our mere presence to prevent any kind of an attack. I of course even then had no idea what I would do if I had actually been confronted. Fortunately, the night transpired uneventfully.

I returned to my dorm and the next morning met my parents for breakfast, somewhat dreading the conversation about why I was so tired and my previous night’s activity. I had the feeling they would not be pleased, so I decided a good offense was the best defense. I explained that they had been wonderful parents, instilling within me strong values of rights, fairness and equality. With that as a basis, I felt as though I could not stand idly by. (Yes, even then I threw in Torah terminology.) I am not sure whether it was with admiration or begrudging acceptance, they responded, “well Robert ( at times like this I was “Robert”), you have to do what you think is right. Just be careful.”

As I recall, the takeover ended without incident a day or two after that night. Prior to its conclusion,  I attended a massive rally led by SNCC- the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, along with thousands of others. There was wide-spread support for the African-American students. I stood outside the Straight as the demonstrators emerged, holding my arm up in the air in support of their cause. However, upon seeing the guns, for we did not know they had them until that moment, my arm slowly retracted. I supported their cause, just not the potential for violence.

I still support the cause of race relations in America. 40 years have passed and much good has been accomplished with the most prominent sign of it being the election of Barack Obama as our President. Yet there is still much work to be done, as became apparent during the Presidential campaign. Though the economy and the war in Iraq are taking precedence, it is my fervent hope that the document offered by President Obama during the campaign on race relations will not be forgotten. There is still prejudice and racism prevalent in our society, in our New Orleans community and our Jewish community. We of all people should know that long-held perspectives cannot be eradicated over night, but must be confronted within both the white and black communities. The feelings and results of generations of discrimination, repression, poor education, fractured families, disenfranchisement and poverty do not disappear with the election of a black President. It is a hopeful sign for the future, but our neighbors still bleed and we cannot stand idly by.

And what happened at Cornell? The University now has one of the finest programs in Africana Studies and established the Africana Studies & Research Center. As with all universities in America, the number of black students has increased significantly. Awareness and sensitivity to issues of race continue to be on the community agenda, though beyond the minorities themselves, very few white students take advantage of the various ethnic studies programs, this in spite of the rapidly changing demographics of America. The SNCC leader from that time is now a Professor in California. My African-American dormitory friend recently retired as US Attorney in Brooklyn and has been a strong advocate for civil rights through the law.

On this Shabbat following Passover and upon the 40^th anniversary of the Cornell University takeover, we all still realize that redemption is not yet complete. We must work towards that end.

AMEN

MAY 29, 2009

By Rabbi Robert H. Loewy

            During the Shabbat of Passover, I spoke on the great Jewish meaning of “redemption.” So when faced with the bulletin deadline 6 weeks ago, realizing that this Shabbat fell either right after Shavuot or for the Orthodox/Conservative world on the second day of the holiday, I naturally turned to the Jewish idea of “revelation,” the way God is revealed to us in our lives. Knowing how busy this week would be for me personally, I prepared a few pages of notes on the subject, looked at them and said to myself, this is not where my heart is for this night. Having experienced two graduations in less than a week, I choose to share that perspective of revelation, for in truth, our children are revealers of the Divine.

As I wrote in my monthly bulletin article, one does not need a ceremony to go through a life cycle event. You can experience the birth of a child without a brit, a birthday without a party, even earning a degree from college without an actual graduation. However, these rituals lift the moment. And so as I attended Sara’s graduation from the University of Texas, along with 7474 of her closest personal classmates, and Mica’s from Isadore Newman School, in a class of 87, I experienced a variety of thoughts and feelings.

Obviously I have an appreciation for pageantry, whether religious or civil. In the case of a graduation you can recognize analogies to various Jewish life cycle events. Honorees wear ritual garb- caps and gowns; and they process to liturgical music- commonly “pomp and circumstance;” At the conclusion they receive a document, not a Ketubah or Bat Mitzvah certificate, but a diploma. And of course there are parties and presents.

You haven’t lived until you have sat with 40,000 parents and family members on the south mall of the UT Campus, all of us present to witness our loved ones graduate. Mercifully they did not call all by name. I was in awe of the choreography of the moment in Austin, music, lights, video screens and fireworks. I would not call it intimate, but it was inspiring. If I heard it once, I heard it fifteen times: “The eyes of Texas are always upon you. Hook’em horns.”

