Rabbi Joey: Recommended Reading (“Kedushat Levi”) for Shavuot
May 8, 2013
Kedushat Levi
(from Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev)
‘On the third month from the (time of) the coming out of Israelites from the land of Egypt, on that day, they arrived at the Sinai desert.”. . . It is well known that Rabbi Joseph was called “Sinai”, since he knew a great deal about halacha, and in his being comprised all the Mishna and Gemara, and they nicknamed him Sinai. And we see that the word Sinai conveys the crystallization of all things, for within it is crystallized all the Torah and Speech. And it is known that Kol denotes crystallization, from many standpoints: from fire, wind and water. Moreover, the Speech of God – there is no estimating what it is capable of comprising, and with regard to Him/Her there is no difference between Voice and Speech, because S/He is able to comprise all, as we heard at Sinai. “I am the Lord” and “There will be no other gods” – these two utterances comprise the entire Torah, which a mouth cannot speak. However, material speech can only comprise single utterances. Yet when a human being believes that all the vapors and the utterances which exit from one’s mouth are the energy and vitality of the Creator, and the Spirit of God speaks within this one, and then when s/he connects the Speech with the Voice and the Voice with the Intellect within the spiritual rootedness and divine vitality – then, even though the Speech is unable to comprise a multiplicity of speeches, it is still able to draw from several facets and several intellectual levels, and then the Speech (Utterance) bursts into several parts, since it is the Speech of God, as we see in the Torah that every speech (or Word) of Moses that is written in the Torah, every Word is comprised of many separate aspects, and is explicated in a variety of ways, and therefore the words of the Tannaim and the Amoraim – they too are comprised of several aspects, since their words were connected with the rootedness and the divine energy. And it was written (in Psalm 125:2) “Jerusalem, the hills are her encirclement; and God encircles His people.” And Jerusalem means the “congregation of Israel”, that therein are included all the utterances. And it is encircled by the hills, and the hills are none other than the Avot (the Patriarchs). The roots of holiness in the infusion of spirit, the higher worlds, encircle the “congregation of Israel”, and everyone in Israel should see to it to cling to the rootedness, and that the root illuminates the branch without any kind of veil, and without any admixture of evil, God forbid. And every person must cling to one’s holy attributes, and must do Chesed (loving-kindness) in the world. But the main thing is that the deeds of loving-kindness should be wholly good, that they should emanate from the root, the Higher Chesed, and there should not be in it any portion that is evil, for even though Chesed is good, it still should not be mixed with evil as the Rabbi said: (Ecclesiastes Rabba 7:16) “Anyone who is compassionate to those who are cruel, his end will be cruel.” Therefore, the Chesed must be entirely good, and likewise his Gevurah (Power) be entirely pure. A person must overpower his evil inclination and subdue all the parts of evil to subordinate them to Good, and then when s/he comes to true service, and guides him/herself to cling to the root of Truth that therein is comprising all the varieties , his compassion as seen in Truth, then this one is comprised of three cords. For in the quality of Emet is comprised all, and this is what is meant by the letter Shin, which is comprised of three, and therefore, “On the third month”, which is code for Truth which is the letter Shin, which is tripled from Chesed, Gevurah and Tif’eret (Beauty=Emet=Truth). When one attains this quality of Truth, then s/he has departed from all the aspects of evil and from all confining places, and that is why the verse continues, “the going out of the Israelites from the Land of Egypt (Mitzrayim=Confining Place). They therefore emerge from all the branches of dependence upon evil, and are turned about. All the parts of evil are subordinated to Good and Emet, and thus the verse reads, “On that day…”, with that level of clarity which is the essence of holiness. Through that clarity, and only in this manner, did “they arrive at the Sinai desert.” Only thus is it possible to arrive at the fullness Sinai Speech, which comprises all utterances and all things. As a human being clings to his/her all-comprising nature, similarly, his/her Speech becomes “Sinai” and encompasses All, and thereby is capable of working all kinds of good influences on behalf of the “congregation of Israel”, all kinds of Chesed and interventions on behalf of the generations of Israel, Amen.’
