[UPDATED AUGUST 21, 2022]
ALLEC sponsored speaker Bruce Ledewitz, Duquesne Law School Professor, on August 7, both in person and on Zoom. A light breakfast was provided prior to Mr. Ledewitz’s talk on “Separation of Church and State: To Be Or Not To Be?” Thank you to Carol and Bob Gordon, Elaine Wolfe, Mary Bendorf, and Rabbi Symons for assisting with this successful event. Thank you to Stan Beck for being the greeter and to Marc Yergin for hosting Zoom.
ALLEC is offering several cooking demonstrations, both in person and on Zoom, planned for Sunday, October 2 at 10 a.m., Sunday, December 11 at 10 a.m., and a yet to be determined date in early 2023. For those attending in person, tasty treats will be shared! Let us know if you would like to do a cooking demo!
On October 2, we welcome Stan Beck, who will make falafel and other vegan delights. When Stan makes falafel, he also likes to make tahina, hummus, and Israeli salad. This is best done as a three-day process, although it is not very time consuming. Stan will accomplish the entire process in approximately 45 minutes, with samples to share for those who make reservations. Please e-mail me (below) to make reservations.
The following items are also described elsewhere in this issue:
- For our Elul Study this year we will be discussing A Storied Approach to the High Holy Days online on four Thursdays at 7 p.m. beginning on 9/1.
- It is time to register for the next 9 in 9 series, that begins in September. On Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings, join Rabbi Symons as we explore “Judaism and Other Religions: Convergences and Divergences.”
- Join us for a special Selichot activity on Saturday evening, September 17 at 8 p.m., “A Taste of the Jewish World,” prior to the 9 p.m. service. Everyone looks forward to tasting High Holy Day foods from around the world. Recipes will also be shared for many of the delicious foods. Please e-mail me (below) if you plan to attend. If YOU would like to bake or cook a Jewish High Holy Day food from around the world, for attendees to sample, please contact me by September 6.
- A new Ethics Series entitled Social Justice Ethics will begin on Wednesday, September 28.
- Join us for Sofa Spirituality—An Interfaith Dialogue among Monroeville neighbors from Cross Roads Presbyterian Church and Temple David, on October 30, November 6, November 13, and November 21. It promises to be an enlightening learning series.
- “What happens after I die…in heaven and…on earth,” will be a two-session discussion on October 20 and November 3 at 7:30 p.m. Mark your calendar for this important discussion that will have an impact on everyone.
Please feel free to contact Sharon Saltzman if you have ideas for adult learning activities or if you are interested in joining ALLEC.
Sharon Saltzman,
Adult Learning & Life Experiences Commission (ALLEC) Chair
sharons@templedavid.org
Adult Education Programs Are In-Person and Online
unless otherwise noted
Visit www.templedavid.org/athome for links for each online session
Torah Talk!
Shabbat Mornings at 9 a.m.
Each Shabbat morning at 9 a.m., a group of Temple David members meets to discuss the Torah Portion of the week. Led by congregants or Rabbi Symons, the reading and discussion is all in English although some individual Hebrew words and concepts may be discussed. No preparation is necessary.
Regular attendance will soon mean that you are part of a friendly group who love to kibitz with each other while we learn.
You will be amazed how much you will learn about Judaism including Jewish tradition and worship. This group has been functioning for over a decade and we would love to have you join us.
The discussion leader for each week will be shown on the service schedule and Next Ten Days.
ONLINE ONLY First Wednesday Discussions
First Wednesday Discussion: Israel’s Prospects for Peace
Online on Wednesday, September 7 at 7 p.m.
Israel endured more than 1100 rockets launched at it during the most recent IDF Breaking Dawn operation. The Iron Dome system kept most of the population safe. This most recent conflict, in the words of Yogi Berra, is deja vu all over again. Can peace ever be secured between Israel and the Palestinians? What do Israelis think about the prospects? What about the Palestinians? It would be welcoming to hear from those of you who have recently visited Israel to share your insight. Please join us as we discuss the prospects for peace and what you see is a realistic approach moving forward. We won’t solve the problem, but we can enlighten each other with our particular perspective that may be a good representation of Jews on this side of the Atlantic.
