Sunday School Photo Collage!

Check out some photos from around TBO Sunday School.

Clothing Drive Information

RALFTY is collecting baby and toddler clothes up to 6T, and maternity clothes for Centro para Familias Hispanas (Center for Hispanic Families) in Raleigh. Collections can be accepted at the school entrance or at the sanctuary.RALFTY is also accepting all other baby items, except car seats.

What a great reason to go through your closets and do some 5771 cleaning!

Carson Merenbloom’s Yom Kippur Morning D’var 5771

In the portion that we read on Yom Kippur, Nitzavim, the Jewish people about to enter Israel are reminded of the covenant that they have with God, and are encouraged to uphold it. However, unlike the many other times that Moses has spoken to the Israelites, the Torah very specifically states that not only the men and priests are being addressed, but also the women, children, and servants.

It’s like this: Your school principal arranges yet another teacher meeting. That seems pretty normal, right? But then she also invites to the meeting the cafeteria workers, the office people, the custodians, the bus drivers, and even the students of the school. It must be an important meeting, just like the meeting that Moses was having so long ago in the desert.

“You stand this day, all of you, before the Lord your God… to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God” they are told. This is no ordinary “let’s go over the rules one more time” get-together. As important as the meeting is, it is still impressive that women and people other than the priests were invited. Considering that women and general members of the tribes were usually excluded from such events, we can see that the meeting was of unprecedented importance. We can infer from this that  the Torah does, in fact, belong to everyone and gives a voice to everyone, including women, the poor, and others. In Nitzavim, Moses makes leaps and bounds for his time by allowing this.

But such progressiveness is not often seen in the Torah. There are not many examples in which it explicitly states that women are included; more often, they are specifically excluded, and throughout history, society has adopted practices based on those biblical standards.

Fast-forward to today: We see widespread homophobia, unequal employment and pay based on gender, and unfair rules against women in Israel — all remnants of the literal interpretations that have been practiced by Jews for thousands of years.

How, as Jews, can we know whether to adhere strictly to Torah and exclude women, for example, or to follow it on a less literal basis and be seen as ignoring our own teachings?

I look at this dilemma and interpret the Torah the same way that some people look at the Constitution: as a document that can be interpreted to fit a changing contemporary society. And, like the Constitution, American social norms are open to new interpretation — there’s really no “right” way of doing anything. That view, however, is controversial. Likewise, some rabbis still believe in a strict, more literal interpretation of Torah, while others have a less concrete view. There are pros and cons to both ways of understanding and interpreting Torah, the Constitution, and even social norms, but from what I have seen, only positive change has come from letting go of old ways and adopting the new.

For example, giving women the right to vote. Who had ever heard of such a preposterous idea? That’s not how things were supposed to be done! Women had never voted, and they were never going to – until 1920 when America bowed to change and let go of tradition by ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment. But even after ratification, not everyone thought that it was a good idea. North Carolina didn’t officially accept the amendment until 1971. And Mississippi didn’t until 1984. It took sixty years for the entire country to officially get rid of an ancient  social and political idea – one that started simply because “it’s in the bible.”

For the past ten days, we have been thinking about the year, and things we did that maybe we should apologize for. Probably, sometime this year, you have been stubborn or resisted a change. We all do it, but this year we should make efforts to accept something new, and to forgive those who don’t see our side of an argument. Moving on and seeing things in a new light is hard; we have our ways and we have our reasons, but consider this: Departing from the old way and giving the new way a try is the reason that we are allowed to be here, together, with a voice, and without fear, like the Israelites were in Nitzavim.

I wish you all an easy fast and a sweet, joyous year. Shabbat Shalom, and good yontif.

Blogging from New CAJE

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TBO at Kutz Campus for Jewish Teen Leaders

Last week, former RALFTY President Alec Seigle and School Principal Emilia Diamant spent several days at Kutz Camp, the URJ’s Leadership Camp for teenagers in Warwick, NY. Alec participated in Mechinah, the Regional Board training run by the NFTY North American Board, where he learned skills to bring to his new position as Southern Membership Vice President for NFTY-MAR. Emilia had the chance to teach, learn, and bond with some old friends (she went there nine summers ago in 2001!) Both can’t wait to bring back some of the incredible knowledge and energy they absorbed there!

School Registration Opens Tomorrow

If you still need information about our new online web system, please contact Ellen Schaffer in the office ASAP (schooladmin@tboraleigh.org, 781.4895 x104). Below is the letter that was sent out to all families last week.

You can also download the letter here.
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Dear TBO Families,
The Temple Beth Or Religious School Committee has adopted a new registration process for the Hebrew and Religious Schools. The process is similar to the current North Carolina Charter School enrollment lottery system and is intended to be a fair and clear registration system.
To facilitate the new policy we are implementing an online registration system to streamline our process. The Religious School Committee selected this program to improve efficiency and allow administrators to focus on running the school rather than the logistics of administration. The benefits are a significant reduction in paperwork and mailings; clearer information about class offerings, classroom assignments and calendars; and the ability to check your assignments, bills and other pertinent information online at your convenience. The TBO Religious School Committee, which is comprised of volunteer parents and teachers, has unanimously adopted this plan and will use the same process to register their children for school at TBO.
What follows are the highlights of the new registration policy, including key dates to put on your calendar.

