COMMENTARY / SYNAGOGUE NEWS
October 2021
Federation Star
7A
The life-sustaining wellspring of Judaism Rabbi Ammos Chorny
M
ost books we read, we open but once! A classic draws us to revisit it on occasion. Not so with the Torah. As we finish its yearly reading in synagogue, we immediately begin it afresh, without interruption. By the Middle Ages, a special festival of Simhat Torah emerged to mark the completion of the cycle. As the name suggests, our “joy in the Torah” gives expression to the centrality of the sacred book in our lives. The processions around the synagogue with bundles of palm, myrtle and willow branches in hand, transmuted into a seven-fold procession of dancing and singing with Torah scrolls in thankfulness for the privilege of finishing yet another round of reading from beginning to end.
Simhat Torah points to the momentous shift from sacred space to sacred Book, which Judaism negotiated after the destruction of the Second Temple. The void came to be filled by the synagogue, with Scripture serving as its oxygen. Words replaced sacrifices, while public reading of the Torah became the vehicle for adult education, the Psalms providing the lion’s share of the liturgy. Emanating from the Book, study and prayer shaped the character of the institution. Unlike the Temple, the synagogue was portable, democratic and unencumbered by laws of purity. Jews could now build places of worship wherever they might settle. Therein, they approached God in prayer on their own, without a priestly hierarchy. Only ignorance barred one from reading Torah or from leading services. Above all, the synagogue took refuge in the sanctity of the Book par excellence, which harbored not only God’s word but God’s manifest presence. Every Jew has had access to, and a share in, God’s word, which is why the Torah is never read without asking a
BETH TIKVAH
specified number to experience the act up-close (a minyan) by taking an Aliyah. As the final portion, read on Simhat Torah, emphatically affirms the Torah is the sacred heirloom of the entire people: “Moses commanded us the Torah as the heritage of the congregation of Jacob” (Deut. 33:4). From earliest age, children are brought to appreciate that the life-sustaining wellspring of Judaism is a book that, in time, they will make their own. In short, the Torah is an extension of God’s persona. There is no greater sacrilege in Judaism than the desecration of a Torah scroll. We rise in its presence, carry and kiss it like a child and bury it when worn and tattered as if it were human. Reading it is the central feature of the synagogue service and retaining the archaic format of a scroll over a codex heightens our sense of otherness and holiness. Among life’s most important and enduring tasks is to study its endlessly expansive contents. Thus, the wraparound ritual of Simhat Torah comports expressively with this book-based value
system. The absence of a caesura signifies our yearning to be ever in the shade of God’s protective presence. Especially in dark times, Jews repeatedly took refuge in their books: from the time of the Mishnah to the Warsaw ghetto … the people of the book met brutality with spiritual resistance. The response, in truth, failed to avert death for many of the victims, but it often left behind a testimony of inspiring consolation. By infusing suffering with dignity and purpose, we have given meaning to our untrammeled lives. I am reminded of the older men, fathers and educators, whom we never met or of whom we have no memory, who in their last tormented months before death in the concentration camps, transcended their appalling confines by reading. Let us now, in the threshold of a new year, grab hold of the torch that is the Torah, and illuminate the path forward with God’s word and its millenary teachings. Rabbi Ammos Chorny serves at Beth Tikvah.
www.bethtikvahnaples.org / 239.434.1818
Remembering Steven Chizzik President
W
e just gathered to celebrate Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (the Feast of the Tabernacles), concluding the holiday season celebrating Shemini Atzeret and Simchas Torah (rejoicing with the Torah). We celebrate all these holidays in synagogue with friends and family. While celebrating this way is not unique to the Jewish religion, what separates us from other religions is that, at these special times, we Jews also remember our departed friends and family. Four times a year, during the Yiskor service, Jews publicly remember loved ones, members of our congregation and those who perished in the Holocaust. It is during these family holidays that we are reminded of our heritage; that who we are today is based on those from which we came. For me, this is what makes Judaism special, and Beth Tikvah a unique place. Beth Tikvah not only holds Yiskor services on these special holidays, we also provide minyanim whenever someone requests, to recite Kaddish on the anniversary of the passing of a loved one as well as during the Shiva period, when someone is grieving a recent passing of a loved one. It is these times that a congregant learns their Beth Tikvah family is there to solidly support them during a difficult period. While Beth Tikvah is a warm and caring Jewish community, we are also a very vibrant synagogue, with happenings going on all the time. Yes, we know how to pray and remember, but we also know how to learn, how to rejoice and how to
have fun. I invite everyone to come experience what makes Beth Tikvah so special. Please remember to keep Sunday afternoon, Dec. 5 clear on your calendar. State Attorney for the 13th District of Florida (Tampa area), Andrew Warren, is coming to Beth Tikvah to discuss antisemitism. I’ve had the privilege of listening to State Attorney Warren speak on this topic. He was so dynamic, that I immediately asked him to come to Beth Tikvah. This event will be cosponsored by Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. Please follow our website to see all the exciting happenings being scheduled at Beth Tikvah for the new season ahead.
Beth Tikvah October “Happenings” (In person and on Zoom) Sunday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. – Rosh Chodesh Women’s Study Thursday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m. – Movie plus discussion
Religious services streaming schedule Sunday morning services begin at 9 a.m. Friday services begin at 6:15 p.m. Saturday services begin at 9:30 a.m. We convene Yahrzeit minyanim upon request. You may reach Rabbi Chorny directly at 239-537-5257. There are many people working very hard to make Beth Tikvah a very special place — it is truly a team effort. If you have energy and a few available hours, please let me know. We could always use more great ideas and assistance. I would also like to remind everyone that Beth Tikvah is now offering new members their first year’s dues free of charge. If you or a friend want to experience the warmth and community found at Beth Tikvah, please come experience our special congregation.
Beth Tikvah is the affiliated congregation in Greater Naples of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ). We are grateful to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (JFGN) for support of our
Scholar in Residence, Naples Jewish Film Festival and All Things Jewish programs. I look forward to seeing you soon, either in person or via Zoom.
Managing one’s finances can be hard, but you no longer have to do it alone. Naples Daily Money Manager can help.
• Bill Paying • Document Organization • Reconciliations • Budgeting • Banking • Professional Collaborations Bonded and Insured naplesdmm@gmail.com 239-300-7177 www.naplesdmm.com
