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<strong>August</strong> <strong>Services</strong><br />
Thursday, <strong>August</strong> 4<br />
Shacharit Morning Minyan 7:45 am<br />
Saturday, <strong>August</strong> 6<br />
Tot Shabbat 9:30-10:30 am<br />
Led by Rabbi Latz & Shana Eisenberg<br />
Shabbat <strong>Services</strong> 10:30 am<br />
Led by Rabbi Simon & Shana Eisenberg<br />
Thursday, <strong>August</strong> 11<br />
Shacharit Morning Minyan 7:45 am<br />
Friday, <strong>August</strong> 12<br />
Shabbat <strong>Services</strong> 8:00 pm<br />
Led by Rabbi Latz, Helen Kivnick & Gary<br />
Gardner<br />
Thursday, <strong>August</strong> 18<br />
Shacharit Morning Minyan 7:45 am<br />
Friday, <strong>August</strong> 19<br />
Shabbat <strong>Services</strong> 6:30 pm<br />
Led by Rabbi Latz & Gayle Zoffer<br />
Thursday <strong>August</strong> 25<br />
Shacharit Morning Minyan 7:45 am<br />
Friday <strong>August</strong> 26<br />
Shabbat <strong>Services</strong> 8:00 pm<br />
Led by Rabbi Latz and Jane Newman<br />
Saturday <strong>August</strong> 27<br />
Shabbat <strong>Services</strong> 10:30 am<br />
Led by Rabbi Latz and Jane Newman<br />
Bar Mitzvah of Max Taylor<br />
Photo by Chris Geller<br />
Members of <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>, wearing<br />
T-shirts that say “<strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>:<br />
Praying for Justice, Working for<br />
Equality,” march in the Twin<br />
Cities Pride Parade on June 26.<br />
<strong>August</strong> 2011 | Vol. 23, No. 12 | Av/Elul 5771<br />
Participants in the<br />
adult education<br />
retreat engage<br />
in text study.<br />
Lifelong Learning at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong><br />
Learning is essential in Judaism. In Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Ancestors)<br />
we learn:<br />
“The world is supported by three things: study, prayer, and good deeds.”<br />
Just as we Jews are expected to pray and to work to make the world a<br />
better place, so too are we commanded to engage in study.<br />
The Lifelong Learning Taskforce is actively engaged in the process of<br />
congregational “visioning.” This dedicated group of members is pursuing<br />
what is at the core of learning in order to help us shape the future of<br />
learning for our congregation.<br />
I am excited to see the arrival of a new school year on the horizon.<br />
Religious School and Hebrew School begin in September, there will be a<br />
series of classes during the month of Elul (the month preceding the High<br />
Holy Days), and Wendy Goldberg, Rabbi Latz and I will teach a number of<br />
classes, including the new “Radical Amazement: A Vibrant Judaism of the<br />
Heart, Mind, and Soul” on Sunday mornings.<br />
Adult Education student Chris Bargeron says, “No matter your background or<br />
experience, <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> has a place for you to continue your Jewish learning.”<br />
I hope you will join us on a lifelong Jewish learning journey.<br />
Rabbi Simon<br />
More comments on lifelong learning are continued throughout this issue.
2<br />
From our<br />
Senior Rabbi...<br />
“Give your heart to learning,”<br />
invites the Talmud.<br />
What does it mean to give one’s<br />
heart to learning?<br />
Our sages teach that it means<br />
keep our minds and hearts open<br />
to learning from everyone in all<br />
situations; every moment is an<br />
opportunity to engage the deepest<br />
promptings of our soul and discern<br />
God’s presence in our lives.<br />
As <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>, we learn in a variety<br />
of ways: In classes, during services,<br />
on retreats, at the beginning of<br />
meetings.<br />
Since Rabbi Simon joined us one<br />
year ago, we’ve asked this question<br />
of everyone in our community: What<br />
does quality, inspiring, engaging,<br />
From our Music Director<br />
I love the Mishkan T’filah prayer book. I<br />
love the choice of many interpretations<br />
of prayers and see it as a choose-yourown-adventure<br />
type of prayer book.<br />
I rarely stay on the same page as the<br />
congregation during an entire service<br />
because I’ve wandered to some<br />
random page and been lost in the<br />
prayers I’ve found, which inevitably<br />
speak to me.<br />
I wonder: How can I help you wander<br />
off the page and into prayers that speak<br />
to you? How can you help make this<br />
book a living, breathing document<br />
that can inspire you differently each<br />
time you open it? These are the central<br />
questions that guide my teachings<br />
in b’nei mitzvah lessons, morning<br />
minyan, and adult education classes.<br />
During the past year, b’nei mitzvah<br />
families—both from the adult class<br />
and the 7 th -grade group—wanted<br />
help understanding the flow of <strong>Shir</strong><br />
<strong>Tikvah</strong> services. It seemed that when<br />
we change melodies week-to-week,<br />
some people experience each new tune<br />
transformative lifelong Jewish<br />
learning look like across the life<br />
span?<br />
Rabbi Simon’s title is intentional:<br />
“Director of Lifelong Learning.”<br />
Why? Because we understand that<br />
our great spiritual questions, known<br />
as our grand Jewish quest, are not<br />
resolved when one becomes a bar or<br />
bat mitzvah.<br />
Rather, we grow as Jews and<br />
spiritual adults in every stage of<br />
our lives. We need an educational<br />
program and infrastructure that<br />
supports and edifies this learning.<br />
I am delighted this issue of Kol<br />
“We grow as Jews and spiritual adults in every stage<br />
of our lives. We need an educational program and<br />
infrastructure that supports and edifies this learning.”<br />
as an entirely new<br />
prayer, rather than<br />
different versions<br />
of the same one.<br />
In May I taught a<br />
“Singing through<br />
