Dear Friends,

After much deliberation, we have decided to postpone the Celebration for Carol Paster’s 30th Year, scheduled for this Saturday, March 14th. Unfortunately, both the Family Concert/Picnic and the Adult Concert/BBQ Buffet are being postponed. 
​​​​​​​
Given the increasing concern over the Covid-19 Coronavirus, we feel that it is best to be cautious. While we are very disappointed, our foremost concern is always the health and safety of our community members. We do not know what this week will bring with regard to best practices to address the current health crisis, and a hard decision to proceed or postpone had to be made no later than Sunday night.

We hope that everyone will be able to join together to celebrate Carol at a time more conducive to the large, joyous gathering befitting her and her years of dedication to the preschool. We will let you know the new date as soon as we have it scheduled.

We thank you for your patience and understanding.  

Best regards,

Rabbi Daniel M. Cohen
Max Weisenfeld, TSTI President
Lisa Tilton-Levine, Co-Chair
Sheryl Harpel, Co-Chair
Lauren Byers, Co-Chair

Friends, over the last few weeks I have been thinking a great deal about the Reform Movement and the ways in which it was rooted, especially when I was younger, in the prophetic vision. That ancient vision was one that called upon leaders to see the spark of God within each person and to act in a manner that reflected that spark. They called for kindness, caring and compassion. And they understood that the road toward fulfilling that vision would be long and, at times, challenging.

I look at the world today and see a greater need for that Prophetic message now than at any time I can remember. And, I believe, the Reform Movement, built on the vision of the prophets, is well positioned to offer a path forward. That path, however, begins with our understanding of what the Reform Movement is, its relationship to the prophetic vision and how that commitment has historally led to a belief that advocacy is the way we, to quote the great Conservative Rabbi Abraham Joshua Hesachel, pray with our feet.

For that reason I am reporting my December Bulletin Article here on the Rabbinic Blog.

Since the election I have been thinking a great deal about the Biblical Prophets and their role in shaping the society in which they lived. The prophets of old were not always popular. There did not always garner the warmth and appreciation of those in power at the time. But they stood up and, to use a term that is quickly becoming overused, spoke truth to power. They spoke against corruption. Thet spoke agains inequity. And they spoke for creating a world in which the holiness of each person is recognized and respected.

It was on their shoulders that Rabbi Abraham Joshua Herschel and countless of their rabbis stood side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King Junior and said, “Enough.” Enough bias. Enough racism. Enough inequality. Their message was not always met with warmth and appreciation. At times some were arrested. But they still spoke out. And they did so because they knew their message was a message of inclusion and wholeness. They knew they were standing on the shoulders of those who came before. And they knew they were excersizing their rights, as Americans, to speak out.

Fast forward to ten years ago. Gun violence was ramping up. The Government was doing little to nothing to address it. A group of women decided they needed to speak out. They stood on the shoulders of the prophets of old and the rabbis who marched in Selma. They gathered hundreds of thousands in Washington and said, “Enough.” One of the key organizers, the driving force behind it actually, was Donna Dees-Thomases. Donna had viewed coverage of the Los Angeles Jewish Community Center shooting in Granada Hills, California and knew something needed to change. At the time, Donna was a member of TSTI.

Here’s the thing. In each case the issues that were being addressed were clearly political. BUT, they were not ONLY political. They were also moral issues that were in conflict with the current reality. And, as moral issues, they were also religious issues. At the same time, because many these issues had become polarized, they also became partisan issues. This, in turn, only serves to add to the complexity of how one might address them. But to avoid taking position for fear that some might disagree is not the answer.

The Reform Movement was built on the foundation of the Prophetic Vision. For this very reason, more than 50 years ago the Reform Movement founded the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. The Reform Leaders at the time understood that we needed an arm of the Movement that would study the religious underpinnings of issues and teach the community WHY they were moral and religious in nature. They would also produce position statements that would then become the position of the Reform Movement. As the RAC website explains,

“For more than 50 years, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (or “the RAC”) has been the hub of Jewish social justice and legislative activity in Washington, D.C. As the DC office of the Union for Reform Judaism, the RAC educates and mobilizes the Reform Jewish community on legislative and social concerns, advocating on more than 70 different issues, including economic justice, civil rights, religious liberty, Israel and more. As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the RAC’s advocacy work is completely non-partisan and pursues public policies that reflect the Jewish values of social justice that form the core of our mandate.

