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, 25 March 2019
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday
Mar 26Religious School Gr. 3-6
Tuesday, Mar 26th 3:45p to 5:45p
Meets at First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St. West Newton, MA -
Wednesday
Mar 27Reconstructionist Intro to Judaism
Wednesday, Mar 27th 7:30p to 9:00p
Introduction to Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach If you are beginning to explore Jewish life and practice, or seeking to fill the gaps in your Jewish education, this class is for you! Class sessions will address the foundations of Jewish living, key concepts in Judaism, and offer a taste of the wide variety of Jewish texts. For those interested in conversion to Judaism, the class will serve as a useful introduction, and rabbinic support will also be provided. Come join us on a journey towards meaningful engagement in the riches that Jewish tradition has to offer. When? Ten Wednesday evenings 7:30-9:00pm on the following dates: Jan. 30th Feb. 6th, 27th Mar. 13th, 27th Apr. 3rd, 17th May 1st, 15th, 29th Cost: There will be a sliding scale between $150-$350 for the ten sessions, but please be in touch with Rabbi Shahar (dcl@dorsheitzedek.org) if the cost is prohibitive. Location: It sounds like there is some interest in meeting in West Newton, and some interest in meeting elsewhere. The first meeting of the class will be in West Newton (at 2nd Church or FUUSN), and then Rabbi Adam will figure out based on the group if it makes sense to do some meetings in participants’ homes. -
Thursday
Mar 28Mindful Mornings
Thursday, Mar 28th 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 -
Friday
Mar 29Young Adult Dinner
Friday, Mar 29th 7:00p to 8:00p
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Friday
Mar 29Klezmer Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Friday, Mar 29th 8:00p to 10:00p
The Klezmer Shabbat Service was created by Amy Lieberman and Cantor Becky Khitrik in 2014 as an outgrowth of their love of Klezmer music. “Since Klezmer is primarily an instrumental genre and we love to sing, we were all interested in creating a Kabbalat Shabbat service that was built on the Kabbalat Shabbat liturgy, but for choir and congregational voices, using the melodies of the Klezmer world and a Klezmer band to accompany our singing.” The result of that work was the Klezmer Kabbalat Shabbat Service. They have brought this service to communities across the Boston area, finding ways to integrate it with the community’s context. This service is an opportunity to experience the flow of the Shabbat music in a truly unique way. All are invited! -
Saturday
Mar 30Shabbat Morning Service & Bar Mitzvah of Sid Hackett
Saturday, Mar 30th 9:45a
Please join us for musical, participatory, weekly Shabbat Morning Services and Bar Mitzvah of Sid Hackett, beginning at 9:45am. For people of all backgrounds and levels of Jewish experience. Services will be followed by a kiddush lunch. Childcare is available. All are welcome. -
Sunday
Mar 31Religious School Staff Meeting
Sunday, Mar 31st 9:30a to 12:00p
At the Second Church of Newton, 60 Highland Street, West Newton. -
Tuesday
Apr 2Religious School Gr. 3-6
Tuesday, Apr 2nd 3:45p to 5:45p
Meets at First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St. West Newton, MA -
Tuesday
Apr 2Practicing Hope: A Mussar Class
Tuesday, Apr 2nd 7:30p to 9:00p
Practicing Hope: A Mussar Class with Rabbi Shahar Colt and Mimi Micner It is easy to look around us and feel despair at all the brokenness in our world. But to keep living, hope is essential. Where does this hope come from, and what is it really? Mussar is a Jewish framework for developing specific personal qualities. In this class we will study mussar to explore and practice some Jewish teachniques for managing despair and cultivating hope. Each class will include some learning of Jewish texts as well as conversation, reflection, and practice activities to try between sessions. Mimi Micner is a fifth year Rabbinical Student at Hebrew College in Newton. She has taught mussar in multiple contexts, including at Brown Hillel and Shir Tikva in Winchester. While in rabbinical school she has served as the Advocacy and Campaigns Specialist at Keshet, and was a Fellow with T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. -
Wednesday
Apr 3Reconstructionist Intro to Judaism
Wednesday, Apr 3rd 7:30p to 9:00p
Introduction to Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach If you are beginning to explore Jewish life and practice, or seeking to fill the gaps in your Jewish education, this class is for you! Class sessions will address the foundations of Jewish living, key concepts in Judaism, and offer a taste of the wide variety of Jewish texts. For those interested in conversion to Judaism, the class will serve as a useful introduction, and rabbinic support will also be provided. Come join us on a journey towards meaningful engagement in the riches that Jewish tradition has to offer. When? Ten Wednesday evenings 7:30-9:00pm on the following dates: Jan. 30th Feb. 6th, 27th Mar. 13th, 27th Apr. 3rd, 17th May 1st, 15th, 29th Cost: There will be a sliding scale between $150-$350 for the ten sessions, but please be in touch with Rabbi Shahar (dcl@dorsheitzedek.org) if the cost is prohibitive. Location: It sounds like there is some interest in meeting in West Newton, and some interest in meeting elsewhere. The first meeting of the class will be in West Newton (at 2nd Church or FUUSN), and then Rabbi Adam will figure out based on the group if it makes sense to do some meetings in participants’ homes.