Rodef Sholom: A Reform Jewish Congregation in Marin County, California

A rabbi and his daughter were driving in the car when she asked her father, “What is the holiest day in the Jewish year?” He thought for a moment and responded, “Purim! -- or maybe Shabbat.” “Purim?” Surprised by her father’s answer, she asked for an explanation. In the Torah, Yom Kippur is known as Yom Ha-Kippurim. Rabbi Isaac Luria (18th century) explains that the word Purim is found in the biblical name for Yom Kippur- Yom haki-PURIM, which literally means a day like Purim!

Why and how is Yom Kippur a day like Purim? The rabbis teach us that all holidays and each Shabbat are “half spiritual, half physical.” We spend part of each holy day praying and singing (the spiritual part) and the rest of the day eating a special meal, some challah, and celebrating at home with family or friends (the physical part). Of all the holidays in the Jewish calendar, Purim and Yom Kippur are the only two exceptions. Purim is all physical while Yom Kippur is all spiritual. Yom Kippur is spent fasting, while Purim is spent feasting. On Yom Kippur, we turn completely inward and thwart worldly endeavors, while on Purim, the opposite is true- we celebrate with costumes and loud noise (groggers), we eat and bring food (shalach manot) to friends and family, we give money to the poor. And even the central biblical text of Purim, the Book of Esther, never mentions God!

So how then, can Purim be holier than Yom Kippur? Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov writes that, If one attains holiness through affliction (like we do on Yom Kippur) and another attains holiness through indulgence (like we do on Purim), who is the greater of the two? One who attains holiness through indulgence is greater for it requires an infinitely greater degree of striving and effort.” I believe what he is saying is that holiness that derives from praying, meditating, and fasting is easier, cleaner-cut than finding holiness amidst the chaos of everyday life. Finding holiness while sitting on top of a mountain is often much easier than finding it while paying the bills or sitting in traffic. But ultimately, the is the lesson of Jewish life-- living a spiritual life while living life fully, with all its holy messiness. In this way, the challenge of Purim is greater!! That’s why Yom ha-kiPurim is only “a day like Purim.”

My point is not to diminish Yom Kippur’s importance, but rather, to recognize the importance and centrality of Purim! In essence, Purim and Yom Kippur are two sides of the same coin. They balance each other, and when we celebrate both, we too experience more balance and more holiness as well. I know we will have arrived when as many people attend Purim as do Yom Kippur!

I look forward to seeing you all this year on Purim (remember, Purim is not just for children, but is truly an adult holiday as well).

If you would like to participate in our Purim service and shpiel, let me know at 479.3441 or stacy@rodefsholom.org.

Come ready to celebrate, have fun, laugh, and enjoy! Oh and don’t forget your costume!

Rabbi Stacy Friedman

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Wednesday, March 7
5:45 pm Dinner*
6:30 pm Megillah reading

We’ll start the night with a dinner in the social hall, followed by a wild and crazy service as we read the megillah. Come in costume ready to laugh so hard you'll be crying!

*Reservations needed for dinner by March 2nd by contacting Pete at 479.3441 or pete@rodefsholom.org. Cost is $5 per person or $20 per family.

More Purim fun!

•Tot Shabbat Pre-Purim Costume Party!
Saturday, March 3, 9:30 to 10:15 am, Sanctuary
Dress as a king or a queen (or Elmo) at our Purim costume party! Just expect a silly service because Purim is the time when we laugh at ourselves and everything that we take seriously during the rest of the year. Come and hear the story and be really silly in the sanctuary. Everyone welcome!

•PurimPalooza
Don't forget to put PurimPalooza on your calendar for Sunday, March 11, 11:30 am--3 pm. We will be partnering with the Osher Marin JCC and others in the community to provide carnival games, live entertainment, delicious food and a costume parade.  Come in costume and stop by and say hello to our CRuSTY teens, who will be working to help your kids have fun!