the Siddur” class<br />
Wendy Goldberg<br />
to address these<br />
questions. Going<br />
through the outline of a typical service<br />
opened a gateway to understanding<br />
that students found helpful. Many<br />
people purchased their own siddur<br />
(prayer book) in which they can<br />
earmark pages of inspiration.<br />
Students also studied the system of<br />
vowels and accents that Mishkan T’filah<br />
uses to help readers know where<br />
Hebrew words are accented and where<br />
pronunciation shifts. We also learned<br />
where and why the choices of liturgy<br />
get made.<br />
In our Hebrew School t’filah (prayer)<br />
sessions, the students take turns<br />
leading various parts of an evening<br />
service. There are always related<br />
<strong>Tikvah</strong> is devoted to lifelong Jewish<br />
learning. I am especially inspired<br />
by the work of Rabbi Simon and the<br />
Lifelong Learning Taskforce.<br />
Together, along with the<br />
congregation, they are considering<br />
how we create outstanding Jewish<br />
learning in our congregation. I look<br />
forward to sharing in the fruits of<br />
their labor in the months ahead.<br />
Keep your hearts open to learning.<br />
Who knows what great spiritual<br />
treasure we may discover?<br />
L’shalom,<br />
activities included in our communal<br />
time, such as Israeli dancing and<br />
“voting with your feet” about topics.<br />
We always want the participants to<br />
leave with something new, such as<br />
information, insight, or melodies.<br />
Our students have begun requesting<br />
reprises of some of the activities, and<br />
the adults who have participated seem<br />
to leave energized by the experience.<br />
Next year, Rabbi Simon and I will be<br />
teaching the structure of a service in<br />
Hebrew School t’filah. Parents and<br />
members of the congregation are<br />
encouraged to participate.<br />
We’ll meet from 6:00-6:30 pm on<br />
Wednesdays. You are welcome to<br />
purchase a weekday siddur so that<br />
you can mark favorite prayers, write<br />
in your own, or draw something that<br />
inspires you. You can flag the prayer<br />
you want to return to at another time.<br />
I hope all of these experiences promote<br />
access to deeper prayer experiences<br />
and deeper learning.
From our Director of Lifelong Learning...<br />
“Jewish learning can be<br />
very powerful,” writes Isa<br />
Aron in the book Becoming<br />
a Congregation of Learners.<br />
“When learning is active<br />
and engaging, when it is<br />
offered in an environment<br />
that is welcoming and<br />
supportive, it can enrich<br />
people’s lives and ignite<br />
their interest in Judaism.<br />
In the context of a<br />
synagogue, it can serve as<br />
a catalyst for change.”<br />
One of the most powerful<br />
lifelong learning<br />
moments from this past<br />
year occurred for me at<br />
the Capitol during the<br />
debate on the Marriage<br />
Amendment.<br />
As Shabbat drew to a close,<br />
members of Minnesota’s<br />
Jewish community<br />
gathered together in the<br />
rotunda to sing the words<br />
of havdalah, separating<br />
Shabbat from the week. It<br />
was a moving image: b’nei<br />
mitzvah students, longtime<br />
synagogue members,<br />
legislators and their staffs,<br />
and community rabbis, all<br />
swaying together.<br />
Above us, other supporters<br />
gathered around the<br />
balcony, standing in<br />
solidarity with the Jewish<br />
community.<br />
We were living Judaism in<br />
those moments, just as we<br />
had been living Judaism<br />
when we sat in the gallery<br />
or listened to the testimony<br />
New leadership for Judaica shop<br />
For over 15 years, Wendy Morris has voluntarily<br />
managed the <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> Judaica Shop.<br />
She has attended to our shopping needs, making sure<br />
that we are well stocked with candles, mezuzot, and a<br />
myriad of other Judaic items.<br />
Thank you, Wendy, for a job well done and greatly<br />
appreciated!<br />
Wendy is turning over the shop duties to Laura<br />
Detloff, who joined <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> a couple of years ago<br />
and has already been working with Wendy on the<br />
transition.<br />
Watch for a fall sale and online purchasing<br />
opportunities.<br />
Laura is interested in hearing from you about what<br />
you would like to have available in the Judaica Shop<br />
in the future.<br />
She can be reached via email at lmdetloff@gmail.com.<br />
“One of my most powerful lifelonglearning<br />
moments from this past year<br />
occurred at the state Capitol during the<br />
debates on the Marriage Amendment.”<br />
via close-circuit TV. We<br />
were living Judaism as we<br />
sang songs of peace, met<br />
people from other faiths<br />
and spoke out in support<br />
of the values of inclusion.<br />
As we were preparing the<br />
final havdalah blessing,<br />
the security guard came<br />
over and told us that open<br />
flames were not allowed<br />
in the building; we quickly<br />
put out the candle while<br />
offering the blessing for<br />
the separation between the<br />
ordinary and the holy.<br />
That evening was a<br />
moment when the<br />
ordinary became holy.<br />
We were able to see<br />
our students take their<br />
knowledge of the havdalah<br />
service and apply it as a<br />
part of a protest.<br />
We were able to see people<br />
who wouldn’t consider<br />
stepping foot into another<br />
synagogue link arms<br />
with Jews from around<br />
the state. We saw non-<br />
Jews experience Jewish<br />
worship for the first time<br />
and connect through the<br />
melody we sang.<br />
In this ordinary yet holy<br />
setting we were able to<br />
bridge what divides us for<br />
a very holy and powerful<br />
moment of Jewish<br />
learning.<br />
News about Religious School<br />
and Hebrew School<br />
<strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> will be having a back-to-school picnic for<br />
school-age children and their families on Wednesday,<br />
<strong>August</strong> 31, from 5:30-7:00 pm at Lynnhurst Park in<br />
Minneapolis.<br />
Religious School begins on Sunday, September 11, at 9:30<br />
am, with an opening celebration for students and their<br />
families.<br />
Hebrew School begins on Wednesday, September 14, at<br />
4:30 pm and 6:00 pm (note new start time). Both sessions<br />
will come together for t’filah from 6:00-6:30 pm. Families<br />
are invited to participate in T’filah each week.<br />
Check out the lifelong learning section of the <strong>Shir</strong><br />
<strong>Tikvah</strong> website at http://www.shirtikvah.net/<br />
LifelongLearning. On it you can find our school year<br />
calendars, school information, and pictures of our<br />
students.<br />
3
4<br />
Reflections on Jewish Learning<br />
The text messages, Facebook posts, and emails fly. It’s a Thursday morning in late June, and seven 13-year-olds<br />
and their parents try to coordinate getting the kids to the synagogue for the Friday night service celebrating<br />
the b’nai mitzvah of two classmates.<br />
There are siblings to shuffle, rush hour traffic to contend with, work schedules to adjust, championship baseball<br />
games and soccer games conflicting, but the only place our kids want to be is at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> for Friday night services<br />
with their classmates and friends—even though Religious School has been out for over a month.<br />
As another parent and I muse, there are worse places for the kids to be on a Friday night. And isn’t that exactly<br />
what we wanted when we signed them up at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>?<br />
So, despite the logistical challenges, we make it all work out and kvell that our kids cherish their Jewish friends and<br />
their connection to their Jewish life at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>.<br />
Why do I tell you this story? Because as a mother of three kids, having grown up active in Jewish life, Jewish youth<br />
groups, and Jewish education, I wanted nothing more for my kids than to embrace their Judaism, soaking in the<br />
learning through connections to the past, present, and future.<br />
To be truthful, I was a bit hesitant about whether <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> could offer that for my kids. Fortunately, I have been<br />
more than thrilled at the Jewish education and experiences my 7th-grader gained this past year.<br />
We have formed a supportive cohort of families to get us all through the b’nai mitzvah year and have watched<br />
the friendships, the “values education,” the safe forum for honest discussion, the decision by the class to create<br />
a tzedakah collective, the autographed baseball for my child because his <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> classmates know he loves<br />
baseball, and the Skyping for another who was out of the country.<br />
These are not only Jewish values, but the human values of compassion, inclusion, charity, and social justice that we<br />
all share, or strive to share, to make the world a better place (tikkun olam).<br />
My biggest goal for my child, besides being healthy and self-confident, is that he is a mensch. <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> not only<br />
gives him opportunities to practice menschlikite, but the congregation itself lives these values every day.<br />
For that, I am grateful to the <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> community, and especially to the Religious School faculty. Thank you for<br />
encouraging our kids to express who they are, to be confident in their beliefs, and help them integrate it all with a<br />
Jewish perspective. Jennifer Lewin<br />
I<br />
have been fortunate to have taught at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> for 14 years. When I first<br />
began, my son Casey had just begun kindergarten and I secretly wanted to<br />
know more about Judaism. I thought that teaching would be a good way to<br />
learn, and I was correct.<br />
I grew passionate about Judaism from my 5th-grade religious school teacher, who<br />
taught me about the figures and tales from the Tanach.<br />
This past year, I discovered how Pharaoh’s “hardened heart” could be found in my<br />
life, and how Joseph’s brothers throwing him into the pit had much to say about<br />
the modern experiences of bullying. I was able to learn more about prayers and the<br />
various B’rachot (blessings).<br />
I could have possibly discovered these insights through another venue at <strong>Shir</strong><br />
<strong>Tikvah</strong>, but teaching opened these doors for me. Likewise, I have been able, in the<br />
tradition of teachers before me, to pass on some of the beauty of studying Torah<br />
and being a Jew to my students. By having the kids write a midrash based on what<br />
they’ve learned in class, or make a movie, paint a mural, or correspond with their<br />
peers in our sister school in Israel—my hope is that they will be inspired as I was.<br />
The thing that keeps me coming back year after year is the kids. They are loving,<br />
crazy, wise, and funny. Each year I find myself filled with joy by teaching them.<br />
Barry Epstein, 1 st -grade Religious School teacher and 4 th -grade Hebrew School teacher<br />
As a busy adult interested<br />
in continuing my Jewish<br />
education, I found what<br />
I was looking for right here at<br />
<strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>. Prayer, history,<br />
some Torah, some Talmud, great<br />
discussions, and a true sense of<br />
welcome—no matter the course of<br />
one’s Jewish journey.<br />
Rabbi Latz is a dynamic, engaging<br />
teacher, Rabbi Simon makes<br />
beginning Hebrew seem attainable<br />
