RabbiBlog

Wow! we reserved a space at the Kotel Masorti. Our group had a private service standing right next to the kotel. As we recited the Amidah, each of us leaned on the kotel to feel closer to the past and the future of our people and our historical connection to God. We recited Havdalah at the overlook of Yemin Moshe, viewing both the old city and the new.

Today we visited the Kenesset, Yad V’shem, the Jewish shuk, the Israel Museum and then had the rest of the evening free. Tommorrow, we celebrate Josh Listhaus’ Bar Mitzvah. What an experience.

Rabbi Ezring

Flying is an invigorating experience. When we took off from Charlotte/Douglas, the sky was over cast, the takeoff a little rough. The entire time we climbed and for the first two hours of our flight, the clouds covered the earth obscuring our view from 34000 feet. Then, quite suddenly, the mountains of clouds dissappeared. The view from the plane was beautiful. We flew over fields, rivers, hills and mountains. We often forget the natural beauty of the Earth on which we live. As I viewed the landscape from 34000 feet, I thought of the prayer we are to recite upon seeing wonders of nature: Blessed are you .,..source of Creation. The view was incomparable. That is until two days later, when Tami, Adam and I took a jeep to the top of a Red Rock Formation in Sedona, Az.. The vistas, that confronted us brought out our cameras. I wish I knew how to add photos to this blog to share the colorful creations of the great interior sea of North America, which carved these sculptures millenia ago. Sedona is known as a center of new age activity because of the vortexes that spiritualists insist there. I must tell you, I am not sure about the vortex, but climbing to the top of the rim, brought us closer to God. We prayed that the wheels would stay on the hundred plus year old cattle trail we followed. We prayed that the rocks would not give out under our feet as we approached the edge to see the canyons better. Then around a bend, I saw it. I couldn’t believe it, but there in the red rock formations which included Snoopy, Lucy, the kissing couple, I saw that we could pray with a minyan. This minyan was carved long before we were born. But the formation was clear, ten people, men and women, seemingly praying together. Later, I learned that the formation was called “Ten little Indians”. At the moment I saw them, I needed to know that we weren’t praying alone.

(We also had the treat of trying prickly cactus pears. They were sweet and delicious.)

Shalom,

Rabbi Murray Ezring

Shabbat Shalom everyone. This week’s Torah reading is Vayereh. We read the story of God’s visit to Abraham. God provides the great blessing Sarah and Abraham have been dreaming of: the birth of a child. Then God negotiates with Abraham about the destruction of Sodom and Gemorrah. Abraham’s relationship with God is close and personal. Abraham is in God’s presence and appears to see God. What a wonderful spiritual expression the Torah gives to Abraham’s relationship with God. Sarah laughs nervously at the Divine present she is given.

All of us desire that spiritual feeling; that closeness with God which Abraham felt. Many of us are jealous of those who have it. Often, we fail to see and therefore experience the spiritual opportunities available to us. Last Shabbat, we celebrated Baby Shabbat. Friday night services were packed with over 300 families, babies, children, parents and grandparents. It was marvelous. Blessing all of these children was truly a spiritual experience for me. Tonight, we celebrate Pack’s “Chocolate Shabbat” After their program, the Pack families will join us for an innovative service, where we will incorporate, the Paraha’s story into our service. Shabbat morning 16 adult members of Temple Israel will celebrate their becoming B’nai Mitzvah. A very large group of TI members is interested in our trip to Eastern Europe and Israel this summer. Excitement is gathering over the visit of Rabbi Kassel Abelson, for 15 years chairman of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Conservative Movement, who will explain how Conservative Halacha is decided and culminate in a 90 minute discussion Shabbat afternoon on Homosexuality and the Rabbinate.

There are many great opportunities at Temple Israel to experience Jewish Spirituality through prayer, study, ritual and community. I hope that we will continue to grow spiritually together.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Murray Ezring

Sukkot is one of my two favorite holidays. It is interesting that Biblically, it is far more important than either Rosh HaShanah or Yom Kippur. Rather than emphasizing metaphysical or spiritual issues, it is earth bound and filled with joy. The holiday is filled with wonderful physical experiences from sitting in the Sukkah to waving the lulav and the etrog, to dining outside and making hakafot around the synagogue with the lulav and etrog.

