The day began with our annual HUC breakfast. The big difference this year was that the HUC breakfast has become the Reform Movement Breakfast and thus URJ, CCAR and HUC-JIR have joined forces. There is no doubt that this is part of the exciting future which my colleagues Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, President of the CCAR, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the URJ,  David Ellenson, President of HUC-JIR and Steven Fox, Executive Vice-President of the CCAR all discussed during the breakfast. There is no doubt that the economics of our time have given us a wonderful opportunity. Everyone spoke from the heart and they were concise in their comments making this a very enjoyable session. Of course the highlight each year for me is Roll Call! This is when each year is called out and members of that class stand and cheer. There is something about my class sitting together and jumping up yelping our “YEAH”. The feeling that each year we wait longer to hear our class year being called out is balanced with the sense of awe that I feel toward my colleagues who have been rabbis for so long. The annual standing ovation for those who were ordained 50 years ago is heartwarming.  There is a sense of Kesher, nof connection that we share with each other that seems to be so present at this session each year. Then we had the first part of our Professional Development Day as we attended the first of two sessions dedicated to improving our rabbinate. I took the session titled, “The Well Connected Rabbi – Having an Online Rabbinic Presence,” I thought it was a great session with lots of wonderful and practical ideas for getting our vision, our teaching to our congregants. I have a lot to learn about blogging!!!  Then I had lunch with some of my friends at House of Nan King, thanks Jonathan Hirshon for the suggestion! It was some of the best Chinese food I have had. And so with a happy belly, I attended the afternoon session. I attended the session titled “visual T’filah – using digital media in the Sanctuary.” This is the idea of projecting images and videos on the screen instead of holding a prayerbook in one’s hand. It is a whole new world and no doubt change can be intimidating but I think when used in the right situation and setting it can be an incredibly wonderful way to make worship assessable. I was impressed with the level of creativity and I look forward to seeing how our congregation can integrate this technology. Well after a fast shower I had dinner at another lovely restaurant. Then our evening program concluding with none other than eating Ice Cream while overlooking  the beautiful city of San Francisco. What a great last snap shot of this terrific convention. Now off to the room to pack and get some sleep.

The day began with an excellent presentation from Marc Dollinger, a professor at San Francisco State University. He spoke on the topic “Seeing Opportunities in Innovation.”  He was not only humorous and kept our attention, he spoke honestly and thoughtfully. He set the San Francisco Jewish scene for us brilliantly as he did a sweep of the last four generations of Jews living in San Francisco.  He said many wonderful things, but one of my favorite quotes was that “no generation is more authentic than another.”   Professor Dollinger helped frame for us the various adventures we would experience on our day out of the hotel and into the San Francisco Community. I attended the site learning session on “friends, foes, or somewhere in Between? Jewish-Muslim relations in the US: challenges to confront, ways to move forward”. The session was lead by the co-Executive directors of Abraham’s vision Aaron Hahn Tapper and Huda Abu Arqoub. It was held at the Islamic Society of San Francisco and we learned about their two major programs, the unity program and the vision program.  Although it was a long session, I felt it was incredibly valuable to hear about a successful program that brings Jews and Muslims together in the hopes of giving them a vision of the future that is just and fair. I look forward to sharing some of these ideas with our local Iman.  After that program a few of us went out and had some wonderful San Francisco cuisine and then off to an evening program!!!

Our day began at 7am with our Ayelet breakfast and discussion on the next “potential” High Holy Day prayerbook. A very interesting discussion took place. After that program we had our convention service which not only was the shortest one in recent history but more importantly was filled with a great sense of spirit, of Kavanah. The energy in the room with colleagues praying and engaged in worship was as close to the energy of Shabbat services at camp!  It was very cool!

Then our Torah Lishmah sessions, focusing on various subjects that have at the core of their learning some element of text study.   After my session, I was part of a regional meeting with URJ leadership that was informative and thoughtful. The goal of our session was to give us an update of our region (Northern California) and to exchange some thoughts and ideas.   The afternoon session titled “The Challenges of Intermarriage for the Reform Rabbi” was divided into a couple key components. A well put together presentation from the Task Force and small discussion groups. It is always a wonderful experience to build new relationships and to have times to share with colleagues. Then it was time for dinner! This evening I had a wonderful dinner at “Scala’s Bistro” with members of my ordination class (it is our custom to have a “class dinner” at all conventions) we attend. Then we had a wonderful treat. An evening with Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me.”  He was terrific, highly entertaining and hilarious! After that conference highlight we experienced a special evening service commemorating the twentieth year of the inclusion of Openly Gay and Lesbian Rabbis. It was a beautiful service and I especially appreciated the personal stories that were woven into the actual liturgy. Then of course we had a reception on the top of the hotel looking out to see the beautiful late night sky line. Well time for some sleep and then off to our all day look at San Francisco innovations of Jewish life program.

The weather is gorgeous!  And luckily so too is the hotel. For as you may or may not know one is more indoors than outdoors at a convention.

