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Talmud and Tangents
Just about every Thursday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Hebrew School wing
Here is (some of) what we did yesterday morning:
- One volume of Talmud was distributed upside down; that led to a series of humorous reminiscences about a Seminary Professor of Talmud, Bible and Philosophy.
- We talked about the criteria of what makes a bird kosher (which completed a discussion/tangent that we started last week) - and why there is a controversy about whether turkey really is a kosher bird.
- That of course (of course!) led to a brief discussion on the Hebrew word for turkey, Tar'neh'gol Hodu... Hodu(like Todah) can mean thanks - so maybe it has something to do with Thanksgiving. Hodu is also the Hebrew word for India-Even though turkey is an American bird, don't forget that Christopher Columbus thought he had landed in India, so he called are Native Americans, Indians. So turkey might be (American) Indian bird.
- Then we got back to the Talmud, and the discussion about whether eating matzah is still a Torah-ordained requirement in our day, even though it can no longer be eaten with the Paschal Lamb sacrifice. To fully understand this discussion, we had to put aside the Talmud text and read chapter 9 of the Book of Numbers, which talks about how Passover was to be observed in biblical times by those who were ritually contaminated by contact with a corpse, or by those who were on an extended journey, far away from the community. What does that have to do with eating matzah in our day? You had to be there!
Why not join us next Thursday morning?
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International Holocaust Commemoration Day
At the UN on Wednesday
It's always a thrill to be in the General Assembly Hall, and I marvel at the world body pauses to officially recognize the atrocity visited on our people and others. The UN does this not just on one-day-a-year, but it sponsors a series of ongoing programs for Holocaust awareness, some of which was on display in the street-level galleries. The "Butterfly Project" is based on the poem penned by 23-year old Pavel Friedmann, while he was interned in Theresienstadt (he was later murdered in Auschwitz): "The Butterfly":
Only I never saw another butterfly.
That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don't live here,
in the ghetto.
While the keynote speaker, Judge Thomas Buergenthal, spoke only briefly about his personal experiences, preferring to emphasize his professional role as a former Justice of the International Court of Justice and an advocate for human rights, others supplied the emotional component that I always look for.
As a program began, and we were asked by the UN Under-Secretary General for Global Communications, Alison Smale, to stand for a moment of silence, and I was overcome by emotion. Here I was, standing in the UN, in memory of my grandparents, great-grandmother and other relatives. Who am I? - and who were they? - to be accorded such an honor! What an amazing world we live in!
And that sentiment was reflected in the remarks of Eva Lavi, the youngest person on "Schindler's List." She described herself as nothing special, and that delivering the speech must be the ultimate purpose of her life - that she had finally discovered her mission! Her humility resonated with me, as I identified.
We heard from the Secretary-General, Guterres, who spoke of his concerns about neo-Nazism "going mainstream", as he put it. Mr. Guterres was praised by Israel's Ambassador, Danny Danon, for declaring unequivocally that anti-Zionism equals Anti-Semitism.
But for me, the highlight was the German Ambassador to the United Nations, Christoph Heusgen, whose country, more than any other, has openly and honestly confronted its shameful past. Mr. Heusgen concluded his remarks by quoting a former minister-president of one of the German states: "We do this for the souls of the dead, and for our own."
A lot of excitement was generated in the General Assembly Hall by the arrival of Russian and Ukranian emigres-some were survivors, some were born in the camps-decked out in their Soviet-era military service medals. They were all given VIP reserved seats, up front. I did not get to talk to the gentleman in uniform, but the other man told me that he was born in a camp during the War. Posing with them are our Board members Iris Coleman and Regina Friedman. Richard Schiff was our photographer.
I couldn't understand anything this couple said, but they sure looked impressive!
Our Synagogue Group
Seated: Alan Stern (Board), Charlene Stern, Nancy Schiff
Standing: Iris Coleman (Board), Regina Friedman (Board), KAS, Hilda Froelke, Richard Schiff (Board VP)
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In case you haven't heard about any of these:
As a believing Muslim observing Islam, I am compelled by the Quran to support Israel's sole claim to the Holy Land; the Quran says it is so. The Quran states: "Moses said to his people: O my people! Remember the bounty of God upon you when He bestowed prophets upon you, and made you kings and gave you that which had not been given to anyone before you amongst the nations. O my people! Enter the Holy Land which God has written for you."
Nowhere does the Quran make mention of the Muslims' claim to the Holy Land. Instead, God reveals in the Quran that the Holy Land is designated for the followers of Moses. It is this Islamic truth that political Islamists vehemently deny.
