Rabbi's Column - January 2021

Are you able to sleep well these days? Has COVID entered into your dreams? I know that I have periods of time when I remember my dreams vividly, and other times not at all. These days, interestingly enough, it’s been a hybrid. I wake up just knowing that I have been dreaming, but I have no clue what the dream has been. Nothing. Not the feeling, not the characters, not the plot.

Maybe that makes me lucky. I know that at the very least I have been sleeping well. How about you? Maybe you are sleeping better because, without that commute to work, you get to sleep later than usual. Then again, maybe not. Maybe you are racked with anxiety dreams. You sure do have every right to those, as we are now in the 10th straight month of mask-wearing and social-distancing. In some ways, the anxiety increases as we begin to believe that there may be a finish line. I think of Dorothy on her way to the Emerald City, all her friends wanting to give up. “But we’ve come so far, already,” Dorothy says in an effort to cheer them on and lift up their spirits.

Surely it is the Biblical Joseph who is most famously associated with dreams. Earlier in his life, Joseph’s dreams got him into trouble. They were the source of his misfortune as his brothers threw him into the pit. But when Pharaoh starts having strange dreams, Joseph rises in power because of his ability to interpret them.

When we speak of dreams, we mean different things. On the most literal level, dreams are what we do in our sleep. But to dream has a higher meaning as well. To dream can imply a sense of a larger vision of life, a sense that things could somehow be better than they are at present and a direction for how to advance toward that goal.

We have been doing a lot of dreaming these days. Right here at TBT, we dream about the future in our new building, safe and sound. As we prepare to celebrate Cantor Boyle’s installation as TBT’s Cantor, I know I also dream – on her behalf – for the day when she can engage with our congregation in the physical space of our newly renovated and beautified sanctuary. And if that’s not enough: We dream too about who the next rabbi of TBT will be. I know I dream of passing that torch to the perfect rabbi for the next chapter of TBT’s life. I dream too, of being in our new space, of looking back upon a successful capital campaign, so we can not only dream dreams, but pay for those dreams so we can live the dream.

About dreams, the midrash teaches: it is “true that everyone dreams, but a leader’s dream embraces the whole world.” And so, first and foremost, our greatest dream right now is to live in a world where we can touch and gather and embrace without risking our lives to do so.

I say: let us dream on, of a world not only free of the corona virus, but a world where we are free to heal the sick and comfort the bereaved, to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, to reach for the stars and to hold each other tight. Hold fast to dreams for dreams do come true.

Rabbi Offner

President's Column - Come back next month to read the President's Column!

Come back next month to read the January 2021 Column!

Rabbi's Column - December 2020

What is the holiday of Chanukah really about? You ask someone who knows, and you get a different answer every time. It seems like a simple question, but the truth is, there is no easy answer.

The truth is – “What is Chanukah?” is one of the Talmud’s most famous questions. You have to know that if the rabbis are asking the question, there is no easy answer.

What is YOUR answer? I am sure that you have been asked the question many times, even been invited countless times to come into your child’s class and answer that question to an entire classroom of kids – most of whom are not Jewish – and their only reference point is Christmas.

“It’s the Jewish Christmas,” some will say. The truth is, both holidays do light lights during the darkest time of year. The truth is, that gesture is worthy of a holiday, not only at this physically darkest time of the year, but at this corona virus darkest time of the year. How do we respond to deep darkness? We create light.

But truth be told, when the rabbis of the Talmud asked: “Mei Chanukah” in their native Aramaic, when they asked “what is Chanukah?” that was not their answer.

“What is Chanukah?” the rabbis ask in tractate Shabbat 21b. And they answer their own question by explaining: “On the 25th of Kislev - when the Greeks entered the Temple, they polluted all the oils in the Temple, and when the Hasmonean dynasty overcame and defeated them, they checked and they found but one cruse of oil that was set in place with the seal of the High Priest, but there was in it only [enough] to light a single day. A miracle was done with it, and it stayed lit for eight days.”

Oil that was only enough for one day lasted for eight days. So Chanukah, it seems, is a holiday celebrating resilience. How much ‘oil’ do you have left in you? How do you sustain yourself, keep going, stretch the oil, the fuel that keeps you going, especially during a pandemic?

