Rabbi's Blog

TI Community,

I am sure you, like me, have your heads full of all the traumaic events enfolding around us. Unfortunately, they keep coming. This weekend was marred by violence in Israel and the details of the killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. Our hearts are heavy and we continue to strive for how we can take some meaningful steps in response.

In addition, over the last few months there have been an alarming number of incidents of gun violence in Ward 4 of DC, where Tifereth Israel is located. Clergy of various houses of worship have come together to think of ways to minimize the number of these incidents in the future. The outcome of these discussions is that we need to start by bringing the community together in solidarity, in prayer, and in conversation. These are some meaningful steps we can take.

To fulfill these goals, there has been a 72 hour vigil planned for this week. It will begin tomorrow, Monday evening, at 7:00 and continue until 7:00 Thursday evening. Throughout this period, there will be at least one house of worship open for people to gather, converse and pray. You can find the schedule by clicking here.
Some of the times will have structured conversations to brainstorm ways that the community can work together to confront the issue. Some of the time will be for people to have informal conversations to get to know others and offer encouragement and support. Lastly, some of the time will be devoted to organized prayer or individual prayer. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. You don't have to live in Ward 4, or even DC, to show your support and concern.

TI will be participating in the vigil in two main ways.

1.       On Tuesday and Wednesday, TI will be open for the community to gather from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. As a part of this time we will hold a Mincha service each day at 1:00. We will include special readings and prayers as part of the service. Mincha is a good way to take a break in your day and reset. If you can arrange a lunch break at that time, come to TI to participate. If you have room in your schedule at all during that 11:00-3:00 time, come and meet others in our community.

2.       On Wednesday evening, the community gathering will be at Emory Fellowship (6100 Georgia Avenue NW) with whom TI has had a long relationship of collaboration. Attending the gathering there will be a good time for our communities to come back together after this long period of Covid has kept us apart.

For the times at TI, on Tuesday and Wednesday, it will be good to have an idea of who is available to come. Specifically, we will need people to be at the entrance to open the door for people and direct them to the sanctuary. We will also need to have a minyan at 1:00. To sign up for a time slot, visit this Google spreadsheet and put your name in the time slot you think you will be able to be at TI. On the sheet, there are slots for people attending and people helping at the door. The 1:00 time slot has more spaces to be sure we have enough for a minyan.

I hope you are able to join us in these gatherings,
Rabbi Werbow

​​​​​​​Join the Ultimate Jewish Book Club!

     Almost exactly a year ago (according to the Jewish calendar), I sent out the email you can find below in the green box.
     I introduced the idea of reading a section of the Torah, of the prophets (Nevi'im), and of the Writings (Ketuvim) each day. In doing so, without biting off too much each day, one can finish reading the entire TaNaKh in a year. This is all laid out below.
     Over the holidays, I shared that one of the ways I missed the mark this year was by not keeping up and not completing this task. I got behind a few times and caught back up. Other times I just needed to skip to get back onto the schedule. But other times, I just never got back on track.
     So, it's a new year. We can all commit (or recommit) ourselves to endeavors we want to complete but have fallen short in the past.
     We read the Torah each year and personally I find that each time I do I notice something new, whether it is new meaning, an insight I hadn't had before or a connection to my life that would not have touched me in the same way in the past. I expect that reading the TaNaKh can bring a similar result when done in a systemic and regular way (at least I'm hoping it will). I know that there are some sections that are more difficult to make our way through but there are in the Torah too. I will try to share insights I have as I read this year and welcome others to do the same. You can see in the email below how to sign up to join a conversation that hopefully will be more active this year than last, starting with me.

But that's not all, if you are looking for something new (or another renewed experience), I am restarting the Shabbat Morning Mishnah Study before Saturday Shabbat services. Join on Zoom or in-person, as we make our way through another section of the Mishnah. This Shabbat, we will begin our journey through Mishnah Shekalim. You can find the first couple of chapters here and here. In the future, more will be placed on the TI website.

