In
Memoriam: Rabbi Sherwin Wine, founder of Humanistic Judaism
(Stories below)
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In
Memoriam: Rabbi Sherwin Wine, founder of Humanistic Judaism (Stories below) |
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San
Diego Jewish World
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Researcher sees development of
'Israedi' identity
The study,
under the direction of Professor Hanan Alexander of the University of Haifa's
Faculty of Education as part of the Center for Jewish Education's research on
Jewish, Israeli, and democratic identity, was conducted over two academic years
(2003-4 and 2004-5) during which 55 adolescents and 21 teachers and school staff
members were interviewed. Three hundred hours of social activities and informal
educational sessions, which included class discussions, symposia, ceremonies,
field trips and cultural events were observed. The main elements of this new identity, outlined in the research, were divided by the researcher into components: history, suffering and remembrance, including the history of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism which reinforce the importance of military service and the history of the State of Israel, which stresses honoring those who fell defending the country; education for a democratic way of life; emotional connection and contribution to the state, especially serving in the army; social learning processes; exposure to day-to-day Israeli life; Jewish-Israeli culture which includes the centrality of Jewish holidays as well as exposure to Israeli art, music and literature. Based on the study results, identity-building has been "expropriated" from the educational staff in schools and outsourced to private groups who specialize in the field. According to Dr. Hartaf, despite the fact that the content is set together with the school, which should lead to continuity of issues brought up in the classroom, in actuality this is not what happens and Jewish issues that are touched upon in the classroom are not followed-up. The researcher also found the Israeli element of youth identity problematic. Programs concentrate on finding the common elements among all Israelis, but never look at these elements critically. "These social-educational programs begin with the assumption that we already know who we are – so then what is there to talk about?" remarked Dr. Hartaf. She added that the situation today results in the "Israedi" identity of non-religious youth being limited to a framework of personal values, characterized by openness to all viewpoints, opinions and values. On the other hand, the values system of religious youth is more closed and solely faith-based. "These two identities, which include the majority of Israeli youth, are removed from one another and are established separately without any basis or bridge from which dialogue can begin," summarized the Dr. Hartaf. The preceding story was provided by the University of Haifa
By Karin Kloosterman TEL AVIV (Press Release)—For most of his professional life, Tel Aviv University professor Michael Ovadia focused on snakes and the medicinal properties of their venom. But seven years ago, after meditating on a biblical passage, Ovadia's career focus began to take a twist... a cinnamon twist to be exact. Today the spiritual scientist from TAU's Department of Zoology is commercializing a unique cinnamon extract that is touted to quell viral infections from HIV to the Avian flu. A research and license deal on his patent-pending cinnamon extract was signed last week between TAU's technology transfer company Ramot and Frutarom, a multinational nutraceutical company based in Israel. Frutarom is expected to use the extract in a whole host of applications from disinfecting the air as a spray against Avian flu in airports; to a daily supplement that protects people against the common flu. Those researching in the field of natural medicine know that snake venom, especially the notorious poisonous kind, has unique anti-viral and analgesic properties that can help fight human illness and disease. For the past 40 years, Ovadia had been working with natural antidotes and found that certain kinds of venom can deactivate Parainfluenza (Sendai) virus - a virus similar to the human flu. Work was going well. Papers were published, patents had been developed, and his reputation in the field was established. But Ovadia was still waiting for the breakthrough that every scientist dreams about. That breakthrough would come to him one morning in the synagogue while listening to a reading from the Old Testament. "There is a passage that explains how the High Priests - the Kohens - would prepare a holy oil used on their bodies before they made a ritual animal sacrifice," recalls Ovadia. "I had a hunch that this oil, which was prepared with cinnamon and other spices, played a role in preventing the spread of infectious agents to people." Taking his hunch to the laboratory bench, Ovadia's initial experiments proved to be true - his savory cinnamon extract was able to quickly and effectively immunize chicken embryos from the Newcastle disease virus - one which costs the poultry industry in the US millions of dollars a year. Further studies on Avian Flu H9, Sendai virus, the HIV virus, and Herpes Simplex 1 also achieved positive results. Not only was the extract able to neutralize the viruses, it also showed for selected viruses that it has the potential to immunize against them as well.
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ZOA denounces decision by
Tamir to let Arabs
The new directive
approves a Grade 3 textbook "Living Together in Israel," which was written by
Arabs who left their homes during the 1948 War of Independence and claim that
Israel took their land.
