Tag: People who Inspire

Eulogizing a Woman who Saved our People

This week we eulogize our matriarch Sarah. In this week’s Torah portion (Genesis 23:1ff), called Chaye Sarah (the life of Sarah), we read about the death of Sarah at 127 years old. Who was this woman who, as we say at every Jewish wedding, “helped build up the household of Israel”? Who was this partner with Abraham, about whom the Zohar (Jewish mystical text) says that Sarah’s agreement to go on the journey of Lech Lecha was necessary before Abraham could venture forth?

For her eulogy, let me read a passage from a page from Sarah’s (imagined) diary. Here she reflects back on what really happened behind the scenes during the incident known as the Akedah (the binding of Isaac):

I was still awake, lying quietly in our tent. Long before, Abraham had fallen asleep beside me. Ah, a moment of quiet amidst the frenetic activity of desert life. My mind began drifting, back to my favorite recollection, that of a fateful day some years back… I remembered the three men who had come to announce my imminent pregnancy with Isaac. Pregnant, after so many years? I actually laughed at them in disbelief until God reassured me it was true. God couldn’t have given me any greater happiness than all I have gleaned from my Isaac.

And then it happened. Abraham began stirring, and with a sudden jerk, he sat up and called out, “Hineni, Here I am.” He was talking to God. He walked out to stand beneath the stars near the camp’s altar. So I leaned forward trying to share in this latest revelation, as I had with so many others.

At first what I heard made little sense. Though I could only hear Abraham’s responses, I understood that God requested something involving our son Isaac. Abraham’s usually strong, even voice was filled with shock, then anger, and finally acceptance. I was intrigued, and sat silently to hear more.

I started listening more intently. For a moment I thought I heard the word “sacrifice,” but I had to be mistaken. As Abraham spoke again, his words came as a choking sob from deep within his throat. My body started to shake with horror. This was a nightmare! The Eternal One could not have requested that my husband sacrifice our only son Isaac. I was simultaneously incensed and terrified. God had given us Isaac. Why would God take this special gift from me now? And without even speaking to me directly! No, I must have misunderstood.

I pretended to be asleep as my husband returned to the tent. Through cracked eyelids, I watched him. I had never seen him so overcome with sadness, not even when we were commanded to leave the land where we were born, or on that awful day Sodom was destroyed. But I could see in his face that I had not been mistaken. He truly believed that God wanted him to sacrifice our son.

I wanted to hold Abraham in my arms, to cry with him, to help him rethink what God had said, to convince him to speak to God, but his eyes were distant and I was scared. I had been excluded from hearing God’s voice and for the first time I felt powerless to involve myself in what had passed between Abraham and God. For a moment I wondered if this strange command was my punishment. Had I done something so evil to deserve the loss of my only son? One thing I knew. I would give up my life before I would let Isaac be harmed.

Lying in the dark, I was so tied up in knots that I could not cry. Abraham did not even try to wake me. Instead he had fallen into a restless sleep, as if struggling with an unseen demon. I could not bear to lie beside him any longer. I needed to escape. I needed to think. I could not believe that this God of goodness who created the world and who had given us Isaac would now take him away.

I started walking aimlessly, until I approached the camp’s altar where Abraham’s special knife leaned against one side. I began to tremble as I thought of the knife sliding against Isaac’s throat. I remembered all the sacrifices I had witnessed over the years, sacrifices that served as a sign of our commitment to and appreciation for God’s protection and guidance. Could God be looking for that kind of sign? Why would God suddenly seek reassurance of our commitment? Why now, and why involve Isaac? All these questions suddenly merged into one: if Abraham was so committed to obeying God’s command, did my concern matter at all?

I asked myself, “What did God expect of us?” I remembered God’s promise that our offspring would inherit this land and become a great nation. It had been many years since I thought about that promise. I had always assumed that Isaac and his future bride would follow in our footsteps as the heads of tribe, but I never considered just how he would inherit our commitment to serving God. Abraham and I were not getting any younger. If we were to pass on the Covenant to our son, it would have to be soon. Perhaps God’s discussion with Abraham was the sign that the time had arrived.

My heart began to pound. The future of our values depended upon our actions now. What better way for us to pass on that commitment than for the three of us to journey together, to meet God on a mountaintop, and to begin the transition of leadership to the next generation! God commanded a sacrifice so that Abraham and I could prepare ourselves to relinquish the leadership of the people, and Isaac could begin to assume this sacred duty. Abraham misunderstood God’s message. God did not want Isaac as a sacrifice. A sacrifice of the finest of our flocks was called for, not of our children. I now knew what I had to do. I had to prevent a nonsensical death, and ensure the perpetuation of our covenant with God.

I now understood that God wanted me to follow Abraham and Isaac to help them. Yet I wanted to allow Abraham the chance to figure out God’s intentions for himself. So I went back to bed and waited patiently for morning.

Abraham got up early, gathered his supplies, and announced that he was going off with Isaac. He did not explain why. As soon as he was out of sight, I prepared for my own journey. With my own supplies, I also took along the finest ram in camp. I was careful to stay out of sight on the opposite the side of the mountains. On the third day, before they woke up, I knew my time had come. I hiked up the side of the mountain, ram in tow. When I could no longer catch my breath, I released the ram and shooed it up the slope. As I watched it run up to the heights where I knew Abraham and Isaac would find it, I relaxed. Content at having ensured the survival of our people, I lay down in the grass and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

[Adapted by Rabbi Paul Kipnes and Michelle November. This midrash was adapted from a modern midrash written by Faith Rogow, which appears in Taking the Fruit, Modern Women’s Tales of the Bible (San Diego: Woman’s Institute for Continuing Jewish Education, pp. 51-56). It answers two questions: Where was Sarah during the Akedah? AND Where did the ram – sacrificed in Isaac’s place – come from?

An Ethical Will for My Children

Some years ago, I wrote this ethical will for my children. With a few adjustments, I shared it with the congregation as a High Holy Day sermon. I still stand by these values.