I look forward to beginning anew in many ways. It'll be great to have many of you learning along with me.

l'Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

​​​​​​​
     Usually, when I am referring to something from a biblical text, I’ll say it is from the Jewish Bible. This evades the conversation about saying Old Testament and its relationship with the New Testament (Which I refer to as the Christian Bible. However, an easier way to deal with this, for those in the know is to refer to it as the תַּנַ״ךְ (TaNaKh).

     תַּנַ״ךְ, as indicated by the two apostrophes, is an acronym. It is made up of three sections, the Torah (the first five books), the Nevi’im (the Prophets) and Ketuvim (the Writings). When taking the first letter of each word we get תַּנַ״ךְ (with the Khaf of Ketuvim changing to a final letter and a Kh sound instead).

     Among Conservative Jews there is a general familiarity with the material in the Torah but less so when it comes to Nevi’im and Ketuvim (NaKh). This includes your rabbi. Yes, I have read many parts of these sections and have studied some of the books in more detail but still have nowhere near the kind of grasp on them as I do the Torah. This is not necessarily surprising when we read the entirety of the Torah each year but don’t generally do so with NaKh.

     So, I am looking for others who want to go on this journey with me. Starting with Simchat Torah, I will be reading a section of Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim each day so I can complete the whole TaNaKah in one year. This will mean reading roughly 1/7 of the weekly Torah reading, one chapter of Nevi’im and one chapter of Ketuvim. Sometimes we will have to read more than one Aliyah or more than one chapter but this will be the general approach. There are resources that I will share to help give more insight into the texts and there will be an email group that you can subscribe to to share insights, questions or things that the text made you think about. Hopefully this will lead to conversations about the texts and deeper understanding for us all.

     You can join this conversation by sending a blank email to TaNaKh_with_TI+subscribe@googlegroups.com or by sending me an email requesting to join.

     To assist in keeping track of where we are, I have begun a document where you can find the daily reading from each section as well as links to find those texts in Sefaria, an online library or Jewish texts. You can click here to view this listing.

     There will be more updates in the future as we complete books of the bible and move on to new ones.

     I hope you come along on this journey with us.

     Rabbi Werbow

Do you have an aversion to being the first to sign up for things?
Are you waiting to be sure there are others going on the Civil Rights journey
​​​​​​​before you sign up?

Are you like those who said:

"So glad T.I. is doing this trip. Thank you!"

Well wait no more!!!

A dozen TI members have already indicated their interest in traveling to Atlanta, Mongomery and Birmingham.

Join with them and Tifereth Israel on this
Civil Rights journey!

October 30 - November 1

Travel with us to
Atlanta, Montgomery and Birmingham

To register and make your deposit
click here

For more information
(inlcuding itinerary and pricing)
click here​​​​​​​

For answers to many of your questions
click here

Our trip is underwritten by the
TI New Initiatives Fund

Some financial subsidies are available

​​​​​​​Interested?
Contact Rabbi Werbow or Rabbi Kelley

Deadline: $200 deposit due August 30
Full payment due September 29

Visits will include:

• Equal Justice Initiative’s Memorial to Peace & Justice 
• Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum
• Southern Poverty Law Center Memorial 
• Edmund Pettus Bridge
• Freedom Park
• 16th Street Baptist Church
• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Experiences will include:

• An exploration of the evolution of racial oppression from slavery to mass incarceration 
• Contextualization talk of events leading to Rosa Parks arrest and bus boycott 
• Meet with someone who took part in the Bloody Sunday march at 11 years old and hear their story
• Walking in the footsteps of history across the Edmund Pettus Bridge
• An introduction of Birmingham and its crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement
• A walking tour of Freedom Park & 16th Street Baptist Church by a Reverend who was a Civil Rights worker in Birmingham in the 50s & 60s and was arrested and had the dogs & hoses turned on him

Tifereth Israel Community,

Making final preparations for Shabbat always includes a look back at the week that was. This is even a Kavanah (an intention) that people have throughout Kabbalat Shabbat. They use each of the six Psalms to reflect on the six days of the week.

As I do so this week, it is impossible to not focus on the wonderful Shavuot observance we had beginning on Saturday night. Unfortunately I missed the last day, sick in bed, but I heard good things about it as well.