The morning program that I participating in “Why Israeli Arabs Are a Jewish Issue” with Brian Lurie was excellent.  Participants experienced a thoughtful presentation and provocative discussion. The session’s theme was on how the Arab Israeli is treated, how they may feel and what our responsibility is towards them. We talked about the majority of Israeli-Arabs who wish to live in Israel and whether they understand their responsibility towards the State of Israel. Brian Lurie is a fantastic resource and his organization which I believe he said was the Inter-agency task force on Israeli Arabs seems like an organization worth learning more about. I think their website would be worth checking out. Then off to a walk around the hotel to enjoy some of the beautiful weather. I was able to spend some time enjoying the company of one of my close friends and classmates as we had a wonderful lunch. Now it is time to watch the Oscars!!!

It may be raining, snowing, blowing and yucky outside, but that will not stop us from experiencing the fullness of Purim. Purim is a minor holiday that reminds us that we need to not take ourselves too seriously.  The tradition of giving gifts (mishloach Manot) hearing the Megillah of Esther and dressing up for a party are part of the wonderful catharsis that makes up the celebration of Purim. For us at Temple Emanu-El we will begin our festivities this Saturday evening, as we will have a Swing era costume party with a swing band, with lots of craziness surrounding the reading of the Megillah. After that party we will have our Purim Shpiel (play) the day after at 11:00 am in the sanctuary, titled: Monty Python and the Holy Shpiel. Then we have our annual Purim Carnival, rain or shine we will be enjoying ourselves! I invite you to join us for some or all of our activities.  May you have a Purim Sameach, a good and happy Purim!

And although we should be proud of the response the United States, Israel and other countries have had to the devastating aftermath in Haiti, to still hear reports that food, medicine and other supplies have not reached everyone in need is disheartening. It is also interesting to note that although it was the topic of the media when it first happened, we can see how it is already taking a back seat to other “news worthy” items.  It is our obligation to stay aware and involved in what Haiti is going through and if you have not sent any financial assistance, please think about doing so. The Union for Reform Judaism has a link as well as our local Federation.

And as hard as it is to believe, Chanukah is actually a minor festival. The theme of Chanukah is what is most important, as we celebrate our religious freedom. Chanukah is a time for us to reflect on our identity as Jews. Lighting the Chanukah candles, eating Latkes and Sufganiyot (Jelly donuts), playing with dreidels and giving gelt are traditional activities during Chanukah. So too doing acts of Tzedahkah (righteousness) are wonderful ways to experience Chanukah. For example, we visited the San Jose Family Shelter as well as Chai House lighting candles and singing songs. How do you experience Chanukah? In the midst of contemplating our freedom from oppression how do we deal with Christmas being the center of our American society this time of the year? 

I have grown increasingly frustrated at how every problem or negative issue that occurs in our country is used as an opportunity to point fingers.  Ft. Hood is one of the latest examples. We blame the fact that the FBI should have done more. We blame the religion of the criminal. We blame our government, gun shops, the psychiatric profession… you name it we will blame it! At what point do we take responsibility for such actions. Maybe we need to reflect on whether a decade long state of war for our military may have some negative outcomes. Maybe we need to take responsibility for the level of prejudice and intolerance in our country. When do we look in the mirror as a country and stop the blaming!  There are those in our leadership who use these moments as opportunities to create greater fear or animosity toward the other side (politically).  Enough is enough!!!

That was the suggestion expressed to those who attended a presentation on Global Warming and Renewable energy at the Chung Tai Zen Center a week or so ago. While participating in a panel discussion explaining a Jewish point a view I made the statement that there was a time that one ate meat at the most once a week or on special occasions. So it hit me that the campaign should be that we eat meat only day a week and eat vegetarian the rest of the time.  Why?  For we over eat meat in our society and it takes so much of our resources to produce meat and that which animals leave behind also contributes to pollution of our water table and our environment. Also we have less farm land for producing food for people. Could you be vegetarian six days a week?   

That is why many in the world-wide Jewish community, will be observing tonight and tomorrow Climate Healing Shabbat. This Shabbat coincides with the International Day of Climate Action called by Bill McKibben, the organization called 350.org, and more than 4,000 local groups around the world. The number "350" has been named by a number of eco-scientists as the highest acceptable limit for the proportion of CO2 in the atmosphere - 350 parts per million - if global climate change is to be halted short of global disaster. This is why our Shabbat minyan tomorrow morning will be in Nature at Alum Rock Park, starting at 10:30am.  So too I will be participating in an interfaith panel discussion of approaches to environmental ethics and responsibility at the Chung Tai Zen Center in Sunnyvale at 3pm. The program will also include a presentation on Global Warming and Renewable Energy. It is amazing to me that there are so many who still believe that Global Warming is not a problem. I hope you will take some opportunity this Shabbat to explore this issue for yourself. For if we do not work together to effect change than we are all in great trouble. And the first step is being educated about this world problem.

