Temple Beth El Blog

On May 11 at 7:45 pm, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice will co-sponsor the third annual interfaith iftar, with Edgewood College and Muslim Women United for Peace. This potluck event takes place at Edgewood College’s Edgedome, 1000 Edgewood College Avenue. Please bring a dish to share (please no pork, shellfish, or alcohol), and be prepared for an evening of fun, learning, and fellowship!

To RSVP, sign up to bring a dish, and/or volunteer to help out, please go to http://evite.me/jtRZxfn6XV. This event is free and open to the public.

Have you ever wondered why many people released from prison find it difficult to succeed? The acclaimed Returning Prisoner Simulation developed by Madison Urban Ministry offers a close-up view of what it’s like to come home from prison, inserting participants into realistic scenarios and lifelike struggles that formerly incarcerated persons are likely to encounter.

This workshop begins with an introduction to the principles of Restorative Justice and explains the basic needs of people returning from prison. Each participant receives a mock profile that describes the life of a particular person, and takes on the role of that character during a brief role-play. Participants must complete fundamental life tasks, such as finding housing and a job, or simply cashing a check, opening a glimpse into the sense of overwhelming frustration that newly-released prisoners often feel.

Participants have the opportunity to debrief and share their immediate reactions. The simulation concludes with a panel of formerly incarcerated people who share their own re-entry journeys and answer questions from participants.

To join in a journey of understanding and reconciliation, sign up for this eye-opening program here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/returning-prisoner-simulation-tickets-59333971506.

As a special benefit, Madison Urban Ministry is making this valuable program available to us on the basis of voluntary donations. Donations of $5 to $50 are appreciated, or you can attend for free by serving as a volunteer. Volunteers can sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054ca4aa2da1f85-returning1.

“It was a real eye-opener for me. I’ve heard that it’s difficult for former prisoners to re-establish themselves in the community, but I had no idea until I tried.”

—Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge

This program is sponsored by the TBE Urgency of Now Action Team on Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System.

Photo by Hila Shiloni

It was pre-dawn in Jerusalem on Friday, March 8.

I was in Israel with a small group of leaders from Women of Reform Judaism. We had timed our trip to participate in the Women of the Wall (WOW) 30th anniversary celebration. And now we were on our way to the WOW monthly Rosh Chodesh service at the Kotel—the Western Wall.

We had been warned that this would not be a typical Rosh Chodesh service. Knowing that the 30th anniversary would bring women from around the country and around the world, the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) leadership had mounted a campaign to undermine and ultimately disrupt this celebration. We knew that Haredi students were being transported to the Kotel, to arrive ahead of our 7:00 am service, to fill the women’s section and prevent us from praying.

But nothing could have prepared us for the reality.

That early morning, four of us arrived together at the Kotel and found the women’s section packed with Haredi high school girls. As we approached, a WOW supporter on the periphery told us there was no room—it was impossible to reach the service in the middle of the crowd. But we joined hands, made a human chain, and began pushing through the crowd. Haredi girls blocked our way, tried to pull us apart, and did all they could to prevent us from joining our group.

It was one of most frightening short walks I have ever made.

We reached the service location, but it became immediately clear that there would be no joyful praying that morning. I never even took my WOW siddur from my backpack.

Our women had formed a circle around our prayer leaders to try to protect them from hands reaching for their tallitot, their kippot, and their siddurim. The Haredi girls around us were shoving, kicking, shouting. It seemed very possible that someone would be pushed to the ground and trampled.

During all of this, the police were absent.

As we had approached the Torah service, we learned that it was too dangerous to bring out the Torah that had been smuggled in for this purpose. The violence was escalating, and the WOW leaders decided that we would relocate to the rudimentary egalitarian worship space at Robinson’s Arch. As soon as this decision was made, dozens of police appeared and made a path to escort us out of the mob. At Robinson’s Arch, our heartbeats finally began to return to normal. We were able to draw the first deep breath in over an hour.

We finished our service with joy, singing, and dancing. Unbelievably.

What might be the impact of our experience? Might this level of violence finally goad the Israeli government into honoring their agreement to create an appropriate egalitarian worship space, one that is not under the jurisdiction of the ultra-Orthodox rabbinate?