The Religious School Committee looks forward to serving your family in the 2010-2011 School Year. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this policy.
Best Regards,

Jeff Zidman

Chair, Religious School Committee

Email: jeffzidman@gmail.com

NEW REGISTRATION POLICY

• Our enrollment period will run from June 10 through July 8, 2010. During this time, you can register for the lottery online if you have no outstanding balances with the school. You will be able to access the system from the TBO website (www.tboraleigh.org) once the enrollment period opens.
• To enroll a student, select your class preferences from the class offerings. Once a selection is made, your student will be placed on a waitlist for the class preference you selected. Final placements will not be made until after the lottery closes on July 8.

CLASS PLACEMENT
• Placement preference will be given to children with a documented IEP, 504 plan, or physician recommendation. Parents must provide written documentation to the Principal prior to July 8th showing that a specific class assignment is necessary for the successful educational development of the student. Children of staff will also be given preference for placement. Parents will be notified by the Principal whether or not they have been approved for their preferred placement request.
• If class registrations exceed the maximum class size for a class with multiple sessions offered, placements will be determined by a family unit lottery. The lottery will be managed by the Religious School Committee and run after the July 8th deadline. All families that registered by July 8th AND have no outstanding balances with the Religious School AND have made a 2011 pledge to the temple by July 8th will be entered into the family lottery.
• Students who do not receive their desired class placement will automatically be placed in either their second choice for class time or the next available spot, whichever is open. Any unfilled positions after the lottery will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Once the lottery is completed, families will receive an email providing a link to the registration system which will show their class assignments. The results are final and cannot be changed by any member of the Religious School staff, including the Principal, Rabbi Educator or Senior Rabbi.
• Concerns regarding class placement can be addressed at a meeting with the Religious School Committee on Monday, July 26 at 7:00 pm at TBO. The Committee will listen to one family at a time and decide on a case-by-case basis if a change in placement is warranted. The Committee will not consider sporting events or outside activities acceptable reasons for changing classes. Decisions will be made after hearing all cases and posted within 2 days of the meeting.

PAYMENT
In order to complete your online registration, you will have to choose a payment method and a billing cycle. The Religious School is pleased to offer secure credit card and bank draft payment options with our online system.
•    Payment methods are: credit card or bank draft.

Billing cycles are:

• Pay in full by either credit card or bank draft
• Pay equal monthly installments through April by bank draft, which will be run on the 10th of each month or next business day
• Pay a deposit of $50 (by bank draft) and await a scholarship decision, agreeing to pay any remaining balance by bank draft
• If you require tuition assistance, you can download the scholarship form located on the TBO website. Forms must be returned to the School Office by July 14. Requests will be viewed in strict confidence only by Religious School administrator and the Religious School finance committee, as appropriate.
• Tuition refunds for unused classes will only be granted to families that move away from the area or who un-enroll prior to the first day of school, in which case tuition less a $25 administrative fee will be refunded. There will be no refunds after the first day of school except as noted for families who move away.

The Year in Photos

Here are some pictures from events throughout the 2009-2010 Religious School year.

Thank you for a great one, and see you in the fall! School will restart on Sunday, August 29th.

Annual Meeting Tonight, 5/25

You Are Cordially Invited to the Temple Beth Or Annual Congregational Meeting

Tuesday, May 25, 7:00 pm Wine & Chocolate Dessert Reception (In the Social Hall)

7:30 pm Business Meeting (In the Sanctuary)

Election and Installation of Officers

Presentation of the Budget

Other Temple Business
This is an important meeting, and all members are encouraged to attend.

Guest Blog from Betty Fried!

If you had entered the Sanctuary at Temple Beth Or the last Friday evening in April, you may have thought you were at a packed High Holiday service. Instead, the full house was there for Friday night services, of course, but services with a special add-on. As the last notes were sung, the congregation was introduced to best-selling author Anita Diamant who gave a lively and fascinating talk about the new direction of American Judaism.

Thus began a weekend replete with the wit, wisdom, and intellect of Ms. Diamant.

The Saturday ‘Evening with Anita Diamant,’ drew a crowd of 200 to a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception during which the author — and mother of Temple Beth Or’s very own Religious School Director, Emilia Diamant — read from her latest work, Day After Night. This historical novel tells the extraordinary true story of two hundred Holocaust survivors who escaped to Israel from Nazi Europe and were detained in the Atlit internment camp, a prison for “illegal” immigrants run by the British military near the Mediterranean coast south of Haifa. The story is told through the eyes of four young women at the camp, each of whom has a profoundly different, but extremely moving story to tell.

Following the reading, Ms. Diamant, sat for an Oprah-like interview conducted by her daughter, or as the author put it, “my best creation ever.” After asking several questions of her mother, Emilia, mic in hand, roamed the audience taking questions for her mom. Folks asked about upcoming work, her inspiration, and her day to day schedule. The perfect ending to a perfect evening was the opportunity to have your book signed, and best yet, have a personal chat with the very bright and very amusing Ms. Diamant.

The weekend culminated with a visit to the Religious School where Anita and Emilia had an informal discussion with Confirmation class parents about the challenges (and blessings!) of raising a Jewish teenager.

It was truly a weekend to remember, or as one guest said of the weekend of events, “The weekend left me spiritually and emotionally fulfilled, intellectually challenged, and a pound or two heavier!” What more can one ask for!

Buy your tickets….Anita Diamant is coming!

Saturday, April 24th at 6:30 PM
Join us for an amazing evening with world renowned author of The Red Tent.
Your ticket includes appetizers, the program, and a dessert reception.

Get your place now by going to our online web sales!

See you there.