“Here I Am”

Lee Herman’s remarks upon receiving the Hineni Award in May 2013

I am pleased to accept the Hineni Award from Rodeph Shalom.  Hineni means “Here I Am” and is found in Genesis when Adonoi called to Abraham and Abraham answered “Hineni” or “Here I Am.”
While this recognition acknowledges that I have answered the call, I really accept this award on behalf of the connection groups and congregational activities which have had so much meaning to me, since the award would not be possible without the people with whom I have labored.  In particular, the Men of RS including Ed Rudow, Tomas Isakowitz and Carl Schneider have been true joys to work with.  Matt Wander has been involved in both the Men of RS and the congregational choir.  My appreciation also goes to Cantor Frankel from whom I have learned so much, and the other members of the choir, too many to name.  Finally, I recognize David Mandell as the real leader of Rak N Kol, and Rabbi Maderer who has brought important issues to our congregation through the caring community.  Rabbi Freedman’s energy has brought life to Mercaz Limud and Rabbi Kuhn’s overall leadership has brought a new vision to Rodeph Shalom.
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Why I Volunteer at Rodeph Shalom

Andrea Kamer’s remarks upon receiving the Hineni Award in May 2013

As some of you know, I was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. Springfield is a city of about 150,000 people with a Jewish community of 100 families. When I lived there, every Jew in Springfield belonged to the synagogue, because otherwise we could not support a Rabbi. And every Jew belonged to the synagogue, whether they were Reform or Conservative.  As you might imagine, that led to some interesting arrangements. For example, the Rabbi performed a classical reform service in the main sanctuary on Friday night. And then, on Saturday morning, he performed a more traditional service in the smaller chapel.
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“What Happens When You Say Yes?”

Michael Hauptman’s remarks upon receiving the Hineni Bezalel Award in May 2013:

There are so many talented, hard-working people in this congregation who give so much of their time and energy, that for me to be singled out for this award is as baffling as it is appreciated. Thank you so much.
Last week, I was up in Massachusetts where we are working on a feasibility study for two Reform congregations who are merging.  One congregation, once 1200 members and now 300, will be selling their historic building and moving into the other congregation’s much smaller building.  We were given a tour of the synagogue by the rabbi, who led us through empty corridors, unlocking empty classrooms and offices in a once beautiful building that hadn’t seen a coat of paint in decades.
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Ani Kinor: The Rodeph Shalom Orchestra

Cantor Erin Frankel

Back in October, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a profile of Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the new music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra. I was amazed to learn in the article that Nezet-Seguin spends a lot of his free time listening to music that is not classical. He talked about having a period when he devoured Ella Fitzgerald recordings and then moved on to Sarah Vaughan and Joe Pass. He unwinds by listening to R&B, he loves Jill Scott, and he is able to compare Usher’s early and later music. He described a concert he led in the Netherlands with the Rotterdam Philharmonic where he juxtaposed classical music and techno music for a crowd of 2,500 young people between the ages of 25-35. And the audience couldn’t get enough of the orchestra.
This experience taught Nezet-Seguin that his goal is to “get out of our comfort zone, as long as we play in the best quality possible and the real music that we know.Continue reading

Addressing Poverty & Humger

From Rabbi Kuhn
A recent study found that Philadelphia has the highest rate of “deep poverty” – people with incomes below half the poverty line – of any of the nations 10 most populous cities (Philadelphia Inquirer and Temple University Sociologist David Elesh analysis of the U.S. Census American Community survey, Inquirer article March 19, 2013).  The study found that Philadelphia’s “deep poverty” rate (individuals living at half the poverty line of $5,700 per year – or a family of 4 of $11,700) is around 12.9%, or 200,000 people. As Jews, we should be troubled by these distressing statistics, and we should be moved to act to solve the problems of poverty and hunger.
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Struggling With the Tragedy in Newton, Ct.

By Rabbi Eli Freedman

The Torah mentions the terms ‘widow’ and ‘orphan’ over fifty times.  It seems strange to me that both in Hebrew and English the terms for someone who has lost a spouse or parent are so prevalent, yet there is no word for someone who has lost a child.  Perhaps this is because there are no words to describe a loss so tragic.  
In this week’s Torah portion, we see a glimpse of the pain that all of the families in Newtown, CT are surely facing when we look at our patriarch, Jacob.  Jacob believes his favorite son Joseph is already dead and at the prospect of hearing that he may also lose his son Benjamin says, “If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.” (Genesis 44:29)
There is truly something about the death of children that brings us to despair more than anything else.  How, then, do we continue on, continue to have faith even in the face of such evil in this world?
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The Tragedy in Newton, Ct: In Memoriam