That is to the High Holy Days!  As this evening marks, in the Reform movement, the final day of Sukkot and the holiday of Simchat Torah! Simchat Torah which literally means the ‘joy of Torah’ is the holy day when we finish reading the book of D’varim (Deuteronomy) and begin reading the book of Bereshit (Genesis). This evening we will literally unroll an entire Torah around our Sanctuary and talk about some of the amazing features of our Torah. So too we will be consecrating our newest members of our Religious School during this celebration of Torah, reminding all of us that learning and studying is not only a joyful experience, it is one of the most important elements of being Jewish and growing spiritually. Our theme for the year in fact is Torah and I hope you will take some time if not each week, then as often as you can to engage in the study of Torah. For as our liturgy states, “the study of Torah leads to peace.”  May the conclusion of the High Holy Days be one of great thoughtfulness and joy for you and your family!

Yom Kippur paired with Rosh Hashanah offers us an opportunity to reflect on our behavior and our relationships with one another. If we take the work of Teshuvah (repentance) to heart and try to return to our proper path then we are able to wipe the slate clean and to start fresh.   If we take the opportunity that Yom Kippur offers seriously than we are ready for what Sukkot can offer us.   For Sukkot reminds us of our basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. The very things that we so often take for granted and yet for so many American’s who have lost their jobs and worse these have become precious commodities. Sukkot reminds us that every person deserves these basic needs and that we should not take them for granted. Sukkot conjures up our agrarian roots as a people and how important it is for us to live with our planet. Our responsibility to our environment is emphasized by the tradition of living in the Sukkah for the entire week of Sukkot and the Mitzvot of dwelling in the Sukkah, eating a meal in the Sukkah and waiving the Lulav and Etrog.  I hope you will take the time to come into our Sukkah in the courtyard!  There is something magical about the meaning and the tradition of the Sukkah. I wish you and yours a Chag Sameach!  

During the High Holy Days when we are to be focused on the process of Teshuvah, of returning to our proper path, by taking responsibilities for our actions and cleaning up the messes we have made during the year, we get a break. This Shabbat in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur known as the Sabbath of return (Shabbat shuvah) is not a break from the work of Teshuvah as much as it is an opportunity for us to consider our Shabbat behavior during the year. For Shabbat is an anchor for each of us to take time in the midst of our hectic week to stop and consider our actions, our behaviors and our relationships with others.  Shabbat can be an opportunity to live in spiritual time and not the linear time that we are forced to experience nearly every day. Shabbat as a “state of being” that can help us return (shuv) to our more comfortable and natural state of existence, a part of us that we often lose over time.  May this Shabbat be the first of many in this New Year that we experience and may it help us focus where we need to be this Sunday night as we come to Kol Nidre. 

As we approach Rosh Hashanah this evening, I wish you all a healthy, happy and fulfilling good new year. May 5770, be a great year for all of us and may our world become a better and more loving place to live.  L’shana tova umetukah, Rabbi Magat

a holy day that affords us the opportunity to reflect on our behavior as well as our relationship with others, we also think of those in our lives who we miss.  This week our Reform Jewish community lost one of our great leaders.  Dr. Alfred Gottschalk former President and Chancellor of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish institute of Religion died this week from complications from a car accident he had earlier in the year.  Dr. Gottschalk was a builder and pioneer of Reform Judaism and a champion of the Jewish people.  An advocate for women’s rights in Judaism, he ordained the first women rabbis in America and Israel.  He was the architect of the College-Institute’s campuses in Los Angeles and Jerusalem.  As a refugee from Nazi Germany who had witnessed the onslaught of the Holocaust, he devoted his life to regenerating Jewish life and learning, and a dedicated his energies to the creation of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.  An ardent Zionist, his support for Israel was unwavering.  His enormous contributions to the shaping of contemporary Judaism for over six decades will endure as a sacred legacy and a source of inspiration.  Personally, Dr. Gottschalk was the one who ordained me a rabbi and over the course of my time at the college institute I enjoyed our discussions and his care. May Dr. Gottschalk’s memory be for a blessing.

we are reminded of the tragedy that befell our country 8 years ago. It is hard to imagine so much time has passed and so little has changed.  Fear and action were the initial reactions of our fellow citizens. New York was an example of how humanity can truly rise to the occasion. With countless heroes we felt a sense of pride even in the midst of our grief. But did we sustain that attitude in this country?  Are we a country that has learned from 9/11 or are we still reacting to our fear?  As we approach the beginning of the High Holy Day season tomorrow evening with Selichot, how have we changed and grown since 9/11?  What do you think?

Have you been doing some of your internal work during this month of Elul?

I have suggested that journaling and meditating are good ways to begin the process of reflection and contemplation which are necessary if we want to be ready for the opportunity the High Holy Days offers us. The first step I suggested was getting your bearings, understanding where you are at presently. Are you able to do this?  If not then spend more time on those things that force you into your soul… walking on the beach, hanging in nature, closing your eyes in a safe and comfortable place and touching base with your feelings, talking to a therapist, reflecting with a friend, talking to yourself in the shower!  Take some more time to ask yourself some questions…  Am I happy?  I am able to experience ultimate meaningful existence, if not why? Do I have unresolved issues I need to work through?  This is the time to be real with our selves.