As Congregation Or Ami’s New Dimensions (activities for adults only) prepares for a seminar on Writing an Ethical Will (Monday, November 17, 2008 at , I went back to my Ethical Will to see what I wrote. I still like it:

On Aaron’s Advice: An Ethical Will for My Children
Rabbi Paul J. Kipnes, Congregation Or Ami, Calabasas, CA
Rosh Hashana 5763 / September 2002

When Becky asked me to officiate at a minyan after her father Aaron’s funeral, I stepped forward without question. Friends help friends. It was only as I stood there, for two nights, before our extended group of friends, before Becky, that I realized the daunting task of trying to find words of wisdom to comfort someone whom I considered more a family member than a friend. Doctors do not operate on their loved ones; rabbis probably should not officiate for family members either. It is just too close.

But there we were. We prayed the prayers, moving forward without comment. Becky seemed to take strength from the regularity of the ritual and comfort from the companionship of the community surrounding her. I worried about what to say to bring uplift to her heart, solace to her soul. I was saved, however, by none other than Aaron himself – yes, the deceased. Before heart surgery ten years earlier, being well aware that “you can never be sure when the end will come,” Aaron, wrote an ethical will to make sure that his ideals would survive. A short, two-page letter to his loved ones, the ethical will bequeaths to them the values he holds most dear. As the letter was read aloud, Aaron himself comforted his daughter and his grandchildren, and led us all with wisdom and humility to a meaningful moment of kedusha, of holiness.

A few weeks later, emboldened by Aaron’s example, I sat down to write. You don’t need 10 years as a rabbi officiating at funerals to know that all it takes is some freak accident, unexpected disease or, however unlikely, some terrorist action to end your life prematurely. So I accepted for myself Aaron’s implicit invitation to impart words of comfort and wisdom to those who would survive me. I will share now but a few of the words I have written down in an ethical will to my family. Should I live to watch my three children mature, make their way in the world, and create their own lives and family, I hope to have passed on these values both in name and by example. But if not, God-forbid, I want them, and you, to know what is in my heart as you all continue to live your lives. With the High Holy Days upon us, this just might be the most important sermon I write this year.

To My Beloved Children:

We live in a world in which celebrity seems more important than what good you have accomplished. Where America’s leading businesses and business watchdogs lied to thousands of investors who counted on their honesty to plan for their future. … Where anti-Semitism – unadulterated hate – has raised its head in Europe, endangering our people yet again. … Where the bravado, self-interest and violence of the Palestinian leadership destroyed our realistic heartfelt offers to end the Mideast conflict. These are frightening times for our people, for all people.

With so many spurious values abound, I find myself contemplating the awesome responsibility we have to guide you in life. As you navigate the uncharted waters of life, I wonder, have we filled your life raft with a strong enough set of ethics and ideals to keep your heads above the raging waters?

The key, it seems, is to remember that you have all you need to bring goodness to yourself and into the world. Do not allow yourself to be limited by others, whether because of your gender… or your religion, race, orientation or age. These provide you with unique tools with which to navigate our world. You can do anything you put your mind to, anything you truly wish to accomplish. By the way, that is the central lesson of the modern Bar and Bat Mitzvah. Having completed an arduous, complex task, you will have learned that nothing is too difficult or beyond your reach.

When each of you was born, we celebrated with a Jewish ceremony. Surrounded by family and friends, and delicious desserts baked by PaPa and LaLa, we shepped nachas, shared the joy. At its most basic level, these ceremonies proclaimed that you were Jews and that we intended to bring you up as Jews. More significantly, it taught, even before you could understand it, that you are inheritors of a sacred tradition. As you grow, immerse yourself in our Jewish values and become our ideal, an Or LaGoyim, a light unto the nations.

My children, you are part of Am bachor, a chosen people. Not necessarily better than others. Merely chosen for a special responsibility. You are chosen to receive Torah values and effectuate them in our world. To help you understand this, we have prioritized our lives around enabling you to gain a strong Jewish education, learning the teachings of Torah. Torah encompasses all that is good and worthy. Hafach ba v’hafach ba d’chula ba – turn it and turn it, everything is in Torah: our stories and traditions, rituals and ceremonies, ethics and values. Taken together, Torah goads us into making our special contribution to this world.

Of course, the pursuit of wisdom begins with Torah, but should not conclude with Jewish learning alone (although your ability to evaluate the world will be severely limited without it). As Am hasefer, the People of the Book, we value secular scholarship too, for its own sake and as the key to our survival. Complete your studies with vigor; pursue college and advance degrees thereafter. Jewish knowledge and secular studies, combine these and you will be able to more easily pursue your dreams. It is a marriage made in heaven.

Speaking of marriage, back in ancient days, I would have had the privilege of picking out your spouse. Today, thankfully, you choose your own. Allow me to share with you what I have learned about love and marriage. Look not to movies or Madison Avenue advertisements for guidance in your search for a soul mate. Look, rather, for a partner who loves you, who helps you realize your fullest potential, with whom you feel enabled to expand your horizons. And find someone who has a commitment to Jewish life. With them you will share a heritage, and an ethical and spiritual encoding that was programmed into you at the moment of conception, nourished within you from the time you nursed at your mother’s breast. With such a partner, your life will be easier and, I believe, fuller. Yet whomever you choose, Jew or non-Jew, a male or a female, know that we will love you and your partner, and will try to support the life you build together.

I have learned that marriage takes as much if not more work than whatever you get paid to do, but the rewards of these efforts far exceed the paycheck you bring home. Continue to date your partner throughout your life. Make your time with him or her a priority, even when you have children, and share the responsibilities equally. That sage Dear Abby wrote, infatuation is to marriage like fireworks are to fireflies. Though infatuation (even lust) will light up your skies with an overwhelming display of light and noise, a mature, strong marriage – like a firefly – will provide you with a beacon of light to guide you home after a long lonely day in the world. And that, the beacon of light shining forth from my wife’s love, is what keeps me sane in our crazy world.

Mishpacha, your family needs to be a high priority. Mom and I made decisions about where we wanted to live based on our desire to raise you in proximity to your grandparents. Yes, family has the ability to push your buttons like no other, but they also have the ability to accept you and love you unconditionally. Find a way to love your family and they will sustain you through the most challenging of times. Let yourself be separated from them when you are adults, and the tragedy of separation will be passed on as a model for your children as they develop their familial relationships. So call your adult siblings regularly and your parents even more. Throughout your life, make Shalom Bayit, peace in the home, one of your goals, and you will find unparalleled strength as you to venture out into the world.

