First things first:  again congratulations to our 12 Kabbalat Torah students whose speeches and worship service was filled with joy, gratitude and humor.  As they and their families are blessed so are we as a God-centered community of Torah learners.  What a terrific simkha!

In past years, usually Kabbalat Torah is celebrated on Shavuot or the closest Shabbat, as I have mentioned previously, our busy schedule of b’nai mitzvah combined with Memorial Day holiday encouraged us to move our celebration this year.  I am glad that we did; as Lag B’omer was fitting a match for our observance!

This now brings me to encourage us to participate in our Shavuot Festival Morning celebration on Sunday, May 27th at 10:00 AM.  The synagogue service and the rituals associated with Shavuot speak to the genius of the ancient rabbis and sages who understood that a radical transformation of an agricultural festival had to occur in order to “save” Shavuot from extinction.  Nowhere in the Torah do we learn anything about a festival celebrating the Giving of the Torah.  Shavuot is described several times as a late spring harvest celebration and the conclusion of Pesakh.  Along with Pesakh and Sukkot it was one of the three major Biblical holy days that invoked the call to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Beit HaMikdash, the Temple.

What happened?  Pesakh could exist without the Temple; as the rabbis developed the Seder 2,000 or so years ago.  Sukkot could exist without the Temple; build a Sukkah for your family and dwell in it while invoking the Divine Presence.  But Shavuot?  No Seder. No Sukkah. What to do?  Cheesecake?  Not until much, much later!  The rabbis connected the leaving of Egypt with journey toward the wilderness of Sinai (where the Torah had been given to Moses) and Shavuot becomes “Zeman matan torateynu,” the Time of the Giving of the Torah at Sinai!  In doing so these sages found a beautiful connection and perfect fit – God, Torah and Israel (Land and People) all together – the same theological construct when the Temple stood in Jerusalem and pilgrims came up to bring their First Fruits of the spring harvest invoking God’s name and offering words of Torah as a personal oral history.

We will invite you, then, to bring the First Fruits of your Spiritual Offerings and join in prayer and Torah learning – the Ten Commandments – for our Sunday morning, May 27th Shavuot service at 10 AM.

Have a great rest of the week and Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Art Donsky

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Hevre, (Friends)

Yes, Amanda and I have been immortalized in the form of bobble heads!!!  (See picture above) Thank you to the Mitnick family for these wonderful gifts.  I mean this with all sincerity.  To be able to smile and laugh at oneself in the company of others about life and all it brings, at times is such a gift.  I know I for one have taken life too seriously at times when a smile or laugh would have helped.  So now on my temple study desk next to my phone my own “mini-me” stands poised to remind me to smile everytime I start to make a phone call or answer one. What a great gift!!!

Definitely on a more serious note, here is another reminder about tonight’s 7 PM service of Kabbalat Torah/Confirmation.  Twelve beautiful 10th grade students are poised and ready to lead us in prayer and share what it means to be Jewish in the North Hills suburban community. Congratulations to the families of:  Max Bradshaw, Rena Ferrara, Jonathan Harrison, Bethany Hodes, Jasz Joseph, Sam Knapp, Rebecca Lebovitz, Emily Mongilio, Lena Ogiwara, Kyle Silberstein, Matt Roskin and Jason Weis. These students like those in past years have been very conscientious and have worked hard on their speeches. I am thrilled to be part of this celebration.

In fact, this is my 15th class of students – a very Divine number – Yud and Hey – Yah in Hebrew one of the names of God. Thus,  I plan to address my remarks to the critical need of our reform congregations to place our personal and communal connection with God, first and foremost.

Without a connection with God what is the Torah or the People of Israel?  Whether this is easy or difficult process or somewhere in between for us as individuals (there are many Biblical and Talmudic examples of “God journeys” from which we may learn) in a synagogue community, I believe that it must be one that places God at the center – our personal and communal prayer at the center – God’s love and grace at the center – God’s wisdom and forgiveness at the center. Otherwise, we may run the risk of running becoming just a Jewish social club or community center.  Believe me I have seen this happen and know of synagogues where God was left out of the equation and soon Torah followed suit so that all that was “left” was an elite social club.

I offer the above observations not as a critique of this community, or any one in particular, but rather as an insight that I have come to accept as critically important especially in light of our reform movement’s new national leadership.  Once again the URJ leadership is trying to reinvent or resurrect the movement organization because of a number factors, too many to discuss here. Suffice it to say most mainstream religious groups of all faiths are struggling as well with their identities calling in think tanks and consultants – looking outside for fixes to internal problems.

I believe that we live at a time that many of us are yearning for God’s love, forgiveness and grace in our lives and often don’t know where or how to look or even how to name that yearning. Of course, human relationships are a central part of our everyday lives –  could we even consider life without people? However, it is through our relationship with the Divine, the Source of Life in our Universe that we “touch” the sacred, the eternal as well as the mystery lies beyond human naming and understanding and gives meaning to our limited lives.

I hope we can begin a joyous and deep conversation about this subject in coming months – one in which all of us would feel safe and comfortable expressing our beliefs and listening deeply to each other!

Hope to see you tonight, if not tonight, then let me greet you with a Shabbat Shalom this coming weekend,

B’shalom,
Rabbi Art Donsky

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Friday, May 4 — 12 lyar, 5772

6:00pm            Dinner for All/Grades K-2 Class Dinner

7:00pm            First Friday Family Service

                       Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Saturday, May 5 – 13 lyar, 5772

10:00am           Shabbat Morning Service

                       Bar Mitzvah – Shane Mitnick

Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Parashat Emor

Friday, May 11 — 19 lyar, 5772

7:30pm             Kabbalat Shabbat

                       Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Saturday, May 12 — 20 lyar, 5772

10:00am           Shabbat Morning Service

                       Bat Mitzvah – Rebecca Avigad

Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai

Friday, May 18 – 26 lyar, 5772

6:00pm            Tot Shabbat/Moshe’s Bar Moosevah

7:30 pm            Kabbalat Shabbat

                       Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Saturday, May 19 — 27 lyar, 5772

10:00am           Shabbat Morning Service

                       Bat Mitzvah – Rebecca Flieder

Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Parashat Bamidbar

Friday, May 27 – 4 Sivan, 5772

7:30pm         Kabbalat Shabbat

Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Saturday, May 26 – 5 Sivan, 5772

10:00am          Shabbat Morning Service

Bar Mitzvah – Casey Mann

Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

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WHO? 7th-12th Graders

WHEN? May 12th

For more info, contact Amanda ASAP!

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What a week for Reform Judaism in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette!  Two important stories made the news. Here they are if you haven’t had a chance to check them out, “Reform Judaism focuses on youth,” http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/reform-judaism-focuses-on-youth-633702/and ”   Women  of the Wall supported here.” http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/women-of-the-wall-supported-here-237832/ The first focuses upon the initiative of the new president of Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) , Rabbi Richard Jacobs and his senior vice president, Rabbi Jonah Pesner who recently visited our community, to engage young families and youth in our communities.  The second article shared the ongoing struggle of Anat Hoffman, of the Israel Religious Action, to give women equal access to holy sites in Israel.

B’shalom,

Rabbi Art Donsky

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Spring 2012 WOS Newsletter

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The J’s have it all!!!  It seems these days in the Jewish community nearly every organized labels their activities with a “J”.  J Street, J Site, J Film, J Burgh, J Magazine, J Serve and now, J Fest, the latest shorthand for celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel Independence Day – which is being celebrated by the entire Pittsburgh J Community in Oakland, in Schenley Plaza on Thursday, April 26th from 4:00 to 8:30 PM .  School families please know that  we are moving our religious school from Tuesday to Thursday next week and buses will at the temple for transport to the city and back.  You don’t want to miss J Fest. The mock Kotel that our 3rd graders constructed will be on display!!!!

Still I have to ask –  what gives? Why shorten everything? Has the “Mad Men” culture descended upon and taken over the J Community?  Oops, I mean Jewish community.  At least Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day (starting tonight and tomorrow) hasn’t be abbreviated, heaven forbid.

At the same time, I think I get it.  We have very busy lives. We run from here to there. Shlepping, working, playing hard, eating out, buying pre-prepared foods from Giant Eagle or soon Whole Foods – sometimes we are too exhausted by the end of week, even a Shabbat dinner is too much, so that a simple letter “J” catches our attention.  We see the “J” and our brains kick in – ah, it must be something Jewish!  (Or Jewy if you are Jon Stewart). By the way please check out Jon Stewart’s hilarious Passover and Easter report  ”Faith /Off” (http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-april-9-2012/faith-off—adapting-passover   ) What do you think about his suggestions for rebranding the J community?

Call me a bit old-fashioned when it comes to this new nomenclature. Once upon a time in America we called ourselves Hebrews (Hebrew Union College, the Hebrew Free Loan Society, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) when Jew or Jewish was seen and used as a pejorative expression.  Only time will tell if this is a new fad and Shabbat turns into “Sh”?  Or not? Either way don’t forget to join this Friday, April 20th for “Sh” for Zamru “Sh” at 7:30 PM featuring Amanda Russell, our music coordinator and Shara Taylor along with Jeremy McCandlish, Brian Boehmke and Ryan Mann.