Not only is this approach respected but the head of the RAC for its first 40 years departed the organization because President Obama made him the US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom. Still, the Reform Movement and the RAC, our TSTI leadership and I all understand the diversity of Reform congregations and do not assume that everyone will always be in agreement. That, however, does not mean that positions should not be taken. (In various legal disputes the Talmud recorded the dissenting view for just this reason. They did not assume total agreement and respected those who disagreed even as they rendered decisions.)

And that’s where we find ourselves today. Issues that should be moral or human issues have become partisan in nature. Part of our challenge, then, is to make clear the religious and moral aspects of these issues. And that is what I plan to do in the coming months.

Last month I participated in the AIPAC Progressive Rabbis Mission for the third time. Included in the mission were a diverse range of rabbinic
leaders- there were rabbis from all the major American Jewish Movements who
reflected a wide range of perspectives- but the itinerary itself was even more
diverse. We met with people on both the political left and right. We met with Israeli Jews in Jerusalem and with Palestinian Moslems in Ramallah. We saw the development of the Palestinian city of Rawabi and we saw the ongoing con- struction of new residences in suburban Jerusalem. We met with members of the LGBTQI community and with human rights lead- ers. We were a diverse group of rabbis and, over the course of the week, we shared a diverse range of experiences. This was by design and, as you might imagine, the discussions and debates after many of the sessions were “energetic”. And that was the point. That was the way in which AIPAC’s educational foundation, AIEF, designed the itinerary.

One of the things I have learned from my involvement with AIPAC is the importance of spending time in discussion and debate with people with whom I may disagree. It is, after all, in those differ- ences that true learning and growth can be achieved. And yet, as I write this bulletin article, I am ever aware that such encounters are increasingly rare in our world today. The divisiveness within the political sphere is greater than ever. Worse yet, that divisive- ness, all too often, has spilled over into our daily discourse… or lack thereof. We are, it seems, increasingly unable to sit with those with whom we disagree and unwilling to listen to them with an open mind.

Jewish tradition encourages us to take a different path.

For three years the followers of the Houses of Hillel and Shammai argued with each other. There were over 300 recorded arguments in the Talmud. They both thought that their interpretations of the Torah were the correct ones. Finally, the Sanhedrin, the Jewish courts, sided with Beit Hillel. The story says that both Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai spoke the living law, but Beit Hillel was chosen as the predominant opinion because when Hillel made his opinion known, he quoted Shammai as well, encouraging community inclusion rather than division. His courtesy towards his adversary and his respect for a differing opinion made his argument more persuasive.

As we enter into the home stretch of the fall election season, I pray that we, the members of the TSTI community, can model interactions that are more akin to those of the House of Hillel and, in the process, we will have exemplified one of the core values of the sacred tradition we have inherited.

Dear Friends,

We are blessed to live in a diverse community. It is this diversity that makes South Orange-Maplewood an attractive place to live, worship and raise families. At the same time, diversity can, at times, be challenging. That has been the case over the last days. As many of you know, and as has been reported in a number of local media outlets, there have been a number of bias issues that have taken place at South Orange Middle School in recent weeks. These included hate images posted to social media, student-to-student bias comments in the halls, and lunchroom conversation that has no place in our community. This is, of course, unacceptable and requires response. Such response must, however, be serious in its intent, measured in its approach, and focus on the present challenges AND the future healing that will ensure our towns remain the open, embracing communities that drew us here in the first place. It is in this context that we are taking the unprecedented step of writing to each of our congregations but doing so in a single document.

Upon hearing of this late last week the three of us immediately met to discuss how we, as the rabbis of the three South Orange synagogues, might best respond. As a result of that meeting, late yesterday afternoon we met with members of the administration of the school district, including Dr. John J. Ramos, Sr., Superintendent of Schools, Kevin Walson, Assistant Superintendent of Administration, Lynn A. Irby, Principal of SOMS, as well as assistant principals, district social workers, and school guidance counselors. Present at the meeting as well were representatives from the New Jersey office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the local Community Coalition on Race. We appreciate Principal Irby’s swift response to organizing this meeting.