‘And Moses went up to God, and God called to him from the mountain, saying, Thus shall you say to the House of Jacob, and shall you say to the Israelites.”. . . . First, we may determine why the verse states, “Thus shall you say…”, rather than just “saying to the House of Israel”…. Secondly, why did the Holy One Blessed Be S/He mention the going out from Egypt more than all other events? Thirdly, “And you will be to me a treasure, in comparison with all the nations”. . . for this reason God loves us more than all the other nations: that, God forbid, even if we do not do the will of God, we are still better off than the other nations. (The verse) should have read that “you will be a treasure to Me, as compared to all the angels,” for when we do the will of the Creator, we ascend to a rung higher than the angels. And it appears to me that all the explanation is written in the midrash. When Moses ascended on high, he came to the First Heaven and saw there several thousands and ten thousands of angels and several groups of fiery beings who were standing in dread and fear and holiness and purity, and a horror and fear and great trembling took him over. Whom was he going to address, considering that angels and fiery beings were so affected? Until the Holy One Blessed Be S/He shined the splendor of His Shechinah on him. And moreover we find in the prophets, at the time that God spoke with them, they were standing in fear and awe to such an extent that they dissolved to nothing and became empty of this-wordly-stuff. For Rashi has explained the verse, “And He called to him from the Tent of Meeting”. You might think that He spoke in a low voice, however it was the known voice, “The Voice of God (that) breaks apart cedars.” And if a human being is privileged to hear on Shavuot the Voice which pronounces “I am the Lord Your God,” (I am here), how should s/he prepare him/herself with multiple preparations in order for that moment – seeing as tens of thousands of angels and fiery beings tremble and shudder and quiver before such awesomeness, never mind human beings? Three days’ preparation should not suffice, nor would a whole year. And here Moses our Teacher prepared himself extraordinarily, so that he would be able to speak with God on a very high rung, that no normal human being would comprehend. And God told him that he should not make such a great preparation, for in this manner he would not be able to study with the Children of Israel. And this is the meaning of the verse, “And Moses went up to God”. Moses our Teacher prepared himself on God’s rung, but God did not want it this way, in order that he be able to study with the Children of Israel. This is what it means to me, and therefore, “And God called to him from the mountain.” This means on a lower rung. And God’s intent was to speak to Israel, His/Her close nation, and S/He said an extra “and thus say”, in order to tell Moses, “If I speak to you on this rung, thus (on this rung) you will speak to the House of Jacob and the People of Israel. And this is the meaning of the verse: “Behold I come to you in the thickness of a cloud, so that the people will hear when I speak with you.” In other words, “the thickness of a cloud” is the language of density – material things. On a low rung I come to you, in order that the people understand what it is that I tell you…..’
Havurah, OJM to Co-Host Screening of “400 Miles to Freedom” May 11
April 24, 2013
Havurah is partnering with Oregon Jewish Museum to present a special screening of 400 Miles to Freedom for Havurah folks on May 11 at 3:15 PM. The film explores complex issues around race, Jewish community, loss (and stealing) of identity, claiming identity, and telling one’s story.
In 1984, the Beta Israel, a secluded 2,500-year-old community of observant Jews in the northern Ethiopian mountains, fled a dictatorship and set out on a secret, dangerous journey of escape. Co-director Avishai Mekonen, a 10 year old at the time, was among them. 400 Miles to Freedom follows his story as he breaks the twenty-year silence around the brutal kidnapping he endured as a child in Sudan during his community’s exodus out of Africa . In doing so, he explores issues of racial diversity amongst Jews, immigration, community ‘norms, and personal self-acceptance. His is the story of the intersection between deeply personal experience and collective narrative.
PLEASE RSVP
BY WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
NOTE: We will meet at 3:00 pm at Havurah to walk 1.5 blocks to OJM OR you can meet at OJM for the 3:15 start time. The film is one hour long.
Shabbat School Announces May 13 Enrollment Deadline
March 20, 2013
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Due to the growth in our program, and in order to retain the integrity of our Shabbat School model of parent-taught classes, we are compelled to institute a new Shabbat School enrollment policy, as follows:
To ensure a spot for the 2013-2014 year:
- families must be Havurah Shalom members, and
- families must register their children for Shabbat School by May 13
After May 13, enrollment in a particular grade is subject to space availability. If the grade is too full, students will be placed on a wait list and/or wait until the 2014-15 year. This timing is based on the Shabbat School Summit (May 18), which is really the beginning of our school year. At the Summit, parents plan together, sign up for teaching teams, and schedule their summer community building activity.