The synagogue umbrella group in a statement reaffirmed its policy of members hiring women clergy
A pretty comprehensively narrated and photographed tour of Israel by a first-timer:
The cruelties and achievements of the painter's short but intense Bohemian life, on view at the Jewish Museum in New York and Tate Modern in London
How a Holocaust-Era Yiddish Song Became a Women's March Slogan
The strange and inspiring history of "Mir Velen Zei Iberleben," or "We Will Outlive Them"
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And finally...
I just had to share this with you. Here's the reaction of the immediate past director of Camp Ramah in the Berskhires, Rabbi Paul Resnick, to the picture that Regina Friedman snapped in the Grenada nutmeg factory:
Ken,
This is a crazy picture! Who knew that a T shirt from CRB can make its way to Grenada. Thank you for sharing.
Paul
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Join JTS faculty for live, interactive online mini-courses this spring. Encounter compelling scholarship that brings
Jewish text and wisdom to bear on contemporary issues.
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All sessions take place from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET. Advance registration required.
Sessions are recorded.
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UPCOMING ONLINE MINI-COURSES:
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VILNA: THE RISE, FALL, AND AFTERLIFE OF THE JERUSALEM OF LITHUANIA
Dr. David Fishman, Professor of Jewish History
Tuesdays, January 30, February 6, 13, 2018
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HALAKHAH IN A CHANGING WORLD: AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO THE LAW COMMITTEE
Rabbi Daniel Nevins, Pearl Resnick Dean of The Rabbinical School and the Division of Religious Leadership
Tuesdays, February 27, March 6, 13, 2018
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FINDING MEANING IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS
Dr. Benjamin Sommer, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages
Tuesdays, April 10, 17,
May 1, 2018
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PERETZ/KAFKA/CHAGALL: A JEWISH MODERNIST TRIPTYCH
Dr. Barbara Mann, Simon H. Fabin Professor of Jewish Literature
Tuesdays, May 8, 15, 22, 2018
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The Maimonides Scholars Program gives high school students a remarkable summer 2018 opportunity: two weeks at Yale University with some of the most impressive Jewish leaders in the world. Imagine sitting in a seminar with:
* Daniel Gordis. Defender of Israel. Author of the most important history of the Jewish state in a generation.
* Bari Weiss. A pro-Israel student leader at Columbia University. Now a rising star at the editorial page of the New York Times.
* Danny Danon. Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations.
* Dara Horn. World-renowned Jewish novelist. Harvard Ph.D. in Jewish literature.
* Meir Soloveichik. One of the leading Jewish intellectuals in the country. Prolific essayist. Rabbi of the oldest Jewish congregation in America.
* Dan Senor. One of the most prominent political strategists in the country. Author of the book Start-Up Nation about Israel's economic miracle.
What do all these leaders have in common? They will all be teaching this summer at Yale at the Maimonides Scholars Program.
Do you want to join them this summer? Then act fast! Applications close this month!
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January 23, 2018 / 7 Shevat 5778
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"Wow, I had no idea that Ramah was doing that!"
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I hear this comment frequently, not just from those uninvolved with Ramah, but even from Ramah insiders. Everyone knows that Ramah runs outstanding day and overnight camps, some of the best and most inspiring Jewish educational organizations in the world.
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But did you know that Ramah:
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- Is opening a new sports camp this June at Fairfield University in Connecticut, with all the traditional Jewish values of Ramah combined with outstanding coaching and skills development?
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Home of Ramah Sports Academy (Photo: Fairfield University)
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- Offers tuition discounts to children with parents in active service in the US military, and special scholarships for an increasing number of families withsevere financial hardship?
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Camp Ramah in Northern California (Ramah Galim)
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- Invests in Ramah College Network fellows as programming specialists on college campuses, providing opportunities for Ramah alumni and their friends to come together to celebrate Shabbat and holidays, study Jewish texts, and discuss matters of importance to Israel?
- Sponsors international travel programs for young Ramah professionals, bringing our future leaders to interact with Jewish communities in Berlin, Mexico, Ukraine, Argentina, and elsewhere?
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Partnership between Ramah Tikvah, Amazing Israel, and Birthright Israel, December 2017
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And this is just a partial list! Not included above are the many, many program innovations within our day camps and overnight camps, together serving over 11,500 campers and staff each summer.
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A Year Marked by Challenges and Sadness
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This has indeed been a fantastic year for Ramah growth and innovation, but it has also been a year of challenges and sadness.
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- All of us, together with the Ramah Darom and Ramah Poconos communities, deeply mourn the loss of the Weiss family, who died tragically in an airplane crash in Costa Rica on New Year's Eve. Leslie Weiss grew up as part of the Ramah Poconos community, and both children, Ari (16) and Hannah (19), were leaders at Ramah Darom. The USY, JTS, Ramah, and greater Jewish communities all feel this loss personally; we are weaker and sadder in the wake of this horrible tragedy.
