xt7j0z71065g https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7j0z71065g/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2012-09 Newspaper of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, previously named the Central Kentucky Jewish Association and Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. Published ten times annually. The Federation seeks to bring Jewish community members together through holiday parties, lectures, Yiddish courses, meals, and other celebrations of Jewish heritage and culture. They also host fundraisers and provide financial assistance for Jews in need, both locally and around the world. This collection is part of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records, 2016ms010. newsletters 2016ms010 English Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Inc.  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records Jews -- Kentucky -- Lexington Jews -- History Shalom, September 2012 text image Shalom, September 2012 2012 2012-09 2025 true xt7j0z71065g section xt7j0z71065g Shal.lll@

 

September 201 2

Community to aid Cuban Jews:
Donated medications, supplies sought

The Jewish community of Lexington is
coming together under the auspices of
the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass
to offer support to the Jewish com-
munity of Havana, Cuba. In October,
Lori Bernard will visit Cuba on a
mission trip sponsored by her father’s
temple, Temple Fairmount, in Cleve-
land. She has volunteered to transport
any supplies we collect to Cuba. In
addition, in August, Judy Wortman,
Linda Ravvin, Jane Chaput, and Lori
met wi th Dr. Rosa Behar who lives in
Havana and has a daughter living in
l,.L'.mlilgL\)l'1. it became painfully obvious

0 Omega 3

0 Antibiotic creams, antifungal
creams

O Anti-inflammatory creams

0 Antibiotic tablets and powder for
children

0 Vitamin C

0 Zyrtec

0 Ranitidine

0 Chondroitin sulfate plus glucos-
amine

0 Ibuprofen

0 Low strength aspirin (No regular
aspirin)

0 Children’s Tylenol

' Children’s ibuprofen

0 Vitamin drops

0 Vitamin tabs

0 Thermometers

O Toothpaste

0 Alcohol pads

0 Cotton swabs

0 Latex gloves

0 Toothbrushes

0 Denture creams

6L1 ! 1!de
u uowum
GIVd
m n

WOW-Wu mmm

that the Jewish community in Havana
is in dire need of medical and other
supplies. Following is a list of items
needed. You can drop them off at the
Federation offices. You can also write
a check to the Jewish Federation of the
Bluegrass, noting ”Cuban assistance”
on memo line. Your check will be used
to purchase supplies and to pay for
shipping. We must pay for anything
over 40 pounds. Please remember that
this does not count for your Federation
donation but is beyond the call, so we
can help the Jews of Cuba. X3!

0 Body wipes

0 Baby wipes

0 Prescription medication: (All
medicines must be current.
Expired medications are not
allowed into Cuba. Half-used
bottles of pills are OK.)

0 Metformin

0 Loratidine

0 Zithromax

0 Cipro

0 Advair

0 Enalapril

I Diclofenac

0 Singulair

0 Beclomethasone spray

0 Other:
- Band-aids, etc.
- Thermometers
- Hand sanitizer
- Reading glasses
- Sanitary napkins
- Deodorant
— Shabbat candles-
- Hanukkah candles

(050? A)! 'UOIBUDO‘I ' at am ' P903 90W!) OSOL
swims Mme non-m Wt

 

 

mTheJewish Fed

_ ation
OF THE :

 

ELUL/TISHRI 5772/73

UK honors Dr. Robert Baumann

By Hanna B. Smith

In August 2012, the University of Ken—
tucky honored Dr. Robert Baumann for
his 40 years as a faculty member. Dr.
Baumann, a child neurologist, and his
wife, Judy, a dietitian, came to Lexing-
ton in 1972. He was hired as a faculty
member to develop the university's
Eastern Kentucky clinics for child neu-
rology. In 1980 Bob was promoted to
head of the Division of Child Neurol-
ogy at the University of Kentucky.

