December 2008
By David Kasakove

The Torah of Congregation Beth Elohim

When we think of Torah, what comes to mind? A scroll? A book? A moral code? What about our community?

The word "Torah" comes from the Hebrew root "yaroh", "to teach," and is translated as "teaching" or "instruction." Talmud Torah k'neged kulam – the study of Torah equals all mitzvot because it leads to the doing of mitzvot.  All true.  But this, too, is true: the doing of mitzvot in community itself leads to teaching or learning.

This past month, while this country experienced a historic election, our community lived through much grief and mourning.  Yet, our community taught us many things:

At a special meeting of the Congregation, a past president of our congregation, who has been a member for 41 years (during the rabbinates of Eugene Sack and Jerry Weider), makes a motion to renew Rabbi Bachman's contract.  The motion, which passes unanimously, reflects our Congregation's commitment to Jewish continuity and to a living, vibrant Judaism that is open to a diverse, growing community.

Highlighting our congregation's bonds from generation to generation, a new committee is formed to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Early Childhood Center on May 7, 2009, and is co-chaired by a new member with a child now in the ECC, and a member of 25 years, who once chaired the Early Childhood Center and now has grown children who were in the ECC in the 1980s.

At shiva, two members talk: a new member and the bereaved, a young man whose wife died unexpectedly and tragically, and both reflect upon the power of community to heal and bind us together.

At another shiva, I meet a new neighbor, a young man who just moved to Park Slope.  When I ask why, he replies, "To be a part of the Altschul minyan at Beth Elohim."  (I didn't tell him I was CBE's president until after he told me that!)

At Plymouth Church, people of many faiths mourn and honor the life of a member whose golden voice and character blessed our congregation and community for decades.

On Shabbat, the Yachad service is held in the Sanctuary, transforming a classical Reform setting to one filled with guitars, African drums and children on the bimah.

At a Havdalah bar mitzvah, the bar mitzvah family invites the entire community to celebrate, and to enjoy pre-Havdalah refreshments, reflecting the Jewish values of community and hospitality.

At a Shabbat evening service, while one family is grieving for a recent loss, another is celebrating a bar mitzvah, and both families experiencing, in community, the cycle of life.

The community mourns and celebrates the life of our beloved security guard, who died too young, as members, CBE employees, clergy,  friends, and family join together to remember a life of goodness and blessing.

All this is the Torah of Congregation Beth Elohim.

With all best wishes for a Hanukah season of light and blessing.