- Two of our camps faced dangerous challenges from fires, but were both blessed with ultimate safety. Ramah in the Rockies suffered an electrical fire in the main lodge one week before camp ended. Although the kitchen, dining hall, and offices were destroyed, the emergency procedures of the camp and the excellent response from firefighters ensured that the rest of camp was safe. Camp finished the season at the JCC Ranch Camp in Colorado, which generously made its facilities available to us and for which we are extremely grateful. Temporary kitchen and dining hall facilities will be up and running for summer 2018, and the camp is actively raising funds for the building of a new state-of-the-art facility to last decades to come.
- The tragic Thomas fire, the largest wildfire in California history, threatened to destroy our camp in Ojai. On a Thursday morning in early December, officials told camp leaders to expect a near total loss. Miraculously, because of the heroic efforts of over 150 firefighters, the camp was saved. Cleanup is nearly complete, and the camp is back serving the community.
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Finally,
we lost a great longtime leader of Ramah when Rabbi Jerry Abrams passed away
. Rabbi Abrams (z"l) directed a number of different Ramah camps, most recently Ramah Berkshires from 1964-1967 and again from 1980-1990. Jerry was my camp director at Cejwin Camps when I was a child, and is one of the leaders most responsible for creating a career path as a Ramah director, serving as a role model for so many. May his memory be a blessing.
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The broader Ramah community provides powerful networking across the globe. In times of sadness, as in the aftermath of the Weiss tragedy, people come together to support one another; and of course in times of joy as well. Overall, Ramah's impact continues to grow, and we look forward to seeing our camps and Israel programs strengthen and expand, creating many more immersive and joyful Jewish experiences for children, teens, and adults.
B'vracha,
Mitch
Rabbi Mitchell Cohen, Director
National Ramah Commission, Inc. of The Jewish Theological Seminary
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Israeli Culture in North America
Your Weekly Cultural Highlights
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A Walk With Mr. Heifetz
by James Inverne
January 31 - March 4
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Discover how music helped Israel find its cultural identity during its formative years in this inspiring new play by award-winning Gramophone and Time magazine journalist
James Inverne
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D
irected by
Andrew Leynse.
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Songwriter & Singer Snir Yamin at Silvana
February
2 | 7:00 PM
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Throughout the course of his musical career,
Snir Yamin
has won over the hearts of music lovers from all walks of life; performing at a variety of venues, making loads of public appearances, all the while recording new music. Learn more by exploring the site, and feel free to get in touch with any of your comments and questions.
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Nurit Galron
February
5 | 6:00 PM
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The legendary Israeli singer
Nurit Galron
arrives in New York with her most familiar hits, including such songs as "You go to Sleep Early" (אתה הולך לישון מוקדם), "Curls" (תלתלים), "Chinese Mystikens" (המיסטיקנים הסינים) "I Miss You" (אתה פה חסר לי), "Magical Nights" (לילות הקסומים), "I have Sympathy" (יש לי סימפטיה) and many more.
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Ka'et Dance Ensemble: Heroes
February 7 | 7:30 PM
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The Jerusalem-based dance group כעת is arriving in New York. Composed of Orthodox men and directed by choreographer, Ka'et Ensemble combines contemporary dance along with Jewish religious elements such as prayer gestures, chants and synagogue attire.
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Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman
February
11 | 8:00 PM
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Two of the greatest violinists of our time in one concert.
Itzhak Perlman
a compelling, vital artist, performing today with greater joy than ever before.
Pinchas Zukerman
has been a classical phenomenon as violinist, violist, conductor and chamber musician
.
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Israeli Songbook: The Music of Naomi Shemer
February 13 | 7:00 PM
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Experience the music of
Naomi Shemer
, the "First Lady" of Israeli song and poetry, through a live performance by Israeli Singer
Ariella Edvy
and an ensemble of musicians from MusicTalks. Interspersed with stories and fascinating anecdotes, the program will celebrate the life and songs that shaped Israel from its early days.
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Ben-Gurion: Epilogue
February 15 | 6:30 PM
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F
ilmmakers
Yael Perlov
and
Yariv Mozer
accidentally discovered six hours of unseen footage of an interview with
David Ben-Gurion
, which provides some of the material for this film, along with 80 hours of other footage scoured by the filmmakers.
Admission is free reservations are required.
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Romance and Reason: Islamic Transformations of the Classical Past
February 14 - May 13
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The Institute for the Study of the Ancient World
in partnership with the
National Library of Israel
will explore these shared ideas and transmutations of imagery as expressed through Islamic manuscripts from the 11th through 18th centuries, a particularly rich and fertile period for these works.
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