The first level of reflection is gratitude. The holiday would not have been so fulfilling and joyful without the efforts of many. First on the list is Mark Berch. To coordinate the Tikkun, Mark coordinates with representatives from Segulah, Oven Shalom, Fabrangen and Shirat Hanefesh. While we didn’t join with Ohev Shalom and Segulah this year, there was still much back and forth before that was decided. He then did a wonderful job soliciting leaders of our Tikkun sessions and slotting people into the various times. We studied all night with insightful presentations. I recognize how much time and effort goes into making this a reality and I share my thanks.

I also want to thank our service coordinators who, in addition to finding leaders for our regular Shabbat services, found people for Shavuot as well. Myrna Goldman (Pesukei D’Zimrah), Diana Zurer (Shacharit & Musaf), Simcha Kuritzky (Torah Readers), Barbara White (Haftarah) and Iris Lav (Floor Gabbai) are always at work filling the slots. I also thank those who continue to fill all the openings for service leadership.

As I mention each week, our services wouldn’t run without the participation and leadership of so many people. Thanks to all those who led services, chanted Torah & Haftarah and in any way stepped in to help run the services. Special for Shavuot was the chanting of the Book of Ruth (again something I missed) and am glad that we had Jevera Temsky, David Rubin, Rabbi Seidel and Myrna Goldman to read this year. In addition to those I’ve already listed, I want to thank Jason Kimelman-Block who serves as our Ritual Vice President. He is my partner in thinking through our services and discussing what needs to be taken care of in planning.

All of this coordination flows together, and through, the staff that supports us all. Jevera works with a remarkable team with Sheri, Delanie and (a new addition) Samer. A holiday, more so than even a regular Shabbat, has many moving pieces. The staff is constantly pivoting to face unexpected situations (like the air going out) and to do their best in supporting all the workings of the holiday while at the same time looking ahead to what’s next week, next month and next year.

So, I hope that people can carry into Shabbat the energy of Shavuot, which infuses us with Torah, gives us a jolt of Jewish wisdom and tradition and places on our lips sweet tastes of cheesecake and words of gratitude.

Thanks to all & Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

Tifereth Israel Community,

If you are joining us at the rally tomorrow, we will be meeting on the SW corner of 3rd St. and Madison Dr., NW. between 8:45 am - 8:55 am, then we will walk over to the rally location together.

If you have trouble finding the TI group, contact:

Rabbi Werbow
mwerbow@tifereth-israel.org
412-901-4922
 
For more information about the rally and to register, click here.  

Shalom,

I’m sure you join me in concern over the incursion of Russia into Ukraine. In addition to the general Ukrainian population, there are Jewish communities across Ukraine that are either hunkering down or fleeing for their safety. They are living in fear and many are trying to flee to the west of the country. Empty cash machines and gas stations with no gas are making this a difficult task. We can only imagine what it is like to have to endure this and we offer our support, including our prayers for peace and safety.

Yesterday afternoon, I joined a “Prayer for Peace for Ukraine” event that was coordinated by Masorti Olami (the world wide Conservative Movement) and The Schechter Institutes (which includes the Conservative rabbinical school in Israel). Among other sponsors were the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the Rabbinical Assembly and Mercaz. You can view the program by clicking here.

Shared below is one of several specific prayers for peace that have been authored in response to the war in Ukraine.

While we may feel unable to do anything about this horrible situation, there are a number of outlets for us to provide assistance to the Ukraine community.

Some of these include:
The Schechter Institutes Ukraine Campaign

Masorti Olami Emergency Campaign for Masorti/Conservative Communities in Ukraine

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington - Ukraine Emergency Fund

The Ukrainian Red Cross Emergency Appeal
(I love that, when you switch the currency to dollars, on a Ukranian website, two of the donation levels are $18 and $36.)