This year, many of the homes with Sukkot in Landesdowne are having a progressive Shabbat meal after services. I hope that other neighborhoods will be able to do so as well. Our Sukkot meals at the synagogue are almost sold out. But hundreds of our TI family will be enjoying meals in the Temple Sukkah throughout the holiday.

I hope to see all of you at the Dan Nichols and Eighteen concert in the parking lot on Sunday.

It is often said that the American Jewish Community is the most succesful in the history of the Jewish People, but that it is very hard to be a Jew in America. As I sit in the Sukkah every year, I cannot believe that outside of Jerusalem, there is better place to be in a Sukkah than right here. Here it is safe to look at the stars through the openings in the Schach. Here we have no fear of sitting and eating or sleeping in our Sukkot. On Sukkot, the Jewish Thanksgiving holiday, we can truly recognize all that we have to be thankful for.

Hag Sameach,

 RME 

It is hard to believe that another High Holy Day period has passed. I thought that the services were wonderful. I thought that the choir sounded nearly angelic and that the Cantor was in great voice. Together they inspiring. I have heard outstanding responses to Rabbi Cantor’s sermons and her presence on the Bimah.

As we returned home from services after Ne’ilah, we immediately began  to fulfill the next Mitzvah. Our Sukkah is up and ready for the joyful holiday that begins this
Wednesday evening. I look forward to eating in our Sukkah and joining Temple Israel family members in the synagogue Sukkah and for next Sunday’s concert featuring Eighteen.

I was excited to announce our next congregational trip. This summer, beginning July 24, we will visit Prague, Budapest and Israel. I hope that you will be able to join us.

I wish you all a great year and a happy Sukkot.

What a wonderful trip this has been. Without question, the highlight was the B’nai Mitzvah celebration at the Kotel Masorti.
Many tour groups stopped to watch and listen to our b’not/bar mitzvah. The kids were terrific. That was followed by an outstanding day in the Jewish Quarter of the old City and time to wander around. Shopping and dining in Jerusalem is always a pleasure. It is amazing, but the culinary arts have come to life throughout Israel during the last 5 years or so.
Our last day began with a tour of the tunnel which takes us to the northern end of the Westerrn wall. It is hard to believe that there is more of the wall underground in height and width than there is above ground.
We were tired, but on our way to Tel Aviv, we stopped to experience the largest presence of the King in the world. Yes, the Elvis Presley American Diner is on the Jerusalem/Tel Aviv highway.
Our day in Tel Aviv included a visit to the Palmach Museum and a stop at a marvelous craft show. (One last chance to leave some dollars in Israel). As many people do, we ended our trip at the kosher Macdonalds in the airport. It was a major disappointment after eating Israeli fast food for 10 days.
We are already planning next year’s trip. Hope you will be able to join me then as we travel to Prague, Budapest and Israel.
See you soon,
Shalom,
Rabbi Murray Ezring

Nothing compares to Shabbat in Yerushalayim! The aura of holiness emanates from the Old City touching everyone. Our Shabbat experience began with Kabbalat Shabbat Services at the courtyard of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai. Then most of the group descended through the Jewish Quarter to the Kotel to finish welcoming Shabbat.
For Shabbat dinner we had a private dining room at the Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism. Rabbi Jim Lebeau, the director of the center greeted us and escorted us to our dining room. At the same time, the 91 summer students of the Conservative Yeshiva and the Ramah and USY groups filled every other dining area in the complex. Shabbat morning, we began at Moreshet Yisrael, the Conservative synagogue. After the Torah service, we moved on to the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem where we heard the great Naftali Hertzik and choir daven Musaf.
After lunch we relaxed and gathered again in late afternoon for a little birthday surprise for Katherine Kossove. Members of the group were worried whether the restaurants and shops would be open at the Ben Yehuda street mall. When we arrived, the mall was mobbed. There were musicians in the square, fire jugglers up a little higher, and shoppers/diners everywhere.
Tomorrow we head south to Masada.

