October brings a season of new beginnings, from Simchat Torah’s fresh start with the Torah to new ways of gathering, like our fall Hebrew conversation group. See what’s in store, and reach out anytime.
Dear friends,
Sadly, the world continues to roil with war, violence, and discord, and one obvious (and age-old) question that comes up over and over again among those of us who live in this disturbing era is: Where is God in the face of all this horror? That’s a valid question, and a profound challenge to those of us who do believe in the reality of God. I explored this topic in my sermon on Kol Nidre a couple of months ago.
But we mustn’t fall prey to the current trend in our culture on this key issue—the false dichotomies of either a rigid fundamentalism or a dogmatic atheism. Tragically, at times horrifically, we see the fruits of the former ideology every night on television. Yet the latter worldview, while not as gruesome or dangerous, is still disturbing, still a symptom of the kind of closed-mindedness that can slide toward its own form of extremism. Many recent best-selling “religion” books have been mercilessly devoted to attacking and trying to debunk any grounds whatsoever for believing in a higher power. For these authors, belief in God is treated either as primitive or completely idiotic.
In violent and divisive times like these, especially, we need to have open minds. We are all too aware of the closed-mindedness and dangers of religious fundamentalists and extremists. But let’s be honest with ourselves. There are a lot of people out there who are just as dogmatic and “fundamentalist” about their atheism. Yet neither religious fundamentalism nor secular dogmatism is the answer—they’re both too easy, and neither will ultimately make this world the kind of world that most of us want to live in.
I believe that a “skeptical theism” might prove to be our best approach to the God question in this unsettling century. Rav Kook, Israel’s first Chief Rabbi, argued that, to look at the world—with all its violence, suffering, and injustice—and not experience at least a flicker of what he termed “temporary atheism” was itself as sin, for it demonstrated a hardened and indifferent heart. Having serious doubts about God’s presence and/or existence, according to Rav Kook, is not only acceptable—it is a sign of an insightful, sensitive, and empathetic soul.
In other words, ambiguity, even in matters of faith, is okay.
Here’s the bottom line: to believe in the existence of a living God in this overly rationalistic, narcissistic, and materialistic day and age—even a God we can wrestle with, question, confront, and sometimes doubt—is about as countercultural, even radical, as it gets. But it is also our best (and perhaps last) bet for trying to construct the world of compassion, meaning, and hope that so many of us so desperately crave.
And so, as your rabbi, I ask you in this new Jewish year to challenge your long-held assumptions. Question your own authority. Pry open your minds and watch as they stretch your souls. You may be surprised by what you discover.
B’shalom,
Niles
Among the books highlighted last month’s newsletter is The Bialy Eaters – a story that explores the history of this Jewish staple. Not very common in California – but a popular chewy, crusty roll whose origin is Bialystok, Poland and still popular in New York City.
Rediscovering a family book is not simply about finding an old object. It is about recovering a piece of your family’s collective memory. The book becomes a bridge between the past and the present, allowing people who never met their ancestors to learn about their lives, values, and experiences. It can help you understand your ancestors and give you a deeper sense of who you are and where you come from
My father grew up in Bialystok, but I knew little about the origin of the Bialy other than the name. The author took a tour of Bialystok and discovered only 8 Jews in the city. Reading her stories gave me a strong incentive to visit the land of my father. And I, too, experienced the devastation. Just before leaving, I came upon a photography shop. The same one that took photos of my family. They were overwhelmed to see their photos before the war. We hugged and cried. An experience I will never forget. This is the power of a book.
Eve Kahn
President
I am just returning from the annual conference of the National Association of Temple Administrators (NATA), and I come bearing three things: a tote bag full of brochures, a notebook crammed with ideas, and a renewed sense of gratitude for this community.
For those who may not know, NATA brings together synagogue and temple professionals from across the country: executive directors, administrators, program coordinators, and finance and operations staff. We are, in essence, the people who help make sure the lights are on, the budget balances, and the kiddush is, somehow, always ready on time. It is a rare and wonderful thing to spend several days among colleagues who understand exactly what it means when someone says, “The boiler is making that noise again.”
There’s an old saying that if you’ve seen one synagogue, you’ve seen one synagogue. Every community is different, but I was struck by how many of our questions are shared. Here are a few themes that stayed with me:
If I’m honest, some of the most valuable moments happened between sessions. Over coffee, I swapped ideas with an administrator from a congregation half our size and another twice our size, and discovered we’d all been wrestling with the same questions. I came home with a handful of new friends, a few clever solutions to old problems, and the comforting knowledge that nobody has figured out the perfect parking plan for the High Holy Days.
A conference is only worthwhile if it leads to action. In the coming months, I’ll be sharing these ideas with our clergy, staff, and board, and exploring which ones fit our community best. Some may be quick wins. Others will take time and thoughtful discussion. I’ll keep you updated as we go, and I welcome your ideas, too.
This conference was a reminder of how much we gain when we learn from one another. I am grateful to the board for supporting my attendance, and to all of you for the trust you place in our staff and leadership.
As we head toward Thanksgiving, I am especially thankful to serve this community. If you’d like to hear more about what I learned, or have an idea you’d like me to explore, please stop by my office or send me a note. I’d love to talk.
Warmly,
Marah Peresechensky
Executive Director
Ever wonder what those Hebrew words are on the sanctuary windows? 12 glass panels above the ark hold 12 values at the heart of our congregation. Each month in this space, Rabbi Niles unpacks one of them:
The Jewish value for this month at CBS is Rachamim, or mercy and compassion. Rachamim derives from the Hebrew word rechem, or “womb.” This ancient value teaches us that when we interact with others— humans, animals, and our natural world— we should show love and kindness toward them, like the protective, unconditional love that a mother has for her child. Tha’s what we pray God will show each of us as well. It is not always easy to express rachamim for others, but it is essential to living a moral and spiritual life.
– Rabbi Niles
Here’s what’s happening this month; visit our full calendar to see everything on the horizon.
Library open hours are Fridays 5:00 – 6:00 pm, and Sundays 11:00 am to 12 noon.
Browse our Beth Shalom Conrey Library online anytime.
1 Joan Harris
2 Suzanne Mason
2 Irene Yesowitch
2 Steve Gordon
2 Julie Ann Kodmur
5 Alexandra Farber
5 Jessica Khankhanian
5 Miriam Alexandra Farber
5 Roberta Solomon
7 David Dell
8 Nancy Goldstein
8 David Freed
10 Danielle Berlin
11 Tulah Shully
11 Anthony Willmert
12 Eleanor Shaul
12 Yair Kaduri
13 Charaine Lucas
14 Michele Spitulnik
14 Anika Ewig
16 Mary Luros
17 Peter Willmert
17 Amina Shully
18 Joshua Nebenzahl
18 Sandi Perlman
19 Nate Charney
19 Jacob Edwards
19 Hannah Edwards
20 Cameron Gerien
20 Lee Bycel
20 Lauran Posner
21 Alan Goldstein
22 Sue Wollack
22 Jordan Massey
22 Lana Winograde
24 Judy Dumonde
25 Elliott Miluso
27 Rebecca Blum
28 Murray Woolf
29 Aaron Ladrigan
29 Marsha Huber
29 Samuel Luros
4 Dave & Charlene Dobrow
7 Mara Bleviss & Mike Edwards
22 Larry & Lauran Posner
26 Larry & Linda Miller
29 Eva & Tabitha Valenti-Bird
30 Renee & Jose Cazares
We remember and honor loved ones on the anniversary of their passing on these days this month. Make a donation in honor of a loved one.