Steering Committee (2013 – 2014) Nominee Statements
March 19, 2013
On Tuesday Mar 19, Havurah Shalom’s Nominating Committee submitted to Havurah Membership (via email bulletin) the following nominees for our 2013-2014 Executive and Steering Committees, commencing May 2013.
Our seven nominees have submitted personal statements for your consideration, below.
Voting members of Havurah with questions or who wish to put forward additional nominees are encouraged to contact David Kertzner (Chair, Nominating Committee) or Josh Ross (Corporate Secretary).
Voting will begin on April 9 (look to your email inbox for your ballot!)
Executive Committee Nomination Statement
Debbi Nadell, Vice-President
1-year term beginning May 2013
I moved to Portland in 1992, while working as a project manager in the high-tech industry. My family and I became part of the Havurah community in 1997. My initial involvement, as with many Havurah members, was as a parent teacher in the Shabbat School program. I served on the Steering Committee from 2000 – 2002, which introduced me to the wide range of committees and programs involved in the governance of Havurah.
I was Shabbat School co-chair from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, I took on the role of Shabbat School Assistant, working with Deborah on developing curriculum, managing resources, and coordinating a variety of logistical items needed to keep our program running smoothly. I gave up this role in 2012 as my youngest child graduated from the Shabbat School program. I have also filled in as the ‘temp’ in the office during staff transitions in 2006-7 and 2011-12.
My volunteer involvement with Havurah has continued with several years on the Havurah High Committee and now on the Middle School Committee.
Over the next few years, the Havurah community will face new transitions, which will bring new challenges. We have the opportunity to take the pulse of our current membership and determine how to maximize our staff and financial resources to mesh with the needs of the community.
How we continue to educate both our children and adults, fulfill our spiritual needs, cope with the demand on our building, and advocate for change in the greater community, are all priorities for the Steering Committee to tackle. We must also remember that families come to Havurah to become part of a community – everything we do as a leadership group should reflect that we are continuously creating community together.
Executive Committee Nomination Statement
Chris Coughlin, Executive Secretary
2-year term beginning May 2013
I first joined the Havurah community in January 2007 when I was hired as the Community Organizer/Administrator. I held that position until the summer of 2010. While it was the right time for me to leave my professional role, I didn’t want to leave the community, so in the summer of 2010 my husband, Jon Balgley, and I became members. Since then I have tried to be an active member, attending events and services, and volunteering when I can.
I have extensive non-profit and coalition management, communications and outreach experience, working with businesses, non-profits, and political campaigns, as staff, consultant and volunteer for more than 25 years. Much of my work has focused on non-profit management having served as Executive Director of several non-profits. I have also worked as a community organizer interacting with individuals involved in campaigns and organizations, including Havurah, in order to maximize their participation and both their individual and the organization’s success in projects.
I realize that a key role that I am being asked to take on is to take accurate minutes of Steering and Executive Committee meetings. I am confident that I will be able to fulfill that responsibility. I served as Secretary for the National Council of Jewish Women, Portland Section and I also have extensive experience providing meeting notes for a range of coalitions that I have been involved with over the years.
A priority for the community will continue to be how to effectively integrate new members, especially those new members who don’t have children in Shabbat School. I think that my experience as a staff person and a member can provide a useful perspective on a wide range of issues, including membership participation.
Executive Committee Nomination Statement
Richard Oberdorfer, Corporate Secretary
2-year term beginning May 2013
My family and I found our way to Havurah Shalom in 2010. Early on it felt like home. I am a criminal defense lawyer, which means I often work with people and institutions dealing with all sorts of tough decisions. I’ve worked professionally with Josh Ross, the outgoing secretary, so I’m aware of his high level of diligence and smarts. I’m honored to have been nominated to fill his post.
Steering Committee Nomination Statement
Isaac Duke, Youth Representative
1-year term beginning May 2013
I have been a member at Havurah Shalom for approximately twelve years. I have done every level of youth education from religious school to Havurah High and I am very aware of the many benefits being a part of the community has had on my life. Havurah High is consistently something I look forward to each week. I am also aware of all of the many ways I would have been more able to enjoy it given different circumstances.
I would love to see the middle school program continue to improve, I am not sure that it has been a successful example of parent involvement. I am sure the elementary program has changed a fair amount since I was active in it, but I love seeing the bonds it has created between kids as each new group enters the high school program. The high school program offers one of the safest places I have ever encountered, and a nice cocktail of Jewish philosophy, current events, social science, and lounging. I have every intention of making sure it stays that way. I would love to see more frequent recreational activities outside of the weekly meetings, and especially during the off seasons, catered to exclusively the high schoolers (and of course Leeza.)
Steering Committee Nomination Statement
Miriam Reshotko, At-large Member
2-year term beginning May 2013
We joined Havurah Shalom about 12 years ago after moving to Portland from Israel. We wanted to be part of a cohesive Jewish community, and because of the close connection we felt to the type of progressive and activist values shared by both the Rabbi and the congregation, we knew Havurah Shalom was the right place for us.
I have had three children in Shabbat school and have also been a Havurah middle school and high school parent. I have led and organized High Holiday services, participated in Havurah singing groups, been part of planning and implementing Purim celebrations and chanted torah at many B’nai mitzvah and community minyans.
I completed a PHD in physics at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and now work full time as a Research Engineer at Intel where I have been for 12 years. Corporate culture has seasoned me to work effectively with all types of people and to focus on problem solving rather than allowing personal differences to hamper progress. Working at Intel has taught me the importance of taking on responsibility and stepping out of my comfort zone, striving for continuous improvement rather than becoming complacent, and has helped me hone my ability to meet deadlines and to multitask.
I have become comfortable at Havurah, pleased to be part of a vibrant community which is careful NOT to stagnate, always looking for ways to keep up with the changing needs of its members, rather than creating merely a status quo of “this is how we do things”. As we continue to grow and change as a community, it is important to work to integrate new members and to build community among existing members. We need to be open to change “how we do things” while maintaining a cohesive community. I am honored to be considered for a position of member-at large on the Havurah steering committee, and look forward to having the opportunity to help shape the future of Havurah Shalom.
Steering Committee Nomination Statement
Becky Chiao, At-large Member
2-year term beginning May 2013
I joined Havurah Shalom sometime around 1997 when we were still using the JCC. I was primarily looking for a Jewish education for my children but chose Havurah because I was welcomed as an equal member, even thought I had been brought up in liberal Protestant churches. Over the years through teaching Shabbat School and attending services I received a bit of a Jewish education myself, which was solidified by participating in the two-year Florence Melton course. Before the time of my first son’s bar mitzvah I became Jewish myself.
I have volunteered as a Shabbat School teacher and as a coordinator of the Middle School program. I’ve taken introductory Hebrew twice, attend Rabbi Joey’s Talmud Lite downtown, and have participated in other various ways with Havurah over the years. Since both my sons are now men, I participate less than I did before. But whenever I do take the time for worship or study, I recall what has been a lifelong search for meaning in the world through religion. Serving on the Steering Committee would allow me to share my skills from volunteering with non-profit groups and to become reconnected to Havurah Shalom on a more regular basis.
Steering Committee Nomination Statement
Tom Berg, At-large Member
2-year term beginning May 2013
It’s hard to believe that my family and I have been members of Havurah for almost 15 years. For many of those years my connection to Havurah was through the education programs for children. I enjoyed planning, teaching and kibitzing in my daughter and son’s Shabbat school and middle school classes. A few years ago I worked with others to reinvigorate the Membership Committee and have been a longtime active member of the Havurah IT Committee. Throughout the years I have also helped behind the scenes with many Havurah events (High Holidays, Purim, Passover, the Auction, Hot Songs, etc…).
Professionally, I’m a Principal Engineer (aka big nerd) at a small company that provides computer chip designs for many of the electronic products invading our lives. Throughout my career, I’ve managed many projects and people, learning how to be good problem solver, decision maker, and team player – experience that should be helpful as a Havurah Steering Committee member.
