New Year, New Initiatives
By Rabbi Mark J. Bisman, Spiritual Leader, from The Voice, January 2010

     2010! Only three and a half months ago we began 5770 as the New Year on the Jewish calendar. At the end of January we celebrate the Jewish New Year for trees, known as T”U B’Shevat [15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat]. As Americans and Jews we are fortunate to have so many new-year markers. Marking the end of a period of time and starting a new period of time creates an opportunity for reflection as well as celebration.
   Witness the increased number of newspaper discussions and articles this year with the end of a decade of years and the beginning of a new decade.
   Har Zion has officially become a participant in Synaplex TM, an initiative of STAR [Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal]. At the behest of our president Eric Schlesinger, Joe Nessim heads a committee that will be taking stock of how Har Zion might best use the experience of congregations that have participated in this initiative to add to the joy and excitement we have experienced in the monthly Har Zion Klezmer Band Friday night Shabbatot. The committee will be consulting with other congregations and making use of the STAR educational and organizational material available on line.
   The Synaplex Web site offers an answer to the question, “What does a typical Synaplex Shabbat look like?” “There is no such thing as a typical Synaplex Shabbat. That’s the beauty of Synaplex — each congregation designs it in a manner that best meets the needs of its culture and community. Some congregations hold Synaplex on Friday evening; others on Saturday morning, while still others have it throughout Shabbat and conclude with Havdalah and a post-Shabbat activity. Some synagogues hold Synaplex monthly, others quarterly. It’s important [that each congregation] schedule it considering [its] resources and calendar so that it is most effective.”
   The committee has begun its work. Your suggestions are most welcome. Direct them to Joe or to me. You can send them anonymously through the office if you indicate that the information should be passed on to either of us anonymously.
   In assessing your current experience with Friday night services that are not Klezmer Shabbatot or Shabbat morning, or Shabbat afternoon services, we may create a survey or convene some focus groups. You need not wait for a survey or a focus group to share your experiences or your thoughts about how we might enhance your spiritual experience.
    With some creative use of our spaces and some small group activities, we might be able to offer multiple Shabbat experiences at the same time. Some congregations in our area offer childcare and age-appropriate Shabbat programs to enable parents to participate in worship or study moments to enhance their adult spiritual growth and nurturance. Others create or model Shabbat family-time experiences that can be duplicated in one’s own home. Some Shabbat offerings use movement — yoga or dance — to allow a participant’s body to experience the rhythm and peace of Shabbat.
   With our already planned projects and programs, 2010 at Har Zion will be an exciting year. It will also be a time to take stock of what we might do in this new decade to help Har Zion be worthy of calling itself a “sacred community.”
   Some footnotes:
   1) With the passing of Adele Gordon on December 9, Har Zion lost one of its most enthusiastic and optimistic members. Those of us who knew, admired, and loved Adele have lost our example of how to live, with health and blessing, for more than a hundred years with gusto, discipline, and determination.Har Zion will hold a memorial service Sunday, January 10, at 12:30 p.m., in our Sanctuary. Adele and her family have made a deep and lasting imprint on our congregation in so many ways.
   2) Please join me in walking for Israel at the JNF T”U B’Shevat Tempe Town Lake, January 31, noon. Details can be found on the back cover or at http://www.jnf.org/about-jnf/events/2010/tu-bishvat-walk.html.