(this is my fourth try), and I’ve<br />
enjoyed getting to know my<br />
classmates. The whole experience<br />
has been a real blessing.<br />
Mary Small
Confirmants share beliefs<br />
On June 4, members of the Confirmation class led services to honor Shabbat, Shavuot, and Confirmation.<br />
Students shared their personal statements of belief with the congregation. “I believe that tomorrow<br />
will bring better special education to people who may need it,” Zach Minn. “I believe in the power of<br />
community and social justice,” Lillie Benowitz. “I believe in not being dumb,” Emmet Kowler.<br />
Photo by Peter Kowler<br />
Tending the Flame of Lifelong Jewish Learning<br />
[Excerpted from an article posted on the URJ website.]<br />
Tamid is the Hebrew term for “eternal” or “lifelong.” Students in our<br />
movement’s early childhood centers, supplementary schools, day<br />
schools, youth groups and camps all recognize the image of the ner<br />
tamid, the eternal light of a synagogue.<br />
But Judaism also directs us to a continual light within us, which might uplift<br />
us in terms of learning and living as Jews.<br />
We are taught: “Jews must light the ner tamid each in their own heart—<br />
and not only in Tabernacle or Tent, that is, in synagogue or school.” In<br />
other words, our pride in Jewish tradition is kindled in the “street and<br />
marketplace, in profane activities, in all matters relating to…fellow human<br />
beings” (from Itturei Torah as cited in The Torah: A Modern Commentary,<br />
revised edition, p.575).<br />
Motivated to engage our students in a commitment to learning and living<br />
that could be described as tamid, the task force on teen engagement’s<br />
mission is to respond to the challenge of increasing the retention and<br />
engagement of post-b’nei mitzvah teens in our congregations and to create a<br />
cadre of lifelong Jewish learners and Jewish leaders….<br />
As we continue our work, we will seek to remain a part of—and lend<br />
support to—the Reform Movement’s Teen Engagement Campaign. All of us<br />
have a stake in a campaign that seeks to make Jewish learning and living a<br />
continuous commitment and a radiant light from all our teens in the Jewish<br />
community.<br />
Lisa Lieberman Barzilai, RJE, Jo Kay, RJE, and Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk<br />
Co-chairs, Teen Engagement Task Force, Union for Reform Judaism<br />
[Rabbi Simon will be attending the URJ Summit on Teen Engagement in December<br />
2011. Article reprinted with permission.]<br />
Religious and<br />
Hebrew School News<br />
We need volunteers for our schools.<br />
Please consider being a room parent,<br />
substitute teacher, greeter, office<br />
assistant or all-around helper. If<br />
you have any questions about our<br />
upcoming school year, please be sure<br />
to contact me at (612) 822-1440 or<br />
RabbiSimon@<strong>Shir</strong><strong>Tikvah</strong>.net.<br />
If you have not yet registered your<br />
students for Religious School or<br />
Hebrew School, you can do so on<br />
our website at: http://bit.ly/r2657z.<br />
Please be assured that no child will<br />
be refused a Jewish education due<br />
to financial constraints. Special<br />
tuition arrangements can be made by<br />
contacting Executive Director John<br />
Humleker. If you have any questions,<br />
please contact me at 612 822 1440<br />
or e-mail RabbiSimon@<strong>Shir</strong><strong>Tikvah</strong>.<br />
net.<br />
Rabbi Simon<br />
New Time Slot for<br />
Torah study<br />
Our monthly lunchtime Torah study<br />
group will be held on the first Friday<br />
of each month, starting on <strong>August</strong> 5<br />
from 12:15-1:30 pm. in the <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong><br />
library.<br />
While we read through the Torah<br />
in chronological order, we tackle<br />
approximately 12-14 verses each<br />
month, with plenty of time for<br />
questions and consideration of<br />
commentators.<br />
We are currently studying the story<br />
of Joseph’s sojourn in Egypt and his<br />
reunification with his brothers.<br />
Some people are able to come every<br />
month; some come intermittently<br />
as their schedules allow. All are<br />
welcome to join at any time—for<br />
both the study and the community.<br />
To be added to the e-mail reminder<br />
list, please send an e-mail to me at<br />
gaylerz@yahoo.com.<br />
Gayle Zoffer<br />
5
6<br />
From our President ...<br />
As I begin my tenure as<br />
president, I find myself<br />
reflecting on the many ways<br />
in which <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> has<br />
been a spiritual home and<br />
a welcoming community to<br />
me and my family since we<br />
joined in 1989.<br />
I look forward to forging<br />
new connections, engaging<br />
members in innovative and<br />
meaningful activities, and<br />
leading the congregation in<br />
new directions over the next<br />
two years.<br />
Looking at the calendar, I<br />
see that the 9th day of Av<br />
(<strong>August</strong> 8 on the secular<br />
calendar) brings the holiday<br />
of Tisha B’av. Like many<br />
Jewish holidays, Tisha B’av<br />
commemorates a time in<br />
history when the Jewish<br />
people were persecuted.<br />
What fascinates me about<br />
this holy day is that in our<br />
long history, Jews have<br />
endured various acts of<br />
From our Board ...<br />
Rabbi Simon led the D’var Torah by<br />
speaking on memory and Judaism,<br />
how we can learn from our past, and<br />
not lose our history. We discussed<br />
how Jewish memory plays a role<br />
in our lives at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>, and that<br />
embracing our history and reflecting<br />
on where we come from is important<br />
for the future, for our lifelong<br />
learning program, and to our social<br />
justice work.<br />
Jane Binder welcomed current and<br />
