HavdalahHappening - Temple Beth El of Boca Raton

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You Can Take iT wiTh You by rabbi Dan levin At this time of year, I always feel a mixed sense of excitement and sadness. My joy comes from the culmination of our programmatic and school year. In the months of May and June, we will celebrate Confirmation with a wonderful class of students, and rejoice with many families in the congregation whose children will be graduating high school and moving off into life. My sadness comes from knowing how much I will miss these young people as they embark on the next stage of life. Confirmation year is particularly intimate and intense. Our class discussions on what Judaism is and means lead us into very meaningful and personal conversations, and the bonds that form are tight and powerful. I feel privileged to be part of that exploration and growth each year. At the same time, I have known many of our graduating seniors since they were in pre-school at Temple Beth El. It has been a privilege to watch them grow into such fine young men and women. So I am excited and sad – excited for what comes next, and sad to say goodbye. This is the essence of the Jewish custom of Havdalah. Havdalah is the ceremony that marks the conclusion of Shabbat. It is highlighted by three special symbols – a cup of wine, fragrant spices, and a braided candle formed from many wicks. Each of these symbols is designed to help us carry some sense of the spirit of Shabbat into the week that comes. The wine symbolizes the joy and sweetness of Shabbat that we hope to carry with us. The fragrant spices represent the additional sense of spirit we embrace on Shabbat. The Hebrew word for fragrance, “Re-ach” and the Hebrew word for spirit, “Ru-ach” comes from the same root. So we inhale the fragrance as a means of breathing in the spirit of Shabbat we want to take with us into the coming week. The many wicks of the braided candle represent all the different paths each of us travels in life that come together to form the much brighter light of Shabbat. We conclude the ceremony by extinguishing the candle in the wine, so that we might temper our sadness on concluding the holy time of Shabbat. The word Havdalah itself means separation, and separations invoke a meaningful paradox. On the one hand, our world cannot exist without separations. In forming the world, God separated day from night, land from sea, and humanity from other creatures. We make separations between good and evil, holy and profane, right and wrong. But at the same time, we talk of a God who is One, and we work toward a time when all that separates us one from another will be dissolved, and all will be one and at peace. But until that time of perfection, we have to carry with us pieces of what is good, holy, and enduring as we make life’s transitions. At the end of June, we will have to say goodbye to Steve Dropkin, our Musical Artist- In-Residence, who will be leaving Boca Raton to serve a congregation in Fresno, California. Steve has given so much to our congregation in the last four years – on Shabbat evening, with our Adult Chorale, on Sunday mornings in Kehilah at Religious School, and so much more. We are grateful for his gifts of service to us – the gift of his music and compositions, and the gift continued on page 18
confirmation sunday, may 16 at 1:00 pm our 10th grade students have actively participated in a year of learning and growing which culminates in the celebration of confirmation. this shared experience focuses on each student’s commitment to Judaism. this year’s class has shared their hearts and souls with each other, stretched their minds and challenged each other’s beliefs. the result is a powerful service they will lead and reflects their growth and experiences Carly Block, daughter of Debra & Stephen Block Michael Casciato, son of Laura Casciato Tori Cleaver, daughter of Leslie & Tom Cleaver Max Crampton-Thomas, son of Shari & Daniel Crampton-Thomas Benjamin Cross, son of Jill & Michael Cross Mitchell Eisenberg, son of Nancy & Gary Eisenberg David Gracin, son of Marisol & Hank Gracin Nicole Hahn, daughter of Lauren & Barry Hahn Danielle Haskin, daughter of Marcia & Lee Haskin Kylie Herman, daughter of Margie Gilbert Emily Herr, daughter of Melinda & Thomas Herr Sam Jacobs, son of Susie and Paul Jacobs Jared Kahhan, son of Michele & Alan Kahhan David Kanner, son of Wendy & Sam Kanner Ana Keusch, daughter of Cristina & Donald Keusch The Chronicle is printed eight times per year. this year confirmation will be held on Sunday, May 16th at 1:00 pM. those attending will be privileged to be a part of a creative service including reflective student readings as well as a student band. We urge the entire congregation to come and experience Judaism through the eyes and hearts of these young people. Robert Klasfeld, son of Rebecca & Alan Klasfeld Rachel Levine, daughter of Annette & Manuel Levine Joshua Lukes, son of Brooke & David Lukes Michael Mandel, son of Diane Perkins & Paul Mandel Alexandra Rogers, daughter of Wendy & Andrew Rogers Hayden Saul, son of Karen & Howard Saul Zachary Schlein, son of Keryn Rod & Jeffrey Schlein Brooke Schultz, daughter of Marcy & Barry Schultz Ryan Schwamm, son of Shari & Craig Schwamm Abigail Solomon, daughter of Lois & Geoff Solomon Jesse Sullivan, son of Kim Levine Braemen Weiner, son of Cheryl & Robert Weiner Alexandra Weiss, daughter of Linda & Dennis Weiss Tiffany Wunsch, daughter of Monica & Steven Wunsch May/June 2010 • T H E C H R O N I C L E 3
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