About work, I have learned this: Find a career path that will allow you to bring goodness into our world. Making money for money’s sake, or even just to support your family, will slowly consume your soul. At the end of the day, you will not sustain yourself without seeking a greater good because the sole pursuit of money and material things is unending. And by the way, don’t try to keep up with the Jones’, because you can never keep up with the Jones’, because there will always be more Jones’ who always will have more.

Be ethical in all that you do – especially at work. Not because otherwise you will get caught – which ultimately you will. Rather, be ethical because it is the right thing to do. Always remember that Hebrew National hotdog commercial. It says it all. You are “responsible to a Higher Authority.”

As you prioritize your time, seek out a synagogue that speaks to your heart. Help it fulfill its mission to educate Jews and to respond Henaynu, that we are here to support each other. Attend services frequently. They will heal and uplift your soul in ways that you will recognize only after you have expended the energy to show up. Al tifros min hatzibur, do not separate yourself from the community, since within community, can we best feel God’s loving Presence.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Sha’alu Shalom Lirushalayim. Nowhere is the need for shalom more clear and yet often more difficult than in relationship with the State of Israel. But Kol yisrael areivim zeh bazeh – all Jews are responsible for each other. As you know, I am drawn to Israel even now, when most people are staying away. I have traveled there in both good and in difficult times. And I will again. Ahavat Yisrael, the love of Israel that courses through my veins, calls me to stand on her soil and to speak with her people, even at times that others deem dangerous. Just as I cannot imagine a world without you, neither can I imagine a world without Israel. As such, we all must wrap our arms around this tired little nation, comfort and support her, and tell her that Od yavo shalom, peace one day will come.

We can discern in our hearts a special love for Israel as we learn about her past and her present and as we visit her unique, precious places. As this love and connection grows – even before it fully matures – we need to support Israel with our time, energy and money; and dedicate ourselves to her wellbeing b’chol l’vavcha uv’chol nafshecha uv’chol m’odecha – with all our heart, soul and might. That too is part of the purpose for which God placed us on this earth.

You know that I have been studying Talmud with my colleagues. I recently studied the Talmud’s short list of six responsibilities of a parent to his or her children. Curiously, number six was “teach your children to swim.” Why swimming of all things? Did the rabbis witness their own set of tragedies and understand the simplicity of prevention? I wonder if they recognized the poignant symbolism inherent in swimming: that on occasion we all will be thrown into waters over our heads and we need the skills to keep ourselves afloat. In teaching you to swim, we endeavor to provide instruction in more than just the physical act of treading water and self-propulsion. We confirm that within each of us are many diverse tools – physical, emotional, spiritual – to help us navigate the currents of life. We have taught you the power of seeking out others for help and the wisdom of listening closely to their advice and counsel. I hope we have taught you that turning to others for support – friends and school counselors, rabbis and therapists – is the mark of courage and strength, not of weakness or shame. So seek out help when you need it.

Life, you may be learning, is filled with mysteries. The greatest perhaps is why God placed us upon this earth. Recently, I have discovered a hint of that ultimate purpose. Embedded in Torah, in a portion we read every Yom Kippur, are the words: Kedoshim tihiyu ki kadosh Ani Adonai Eloheichem – you are holy because I, the Eternal your God am holy. Life, I believe, is supposed to be about Kedusha, holiness, about those significant yet indescribable moments of inspirational uplift that result from right-minded actions and intentions. Holiness, like spirituality, is not just a state of being; it is a manner of acting within the world by being compassionate, pursuing justice and seeking truth. When we do this right, our actions reflect shutaf Adonai, a partnership with God.

Well, these are the values I cherish. Values which carried me through the dark days of years gone by. I hope they carry you through too. I wrote these down, on Aaron’s advice, as a way to guide and comfort you in the years ahead. Perhaps one day soon you too will follow Aaron’s example and write down your ethical will. It truly is a holy task.

For now, mine kinderlach – my children and the children of my Torah teaching – honor my memory, and your family’s memory, and the tradition passed down midor lador, from generation to generation since the time of Moses, by being holy, by being kadosh. I know you are… May you know you are…

I love you. Love, Daddy.

So Little Time Remaining to Soften a Child’s Traumatic Experience

Somehow Or Ami became invested in the sacred work of helping foster kids. It happened slowly. A project here, a program there. Suddenly our calendar was filled with activities aimed at helping care for children who, removed from their homes to escape neglect or abuse, would really appreciate the support of people with extra love to share.

How Foster Kids Entered our Congregational Radar

Our Torah teaches “You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, I will heed their outcry as soon as they cry out to Me” (Exodus 23: 21-22). Like the commandment in the previous verse, “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 23:20), these three categories of people – orphan, widow, stranger – are easily ignored. They have no power. They have no natural advocates.

Yet, God and Torah remind us, as Rabbi Philip Cohen teaches, that they are not anonymous, identity-less Others for whom we have no responsibility, but rather a fully enfranchised human beings, created b’tzelem Elohim (in God’s image) endowed with the same attributes of those of our own group and nation and therefore deserving of the same humane treatment. The stranger becomes a stranger by title only. The orphan becomes an orphan only by title. Because we are commanded to allow them the real human identity he or she possesses by virtue of, well, by virtue of being human.

Yet, God and Torah remind us, as Rabbi Philip Cohen teaches, that they are not anonymous, identity-less Others for whom we have no responsibility, but rather a fully enfranchised human beings, created b’tzelem Elohim (in God’s image) endowed with the same attributes of those of our own group and nation and therefore deserving of the same humane treatment. The stranger becomes a stranger by title only. The orphan becomes an orphan only by title. Because we are commanded to allow them the real human identity he or she possesses by virtue of, well, by virtue of being human.