new members to the board. We<br />
learned interesting things about each<br />
other.<br />
Jane announced that Kathryn<br />
Klibanoff will continue as the<br />
at-large member to the Executive<br />
Committee. Jane is also continuing<br />
persecution on this same<br />
date. The first temple<br />
was destroyed on the 9th<br />
day of Av in 586 BCE and<br />
the second temple was<br />
destroyed on the 9th day of<br />
Av in 70 CE.<br />
On the 9th of Av in 1290,<br />
Jews were expelled from<br />
England, and in 1492 Jews<br />
were expelled from Spain.<br />
On the eve of Tisha B’Av in<br />
1942, Jews were deported<br />
from the Warsaw Ghetto<br />
and taken to Treblinka.<br />
For many observant Jews<br />
Tisha B’av is a day of<br />
mourning and fasting as<br />
“the saddest day in Jewish<br />
history” is recalled. But<br />
others focus not only on our<br />
tragic past but on the fact<br />
that we have endured as a<br />
people; we have survived<br />
and grown, moving<br />
forward and adapting with<br />
the changing times.<br />
<strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>’s history, while<br />
far less dramatic, is also<br />
a history of survival and<br />
growth. We have much to<br />
celebrate as we look at our<br />
history, but we must also<br />
continue to move forward<br />
and adapt in the future.<br />
As we approach <strong>Shir</strong><br />
<strong>Tikvah</strong>’s 25th anniversary,<br />
we take pride in our<br />
rich history and on the<br />
foundation upon which<br />
it was built. As we look<br />
ahead we want to maintain<br />
our founding values and<br />
mission while embracing<br />
changes in technology,<br />
in our congregational<br />
demographics, and in the<br />
needs of our community.<br />
I feel strongly that, in<br />
order to guide policies and<br />
programs, make decisions,<br />
and plan for our future, we<br />
need to review our mission,<br />
clarify our values, and<br />
articulate our vision. To<br />
that end, I have initiated a<br />
to gather information from a<br />
potential consultant, who may help<br />
guide us through our visioning<br />
process.<br />
John Humleker reported that our<br />
fiscal year ended on June 30, and<br />
we now need to figure out how<br />
our finances ended for the year.<br />
He reported that it looks like<br />
dues collection did not come in<br />
as anticipated and that we will be<br />
looking at a much larger deficit than<br />
previously reported.<br />
John will be working with our<br />
bookkeeper and financial reviewer<br />
to determine the exact amount of the<br />
deficit.<br />
He also reported that dues pledges<br />
for next year have fallen short of<br />
formal visioning process<br />
that will begin after the<br />
High Holy Days.<br />
From there we will<br />
develop strategic initiatives<br />
for moving our holy<br />
community forward in a<br />
well-considered way.<br />
There will be opportunities<br />
for every congregant to<br />
participate in this process,<br />
and I hope you will. <strong>Shir</strong><br />
<strong>Tikvah</strong> cannot survive<br />
as the vibrant, inclusive<br />
community we know by<br />
simply relying on the past;<br />
we must be mindful of how<br />
we want our future to look.<br />
We can use our wonderful<br />
history, and the values upon<br />
which our community was<br />
founded, as a springboard<br />
to create a future for which<br />
we can all be proud.<br />
B’Shalom,<br />
Jane Binder<br />
our projections. This will be an<br />
extremely tight year. John will<br />
be working with the Finance and<br />
Administration Committee to review<br />
options.<br />
John announced that our new<br />
address is officially 1360 West<br />
Minnehaha Parkway, though we<br />
will still maintain 5000 Girard as a<br />
secondary address.<br />
Jim L. Miller introduced three new<br />
household members to the board.<br />
Our current synagogue membership<br />
is at 393, and we have six new<br />
memberships pending.<br />
Wendy Horowitz, Recording<br />
Secretary<br />
John Humleker, Executive Director
Bar Mitzvah in <strong>August</strong><br />
Max Taylor will become a bar mitzvah<br />
on <strong>August</strong> 27 at 10:30 am. His<br />
Torah portion is Re’eh from Deuteronomy,<br />
in which Moses instructs<br />
the Israelites in the laws that they<br />
were to observe, including the law<br />
of a centralized place of worship,<br />
keeping kosher, the Sabbatical year,<br />
and the three pilgrimage festivals,<br />
Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot.<br />
Max is entering eighth grade at<br />
North Junior High in Minnetonka.<br />
He is an accomplished trombonist<br />
and pianist playing in the school<br />
jazz band.<br />
Max enjoys<br />
skateboarding,<br />
solving Rubik’s<br />
cubes, and movie<br />
making. He’s<br />
finishing his third<br />
year at the JCC’s<br />
Camp Chi, where he hopes to be a<br />
counselor in a few years.<br />
In addition to his individual interests,<br />
Max has a strong sense of community<br />
and social justice. Recently,<br />
he has volunteered with the elderly<br />
at the Sholom Home, playing Bingo.<br />
Max will make donations in honor<br />
of his bar mitzvah to YouthLink and<br />
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s<br />
Fund).<br />
Max and his family would like to<br />
thank his helpful tutors, Wendy<br />
Goldberg and Cheryl Hornstein, as<br />
well as Rabbis Simon and Latz for<br />
their guidance.<br />
Max will participate in the service<br />
Friday, <strong>August</strong> 26, at 8:00 pm.<br />
Update from the Lifelong Learning Taskforce<br />
The mission of the Lifelong Learning Taskforce is to<br />
bring together community members who:<br />
• are committed to <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong><br />
• deeply passionate about Judaism and lifelong learning;<br />