When asked why he chose this spe-
cialty Bob explained that he liked
children and that he had an interest in
the workings of the brain from an early
age. Children’s brains are still develop-
ing and are, therefore, a greater chal-
lenge for the practitioner, while adult
brains are static. Bob has always been
around children. His parents operated
a children’s camp where he worked as
a camp counselor in his teens. He and

“—— (AMPAIGNNEWS “—

 

Dr. Robert Baumann

Judy have three children of their own
and now also three grandchildren.

According to Bob, Eastern Kentucky
has a high rate of epilepsy, in addition
to various other neurological condi-
tions.

see Baumann, page 7

Campaign supports programs
for our future generation

This past summer the Federation was
busy sponsoring wonderful programs
for youth of all ages. As is evident from
the Camp Shalom and Camp Gesher
coverage this month, we reached many
children and teens in our 44th season.
Camp provides a wonderful Social

and recreational experience for each of
our children and the highlight is the
positive Jewish informal education that
permeates all aspects of camp—from
the singing of ModghAni each morning
to the pre-Shabbat celebration each Fri-
day. For those families who are unaffil-
iated, this is the only Jewish education
these children will receive.

In July we held another PJ Library pro-
gram for our very youngest children
at the Morris Bookstore. The children

learned about the Jewish value of car-
ing for animals, read about Noah’s ark,
and made bird feeders. They are begin-
ning their attachment to Judaism as
they receive a Jewish book each month
from the time they are six months of
age, and they are invited to come to-
gether for special programs every few
months.

It is through the generosity of our
donors that we are able to provide
these special programs and ensure that
these children will have a positive as-
sociation with Jewish life from infancy.
Help us sustain and increase services
to children and youth by making and
increasing your commitment to the
campaign. You have the power to en-
sure our future. X)

l . “affix ‘ ‘~t~1~‘4113. XL)»

 

  

IN THIS ISSUE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President’s Message 3
JFS: At Your Service 4
High Holiday Observances 5
Ask A Rabbi 6
Thoughts on Tisha b’Av 2012 and beyond 7
PJ Library Summer Storytime brings books alive for kids ............................ 8
Third Opinion 9
America’s oldest Jewish fraternity awards the Jewish Federations ........... 9
Israel 21 C: TRIDE brings together 1 1
Campers enjoy a wonderful two weeks 12
Maurice H. Hymson Adult Education Fund ..... 15
Lifelong Sim Shalom member ordained 15
Israeli consulate announces appointment of new consul general ......... 16
B’tayavon 17
The Lexington Havurah 18
The Lexington Chapter of Hadassah 19
Ohavay Zion Synagogue 20
Temple Adath lsrael 21
Around the Community 22
S h 8.1.111 @‘
Published ten times per year by the
Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, Inc.
1050 Chinoe Rd., Suite 1 12, Lexington, KY 40502
Phone (859) 268-0672 . Fax (859) 2680775
email: shalom@jewishlexington.org
SEPTEMBER 2012, VOLUME XIX, ISSUE 6
Robert Grossman, President
Judy Wortman, Executive Director
Tamara Ohayon, Communications Director
Talia SmoIkin, JFS Director
SHALOM EDITORIAL BOARD
David A. Wortman, Editor-in-Chief
Hanna Smith, Chairperson
Jane Chaput
Susan Cobin
Betty Nigoff
Gary Yarus
Thank you to Mary Rosenbaum and Ruth Poley for their assistance with this issue.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dianne Bazell, Kathy Feinberg, Barbara Frommer, Judy Goldsmith,
Ned Rosenbaum z'l, Hanna Smith

LOCAL DISTRIBUTION SERVICES
Lowell and Betty Nigoff

Production Services by Georgetown News-Graphic

The editorial staff has the right to edit all articles submitted for publication in Shalom.
Articles should not exceed 500 words. The appearance of any advertising in this pub-
lication does not represent either a kashruth or any other endorsement on the part of
the Federation or any other agency or organizations.

Opinions expressed in Shalom are not necessarily those of the Shalom editorial staff or
the JFB or its constituent organizations.