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Come hear Anat Hoffman of the Israel Religious Action Center: February 10, 6:15 pm Shabbat services. She will be teaching on The Essence of Modern Israel in 10 Hebrew Words (you won’t learn in Hebrew School)

Anat Hoffman is a major leader for social justice in Israel. She is perhaps best known for never giving-up, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Anat was born and raised in Jerusalem and she served in the Jerusalem City Council for 14 years, leading the opposition to the right wing and ultra-Orthodox administration. She was a founding member of Women of the Wall, she is presently its chairwoman and she continues to be a tireless advocate for freedom of religion and women’s right. In 2002, Anat became the Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the legal and advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel.

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Fred Levin and Nancy Livingston, members of Rodef Sholom for a full generation, are committed to ensuring our synagogue’s future for the next one.

Newly married in 1982, their connection to Rodef Sholom began with the Jewish education of Fred’s son, Jeff, at age 15 following an anti-Semitic slur in school. Upon his confirmation, Nancy and Fred stayed on as members not only to set an example for Jeff and his sister Vickie, but because of the warmth and inclusiveness they felt from the community and Rabbi Michael Barenbaum. They quickly jumped into leadership roles, first Nancy serving on the Board when Cantor Margules was hired, followed by Fred serving on the board when Rabbi Stacy Friedman was hired. Together they co-chaired our strategic planning process in 1996 with Jack and Jeanette Kadesh.

Nancy and Fred honored Rabbi Friedman--who has been involved in many of their family milestones during her 18-year tenure here—with a generous gift in support of Shulchan Shabbat, our First Friday dinners. These dinners not only bring back fond memories of the potluck congregational dinners of 30 years ago, but also help to create the kind of familial warmth and friendships that originally drew them in. It is their hope that by coming together for Shabbat dinners people will become more connected and more involved.

Both Nancy (from Cleveland) and Fred (a 4th-generation San Franciscan) come from families with impressive traditions of Jewish philanthropy. Their own deep and long-standing commitment to giving back began at Rodef Sholom, and over the years, has extended to supporting a host of institutions devoted to the performing and visual arts, as well as to Jewish social services. Their philosophy of giving prioritizes endeavors that educate, develop, and look toward the future.

As stewards of The Shenson Foundation, Fred and Nancy view their role as both a deep privilege and a responsibility. Fred beams with enthusiasm over the word “philanthropy,” defining it as “doing more than one ever thought one could.” Although they realize their good fortune to be custodians of a foundation, their principles of giving are not exclusive to this realm; in fact, Fred would like to see every congregant embrace this definition of philanthropy, and stretch to give an amount that is “personally significant,” no matter the level.

A former board president, Fred’s objective then—and with Nancy, to this day—is to inspire everyone “to do something…to make your day and week count. To take steps, no matter how small, but to be involved.” Their strongly felt personal imperative is to inspire, to lead through example, and to encourage others to support our congregation, which they consider to be the center of Reform Judaism in Marin. Fred and Nancy are unequivocal in what they feel is our collective responsibility to “step up, be active, contribute our fair share, and give more, because there are people within our community who cannot.” Now that’s a definition of “philanthropy” we can all aspire to!

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Thursday, February 16, 7- 9 pm: Come learn about the real issues concerning housing in Marin, Rodef Sholom sanctuary

• Disturbed by the tone of affordable housing discussions in this county?
• Concerned about whether your children are going to be able to live near you?
• Underwater on your mortgage?
• Have you made compromises to live in Marin?

Come share your personal experiences about housing in Marin with fellow Rodef Sholom congregants, MOC leaders from other congregations and non-profits, and invited guests, and learn how we can work together to create the community we want. To RSVP or for more information, contact Judy Bloomberg at jbloomberg@immigrationvisalaw.com or Ken Mercer at KMercer@co.marin.ca.us.

The Marin Organizing Committee (MOC) is a broad-based organization of religious congregations and non-profit institutions working to create relational power that can build and strengthen member institutions as well as shape Marin County’s public policy for the common good.

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