It was a good meeting and the first of what we expect will be a series of on-going meetings and learning opportunities. We left the meeting confident of a number of things. First, it is clear there are serious issues that need to be addressed, but the well-being of our community remains strong. Second, the school has and will continue to address the specific events and those involved in them. Equally important however is the fact that the school administration understands the need to address issues of bias on all levels in a positive, ongoing manner and use this as a learning opportunity for the community-at-large. We emerged confident that they will do just that. We also appreciated the administration’s offer to partner with us to aid in this effort.

We commend those in the community and in our schools who saw bias and took a stand against it. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught that “we are not all guilty, but we are all responsible.” We appreciate the administration’s commitment to cultivating a community of “upstanders,” to initiating anti-bias training for staff, to building peer leadership training opportunities for our children, and to planning parent workshops and conversations on bias. We look forward to working together in teaching our children and ensuring that our community continues to be a blessing.

In friendship,

Rabbi Daniel Cohen, DMin , Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel

Rabbi Jesse Olitzky, Congregation Beth El

Rabbi Mark Cooper, Oheb Shalom Congregation

Once again the AIPAC Policy Conference is garnering a great deal of attention. As I, along with over 30 TSTI members, prepare to head to Washington DC as PC Delegates, the fact that Republican front runner Donald Trump is scheduled to speak has become an issue of significant discussion and debate. Earlier this week the Reform Movement released a statement about his campaign as well as his appearance at Policy Conference.  On the one hand, it stated,

The Reform Jewish Movement has always worked very closely with AIPAC. We respect completely its decision to invite all the viable candidates for president to speak at its upcoming Policy Conference. By inviting the candidates to speak, AIPAC does not support or oppose their candidacies, nor does it condone or commend their policies. AIPAC has, as it must, a singular focus: the U.S./Israel relationship. AIPAC’s intent – and its responsibility – is to better understand the candidates’ views on issues that impact the U.S./Israel relations.

We know the invitation to candidate Donald Trump was issued in that spirit, and we therefore understand AIPAC’s decision to extend the invitation. Mr. Trump is the unarguable frontrunner for the Republican nomination, and he has not yet spoken clearly about his views on U.S./Israel issues. The AIPAC Policy Conference will give him an opportunity to do so, just as it does for other candidates. 

At the same time, the statement went on to note,

…we cannot ignore the many issues on which Mr. Trump has spoken clearly. His campaign has been replete with naked appeals to bigotry, especially against Hispanics and Muslims. Previous comments he has made – and not disavowed – have been offensive to women, people of color, and other groups. In recent days, increasingly, he appears to have gone out of his way to encourage violence at his campaign events. At every turn, Mr. Trump has chosen to take the low road, sowing seeds of hatred and division in our body politic. 

Source: http://is.gd/Z15u6O

I agree with both parts of the statement. The culture of hate and intolerance that has been created by the Trump Campaign is unacceptable. The misogyny, Islamophobia, racism and overall crassness are just part of what makes Mr Trump’s candidacy so troubling. At the same time, I understand and support AIPAC’s decision. They did not invite Mr Trump specifically. Instead, as they have for the last few election cycles, they issued a blanket invitation to all active presidential candidates to address the gathering. That includes Mr Trump but also includes Secretary Hillary Clinton, Senator Ted Cruz, and Governor John Kasich, who will be addressing the assembly as well.  Senator Bernie Sanders who has not yet confirmed or declined said invitation.