PARIS (Press Release)—France’s Prime Minister, François Fillon, has warned young people not to forget that his country deported Jews during the Holocaust. “Once the voice of those who lived through this tragedy is gone, it will be up to you, the young people of France, to take up their words, their memories,” Fillon said at a commemorative event here. “You will do it for them, you will do it for France.” In all, about 75,000 Jews were deported from France to Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Fewer than 3,000 survived. Speaking at the former site of
the Velodrome d'Hiver bicycle stadium, which was used as a transit camp for
thousands of Jews, Fillon said that France must not shrink from the memory of
those hours of shame. The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress
__________________ prisoners of Flossenbürg concentration camp FLOSSENBÜRG, Germany (Press Release)—A memorial has been inaugurated on the site of the former Nazi concentration camp at Flossenbürg, in southeastern Germany. Shoah survivors and Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yushchenko, whose father was a prisoner at Flossenbürg during World War II, attended the opening ceremony, which was held on the 62nd anniversary of the camp’s liberation. "For me this concentration camp has a very human dimension," Yushchenko said. An estimated 30,000 prisoners died at the Nazi camp, located in the German state of Bavaria, including Jews from Hungary and Poland, citizens of the Soviet Union and political prisoners from Germany. Eighty-four former prisoners attended Sunday’s ceremony. After World War II, parts of the camp were dismantled, and a factory and private homes were built. Ex-prisoners began campaigning for a memorial in the mid-1990s. Several camp barracks eventually were restored and a research center opened. The preceding story was provided by the World Jewish Congress
Founder of Humanistic Judaism
killed in car crash; SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine, founder of Humanistic Judaism, was killed in a car crash on July 21 while vacationing in Morocco. He was 79. Wine and Richard McMains were returning from dinner Saturday evening in Essaouira when their taxi was hit by another driver. Rabbi Wine and the taxi driver were killed instantly. McMains survived the collision and was hospitalized in stable condition.
The Humanistic
Jewish Congregation of San Diego, one of the affiliates of the Society for
Humanistic Judaism, will hold a memorial service at the Woman’s Club of Carlsbad
(3320 Monroe Ave) on Saturday, August 4, at 1030am. to which the public is
welcome. The preceding story was provided by the Humanistic Jewish Congregation of San Diego _________________ A personal tribute to Rabbi Sherman Wine
By
Cantor Deborah Davis SAN DIEGO—I received a phone call from Rabbi Sherwin Wine, founder of the Humanistic Jewish movement, just a few weeks ago, before he left for vacation. We chatted for a while about the music program at our local congregation. He told me he appreciated all I had done for San Diego, and the movement as a Humanistic cantor. Because all the business of our conversation wasn’t finished, he said he’d call me back when he returned from his vacation. I first met Rabbi Wine at a conference in San Diego in the Winter of 1988. Here was a chance for me to meet the founder of an international movement where cultural Jews could feel good about practicing Judaism. I found the clarity of his vision overwhelming. Particularly so because of the experience I had during the High Holiday services the fall before that first meeting, when I had been invited to be a cantorial soloist. As a child in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I had been to High Holiday services. My parents, cultural Jews, sent me to Orthodox Synagogue, to kheder to learn Hebrew and Jewish tradition; it was the only temple nearby. After studying the songs, and reading the siddur, I realized that I didn’t believe in the anthropomorphic God of the Bible. Like many American Jews, I stopped going to shul altogether. However, when asked to sing the High Holiday songs, I recalled my childhood thrill at hearing the cantor sing “Ovinu Malkeynu” and “Kol Nidre.” With my Jewish background and vocal training as an opera singer, when the opportunity to sing liturgical Jewish music in San Diego was offered, I answered yes immediately. It was at that Rosh Hashanah, that I was approached by Barbara Brandt, leader of the local Society for Humanistic Judaism. I hadn’t heard of the movement, but learning that there was a branch of Judaism I could relate to without sacrificing my ethical beliefs was an enlightening and emotional experience for me and I joined the group immediately. I started to sing regularly at services and became the cantor “de-facto.” Then I heard Rabbi Wine speak that winter. A year later he taught a class at a conference here in San Diego, which I attended. Not only was he a dynamic speaker but a great teacher whose knowledge of Jewish history was profound. And his sense of logic was flawless. I was hooked. At that conference he asked me to help start a cantorial program for the Humanistic Jewish movement. For the next few years I attended seminars in Detroit at the Birmingham Temple, where the movement began. Rabbi Wine always graciously answered the questions I had and always made time for me. In 2001 I became the first ordained cantor in the Humanistic Jewish movement. Sherwin Wine was a great philosopher and a singular mind for many generations. Most of all, he was a mensch. I will miss him. I’m grateful that I got to speak with him when I did.