Chanukah teaches us how to live. And miraculously, Chanukah is a holiday we can celebrate in the safety of our own homes. Everyone can take a moment on each of the eight nights of Chanukah to kindle light, to remember that those who came before us gained strength and sustenance from this simple, accessible tradition.

Chanukah begins this year on Thursday, December 10th at sunset when we kindle the 1st candle. The 2nd night is Erev Shabbat and we will come together (virtually), as a congregation, and we will each kindle our own chanukiot, as Zoom gives us – yes – another miracle: the miracle of being inside everyone’s home at the same time and together we witness the faith and courage of our people as we kindle a light against the darkness and pray for another miracle of deliverance this year.

To a Chanukah filled with light and sustenance and miracles,
Rabbi Offner

President's Column - November 2020

November is the time that we reflect on what we are grateful for and, this year, I am finding that pretty easy. This year, I am truly grateful for you, our wonderful TBT member.

I know that it is often said that this role I have now is a thankless one, but it really is not true. Not only do many of you thank me and our other volunteers for so many different things, but I also get to see all of the great things temple members are doing every day behind the scenes to make TBT run smoothly, even in these turbulent times.

One of the biggest things you all have been doing is paying your TBT membership pledges. We need those pledges this year more than ever and I want you to know we don’t take this support for granted. Each and every time you pay a pledge we are grateful that we can continue to do the good work we have started together. This year we are doubly grateful that people are not only supporting the current work of TBT but are also helping build for our future by supporting the Building Community Campaign.

It is an uncertain thing to build for the future while making sure we are set for today and yet I know it is the right thing for our community. Thank you for your support during this time and for recognizing the value of TBT in your own lives. The Board, Staff and Clergy of TBT all appreciate it.

Warmly,
- Sarah Mervine

Rabbi's Column - November 2020

Most knowledgeable Jews are quick to claim that there are NO Jewish holidays in the month of November -- but I beg to disagree. We have not only one, but two important Jewish holidays each and every November. Tuesday, November 3rd is Election Day, and I like to consider Election Day as a holiday in the best tradition of Jewish customs and values. Thursday, November 26th, is Thanksgiving, and the giving of thanks is also a core Jewish value.

This year we have an Election Day like no other. Roughly one-third of the electorate has already cast their ballot, but Election Day is still Election Day. We Jews have always treasured Election Day. I still can’t shake the image of my Polish-born grandfather dressing in his finest suit to go and cast his vote. Why? Perhaps it is because we have so rarely been accorded the right to vote that we don’t dare ever take it for granted. As battles rage across this country about access to vote it is important to remember that the right to vote is, in the scheme of things, a recent privilege for the Jewish people. It was not until the eighteenth century (that is, relatively recently) that public discourse even entertained the notion that Jews might vote, and otherwise become full participants of any nation, including ours. To this day, we Jews must remember that voting is a privilege not to be taken for granted, and a right that must be protected.

A major reason why the notion of Jews voting had hitherto been preposterous was that the pre-modern state was thoroughly intertwined with a particular religion. Even right here on the Shoreline! Once upon a time, you had to be a member of the church to cast a vote. The ability of Jews today to fully engage in the political processes of the United States has to do with a concept that did not exist prior to the 18th century. That concept is that nationality and religion can be separated.

That concept is also fundamental to our full embrace of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. The focus is rightly on the giving of thanks and we need to cultivate that sense of gratitude, especially now when times are so hard. In a year when we likely can’t sit around the Thanksgiving table as in years past, we can still tap into our appreciation for all that we do have. One thing I am grateful for is our interfaith community here in Madison & Guilford. My Christian colleagues are amongst my most treasured friends. I look forward to the day when we have greater religious diversity on the shoreline and Hindu temples and Muslim mosques also grace the skyline.

What are you grateful for? Hopefully, come Thanksgiving Day, you will look back upon Election Day and be very grateful for having voted.
- Rabbi Stacy Offner

President's Column - October 2020

The Jewish New Year is here and I thought maybe it was time to try something new. That is, I thought it was time to ask you to try something new.

In the secular new year we make all kinds of resolutions of what we are going to do in the upcoming year to make a change for the better. Often times we find we have a hard time following through on our goals. In this Jewish new year, why not make one resolution you can keep – make a resolution to try one new thing out at TBT.