Shalom is partially supported by the advertisements appearing in the paper.

Copyright © 201 2, Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass. All rights reserved. For reprint
permission contact David Wortman, Editor-in-Chief, Shalom, at shalom@jewishlexing-
ton.org

2 l September2012 Shalom

 

The P] Library is a
national program
offered locally,
which mails free,
high-quality and age
appropriate Jewish
children’s literature

and music to families on a monthly basis.

 

All families raising Iewish children ages six months to eight years are welcome
to enroll. [PB is proud to offer your family, through our partnership with local donors
and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, this opportunity to explore the timeless core
values of Iudaism through books and music.

Enroll your children or grandchildren today! Call us at 859.268.0672 or
visit www.pjlibrary.com and visit our Lexington community page.

 

 

 
 
 
   
    
  
   

 

YBJ is a gathering of local Jewish
adults, ages 21 to “AO-ish” (about
45), who get together monthly for
social events. Join our mailing list.
Contact Tamara Ohayon at to—
mara@jewishlexington.org, (859)
268-0672, or find us on Facebookl

tame 1M4 W YEJ!
we hope you all have a joyful,
healthy, and sweet new year.

COOKING CLASS + BOURBON TAéTING
Thursday, September 6 from 6 to 8 pm
@ Wild Thyme (Chinoe Road) , ‘
Learn delicious dairy/parve Southern - ‘
Jewish Fusion recipes with instructor
extraordinaire and YBIer, Barbara Goldman.
Lighten the evening with a Bourbon tasting
led by Woodford Reserve guide and YBIer,
Reva Schottenstein. Fabulous night for singles or couples.

- $25perperson. RSVP fl) 7212mm] [1y Friday, A ugus/ 31.
114qu be 21 or over to participate.

 

http://wwwwildthymecooking.com/

 

Save the date for Saturday, October 20! Film, discussion and nosh night!

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

If you are not receiving Jewish Weekly email and would like to, please
send your name and email address to lexadmin 'ajewishlexingtonorg

 

OF THE BLUEGRASS

ln“ (l'htrJi’WlSli l‘l‘t‘lmation

Federation President Federation Board
Robert Grossman Lori Bernard Larry Kant
Minna Katz-Brown Mimi Kaufman
Executive Committee Jane Chaput Amy Faust Mayer
Kae Schennberg, ch-President Susan Cobin Betty Nigoff
Hanna Smith, Secretary Gail Cohen Seth Salomon
Gary Yarus, Treasurer Jenn Garlin Marty Solomon
Evalyn Block, Member-at-Large Evelyn Dantzic Geller Paul Tillier
Linda Rawin, Member-at-Large Michael Grossman Elissa Weinstein
Joseph Hernandez David Wekstein

 

Shalom Deadline

Deadline for articles for the October Shalom is September 1 0.
Email articles to shalom@jewishlexingtomorg ‘‘‘‘‘‘

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 President’s Message

Bob Grossman, JFB President

 

As I write this editorial, my son Ben

is getting ready to start high school.
Classes at UK will be starting soon,
too. I have already received my first
email from a student anxious about the
class he is taking from me this fall.

After Fayette County Schools and UK
begin, a new beginning for us Jews,
Rosh Hashanah, is not far behind. The
High Holidays provide us an opportu-
nity both to reflect on the past year and
to consider our goals for the coming
year. One of the iconic prayers of the
High Holidays is U’Netaneh Tokef (Let
Us Tell How Utterly Holy This Day Is).
During this prayer, we say,

On Rosh Hashanah will be in-
scribed and on Yom Kippur will
be sealed

How many will pass from the earth
and how many will be created

But REPENTANCE, PRAYER and
CHARITY

Remove the evil of the decree!

I find this prayer beautiful, but prob-
lematic. All people die sooner or later.