I understand the inclination of some who are critical of AIPAC’s invitation, or calling on the organization to publicly disavow Mr. Trump and all he stands for. But said criticism comes from a misunderstanding of AIPAC and its laser-focused approach and mandate. AIPAC is committed to Bi-Partisan support for the US-Israel relationship. In order to have influence on this relationship and the key safety and security they, and I, believe it creates for both the United States AND Israel, they and we have to have a relationship with Congress and the Administration no matter who is in office at any given time. To not invite any of of the current presidential candidates would undermine a AIPAC’s very reason for existing. It is unfortunate that there is a campaign that uses racism, misogyny and threats as core tactics. But it is not on AIPAC to make statements against this or any other campaign. That task currently falls to the Republican establishment and, ultimately, to us. And so, while I understand the calls and critiques, I believe they are misplaced. That is my opinion and I certainly understand that people who I deeply respect disagree. That is what our nation, and our religion, is about.

That, however, leads to a key question. Since Mr. Trump will speaking at Policy Conference what are attendees to do? I believe there are two acceptable options: choose not be there or sit quietly without so much as a movement. I understand that there are those who find his behavior so reprehensible that they will simply choose to miss the entire session during which he speaks or leave during the musical interlude before he takes the stage. And I understand that there are those individuals who find his behavior so reprehensible that they will choose to sit in the hall and, in protest, simply not react. I do not, however, understand or support those who plan to wait until he takes the stage and then leave. To do so is disruptive to those who have chosen to remain in the hall and undermines the very foundation of the bi-partisan approach AIPAC takes. Those who come to Policy Conference have chosen to attend AIPAC’s gathering and do not have the right, I believe, to disrupt sessions or behave in a manner that is not in keeping with the expectations and approach AIPAC takes. It is not how we comport ourselves within an organization that is Bi-Partisan.

In addition, I categorically reject the notion that, as one rabbinic colleague said in an article in the Forward this week-

If we sit around and do nothing, even if we sit in silence, that shows complacency and that, by default, we agree with what he says.

Source: http://is.gd/22DELT

Such a position reflects a total disregard for AIPAC’s mandate, decorum and the rights of those delegates who have chosen to remain in the hall. Moreover, rather than their “presence” condoning the candidate, I believe that, were Mr. Trump to take the stage and be received by a arena of 18,000 in absolute silence without so much as a sound it would be the strongest repudiation of his rhetoric and vileness possible.

I do wish that our political landscape was unfolding in a manner that is more in keeping with our values and highest selves. Sadly that is not the election cycle we are in. In the meantime, regardless of the current landscape, it is Pro-Israel Americans such as myself and the important work that AIPAC does in a bipartisan manner, that will keep America and Israel safe. That is why I will be getting on a train to Washington Saturday and that is why I will leave the hall prior to Mr Trump taking the stage or I will sit stoically. I will protest him through my absence or with my silence. But my personal protest will show the kind of respect for my fellow delegates that Mr. Trump has not shown to so many he has attacked. His rhetoric is vile. I will not stoop to his level and I prayer my colleagues who are planning an active protect to reconsider.

If he is indeed the Republican candidate there will be a time and place that I, and tens of thousands of other proud Americans will protest him. But that time is not this weekend at the AIPAC Policy Conference.

Rabbi Daniel M. Cohen, DMin
Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel
South Orange, NJ

Be sure to check our TSTI social media feeds throughout the weekend for updates from Washington. 

• Temple Facebook
• Rabbinic Facebook
• Twitter: @tstinj
• Instagram: TSTINJ
• Hashtag; #TSTItogether

Our congregational trip to Israel next fall is in the planning stages. We already have some great interest and are hoping to get even more. Seeing Israel with your temple family is an amazing way to experience the Holy Land. Being able to share as one or more of our young people become Bar/Bat Mitzvah only makes the experience more powerful.

Once again Doron Harel will be our tour guide. But Doron is more than a tour guide. He is an educator, a passionate teacher and a dear friend. And, this year, my wife Raina- who headed Hillel’s Birthright program for three years- is planning the itinerary with Doron. That translates to a TSTI Israel Experience like no other.

If you have any interest in possibly joining us please let Sunny know in the temple office.

Here’s what the current draft itinerary looks like.