On Tisha B'Av: The deeper meaning of summer camp songs By Rabbi Wayne Dosick CARLSBAD, California—Given the way the Jewish calendar is fashioned, the only Jewish holiday that occurs during the summer is Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, the commemoration of the destruction of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem, first by the Babylonians in 586 BCE, and, then again, by the Romans in 70 CE. Needless to say, all of us who have ever worked at Jewish summer camps - sleep away or day camps - have had a mighty challenge trying to find meaningful ways to convey the sense, the sorrow, and the legacy of Tisha B'Av to five, and nine, and eleven year olds who, as yet, have little idea of Jewish history, and little experience (thank God!) with great destruction and tragedy in their young (usually middle class) lives. Yet, we try. Many, many years ago, my wife Ellen was a counseler at a day camp sponsored by Temple Beth Emet in Anaheim. One particular year, Ellen decided to “go for it” with a group of five year olds. Now, I beg you: unless you are an expert educator, a greatly experienced group facilitator, and highly knowledgeable about child development and, especially, the place and psycho-spirituality of five year olds on the developmental scale, do not try this - or anything like it. It takes a master teacher such as Ellen to make this work, without causing trauma and despair. Continuing with our story: In those days, Temple Beth Emet was a closely knit intergenerational synagogue-community, which was the center of the lives of hundreds of hundreds of families. The families all knew each other; grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, clergy, and staff all felt warmly close to each other. What affected one, affected all. So, on Tisha B'Av, Ellen gathered a group twenty or so five-year old children. She said, “Let's pretend. Let's imagine. Let's pretend that a large group of very mean people don't like us. And they come here and burn down our Temple. And they capture us. And they don't give us water to drink or anything to eat. And they won't let us see our parents, or our brothers and sisters. And soldiers stand guard over us. And (and here, be very, very careful if you didn't listen to my first warning, and are trying this at home) we can see blood in the street, and we can see dead people lying in the street. And we are hungry, and we are thirsty. And we are scared. What do we do?” The youngsters - surely affected by this game of pretend - had many responses. (Jump to continuation) Rabbi Dosick is the spiritual leader of the Elijah Minyan in Carlsbad
The Rose Adagio and the Torah SAN DIEGO —Life is a balancing act – a difficult balancing act, thus we turn to various structures for guidance such as religion, moral codes and one another. The ballet and religion have much in common for me. I have in mind the Rose Adagio from the ballet Sleeping Beauty. Scholars differ on exactly when this adagio first became such a signature part of that ballet’s choreography; when the balance became attenuated to the length it is today. This is much like the discussion of who wrote the Bible or at what point were parts of it emphasized, or became particularly meaningful. First let me describe this adagio. In the second scene of the ballet – at the sixteenth birthday party for the Princess Aurora, her parents wish her to meet four princes who have come from far and wide to sue for her hand. Honoring the wishes of her father and mother (a Commandment) she meets them one after the other in the ballroom. She dances briefly with each. Then as the music swells (one of Tchaikovsky’s most splendid scores) she steps onto a single pointe, in attitude derriére (leg behind her at 90 degrees, but slightly bent). She has found her balance point and there she must stay no matter the buffets of life. However, as the Torah teaches, we must each hold one another up – therefore she delicately holds the hand of the first prince. Each prince in succession comes before her, she lets go of one hand only to take the hand of the next in line. The problem is how to let go of one and take the hand of the next without losing that fine point of balance. As we let go of sections of our lives, we face the same problem, but if one has a religiously based moral structure, that moment of uncertainty is a trial we can weather. Then we reach for the next hand to steady us through the next phase of life. If we have in the past offered our hands to help those around us, their hands will be ready when we are in need. After accepting a rose from each prince, while still in balance, the ballerina lets go of the final hand, and slowly stretches out her leg from attitude (slightly bent) to full arabesque – able to maintain her balance by herself, while still surrounded by people who love her. So, we are taught that when we