1 Daniel (Dan) Weinstein
1 Joseph Santana
1 Miriam Schmidt Percelay
2 Elliott Kapchan
2 Pat Warfield
2 Vicky Kazes
3 Annie Nussbaum
3 Joseph Souroujon
3 Meg Magnan
3 Orville S Cohen
3 Rosalie Becker
4 Bernice Cabral
4 Gladys Shubin
5 Margaret Gert
5 Marilyn Finkelstein
6 Nidra Rosie Rosenthal
7 Carl H. Lehman
7 David Folkman
7 Guy Simon
7 Louis Landau
7 Samuel Cooper
8 Donald Klein
8 Michael Blend
9 Sara Sager
10 David Cohen
10 Jay J Ginsburg
12 Ada Sultan
12 Basha Snyder
12 Dora Margolis
12 Regina Lunin
12 Stephen Gardner
14 Earlene M Weibel
14 Gilbert Schnitzer
14 Hermine Simon
14 William Stein
15 Benjamin Nehoray
15 David Jay Neustadt
15 Leigh Medine
16 Bertha Kron
17 Berna Joseph Sherman
17 Blanche Goodman Burgheimer
17 Jerry Kerbis
18 Mellissa Lucas
18 Sidney Posner
19 Maryam Mashadi
19 Una Kramer
20 Rahel Moradi
21 Thelma Schnitzer
22 Harry Zeitlin
23 Frank Pavolillo, Jr
24 Lucille Meltzer
24 Malcom Nanes
24 Sidney Levy
26 Alice Medine King
26 Jacob Boverman
27 Elvera Shore
27 Paul Deckter
28 Oscar Dover
29 Dorothy Sills
29 Rose Cohen
30 Joseph Burgheimer
30 Katie Domfort
General Fund:
• In memory of Morton Sherman – Anne & Debbie Percelay
• In memory of Berna Joseph Sherman – Anne & Debbie Percelay
• In memory of Miriam Schmidt Percelay – Anne & Debbie Percelay
• In dedication to all those who lost their lives on October 7th – Renee and Jose Cazares
• In memory of Steve Eisendrath – Debra & Stuart Eisendrath
• In memory of David Mendelsohn – Donna Mendelsohn
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund:
• Thank you Rabbi Niles for officiating our wedding and for the beautiful ceremony. – Ariela Holmer and Ronen Idrisov
Youth Fund:
• In memory of Clare McCaslin – Roy & Sue Barush
• In memory of Jay Martin Barush – Roy & Sue Barush
Bikur Cholim Fund:
• In memory of my beloved granddaughter, Samantha Jane Kessler. – Judy Nystrom
Refugee Ressettlement Fund:
• In memory of Beatrice Bernstein Cohen – Henni Cohen and Lee Trucker
Interested in becoming a member? Learn more about the benefits of membership, join Beth Shalom today, or reach out to Executive Director Marah Peresechensky to start the discussion.
An $18 donation to Congregation Beth Shalom includes placement in our newsletter from the time your submission is received through the conclusion of your event. Contact us to learn more or submit your content. Submissions must be received by the 15th of each month to be included in the following month’s newsletter. Congregation Beth Shalom reserves the right to decline any submission.
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Contact Meredith Cutler at 215-285-0865
Special discounts for Beth Shalom members.
Primavera
Saturday, October 21
Two showtimes: 4:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Jarvis Conservatory (1711 Main St, Napa)
View the trailer and buy tickets
A talented violinist, Cecilia, confined in an orphanage, meets Vivaldi who becomes her teacher. Under his mentorship and through his music, she gains courage to break free from the life she was destined for and pursue her passion.
President: Eve Kahn
Vice President: Shira Lubliner
Treasurer: Ellyn Elson
Secretary: Michael Chevlen
Past President: Roberta Solomon
Board members at large:
Meredith Cutler
Alan Goldstein
Amy Hall
Sandi Hyman
Elaina Michalski
Suzie Myers
Robin Stearn
Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or just to have a cup of coffee and a chat. Our doors are always open to you.
Rabbi
Niles Goldstein
Executive Director
Marah Peresechensky
Music Director
Gordon Lustig