Unique Relationships Lead to Special Caring

Through a unique relationship with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), fostered over the years by Laurie Tragen-Boykoff, Susan Gould, Debbie Echt-Moxness, Shari Gillis and others, Congregation Or Ami maintains a deep commitment to another category of faceless, nameless, powerless people, our community’s foster children. For years, our members have adopted DCFS Child Abuse Caseworkers and sponsored the children in their caseloads. The Adopt a Child Abuse Caseworker (ACAC) program pairs congregants with foster children for birthday celebrations and back to school preparations. Twice annually we participate in the annual Child-Spree programs – Back to School Childspree in July and Holiday Childspree in December – during which we help foster care children use donated gift cards to purchase new substantially discounted clothes and school supplies. Mothers and their younger daughters team up for Prom Prep 101, a mitzvah project designed to ensure that foster girls are able to take part in their High School proms. We have held information sessions for Jewish adults to explore the possibility of becoming foster parents.

But perhaps the centerpiece of our outreach to foster care children comes during Mitzvah Day in November when we create over 400 comfort backpacks for children who, in the months to come, will be pulled from their homes to safety.

“Finally, These Kids Have Something to Call Their Own”

When children are pulled from their homes to go into emergency foster placement, they leave with the shirts on their back and little by which to remember family and friends. Most are terrified and confused. At Or Ami, we have an opportunity to change their world, on Sunday, November 2nd from 11:00 am-1:00 pm.

Join us on as we assemble bags of comfort that will greet these children (ages 5-16 years) as they unexpectedly go into emergency foster placement. Our Or Ami community has once again committed to provide more than 400 bags filled with items of comfort and necessity. On Mitzvah Day, the synagogue is transformed into an awesome assembly line for compassion and caring. We create age-appropriate comfort bags complete with pillow cases personalized with messages of hope, clothes, toiletries, games, toys, journals, and an individualized card expressing love and caring.

Recently, an Or Ami congregant and attorney with a decade of experience in Department of Children and Family Services told us that we cannot imagine the true value these comfort bags bring to individuals pulled from their homes. When these children are handed one of Or Ami’s special comfort bags, personalized with reassuring and comforting messages, they have a moment of consolation and encouragement. They have something to call their own. We hear the same response from social workers who are responsible for these children. These children need us and are counting on each member of our congregation to make something wonderful happen!

Help! We Have Only 2 Weeks to Collect Items

Because the High Holy Days were so late, we have only two short weeks to collect enough supplies to help these children. We need up to 400 each of:

* coloring books, crayons, markers
* activity books (mazes,crossword,sudoku)**
* pens, pencils
* writing journals (for teenagers)
* small photo albums (don’t forget the teens)**
* books for 15-17 year olds (used ok if in good shape)
* night lites**
* small hand-held games/toys (for teens too!)**
* toiletries (deodorant, shampoo, conditioner)
* girls’ accessories (hair clips, head bands,etc…)
* t-shirts (youth large only)
* small stuffed animals

Do you know someone who owns a business, who can donate some of these items? Do you have a neighbor or a friend whose company can help us get ahold of any of these items from someone with whom they do business?

Of course, tzedakah is needed and welcome!! Send your check, payable to Congregation Or Ami, to the temple. Write “Mitzvah Day” on the memo line. Or donate online (scroll down to Adopt a Child Abuse Caseworker Fund).

So:

Help us collect the items in the next two weeks.
Then make time to help us assemble the comfort bags.

Questions? Contact our Mitzvah Day co-chairs Laurie Tragen-Boykoff or Shari Gillis.

Standing Tall: Israelis Help Paralyzed People Walk Again

A new Israeli invention is helping paralyzed people walk again.

Something of a mix between the exoskeleton of a crustacean and the suit worn by comic hero Iron Man, the device, called ReWalk, helps paraplegics—people paralyzed below the waist—to stand, walk and climb stairs.

One of these new ReWalk users is former Israeli paratrooper Radi Kaiof, who was injured in 1988 while serving in the Israel Defense Forces. “I never dreamed I would walk again,” Kaiof told Reuters. “After I was wounded, I forgot what it’s like. Only when standing up can I feel how tall I really am and speak to people eye to eye, not from below.”

ReWalk was invented by engineer Amit Goffer, founder of Argo Medical Technologies, a small Israeli high-tech company. “It raises people out of their wheelchair and lets them stand up straight,” Goffer said of his contraption. “It’s not just about health, it’s also about dignity.”

When Goffer speaks about dignity, he understands all too well. He was paralyzed in an accident in 1997 but he cannot use his own invention because he does not have full function of his arms.

ReWalk, which requires crutches to help with balance, consists of motorized leg supports, body sensors and a backpack containing a computerized control box and rechargeable batteries. The user picks a setting with a remote control wrist band—stand, sit, walk, descend or climb—and then leans forward, activating the body sensors and setting the robotic legs in motion.

The ReWalk is now in clinical trials in Tel Aviv’s Sheba Medical Centre, and Goffer said it will soon be used in trials at the Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute in Pennsylvania. Slated for commercial sale in 2010, ReWalk will cost as much as the more sophisticated wheelchairs on the market, which sell for about $20,000, the company said.

Click here to learn more about the ReWalk system.

Support Team Sophie: For Universally Accessible Playgrounds

Amazing people do amazing things to transform themselves and the world. My congregants Jeff and Kellie Singer support Shane’s Inspiration, an organization which works to create Universally Accessible Playgrounds and programs that integrate children of all abilities socially, physically and emotionally, fostering acceptance, friendship and understanding. They helped vision Calabasas’ Brandon’s Village.

