Dear Members of our Or Chadash community,

One of the wonderful customs at Or Chadash is our open interpretation of the idea of Tradition.  We honor the sanctity of much of Jewish ritual life, yet are welcoming of new interpretations of our 3500 year-old traditions, also.

One tradition that we have is to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and its accompanying observance of Confirmation  neither on the grid of the lunar calendar nor the solar calendar, but on the Hallmark Calendar of Mothers' Day  -- for that is the weekend when we call upon our 10th grade Religious School students to lead us in the celebration of this spring holiday and share with us, as did the Biblical Ruth, the values and ideals that make up their Jewish identities at this stage in their lives.

"Shavuot" is the Hebrew word for "weeks." The Torah tells us to count seven full weeks after the second day of Passover to Shavuot. In ancient times, the Israelites were an agricultural people who brought sheaves of grain as gifts to the Temple for these seven weeks. On the fiftieth day, Shavuot, they brought loaves of bread made out of the new grain.
 
The holiday has several names. It is also called Z'man Matan Torateinu (Hebrew for Season of the Giving of our Torah), as well as Hag HaBikkurim (Hebrew for Holiday of the First Fruit) as it marks the beginning of the fruit harvest when the first ripe fruits were brought to the Temple as an offering of thanksgiving.
 
In the early part of the 19th in Germany, Bar Mitzvah was replaced in the emerging Reform congregations with a Religious School graduation ceremony called Confirmation. Linking this affirmation of faith with the ancient Israelites' affirmation of faith -- as told in the story of the receiving of the Ten Commandments in the Book of Exodus -- Confirmation has endured as link between the past and the present.
 
I hope you will join us for one of the most moving and inspiring services of the year. 

Shalom,

Rabbi Joe Forman   

During a small stretch of downtime while traveling for work, I finished reading, Orange is the New Black, by Piper Kernan. While I'd watched a few episodes of the TV series by the same name, I was interested in learning more about the main character on which the series was based.

It's a quick and fairly interesting read for anyone who is interested and it sheds an interesting light on the impact of mandatory drug sentences on women and families. The book is both a personal exploration of the author's time in prison and a reflection on the policies that put her there in the first place. Towards the end of the book, she is recounting a conversation she had with a fellow inmate about religion. Formerly a religious skeptic, Piper has this to say, " In prison, for the first time, I understood that faith could help people see beyond themselves, not into the abyss but into the street, into the mix to offer what was best about themselves to others."

I would hope it doesn't take a prison sentence for each of us to realize what I find so true in this powerful statement. That within each of us lies the deep capacity and the ability to better our world. We each have unique skills, interests and passions that we can use to help others. It sounds simple, but certainly worth reflection with Mitzvah Day fast approaching. (If you haven't registered yet, there's still time!) 

If you have kids and have some more free time over the summer, take it one step further. Find what fascinates them the most and figure out how to use it to repair our community. As I've been looking for things to keep my own kids busy this summer, I've realized our area is rich in opportunities to get involved.  

Once you've done some good, it's time to have some fun. It's time to purchase tickets to our Wine Tasting and Auction on June 6th. (Use the link further down in the newsletter.) It's a fantastic event with abundant food, delicious wine and great auction items. 

Shalom,

Caryn

Confirmation is my absolute favorite service at Or Chadash.  I find it magical: seeing our tenth grade students in white robes, all grown up, celebrating together.  Many of you were named at Or Chadash, joined our Temple Tots program, celebrated consecration here-and all of you became a Bar/Bat Mitzvah on this very bimah.  And now, this evening, as we celebrate Shabbat, and as a community all of your accomplishments, and marvel with your parents on just how amazing and dedicated you are.

This is the opening paragraph of my remarks which I will share next Friday evening, May 8th as we celebrate the festival of Shavuot and the confirmation of seven amazing Or Chadash students -- Jacob Berg, Thuy Blumenfeld, Jenna Lifshitz, Mei-lin Sloan, Sydney Stoter, Josh Weinberg, and Jack Weiner. But please, don't come to Confirmation to listen to me!

We believe that listening to these seven 10th grade students and meeting their parents will give you a new perspective on our Or Chadash programming and specifically -- our Confirmation education curriculum. These high-school students are all hyper-involved in sports, clubs and academics, yet they each made the commitment to continue their Jewish education with the support and encouragement of their parents. Today, everyone one of them considers that decision to have been life-changing. 

It is sometimes challenging to explain to adults as well as pre-teens where Judaism fits into their lives. These students will be talking about "What does the 'Jewish' me look like?" As our Confirmands answer that question, we hope you will be there to witness and support these students and their families as Or Chadash comes together as a community to celebrate this most significant and meaningful lifecycle event.

If you don't know what a Confirmation service looks like-you are not alone.  We have found that our Or Chadash community has little knowledge of what our Confirmation (Grades 8/9/10) program is all about--much less a Confirmation service. It is only after attending this remarkable service that parents, students and congregants understand the power, the connection and the meaning this event can transmit to you, your child, and your entire family. Those first-time attendees will remark during the celebratory oneg following the service that the statements of Jewish identity from the Confirmands created a memorable, powerful and uplifting message. And we agree. This is the capstone event of the year. 

It will be a Shabbat to remember.  Please join us.

Betsy Zalaznick 

 While attending a rehearsal for this year's confirmation service it occurred to me that this class was the first full class where I had also participated in their Bar/Bat Mitzvah. It's hard to believe that I am starting my fourth year here at Or Chadash!  In a little over a week they will be standing on the bima dressed in white robes with their tallit across their shoulders. I had overheard a remark a year or two prior where a student mentioned that this was the first time they had worn their tallit since their Bar Mitzvah. I was curious as to why. One of the first parts of a b'nei mitzvah service is the tallit presentation, then this ritual garment worn for the first time gets packed away until confirmation, except for maybe an occasional appearance at the high Holydays.

 Then I started thinking. Why not wear your tallit more often? When attending a b'nei mitzvah of one of your classmates, or siblings, or another student in the religious school, why not wear your tallit as a sign of solidarity, a symbol of welcome for the newest member of the adult Jewish community? Parents, if you can still find your tallit, why not wear it as a symbol of your Jewish identity, as an example for your children? I think it would be wonderful if each new b'nei mitzvah could look out from the bima and see a sea of tallitot looking back at them. Then in return, when they attend a b'nei mitzvah they could wear theirs as a sign of welcome as well.

 So let's start a new tradition here at Or Chadash. I invite you to bring your tallit to services with you on Saturday morning as an expression of unity and welcome for the newest members of our community. It may feel a little awkward at first, but many new practices do. Soon it will feel as natural to you, as if you have been doing this all of your life. I look forward to seeing a sea of tallit at out next b'nei mitzvah!

Kathy 

Friday, May 15 - 7 PM - Shabbat Services: Special Guest Speaker- Rabbi Richard Steinbrink.