Rabbi's Corner

Rabbi Avi M. Schulman's Corner

This page contains Rabbi Avi M. Schulman's Weekly "A Word from Rabbi Schulman" emailed as TBT-Weekly and Monthly "A MESSAGE FROM OUR RABBI" in the Temple Beth Torah Bulletin

A Word from Rabbi Schulman
  • Torah portion: Vayakhel - Pekudei, March 12, 2010 – 27 Adar 5770
  • Torah Reading: Exodus 35.1 – 40.38, Haftarah Reading: I Kings 7.51 – 8.21
    •

    This past week in San Francisco, I attended the national convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Rather than creating a lengthy narrative of what transpired during the four days of the convention, I’d rather share with you a shorthand version of some of the highlights for me:

    At Sunday night’s opening banquet, I randomly sat next to a colleague who turned out to be the rabbi of Temple B’nai Tikvah in Calgary, Alberta. I was that congregation’s first student rabbi thirty years ago. It was wonderful finding out about congregants I knew way back when.

    Monday morning, I attended a Torah Study session entitled, “A D’var Torah You Can Take Home.” All the participants were given materials with which to create an artistic interpretation of the Torah portion. I felt very nervous at first, but gradually created something I felt good about. The study session’s instructor was excellent! (did I mention Eve led it?)

    Monday afternoon was a presentation by the CCAR’s Task Force on Intermarriage. Hundreds of us listened to their initial findings and discussed the future direction for our Reform movement.

    Tuesday morning began with a brilliant lecture by Dr. Marc Dollinger of San Francisco State about how the Bay Area’s Jewish community has long been on the cutting edge of innovation. Most of Tuesday, I was at the Islamic Society of San Francisco, learning about Abraham’s Vision, a new organization dedicated to promoting Jewish-Muslim relations.

    Wednesday’s highlight was a session led by Dr. Ron Wolfson, a prominent Jewish educator, who spoke about his latest book, The Seven Questions You Will Be Asked in Heaven. I’ve read a number of Wolfson’s other books, and it was a pleasure to hear him in person.

    During the convention, I heard stimulating, thought provoking presentations and deepened my personal connections to colleagues. This is what a convention should strive to accomplish.

    L‘Shalom,

    Rabbi Avi Schulman

    March 2010 Bulletin: A MESSAGE FROM OUR RABBI

    Though intellectually I know that Passover always begins according to the same date in the Hebrew calendar – the fifteenth of Nisan – I have to admit that when that date occurs in the month of March it just does not seem right. Monday night, March 29 just seems way too early to begin this beloved Jewish holiday. However, unless we want to scrap thousands of years of tradition, we really don’t have a choice. Pesach will come when it is scheduled – early or not.

    It takes weeks to properly prepare for Passover. There’s so much to do, especially if you are holding a Seder in your home. There is the responsibility of clearing away hametz (leavening) from your household and purchasing foods that are kosher for Passover. For those who are leading a seder, there is the challenge of making the evening interactive and dynamic, rather than a dry recitation of the the haggadah and the cry of the fifth question: How soon can we eat?

    With all the actions and activities required to prepare for Passover, it is easy to get caught up in externalities and to neglect focusing on the inner meaning of the holiday. Here are some additional questions to ponder about Pesach. Maybe they will add to your kavannah, your preparation for Passover. Feel free to add any of them to your Seder during your celebration of the festival of freedom:

  • What is your earliest memory of a Seder?

  • If you had to leave home in hurry, what three things would you take with you?

  • Who do you admire for their courage?

  • The central theme of Passover is freedom from slavery.
    —In what way are we presently slaves and how can we become free?

  • Could there be the Jewish people without the exodus?

  • Moses was not a perfect person.
    —Why did God choose a flawed leader?

  • Have you ever experienced a miracle in your life?
    —What happened?
    —How did you know it was a miracle?

  • Some say the middle matzah is broken because the world is not complete.
    —What problems in the world do you wish we could solve?

  • The cup of Elijah expresses the hope for a better future.
    —What are your wishes for the year to come? L‘Shalom,

    Rabbi Avi Schulman

    LET THE RABBI KNOW

    If a member of your family or a friend from the temple is in the hospital, or ill, please call the temple office to let the Rabbi know.

    For security reasons, hospitals in the area are no longer permitted to tell us when they have Jewish patients.