Jeff and Kellie invite people to hear their story. Our Brandon Kaplan Special Needs Program urges us to support their Team Sophie in the Shane’s Inspiration walk. Read on:

As many of you know, our daughter Sophie was diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia when she was 5 months old. It is a very rare disorder which is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in children. We did not know whether she would be able to see, walk, or talk and so many of the other normal things that we all take for granted each day. Sophie has spent the past 8 years going to physical, occupational and speech therapy up to five days per week. She has worked so hard and achieved so much. She has inspired everyone in our family to reach higher than we thought we could, to work harder than we thought possible and be more compassionate than we knew how to be. Sophie is now in third grade; she attends Hebrew school, spent a week this past summer at sleep away camp, does gymnastics, karate, plays baseball and played in her first soccer game this weekend. We are so proud of Sophie and all of her accomplishments. Shane’s Inspiration came into our lives almost 8 years ago and has given my family so many gifts; the gift of sharing, acceptance and love. The gift of embracing a world without bias and barriers. And most importantly, for Sophie, the gift of laughter and the joy of play. Shane’s Inspiration makes that lesson possible for all children by building “Integrated Playgrounds”. Playgrounds that your children can enjoy alongside a child that may not be able to put themselves on a swing or walk across a play bridge, but can roll with a wheelchair alone or with the aid of their parent or another child and be able to laugh and enjoy a day in the park. The vision of Shane’s Inspiration is to eliminate bias against children with disabilities. The mission of Shane’s Inspiration is to create Universally Accessible Playgrounds and programs that integrate children of all abilities socially, physically and emotionally, fostering acceptance, friendship and understanding. Over the years, we have been so honored to have so many friends join Team Sophie at the annual Walk & Roll. We would like to invite you to join us on Sunday, September 28th at 7:30 AM at Griffith Park for the 11th Annual Shane’s Inspiration Walk & Roll. We are proud to say that Team Sophie has been the top fundraising team for the past 7 years raising more than $100,000. We have set a goal to raise $25,000 in 2008. We appreciate any donation that you can make. We have set up a Team Sophie Fundraising website . All donations are secure and sent directly to Shane’s Inspiration by Firstgiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation. Or if you prefer to mail a check, just send the check payable to Shane’s Inspiration to 15213 Burbank Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA 91411, and acknowledge TEAM SOPHIE. Contact Jeff with questions.

Joon: Reveling in the Rich Flavors of Persian Jewry

Editor Rob Eshman, in the Jewish Journal, wrote Joon, an explosively honest essay about the integration of the Persian Jewish community into the LA Jewish community. Wrote he:

For as long as I’ve worked in the Jewish community — 14 years — I’ve heard insults leveled at Iranian Jews.

They’re pushy, acquisitive, flashy, nouveau riche, cheap. They’re grasping, insincere, clannish, suspicious, old-fashioned. “They’ve ruined Beverly Hills High.” “They’ve invaded Milken High.” “They’ve taken over Sinai Temple.”

I repeat the invectives by way of making one point: Enough already.

Eshman continues:

As for the established Jewish community, I’d like to believe we have become 100 percent accepting. I’d like to believe that on the occasion of this 30-year anniversary, those of us who still default to — I’ll be blunt — racist generalizations, take the time to learn the remarkable recent history of Iranian Jewry — a story as compelling, frightening and death-defying for those who lived it as any our own relatives experienced.

I’d like to believe we’ll come to understand that there was exactly no — zero — difference between our antagonism of this greenhorn community and the cold-shoulder with which established German Jewish communities in America greeted the waves of our Eastern European ancestors 100 years ago.

At Congregation Or Ami, we have a handful of Jews of Persian descent. They are some of the warmest, most expressive, wonderful members of our congregation. Two became Adult B’not Mitzvah last year and gave Divrei Torah that captured so vividly the love of Torah and Judaism that they brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the sanctuary. They represent the best of our Jewish people. I cannot imagine Or Ami without these two or their relatives.

My kids went to school elsewhere and had wonderful Persian Jewish friends. Michelle and I loved experiencing the rich Persian Jewish culture, food, and family. We supported those friendships wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately, not everyone felt the same way. The level of animosity – stereotyping bordering on racism – by Ashkenzi Jews toward the Persian Jews was astonishing. At times, I recall responding to someone’s borderline racist comment about “Persian Jews” by saying sarcastically “they’re almost as bad as [insert racist slang for another group here]”. It was the only way to show them how offensive their comments were.

We take pride in Or Ami’s acceptance of the multicultural, multiethnic, multiracial uniqueness of many of our families. Each brings delicious new flavors to our smorgasbord; each weaves colorful threads into the tapestry we call our community. We even have a page on our website devoted to our openness to this uniqueness. We can only hope that the rest of the Jewish community follows suit too!

Or Ami’s Dina Kaplan Receives Award at Dodgers Game

A crowd of Or Ami supporters gathered at Dodgers Stadium to cheer as our own Dina C. Kaplan took to the field to receive the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award for her work with people with special needs. I had the pleasure of nominating Dina a few months back, when congregant Brad Gore brought the award to my attention. Through Brad’s support, members of our Support Group for Parents of Children with Special Needs (and other supporters) were able to enjoy a complimentary Dodgers game. We all know that Dina is an amazing woman, a powerful advocate for people with special needs, and a cherished member of the Or Ami family. An inspiring parent, lawyer, and advocate, Dina shines the light of Or Ami so brightly in this world.