In addition to helping in whatever limited way we can, I can’t help but keep in mind those in Ukraine who are putting their lives on the line to defend their country. Yes, their military is in action but so are many not in the military who are doing what they can against the overwhelming attack by Russia. There are also many in Russia who are risking their personal freedoms by voicing opposition to the war. Thousands have taken to the streets of Moscow to protest Putin's attack on Ukraine. They were chanting "No to war" in central Moscow.  By doing so, they face serious repercussions in a country where political opposition leaders have been jailed and poisoned. Already over 1,300 people have been "detained" for protesting the invasion into Ukraine. Their actions strengthen the call for us to speak up and speak out against this and all inhumane acts of violence. We need to even have the courage to do so in the face of putting our own liberties at risk.

We prepare to enter Shabbat and a day of peace while at the same time know that those in Ukraine will have anything but a day of peace as they deal with great uncertainty and threat. We pray that they soon experience peace as well.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Werbow

Dear TI Family,

We share our profound gratitude with those who have served our country in times of conflict and peace. With integrity and dignity, you defended our nation and may our appreciation be heard here on earth and in the heavens above.

God of our fathers and our mothers, please bless our veterans and protect them as they have protected us.

I would like to honor individuals this Shabbat before the Prayer for Our Country. To do so, we would like to compile as accurate a list of our veterans as possible.

If you are a veteran or know a veteran in the congregation, please reply and share the name, branch served and other information you want to share so that I can recognize all of our veterans on Saturday.

​​​​​Shalom TIers,

I hope everyone had a good and sweet Rosh Hashanah and that you are prepared for a meaningful Yom Kippur. We are glad that we were able to provide a variety of engagement opportunities for Rosh Hashanah for all of our congregants, friends and family, from the youngest to the oldest. We had both in-person and virtual programming for Tots and for our school children. The teens were able to get to know Rabbi Kelley and there were both virtual and in-person services for the adults. A similar range of opportunities is scheduled for Yom Kippur as well. Please look for a separate email with links to the various services and programs.

Based on our attendance at the Day 1 Rosh Hashanah services, and the general interest that is normal for Kol Nidrei, there is a slight concern that we will go over our capacity limit of 200 people in the Wolman Sanctuary service. If this is the case, we will need to direct people who had not planned to do so to go to the service in the Cherner. Both services will be meaningful experiences and I will be delivering my Drash at both services. It is also possible that we will reach the capacity of 100 people in the Cherner, too. If this happens, we will have a screen set up on the 16th Street steps for people to watch the Wolman service instead of having to go home and miss it completely.

Just a couple of other items for Yom Kippur and Sukkot:

Empty Your Pockets - This year, the Social Action Committee has designated Homes Not Borders as the recipient of our collection. Their mission is to “to provide the refugee, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and asylum-seeking population of the D.C. area with what they need to thrive and feel at home in the United States.” You can find information about this organization at https://www.homesnotborders.org. You can contribute to Homes Not Boarders either at https://www.homesnotborders.org/donate-money/ or through the TI Marvin Caplan Fund, on the TI website (https://tiferethdc.shulcloud.com/payment.php), adding a note that the donation is intended for "Homes Not Borders.” If you are coming to TI for Kol Nidrei, you can also bring your contribution with you as in the past.

Ask the Rabbi - This year, on Yom Kippur afternoon, immediately before Mincha I will hold a Q & A session. All varieties of questions, mostly about Jewish topics, will be entertained. Guidelines include: No TI administrivia and the ability for me to say, “I don’t know.” The Q & A session will begin in the Sanctuary at 5:00 pm and will also be live-streamed.

Sukkot - Our Sukkah is in process and will be completed on Sunday. Thanks goes to Richard Gryziak and the 7th grade Himmelfarb students for their efforts so far. Once people grab their snacks following our services on Sukkot and Shabbat Sukkot, people can make their way to the sukkah to eat and shmooze. During the week, the sukkah will be available for people to use as well. No sign up is necessary. Enjoy! 

The month of Tishrei, filled with all these special holidays, gives us much time to connect with our TI community and to have many meaningful and joyful experiences. Hopefully I will see many of you at services or at our home for our Sukkot Open House on Thursday, September 23, 4:00-8:00.

Tzom Kal (an easy fast) to those who are fasting, a meaningful Yom Kippur and a joyous Sukkot to all,
Rabbi Werbow