,4» and I think most of you would agree

at a‘perfio‘ffi‘a'rmot avoid an immi-
nent death simply by engaging in more
or better r’epentarce, prayer, and char-
ity. (Healthy eating and regular exer-
cise will be more effective.) However, I
do think that the prayer can be rein-
terpreted for a modem audience. The
argument for repentance, prayer, and
charity is that these activities make us
better people, so that if our time comes
sooner rather than later, we can at least
be satisfied that we dealt fairly and

positively
with G-d and
ourselves
(prayer),

our families,
neighbors,
and cowork-
ers (repen-
tance), and our larger community

(charity).

 

Thinking about our own mortality

is uncomfortable for many modern
people. We have become accustomed
to living much longer through the
remarkable advances in public health
and modern medicine, and death often
now takes place out of view of family
members. Still, death comes to all of us
sooner or later. It is the price we pay
for being alive (and for reproducing
sexually).

If you have written or are writing a
will, I hope you will consider donating
some of your estate to your Federation.
It is a chance for you to do one more
mitzvah, one last act of tzedakah, and
it is an investment in your family’s and
community’s Jewish future that will
continue to yield dividends «for/many
years after your passing. JFB has not
put much emphasis on estate planning
in the past, but as our community ages,
and as fewer younger Jews step up to
match the contributions of the donors
who pass away, donations made by
estates may come to represent a signifi-
cant portion of our annual budget.

Shanah tovah umetukah! it!

 

  

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' rafioaywamymmw ‘
Mammal/um WWW
meme Wlfiegamé Wm.
Wdywe Mumbfiah’gmrfoéar/owm
«happen—firs”, an’firaflléwmq

owwfimse
meremm

 

 

It is with the deepest sympathy that The Jewish Federations
stand with and extend our prayers to the Sikh community fol-
lowing last month’s deadly attack on the Sikh temple in Oak
Creek, Wisconsin. While the FBI is treating the incident as an
open investigation, early reports indicate that the shooter was
a white supremacist and the shooting an act of terrorism. This
incident is reminiscent of the rifle-wielding white suprema-
cist who entered Washington’s Holocaust Museum in June
2009, fatally shooting a security guard prior to being appre-
hended, before he could do more harm.

At this time of national reflection, we must ensure that people
of all faiths are safe in their places of worship. Programs like
the US. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Secu-
rity Grant Program are vital to protecting at-risk communities
and institutions, enabling us to work, worship, gather, and
learn without fear.

- Jerry Silverman
President and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America

 

 

 

 

Make a donation to the Jewish Federation in honor or memory
of someone, or in celebration of a special occasion, and help JFB
nurture the values of tikkun 01am (repairing the world), tzedakah
(charity and social justice) and Torah (Jewish learning) within
our Jewish community at home and abroad.

 

Thank you to:

Judy 8r Rabbi David Wortman for their donation in
honor of Leon Cooper’s 85th birthday.

{39: 3H3 SLUQGRAigS

w

 

 

September 2012 Shalom | 3

 

 

  

 

An Early Childhood Program
for Toddlers & Preschoolers
at Ohavay Zion Synagogue

 

Now enrolling for the
201 2-2013 school year.

Creativity 8: Learning through Diversity.
We welcome children from all ethnic, religious,
social, and economic backgrounds.

- Flexible Full Day and Part-lime Programs
- Warm, Nurturing Environment

. Special Enrichment Programs

- Ages 12 months to 5 years (Pro-K)

~ Quality, Licensed Childcare and Preschool Programs
. Weeldy Fitness and Music Programs

- Real Life Activities, Handson Learning,

- Cultural Awareness, Highly Qualified Teachers,

' Small Child/Adult Ratios

Convenient Location: On Alumni Drive
just oil of New Circle Road. Five Minutes from UK.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

 

 

 

  

 

Preschool and
Preelfiindergart‘en

OPEN
ENROLLMENT

 

- Bali-day program (8:30 rum-noon)