What to try? There are all kinds of programs going on now, and for most of them, you only need to click on the Zoom link to be there. Want to participate in some insightful discussions? Come to Torah study, which you can find every Saturday at 9:00 AM or join the TBT Book Club for the October book of Button Man by Andrew Gross. Need some time to relax and focus? Try Jewish Mindfulness and Meditation every first and third Saturday of the month at 8:00 AM. Want to work on racial justice and getting out the vote? Come and see what the Social Justice Committee is doing at their meeting on October 1 at 7:30 PM on Zoom.

There is such a variety of programs, committees, services and activities going on, even during this time of being at home during COVID and the building renovation. I think for many of us, we feel that certain programs at TBT aren’t for us, simply because we’ve never tried them.

I can promise you that if you force yourself to try just one new committee/program/group in the month of October, the people you join are going to be thrilled to see you. I also promise you that no experience is necessary. If you are unsure how to join, e-mail me directly at sarahmervine@gmail.com and I will get you on your way (I might even be convinced to go with you). It is just that easy. Let this new year be one where we come together as often as we can to enjoy one another’s company and continue the good work at TBT.

Hope to see you soon!
Sarah

Rabbi's Column - October 2020

As we turn from the month of September and the High Holy Days and anticipate the month of October and the autumnal holidays of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, I want to pause for just a moment to dwell – not in the Sukkah just yet – but in the experience of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Yes it was virtual. Yes it was digital. Yes it was surreal --- but the most important experience of all was that it was real. We came together as a community and honored our holy days. We touched each other’s lives. We were inspired by the Cantor’s singing and all who participated. I am choosing not to name names right now for there are far too many and I fear risking a miss, but we are all richer because of those who participated in so many ways.

We were uplifted by the shofar services, the L’Dor vaDor, the Choir, the piano, the messages, the chatbox!, the break-out groups, the Torah readers, the Haftarah readers, the Bar and Bat Mitzvah kids, the Oseh Shalom, being in our sanctuary, getting glimpses of all those home sanctuaries, seeing all those prayerbooks in your homes, our Temple President and our Temple Presidents, and oh-my-goodness all the behind-the-scenes planning by so many, including our Tech Team and our Religious Activities Committee. The list goes on and on and the sentiments run deep. In fact – don’t take it from me – let me share some of the voices of those who logged in:

“I wanted to say how beautiful the services were: at once moving, comforting and inspiring.”

“The services were wonderful! And meaningful! Thank you!”

“Everything was not only seamless but it was joyful, spiritual, heartfelt and true to our community’s values.”

And this from Molly Babbin whose sermonette inspired us all: “I wanted to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to give a sermonette at Rosh Hashana services. It is wonderful to stay connected to TBT no matter where I am living.”

“We absolutely loved the service and your sermon was an inspiration.”

“Everything went off like clockwork. It was very obvious that a lot of planning and work went into this service. Well done!”

“By far the most inspiring hours we’ve had via Zoom. Outstanding!”

“Thank you for reminding us that to have hope is a gift - and a necessity.”

I myself think back to our holidays and the overwhelming feeling I get is the sensation of your presence, our presence, our togetherness, our being. Thank you, for being the awesome congregation that you are.

Now: onward. Sukkot and Simchat Torah await. To chagim smaychim – to joyful festivals for us all,
Rabbi Stacy K. Offner

President's Column - September 2020

At a time when many are feeling uncertain about what the future brings and are putting plans in place to make it through the next few months, we at TBT are doing something almost unheard of at this time: we are building for the future. That’s right – we’ve begun the enormous and exciting task of renovating our building! At the same time that we plan to keep our community together and safe, we are looking to a future where our building will be totally accessible, full of light and sound, secure, and with plenty of space for our members to worship, learn and create all kinds of community programs.

We don’t take on this important task lightly. We have been planning this work for years. And while it never seems like the exact right time for such a momentous undertaking, the building itself has let us know the time is now, as its systems are slowly failing and some of the structure is badly in need of repair.

While taking on this project is a challenge, it is by no means unprecedented here at TBT. Forty plus years ago, the founders of TBT took a risk to build our first synagogue with the hope that it would be a home for Jewish life on the Shoreline. And now here we are, almost 300 families strong.