• work collaboratively and independently<br />
• are open to innovation<br />
• are attentive to the needs of our community and<br />
represent our diversity in order to create a vision for<br />
learning at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>.<br />
At the taskforce’s June 23 meeting, members explored the<br />
“low-hanging fruit,” the easy actions that can be quickly<br />
implemented while our visioning process continues. Some<br />
of the ideas discussed included:<br />
• Re-doing old programs or classes<br />
• Taking programs from the URJ (Union for Reform<br />
Judaism) and other congregations and turning them into<br />
an “activity-in-a-box idea,” something easy share among a<br />
group (such as a satellite Shabbat site)<br />
• Arranging to attend a talk at a university or another<br />
congregation<br />
• Programming that groups people in various ways<br />
• considering new ways to build community<br />
We also continued the process of looking at the history of<br />
our own educational programs. We found out that:<br />
• kids who had gone to Jewish day schools were still<br />
expected go to <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>’s Religious School (currently<br />
some day school families have enrolled their children in<br />
Religious School while others have not)<br />
• there is no formal post-confirmation learning program<br />
offered at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> though some students serve as<br />
madrichim (helpers)<br />
• in the Religious School there was a focus on relationships<br />
and community; teachers had flexibility based on their<br />
interests and skills, rather than a formal curriculum<br />
• Rabbi Offner taught an adult class on Jewish practices<br />
and beliefs class, and Rabbi Latz teaches a similar class<br />
called “On One Foot”<br />
• there was more adult programming some years than<br />
others, depending on the makeup of the Adult Education<br />
Committee<br />
Our task force also reviewed our current educational<br />
programming. We looked at information prepared by<br />
the Minneapolis Jewish Federation that highlighted the<br />
work of our Religious School and Hebrew School, and we<br />
reviewed past brochures for adult education courses.<br />
At the conclusion of our meeting, we studied texts<br />
from varying traditions on what happened to the Ten<br />
Commandments that were destroyed by Moses. We<br />
decided we need to keep making progress, but we don’t<br />
need perfection.<br />
In the months ahead the task force will be bringing<br />
questions to the congregation and gathering feedback.<br />
Please be in touch with Rabbi Simon if you are interested in<br />
joining our conversation.<br />
The Lifelong Learning Task Force: Melissa Machovsky,<br />
Beckie Skelton, Susan Geller, Larry Fox, Caroline Schultz, Jim<br />
Rubenstein, Andrea Breen, Wayne Kuklinski, Billie Walstom,<br />
Jennifer Lewin and Rabbi Simon<br />
7
8<br />
The Backpack<br />
Project<br />
For many years, <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong><br />
congregants have supported the<br />
children of “Families Together,” a St.<br />
Paul preschool for children living in<br />
high-risk situations and in poverty.<br />
We are provided with the names<br />
and photos of the children who will<br />
be entering kindergarten in the fall,<br />
along with a list of needed school<br />
supplies and clothing (with their size<br />
and favorite color).<br />
Our families fill<br />
a new backpack<br />
with a variety of<br />
items from the<br />
list. They are then<br />
dropped off at<br />
<strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> office by mid-<strong>August</strong>.<br />
I have been coordinating this program<br />
at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> for a number of years.<br />
I have heard from the organization<br />
that the backpacks symbolize the<br />
excitement of upcoming changes as<br />
well as provide very practical support<br />
to families who have very little<br />
capacity to provide these supplies to<br />
their children. <strong>Shir</strong> Tivkah’s ongoing<br />
community support is greatly<br />
appreciated by the Families Together<br />
staff and families.<br />
To find out more about the program<br />
and how you can be a sponsor,<br />
contact me at jbrook@usfamily.net.<br />
Judith Brook<br />
To become a<br />
sponsor, email<br />
jbrook@<br />
usfamily.net.<br />
Caring and Accessibility<br />
If you have had an illness, would<br />
like a visitor, need a ride to<br />
services, or would like to join<br />
a chavurah, go to http://www.<br />
shirtikvah.net/CaringCommunity<br />
on the <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> website.<br />
You will also find information on<br />
assistance or accommodations<br />
at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>, or can call the<br />
office at (612) 822-1440.<br />
July’s Town Hall Meeting to Organize<br />
Against the Marriage Amendment<br />
Rabbis Latz and Simon, and Rabbis Saks and Zimmerman from Temple Israel, lead the<br />
community in Havdalah at the state Capitol on May 21.<br />
Seventy-five members of <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> demonstrated their strength<br />
and commitment to justice and equality by attending the “Organize<br />
against the Amendment” meeting on June 22. Rabbi Latz opened<br />
the gathering with a prayer and a call to work against enshrining discrimination<br />
into the state Constitution.<br />
Speakers included Linda Alter, who shared her experiences on the power<br />
of telling personal stories; Beth Zemsky, who spoke about the importance<br />
of coalition-building; and Rabbi<br />
Simon, who conveyed the importance<br />
of marriage equality on a<br />
national level.<br />
Monica Myers and Javen Swanson<br />
of Outfront Minnesota discussed the work of Minnesotans United for All<br />