This is our second anniversary of First Wednesday. We have met twenty-four times and each discussion brings different insights and opinions in a warm and amicable atmosphere. Join us for an hour of thoughtful and stimulating conversation not found elsewhere in today’s polarized environment—Jeff Baldel
Lunch and Learn: Bedfellows
In-Person and Online on Monday, September 12 at Noon
With whom should we partner in shared goals and who should we avoid? Whether regarding Israel or getting the vote out, are there certain groups that are beyond the pale? What are the determining factors for you? Let’s talk!
Coffee and dessert will be served. Please try to come in person!
Social Justice Ethics
In-Person and Online on Wednesday, September 28 at 10 a.m.
Based on Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz’s recent publication The Book of Proverbs: A Social Justice Commentary, for this first session we will focus on his chapter entitled “The Middle Path: The Obligation to Avoid Extremism” based on Proverbs 4:27: “Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your feet from evil.”
You are welcome to purchase the book, but it is not required. Please join us in person or on Zoom.
Eric Lidji Presents: Jewish Pittsburgh in Five Roads
Sunday, September 18 at 10 a.m.
In-Person and On Zoom at www.templedavid.org/athome
The collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge has highlighted the way a single piece of infrastructure can impact daily life. This presentation will examine the way local transportation corridors have influenced Jewish migration throughout Allegheny County. We’ll look at five pieces of infrastructure: the Pennsylvania Canal, Bigelow Boulevard, the Boulevard of the Allies, the Liberty Tunnel, and the Parkway East.
Eric Lidji is Director of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center and curates its website “The Jewish Encyclopedia of Western Pennsylvania,” and hosts its podcast “The Cornerstone.” He writes extensively about the Jewish history of Western Pennsylvania for local publications. He is the author of The Seventeenth Generation: The Lifework of Rabbi Walter Jacob and is a co-editor of the anthologies Her Deeds Sing Her Praise and Bound In The Bond Of Life.
Elul Study: A Storied Approach to the High Holy Days
Thursdays at 7 p.m. (Sept. 1, 8, 15, and 22)
Online only at www.templedavid.org/athome
Each week we will use a short story or text to discuss in preparation for the High Holy Days.
Sept. 1: Rabbi Simchah Bunim of Peshischa used to tell his followers:
There was a poor Jew named Yankel from Galicia who dreamed that there was gold under a bridge in Prague, hundreds of miles away. After much thought and anguish, he decided to saddle his horse and head off alone from his house in search of that gold, which would sustain him for the rest of his life. Yankel got to Prague and found that the bridge about which he dreamed several times was heavily guarded. With no idea what else to do, he simply went underneath the bridge with a shovel and began to dig. Before he broke ground, however, he felt a tap on the shoulder. Yankel turned around and saw a soldier glaring intimidatingly at him. “What are you doing?” said the soldier. Knowing that any evasion was useless, Yankel said, “I dreamed that there was a chest of gold buried here, and I am hoping that it could sustain me and the rest of my family for the remainder of my life.” The soldier stared at Yankel with disbelief. “You will not find any treasure here, but I dreamed that there was a large pot of gold under the stove of a poor Jew called Yankel!” Yankel looked at the soldier and said, “I am Yankel!” He rushed back to his house, removed the stove, and began digging. Lo and behold, after a half hour, he found a large chest filled with gold, which helped sustain his family for the rest of his life.
(As told in The Book of Proverbs: A Social Justice Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz)
Sept. 8: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, the leader of 19th century Germany Orthodoxy, surprised his students one day when, as he neared the end of his life, he insisted on traveling to Switzerland. Perplexed, his students asked him why such a journey was so important to him. In response, he explained, When I stand shortly before the God, I will be held answerable to many questions. But what will I say when God asks–and God is certain to ask–“Shimshon, did you see my Alps?”
Sept. 15: The Sassover Rebbe entered a hotel and sat beside two local peasants. As the two peasants sat at the bar and drank, they began to fall into a drunken stupor. One turned to his friend and said, “Tell me, friend, do you love me?” His colleague responded, “Of course I love you. We’re drinking companions. Naturally I love you.” Then the first one said to his friend, “Then tell me, friend, what causes me pain?” His colleague said, “How should I know what hurts you? I’m just your drinking buddy.” He said, “If you loved me, you would know what causes me pain.” (Same source as above.)
Sept. 22: A prince goes insane and believes that he is a rooster. He takes off his clothes, sits naked under the table, and pecks at his food on the floor. The king and queen are horrified that the heir to the throne is acting this way. They call in various sages and healers to try and convince the prince to act human again, but all in vain. Then a new wise man comes to the palace and claims he can cure the prince. He takes off his clothes and sits naked under the table with him, claiming to be a rooster, too. Gradually the prince comes to accept him as a friend. The sage then tells the prince that a rooster can wear clothes, eat at the table, etc. The rooster Prince accepts this idea and, step-by-step, begins to act normally, until he is completely cured.