As we look to a sweet new year and hope that many of the challenges we are facing today will be met and conquered in the year ahead, we at TBT can look to what we are actively building – both literally and figuratively—and look forward to next year in our own redone space that will welcome us and future generations for years to come.

Shana Tovah.
Sarah Mervine

Rabbi's Column - September 2020

We are soon to be together to celebrate and observe Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. Millions of questions swirl around my head as I consider the ways to make our services as spiritually meaningful and inspirational as can be. Let me share some key points with you, as you begin to prepare and anticipate the holidays.

First: we are going to be all together. There were many different platforms we could have chosen and key for us was the value of actually coming together and seeing each other, not just seeing the bima. So we will be on ZOOM.

The next step is equally important: it must be a spiritual experience. Zoom meetings, which we have now all participated in, are not necessarily the most holy of experiences. So we decided that we must be able to experience being ‘in the sanctuary.’ Ironically, as our sanctuary undergoes significant renovation, we had not planned to be physically at TBT in any case. Long before we heard the word ‘Covid’ we knew we needed to be out of the sanctuary for the holidays. We had arranged to gather at the Guilford High School Auditorium – and to have had a ritual last service in our TBT sanctuary before departing. The Corona Virus has altered all our great plans. But now, though it will be via a virtual service, the High Holidays will give us a chance for final services in our sanctuary as we know it today. Cantor Boyle, Walter Stutzman and I spent hours in the sanctuary, with careful safety measures, so we could bring the sanctuary into your homes.

One more critical piece of making the holidays successful, and that depends on YOU. You see, we will bring our sanctuary to you, but you also have to create a sanctuary out of your own homes. That isn’t an easy task. Think about where you are and what you are wearing and what else you are doing when you are on a Zoom meeting. The High Holy Days are not a meeting. They are holy days. Please, I implore you, consider where you are when you log onto High Holiday services. Consider what you wear! Dress up! As though you were coming to shul. It will make a difference. Put flowers on the table, in your sight! For Erev Rosh Hshanah, candlesticks and kiddish wine. For Kol Nidrei, just the candles, please. Close all applications on your computer and just leave Zoom open. Maybe you can connect your computer to your tv screen and make a sanctuary out of your entire living room, not just a desktop in the corner.

Most important: think about it. Be intentional. Come to services fully prepared.

If we are all prepared for the holy days, we will create holiness, and that is something we could all use right now.

Shana Tova – may 5781 bring redemption to us all,
Rabbi Stacy K. Offner

President's Column Summer 2020

When I agreed to take on the role of President of TBT, I could not have imagined the challenges that 2020 would bring for all of us. It is a time of great difficulty for our world and our community on many fronts. And, yet, as I said at the annual meeting, I don’t think I have ever been prouder to be a member of this community and I feel increasingly hopeful as to what we will accomplish together over the next few years.

During the pandemic, TBT has offered a way to both reach out and to be reached. Through its Helping Hands program, it reached members to simply say hello and make certain all were safe and without need. Through virtual services, onegs, seders, Torah Study, Jewish Meditation and Religious School we have been able to worship together, learn together and just see one another’s faces. We have also continued the good work we always do – raising more in our online food drive than ever before, supporting our food pantries and local groups that help the larger community, and simply reacting to the news of the day and creating opportunities for reflection and learning.

The work doesn’t stop here. We will continue to build our community – both at TBT and in the world around us – no matter what the coming months bring. Future programs include exploring race relations through readings and discussions from the Social Justice Committee, a “get out the vote” initiative, intergenerational programming through the Religious School and other means, a virtual movie day with Kol Ami, and several summer outdoor in-person services.

While TBT is always involved in the work of building community described above, we will also turn our attention to literally building for our community. Soon after this Shofar is delivered we will see the first shovel hit the ground for our building renovation project. As with the work above, we need each and every one of you to be part of this exciting project and we thank you in advance for your support and dedication to our community.

While the year ahead may be one with many challenges, there is also much to be thankful for as we work towards the future. I feel confident we will face these challenges together and come out stronger, in a place that will be our Jewish home on the Shoreline for future generations.

- Sarah Mervine