My nomination is below:
It is my pleasure to nominate Dina C. Kaplan for the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award. Dina is by profession an attorney specializing in special education law, by avocation the creator of many life changing opportunities for children with disabilities throughout her community, and by love the parent of a child with special needs. She creates, motivates and inspires. Dina has improved the lives of tens of thousands of families and inspired countless others to seek equal access for people with disabilities. BACKGROUND In 1994, Dina C. Kaplan had a son who was born with multiple physical and developmental disabilities. Her son, Brandon, has inspired her to make a difference in the lives of children with special needs. She refocused her law practice to special education law and civil rights for children with disabilities. Currently, her practice consists of representing children with disabilities in Individualized Education Program meetings, Mediation, Resolution Sessions, Due Process Hearings and State Level Complaints. She also represents and advises families in matters concerning Regional Centers, California Children’s Services, Medi-Cal and private insurance. CREATING THE K.E.N. PROJECT (Kids with Exceptional Needs) Ms. Kaplan’s journey advocating for her son made her realize how difficult it is to access services for children with special needs. As a result, in 1996, Dina started a non-profit organization, The K.E.N. Project which is dedicated to providing information, support and advocacy training to parents of children with special needs and professionals who work with children with special needs. The K.E.N. Project provides three ongoing monthly support/advocacy groups for parents and professionals. It also does trainings for many organizations and groups, and provides speakers at conferences. FOUNDING THE LAS VIRGENES SPECIAL EDUCATION, PTA In October 2003, Dina, and several parents started a district-wide Special Education PTA in the Las Virgenes School District with the mission of facilitating parents, school and community working together to enhance the lives of children with special needs. Dina served as the President for three years. LVSEPTA provided parent education programs, fundraising for special projects, including a universally accessible playground, and awards for exceptional educators. BUILDING BRANDON’S VILLAGE, UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND Dina spearheaded efforts to build the first universally accessible playground in the city of Calabasas, CA. This playground is over seventy percent accessible for children of all abilities. The City of Calabasas, The Friedman Charitable Foundation, The Las Virgenes Special Education PTA and the Talbert Family Foundation, combined their efforts to create this special place. Bruce Friedman, the founder of the Friedman Charitable Foundation, gave an unprecedented ONE MILLION DOLLAR gift to the City of Calabasas to build this playground. As a result, he was given naming rights and decided to name the playground after his nephew, Brandon Kaplan. The Friedman and Kaplan families received the 2006 Humanitarian Award from the City of Calabasas in honor of their achievement in bringing this wonderful playground to the city. On the first Saturday of every month, Dina works with the K.E.N. Project to coordinate play dates at the playground. They are called Brandon’s Buddies and they provide an opportunity for disabled children to play with their able-bodied peers and engage in arts and crafts projects, face painting, entertainment, snacks and goodie bags. DEVELOPING THE BRANDON KAPLAN SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM Following a warm welcome for their son Brandon at a synagogue they visited (Congregation Or Ami of Calabasas, CA), Dina and her family immediately became active members. Dina partnered with the synagogue creating a Support Group for Parents of Children with Special Needs, which she facilitates. The Support Group provides emotional support, advocacy strategies, and for those interested, spiritual guidance. Her son’s Bar Mitzvah ceremony ,once again reminded everyone that children with special needs can and should have access to all aspects of religious life. Brandon’s Bar Mitzvah inspired the Congregation to create the Brandon Kaplan Special Needs Fund. This Fund has launched a webpage explicitly inviting Jewish families with children with special needs into the heart of the synagogue, supported numerous families through the sometimes expensive process of becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah, trained religious educators to provide mainstreamed Jewish learning, and created a special caring community outreach for such families within the community. CONCLUSION Dina has touched the lives of tens of thousands of families with children with special needs throughout the Greater Los Angeles County. Because of her efforts, they have greater access to special needs advocacy and education support. Because of her enthusiasm, they have a universally accessible playground in the West San Fernando/Conejo Valleys. Because of her dedication, their children have fully included play dates once a month. Because of her inspiration, they have an open invitation to become more deeply involved in religious life. Through her many projects and organizations, Dina has demonstrated inspirational leadership in an effort to expand awareness about how people with disabilities can be productive citizens in our society. As such, I wholeheartedly encourage you to award Dina C. Kaplan with the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award. Respectfully Submitted, Paul J. Kipnes, Rabbi

The Green Rabbinical Student

When two people I admire – one a newly minted rabbi (former intern) and the other an HUC Joint Master’s student/Or Ami intern – both point to the same blog and tell me “I gotta read it,” I gotta read it.

the green rabbinical student is a great blog which looks at the world through Shomray Adamah (protect the earth) lenses. Its opening quote is motivational enough, from a Midrash which has God speaking to Adam: “See my works, how lovely and praiseworthy they are, and all that I created, for your sake I created it. Put your mind [to this], that you don’t ruin or destroy my world, for if you ruin there is no one who will repair after you.”

Check him/it out!

PS. The picture, one of many beautiful shots on his blog, is of “Mud Lake: His favorite place in camp.”

Two Great Quotes: On Silence and on Activism

This first quote from Rabbi Rafael Goldstein’s Thoughts for Today (a daily SHORT email with thought-provoking quotes and questions). Get his daily quotes and spiritual questions by emailing Rabbi Rafael Goldstein directly.

So often my words precede my thoughts, and I feel humiliated. I am a fool more frequently than I am a sage! O G!d, show me how to keep quiet more often, at least until I have something real to say and someone who wants to hear it. (Rabbi Chaim Stern)

This second quote from an article by Rabbi David Saperstein in this month’s CCAR Journal. It informs our work against genocide in Darfur as well as so many other social justice activities:

Whoever is able to protest against the transgressions of the world and does not is liable for the transgressions of the entire world. (Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 54b)

Texas to Tel Aviv: Inspiring Electric Cars from the Holy Land

Genesis teaches us to be Shomrei Adamah, stewards and protectors of the land, to care and cultivate it. Protecting America requires us to find alternative sources of fuel. Protecting Israel demands both.

In the New York Times, Thomas Friedman writes:

What would happen if you cross-bred J. R. Ewing of “Dallas” and Carl Pope, the head of the Sierra Club? You’d get T. Boone Pickens. What would happen if you cross-bred Henry Ford and Yitzhak Rabin? You’d get Shai Agassi. And what would happen if you put together T. Boone Pickens, the green billionaire Texas oilman now obsessed with wind power, and Shai Agassi, the Jewish Henry Ford now obsessed with making Israel the world’s leader in electric cars?

About Shai Agassi: age 40, is an Israeli software whiz kid who rose to the senior ranks of the German software giant SAP. He gave it all up in 2007 to help make Israel a model of how an entire country can get off gasoline and onto electric cars. He figured no country has a bigger interest in diminishing the value of Middle Eastern oil than Israel.

His idea: Agassi’s plan, backed by Israel’s government, is to create a complete electric car “system” that will work much like a mobile-phone service “system,” only customers sign up for so many monthly miles, instead of minutes. Every subscriber will get a car, a battery and access to a national network of recharging outlets all across Israel — as well as garages that will swap your dead battery for a fresh one whenever needed.

Read on and be amazed when Israeli and American know-how and commitment get hooked up together.

In Loco Parentis: Camp Staff Are Crazy for their Camper Kids

On Friday night, the Beit Tefillah, Camp Newman’s main amphitheater outdoor sanctuary, is an ever moving sea of white shirts, kippot, and smiles. Hundreds of campers and staff join together for a guitar and saxophone-led singing tribute to holiness and the Holy One.