Traumatic as it was, some feel that this could be a turning point in the struggle.

To be clear: the struggle is not just about the Western Wall. The struggle is about who controls marriages, divorces, conversions. It is about who is considered to be a rabbi in Israel, who is to be considered a Jew. It is about being able to live an authentic, non-Orthodox life in the Holy Land, something we take for granted in North America. And someday—yes—we may be able to pray as a women’s community at the Western Wall.

Ken Y’hi ratzon.

Our Temple Beth El community has continued to support the family from the Congo that we helped Jewish Social Services resettle in May 2018. It is inspiring to see what this amazing, hardworking, appreciative family has accomplished in less than a year, and we are honored to assist them. TBE members Linda Reivitz, Deb Giesfeldt, Nancy Brower, Suzanne Wolf, Lynn Silverman, and Erica Serlin have been tutoring the three older girls in reading, writing, and English at their school. This would not have been possible without the incredibly helpful books donated by the Field family business, Books 4 School. Cathy Rotter and Mary Fulton have been delivering household goods that the family cannot purchase with FoodShare vouchers. If you are interested in participating or helping with any of these efforts, please contact Sherie Sondel.

As part of the Sisterhood Shabbat on January 25, a call went out for donation of graham crackers and juice boxes to stock the health office at Emerson School. The Emerson School nurses say that when children feel unwell and come to the nurse’s office, their discomfort is often magnified by the fact that they’re hungry.

Sisterhood responded with its usual generosity, collecting an entire carload of snacks! These supplies are enough to provide comfort for children through the end of the school year.

Support for Emerson School is part of an ongoing collaboration of the three Madison Jewish congregations, Temple Beth El, Beth Israel Center, and Congregation Shaarei Shamayim. The three congregations also provide academic support through reading and math tutors. If you are interested in helping, please contact Marcia Vandercook at marcia.vandercook@gmail.com.

The Urgency of Now Immigrant Action Team invites you to join us on Tuesday, April 3, for an engaging and inspiring evening called “Words of Worth: Letters to the Border.”

We will begin with an introduction to the crisis on our southern border by staff and volunteers from the Community Immigration Law Clinic, including staff immigration attorney Aissa Olivarez, volunteer attorney Kris Rasmussen, volunteer coordinator Leah Durst-Lee, student volunteer Karen Perez-Wilson, and Marin Smith, fundraising and development intern. They will share their experiences witnessing the terrible conditions in which men, women, and children are being detained, and why outside support is so important to the well-being of detainees and immigrants.

The talk will be followed by the opportunity to respond in a helpful and immediate way. We will provide participants with letter-writing supplies, including sample English and Spanish letters and phrases to incorporate. Letters can be written in English, Spanish, or some combination with the help of the samples provided. The cards and letters will be sent to current detainees, immigrants awaiting court hearings, and staff and volunteers at the border. From similar programs around the country, we understand that reading these encouraging words and knowing that we care about their plight will instill hope in the recipients.

Light refreshments and letter-writing supplies will be provided. The program will run from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Frank Adult Lounge at Temple Beth El. If you can join us, please

RSVP here.

If you are interested in getting involved with the UON Immigrant Action Team, please contact one of our co-chairs, Erica Serlin at ericar.serl@gmail.com, Lynn Silverman at lynns3869@gmail.com, or Marta Karlov at mokarlov2@gmail.com.

On Friday, April 12, 2019, the Social Action Committee is honored to host a special Shabbat featuring Madison author Sagashus Levingston, author of the book Infamous Mothers. In the program, she will share stories of marginalized mothers, reflecting the humanity and value of women who have overcome incredible challenges, “women who’ve gone through the belly of hell and brought something good back.” Join us as we learn more these mothers and the context around their narratives, with the goal of building community and new alliances.

This program is part of TBE’s yearlong collective focus on principles of derech eretz, where we consider the way we conduct ourselves in this world and the need for mutual respect with other people. This Shabbat program focuses on the humanity of people often marginalized by our society and highlights the strength and dignity they bring to raising their children.