Shavuah Tov

It is almost Shabbat here in Jerusalem. I first want to apologize for not posting the last two days. There were some technical difficulties.
Since I last wrote, our pilgrimage has been awesome. From maginificent natural beauty of the grottoes of Rosh HaNikra on the Lebanese border, to the inspiring beauty of the 400 year old synagogues of Rabbis Isaac Luria, the founder of modern Kabbalah and Yosef Karo, the author of the Shulkhan Arukh, we have seen that the call of Israel touches all of our senses. We took a few minutes in a small courtyard to offer a kabbalistic meditation.
After a movie which explained the Yom Kippur war in the Galilee. we took the heights, or at least some of the Israeli positions. The next stop was the Gamla winery. We learned a lot about wine and why the Golan heights provide grapes that allow them to win international competitions. Quite happy after the wine tasting, we continued to Yam Kinneret for a cruise and then dinner.
Our arrival in Jerusalem brought us to the Kotel Ma’aravi around 11:30 at night. We were surprised by the tumult and number of Bobover Hasidim at the wall. It turns out that the hundreds of men and women were waiting the arrival of their Rebbe from Brooklyn a little later in the night. Most of us had never been to the Kotel before. It was a moving experience that brought tears and a heightened spiritual moment for many.
Today we attended the program at the new Herzl museum. Afterwards, we went through the new Yad VaShem holocaust museum. Before we left, we offered prayers for those who were torn out of our world by the violence and hatred of the Nazis.
After shopping at Machaneh Yehudah, we returned to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Tonight we will do Kabbalat Shabbat in the Jewish Quarter, then go to the Kotel. Our Shabbat dinner will be at the Fuchsberg Center, the center for Conservative Judaism here in Jerusalem.
I wish you all a Shabbat as full and wonderful as ours will be here in Yerushallayim.

Shabbat Shabbat,
Rabbi Murray Ezring

Shalom from Israel!
The first day has been marvelous. Although we are all sleep deprived from our overnight flight that landed just before 10 AM Israel time, today has been rewarding and filled with wonderful experiences for all of us. Our first stop was at May Kedem, ancient waters in Alona Park, between Binyamina and Caesarea. These were the underground tunnels which carried water from rivers, streams and wells all the way to Caesarea via Roman aquaducts. We waded through 300 yards of very cold, fresh water in tunnels that are over 2000 years old. The water itself flowed ankle to hip deep, as it did in the ancient world.
Next we visited the Kanyon, Shopping Center in Or Akiva, where we enjoyed a variety of kosher fast food. Or Akiva was named after the great Rabbi who was tortured and publicly murdered in the hippodrome in Caesaria.
We then visited Herod’s ancient port city, and learned about its history and the many ancient methods used in building a port that could harbor a hundred ships. While there, we spoke with holographic representations of Herrod, Pontious Pilate, Rabbi Akiba and others, who helped to share there views on the events that occurred in this magnificent harbor town.
As we travelled Highway 6, which borders the divider between the West Bank and Israel, we learned of the situation that continues to unveil itself today in the Palestinian territories. Aviva and I also spoke with our family that lives near Haifa. They shared their very personal views of the current situation. It is much different from the view of family of Israeli military. We often forget to consider the toll that is being taken on Israeli personel and their families. Let us all pray fora peaceful solution in the near future.
Laila Tov
RME

Shalom,

I am so excited about preparing to begin this year’s congregational pilgrimage to Israel. I cannot wait to feel Israeli sand beneath my feet or be immersed in the sensations of our beautiful modern Jewish State. The thought of once again standing in Elijah’s cave, or at the foot of the wall of the ancient Temple of Solomon, fills me with a great sense of being part of Jewish History and the future of our people. I wish all of you could join us in Israel this summer. I will do my best to share our experiences with you.

Shalom,

Rabbi Murray Ezring