URJ summer camps - *kol yisrael arevin zeh le zeh"

Yesterday I arrived back at OSRUI - after a few back-and-forth trips over the past few weeks - a day early for my actual two week stint on faculty. Of course I'm very excited to be part of the dynamic camp community, to eat, play, pray, learn and grow with the children and adults who make up this vital setting.

Late yesterday we received word that one of our sister camps, URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI) in Zionsville, IN had been struck by lightning earlier in the day. Three children were hurt, and of course the professional staff and emergency personnel acted quickly and effectively to treat them and secure the rest of their camp community.

Now, unlike other possible incidents at camp, it is truly more difficult to prepare and respond to such an act of nature like a lightning storm. Yet the hundreds and hundreds of people who are serving our camps across the continent are ready, even in a moment's notice, to do whatever it takes to make sure each child is not only safe and well cared for during their time away - and also that each precious kid's experience is fulfilling and meaningful. Another one of the reasons that URJ summer camp programming is the best of what our Reform movement has to offer. (Continue supporting this endeavor as best you can!)

Like the staff at GUCI, the adults that guide each of our Reform camps have one first priority: the safety and well-being of the children who attend. The full-time professional staff, the rabbis, educators and cantors who serve as faculty, and especially the many young adults who serve as program staff (counselors and specialists) are actively dedicated to this most vital aspect of the camp experience. And this is evident day-by-day and moment-by-moment throughout each session our children are at camp. In light of yesterday's more critical event, we just see this more sharply. Thoughts, prayers and kudos remain with the outstanding colleagues and friends down at GUCI.

Rabbis organizing Rabbis' "gang of ten"

Yesterday, ten members of Rabbis organizing Rabbis – representing the Reform movement and its Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), and Religious Action Center (the RAC) – visited Capitol Hill to lobby in favor of comprehensive immigration reform and the bi-partisan legislation that will be presented to the Senate following next week’s congressional recess. I was honored to be one of our “gang of ten.” Accompanied by talented and dedicated RAC staff members – particularly deputy director Rachel Laser, legislative Assistant Sarah Krinsky, program associate Molly Benoit, program director Michael Namath (who participated as one of our rabbinic delegates, and the indefatigable director David Saperstein – we had the opportunity to discuss the legislation and crucial issues related to it with the offices of eight key senators, including three of the “gang of eight” who have spearheaded the effort to formulate a comprehensive approach to addressing our immigration system – which is universally held to be broken and in need of repair. To our great delight, we found out in the morning that the proposed legislation, S.R. 744, had passed out of committee late the previous evening, by a vote of 13-5.
And so we shared heartfelt, value-laden conversation with Senators Michael Bennet, Joe Donnelly, Angus King, Dick Durbin, Dan Coats, Kay Hagan, Mark Kirk and Robert Menendez. We expressed our concern that of course the legislation is flawed, a notion with which the senators who drafted it wholly agree. And our perspective is not to let “perfect” get in the way of doing what is good. We also shared our enthusiasm for getting the bill passed, and our willingness (and that of the entire movement) to mobilize on the local and national level to support this effort, and publicly commend those senators who champion this cause. Our presentations were favorably received, and further energized our group’s enthusiasm to rally the Reform Jewish community behind this significant and timely endeavor.
Kudos to my passionate colleagues: Rabbis Seth Limmer, Sam Gordon, Esther Lederman, Baht Weiss, David Adelson, Greg Litcofsky, Ari Margolis (as well as those named above); it was a thrill to join you, to serve the movement and bring RoR to life. I know they join me in expressing deepest gratitude to the senators and their staffers for the time they gave us to address immigration reform at this vital moment. More so, we are grateful to the amazing RAC staff for arranging our opportunity to meet with such an array of essential personnel. May it be our continued fortune to see comprehensive immigration reform made real, and “to ensure that justice for our country’s most vulnerable is imminent and everlasting – that it is neither delayed nor denied.”

