10 Questions . . . 10 Months . . . Much Conversation:
Learning from Our Past . . . Looking Towards Our Future . . . Sharing Our Stories
What does it mean for you to be living a Jewish life today?
What is most important to you as a 21st century Reform Jew?
What Jewish values are most important to you?
What makes them so valuable?
How does your daily life reflect these values?
Discussion & Study Guide for “Being a Reform Jew” by Dr. Alan D. Bennett
Consider this excerpt from the Preamble to the Central Conference of American Rabbis’ 1999 Statement of Principles: “The great contribution of Reform Judaism is that it has enabled the Jewish People to introduce innovation while preserving tradition, embrace diversity while asserting commonality, affirm beliefs without rejecting those who doubt, bring faith to sacred texts without sacrificing critical scholarship.”
Consider what Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie identifies as the five religious principles that distinguish Reform Judaism:
Reform Jews are committed to a Judaism that changes and adapts to the needs of the day.
Reform Jews are committed to the absolute equality of women in all areas of Jewish life.
Reform Jews are committed to social justice.
Reform Jews are committed to the principle of inclusion, not exclusion.
Reform Jews are committed to a true partnership between the rabbinate and the laity.
Consider how Reform Judaism has changed in the last two centuries. In the 19th century, Reform made Judaism more accessible by adding instrumental music; introducing worship in the vernacular; changing the time of services to accommodate men, women, and children equally; and creating Confirmation as a lifecycle event, among other changes. The 20th century brought many other Reform innovations, including publishing the first modern Torah commentary in North America; instituting patrilineal descent (defining a child’s Jewishness through the father’s as well as through the mother’s line when the child is raised as a Jew); ordaining the first woman rabbi in America; introducing a diversity of musical styles within the worship experience; implementing Outreach to intermarried families; publishing a women’s Torah commentary; and empowering an increasingly Jewishly knowledgeable and participatory lay leadership.
Consider what the Reform Judaism magazine respondents cite as very important Reform values: the freedom to grapple with and choose which traditions and observances to adopt as one’s own, the freedom to interpret Torah for oneself, gender equality, living as Jews and as full members of society, not having to reject reason and posit definitive answers to life’s ultimate questions, a respect for a variety of personal Jewish journeys, welcoming converts, reaching out to non-Jews, tikkun olam, innovative liturgy and music.
How would YOU answer the 5 questions at the top of the page?
Monday, September 1, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Fall Calendar
All activities held at Temple Concord unless otherwise noted
SUNDAY MORNING GENERAL MEETINGS
September 14, 10 a.m. – Paid member brunch - $5 for nonmembers; NO FEE if you join that day
October 5, 9:30 social hour, 11a.m. – 1 p.m. – “Kid's Closet” - sale of gently used clothing and children's items (books, videos, toys, baby equipment, etc); bake sale; popcorn sale
November 9, 9:30 social hour, 10:30 program – “Wisdom of the Ages:” discussion of Pirkei Avot
WEEK NIGHTS - Adults only; child care available
Dinner club – Wed, Sept 17, 7 p.m., Panda West, 135 Marshall St, RSVP: Marti, 373-8900.
Lilith magazine “salon” (discussion group) – Tues, Oct 21, 7 p.m., RSVP: Danielle: 378-4273. ARTICLE: "How Do We Become a Grownup Jewish Women?" available from Marti or Danielle or in the Temple office.
Book club – Tues, Nov 18, 7 p.m.
OTHER EVENTS
Honey sale – during the month of September, containers of honey (3 sizes!) will be on sale in the Temple downstairs lobby on Sunday mornings and in the gift shop whenever it’s open. Please plan to get your Rosh Hashanah honey from WRJ!
Movie night - Saturday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. at the home of Dawn Engel in Manlius, MOVIE: Liberty Heights (1999) about a Jewish family in 1950s Baltimore, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Adrien Brody, Ben Foster and Joe Mantegna; RSVP: 682-7937
Mah Jong – Daytime: Mondays at 1:30 at the Nottingham, contact Adeline Jasper, 449-2506; Evening: generally held the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in room 14 of Temple Concord, contact Gail DePalma: (w) 464-3289, (h) 488-9575
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW
Sunday, November 2, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Party Planning Fair in the Temple Concord social hall.
Wednesday, November 5, 8 p.m. - Goldenberg Concert at the Civic Center featuring pianists Yefim Bronfman and Emil Ax (“on their way to Carnegie Hall”). Support this special Temple event.
If you need child care in order to attend adult-only events, contact Danielle Masursky, 378-4273
SUNDAY MORNING GENERAL MEETINGS
September 14, 10 a.m. – Paid member brunch - $5 for nonmembers; NO FEE if you join that day
October 5, 9:30 social hour, 11a.m. – 1 p.m. – “Kid's Closet” - sale of gently used clothing and children's items (books, videos, toys, baby equipment, etc); bake sale; popcorn sale
November 9, 9:30 social hour, 10:30 program – “Wisdom of the Ages:” discussion of Pirkei Avot
WEEK NIGHTS - Adults only; child care available
Dinner club – Wed, Sept 17, 7 p.m., Panda West, 135 Marshall St, RSVP: Marti, 373-8900.
Lilith magazine “salon” (discussion group) – Tues, Oct 21, 7 p.m., RSVP: Danielle: 378-4273. ARTICLE: "How Do We Become a Grownup Jewish Women?" available from Marti or Danielle or in the Temple office.
Book club – Tues, Nov 18, 7 p.m.
OTHER EVENTS
Honey sale – during the month of September, containers of honey (3 sizes!) will be on sale in the Temple downstairs lobby on Sunday mornings and in the gift shop whenever it’s open. Please plan to get your Rosh Hashanah honey from WRJ!
Movie night - Saturday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. at the home of Dawn Engel in Manlius, MOVIE: Liberty Heights (1999) about a Jewish family in 1950s Baltimore, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Adrien Brody, Ben Foster and Joe Mantegna; RSVP: 682-7937
Mah Jong – Daytime: Mondays at 1:30 at the Nottingham, contact Adeline Jasper, 449-2506; Evening: generally held the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in room 14 of Temple Concord, contact Gail DePalma: (w) 464-3289, (h) 488-9575
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW
Sunday, November 2, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Party Planning Fair in the Temple Concord social hall.
Wednesday, November 5, 8 p.m. - Goldenberg Concert at the Civic Center featuring pianists Yefim Bronfman and Emil Ax (“on their way to Carnegie Hall”). Support this special Temple event.
If you need child care in order to attend adult-only events, contact Danielle Masursky, 378-4273
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Kids Closet Registration Form
Concord Kids Closet is an opportunity to sell gently used clothing, toys, and other items for children age 12 and under. The seller sets the prices and keeps all the money from their sale. The registration fee is $15 per table. That fee provides the seller with 1 table (8’ rectangular, 6’ rectangular or 8’ round) and 2 chairs. Sellers can purchase more than one table. Set up begins at 8:30 a.m. The sale will be open 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. but sellers can shop before the sale is open to the public. Unsold items may be donated to the Salvation Army - there will be an area set up to place unsold items after 1:00 p.m.
Send the SELLER REGISTRATION INFORMATION (below), along with a check payable to “Temple Concord – Women of Reform Judaism” to the address below:
Temple Concord – Women of Reform Judaism
Attn: Christina Tracy
910 Madison St
Syracuse, New York 13210
For questions contact Christina Tracy at Concordsale@ymail.com or 315-303-5155
SELLER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Alternate/Cell phone:
Email address:
Total enclosed: $
Send the SELLER REGISTRATION INFORMATION (below), along with a check payable to “Temple Concord – Women of Reform Judaism” to the address below:
Temple Concord – Women of Reform Judaism
Attn: Christina Tracy
910 Madison St
Syracuse, New York 13210
For questions contact Christina Tracy at Concordsale@ymail.com or 315-303-5155
SELLER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Alternate/Cell phone:
Email address:
Total enclosed: $
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