A Value-Drive Year for a Value-Driven Congregation (September KOL)
Tue, September 4, 2012
In a recent conversation with a colleague, I learned that a survey of 25 congregations, by the American Jewish Archives, resulted in a startling observation: Most congregations do not teach Reform Judaism or have a systematic way of sharing our historic and extensive heritage. As I shared the wonderful course in the platforms of Judaism that we teach in our YES (8-9thgrade) program, and the fact that we regularly highlight the meaningful interpretations of Judaism through a positive Reform Jewish lens from religious school to the bimah, I also was so proud to talk about our congregation in terms of the values we cherish and live daily.
When Rabbi Cameron was interviewing for our position, we were clear that this is a “value-driven” congregation. From the tapestries on the walls of our sanctuary designed for each of twelve TBS values, to the way the Board governs, to the curriculum in our school, to the priorities of our task forces, committees, and auxiliaries, we talk about values all of the time, and are guided by our values in all of our actions and decisions. I thought that made us Jewish. Now, I realize that is what makes us special.
Did you know that the tapestries in our sanctuary were designed for the twelve values that focus groups determined were a priority to our community? The artist, Bracha Lavee, decided to take the values we gave her and combine them with the months of the Jewish calendar, but the project began with our values:
Tishre– Tzedek, Tefillah, and Teshuvah (Justice, Prayer and Repentance)
Cheshvan– Hachnasat Orchim (Welcoming the Stranger)
Kislev– Mazon/Hoda’ah (Feeding the Hungry and Thanksgiving)
Tevet– Chanukat HaBayit (Dedication to the Temple and Jewish Home)
Shevat– Tikkun Olam/Shmirat HaTevah (Repairing the World/Caring for our Environment)
Adar– Simcha (Joy)
Nisan– L’dor vador/V’heegadita l’vincha (Passing Judaism to the next generation and telling the story of the Jewish People to our children and their children – this is the tapestry with Fire and Cloud representing our commitment to God)
Iyar– Ahavat Yisrael/Zachor (Love for Israel/The Pledge “Remember!”)
Sivan– Torah Orah/V’shenantem L’vanecha (The Torah is the Light of our Lives/The Shema reminds us to teach the Torah to our children)
Tammuz– Love for America/Proclaiming Liberty Throughout our Land (Celebrating our rich American Jewish history and the patriotic service of so many of our members)
Av– V’Shamru B’nai Yisrael et HaShabbat (The People of Israel Shall Keep the Sabbath – from candles to tzedakah, we celebrate the centrality of Shabbat in our lives)
Elul– Shalom Bayit/Shalom/Ahavah – (Peace in the Home/Peace in our World/Love for our Families)
As you come into the sanctuary this High Holy Days and gaze upon the tapestries as you reflect and repent, please take a moment to affirm these values that guide our lives. When we advocate for Social Justice and bring food for the hungry, when we open our doors to the community for Yizkor and Family services, when we take the time to study all day on Yom Kippur, when we pledge to give tzedakah to our community, when we embrace one another and pray to God — these are all reflections from the diamond, the jewel of our tradition, that shines throughout our temple and our congregational community. And because we all fall short at times, please open your heart in forgiveness, to me or anyone else in our community who has not lived up to your needs or the highest forms of these values, and we will all do the same for you.
Thank you for all you do in preserving the values we hold sacred. Thank you for belonging, sustaining, strengthening, supporting, and contributing your goodness and blessing to B’nai Shalom as we begin a new Jewish Year of 5773.
Shanah Tovah – Wishing you a Happy New Year,
Rabbi Amy R. Perlin, D.D.