WEEKLY NEWS - July 27, 2021
Office Hours: Monday -Thursday: 10am-2pm
Phone: 248.477.1410
Published on Tuesdays.
Deadline for submissions: Mondays at noon.
Scroll down for Rabbi Falick's commentary:
HOW & WHY WE CLAIMED OUR NEW NAME
FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 30, 7PM
Featuring a Presentation by Mike Whitty:
From Aging to Saging: Becoming a Prophet in Your Own Time
THANK YOU TO GAIL & MIKE WHITTY FOR SPONSORING THIS WEEK'S ONEG SHABBAT!
PLEASE NOTE OUR COVID-19 VACCINE & SAFETY POLICY
July is "reopening month" with in-person services, classes, and regular office hours resuming. Here's what you need to know if you're attending!

1) Shabbat Programs & Other Public Gatherings
Attendees at Friday night Shabbat programs and all other in-person gatherings MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED (defined as two weeks past the final shot for their vaccine). Verbal confirmation is sufficient.

Those who are unable to be vaccinated - due solely to medical reasons - may contact the temple to make advance arrangements for socially distanced participation on Fridays or at other public gatherings; a mask and distanced seating area will be required: email office@chj-detroit.org or call 248.477.1410.

2) Business Office Hours
When visiting the office for business reasons, we always recommend calling in advance: 248.477.1410. Please note that all unvaccinated individuals who visit the temple during office hours should make every effort to call in advance. They will be asked to wear a mask and observe social distancing.(email: office@cje-detroit.org or call 248.477.1410)
Reminder! With our new membership pledge model, members are invited to renew each summer!

Watch your mailbox for your renewal info!
COMING THIS FALL ...
BOOK CLUB EXPLORES...

"EINSTEIN ON POLITICS"
FACILITATED BY DR. FRAN SHOR

ON THESE WED. EVENINGS AT 7PM ... IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM*:

Sept. 22, Oct. 6, Oct. 20 & Nov. 3

A four-session discussion of Einstein's Politics, organized around specific readings from the text, Einstein on Politics, edited by David E. Rowe and Robert Schulman (Princeton University Press Paperback). Feel free to attend one or more!

September 22:
Introduction to Einstein's Politics

October 6:
World War I and Political Engagement - Chapters 1, 4, and 5

October 20:
Jewish Identity and Zionism - Chapters 5, 6, and 7

November 3:
World War II, Civil Liberties, and World Citizenship - Chapters 8, 9, and 10

TO ATTEND, RSVP TO FRAN SHOR (drfran45@gmail.com)
You don't need to commit to all four sessions, but we do ask that you read the relevant portions of the book and have it handy at the sessions.

Depending upon sufficient interest, Fran will arrange discounted purchasing from a local independent bookseller. The book is also widely available online and at bookstores everywhere.

*In person Covid-19 protocols apply. Please see above.
NEXT SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE MEETING:
Friday, Aug. 20, 5:45-6:45pm (before services)
Please come to learn and share ideas. Lots to talk about! No obligation. Contact Audrey (audreypleasant@gmail.com) for the agenda and/or to suggest an item.  

Vaccination policy applies. Please see above.
BT'S "FREE LITTLE FOOD PANTRY"
BT has installed a "Free Little Food Pantry" for those in need. We will need donations of non-perishables to keep it filled.

WE NEED FOOD DONATIONS!

NO PASTA OR BEANS FOR NOW!

WE ESPECIALLY NEED:

  • PERSONAL CARE / HYGIENE
  • HAND SOAP
  • CLEANING PRODUCTS
  • CEREAL
  • SPICES
  • PAPER PRODUCTS

ALSO: canned tuna & chicken * proteins / grains * canned fruits & vegetables * soups / sauces / condiments * breakfast items * snacks

You're likely to find the pantry full, but please be aware that Items ARE being taken and then replenished from supplies kept inside the Temple building.

Contact Audrey (audreypleasant@gmail.com) for more details.
DONATION DRIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY HOUSING NETWORK
The CHN assists people in Southeast Michigan who are houseless, facing houselessness, low income, have disabilities or are otherwise vulnerable.

Below is the wish list of items urgently needed as well as a link to the Amazon site where items may be purchased on-line. To be part of this project, bring any of the items listed below to the Temple between now and the end of August and put them in or near the collection box in the lobby. If you want to donate but are unable to shop, let Audrey know audreypleasant@gmail.com; we can shop for you. 

Garbage bags - 13 Gallon Tall Kitchen Trash Bags / Cleaning Buckets / Mops / Brooms with dust pans / Laundry Baskets - standard size with handles (used to build Welcome Home Baskets) / Hand Soap / Bleach / All Purpose Cleaner / Glass Cleaner / Bathroom/Shower Cleaner / Deodorant / Kitchen Sponges / Kitchen Utensils

Amazon Wish list link:
JOIN THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MAILING LIST!
Sign up for the Social Justice Committee email list for information about what's happening at CHJ and beyond. Meeting agenda and copy of the monthly report to the board is emailed to all list members. Send your request to audreypleasant@gmail.com.
IT'S SUMMER GARDENING TIME...
JOIN US!
SUNDAYS @ 9:30AM
All hands needed and appreciated!

Please bring any tools, especially hedge trimmers, saws, rakes, yard bags, plus gloves. We have lots of fun!