Introduction to the Kaddish (December 21, 2012)
Rabbi Alan D. Fuchs
As we are about to read the names of those of our loved ones and members of this congregational family, we also will remember those who were murdered in Newtown, Ct.  this is very personal for carol and me and our son Dan who is with us this evening.  our son and Dan’s brother Douglas, his wife Diane and their two children, Rachael, age 15, and Zachary, age 13, live in Newtown.  Rachael and Zachary attended sandy hook elementary school.  Diane taught at least one of those ill-fated first graders when that child was in the pre-school where she works.  the sibling of a present student escaped the carnage by running out of the classroom and out of the school.
Douglas has worked in law enforcement since his graduation from Brandeis in 1988.  He is now the chief of police of Redding, CT, a town adjacent to Newtown.  He heard the Newtown dispatcher call for help while he was in his police car and raced to the school.  he arrived moments later.  The Newtown police had just burst into the school.  Tragically, the assault was over.  Douglas then was asked to be in charge of organizing the reuniting of the children with their parents, an event which took place in a nearby firehouse.  He separated the children by grade in one room and then connected them with their frantic parents in another.  he had to separate out the parents of twenty children who never returned.
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Tragedy in Newtown, CT

We have all been deeply touched by the tragic events of last Friday’s mass killings in Newtown, CT.  While it is so difficult to know how to respond, our hearts go out to all of the families and friends of the victims of this senseless crime, as we hold each of them in our thoughts and prayers.  We also express our admiration and respect to all of the first responders and the many people who have been such a help and comfort to all those touched by this event.  We say a prayer for our nation, as we feel that Newtown has changed us forever.
A tragedy such as this can move us to seek the sheltering peace and comfort of our own Rodeph Shalom Community.  Please join us for Shabbat services on any Friday night at 6:00 pm, as we come together to console each other and to offer our prayers to ask God to grant peace to our country.
There are many people in our congregation who want to know what we can do as a community.  Please contact any of our clergy or Catherine Fischer (215) 627-6747, x 46.  cfischer@rodephshalom.org  if you are interested in connecting with others in our congregation who would like to respond through action in any of the following areas:
•    Gun violence
•    Improvements in mental health services
•    Safety in schools
•    Discuss our national culture – violence in TV shows, movies, video games and the impact it has on people.
•    Role of values, ethics and prayer in our lives.
•    Other ideas.
The purpose of our congregation is to help everyone connect with each other, with Judaism and with God.  At times such as these, we need to come together more than ever in kindness, compassion, caring, goodness, warmth and support.  Let this benevolence spread out to everyone whose lives we touch, so that no one feels alone, isolated or lost.  Let every person know that we can all make such a difference in this world if we will act as God’s partner in making this world a better place.
Let Newtown be the place and the time which caused us to finally heed God’s call to heal the pain in our world for good.
L’shalom,
Dena R Herrin, President, Rabbis William I. Kuhn,  Jill L. Maderer, Eli C. Freedman and Cantor Erin R. Frankel        

Healing Prayers

By Rabbi William Kuhn

One of the great mysteries of life is why we become ill.  People can be living a perfectly normal happy life, when all of a sudden they fall sick, seemingly out of the blue.  We often wonder if there is anything Judaism can do to make us well, to bring us healing.  Perhaps there is no magic cure Judaism can offer, but our tradition teaches us that there are a number of ways to find comfort in our sacred texts.

I would like to recommend the Book of Psalms in our Bible to anyone who is ill and in search of comfort, insight or healing.  Anyone who is down or grieving or sick at heart could find the writer of the Psalms understands you and offers solace.  It has been said that the Psalms are a travelling companion for those in pain.Continue reading

Profound Moments: Dena Herrin

By Dena Herrin, RS President

Before I tell you about a profound moment that I had, let me give you some context.  As some of you know, my connections to Judaism for most of my life were weak at best.  I left Hebrew school, which I hated, at 10 years old and barely stepped in a synagogue for the next 25 years.  I occasionally went with my parents for the High Holy Days, but really didn’t understand or engage in the service.  The word and concept of God made me very uncomfortable, still does.  Our Rosh Hashanah dinners, Yom Kippur breakfasts and Passover Seders were occasions I enjoyed as family gatherings, and to a much lesser extent, cultural events.  For me, there really was no spirituality or deep religious context to these holidays.  I joined Rodeph Shalom in an effort to find some Jewish connection for my children.  We are an interfaith family and my Jewish foundations were simply too shallow to provide relevant content and meaning for my family.  I share this background because the moment that I want to tell you about occurred in the sanctuary here, at Rodeph Shalom, at a time when my connections to Judaism and to the synagogue were very superficial.

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