At one high point in the service at the URJ Camp Newman, the Reform Jewish Movement’s summer camp in Santa Rosa, counselors rise from their benches, stretch their arms out over their campers’ heads, and bless them with Birkat Kohanim, the “priestly benediction”. It is both touching and incredibly symbolic. Touching, because you can see how much these college-age counselors love their campers. Symbolic, because it captures the essence of what being a Jewish summer camp counselor is all about.

Some background: On Shabbat eve in Jewish homes around the world, parents place their hands on the heads of their children and bless them with Birkat Kohanim. Originally recited by Moses’ brother Aaron (on God’s instruction) and the other Kohanim (biblical priests) over the entire Israelite people, Birkat Kohanim became a mystical moment of duchenun, when those claiming to be descendants of the Kohanim would rise up, cover themselves with their tallitot (prayer shawls), and bless the congregation. Today, rabbis and cantors bless babies and bar/bat mitzvah students and wedding couples with the same words of Torah.

Still, when 19 and 20 year old camp counselors bless their campers, you know that this is a moment of transcendent symbolism. With this ritual act, these counselors offer more than words of blessing. They are demonstrating their acceptance of the sacred responsibility of caring for other people’s children.

Sending Your Kid to Summer Camp: Excitement and Worry
Plenty of parents send their kids to camp each summer without thinking twice. But parents approaching that possibility for the first time worry about who will ensure the safety and sanity of their young ones while they are away from home.

During staff week at the URJ Camp Newman, Camp Directors Ruben Arquilevich and Phil Hankin explain the sacred responsibility each counselor and staff member assumes when he or she accepts the responsibility to watch over and care for a parent’s child. The seriousness with which these young counselors approach this obligation astounds me. These counselors are but 18, 19 or 20 years old (supervised by a graduate school-aged Rosh, or unit head) , years away from contemplating the daily responsibility of raising a child of their own. And yet, they set aside their own need to play and be kids to make the camper’s well-being their number one priority.

But – from what I have witnessed here – being a Camp Newman counselor is more than assuming a quasi in loco parentis role. Sure, health and safety takes priority. You should see the seriousness with which they spread out to offer coverage during pool time or patrol the cabin area during shmira (late night coverage). What amazes me is the caring and compassion with which they attend to the campers’ emotional and spiritual needs as well.

Which circles us back to Shabbat eve’s Birkat Kohanim blessing. College kids blessing teenagers and elementary school kids. The spiritual life of the children second only to their physical safety. Holiness embodied as each finds the holiness within and shares it with others. Very cool. Very spiritual. Shabbat shalom.

Obama Speaks, Jews Listen, AIPAC Amazes

The day after he surpassed the delegate threshold, Senator Barack Obama showed up at the AIPAC Policy Conference to honor and reflect upon the amazing relationship between America and Israel. That this was one of his FIRST stops once he clinched the nomination is a tribute to the intense work AIPAC does to create relationships with leaders on both sides of the political aisle.

The presumptive Democratic nominee came to AIPAC with a purpose: to share his vision of the American-Israeli relationship and to address questions that we have of all candidates – Democratic or Republican – about how they will deepen and secure Israel’s present and future.

Obama’s words were clear; his meaning could not have been misunderstood. He explained, emoted, clarified his connection to Israel, his belief in the importance to America (and to Israel) of this unshakable alliance, and his conviction that this relationship must be deepened and maintained. He said what needed to be said to convince open-minded Jews that he is a very pro-Israel candidate and will take care of Israel and the American-Israeli relationship as well as our best presidents in the past. That he is an amazing speaker, so moving, was well-known. Experiencing it firsthand was so inspiring. You may view his speech here.

Politics
Sadly, politics seemed to blind democrats and republicans alike. I watched Democrats watch Senator McCain, and they were dismissive of some of his words. I watched Republicans watch Senator Obama, and they were dismissive of some of his words. The reality is, with regards to Israel, Iran, Iraq and the Middle East, they will be equally strong, resolute, thoughtful and committed. So vote for whichever candidate or party suits your other political concerns, since each will be “good on and good for” Israel.

Walk for Darfur: 179 Or Ami Members Say “Don’t Stand Idly By”

Or Ami Congregant Laurie Tragen-Boykoff and President Susan Gould led a contingent of over 179 Or Ami members and friends during Jewish World Watch‘s Walk for Darfur. The 1000 person strong march sought to raise awareness, support and funds to end the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan that has killed 400,000 Darfuris and forced more than 2 million people to become refugees. As the largest synagogue contingent, Or Ami proudly carried the Walk for Darfur banner and I was honored with the opportunity to address the crowd. Fired up by the commitment of so many to stand up against genocide, I said:

I am holding in my hand a Kiddush cup (okay, it’s a water bottle but only because I forgot the Kiddush cup at home). Many of us raise a similar cup on Erev Shabbat while sitting at the Shabbat table in the comfort of our own homes. Surrounded by family. Or maybe friends. Maybe you are just enjoying a quiet Shabbat at home alone. The candles lit. And you raise a cup of wine or grape juice. Kiddush, that prayer of holiness, is recited. And just before you drink, someone always calls out “l’chaim – to life!”

We Jews are a people who value life, sanctify life, we say, “L’chaim”. At every simcha (joyous time), on every holy day, whenever we can, we raise a glass to say “L’chaim.” Yet “L’chaim,” is not enough, because it is not enough for us to sit around our tables in comfort and contentment, to wish and hope. Jewish tradition calls upon us, instead, to get up and act, with passion and intention, until everyone else can say “L’chaim” with smiles on their faces and peace in their hearts.

So let me teach you another Hebrew phrase, the one which explains why Laurie Tragen-Boykoff (our synagogue JWW chair), 170 Congregation Or Ami members, and why more than 1000 of us have gathered together here today. It’s from Torah. Repeat it after me: Lo ta’amod (Lo ta’amod) // al dam ray-eh-cha (al dam ray-eh-cha). Again: Lo ta’amod (Lo ta’amod) // al dam ray-eh-cha (al dam ray-eh-cha). It means “Don’t stand idly by, while your neighbor bleeds.” Let me hear it: Don’t stand idly by (Don’t stand idly by) // while your neighbor bleeds (while your neighbor bleeds). Again. Lo ta’amod. Don’t stand idly by.