accept help, are part of a religious community, we can grow to eventually stretch out and stand erect in the midst of life. But the Rose Adagio is not over. Life usually sends more than one test, often with an additional difficulty. The ballerina once again steps onto a single pointe, in attitude derriére, but this time as she takes the hand of each prince, he then promenades her in a circle (still on that one pivotal pointe), then she lets go and takes the hand of the next prince – repeating this four times in all. Growing up we learn first to balance standing still, and then we learn to balance while moving. Finally, she lets go and once again slowly stretches out that back leg to full arabesque and remains in quiet sustained balance. Some rabbis say that it is forbidden to study the Torah alone – it would be easy to stray – to arrive at an erroneous conclusion – or to overlook something important. In dance also. Ballet is never learned alone. It is passed down from hand to hand, body to body, mind to mind. Sometimes when we try to “improve things” we overlook the original intent. The intent of the Rose Adagio is the romantic introduction, under the gaze of her parents, of a young woman to her potential suitors. However, recently some ballerinas in order to display their exceptional capabilities of balance have disdained to take the proffered hands of the princes. The ballerina thus has chosen to sublimate the intent of the ballet to her own desire to show off her wonderful facility to balance. As a result she’s then lost the core of the entire ballet. When Moses strikes that rock G-d accuses him of not following G-d’s intent. The Torah teaches us that we must find our moral base while in contact with other people - not alone. A moral structure does not exist alone – it is a community based concept. Occasionally in Torah Study one can be overwhelmed with the number of laws – mitzvot – that are asked of us. How can we live in the midst of so many rules? This is also true of ballet students. It is an art form built upon structure with an established vocabulary and a strict way of aligning the body and moving. The common complaint of students is “How can I dance if I can hardly move?” The answer was given by a very famous ballerina – Prima Ballerina Assoluta Margot Fonteyn said (paraphrase) “It is that structure which eventually frees one to move.” Once control of the body is intrinsic – then the mind can control that body. And dance is the result. Once one accepts the moral structure – the community –, is willing to sublimate one’s own desires for the good of the community, and accepts the moral teachings of the Torah – then each individual is freed to move within the community. And civilized life happens. .
Date: July 23, 2007 Q Tony, what do you hope to see from tomorrow's meeting with the King of Jordan? MR. SNOW: Well, we will have to see. I'm not sure we've even acknowledged when we'll be meeting, but we have -- Q It's on the week ahead. MR. SNOW: We have? We finally acknowledged, okay. (Laughter.) Thank you. Thank you for catching me up on that. Look, it's an important chance for the President to sit down with somebody who is a key ally in the region, particularly as we are working again toward trying to find a way to empower a Palestinian government that can meet the Quartet principles and provide a basis for working with Israel, so that you can have a democracy in the region and fulfill the promise of democracy for the Palestinian people.
King
Abdullah has certainly been a very valuable and forceful ally in that,
and I'm sure the conversation -- there will be plenty of conversation
about that. Whether it turns to other topics will be up to the King and
the President.
________________________
CYBER-REFERRALS—Israel's Consulate General in Los Angeles forwarded this
video about the situation in Sderot, across the border from Gaza. DATEBOOK—Here are some upcoming events, which we will also store in our event-tracker for your future reference. Sunday, July 29—Margie Burton, Ph.D. research director of the San Diego Archaeological Center, will lecture at 3 p.m. at the Museum of Man on what is known about the collapse of Middle Eastern civilizations at the beginning of the 4th millennium BCE. The lecture amplifies on the "Journey to the Copper Age: Archaeology in the Holy Land" exhibit now at the museum. ... September 25-30—A new version of Camelot adapted by Allan Jay Lerner's son and daughter, Michael and Liza, will be performed at the San Diego Civic Theatre. Ticket sales begin Friday, July 27 ... November 1-10—The 13th annual San Diego Jewish Book Fair will be staged at the Lawrence Family JCC, Jacobs Family Campus. Among the speakers this year: Tony Award winning playwright Tony Kushner, comedian David Steinberg, economist Todd Bucholz, Israeli novelist David Grossman and former Ambassador Dennis Ross.