Families, a broad coalition of faith organizations, businesses, communities<br />
of color, progressive organizations, nonpartisan organizations, organized<br />
labor, leaders, current and former elected officials, Republicans, Democrats,<br />
and Green and Independence Party members.<br />
The meeting concluded with a social justice version of “Eliyahu Hanavi,”<br />
led by Wendy Goldberg.<br />
Future steps in fighting the marriage ban will be outlined in the e-newsletter.<br />
There will be speaker trainings, speaking engagements coordinated<br />
with other groups, videotaping of stories, and succinct talking points for<br />
use when visiting with friends, family, or groups.<br />
To be added to the email list of those interested in this working group,<br />
please contact me at alterhomes@mindspring.com. To lend your financial<br />
support, contribute to <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> and designate “Minnesotans United for<br />
All Families” in the memo section of your check.<br />
Linda Alter<br />
To be added to the list of those<br />
interested in this group, email<br />
alterhomes@mindspring.com
Tzedakah <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> is appreciative of all tzedakah given to the congregation. We will notify any people or organizations of contributions made in their<br />
honor. Contributions can be sent to the congregation office. Funds include: <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> Fund, Rabbi Latz Discretionary Fund, Rabbi Simon Discretionary Fund, Rabbi Offner<br />
Legacy Fund for Youth, Adult Scholarship Fund, Building Fund, Flower Fund, Library Fund, Harris Music Fund, Prayerbook Fund, Relief Fund, Social Justice Fund, Special Needs<br />
Education Fund, Torah Fund. Editor’s note: Donations made through June 30 are reflected below. Donations received after June 30 will appear in the September issue.<br />
<strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> Fund<br />
Rick Appelsies, in memory of his father, Larry Appelsies<br />
Burt & Micki Danovsky, for a speedy recovery of Mert<br />
Suckerman<br />
Alena Goldfarb<br />
Gayle Zoffer & David MacNaughton, in memory<br />
of fathers of Ruth Markowitz and Lara Friedman-<br />
Shedlov<br />
Sandrine Zerbib & Tim Paulson, in thanks to Dr. Tanz for<br />
Joseph Zerbib Paulson’s brit milah<br />
Barbara Block, in appreciation of Jim and Andrea<br />
Rubenstein’s hospitality at the April 23rd fundraiser<br />
Debra A Oberman, in honor of Asher Weisberg<br />
becoming a bar mitzvah<br />
Ruth & David Olkon and Rachel Hampton & Darius<br />
Szeczak, in honor of the 45th wedding anniversary of<br />
Anna and Ken Hampton<br />
Mary Small, in honor of the community of <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong><br />
Jay Erstling & Pixie Martin, in memory of Ethel Erstling<br />
Jane Binder & Larry Silber, in honor of Asher Weisberg’s<br />
bar mitzvah<br />
Jane Binder & Larry Silber, in appreciation of Rebecca<br />
Rubenstein<br />
Jane Binder & Larry Silber, in appreciation of two years<br />
with Rabbi Latz<br />
Jane Binder & Larry Silber, in appreciation of one year<br />
with Rabbi Simon<br />
Dan & Lara Friedman-Shedlov, in memory of Harry<br />
Friedman and in appreciation of Rabbi Latz and Rabbi<br />
Simon<br />
Gene & Jane Borochoff, in honor of Sam Weisberg’s<br />
confirmation<br />
Catherine Jordan in memory of Bob Smith, father of<br />
Ruth Markowitz<br />
Amy Lange & Jane Newman, in memory of Howard<br />
Jordan Brown, Gay Bloom, Toby Lerman, Bob Smith<br />
Amy Lange & Jane Newman, in honor of Nadia<br />
Goldman’s and Izzy Rousmaniere’s bat mitzvah<br />
Amy Lange & Jane Newman, in honor of the birth of<br />
Joseph Zerbib Paulson and Isabel Pollock<br />
Amy Lange & Jane Newman, in honor of the<br />
confirmation class of 5771<br />
Elaine Frankowski<br />
Nancy Fushan & David Olson<br />
Mary Hartmann & Billie Wahlstrom, in memory of<br />
Anseim Wahlstrom’s yahrzeit<br />
Daniel & Amy Honigs<br />
Leslie & Surya Iyer, in thanks to Barry Epstein for Macy<br />
Iyer’s great Religious School year<br />
Leslie & Surya Iyer, in thanks to Barry Epstein for a great<br />
year in Hebrew School<br />
Leslie & Surya Iyer, in thanks to Jessica Schroeter for a<br />
great year in Religious School<br />
Ginny & Ray Levi<br />
Ruth Markowitz, in appreciation of the Caring<br />
Committee<br />
Lisa Pogoff & Jeffrey Zuckerman, in honor of Amy<br />
Lange & Jane Newman<br />
Doug & Lisa Powell<br />
Susan Rosenthal Kraus<br />
Kim & Noah Swiler, in honor of mother Jill Swiler<br />
Rabbi Latz’s Discretionary Fund<br />
Audrey & Megan Friedman, in memory of Harry<br />
Friedman<br />
Brittany McCloskey, in appreciation<br />
Claude & Laurel Riedel<br />
Dan & Lara Friedman-Shedlov, in memory of Harry<br />
Friedman<br />
Dan & Lara Friedman-Shedlov, in appreciation of Rabbi<br />
Latz<br />
Jane Levin & Judy Reisman, in appreciation of Laura<br />
Detloff<br />
Diane & Marvin Shedlov, in appreciation<br />
Lior Sztainer & Taylor Tarvestad, in appreciation<br />
Ruth Markowitz, in appreciation<br />
Penny & Steve Schumacher<br />
Rabbi Simon Discretionary Fund<br />
Audrey & Megan Friedman, in memory of Harry<br />
Friedman<br />
Dan & Lara Friedman-Shedlov, in memory of Harry<br />
Friedman<br />
Dan & Lara Friedman-Shedlov in appreciation of Rabbi<br />
Simon<br />
Audrey Appelsies, in appreciation of Greg Leder, Susan<br />
Heinemann, and Jessica Schroeter<br />
Special Needs Education Fund<br />
Gwendy & Dean Campbell, in honor of confirmation<br />
Bill & Sherry Cooper, in honor of confirmation<br />
Alena Goldfarb, in honor of confirmation<br />
Kristin & Peter Kowler, in honor of confirmation<br />
Robert & Christina Rothstein, in honor of confirmation<br />
Harris Music Fund<br />
Audrey & Megan Friedman, in memory of Harry<br />
Friedman<br />
Jim D. Miller, in appreciation of Rebecca Rubenstein’s<br />