The evening will begin with a 6:00 pm service including the Temple Beth El choir. At 7:00 pm there will be a delicious dinner catered by Banzo, followed by the program and Oneg Shabbat at 7:40 pm. You are welcome to join us for any part of the evening.

Please RSVP by April 3.

Many authors and philosophers across time have offered a version of “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” A partial list would include George Santayana[1]; Edmund Burke[2]; young adult author Sara Shepard[3]; and even Kurt Vonnegut[4], who said it in his backhand, cynical fashion: “We're doomed to repeat the past no matter what. That's what it is to be alive.”

I believe that the original source is our own Israelite patriarch Jacob.

We find this thought in the Torah portion Vayechi, that closes the book of Genesis, as Jacob confers blessings upon his sons. Jacob can’t help but point out the flaws in his children’s characters and implies that they can set a better course for their descendants only when they recognize their faults and make changes in their lives. It is his last act before he dies.

The Torah narrative in the last two portions of Vayigash and Vayechi (which we read over the last two weeks) presents us with a number of resolutions of the issues surrounding Jacob’s family:

his children are now reunited;

their sibling animosities are on the way toward some kind of peaceful solution;

Jacob’s younger son Joseph has solidified his role as vizier of Egypt;

and Jacob’s family is well on their way toward becoming a comfortable, prosperous even, minority amid the teeming masses of the Egyptian populace.

Such a conclusion could itself have been the dream fulfillment of any immigrant family in their new homes. Jacob undoubtedly was a proud patriarch seeing his children and descendants grow in size and influence.

Why, then, is Jacob so sad? Let me tell you what I mean.

* * * *

In the parashah of Vayigash, Joseph brings his father Jacob to an audience with the Pharaoh, certainly a moment of special honor. Yet when the supreme ruler of Egypt asks Jacob his age, Jacob turns negative. He is not offended by the question, but what comes out of his mouth indicates curmudgeonly sorrow.

“Well, if you must know,” says Jacob, “I am 130 years old, but my life has been miserable and of little significance. I have attained nothing like my fathers before me.” The Pharaoh likely didn’t like having a naysayer in the court, so he accepts a perfunctory blessing from Jacob, then moves on to other court business, never to see the Israelite patriarch again.

Jacob’s response to the Pharaoh represents, perhaps, the bluntest of post-mortems that we might imagine. And Jacob is also cynical in Vayechi, the next week’s portion, where he offers to his sons his deathbed blessings, compounding his negative feelings about his own life, with his candid appraisal of his children’s achievements.

Jacob says to Reuben, ‘O my first born, you made me feel strong and vigorous. I had such hopes for you. But you slept with my wife’s concubine while I was away—you thought I’d never find out—and so you will amount to nothing.’[5]

Then Jacob turns to Shimon and Levi, and berates them for their massacre of the people of Sh’chem after the rape of their sister Dinah. ‘Taking justice into your own hands is not the way of the world. I don’t even want to know you.’

Jacob’s blessings to the other sons are not so negative, but he does not mince words: he identifies their character flaws in the hope of staving off further questionable behavior. Based on their demonstrated bad behavior, he implies that past is prologue, and that his sons are doomed to repeat the past mistakes unless they straighten out their crooked lives.

* * * *

Hearing Jacob’s cynical expressions in these two Torah portions might encourage us to wonder about the legacy that we will leave behind when we depart this world. In the moments of clarity before we die, will we offer a negative assessment like Jacob, that our lives ‘have been miserable and of little consequence’, and that we ‘have attained nothing like our ancestors before us’; or will we find reason to say, ‘it was a good run all-in-all, and – all things considered – we are satisfied.’

As the calendar year of 2018 concludes, our thoughts might turn to this question. Indeed, every day—with every word we utter and every action that we perform—we should bear in mind not only the immediate consequences but also the possible long-term ramifications of our words and deeds.

What, indeed, will be the examples that we set for others? What will be the legacy that we leave behind?

* * * *

I am reading, perhaps for the second time, Ray Bradbury’s novel “Something Wicked This Way Comes”. Originally published in 1962, it is a brilliant mixture of horror and science fiction in a classic battle of Good vs Evil, and it has recently been republished with notes and essays by contemporary sci-fi and horror authors. I would like to share with you a small segment of his book, because it presents us with a suggestion of how one contemplates the legacy to be passed down to future descendants.

A father and son, engrossed in solving their immediate problem, engage in this brief exchange trying to understand how we should evaluate our lives.

In the book, Will, the twelve-year-old protagonist, asks:

“Dad…are you a good person?”

“To you and your mother, yes, I try. But no man’s a hero to himself. I've lived with me a lifetime. I know everything worth knowing about myself…and adding it all up, yes, I'm all right.”

“Then dad”, asked Will, “why aren't you happy?”

And here is the father’s sagacious answer:

“Sometimes the man who looks happiest in town, with the biggest smile, is the one carrying the biggest load of sin. There are smiles and smiles; learn to tell the dark variety from the light. The seal-barker, the laugh-shouter, half the time he's covering up. He's had his fun, and he's guilty. And men do love sin, oh how they love it, never doubt, in all shapes, sizes, colors, and smells. Times come when troughs, not tables, suit our appetites. Hear a man too loudly praising others and look to wonder if he didn't just get up from the sty.

“On the other hand, that unhappy, pale, put-upon man walking by, who looks all guilt and sin, why, often that's your good man with a capital ‘G.’ For being good is a fearful occupation; men strain at it and sometimes break in two. I've known a few. You work twice as hard to be a farmer as to be his hog. I suppose it's thinking about trying to be good makes the crack run up the wall one night. A man with high standards, too, the least hair falls on him sometimes wilts his spine. He can't let himself alone, won't lift himself off the hook if he falls just a breath from grace.”[6]

In the past year, have we been good people? Have we worked hard at it? Have we been mindful of the ways we have affected other people?

Have we always chosen the right word for the right occasion, or have we let our emotions rule our tongues? Have we exhibited too much braggadocio; have our demeanors been humble and unassuming; or have we found a healthy compromise between the two, in a place where we have, like Rabbi Salanter of our Mussar tradition, asked for ‘no more than our space, and no less than our place’?

We know that the legacy we ultimately leave behind in the world does not necessarily consist of possessions or wealth, but rather in the way we approach the world and its complex set of personalities and situations, and in the way we treat other people. Rabbi Salanter commends to us an unpretentious and self-effacing life. But he reminds us, too, that we also have a place which belongs to us and of which no one should deprive us. Finding a life which leads to both, or a balance of the two, should be our goal. We must live with mindfulness and sensitivity, so that we don’t take up more room on the planet than we’re due, but that we also don’t lose our individual human dignity.

Returning to our pair of Torah portions that conclude the book of Genesis, we observe the way in which Jacob establishes his legacy: He offers it in the blessings he gives to others. In this way, he teaches us something about what we need to possess, and what we can give away.

In the Torah, Jacob has become ill; he lies on his deathbed, and his son Joseph and his grandchildren Ephraim and Menasheh come to visit. And Jacob takes this opportunity to offer his fatherly blessings to Joseph and his sons; they are the first to receive these blessings.

The Torah tells us that “this is the way Jacob blessed Joseph” … and Jacob proceeds to bless his grandchildren, not Joseph. He does bless Joseph, but not directly.

He says, “May the god in whose ways my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked; the god who has been my shepherd from my birth to this day; the messenger who has redeemed me from all harm: bless these youths (referring to Ephraim and Menasheh). In them may my name be recalled. And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they be teeming multitudes upon the earth.”

Jacob demonstrates that through his grandchildren—in all that their father has accomplished, and in every act that they will achieve in their lives to come—through his grandchildren will Joseph also come to be a blessing.

Perhaps this is a clue about why we, in the Jewish community, focus so intently upon our children. It is through them that we might better see our values lived out, that is, what we have taught them, and the priorities they have toward the world.

In the imagery of Ray Bradbury, a person who has striven with the world; someone who has, perhaps, been broken by their experiences yet is still walking and present in the world: it is through these people that goodness is perceived and properly evaluated.

Perhaps Jacob’s cynical words to Pharaoh, then, were not a skeptical commentary on his misfortunes. They were honest feelings, to be sure, but perhaps they represented the scars that Joseph acquired in his lifetime quest to instill decent values in his children.

In this quest, Jacob likely succeeded, for the Torah relates that his family carried on their traditions by burying their patriarch using the customs of the land of Israel, alongside Egyptian burial traditions. Both the native traditions, and the assimilated practices of their foreign home, were used. Overall, the descendants of Jacob, living in a foreign land and waiting to be brought back to the land that God promised to them, maintained their family practices and institutions, while assimilating some parts of their new culture.

A challenge for us to ponder as the year closes and a new one begins is this: Will we learn to mindfully discover how best to bequeath blessings to our physical and spiritual descendants, and remain upbeat and hopeful about the future?

I wish us all success.

[1] George Santayana (1863-1952) “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

[2] Edmund Burke (1729-1797) “Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.”

[3] Sara Shepard (b. 1977) “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it”

[4] Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) “We're doomed to repeat the past no matter what. That's what it is to be alive. It's pretty dense kids who haven't figured that out by the time they're ten....

[5] Genesis 35:22

[6] Bradbury, Ray. “Something Wicked This Way Comes”. Simon and Schuster Paperbacks. Copyright 1962, 1980, 1997, by Ray Bradbury, page 124-125.

Fourteen Temple Beth El members attended the annual fundraising dinner for Porchlight on November 13, where they heard about the wonderful work that Porchlight does to provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, support services, and advocacy on affordable housing issues. County executive Joe Parisi was the evening's keynote speaker, discussing his commitment to fighting homelessness, combating substance abuse, and treating mental illness in Dane County. A total of 511 people attended the dinner, which raised over $96,000 to support Porchlight.

Porchlight is the largest nonprofit provider of low-income housing in Dane County and has 330 housing units, including both transitional and permanent housing. Porchlight served over 1,100 men in 2017, providing shelter, meals, and case management services. They collaborate with the VA on a 24-bed single-occupancy transitional facility for vets who are homeless or at risk for homelessness.

In addition to fundraising support, TBE provides dinner four times a year for the Porchlight emergency shelter. If you would enjoy either cooking or serving, please contact Pam Robbins. Dates for 2019 will be January 30, May 29, July 31, and October 30. TBE has been providing meals for the past 10 years. A big thank-you to all the Porchlight volunteers over the years!

Porchlight food products are available at various grocery stores and restaurants in the area. You can find the list of locations at porchlightproducts.org. Thank you to those who purchased Porchlight products at our Hanukkah Farmer’s Market on December 9.

It’s not too late to sign up for the Consultation on Conscience conference of the Religious Action Center, the social justice arm of the Reform movement. The conference will take place on May 19–21 in Washington, DC. Women of Reform Judaism will offer additional speakers and practical workshops on May 18–19. These awesome programs are designed to help inspire and empower us to become more effective and engaged community leaders.

The Consultation on Conscience conference is put on by the Religious Action Center (RAC), the social justice arm of the Reform movement. Every other year the RAC puts together an awesome program to help inspire and empower us to become more effective and engaged community leaders. When seven Temple Beth El members attended in 2017, they came home energized to begin the Urgency of Now initiative, helping to move TBE toward greater advocacy efforts on social justice issues.

We would like to put together another delegation to go again in 2019. The conference will take place on May 19–21 in Washington, DC, and Women of Reform Judaism will offer additional speakers and practical workshops on May 18–19. The conference registration rate will be $349 until January 30; attendees arrange their own transportation and hotel. Please contact Aleeza Hoffert or Jane Taves for a discount code before you register. Click here for a detailed description.

“The Consultation on Conscience is a fabulous opportunity and a wonderful chance to get to know some terrific social activists at TBE better! I would definitely go again.” – Erica Serlin

“The Consultation on Conscience is the premier social justice conference for the Reform Movement. Bringing in speakers from Congress, world leaders, experts from social justice organizations large and small, the conference is always enlightening and inspiring.” – Rabbi Bonnie Margulis

The Urgency of Now Immigration Action Team invites you to join us on Tuesday, January 29, 7:00–9:00 pm in the Frank Adult Lounge at Temple Beth El for an engaging and inspiring evening with the Community Immigration Law Clinic, including a letter writing campaign to those detained and working on behalf of those families at the border. Light refreshments and letter-writing supplies will be provided.

On October 29, 2018, several members of the TBE Urgency of Now Immigration Action Team attended a wonderful program at the Community Immigration Law Clinic (CILC) titled “Words of Worth: Letters to the Border.” We attended with about 50 representatives from a variety of nonprofit agencies and faith communities.

The evening began with an introduction to the crisis on our southern border. We heard from volunteer attorneys and interns who provided support and legal assistance at detention centers in Artesia, New Mexico, in 2014 and Dilly, Texas, in the summer of 2018. These volunteers shared their experiences witnessing the terrible conditions in which men, women, and children are being detained, and why outside support is so important to the well-being of our immigrant community.

After this introduction, we were provided with letter-writing supplies, including sample English and Spanish letters and phrases we could incorporate. We completed 200 cards and letters to current detainees, immigrants awaiting court hearings, and staff and volunteers at the border. We were told that reading our encouraging words and knowing that we and others care about their plight has instilled hope in the recipients and will continue to be important to them!

We are replicating this program at TBE with the involvement of CILC’s staff immigration attorney, Aissa Olivarez; volunteer attorney Kris Rasmussen; Leah Durst-Lee, CILC’s volunteer coordinator; Karen Perz-Wilson, a student who helped at the border; and Marin Smith, the fundraising and development intern for CILC. In addition to the letter-writing campaign, we will hear about the range of services provided at CILC as well as volunteer opportunities, including providing intake services to assist the immigration attorneys. Letters can be written in English, Spanish, or some combination with the help of the samples provided.

We would also like to thank Howard Rosen for his excellent work as our Immigration Action Team co-chair. He recently stepped down due to other commitments and will be missed! Please welcome Lynn Silverman and Marta Karlov as our new co-chairs!

We hope to see you on January 29!

1 – Owning Courage – In the year 170 before the Common era (BCE), the Syrian-Greek ruler Antiochus took control of the land of Israel. Antiochus hated the Jews because of their love of the one God of Heaven and Earth, and their refusal to worship the Greek gods. In his outrage, he overthrew the High Priest in the Jerusalem Temple, plundered the sacred vessels used there, and closed the Temple to Jewish worship and sacrifice. The Torah was figuratively and literally ripped to shreds.

In the village of Modi’in, one priest, Mattathias, held his ground. Brave and proud, he and his family stood fast against the pagan soldiers and defied their commands. His followers rose to battle, and the enemy of vast numbers was overcome by a small but dedicated faithful Jewish fighting force.

• How have we shown courage in the year gone by? How might we anticipate demonstrating courage in the year to come?

2 – Providing light and love – As we light the Hanukkah candles, the stars fill the winter skies around us. The light reflected in the glow of the candles is a sign of the warmth in our hearts, and the love that should surround us. As we drink in the fountain of love and affection that others give forth to us, so, too, can we offer to others the sweetness of our own hearts, and make their lives complete.

• Is there one special person whom we can bring into the light of our loving influence? What do I need to learn and do in order to bear light to others?

3 – Utilizing the gifts of creation – Humanity was created in God’s image. This means that we are to imitate the ways of God whenever possible. We cannot perform miracles that fill the sky with stars or reverse the orbit of the earth, but we can fill someone’s heart with love, and we can reverse the cycle of poverty that ensnares the less fortunate in endless searches for shelter and sustenance.

• How can I imitate God in my everyday life? What can I bring to others when they search for humanity’s divine qualities?

4 – Accepting our differences – The holiday of Hanukkah teaches the importance of accepting differences among all the people of the world. Matters of religion, nation, race, gender, or gender orientation must not be used by others to divide us. Rather we must seek out ways of bridging the valleys of separation that prevent one human being from sharing love with another.

What is the one single act I can perform to bring the message of tolerance to those around me? Who would be my allies in such a mission?

5 - Pursuing knowledge – May we, in our pursuit of increased and deeper knowledge, always elevate humanity. May we bear in mind that it is the heightened value of human life and creativity – and not the craving for fame and monetary reward – that should drive us toward new achievements and new discoveries. May our passion for knowledge bring us toward one another, as we constantly strive to make humanity better than it is.

• How can I help others to elevate the human intellect above the less-than-human emotions we exhibit?

6 – Achieving joy and happiness – The masters of Jewish hasidism remind us that joy is an accomplishment that strengthens the bonds between people, elevates the heart, and enlivens the soul. As humans, we experience the full range of emotion, from joy to sorrow, and from anxiety to contentment. May we discover where joy lives in our hearts, and may we learn how to spread that joy to all those whom we encounter.

• In what ways can I bring joy and happiness to others in my sphere of influence? How best can I bring gentle joy and avoid deprecating humor?

7 – Finding the freedom of worship – Not only as Americans, but also as Jews, we treasure our tradition of freedom of worship, and we strive to share that freedom with all peoples of the earth. In lands of persecution, and indeed in all lands, may the voice of reason guide those who would wield power over the powerless, and may we all live with the freedom of conscience to believe as we like, to worship – or not to worship – as we please.

• How can we rightly petition those in government to show the greatest respect for all religions and creeds? How can I honor the religions and religious communities that surround me in our diverse society?

8 – Searching for peace – Our Rabbis remind us that the highest value is seeking peace and pursuing it. Indeed, the pursuit of peace is the only mitzvah in which we must actively engage at all times. May God grant us the strength to bring peace between all men and women in the world, and may God give us the strength to find peace wherever we look.

• How can I be the most effective instrument of peace, for the community, for the nation, and for the world? How can I serve as a living example to those around me?

On Friday night, October 26, Temple Beth El will join with congregations around the country to create a Shabbat experience dedicated to refugees. There will be similar services throughout the month at Beth Israel Center, Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, and University of Wisconsin Hillel.

At Temple Beth El, our Shabbat speaker will be Professor Scott Straus, professor and associate chair in the Department of Political Science and professor of international studies. Professor Straus’s work focuses on violence, human rights, and African politics. Professor Straus’s talk will deepen our understanding of today’s global refugee crisis, as more than 65 million people have now fled their homes due to persecution and violence.

We will also hear from Rabbi Renee Bauer, who will talk about our community’s achievements and future efforts in working with refugees alongside Jewish Social Services, HIAS, Open Doors for Refugees, and other partners. Through this work, we give voice to our values as Jews and as Americans and stand up for the safety and the lives of people around the world.

Join TBE members in Washington D.C. on May 19-21, 2019, for the Consultation on Conscience, the premier social justice conference for the Reform Movement and flagship event of the Religious Action Center (RAC) of the Union for Reform Judaism.

“I have gone to the Consultation on Conscience whenever possible over the last thirty years. Bringing in speakers from Congress, world leaders, experts from social justice organizations large and small, the conference is always enlightening and inspiring,” shared Rabbi Bonnie Margulis. Consultation is dedicated to training and empowering Jewish leaders like us to make real, lasting change at the national, state, and local levels. We’ll return home better prepared to participate in meaningful social justice work.

This conference takes place every two years. In 2017, we had a wonderful delegation of seven TBE members who attended together and returned inspired. Our Urgency of Now campaign grew out of this experience. At Consultation, we will hear from elected officials and thought leaders about many social justice issues. We will learn advocacy skills, and we will go to Capitol Hill together and lobby our senators and/or representatives.

Rabbi Margulis went on to say, “The opportunity to meet other social justice activists from Reform congregations around the country, to share ideas, successes, and challenges, and to build networks and form friendships is invaluable. Workshops allow you to delve into specific topics in-depth and to gain skills and get tools to be more effective advocates in your home congregation and community. The opportunity to be in a room with 600 other Reform Jewish advocates raising our collective voice in song and prayer for morning worship is an experience not to be missed! “

Consultation is for everyone who has an interest in social justice, advocacy, or policy issues. You do not need to be a member of the Social Action Committee or on the temple board to attend. New this year is a dedicated experience for teen leaders. We will come away with the knowledge that we are part of a larger movement beyond our congregations’ walls.

And, women of TBE: give yourself the gift of attending the WRJ Social Justice Conference which immediately precedes the Consultation, on May 18-19. This companion conference will include practical workshops for everyone: those who are dipping their toes into advocacy for the first time as well as seasoned activists. Enjoy the inspiring speakers, a Shabbat morning service with Rabbi David Saperstein, and a social justice concert on Saturday evening, to which all Consultation participants are invited.

Registration for both the Consultation and the WRJ Social Justice Conference will open around November 1. By bringing a delegation, each of us will receive a discount on our registration fee. Please be in touch with Aleeza Hoffert or Jane Taves for the discount codes before you register.

Mark your calendars! Join our delegation! See you in Washington D.C.!

In 2017, the URJ’s Religious Action Center (RAC) launched the Urgency of Now (UON) initiative to support the sacred work of tikkun olam in three areas: criminal justice, transgender rights, and immigrant justice. Temple Beth El has agreed to support all three initiatives and is doing so via the creation of three separate committees. The UON Immigrant Action Team  is committed to working toward comprehensive reform of our immigration system, needed now more than ever.

Even though the policy of separating families at the border has officially ended, several hundred children remain separated from their parents. Some parents who have already been deported have been impossible to find to reunite with their children. In other cases, officials have been unable to locate the children. Some parents left the U.S. under the impression it would expedite reunification, but that is not the case.

In addition, in September ICE arrested 88 undocumented immigrants throughout Wisconsin, including 20 in Dane County. The trust of local law enforcement officials was eroded because that action broke a previous agreement to provide notice in advance of the time, location, and date of planned arrests as well as information regarding the charges. ICE claimed that 44 of those arrested had serious criminal convictions, but without providing evidence, a frightening and false narrative about our immigrant neighbors was raised. Also, once again, parents were separated from their children in the process.

As co-chairs of the UON Immigrant Action Team, we seek to provide TBE members access to resources and opportunities in support of immigrant rights. In addition, we facilitate coordination with community organizations working to assist and advocate for undocumented immigrants.

We held several educational meetings at TBE, with presentations by our own Rabbi Bonnie Margulis along with speakers from the Dane Sanctuary Coalition (DSC), Voces de La Frontera, the ACLU, and a local immigration attorney to inform our Temple community about the tremendous challenges facing undocumented immigrants and advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national level.

In February 2018 the TBE Board voted unanimously to join the DSC as a supporting congregation. In May of 2018, we held a planning meeting to hear about a wide range of volunteer opportunities with the DSC. In addition, we have attended regular meetings of the DSC Community Resources Team and assisted in the development of a multi-congregation volunteer data base.

We created a listserv to be able to quickly inform Temple members of events and opportunities to help support immigrant rights. Along with other TBE congregants, we have attended rallies and press conferences supporting undocumented immigrants, proudly carrying our Jews for Justice banner!

In addition, Erica has spoken publicly about the traumatic impact of family separation and detention and written a letter to the editor, published in the Capital Times and Wisconsin State Journal, on behalf of TBE supporting two law-abiding Wisconsin undocumented immigrants facing possible deportation.

Read the Letter to the Editor.

Read Erica’s speech here.

Erica also attended an excellent advocacy training on refugee rights jointly sponsored by HIAS and JSS and learned about the commonalities between refugees seeking resettlement and undocumented immigrants seeking asylum at the border.

In our next article, we will outline the next potential directions and actions to take as a congregation, and we are looking for input from you, as we learn more about interest and priorities from TBE members.

An important event is coming up at the Community Immigrant Legal Clinic. Don’t miss screening the documentary, Inside the Trauma of Family Separation and Q & A with Attorney Jodi Goodwin Tuesday. December 4, 7:00-9:00 pm.

Please feel free to contact either of us with questions, comments, or other ideas. We welcome your feedback.

Click here for an Immigrant Rights Resource Guide

Erica Serlin (ericar.serl@gmail.com ) & Howard Rosen (hrosen@wisc.edu)

Co-Chairs UON Immigrant Rights Team