INSIDE THIS ISSUE CBS Annual Meeting ................................ 2 President’s Message.................................. 3 Pesach Service Schedule.......................... 4 Ugandan Jewish Community .................. 5 Q&A/CBS Staff........................................... 6 CBS de Mayo.............................................. 7 Shabbat at CBS .......................................... 8 B’nai Mitzvah/HUGS Seder ..................... 9 Religious School ...................................... 10 Social Action ............................................ 11 CBS U/Adult Ed/HAZAK/CBS High.12-13 Sisterhood........................................... 14-15 Men’s Club ................................................ 16 Yom HaShoah Commemoration ........ 17 Keruv ......................................................... 18 ShabbaTONE ........................................... 19 Service and Candle Lightiing ................ 20 Birthdays/Anniversaries ......................... 21 Yahrzeits ................................................... 22 Milestones ................................................. 23 Donations ........................................... 24-25 Ads ........................................................ 26-27 President’s Brunch .................................. 28 Rabbi ................................................... Aaron Melman Cantor ..................................................Steven Stoehr Assistant Rabbi ..................................... Ari Averbach Executive Director ............................ Michael Garlin Director of Jewish Life & Learning ................................................. Leann Blue Director of Education .......................... Stacy Ybarra Ritual Director ............. Cantor Raquel P. Gershon Director of Youth & Young Family Engagement ……… Eric Golberg Controller ......................................... Susan Karlinsky President .........................................Debbie Solomon Sisterhood President..........................Leatte Gelfeld Men’s Club President ................................. Dan Sher USY President .............................. Rebecca Jacobson
Rabbi Emeritus .......................................Carl Wolkin Executive Director Emeritus .................................... Harvey Gold, FSA z’l Director of Education Emeritus ............... Rabbi Sander J. Mussman, RJE z’l SHALOM INFO Shalom is published monthly by Congregation Beth Shalom, 3433 Walters, Northbrook, Illinois 60062-3298 for the exclusive use of its members and staff. All material contained herein is the property of Congregation Beth Shalom.
APRIL 2019 • VOLUME 70 ISSUE 40
ADAR II - NISSAN 5779 | APRIL 2019 • VOLUME 70 ISSUE 40
RABBI AVERBACH’S REVELATIONS My least favorite part of the seder is the Four Sons/Children. I try to skip this part every year, but I am overruled by those who want to discuss them again. One of my issues is that I want to bring in new readings, new perspectives, but I feel obligated to still finish on time. That means we have to find some of the chaff and separate it out so that the brisket doesn’t get cold. The Four Children falls into that category (as does the Frog Song, but I lose on that one as well). Another reason is that I dislike the idea of labeling people. I don’t want others to label me, and I feel we limit the potentiality of others once we slap on a broad statement about who they are based on one question they ask. It does not help that three of the four iconic children get negative labels (wicked, simple, not understanding enough to even formulate a question). Only one (the wise child) is seen positively. I like that we are pushing education and inquisitiveness, but I feel the tension build in the room as siblings look for each other across the maze of tables, pointing to each other at the designation they believe the other deserves, either feeling confident or dejected if they are not themselves embodying the sole positive trait. And perhaps, if I am not the wise child in my family, or the wise one at this seder, then I am not worthy of my religion. If everyone points to me as the wicked or simple child, I might as well not be here... ...and maybe I just carry around too much childhood baggage? What is unique about Pesach is that we spend so much time preparing. No other holiday gets this level of attention. I know that some of you have already done your shopping, and others have already finished cooking by this point, weeks ahead of time. Beyond that, we clean, we scour, we wash and buff and polish and scrub. We make sure that our table looks different and our food tastes different. But do we make sure that we are different? Do we take the time and energy to prepare ourselves for these moments? More than Yom Kippur, which has us standing in shul most of the day, Pesach leaves us hanging in the balance. We hold two opposing truths at once: we are enslaved; we are free. Which way are we heading on that journey? Who are we bringing along with us? Do we feel the weight of this moment? Beyond the branding of being the wise or wicked child, we must confront our own multiplicity. We are each a combination of the four children, as is everyone else. No one should be seen as merely one. This is one of the slaveries to which we are shackled, yearning to break free. Only by freeing others – of labels, of baggage, of loneliness – will they be seen. And then you will be found. Rabbi Averbach