Consultation on Conscience 2013: paying it forward

Consultation on Conscience is the premier program on social justice issues and advocacy of the Reform Movement. Because of its standing, the Religious Action Center is able to corral the leading names in politics and public policy to address the assembly and conduct meaningful workshops with the participants. Names like Clinton and Pelosi, Kennedy and Richards have graced the program through the years. Among the highlights of this year’s conference were great opportunities with UN Ambassador Susan Rice, Rep. Joe Kennedy III, Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (watch this dynamic first-term congresswoman!). We enjoyed powerful presentations from Sister Simone Campbell & Rabbi Sharon Brous, as well as Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. And there were so many others.
Yet for me, my experience this time was underscored by the special chance to spend time with a group of people whose names you probably don’t know (yet). Some ten days prior to Consultation, I was contacted by my friend and colleague Rabbi Michael Namath, the RAC’s program director. He informed me that a contingent of rabbinical students would be attending the event, with some programming uniquely geared to them. Would I be willing to serve as “dean” for this group? What a nice offer, and how uplifting to spend some time with these engaging colleagues-to-be.
We had the opportunity to welcome one another at the meet and greet prior to the opening dinner; to share time with other young professionals at a late-night reception following the opening keynote (okay, I’m fine with the idea that I’m no longer any sort of “young” professional, and was included out of courtesy :). The key element of being with the rabbinical students (and for complete disclosure, our complement included one education student as well) was the conversation shared at lunch on Monday with Rabbi Steve Fox, the CEO of the CCAR and at dinner with Rabbi David Saperstein, the incomparable director of the RAC. Each session focused on asking the students to share some reflections on what turned them onto Reform Jewish social action involvement. Steve asked each to share a seminal moment in their “social justice awakening” for which the responses were as varied as the group. David asked about stumbling blocks to young people’s involvement with such programs and opportunities provided by the RAC and the greater movement. Again, it was instructive and inspiring to hear the students’ perspectives – from issues of financial cost of participation to relevance of the style of delivery of information. These replies too were heartfelt, as was the reception by the listening leaders.
To conclude, I had the honor of asking the students to reflect on what struck them from the Consultation, so we had a chance to process – even briefly – the packed agenda of these few precious days. As we reviewed the speakers, workshops and overall atmosphere of the event, one repeated theme became clear: the strength of the Consultation, like so many conferences and seminars, is much more than the bits of learning gained in the planned sessions. It is about the networking, camaraderie, and renewal afforded by being with like-minded dedicated professionals and laity from across the generations of our community. I am thankful for the time spent with these young colleagues, and look forward to many years toiling together toward justice. And to each of them I wish: B’HATZLACHAH – may you be sustained and successful in pursuing tikkun olam, the sacred task of repairing the world.

45 years and what have we learned?

You know how as you grow *older* you acquire certain tastes that you couldn't have imagined even a few years back? For some, it might be scotch (the first thing I ever heard called "an acquired taste," as suggested by dear ol' dad when I was maybe 12 or 13 and thought it smelled like jet propellant; thankfully, I learned better). Others it might be a particular food, or sport or activity.

For me of course, my acquired tastes have also included an exponential broadening of musical likes. One such example strikes me today. When U2 first exploded onto the pop scene, I wasn't such a huge fan. Sure, I had friends who adored this band from the beginning, even stylized their look around Bono's hair (JP) and the Edge's hat, if not his playing...

As I've grown, I've come to enjoy the poetry of their lyrics, which eluded me earlier (as well as a better understanding of their emotional musicality). And then there's today, a significant date that often goes unnoticed, which U2 has actually preserved, immortalized:

Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

On this 45th anniversary of the assassination of MLK, look around at our society, our world. If we are honest with ourselves, we note that even as the years have progressed beyond that moment in time, we face the same problems, issues and challenges that plagued the world "way back in the 60s", as in every era. It's been 45 years, and I ask, what have we learned? More significantly - what are we going to do about it?

chametz is more than leaven

It's the day following the conclusion of Passover, yet another "new beginning" in the Jewish year.

Just as we *search for leaven* to cleanse the house of not-for-Passover items prior to the festival, the week of the holiday itself reminds us (encourages? demands?) that we are to look for the unclean, old, stale schmutz that is within us, to rid it from ourselves as well - a personal spring cleaning.

Breadcrumbs, half-used cereal boxes and old pasta certainly seem to find their way into every unexpected nook and hiding spot in our homes. Yet often these are much easier to sweep up, set aside or toss out. It's the internal stuff that really clings and needs our continued scrubbing.

We return to bread and beer, to enjoy. May the inner chametz not build up again so fast...

The Bergamot

Just had the chance (literally, chance meeting at the supermarket) to meet Jillian and Nathan of The Bergamot - a very fun indie-pop band - outta South Bend no less, making the rounds....check 'em out...very cool new stuff.

www.thebergamot.com

Supporting new and creative artistic talent is something we should all be doing.

Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5773

It is now the Hebrew month of Nissan, during which we celebrate Passover - known as z'man cheruteynu, the "time of our freedom." At this season, we recall the Exodus from Egypt and our liberation from bondage, as well as renew our commitment to working to overcome any oppression faced by our brothers and sisters, wherever they may be around the world. In Hebrew, this month is also know as chodesh ha-aviv, the "month of spring." We welcome the change of seasons, and the promise of renewal and rejuvenation it brings. As buds appear on the trees, as flowers begin to emerge, as the birds begin to sing anew - we rejoice that we can continue to work as God's partners in maintaining and perfecting our world. This year, may challenges disappear; this year may all be free.

Wishing you a chag pesach sameyach - a very joyous Passover encouter!