ha
H desh Summer, 2019
Iyar – Av, 5779
From the Desk of Rabbi Lerner
www.TempleEmunah.org
Celebrating Emunah Memories
Making Emunah Your Own As a youngster, I remember running around my shul. Occasionally, I would get into some trouble for being a bit wild, or in the wrong place, or sneaking away into the Kiddush during services. But the overwhelming feeling I had was being comfortable, feeling at home. I loved being in shul. That feeling is central to Emunah. Our students tell me how much they love coming to our Religious School and our youth programs. I love it when I see some of our longtime members schmoozing and laughing as they share over Shabbat Kiddush lunch. And I love it when our youngest members sit with me on the bimah for Adon Olam. Where else outside of our families do we have many generations participating together, interacting with each other? Our synagogue community is a place where we are seen, heard, accepted, and known. We hope that everyone—from the youngest infant to the oldest senior—will experience Emunah as a home away from home. When that happens organically, because you come regularly or your father is the rabbi, it’s easy to feel connected; but often, it does not occur so easily. As much as it is our intention to welcome everyone, perhaps nobody reached out to you. Maybe you were not able to find your “group.” Maybe you never learned Hebrew or the rituals are unfamiliar. Maybe Emunah used to be your home, but you are now feeling disconnected from the community or from Judaism. That is our challenge. How do we make our sacred space a home away from home for more people? How can we create a shul that welcomes people in a time when fewer and fewer people are affiliating with synagogues?
The strength and vitality of the Temple Emunah community are built on a foundation of vision, commitment, and perseverance established decades ago. That heritage was celebrated by about 100 Temple Emunah members and friends on Sunday morning, May 5, at a brunch program entitled “Celebrating Our Emunah Memories.” The event was planned to honor senior members. Speakers on the program were Marvin Antonoff, Miriam Boucher, Phyllis Brick, Joe Nissenbaum, Barbara Palant, and Toni Stechler. Several guests spoke extemporaneously, including David Ezekiel, Barbara Hantman, Sandra Levine, Joel Marcus, and Marvin Menzin. Every speaker shared history and anecdotes, insights and appreciation, with most of the memories focused on the transition years from the mid-1950s through the 1960s. The program was conceived by Fred Ezekiel and underwritten through the Bess Ezekiel Memorial Fund. Joining Fred on the planning committee were Meli Solomon and Rebecca Weintraub, rabbinic intern. Rabbi David Lerner also shared some thoughts from the podium. The overall impact of the individuals’ recollections and reflections was a sense of great fulfillment over the successful outcome of the time, energy, and money invested by Temple Emunah’s early generations. Mike Rosenberg
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Inside: President................................... 2 Shabbat Services....................... 3 Adult Ed..................................... 4 Worship..................................... 5 Religious School/Youth............. 6 Family Ed................................... 7 Pre-School................................. 8 Social Action.............................. 9
בתוך Library/Ladle Fund.................. 10 Sisterhood/Brotherhood .........11 Emunah Connect......................12 Rabbi........................................13 Yahrzeits.................................. 14 Donations.................................17 Milestones............................... 18 Calendar.................................. 19
Viewing posters of Emunah memories. (Photo: Ken Hausman)