barbecuing with a grand opening celebration SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—San Diego’s oldest and newest barbecue restaurant A Grand Opening Celebration with the East County Chamber of Commerce is scheduled Saturday, July 28, from 2 to 4pm with music, food, entertainment galore! A two-tiered party is scheduled: at noon on the same day will be a Law School Graduation Party for the Worm’s older daughter, Lara. Friends and family and the public are all invited to share in their simchas. Younger son, Scott will be in town for the celebration from Austin, Texas. The barbecue owners are lucky to have parents Al and Flory Jacobs, and Dale and Betty Worm participating in the festivities. Al Jacobs, accordionist, will be part of the entertainment, with Marla Worm as the featured singer! Known for 50 years as the home of “Awesome BBQ”, they are still following the family tradition of rubbing the meats in a secret blend of sweet and tangy spices, then slowly smoking the meats in a traditional Texas style Pit over local woods. They specialize in the most tender BBQ Beef and Chicken, and feature three styles of BBQ Sauce: Traditional Texas, Southern Smooth, and Chipotle Hot. New on their menu are some California Coast specialties – BBQ Chicken Pizza, Gourmet Pastas, Salads, and Salmon. Homemade desserts such as Peach Cobbler, Cheesecakes and Flan round out the menu. With 50 years of family history and reputation in Barbecue and Catering behind them, this family is proud of its heritage. Fresh out of college, the Navy, and World War II, Submarine Cook Dale Worm with his wife, Betty, decided the Barbecue Business was the place for them, and in 1958, opened Roadside Bar B.Q., the first restaurant on Mission Gorge Rd. in San Diego. After 20 successful years in that location, serving up lots of Barbecue to a growing San Diego, and raising a family there, they attempted to retire. Son Oscar decided the Barbecue Business was also the place for him, and in 1978, joined his dad in opening Bekker’s Bar B.Q. about three miles away on Mission Gorge Rd. Soon after, Oscar and his wife, Olga, began another 20 successful years in the restaurant, and especially in catering events to an even larger San Diego community. They also raised a family there and attempted to retire. Now, their daughter Marla has decided that the Barbecue Business is the place for her, and joins her parents, Olga and Oscar in their newest adventure in Barbecue only a few miles down the road on Lake Murray Blvd. Marla has been well known in the Performing Community for the past few years since being a featured vocalist and actress in many plays, musicals, choir concerts, and Youth Summerstock Theatre. She directed the Youth Chorale at Tifereth Israel last year, and she has won numerous awards for her musical talents and is now a Vocal Performance Major at UCSD.. Members of the public may join the Grand Opening Party, Saturday July 28 – 2pm – 4pm, followed by a BBQ Buffet from 4-9pm for only $10! Call (619) 462-3663 for more information, or visit the website at www.westcoastcater.com The
preceding story was provided by West Coast Barbecue and Catering
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BASEBALL—Kevin Youkilis had a nice day Sunday in the Boston Red Sox 8-5 outing over the Chicago White Sox. He batted his 24th double, drove in his 47th RBI, walked and was credited with a sacrifice fly. But at the end of it all Youkilis' season batting average was .310, which continues to be three points off the bottom mark set by the American League's top ten batters. ... Elsewhere in the American League, Texas Rangers relief pitcher Scott Feldman had a nice inning of work, even though the Rangers succumbed 8-3 to the Cleveland Indians. He allowed no runs, no hits, and racked up a strike out. His seasonal ERA continues to be high, however, at 6.23..... In the National League, Brad Ausmus hit 2 for 3, and scored the only run of the game in the Houston Astros 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He now is batting .249.... It was a day Shawn Green could happily forget, as he went 0-4 in a game in which his New York Mets just squeaked by the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4. His BA is now .271.
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As I had returned recently from a 4-month
stay in Safed, naturally my interest immediately
traveled upward to the photo, Safed 2000. The white
grave stone is stained with a rich sea blue and hints of
violet. The details in the grave stone as well as the
small rocks placed on the grave are crisp. The photo
captures the essence of the city's mystical core with a
view of the cloudy mountains overlooking the grave. I
imagine the grave could be of some mystical sage, as Safed is the center of the kabalistic movement. It's
hard to say, but that added to my intrigue.
Next, Jerusalem, 1997, which I think of
as Loulou's yellow subject, is a close up of tombstone
with details of Hebrew letters and a swirl of rocks. In
Jewish tradition it is customary to place rocks as
opposed to flowers upon a
grave stone because the rocks
don’t wilt so they remind us that the spirit of the
person lives on. The yellow, a moss that has grown on
the grave, is pleasing to the eye. The diagonal angle
that Loulou uses from above provides an interesting
perspective. See if your eye doesn’t begin at the
bottom of the photo, and then follows the
rocks in a spiral upwards. Finally, it rests on
the Hebrew letters on the grave. It
appears that the stone is slanted on a cliff.
Technically we are viewing the grave stone technically
upside down.
After doing some research on Loulou's
work, I have found that it is not uncommon for Loulou to
take close-ups of his subjects, so that the viewer is
forced to become more intimate with them. Loulou's
photos can be appreciated as stand alone works, but it
is also apparent that they are metaphors to a larger
story and collection of work.
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