INSIDE THIS ISSUE Holiday Boutique ...................................... 2 President’s Message.................................. 3 Chanukah .................................................... 4 CBS News................................................... 5 Shabbat at CBS .......................................... 6 CBS De Mayo ............................................ 7 Q&A/CBS Staff........................................... 8 Kadima ......................................................... 9 Youth/B’nai Mitzvah ............................... 10 SKIP ............................................................ 11 Religious School ...................................... 12 Keruv ......................................................... 13 CBS U/Adult Education/HAZAK .. 14-15 Sisterhood........................................... 16-17 Men’s Club .......................................... 18-19 Social Action ............................................ 20 Birthdays/Anniversaries ......................... 21 Milestones ................................................. 22 Yahrzeits ................................................... 23 Donations ........................................... 24-25 Ads ........................................................ 26-27 Service and Candle Lighting ................. 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................ Matt Rissien 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 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.
NOVEMBER 2018 • VOLUME 66 ISSUE 36
RABBI AVERBACH’S REVELATOINS Rabbi Averbach
A community member (though not a congregant) recently got upset with me that I would give a sermon in response to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court. It should be noted that this community member has never heard me give a sermon, and was speaking in response to the idea that a religious leader might speak about something so topical as the biggest national news of the week. I understand where he is coming from – we come into our sanctuary for sanctuary from the onesided talking heads we see on television, hear on the radio, and read in the newspapers. Our religious leaders should be apolitical. While I did speak in response to Justice Kavanaugh, I did not speak about him. I did not mention him nor the high court. Previously when speaking about topical issues (mental health, guns, Israel, #MeToo, etc), I was careful not to make it a one sided diatribe. I realize that my area of expertise is not political science or international affairs, and no one is coming to shul for my opinion on these issues. But, I believe some people do come to shul for Judaism’s take on these matters. If Judaism, or any
NOVEMBER 2018 • VOLUME 66 ISSUE 36
religion, has nothing to say about the world that is unfolding around us, then it is dead. Judaism only makes sense because it is alive, because of what it has to say about the universe, millennia after it was written, because it is still prescient. People are quick to bring up the legality of politics from the bimah, but the Johnson Amendment, which is mostly still in place, merely forbids the synagogue from endorsing a single candidate. We are certainly allowed to make known our take on any pressing issue that could affect us as a community and us as individuals. My goal is to be a rabbi to the community – not to a segment of the community who happens to agree with my politics. If someone fears for what I will say when given a microphone, and therefore refuses to welcome me into their lifecycle events, then I have failed that family and the entire community. But if I have nothing of note to say – if my understanding of the Torah in 2018 is the same as it was in any other year, then I am an unnecessary part of the Beth Shalom family. No matter what news comes down the pike, I hope we can create a safe space to discuss it together. I am always willing to listen.