- Classes for z , 3 and 4-year-olds

- Jewish music and art enrichment
programs for all ages

' Excellent student-teacher ratio

- Nurturing, family environment

CALL: Katherine Henry, director

269-2979
114 North Ashland Avenue

“25 Years of Excellence”

 

Temple Adath Israel

 

 

4 I September2012 Shalom

JFS: At YourService

Talia Smolkin, JFS Director

 

The issue

of rights for
those who
identify as
LGBT (les-
bian, gay,
bisexual,
transgender)
makes its ap—
pearance in
the news, but regardless of the head-
lines, it is important to be aware of
community resources and how organi-
zations continue to make their wel-
coming environments official policy.
This is certainly important for those in
our Jewish and wider Lexington com-
munity who are LGBT, have family

or friends who are LGBT, and those
who are allies. Therefore it is relevant
for our whole community. There are
numerous supportive organizations to
be aware of.

Locally, there are several organiza-
tions that support those who are LGBT
and their families and friends. GLSO
(Gay and Lesbian Services Organiza-
tion) offers resources, news, discussion
groups, and a meeting space for the
community. GLSO also works on the
Lexington Pride Festival. They can be
found at www.glso.org or (859) 253-
3233.

One program of the GLSO is the Lex-
ington Gay-Straight Alliance, which
offers events, support, and resources to
our local youth. They can be found at
www.1exgsa.org.

PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays) offers specific
support for those who are LGBT or are
parents, families, and friends of those
who are LGBT. PFLAG has meetings,
a newsletter, and resource listings of
local and national organizations for a
variety of ages, along with welcoming
places of worship that have identified
themselves to PFLAG. PFLAG can be
found at www.pflaglex.org or (859)
338—4393.

Lexington Fairness is another local or-
ganization dedicated to advocacy and
education. Programs include Project

Speak Out, which focuses on bully-
ing; Fairness Awards for community
leaders; and an annual statewide rally
in Frankfort as part of the Statewide
Fairness Coalition. Lexington Fairness
also partners with Imperial Court of
Kentucky on several events during
the year, and takes part in the annual
Lexington 4th of July celebrations.
They can be found at www.1exfair.org
or (859) 951-8565.

On the national scale, this year Jewish
Federations of North America (J FNA)
added ”gender identity or expression”
in their non—discrimination policy. This
expands JFNA’s policy of inclusion
and demonstrates their continuing ef-
forts in this realm.

Also nationally, the organization
Keshet offers support and resources
for communities to welcome LGBT
Jews. They train educators, lay leaders.
and rabbis and support other Jewish
LGBT groups around the country. They
also have a number of programs in

the greater Boston area. Finally, their ,, -
website offers listings of local, national.
and international organizations and
websites that offer resources including
information on Jewish ritual, dating,
and various denominations of Juda—
ism, as well as specific resources for
youth and those who are transgender,
and numerous books on a range of
issues. Their website is keshetonline.
org, and the phone number for their
national office is (617) 524-9227.

This list is just a start. There are numer—
ous local and national organizations
that serve to support those who iden-
tify as LGBT, friends/ family, and allies.
Please contact our office if you know
of other relevant organizations. And of
course, as always, feel free to contact
JFS for information, referrals, or other
needs, by e—mailing jfs@jewishlexing-
ton.org or calling (859) 269-8244. 33!

To contact Talia Smolkin, IFS Director, for
information, referrals, or other needs, 3—
mail ]fs@jewishlexington.org or call ( 859)
269—8244.

 

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High Holiday Services

 

Temple Adath Israel

Visit http://wwwlextaiorg for more information.

September 8 Selichot
Havdalah service 8:00 pm.

September 16 Erev Rosh Hashanah
7:00 p.m.—Chi1d Care*
8:45 p.m.—No Child Care

September 17 Rosh Hashanah
8:30 a.m.—No Child Care
10:45—Child Care*
Tashlich, Youth Service 8: Picnic 5:00-7:00 p.m.,
Jacobson Park Shelter #1

September 18 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah
Torah Study 10:30 a.m.

