Reflections from Steve Mackey

Recently, the Patriot-News published an article of reflections on
our fire and its aftermath. Our member, Michael Katzman, shared the
article with a childhood friend who sent an inspiring response, which
is shared below with permission. Thank you Michael and Steve.
Thanks for the e-mail.

A beautiful account of coping with adversity,
The description of dancing with the smoke-scented Torahs on Simchat
Torah reminds me of a story of the Klausenberg Rebbi, Yekuiel
Halberstam z"l.

After the war, he was celebrating Simchat Torah. During the hakafot,
as the congregation was dancing with the sifrei torah, he paused and
pointed to 5 young men. He then asked the members to lift them up and
continue dancing as if they were Torah scrolls. He explained that when
they were in Aushwitz, they were afraid the knowledge of Torah would
be lost. Each man memorized 1 book of chumash, so that if they managed
to survive they could reconstruct the Torah. He said this is the
meaning of the living Torah.

Like the phoenix, we rise from the ashes and triumph in adversity.

Hope you're all doing well and best wishes with your plans for a new
shul.

Shabbat Shalom, Chazak v'Amatz,

Steve Mackey

Dancing With The Torahs

Recently, the Patriot-News published an article of reflections on our fire and its aftermath. Our member, Michael Katzman, shared the article with a childhood friend who sent an inspiring response, which is shared below with permission. Thank you Michael and Steve.

Thanks for the e-mail. A beautiful account of coping with adversity, The description of dancing with the smoke-scented Torahs on Simchat Torah reminds me of a story of the Klausenberg Rebbi, Yekuiel Halberstam z"l.

After the war, he was celebrating Simchat Torah. During the hakafot, as the congregation was dancing with the sifrei torah, he paused and pointed to 5 young men. He then asked the members to lift them up and continue dancing as if they were Torah scrolls. He explained that when they were in Aushwitz, they were afraid the knowledge of Torah would be lost. Each man memorized 1 book of chumash, so that if they managed to survive they could reconstruct the Torah. He said this is the meaning of the living Torah.

Like the phoenix, we rise from the ashes and triumph in adversity.

Hope you're all doing well and best wishes with your plans for a new shul.

Shabbat Shalom, Chazak v'Amatz,

Steve Mackey

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD

Some time ago, the Patriot-News asked me to write a piece sharing reflections on what we have experienced as a congregation since the fire.

After the holidays were over, I wrote an op-ed that was printed in Sunday's paper. For those who do not receive the Patriot-News, I am sharing it with the hope that we can all reflect on where we are as a Chisuk Emuna family of members and supporters as we move onward and upward. I look forward to participating together in upcoming services, classes, social action initiatives, Jewish cultural programs and social events.

IN PARTICULAR, PLEASE JOIN US FOR:

- SHABBAT SCHOOL ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31ST

- MITZVAH DAY AT THE JCC ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST AT 9:30 A.M. AS WE PARTICIPATE WITH THE COMMUNITY IN A DAY OF SERVICE

- THE JT WALDMAN EVENT THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS POSTING. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT!! Please contact Jeneen in the synagogue office to sign up for the dinner and workshop. (info@chisukemuna.org, 232-2707)

http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2009/10/temple_fire.html

B'shalom - Wishing you peace,

Ron Muroff

Bessie Weintraub Memorial Program

Exploring Comics and Technology: Jewish Connections
With JT WALDMAN Graphic Artist, Author and Director of JPS Interactive

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6th
5:30 p.m. Simcha Hour
6:00 p.m. Family Shabbat Service
7:00 p.m. Dinner $18 Adults | $10 Children

During services & dinner, JT will explore "People of the Comic Book", the rich history of Jews in comic books. Covering Superman and the X-Men and much more, this presentation – including many samples of comics - will cover a brief history of comic books and how their creation is related to themes and topics integral to Judaism.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th
I. During Shabbat morning services -- JT will explore "Bible, Technology and Community", an introduction to an emerging JPS venture – "The Tagged Tanakh", a digital initiative which promises to transform the way people interact with the Bible

II. 6 p.m. – "Making Midrash Comix" -- A hands-on workshop for Kadima, teens and the young at heart
A 20-minute lively presentation of the topic of Midrash and the Jewish connections within the comic book industry, followed by a structured activity where participants create their own mini-Midrash comix about familiar biblical or historical characters. Refreshments: make-your-own ice cream sundaes!

Joyful Bat Mitzvah Celebration

This morning, Caroline Rubin celebrated her becoming a Bat Mitzvah by participating in Shabbat morning services. Close to four hundred people filled the Mary Sachs Auditorium at the JCC and kvelled as Caroline led prayers, chanted the Haphtorah and shared a thoughtful dvar Torah on parshat Noah.

Caroline explored different Rabbinic explanations of what it was that made G-d so angry at the people who built the Tower of Babel. Quoting the midrash, Caroline explained that the people were so intent on building the tower that they valued the building project more than human life. If a worker fell and died while carrying a brick up the construction site, the people mourned the destroyed brick more than the dead man. They valued things more than people.

Caroline related this teaching to her feelings following the destruction of the sanctuary at Chisuk Emuna, where her sister and father had celebrated their bnai mitzvah and where Caroline was so much looking forward to celebrating her Bat Mitzvah. Upon hearing about the synagogue's destruction, Caroline's first reaction was to be upset that her Bat Mitzvah would not take place in the sanctuary she loved. Soon after, she came to realize that what mattered most was not where her becoming Bat Mitzvah was celebrated but the fact that she would share her celebration with family and friends. Caroline summarized the lesson she derived from the Torah portion: People not things are what matter most in life.

Caroline, the daughter of Stephen and Jenny, is a fourth generation member of the Chisuk Emuna family. Caroline's great-grandfather, Aaron Rubin, was instrumental in the construction of the Chisuk Emuna building at Fifth and Division Streets. Caroline's father and cousins Bert and Michael are involved in guiding the congregation through the challenges facing Chisuk Emuna in the wake of the fire. With the involvement and leadership of families like the Rubins, Chisuk Emuna has good reason to be confident about its future.

What a great simcha - a great celebration - for Caroline and her family and for the whole congregation. Mazel Tov!!!

Will Watson is fine.

To the Chisuk Emuna Family

Sadly, this morning's newspaper contained an obituary for a man named
Will Watson, Jr. Several people have contacted the synagogue out of
concern that something had happened to our Will Watson, our dear
friend and beloved custodian. Our Will is doing well. If you hear
that others are confused, please help us inform our congregational
family that our Will Watson is doing fine and is very grateful for
everyone's concern.

We are sorry for the family of the deceased man and extend to them our
condolences.

Thank you for caring.

B'shalom - Wishing you peace,

Ron Muroff

High Holidays were a success!

Although we acknowledge that the Mary Sachs auditorium was a bit cold during the High Holidays, we have received compliments from many congregants about the services. There was a tremendous amount of planning that went on behind the scenes to ensure that our services were inspiring and engaging. Planning the services, arranging for pulpit honors and readings, securing and arranging seats and Halachically appropriate sound equipment,making sure that we had the appropriate number and placement of ushers, ensuring that our children were engaged and cared for -- all of these (and many more) were the product of countless hours of hard work by our many volunteers and our professional staff.