devoted work at <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong><br />
Dan & Lara Friedman-Shedlov, in memory of Harry<br />
Friedman<br />
Dan & Lara Friedman-Shedlov, in appreciation of<br />
Wendy Goldberg & David Harris<br />
Rabbi Offner Legacy Fund for Youth<br />
Jessica Cohen<br />
Daniel & Amy Honigs<br />
Kathryn Klibanoff & Jeremy Edes Pierotti<br />
Claire Buchwald & Larry Bogoslaw<br />
Penny, Steve, Allie, Talia & Samara Schumacher, in<br />
memory of Robin Leslie Alvarez<br />
Penny, Steve, Allie, Talia & Samara Schumacher, in honor<br />
of the birth of Eli Reuben Malamy<br />
Social Justice Fund<br />
Jane Levin & Judy Reisman, in honor of the<br />
confirmation of Lillie Benowitz<br />
Caryl Barnett, in memory of her sister, Sally Singer, on<br />
her yahrzeit<br />
[In appreciation of Minnesotans United for All Families:]<br />
Candace Margulies & Zoe Nicholie<br />
Eleanore Troxel<br />
Linda & Lisa Alter Capell<br />
Mindy & Rachel<br />
Linda Crawford & Jo Devlin<br />
Andrea Feshbach<br />
Mazel Tov to...<br />
Alexa Kircher Fang, on her graduation from Benjamin<br />
Cardozo Law School.<br />
Harvey Zuckman, for being honored by the<br />
Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal as one of the<br />
2011 business owner honorees<br />
Lyonel Norris for his recent appointment as a district<br />
court judge in the Fourth Judicial District<br />
Toby Koritsky, on her new job in Rhode Island<br />
Rabbi Simon, on her work on applying for and receiving<br />
a Minneapolis Jewish Federation EDGE Professional<br />
Development grant that will be used to help train<br />
our Religious and Hebrew School faculty<br />
Jane Binder, on her new role as president of the <strong>Shir</strong><br />
<strong>Tikvah</strong>’s Board of Directors<br />
Barbara and Norman Steinberg, on the birth of their<br />
twin grandchildren, Saul Stein and Naomi Ruth<br />
Mindy Kurzer & Moon Zlotnick, on their 20th<br />
anniversary<br />
Janet & Luke Weisberg, on their 20th anniversary<br />
Will Durfee & Devorah Goldstein, on their 30th<br />
anniversary<br />
Dorothy Goldie & Ralph Schwartz, on their 30th<br />
anniversary<br />
Beckie Skelton, who, upon leaving the Minneapolis<br />
Jewish Federation after 12 years to take a job at the<br />
Amos and Celia Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day<br />
School, is being presented with the Leon & Sylvia<br />
Sorkin Jewish Communal Professional Achievement<br />
Award at the Federation’s Annual Meeting<br />
Welcome New Members...<br />
Edward Weinstein<br />
Sandrine Zerbib & Tim Paulson<br />
Emmy Matzner & Dan Higgs<br />
Condolences to...<br />
Harvey Zuckman, on the death of his aunt, Mildred<br />
Zuckman Sahl<br />
Shayna Berkowitz, on the death of her sister, Robin<br />
Leslie Alvarez<br />
Michael Simon, on the death of his aunt, Leanore Simon<br />
Tom Cytron-Hysom, on the death of his brother, Stuart<br />
Hysom<br />
Todah Rabah from...<br />
Beatrice & Mert Zuckerman, for all the beautiful cards<br />
and good wishes sent for Mert’s recovery<br />
9
TORAH PORTIONS<br />
<strong>August</strong> 6<br />
Dvarim<br />
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22<br />
<strong>August</strong> 12<br />
Ve’etchanan<br />
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11<br />
<strong>August</strong> 19<br />
Ekev<br />
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25<br />
<strong>August</strong> 26<br />
Re’eh<br />
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17<br />
a publication of <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong>,<br />
a progressive Reform congregation<br />
1360 West Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55419-1199<br />
(612) 822-1440 | offices@shirtikvah.net | www.shirtikvah.net<br />
<strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> welcomes and supports children and adults with disabilities. We try to make our programs and<br />
services accessible to all within the limits of our resources. If you need accommodation or assistance in order<br />
to participate in our programs, services or activities, please contact the <strong>Shir</strong> <strong>Tikvah</strong> office at (612) 822-1440.<br />
Board Officers<br />
President Jane Binder<br />
Past President Jane Newman<br />
Vice President & Communications Secretary Luke Weisberg<br />
Treasurer Andrea Rubenstein<br />
Recording Secretary Wendy Horowitz<br />
Board Members<br />
Linda Alter, Lillie Benowitz, Andy Bindman, Martha Brand, Alex Dashe,<br />
Paula Forman, Morrie Hartman, Jennifer Kahn, Kathryn Klibanoff, Jackie<br />
Krammer, Wayne Kuklinski, Jennifer Lewin, Jim L. Miller, Lisa Powell,<br />
Jonah Rothstein<br />
Committee Chairs<br />
Development Committee Luke Weisberg<br />
Finance & Administration Andrea Rubenstein<br />
Library Ginny Heinrich<br />
Membership Jim L. Miller<br />
Religious School Wayne Kuklinski<br />
Social Justice Linda Alter Capell, David Snyder<br />
T’filah Alex Dashe<br />
Yad b’Yad Chris Bargeron, Verna Lind<br />
Youth Connections Barry Epstein<br />
Kol <strong>Tikvah</strong> Editors Lisa Pogoff and Jeff Zuckerman<br />
Designer Sarah Malakoff<br />
NEXT SUBMISSION DEADLINE<br />
The fifth of the month preceding publication.<br />
Senior Rabbi<br />
Rabbi Michael Adam Latz<br />
rabbilatz@shirtikvah.net<br />
Director of Lifelong Learning<br />
Rabbi Melissa B. Simon<br />
rabbisimon@shirtikvah.net<br />
Executive Director<br />
John Humleker<br />
john@shirtikvah.net<br />
Music Director<br />
Wendy Goldberg<br />
wendy@shirtikvah.net<br />
Rabbi’s Assistant<br />
Holly Fields<br />
holly@shirtikvah.net<br />
Office Manager<br />
Sara Lahyani<br />
sara@shirtikvah.net<br />
STiFTY Advisor<br />
Amira Cohen<br />
stifty@shirtikvah.net<br />
Founding Rabbi Emerita<br />
Stacy K. Offner<br />
Change Service Requested<br />
Minneapolis, MN 55419-1199<br />
1360 West Minnehaha Parkway<br />
a progressive Reform congregation serving the Twin Cities