September 21
Shabbat Circle 8: Shabbat Shuvah 7:30 pm.
50+ anniversaries will be honored

September 23
Cemetery Memorial Service 1:00 p.m., Lexing-
ton Cemetery

September 25 Kol Nidre
7:00 p.m.—Child Care“
9200 pm. No Child Care

September 26 Yom Kippur
8:30 a.m.—Early Service —No Child Care
10:45 a.m.—Late Service-Child Care*
1:30 p.m.—Children’s Service—No Child Care’
1:30 p.m.—— Afternoon Study—- No Child Care"
3:00 p.m.—Afternoon Service-Child Cane"
4:30 p.m.--Yizkor Service—Child Care*
5:15 p.m.—Concluding Service—Child Care*
Break-the—fast following services

September 30 Erev Sukkot
Yizkor Service 6:30 pm.

‘Child care will be ofl'ered only if reservations are made for the
service you will be attending. Forms available in the Temple
ofi‘ice or on the Temple website at http://www.lextai.org/.

Ohavay Zion Synagogue
Visit http://www.ozs.org for additional details.

First Evening Service:
Sunday, September 16 at 6:00 pm.

First Day Service
Monday, September 17 at 9:15 a.m.
(Includes Family Services at 10:00 a.m.)

Second Evening Service
September 17 at 8:30 pm.

Second Day Service
Tuesday, September 18 at 9:15 a.m.

Kol Nidre:
Tuesday, September 25 at 7:00 pm.

Yom Kippur:
Wednesday, September 26 at 9:15 a.m.
Yiskor at 12 noon
Break at 3:00 pm.
Afternoon Service at 5:00 pm.
Neilah at 7:15 pm.
Break-the-Fast at 8:00 pm.

Sukkot:
Monday, October 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Shemini_Atzeret:
Monday, October 8 at 9:30 a.m.

Simchat Torah:
Monday, October 8 at 7:00 pm.

 

 

The Lexington Havurah

For online High Holiday resources visit our Rosh
Hashanah microsite at http://kentuckyjewishfederation.
org/rh

First Day Service Rosh Hashanah
Monday, September 17 at 10:00 a.m.
(At a private residence. Contact Havurah for de—
tails.)

Second Day Service Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, September 18 at 10:00 a.m.
(At a private residence. Contact Havurah for
details.)

Kol Nidre Service Erev Yom Kippur
Tuesday, September 25 at 7:00 pm.
Pirebrook Clubhouse at 4740 Firebrook Blvd

Yom Kippur Service
Wednesday, September 26
Mincha/Maariv at 6:15 pm.
”Break-the-Fast" Potluck Supper
around 8:30 pm.
Firebrook Clubhouse at 4740 Firebrook Blvd

Guests welcome.

President, Stan Saxe
sabastanely@insightbb.com

 

 

Kosher Meat Available in Lexington!

The new Trader Joe’s store on Nicholasville Road in Lexington, Kentucky carries kosher beef, turkey, and chicken cuts
including beef brisket pieces periodically. We have asked that they carry the beef brisket in time for Rosh Hashanah.
They recommend calling the store at least 5 business days before you intend to shop to make sure they have not run

out. They will order extra if we request it. They will also hold food items available in the store if you call and request
it. Phone number: (859) 313-5030. Open daily 8 am to 9 pm.

For a list of other kosher products carried in the Trader Joe is chain (this is not an exact list of products carried
locally) visit http://www.traderjoes.com/lists/koshemsp

 

 

 

 

 

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September2012 Shalom | 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ask A Rabbi