For description, fees, and to register:
Visit https://tinyurl.com/29ybucbk
Questions?
Please contact Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman at mgoodman@bethshalompgh.org.
Over the course of nine months, we will compare religions including Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, and Hinduism to Judaism using original texts and often hearing directly from representatives of those faiths. Optional articles to read and questions for consideration will be sent in advance of each class.
Register for either Sunday mornings (11:15 a.m.) or Wednesday evenings (7:30 p.m.)
and as long as there are at least 6 people enrolled per day,
if you have a conflict, you can switch to the other date that month.
Fees:
$36 for first person in a Temple-member household
$44 for first person in a non-member household
$11 per each additional person (member on non-member)
Questions? Please contact Rabbi Symons.
Download the registration form:
www.templedavid.org/bulldocs/5782/2022nine.pdf
What Happens After I Die…in Heaven and…on Earth
Thursdays, October 20 and November 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Visit www.templedavid.org/athome for the Zoom links
Session 1, October 20: What Happens After I Die…in Heaven?
We will engage with Jewish beliefs about what happens after we die including: Do we believe in heaven and hell? What happens to our souls? Do Jews believe in resurrection? We will also link Jewish beliefs about death and afterlife to burial and mourning practices.
Session 2, November 3: What Happens After I Die…on Earth?
As we talk about end-of-life decisions and burial and mourning choices, Ralph Schugar Funeral Home directors will join us. Questions will be answered such as: What is a green Jewish funeral? Can I and my non-Jewish spouse be buried together? What does Judaism say about cremation? All questions will be welcome.
Please join us for both sessions.
We hope you will join us for all four sessions
Sunday, October 30, 4-5 p.m.
The Lights of Our Sanctuaries–Join in for guided tours of and dialogue about the lights in our sanctuaries by Rev. Lindsay White and Rabbi Barbara Symons. (Only on Zoom.)
Sunday, November 6, 4-5 p.m.
The Light of Christ–Join in dialogue guided by Rev. Lindsay White about the power of light as it emanates from belief in Jesus Christ. This in-person event at Crossroads Presbyterian Church (2310 Haymaker Road) will include questions and answers as well as intentional dialogue with neighbors. (We highly encourage you to be in person for this event.)
Sunday, November 13, 4-5 p.m.
The Light of Torah–Join in dialogue guided by Rabbi Barbara Symons about the power of light as it emanates from the Torah. This in-person event at Temple David (4415 Northern Pike) will include questions and answers as well as intentional dialogue with neighbors. (We highly encourage you to be in person for this event.)
Monday, November 21–Time and Location to be announced
(This optional event is highly recommended.)
Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration–Our cohort will join together for a special Thanksgiving celebration one hour prior to the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium Thanksgiving Service. Our time together will be reflective of the power of our shared light.
Please RSVP by October 26 at https://tinyurl.com/2s3ahavk
Please direct your questions to:
Rev. Lindsay White LWhite@CrossRoadsPresbyterian.com or
Rabbi Barbara Symons rabbi@templedavid.org
None currently
July 31 Discussion: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Photo: Mark Hudson, Monroeville Public Library
4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.
Monroeville, PA 15146
412-372-0500 ext. 113
www.MonroevilleLibrary.org
WHAT IS ALLEC?
What does ALLEC mean? We are the Adult Learning and Life Experiences Commission and we meet once a month.
Do you have ideas about things that you want to hear, see, and/or do?
Are you thinking of getting more involved with your religion and your Temple?
Then join ALLEC. We think of, develop, and produce Jewish learning experiences, specifically:
- Programming led by people from Temple David, the Jewish community, and non-Jewish sources.
- Coordination with other committees.
- Providing both hands-on and study-based learning opportunities.
- Some of our past and ongoing activities:
LECTURES—JEWISH TEXTS, ISRAEL, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, THE HOLOCAUST
CLASSES AND COURSES—LEARN HEBREW, JOIN THE NEXT B’NAI MITZVAH CLASS
SHABBATON—JOIN FELLOW CONGREGANTS FOR A WEEKEND JEWISH RETREAT
TRAVEL—ARGENTINA, CUBA, MEXICO, NEW YORK CITY, ISRAEL