TSTI Trip to Israel December 21st2016- January 1st 2017

Wednesday December 21st

3:55pm Departure from EWR United flight 84

Thursday December 22nd

• 9:25am Arrival,
• Airport assist
• Ellah Valley David Vs Goliath
• Beit Guvrin Archaeological dig
• Lunch En Route (own)
• Kfar Hanokdim- Camel/Donkey ride, Bedouin Hospitality
• Dinner at Kfar Hanokdim in the Bedouin Tent
Overnight: Kfar Hanokdin or Crown Plaza Dead Sea

Friday December 23rd

• Masada -if staying at Kfar Hanokdim we climb (walk!) via Ramp
• Dead Sea Swim-if staying at Crown Plaza Hotel we start with morning swim and continue to Masada.
• Drive to JLM –via Ein Gedi, Qumran (no stops only explanation)
• Mt Scopus Shehecheyanu
• Machane Yehuda tour
• Lunch at the market (own)
• Check in Hotel
• Shabbat at the Kotel??
Dinner at the Hotel
Overnight: Dan Panorama JLM

Shabbat December 24th

• Morning Bnei/Bnot Mitzvah at HUC (need Reservations ASAP)!!!
• Lunch at the Hotel
• Israel Museum
• Geo-Political Tour of JLM
• Evening schmoose at Ben Yehuda road or Mamila
Dinner on own
Overnight: Dan Panorama JLM

Sunday December 25th Old City Day

• City of David
• Davidson Archaeological Park
• Western Wall
• Western wall Tunnels
Lunch (own)
• Jewish Quarter
• Time for shopping at the Cardo or old city Bazar
• Optional-Temple Mount
Dinner on own
Overnight: Dan Panorama JLM

Monday December 26th

• Yad Vashem
• Mt Herzl
• Tzedek Project at local orphanage
• Optional visit to Neve Shalom
Dinner on own
Overnight: Dan Panorama
Tuesday December 27th
Check out hotel
• Kasser El Yahud- where the Israelites crossed the Jordan river and Jesus was baptized
• Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu Bio Tour- Organic farm and a functioning Kibbutz including lunch at the Kibbutz Dining Room
• Kinneret Cemetery
Dinner at Hotel
Overnight: Kfar Blum

Wednesday December 28th

• Tel Dan- short hike and biblical archaeological dig
• Jeep ride on the Golan Heights or ATV (Tomcar) driving through Anti-tank trenches, farming area and nearby the Syrian Border (not to close)
• Mt Bental –overlooking Syria and the 1973 Yom Kippur story
• Visit an Army Base
• Boutique Winery??
Dinner at the Hotel
Overnight: Kfar Blum

Thursday December 29th

• Check out Kfar Blum
• Safed
• Kfar Kedem biblical village-Donkey riding, pita making etc including Lunch
• Caesarea
• Dinner on own
Overnight: Dan Panorama TLV

Friday December 30th

• Leket project
• Independence Hall
• Rotchild Blvd
• Nachalat Binyamin Art and craft
• Carmel Market
• Shabbat Service with a local community- Kiryat Ono, TLV, or near Gaza with a local community (Rabbi Student Yael Karrie) for that we will need to coordinate a long time in advance and add more money for dinner/catering logistics. Not impossible, just logistics 
Dinner (Included)- with the local community or back at the hotel.
Overnight: Dan Panorama TLV

Shabbat December 31st

• Ayalon Institute- (Bullet Factory)
• Jaffa
Lunch on own
• Neve Tzedek
Optional-time off to schmooze with the Israelis on Shabbat around:
• Hatachana (old train station)
• TLV port
Late check out- half of the rooms so it will not cost too much
• Farewell dinner (included)
11pm Departure- United flight 91

Sunday January 1st, 2017
Early morning arrival to NJ

FoxNews.com invited me to contribute to their Thankful Nation series. I am grateful For the opportunity to do so…

Two pictures sit side by side on a wall in my study at the synagogue. One is a painting of the ship the Vaterland. The others is a photograph of the ship the Leviathan.

The Vaterland was the ship my grandfather took from Europe in the early 1900s. According to family lore, my grandfather, searching for the freedom and opportunity afforded by the United States, jumped from the Vaterland while it was docked in New York Harbor.

The Leviathan was a troop ship that brought US soldiers to Europe to fight in World War One.

You can read the full post as well as posts of others here on the Thankful Nation Content Spotlight page.