As a member-at-large on the Steering Committee, I look forward to building upon the great work accomplished by so many previous members and continuing to find ways to best meet the needs of all the Havurah Community.
Havurah Israel Trip 2013 – Last Day
March 2, 2013
Last day in Israel. Some of our group have already returned to Portland. Others are off on even more distant ventures – to Morocco and Jordan and Amsterdam. I’m glad to be going home (even though it means waking up at 4am tomorrow), if only to once again have clean clothes. But I will miss Israel and the whole experience of traveling with this group of Havurahniks – a more pleasant and intelligent group of people would be hard to imagine. And, if you don’t already know it, I will remind you what a treasure it is to have Rabbi Joey as a spiritual leader. A true mensch.
Today I spent the day on the Tel Aviv beach. Unlike Jerusalem, Tel Aviv does not stop on the Sabbath; in fact, it seems to speed up. Everyone is out on the promenade or the beach: bicyclists, runners, surfers, serious paddle-ballers, fast walkers and talkers. I told Bev I would make a lousy Israeli – my voice is too soft. I guess you learn, though. Natives here seem to be an aggressive crew – not mean aggressive, they just appear to have a different sense of personal space than we polite Portlanders do. On the beach, three Russian women and their horde of children and plastic bags full of food and toys quickly surrounded me. It was almost as if I was not there. I moved my chair back a few feet, then went into the sea. Yes, swimming in the Mediterranean on the 2nd day of March. This would not happen at Cape Meares. Later we waited thirty minutes for a table at an outdoor seaside café. Rock music blared nearby. A man in a speedo and nothing else passed by our table carrying beers. Indeed a secular crew. We did not feel uncomfortable.
I never really have over our two-week visit. Yes, most signs and menus are in Hebrew (as it should be), but there is always someone nearby to translate or give directions. The fact that Hebrew is the agreed upon (by law) language is one of the things I like about Israel. Everyone, no matter where you came from, if you want to live in Israel must learn Hebrew. Even the children of foreign workers who go to Israeli public schools become Hebrew speakers. There are many things I like about this country, and some that I don’t. It would be presumptuous of me to do any sort of critique of Israeli politics – I don’t know hardly enough, though that does not seem to stop people back home from expressing loud opinions about this Jewish state. “It’s complicated” one of our number had printed on a tee shirt that we presented to Mike, our guide, at our last dinner. It was how he ended, with a shrug of shoulders, almost every explanation of conditions and culture here. Joey said it in a different way – he called it “dense.” So many layers of peoples arriving at different times and for different reasons – a history that goes back thousands of years (Bev walked to Jaffa today while I lazed on the sand. Jaffa is where Jonah launched his journey), but also a country that is still young, having gained independence in 1948, and all the problems inherent in establishing a new democracy.
Here are some other things I like about Israel: The national character (please excuse my sweeping generalizations). People here are proud of who they are and what they’ve accomplished in the short time it’s taken to build this place into the thriving society that it is. Maybe it is because there is still that sense of being a pioneer people that they appear so dynamic. Most people you speak to seem self-assured and passionate. Articulating clearly who they are and what they believe.
I also love the food here (and have eaten way too much of it) – the hummus, the falafel, the street corner shwarma places. Fresh tomatoes and olives with every meal. Salads seem to be the national dish – or maybe that’s the espresso in a corner café. I love too the beautiful countryside, and the thriving cities, the little villages and the kibbutzim. All, in one way or another, are staking their claims to the land. And, yes, there are many many problems associated with this love of the land. There are others who love this land just as much and deserve to have their pieces of it and who deserve the justice that has often been denied the Arab peoples. That being said, I also love all the people and groups that are working to make this a more just place to live for everyone. Whatever the future of Israel holds, and I hope it is a long and rich one, it is going to have to find a way for Arab and Jew to work together. Still, the most inspiring part of our trip was listening to the Arab and Jewish students at Hand-in-Hand school in Jerusalem talk about how simple it all really is. Of course, people from different cultures can be friends. All you have to do is give it a chance.
THIS WEEKEND