Rabbi Moshe Smolkin

 

tion from Jeremiah is vital. In fact,
ey often point to it as the source for a
”New Testament. " How can we as Jews
interpret this scripture?
”See, a time is coming — declares
the lord — when I will make a new
covenant with the House of Israel
and the House of Judah. It will not be
like the covenant I made with their
fathers, when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt,
a covenant which they broke, so that I
rejected them ~ declares the Lord. But
such is the covenant I will make with
the House of Israel after these days
— declares the Lord; I will put My
Teaching into their inmost being and
inscribe it upon their hearts. Then I
will be their God, and they shall be
My people. No longer will they need
to teach one another and say to one
another, ”Heed the Lord ”; for all of
them, from the least of them to the
greatest, shall heed Me — declares the
Lord. ” (Jeremiah 31:31—34, IPS)

9: For Christians, the following quota-
t

: This is indeed a powerful and

moving quotation. For Jews, it
can express deep-seated hopes for a
new stage in our relationship with
God.

Often as children develop, their rela-
tionships with their parents can shift.
Sometimes young children are ordered
by their parents to brush their teeth or
to eat their vegetables. While children
may obey, they may resent the instruc-
tions.

As children become adolescents, they
may continue to resent the directives
of their parents, but they also often

see the validity of certain parental
requests. Adolescents may follow their
parents’ request to shower or to prac—
tice their violin, because they begin to
recognize that it is in their interest to
do so.

As adolescents become adults, they
may actively embrace the ways of their
parents, They may be quite interested
in protecting the health of their teeth,
or in getting the vitamins from their
vegetables, or in taking a refreshing
shower, or in savoring the time they
have to practice their violin.

Often as people develop, there is a
shift in the source of authority. When
we are children, the authority clearly

6 | September 2912 Shalom

lies outside ourselves. As we become
adolescents, the authority is often still
somewhat external, but it begins to
be shared. As we become adults, the
authority largely lies within.

In Judaism, this same transition can be
found in our relationship with God.

God took the Israelites out of Egypt,
and gave them two stone tablets con-
taining the Decalogue. The Israelites
had clearly not internalized the mes-
sage, for they immediately created the
golden calf. As Moses descended from
Mount Sinai, he recognized the gravity
of what the Israelites had done, and
promptly broke the tablets “inscribed
by the finger of God." (Dent. 9:10) In
that young stage, the Israelites were
unable to internalize God’s Teaching.
Moses recognized that if the covenant
was to be sustainable it could not sim-
ply be top-down, from God to Israel,
and so he voided the initial contract by
breaking the tablets. According to the
Talmudic sage Reish Lakish, God told
Moshe that he had done well in break-
ing the tablets. ”Yasher Koach, ” God
said. (Yevamot 62a)

A new contract was soon created in
which Moses was asked to carve the
tablets (Deut 10:1). While most of the
authority was still clearly external,
there was now at least some human
participation.

This time God pleaded, "Cut away,
therefore, the thickening about your
hearts and stiffen your necks no more."
(Deut. 10:16) God wanted us to open
our hearts and to let go of the obstacles
that block us from accepting the Teach-

ing.

The end of the Torah describes a future
time when this opening will occur and
when our relationship with God will
be drastically different from what it
has been up to this point:

”When all these things befall you —
the blessing and the curse that I have
set before you — and you take them to
heart amidst the various nations to
which the Lord your God has banished
you, and you return to the Lord your
God, and you and your children heed
His command with all your heart and
soul, just as Ienjoin upon you this
day, then the Lord your God will re-
store yourfortunes and take you back

in love. Then the Lord your God
will open up your heart and the hearts
of your ofi‘spring to love the Lord your
God with all your heart and soul, in
order that you may live... You... will
again heed the Lord and obey all His
commandments that I enjoin upon
you this day. " (Deut. 30:1-8)

Jews have long awaited this special
time, when the authority of our good
deeds will not simply come from an
external command mediated through
thunder and lightning, but also, and
perhaps more important, from that
still, small voice of the Divine found
within our hearts.

In our Jewish tradition, the Jeremiah
quote above reiterates this point. It
does not represent a rejection of the
Torah, but rather God says, "I will put

My Teaching
[My Torah]
into their
inmost being
and inscribe
it upon their
hearts. . ..