Newman’s graduation was much more personal and southern, with girls in white dresses and boys in white dinner jackets. Half the class has been part of the school since kindergarten. Mica, of course started in 9^th grade after attending the New Orleans Jewish Day School. My guess is that few of the graduates realize that Newman’s roots from a century ago were as a training school for the children of the Jewish Orphan’s Home. Who knew that Peyton and Eli were Jewish? Seated in McAllister Auditorium on Tulane campus was also an intimate moment, initiated with Mica’s singing of “America the Beautiful.” In both venues I was a proud father, appreciating God’s gift of children, recognizing that many of my prayers have been answered during the course of their lives.

The Commencement speakers (you don’t graduate, you commence.) at both graduations could not have been more different. Striding to the podium in Austin, wearing cowboy hat, boots and jeans under his academic robe was Robert Rodriguez, a film-maker, who had actually dropped out of UT in the 1990s to pursue his craft. This past year he completed his degree.

In the interim he produced, wrote and directed such action films as El Mariachi, Desperado and Sin City, along with the Spy Kids series. His style was in your face and a bit profane. In the other corner was Governor Bobby Jindal, button downed, intellectual, educated at Brown and Oxford, not known for his oratorical skill. Though their styles were vastly divergent, their messages shared much in common, with concepts from which all can grow:

Both called upon students to keep their minds open to new ideas, not to be satisfied with the way that it’s always been done. Take the attitude that you do not know what can’t be done and be willing to fail if necessary. Second was the wisdom that one needs to be true to values that become the guiding principles of life. Knowledge is good, but living by truths like justice and equality is more important. With the economic crisis in front of us all, both pointed to greed as an ill of our time, to be avoided. Finally came encouragement to be dreamers and not stop. To be labeled a “dreamer” need not be a pejorative. Without dreamers around us, where would we be, how would progress be made?

Numerous speakers added the idea that one does not reach graduation alone. It requires dedicated teachers, men and women who will serve as mentors. One concept that caught my attention was that “peer group and peer pressure” need not be a negative. Finding worthy friends who will challenge you to be better can make all the difference in the world for a person. While these lessons from life were intended for new graduates, they speak to us all.

However graduation is also an emotional moment. Just as today, many of you are surrounded by family for this simcha weekend, so too, I had the opportunity to be with my children and grandchildren, along with much of Lynn’s family. In our mobile society where many of us live great distances from one another, it is important to make the effort to be together for special occasions.

As most of you know, I am an old softy, and so these graduations were highly emotional for me. I so distinctly remember how each of my girls began their freshman years. We brought Sara to college on August 22, parked our car overnight at the hotel to move into the dorm in the morning. We came out to find that thieves had broken into the car and stolen most of her possessions. Not to worry, two women, Sara and Lynn, armed with a list and charge card, made quick work of replacing much of what was stolen. Still this was an inauspicious way to begin college, a harbinger of what was to come later in the week. We returned home on August 24 and evacuated August 27 for Katrina. This is the year of the Katrina class graduations. For Mica, the story was similar to many of yours, she essentially began her Freshman year three times- a few days before Katrina, then in Houston at the Emory Weiner School a few weeks later and again in January, when she returned.

While in the midst of that storm and its aftermath, I dealt with calm and purpose most of the time. For me these graduations, remembering how the journey began have prompted me to recall how traumatic it all was. Tears readily came to my eyes. A Newman student speaker addressed how challenges make classes stronger and how the obvious great challenge of her class was.…. the change in the dress code. She went on to say how the Katrina experience became the springboard for growth. This was a class that was displaced for 6 months to a year.

Graduations brought back many of the memories, but also served to dramatically teach how we can all respond to the most extreme challenges.

And graduations provide an opportunity to think about parenting. Parenting is comparable to God and the mystical story of creation. Initially, all was simply God. Creation was the act of tsimtsum, God contracting to allow space for creation in the world. So too as parents, as our children grow we have to pull back more and more to allow them to expand their experiences, make their mistakes, enjoy their successes. I often explain this reality to B’nai Mitzvah parents, as this life cycle marks the maturity process. It is even more true at graduation time.

In our family, we have evolved a custom of writing notes to our children at milestones. Sometimes it is in the form of the parent’s prayer at B’nai Mitzvah. For me they are actual letters to my children as they move on to the next steps in their lives. Lynn’s practice is a little more humorous, but equally as effective as she prepares and frames a set of commandments. Sara’s were in burnt orange and black ink and Mica’s are in Georgia red and black. This practice is comparable to Jewish ethical wills, when individuals outline the values they wish to pass on to loved ones prior to their death. You can do so with clear statements of values and expectations without laying on guilt. Only this practice begins much earlier. Even when we are away from our children, we can leave a message.