Lo ta’amod… don’t stand idly by.

  • When our people were burning in Hitler’s fires, and the nations of the world claimed innocence or worse, we Jews countered, with tears in our eyes (say it after me): Lo Ta’amod – Don’t stand idly by.
  • When our government knew that bombing the concentration camp railroad tracks would have killed many but saved hundreds of thousands more, we begged (say it after me): Lo Ta’amod – Don’t stand idly by.

And yet, they did. And yet, our government did. And yet, the world did. Too many who knew, did… nothing.

The Holocaust is a stain upon humanity. Stained with the blood of our brothers and sisters and millions of others.

We declared “Never Again!” But “Never again” was a slogan. It was a call to remember. Lo Ta’amod is a mitzvah. It is a call to act. It’s not enough to remind them that our blood ran red. We know that everyone’s blood runs red. Lo Ta’amod goads us to stop all that unnecessary blood from flowing.

So today we declare:

  • Since we know about the purposeful, planned, systematic attempt to wipe out the people of Darfur, and we cry out together (say it): Lo Ta’amod – Don’t stand idly by.
  • Since we know about the use of rape, to terrorize and control women, to harm this generation and taint the next, we insist – of ourselves and our governments: Lo Ta’amod – Don’t stand idly by.
  • And since we know about the continued attacks on the refugee camps in Chad, where innocent Darfuris have gathered seeking shelter, we demand – of ourselves and the world: Lo Ta’amod – Don’t stand idly by.

Let these 1000 voices be heard throughout the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys, the Simi and San Gabriel Valleys, and all over Los Angeles, and California, all over America and throughout the world, that we expect, we insist, we demand… (Let them hear it): Lo Ta’amod – Don’t stand idly by.

May God bless the work of Jewish World Watch, of her partners and supporters, of all of you, for giving up your Sunday morning to answer the call of Torah. Lo Ta’amod – WE WON’T STAND IDLY BY! Amen!

President Susan Gould Shares a Or Ami’s Year of Achievements

At our congregational meeting last night, Or Ami’s President Susan Gould review Congregation Or Ami’s achievements this past year. We all schepped nachas (shared the joy).

  • Henaynu Caring Community Committee
    • Our new software (Hineynu Tracker) helps us keep track of our congregants in need.
    • Henaynu is expanding support especially for families with special needs children, and for people undergoing marital transitions.
    • Our commitment to “being there and being caring” continues to be a shining light of our congregation.
  • Our Social Action Programs are expanding to reach more people than ever before.
    • We have provided assistance and support to approximately 1000 children in the foster care system.
    • We lead the community in signups for the Walk for Darfur (to stop the Genocide in the Sudan)
    • We continue to donate weekly fresh produce for 1500 people to the SOVA Food Pantry
    • We are currently creating a Family Oriented Social Action Group, tentatively titled “Kids Mitzvah Club,” which will allow for family participation in social action projects.
  • Our Outreach to the Community has been booming.
    • Our new Or Ami Center for Jewish Parenting has held well-attended workshops about talking to kids about sex, death and parenting.
    • Our Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention program has led programs for our teens, trained another intern (Lydia Bloom Medwin) in pastoral counseling for Jewish alcoholics and addicts, and sent out multiple eNewsletters on how to talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol.
    • Our Brandon Kaplan Special Needs program provided educational opportunities and support to dozens of Jewish children with special needs.
  • We have been racking up the awards.
    • At the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial convention this year, Or Ami won the Belin Membership and Outreach Award for our creative use of the internet to reach out to interfaith families, and the Nachshon Community of Learners Award for our Mishpacha program. In the last 6 years, Or Ami has won 4 of the 5 national awards the URJ gives out.
    • In addition, our members and clergy presented lectures at multiple educational sessions at this national biennial convention
  • Eco-Kosher: We have made the commitment to become environmentally cognizant of our eco-footprint. For starters, we have been installing energy efficient bulbs, implementing a recycling program, and distributing 300 re-useable shopping bags via our holiday delivery.
  • Our innovative educational programs, Kesher, Mishpacha, and Temple Teen night, continue to grow under the guidance of our Principal/Program Director Michal Rozenberg-Yalovsky and our interns.
  • Or Ami continues to attract Rabbinical and Education students who want to be here so much that they schlep all the way out to Calabasas to serve as interns, teachers and service leaders for our congregation
  • Fiscally, this year is on track to end in the black. This can be credited to:
    • Our new committee – Resource Development – has received over $500,000 in pledges and donations
    • This year’s Gala Committee which brought in record amount $60,000. Oh, and we sold & sold out
    • Our new Grant Writing chair has led us to identify, apply for and receive a record amount of grant funding
  • Membership has grown by 14% this past year, at a time when most synagogues are experiencing contraction. We are retaining significant numbers of members post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah and are bringing in record numbers of empty nesters. Our new members kvell like our veterans over how warm and welcoming Or Ami is.
  • And, of course, our Cantor and rabbi rock!!

Celebrating Rabbi Eric Berk: Another Or Ami Intern Becomes Rabbi

I schepped nachas (beamed with pride) as another Or Ami intern became a rabbi. Eric Berk, a rabbinic intern this year who previously served as rabbinic intern for us during his second year in school, ascended the bimah to be ordained “Rabbi in Israel.” Rabbi Berk, a thoughtful, compassionate, Israel-loving Jew, wrote a thesis illuminating the connections between the poetry of the late Israeli national poet Yehuda Amichai and the Biblical Ecclesiastes. He has taught in our religious school, mishpacha, and temple teen night; gave sermons from our pulpit; read the service at High Holy Days; challenged my thinking on numerous occasions, pushing me to open myself to new possibilities. We shall miss his presence at the synagogue. Rabbi Berk will soon be entering the placement process to find a position which suits his interests.

Eric joins an esteemed group of former Or Ami interns who are now rabbis, including

We are proud of them all. Their good works at Or Ami still illuminate our lives; the good works they now do beyond Or Ami’s area brighten our entire Jewish community.