No longer will they need to teach one
another and say to one another, ”Heed
the Lord”; for all of them, from the
least of them to the greatest, shall heed
Me — declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah
31:33-34)

Rather than creating a new Torah or

a new religion, this quotation heralds
a time when our motivation to follow
God’s Teaching will come from our in-
nermost being. Q

 

 

DECEMBER
(Ihanukah party.

 

‘lhis year‘s schedule:

OCTOBER 4 (THURS)
Special program and Sukkot celebration.

To find out more or volunteer, contact m ; ?:“ )2 Us \ . g a g i, if“! 5, it): fwd.
I‘alia Smolkin at jisoji‘jcwishlexingttin.org
or 859—269—8244.

Stewart Home Visits ~Volunteers Welcome!
Jewish Family Services of JFB welcomes volunteers who wish to Visit
Jewish residents at the Stewart Home School in Frankfort. Kentucky,
Stewart Home visits are both meaningful and fun for both volunteers and
residents. Volunteers typically carpool from Lexington.

Help make a
difference in the
lives of others.
Volunteer now!

 

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WM440M4WMM£W

 

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24 Guard and stored Wow Wed/1.!

 

 

 

 

 

1—.“

 Thoughts on Tisha b’AV 2012

and beyond

By Hanna B. Smith

On Saturday night, July 28, I attended
the Ninth of Av service at our syna-
gogue. This year the Ninth of Av fell
on Shabbat. As a result, the actual com-
memoration of the day was moved to
the following day.

The Ninth of Av, Tisha b’Av in Hebrew,
commemorates the destruction of the
First and Second Temples in Jerusalem
and the exile of the Jewish people from
the land of Israel. Over the centuries
and into modern times, the date also
became associated with other calami-
ties that befell the Jewish people.

The day is spent in fasting and the
synagogue service is one of unre-
lieved gloom. The lights are dimmed,
worshippers sit on the floor as befits
mourners, prayers are said quietly, and
the day’s text, the Book of Lamenta-
tions, is chanted as a dirge.

The Book of Lamentations, [3th in
Hebrew, narrates the destruction of Je-
rusalem and the Temple, the suffering
of the people and especially the suffer-
ing of the children, the humiliation of
the nation’s leaders and their exile, and
the cruelty of the enemy. According to
the narrative, this calamity is the result
of the people of Israel sinning and for-
saking God. The enemy is repeatedly
called God’s instrument in punishing
the people.

Contemporary interpretations have
called this sentiment blaming the
victim. Yet the narrator of the Book of
Lamentations is traditionally thought
to be the Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah
lived through the tragedy of the
destruction of the First Temple. He an—
ticipated these events and his prophe—
cies were directed towards averting the
tragedy. He is no outsider but a fellow
sufferer.

Reading the Book of Lamentations is
emotionally draining. So, why do we
continue to do it year after year? Some
feel that with the establishment of the
State of Israel and the regaining of all
of the City of Jerusalem the Fast of the
Ninth of Av has become an anachro-
nism. There are many reasons why we
do not abandon the Ninth of Av.

We Jews do not forget our history. We
continue to read and reread the Five
Books of Moses with their narratives
of real human beings who struggle to
comprehend this life beyond its purely
physical existence.

In modern parlance, the Book of
Lamentations describes a complete
breakdown of civil society as a result
of warfare, famine, and the slaying

or exiling of the nation’s leaders and
many of its citizens. Likewise, to inter—
pret Jeremiah's prophecies, the prophet
criticizes avaricious leaders who

use their power for selfish gains and
without consideration for the nation’s
welfare, and an apathetic populace
who follows uncritically whoever tells
them what they want to hear. Does that
sound familiar?

The rabbis teach that the Second Tem-
ple was destroyed because of baseless
hatred. The history of that period is
full of internal strife, including assassi-
nations that continued even as the R0-
man legions were advancing on Judea.
It is doubtful that Judea cauld have
held out militarily against the Roman
and Babylon