Mi Y’malel – Who Can Retell

Happy Hanukkah From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

December 24, 2016

25 Kislev 5777

“Mi Y’malel – Who Can Retell”

Dear Friends,

A traditional Hanukkah song that goes, “Who can retell the things that befell us, who can count them?”  As much as the song begs us to retell the story of the brave Maccabees and their struggle against Syrian domination and oppression, there is a larger message.  Through telling stories we strengthen our sense of who we are.  Through storytelling we fortify our Jewish identity.  Hanukkah is about renewing our Jewish identity and rededicating our lives to Jewish spirituality, learning and community.  I can’t think of a better way to fan our Jewish spark while lighting the Hanukkah menorah than by telling our stories.

As Hanukkah quickly approaches, consider telling stories each night by the candlelight.  What kind of stories?  Family stories.  Many families have pictures of relatives who lived two, three or four generations ago.  Many have old slides and home movies and video.  Pull the albums out; set up the projectors and share stories about parents, grandparents, close relatives and family friends.  Talk about births, bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings and even funerals.  Talk about the individuals for whom you and your family members are named.  Tell stories about Jewish summer camp adventures, youth group activities, and family vacations and trips.  Tell stories about family holiday celebrations – Passover seders, High Holidays and even Hanukkah parties from long ago.  Look over the photos and enjoy the old clothing and hairstyles!

Mi y’malel – who can retell?  We can retell. That’s the real essence of Hanukkah.

I wish you a Happy & Healthy Hanukkah.

L'shalom (In Peace),

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

Welcoming Family

December 16-17, 2016 - 17 Kislev 5777

Shabbat Vayishlach

Torah Reading: Genesis 32:4 - 36:43 / Haftarah Reading: Obadiah 1:1-21

“Welcoming Family”

Dear Friends,

Judaism is so much more than religion, prayers and rituals.  As Reconstructionists, we teach that Judaism is a whole religious ‘civilization’. Starting from Jewish religion at its core, it radiates peoplehood, language, arts, food, history, holy land, and so much more.  In addition to the Jewish civilization concept, I often refer to Judaism as a family of families.  We are one nation, one people, and one Jewish family.

Family. That’s the way it has been since the beginning of our people.  Jacob learns this when he runs for his raging brother Esau and finds welcome and refuge with relatives far away in Babylonia.  Jacob finds it again, when twenty-one years later they meet and embrace with forgiveness and brotherly love.  Throughout our sacred texts and holy history, wherever Jews travel in the world they find the welcoming embrace of fellow Jews, sometimes related and sometimes not.  Yet we are all a family.

When we will light the Hanukkah candles later this month, I urge you to come together with fellow Jews – relatives and friends – to renew the bonds of peoplehood that create our Jewish family and celebrate our people’s festival of freedom.  This Saturday morning at 10 am, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, the president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and the Jewish Reconstructionist Communities will be coming to Shir Hadash to join us in worship and study.  Let’s be sure to welcome Rabbi Waxman as family.

That’s the way it has been since the beginning of our people. And that’s the way it still is and always will be – one big, warm, welcoming, Jewish family.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

If You Truly Will It…

Shabbat Shalom From Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

December 9-10, 2016 / 10 Kislev 5777

Shabbat Vayetze

Torah - Genesis 28:10-32:3 / Haftarah - Hosea 12:13-14:10

“If You Truly Will It…”

Dear Friends,

Jacob dreamed a dream.  Running away from his jealous and angry brother Esau, Jacob lay down with a stone as a pillow and dreamed of a ladder connecting heaven and earth.  On that ladder were the angels of God who would protect him within the Land of Israel and during his journeys beyond.  He dreamed of being rescued and being protected… and it was so.

Theodore Herzl dreamed a dream.  More than 120 years ago he dreamed that one day the Jewish people would be a truly free people living in its own ancient land, the Land of Israel – Zion and Jerusalem.  He declared, “If you will it, it is not a dream.” And it was so.

Soon we will light our Hanukkah candles and look deep into the flames and dream our dreams.  Let them be dreams of health and happiness for ourselves, our families, and our friends.  Let them be dreams of understanding, coexistence, and cooperation amongst all the religions and peoples of the world. Let them be dreams of peace. 

For if you truly will it, then it is not a dream at all.  It will become a reality. And it was so.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow