December Anniversaries
12/6 Anne & Gary Poliakoff
12/22 Carrie & Rabbi Liebowitz
12/3 Shannon Smiley
12/20 Louise Garrell
12/5 Marilyn Bornstein
12/21 Greg Feldman
12/7 Ariella Garrell
12/23 Jake Levi Orseck
12/14 Bogdan Gheorghiu
12/25 Noah McKinney
12/15 Stefanie Keen
12/26 Jack Steinberg
12/15 Sharon Packer
12/29 Louis Carnevale
12/15 Alexandra Poliakoff
12/29 Elaine Hyman
12/18 Richard Keen
12/31 Dave Wood
December 1 & 2 Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 pm, Refreshments at 5:30
Saturday: Morning Service
December 8 & 9 Friday: Service at 7:30 pm
Saturday: Morning Service 9:30 am
December 15 & 16 Friday: Hanukkah Dinner 6:00 pm
Saturday: Morning Service 9:30 am
December 22 & 23 Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 pm Refreshments at 5:30
Saturday: Morning Service 9:30 am
December 29 & 30 Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00 pm Refreshments at 5:30
Saturday: Morning Service 9:30 am
Dear Friends,
My favorite pop online magazine is called Tablet. It covers news from the Mideast to America and parts in-between. Though more cultural than religious Tablet does favor from time to time some spiritual reviews such as an occasional Talmudic response to current concerns affecting Jews.
At the time of writing, and I believe in anticipation of Chanukah, the hate-filled pronouncements by the Nation of Islam Farrakhan were reviewed.
Homophobic and anti-Semitic, this “minister” spews out his hatred through Twitter to nearly one half million followers. Some examples include: his referring to Jews as “Satanic” and claiming that they control most industries and many nations with their secret cabal; Farrakhan has described Adolf Hitler as “a very great man” and has repeatedly argued that the 9/11 attacks were a Jewish conspiracy.
On the other side of the racial divide come the hatemongering actions of White supremacist Richard Spencer. His sanitized pronouncements are offered in the name of authentic white pride called the “Identarian Movement.” His vitriol includes his advocating for a white homeland for the “dispossessed white race” and calling for “peaceful ethnic cleansing” to halt the “deconstruction” of European culture. As a featured speaker at the Charlottesville demonstrations, Spencer’s followers often use the hated Nazi salute and pronouncements of “blood and soil.” That anyone would embrace an ideology that caused the death of millions upon millions boggles the imagination.
As Chanukah approaches we are reminded of the twin concerns which the celebration embraces: the first is the preservation of the Jewish people and its faith and the second is the support given to the notion of freedom. The American experiment has similarly championed these endeavors which regrettably come into conflict. On College campuses restrictions are being advocated to thwart hate speech. How to measure the unacceptability of one presentation against another is the troubling question of our times. To this end, many appearances by speakers for Israel have met with opposition and at times, censorship. It is a slippery slope that we slide down when we thwart free speech.
On the other hand we can become so open minded that our brains fall out. In this age of Twitter, Facebook and Snopes, I have no simple answers except to note that the complacency of many of our European brothers and sisters prior to the Holocaust is something we need not repeat. I have firsthand knowledge of the events in Charlottesville from a colleague and classmate. It was horrifying for him to see the neo-Nazis standing with an intimidating stance with guns outside his Temple.
It occurs to me that there are two Chanukahs of history, the one celebrating the spiritual light, the miracle of God’s light, and the other the prideful recollection of Jewish military resistance. I prefer the former to the latter. Some years ago, I saw in a Jewish home a menorah made out of a spent shell from the six day war. I was stunned to see this martial display, and not the more recognizable decorative and peaceful candelabrum.
I pray for the day when we will have the need for the one that spreads only light and not for the one that emphasizes our resolve to defend ourselves if necessary.
Wishing you a light filled season.
Rabbi Yossi J. Liebowitz
Please be reminded that Linda Ott from Sustaining Way will be speaking at Temple B’nai Israel on Tuesday, December 5 at 12:00 noon on the topic “Tis a gift to be simple: How to Experience the Winter Celebrations in an Eco-Conscious Manner”. Please see attachments. We hope you will join us for this informative lecture. Lunch will be served as well. RSVP to the temple at 864-582-2001.
Linda comes to the SCIPL (South Carolina Interfaith Power & Light) Director role most recently as a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary with a Masters of Theology in Creation Care. Linda’s vocation life journey included the military, social work, business, and law. Her passion for creation care stems from her time at Drew Theological School, where she completed a Masters of Divinity and discovered her passion for understanding the intersection of faith and the care of creation.
Sisterhood General Meeting! Please join us Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 for wine, nibbles and socializing. Come to hear how we did with the bake sale. We will also elect the new board.
We have an empty food barrel that needs filling. Please bring 1 nonperishable item when you visit the temple for donation. There are many in our community who need our help.
The Annual Congregation Meeting will be held on Sunday, November 19th. Join us for a soup & salad dinner at 6:00 pm with the mee ng to follow at 7:00 pm.
Join the Rabbi November 15 at 12:00 pm.
Dessert will be served.
Motel of the Mysteries: How We Misinterpret the Things We See & Hear