So where was God in the presence of all this observance? Interestingly, there were no formal prayers at either event, but many prayers answered at each. God was revealed in the natural unfolding of the cycle of life, as parents bring children into the world and watch them grow towards independence. God can be found in keen minds seeking wisdom and in the foundation of values upon which we all stand. God was present in the love that permeated the surroundings and was the recipient of many expressions of gratitude. And God will be with all of the students and all of us as we commence to whatever comes next.

AMEN

AUGUST 30, 2009

By Rabbi Robert H. Loewy

Friends, as I look out, how wonderful it is to see so many of you who are friends, to our two congregations, to our community and to one another. Today is an historic occasion in so many ways. We mark the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, a storm, an event, whose impact and aftermath was traumatic for each and every one of us who lived through it and continues to resonate amongst all who are now part of our community. Institutionally it left Gates of Prayer in shambles and Beth Israel in ruins. We both have certainly come back strong since then! We celebrate that reality today.

When I think of the relationship between our two congregations before the storm, we shared common links, but to be honest we viewed the other from afar. We knew that we were in the same family, but did not really wish to be connected.

Still, in times of crisis family reaches out to family. It was the right action to take, the moral, just and Jewish position to pursue. I know from our perspective, we were pleased we could assist, as we regularly stated that it was important for our community to have a mainstream Orthodox Jewish presence. Perhaps we recognized that if you were not here, we would miss you. Distances began to be bridged and it was our honor to invite Beth Israel to temporarily utilize our multi-purpose room, as an oasis for regrouping.

Over the course of the first few months some fascinating realizations occurred for all of us. Though intellectually we may have known it all along, we emotionally accepted reality: We were really not so different, as we came to appreciate what each other represented. In lieu of your rabbi, I was honored to assist some of your families through life cycle events, something that would never have happened prior to the storm.
I distinctly recall a magical moment during Kol Nidre 2006. In the midst of our service I received a surprise message that Beth Israel’s visiting rabbi wanted to come and speak to our congregation. With a bit of trepidation I agreed. Rabbi Friedman stood on our pulpit that night to express his appreciation for what we were doing. He utilized the imagery of the Prophet Isaiah, who describes angels to the right and left of God’s heavenly throne. When each set of opposing angels fully unite and stop their competition for God’s attention, we will find ourselves in messianic times. He likened the evolving relationship between our congregations as a harbinger of future wholeness. It was an inspirational moment in the life of our congregation. Whereas traditional theology speaks of the coming of the messiah, Reform thinkers speak of a messianic age, when all work together to bring about a peaceful society. Our two congregations are modeling that possibility.

When Beth Israel decided to hire a new rabbi and was fortunate enough to select and woo Rabbi Uri to come to our community, we took another giant step forward. In Rabbi Topolosky you chose a warm, energetic, insightful, bright and visionary leader, whom I have come to respect, admire and love. He has become my teacher and friend, just as he is yours. I am only a little envious. I seem to recall that I was once his age.
Rabbi Uri and I have worked together to move our two congregations forward, to bring healing to brokenness, to rebuild where there has been destruction and to create bridges of understanding, where once were great divides. Instead of accentuating our differences, we emphasize commonalities, stressing what unites us and respecting those areas where we differ in our approaches to Judaism.

We have held joint Selichot programs, where we have sung, learned and danced together; offered Continuing Education programs with films, lectures and classes of mutual interest; advocated jointly for Gilad Shalit and other common Jewish causes; arose before dawn for Birkat Hachama- as we jointly led a ritual of the sun; and shared guest speakers and meals- Yes, Reform Jews can eat Kosher. How wonderful it is that we have been able to learn, socialize, grow and appreciate one another in ways that before the storm would have been impossible.

However, let us each be clear about the future. Gates of Prayer is not about to become Orthodox in its rituals and practices, nor is Beth Israel turning to Reform Judaism. We will continue to embrace our separate approaches to Judaism, but we will find ways to be Jewish together with great respect for our distinctiveness. Through our example, we can send a positive message to our Jewish community, and even more to Jews throughout the United States and the world. We celebrate what unites us and honor our differences.

Friends, we have come a long way since August 29, 2005. Now we look to tomorrow. Later today we will hear about Beth Israel’s future plans. Gates of Prayer looks forward to continuing a warm, caring association, as you relocate alongside us. However, I have a concern. The Book of Deuteronomy shows that Moses had the same worry as the Israelites were approaching the Promised Land. He reminded them and I remind all of us, that we must never forget how we have reached this point in our journey. Let us continue to banish former negative attitudes and permanently embrace feelings of unity. Let us always remember the harmony which was forged out of adversity, as we build for a better tomorrow for our congregations, our community and the Jewish people.

AMEN