Spring is here, and in so many ways! This is an incredible time for renewal and growth.
My heart is full of gratitude for the opportunities we have to engage in these holy processes.
The upcoming month of Nisan, during which we will celebrate Passover, is the first month of the Hebrew calendar. This may be confusing, because the holiday six months later we now call Rosh Hashanah literally translates to “Head of the Year”. However, Rosh Hashanah is not actually the Jewish New Year, per se, but rather what Jews recognize (literally or metaphorically) as the anniversary of creation of all humanity. As beautiful and lofty a concept as that is, I find the connection between our most critical origin story (the Exodus from Egypt) and our own sense of time relative to our religious traditions to be no less compelling.
The Exodus story, of course, does not start in a vacuum. The struggles that led to our moments of liberation are complex and numerous. So too, the upcoming month is not magically detached from the current month, and we surely will not forget the challenges in the here and now we either leave behind or carry with us. At the same time, just as the Exodus story marks a new dawn for the ancient Israelites, so too can the Jewish people focus Passover and its surrounding days on a fresh sense of spirituality and a reminder of who we really are.
Certainly, Jewry writ large can use this focus to its benefit, as we try to ground ourselves in godly purpose during these times of extraordinary struggle for Israel and for Jews the world over. And any other number of sub-groups can do similarly, including the Temple B’nai Emet community.
Moving on in the absence of the guidance of the synagogue’s beloved Rabbi Sheldon Pennes, of blessed memory, has of course been quite a struggle. These are difficulties that cannot and should not be forgotten any more than the life of Rabbi Pennes himself. All the while, we now have the occasion to reignite our hopes for Temple B’nai Emet, sustained for so long by the dedicated membership of the Board and congregation. When I first came to the TBE community in late 2024, I met a group of individuals with extraordinary, open minds, eager for learning and the sharing of spiritual warmth. I have reexperienced these encouraging qualities every time since then that I have stepped foot in the door. I dare say they are core values at the beating heart of the synagogue. These are values that are ideally suited to the mission I now join as spiritual leader, a mission to regrow this holy congregation in ways both familiar and new, God-willing reaching new heights in the process.
The sense of renewal and core purpose this time of year brings to mind can also be of great resonance to us as individuals. I, for one, have experienced a rather long and meandering path to the Rabbinate. I was raised in Orthodox day schools. The richness of the traditions I was taught really spoke to me, and there was much beauty and comfort in the routines of prayer and study. Many people predicted I would be a rabbi. But my philosophy was ultimately just not compatible with Orthodoxy, and I had nobody to guide me to an understanding of our traditions to which I could authentically relate. This led to my dropping a religious life altogether, leaving a spiritual hole in my heart for many years.
I came to be better exposed to Conservative Judaism later in life. I began to understand more fully, and thus deeply appreciate, the Movement’s emphasis on Jewish tradition and community as binding values that must nonetheless be subservient to our functioning as moral and healthy human beings. I was slowly being persuaded that these values need not be tied to any one particular understanding of ancient Biblical events but are rather good for their own sake. But it was not until my father passed away from esophageal cancer in 2009 that I truly regrew my love of religious spirituality, especially prayer. Through that love, sparked in darkness, I found my way back to synagogue life and pursuit of religious understanding. And when I found the balance and confidence within myself, I formalized my path of study toward a Rabbinical career, stepping into who I, deep down, always knew myself to be. I would not have found that balance or confidence without moments of resonance and the support of those who believed in me. I make this personal digression for two reasons: (1) I was specifically asked to introduce more about myself for this newsletter (by the way, I know I left a lot out because there’s only so much room, so feel free to ask me privately) and (2) I want to encourage each of you to foster a personal relationship to our religious practices as well. Who are you, at your core? What about Judaism draws you in? How can that inform your goals in life, your relationships, your morality, your wellbeing?
Of course, I do not expect us all to have ready answers to these questions. So, let’s find out together. Now is the time to reaffirm our commitments to being who we really want to be, and to giving each other our faith and support so that we can succeed both as individuals and as a community. I have spoken at length with many of you about what we can do to regrow the synagogue and I will continue to do so. In that vein, I strongly urge you to please do two things if you have not already (and if you have, call someone you know that might!):
1. Commit to joining us all for the Shabbaton (specially marked Shabbat full of community programming) on April 5, 2025, starting with services at Temple B’nai Emet and held also at the nearby home of our own very gracious Jeanette Dickman. We will pray, sing, learn, schmooze, and get ready for Passover with tips for the Seder and at least my best attempts to answer your questions about anything from kosher-for-Passover guidelines to the way our Sages understand freedom. I would also like to take the opportunity that day to mark this period of transition for the synagogue, including by honoring the life of the late, great Rabbi Sheldon Pennes.
2. Make sure you are on the email list! I fully intend to stay engaged with the community, and that means updates more than monthly, especially as we are trying to reinvigorate the synagogue with more programming and outreach efforts. Please contact Valerie Cook at the synagogue office at (626) 545-2053 or info@templebnaiemet.org
Meanwhile, your ideas, questions, and comments are always welcome. And please do come to our regular Shabbat services as well! In fact, every Shabbat between now and Passover has an extra special meaning. More on that by email.
The challenges of our winters may remain, be they personal, communal, or global. But spring is here. The season of our freedom is upon us. Let us step into who we know we can be, for ourselves, for each other, for the good of all.
Happy Passover and חג פסח שמח
Michael Feldman