Please contact Sarah Markowitz, 1luciannn1@comcast.net or Cathy Radner, radner210@gmail.com, with any questions.
HOW & WHY WE CLAIMED OUR NEW NAME
You’ve no doubt already noticed something a little different about this newsletter and it's not your imagination! This week our Board voted to accept the recommendation of our Outreach Committee to change our name to "Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Metro Detroit."

This change was the result of well over a year of discussions at the committee, board, and congregation-wide level ably organized by Outreach chairs Elaine Fieldman and Alan Levy. Their goal was to explore the question of whether a new name might better communicate to the wider Jewish community – and people searching for a congregation – just who we are and what we believe in. 

After a great deal of study and discussion, the committee determined that a name change could better serve us going forward as we seek to build and strengthen our community. With that in mind, they sought our Board’s endorsement to expand the project to the entire congregation and to return with a recommendation with respect to a possible name change for Board consideration.

In the weeks that followed, the committee kicked off the project with a congregation-wide exercise to solicit and evaluate potential name changes. The solicitation lasted for several weeks. It produced 27 suggestions that were the basis of a subsequent survey that continued for several more weeks.

Among the suggestions were those that proposed retaining that current name and others that suggested changing it to Hebrew or to English or to some combination of both. For all the variety of creative names, there was one common strand that emerged in the suggestions and in the survey responses. People seemed to lean toward names that contained the words “Humanistic Judaism.” Personally, I found that quite remarkable, particularly because I had spent a great deal of time studying the history of our temple and its name.

In my research there was actually little to be found concerning the origin of “The Birmingham Temple” other than the fact that it was so-named because we spent our early years there. Some of that time was not so joyful. We were actually tossed out of the Birmingham Masonic hall when they found out about our beliefs!

In contrast to the dearth of information about how our congregation gained its name, Rabbi Wine wrote quite a bit about naming our movement and its philosophy. There was a real process where they explored all kinds of potential names including “Rational Judaism” and “Naturalistic Judaism.” Each of those failed to hit the right tone. Yet ultimately they landed on what many still considered to be the perfect name, the one our movement bears today. Clearly, our members continue to resonate with it. Heading into six decades of activity, we are proud Humanistic Jews.

Change is never easy. Even for members of a movement that is rooted in the significance and inevitability of change. Emotional attachments do not always bend easily to the demands of the times. Nostalgia can get in the way.

As it happens, nostalgia was one of Rabbi Wine’s ongoing concerns. He spoke about it with respect to Jewish traditions of all kinds. But he also spoke about it in connection to our own congregation. On its 25th anniversary he addressed some of the ways that nostalgia can create parochialism among long-time members, how it can encourage us to forget the larger purposes for which they created our community. He told them to take risks, saying, “We are future oriented. The accomplishment of yesterday is less important than the problem of tomorrow.” 

In that spirit he later emphasized the need for progress, writing about its connection to our foundational beliefs:

"We do not accept the past unquestioningly. We do not revere our tradition. We are open to making changes that need to be made. What once worked may no longer work. As long as we remain faithful to our fundamental principles and mission, the strategies of implementing them can comfortably adjust to reality. Creativity has to balance our nostalgia."
After a year of serious examination, many of us came to the conclusion that our name no longer works for us. It does not communicate to prospective members and the larger community anything about who we are or what we believe (or even where we are located).

With that in mind, we agreed that our name was one tradition we could not revere. That if we wanted to better communicate our fundamental principles and mission, we needed many new strategies, a name change among them.

And yet …

Before I conclude, I want to draw your attention to one feature in our new logo, the words "Founded as The Birmingham Temple."

Last Friday night when our Board president Ned Greenberg revealed the new name, he sensitively acknowledged the many members who feel an emotional connection to our original name. I, too, feel that our legacy name deserves a place of honor. That's why, following discussions with many veteran members, I suggested that we include it in our new logo. As you can see, the committee happily accepted my proposal.

Today, though we move into the future with a new name, we will continue to strongly and proudly honor our past as The Birmingham Temple, recognizing that in the hearts of many we’ll always be B.T.
ONLINE, IN-PERSON & BOTH!
In-person classes require full vaccination; see above

RABBI FALICK'S SATURDAY CLASS ("REBBE'S TISCH")
Join him for a historical look at Jewish texts throughout the ages.
Saturdays, 10am, Zoom Only

UNROLLING JUDAISM WITH RABBI FALICK
A deeper look at Jewish customs, traditions, and historical events ... from ancient times to today! See above for more information.
Mondays, Noon, Zoom & In-Person
On summer hiatus - returns in the Fall

JEWISH HISTORY CLASS WITH NATAN FUCHS
On summer hiatus - returns in the Fall

SOCRATES CAFE
2nd Tuesday of Each Month, 10:30am, Zoom Only
4th Tuesday of Each Month, 10:30am, In-Person Only

YOGA
Every Wednesday, 9:30am, In-Person Only
ZOOM REQUIRES A PASSWORD!
The password was sent under separate cover. Please contact rabbi@chj-detroit.org if you need it.

ONLINE VIDEOS OF PROGRAMS & CLASSES
Visit LibrarySHJ.com and our YouTube page for videos of past services, classes, lectures, and more!
*REFUAH SHLEMA (SPEEDY RECOVERY)
Best Wishes for a Speedy Recovery to:

Evelyn Kreger, Joe Gadon, Julie Eliason, Karen Tremper Harris, Peter Schweitzer

Please inform us if you know that someone is ill or in need.
*THIS WEEK'S CARTOON
By Marilyn Rowens, ז״ל (of Blessed Memory)