On and Off the Bimah
On and Off the Bimah
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The CDT newsletter includes an occasional column about Jewish ritual and practice in the Dorshei Tzedek community and beyond, by the CDT Ritual Committee. Those articles are collected here.
The Hebrew on our Ark and Torah Table
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When the ark is open, you can see the words etched into the frame above the place where the Torah scrolls rest. It says:
עץ חיים היא למחזיקים
Etz chayim hi l’machazikim ba.
It (the Torah) is a tree of life for those who hold fast to it.
This is what we chant when we return the Torah to the ark...Read more...
Hagbah: Lifting the Torah
Marion Ross, for the Ritual Committee
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On the bimah a member of the congregation holds the Eitz Chayim, (the wooden handles of the Torah scroll), one in each hand, pushes down on the handles raising the Torah off the table, and with knees bent s/he brings the scroll to an upright position and lifts it high.
Off the Bimah, I breathe in, expectantly.
The person lifting the...Read more...
When is the Best Time to Arrive at Services?
Laurie Goldman
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Shabbat services at Dorshei Tzedek begin at 9:45 on Saturday mornings. The liturgy flows according to our tradition’s attunement to the rhythms of our awakening souls and the narrative of personal and collective gratitude, praise, and redemption. But since the service is not a performance, it’s perfectly appropriate to arrive at any time. You’ll be greeted with a smile whenever you arrive and service leaders will announce page numbers...Read more...
Demsytifying Leyning: How Do Our Members Know How to Chant From the Torah?
Cindy Shulak-Rome
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As a twelve year old I loved my thrice weekly Hebrew School experience that was associated with the conservative synagogue my family belonged to. However, when given a choice as to whether or not I wanted to have a Bat Mitzvah (yes, an unusually progressive conservative shul to offer Bat Mitzvah in the 1960’s) I emphatically said “no!” The reason for that response was clear in my mind. I was terrified to stand up and “sing” in front...Read more...
Our Torah Service: Re-living the Experience of Sinai and the Desert
Elaine Pollack
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The words sung just before lifting the Torah out of the ark,” Va’yihi binsoa ha-aron, va-yomer Moshe”…come directly from the Book of Numbers, (Chapter 10, verse 35). “And it came to pass, that when the ark set out, that Moses would say: ‘Rise up oh Lord and let your enemies by scattered…” These words are proclaimed by our service leader in advance of marching with the Torah, and are intended to echo our ancestors’...Read more...
Embodying Prayer
Elaine Pollack
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Think about it: from the beginning to the end of our Shabbat morning service we are engaged in a fair amount of standing and sitting, bending and bowing, touching and kissing (and not just because our friend is sitting next to us!). At a certain point, we even go up on our toes three times in succession.
These are moments when the physical meets the spiritual, and we are given a special “choreographed” enhancement which we...Read more...
Mon, January 27 2020
1 Shevat 5780
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2020Religious School Gr. 3-6
Tuesday, Jan 28th 3:45p to 5:45p
Meets at First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St. West Newton, MA -
Wednesday ,
JanJanuary 29 , 2020IPPeace Study Group: Beyond the Green Line: The Territories Since 1967. Session I.
Wednesday, Jan 29th 7:30p
Our topic for 2020 is “Beyond the Green Line: The Territories Since 1967.” The first of our three sessions focuses on “‘Facts on the Ground’: Israel/Palestine in Time and Space.” This session will familiarize us with the chronology of events in the West Bank and Gaza from 1967 to the present and will explore, through maps and short readings, the ways in which these territories are organized, administrated, and populated. We will also look at key terms and controversies in naming and discussing the places and events “beyond the Green Line.” The study series is open to all members of CDT. Our goal is to foster learning and understanding in an environment where we can explore different viewpoints within an open and respectful learning community. Materials for the first session will be posted by January 8, but you are welcome to attend whether or not you have completed the readings. For further information, please contact any member of the ippeace steering committee: Louise Enoch, Elaine Landes, Sue Lanser, Ruth Paris, Jonathan Rosenthal. -
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 30 , 2020Mindful Mornings
Thursday, Jan 30th 8:30a to 9:15a
This weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. All are welcome, whether experienced in meditation or not. The group is facilitated by CDT members with occasional participation by Rabbi Toba. No need to make a weekly commitment; join us when you’re able! (Please arrive no later than 8:30am, in order not to disrupt the session once we’ve started.) For more information, please email mindful-mornings@dorsheitzedek.org -
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 30 , 2020Phase II Exploratory Tech Committee Meeting
Thursday, Jan 30th 6:00p to 7:00p
Phase II: Research. We will come together to share and discuss specific tech options based on function, cost, and connectivity that have been researched by members of the committee individually. -
Saturday ,
FebFebruary 1 , 2020Shabbat Morning Services with Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman
Shabbat, Feb 1st 9:45a to 12:00p
Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman will lead us in Shabbat morning services and Torah study, followed by a kiddush lunch. Childcare is available from 10am-12:15pm. All are welcome. -
Sunday ,
FebFebruary 2 , 2020Religious School Gr. 1-7
Sunday, Feb 2nd 9:30a to 12:00p
Meets at Jewish Community Day School, 57 Stanley Avenue, Watertown, MA -
Sunday ,
FebFebruary 2 , 2020Parenting Through a Jewish Lens
Sunday, Feb 2nd 10:15a to 11:45a
For parents of children ages 0-9, this six-session program offers support, encouragement, and connection as you explore parenting through the Jewish tradition. -
Monday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2020Phase III Exploratory Tech Committee Meeting
Monday, Feb 3rd 6:30p to 7:30p
Phase III: Spreadsheets and Proposals. Committee members will meet, discuss, and propose combinations of technology researched. We will creatively vision how members of vastly varying abilities, comfort levels, and expertise can more easily and effortlessly communicate with each other, get information about what is happening at CDT, and make our myriad offerings more accessible to all. Our goal is to present 3 different budgeted visions to the CDT board to consider for 2020-2021. -
Tuesday ,
FebFebruary 4 , 2020Religious School Gr. 3-6
Tuesday, Feb 4th 3:45p to 5:45p
Meets at First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St. West Newton, MA -
Thursday ,
FebFebruary 6 , 2020Mindful Mornings
Thursday, Feb 6th 8:30a to 9:15a
This weekly gathering combines guided and silent meditation to develop our capacity for mindful awareness and to cultivate qualities of patience, gratitude, and compassion. All are welcome, whether experienced in meditation or not. The group is facilitated by CDT members with occasional participation by Rabbi Toba. No need to make a weekly commitment; join us when you’re able! (Please arrive no later than 8:30am, in order not to disrupt the session once we’ve started.) For more information, please email mindful-mornings@dorsheitzedek.org