Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Upcoming activities

DATE CHANGE - Lilith magazine “salon” (discussion group) – Tues, Oct 28, 7 p.m., at Temple Concord (probably the Frensdorf Lounge). RSVP: Danielle: 378-4273. ARTICLE: "How Do We Become a Grownup Jewish Women?" available from Danielle or in the Temple office.

General meeting – Sunday, November 9, 9:30 social hour, 10:30 program - group activity: “Wisdom of the Ages” a discussion of “Pirkei Avot.” Tikkun olam: Bring a frozen turkey to donate to the Temple Concord food pantry.

Book club – Tuesday, November 18, 7 p.m. BOOK: Miriam by Maggie Anton. RSVP: Betty Lamb: 469-6485

General meeting – Sunday, December 7, 9:30 social hour, 10:30 program. Tikkun olam: Bring hats, mitten, gloves and scarves to donate to Vera House.

Dinner club – Wednesday, December 17, 7 p.m.; Faegan’s, 734 S Crouse Ave, RSVP: Marti Benedict, 373-8900

General Meeting Program for November

"Wisdom of the Ages"

Pirkei Avot is a wonderful section in the Mishnah, containing the philosophies and ethical statements of many wise rabbis. In this exercise, we will take the beginning of a few of these statements and finish them with our own words of wisdom. Here is an example: Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel said, “I have grown up among sages, but I have never found anything better than . . .” What is better than anything YOU have ever found? Think about how you would answer, and bring your thoughts to share with your sisters, along with some delicious food and warm fellowship, on November 9.

Monday, October 6, 2008

WRJ - Gift Shop

Honey – Thanks to the many Temple members who supported the first annual honey sale sponsored by WRJ. All 3 sizes of honey (produced locally!) are still available in the Temple Gift Shop whenever it’s open (½ lb jars, 1½ lb jars, and 12 oz honey bears).

WRJ tote bags – Beautiful tote bags made from recycled plastic bottles and decorated with WRJ’s logo are available for purchase in the Temple Gift Shop for $10.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Question of the Month - October

10 Questions, 10 Conversations - a Temple wide discussion.

What does it mean to you to belong to the Jewish people? What inspired you to join a Reform congregation? What has kept you here? What is the most meaningful part of your involvement in the community of Temple Concord?

Monday, September 1, 2008

Question of the Month - September

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, 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