http://emanu-el-stage.org The Internet home of Temple Emanu-El, Massachusetts Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:00:42 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Several weeks ago, I was one of several Temple members helping the children of Rabbi Robert and Charlotte Shapiro (both of blessed memory) in the difficult but necessary job of sorting through a number of file boxes and keepsakes in preparation for the cleaning and sale of our “rabbinage.” ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2010/03/22/an-interfaith-trip-for-the-ages/ Fourth in a series We are our stories. While each of us has a unique identity that feels like it comes from inside us individually, we are not separate from our family, our community, our heritage. The stories about what our fathers and mothers did and what was done to them, how ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2010/02/22/the-treasure-of-our-stories/ This is the third in a series of Jewish religious topics from a lay perspective. Kavannah refers to mindfulness, intentionality, full engagement. Used to describe religious participation, praying with kavannah means immersing one’s self in the practice and devoting one’s heart, soul and mind fully. It sounds like a good idea. If ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2010/01/16/kavannah-without-attitude/ http://emanu-el-stage.org/2010/01/09/news-callout/ Second in a series of Jewish religious discussions from a lay perspective. Though the two words are sometimes used interchangeably, belief and faith are not identical. For those who may be uncomfortable with believing, in a religious sense, the distinction is crucial. Belief refers to holding an idea to be true, ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2009/12/12/belief-and-faith/ Some four thousand years ago, when the concept of Shabbat was first introduced to the world, the Torah tells us that having finished the work of creation, God rested, shavat, and replenished His Soul, va-yi-na-fash. So in keeping with both longstanding wisdom and contractual agreement, the rabbis of ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2009/12/10/rest-and-renewal/ DATE PARASHAH CHAPTER/VERSE FACILITATOR 8/1/09 Vaetchanan (Shabbat Nachamu) Deuteronomy 3:23—7:11 Jack Gendzel 8/8/09 Ekev Deuteronomy 7:12—11:25 Rabbi 8/15/09 Reeh Deuteronomy 11:26—16:17   8/22/09 Shoftim Deuteronomy 16:18—21:9 Ben Gerson 8/29/09 Ki Tetze Deuteronomy 21:10—25:19 Jeffrey Dornbush 9/5/09 Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1—29:8 Matt Sagal 9/12/09 Nitzavim/Vayelech Deuteronomy 29:9—31:30 Rabbi 9/19/09 Rosh Hashanah No Torah Study   9/26/09 Ha-azinu (Shabbat Shuvah) Deuteronomy 32:1-52 Peggy Blass 10/3/09 1st Day Sukkot Leviticus 23:33-44 Paul Cohen 10/10/09 Atzeret/Simchat Torah Deut. 34:1-12; Genesis 1:1-8, 26-29; 2:1-3 Rabbi 10/17/09 Bereishit Genesis 1:1—6:8 Jeffrey Dornbush 10/24/09 Noach Genesis 6:9—11:32 Ben Gerson 10/31/09 Lech Lecha Genesis 12:1—17:27   11/7/09 Vayera Genesis 18:1—22:24 Matt Sagal 11/14/09 Chayyei Sarah Genesis 13:1—25:18 Rabbi 11/21/09 Toldot Genesis 25:19—28:9 Nina Cohen 11/28/09 Vayetze Genesis 28:10—32:3   12/5/09 Vayishlach Genesis 32:4—36:43 Paul Cohen 12/12/09 Vayeshev Genesis 37:1—40:23 Rabbi 12/19/09 Miketz Genesis 41:1—44:17 Peggy Blass 12/26/09 Vayigash ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2009/12/01/torah-portion-chart/ Fisrt in a series When you agree to become Temple president, you start to ask a different set of questions: What’s the meaning of all this? Why do we have a synagogue, and what should it be doing? How do we serve the members? Starting this month and over the coming ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2009/11/28/trading-with-the-gods/ Yom Kippur Morning 5770 (2009) Temple Emanu-El, Marblehead, MA We all expected that the substantial and consistent growth of this Jewish community that’s taken place over the past two decades would only continue, but the rather sudden and extreme economic downturn has changed all of that. Times are tough, but still, ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2009/11/01/lessons-of-recession/ Delivered to the Congregation by Stuart Cohen, Kol Nidre 5770 Because we are Jews, we are here tonight. Something impels us to worship with our fellow Jews on this occasion. We may embrace it with enthusiasm, or we may not even be sure why we are here. Because we are Jews, ... http://emanu-el-stage.org/2009/10/28/because-we-are-jews/