Sh Shalom,

R. Art

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First, let me wish everyone a sweet and joyous Pesakh with beautiful and meaningful Sedarim, Friday evening, April 6th (no services here at the temple that night, but Bill Lowenberger will lead services in the morning.) Of course, the Hebrew month of Nisan welcomes not only the 7 or 8 days of Pesakh but the observances of Yom HaShoah v’haGevurah (Day of Holocaust Remembrance and Heroism), and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day).

We are commemorating the Holocaust Remembrance here at the temple on Tuesday, April 17th with a special service lead by our 7th and 8th graders at 6:30 PM, along with Amanda Russell, our Music Coordinator and me.  The entire congregation is invited to attend.  Several of these students, who have been learning about anti-Semitism and the Holocaust in class with me, will share their thoughts about this tragic period in Jewish and human history.  Please join us as we will offer together a special Mourners’ Kaddish in memory of the victims of the Shoah.

Changing gears, if you will, on Thursday, April 26th our religious school (and the entire congregation is invited, as well) will join in the citywide celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day celebration in Schenley Park in Oakland, near the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Library.  This celebration runs from 4PM – 8PM.  We will have free bus transportation to the city and back again will be available (more details to follow).  This is a great opportunity for our families of all ages to enjoy a wonderful celebration of our people’s homeland while meeting and greeting hundreds of other families from throughout Allegheny county and beyond.  There will NOT be religious school on Tuesday April 24th as we want everyone to attend this very unique program.  Our 3rd grade, Kitah Gimel class, under the direction of their teacher, Mrs.Ruth Dahim, has created a “replica” of the Kotel, the Western Wall of Jerusalem which we will bring down to the celebration to display!  Of course, there will be plenty of Israeli food and music so please put this date on your calendars.

May we be blessed with arrival of Eliyahu HaNavi, Elijah the Prophet, and may the hearts of children and parents turn toward one another in love and compassion so that we may enjoy the redemption long promised in our sacred scripture.

Hag Pesakh Sameakh,

Rabbi Art Donsky

PS  I am away from April 3rd through 11th, in case of emergency please contact Ed Smith in the temple office.

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Erev Pesach & Pesach

Friday, April 6                 14 Nisan,5772

                                             No Services

Saturday, April 7            15 Nisan, 5772

 10:00am                      Festival Shabbat

                                     Morning Service

       Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Parashat Shemini (I)

Friday, April 13                21 Nisan, 5772

7:30pm                       Kabbalat Shabbat

           Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Saturday, April 14           22 Nisan, 5772

10:00am        Shabbat Morning Service

       Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Parashat Shemini (II)

Friday, April 20             28 Nisan, 5772

6:00pm                              Tot Shabbat

7:30pm                        Zamru Shabbat: Rabbi Donsky, Amanda Russell, Shara Taylor, Jeremy McCandlish, Ryan Mann, Brian Boehmke              

Saturday, April 21           29 Nisan, 5772

10:00am       Shabbat Morning Service

                                         Rabbi Donsky

5:00pm                    Max & Paige Duhl

                                         B’nai Mitzvah

                    Minhah/Maariv Havdalah

         Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Parashat Tazria-Metzora

Friday, April 27                   5 Iyar, 5772

7:30pm                       Kabbalat Shabbat

          Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

Saturday, April 28              6 Iyar, 5772

10:00am        Jessica Levine                           

                                             Bat Mitzvah

               Shabbat Morning Service

Rabbi Donsky & Amanda Russell

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On Friday evening, April 6th, to be exact, throughout the world, our people will gather together with family, friends, and guests for Pesakh Seders.  With our tables filled with Seder plates, matza, haroset, maror, cups for Elijah and Miriam, and the whole variety of Pesakh foods, we will once again tell our story of servitude and redemption!

Our most beloved Festival of Freedom, I believe, asks more of us than the rituals associated with the Seder meal and the particular Haggadah we use.  Central to the message of these 7 or 8 days is the ethical imperative that we must “in every generation experience the going out from Egypt, yetziat Mitzrayim (escaping from the very Narrow or Imprisoned Places).”   Our ancient sages understood, that each generation would again and again, until the time of the Messianic Age, encounter their own “Egypt”, their own ‘very narrow places,’ the experiences that would prevent us from being truly loving human beings.

Let me urge us, that we take some time during the days that follow Seder when we find ourselves in a quiet space or when eating some our “bread of afflication”, our Matzah, to reflect upon our “own Egypts.”  What keeps us from being who will truly wish to be?  If we could step outside the confines our “narrow places” who would emerge?  If the Days of Awe, the High Holy Days are about repentance and forgiveness before fellow human beings and before God, let Pesakh be for us then a time of personal spiritual renewal and rebirth, so that we may emerge into the light of spring, into the blessings of God, refreshed for the glorious days ahead.

Hag Pesakh Sameakh,

Rabbi Art Donsky

PS  I will be away from April 3rd thru April 11th.  In case of emergency please contact Ed Smith in the temple office.

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