The arrival of spring and the promise of Pesach inspire us with the potential for renewal and redemption. We have endured, and thankfully survived, what was possibly the most challenging winter of our lives—not caused by weather, but by conditions of historic proportion…
Read MoreMarch marks one year since COVID caused us to physically separate ourselves from one another. One year since we relearned everything about interacting with friends, family, neighbors and strangers. One year since we filled our sacred chapel with song and prayer…
Read MoreMarking one year of COVID fills us with a range of emotions as we grieve what we lost, express gratitude for what we have, and hope for better days ahead. COVID has transformed our lives, our sacred community, and our world. In Judaism we acknowledge that grief does not disappear immediately but that it evolves over time – we count the days, months and years since the loss of a loved one. Processing the pandemic may feel similar to mourning…
Read MoreLike many of you, my eyes welled up as we watched a mob descend on our most sacred national spaces. I felt nauseous seeing guards run from people wielding guns, watching them break down windows and desecrate the spaces where our lawmakers from both parties, chosen by citizens, work to create and shape the future of our country. Senators and Representatives hid under desks and were escorted to safer spaces, while our president declared his love for those rioting.
Read MoreAs our country concludes voting today, I know that many are feeling anxious, scared, and, I pray, hopeful. Hopeful because whether by absentee ballot or in person today, we who are eligible were able to participate in our incredible civic process to guide our nation. I am also hopeful because of our CMI community and Jewish tradition that guides and supports us through both joyous and challenging times.
Read MoreMishkan Israel’s Get Out the Vote team, on behalf of CONECT (Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut of which CMI is a member congregation) is asking CMI congregants to fill out the survey contained in the link below. The goal of CONECT is to have 100% of each member congregation be registered to vote and then vote.
Read MoreJudaism’s gift to the world is hope – a vision and unwavering commitment to create a perfect world enveloped in shalom, in peace and wholeness. For over 2000 years, Jews have overcome remarkable challenges because we always remain optimistic. This year will be no different, even though nothing is the same as it was. As we face continued risk from COVID and in consultation with our ritual committee and Board of Trustees, we have made the difficult decision to hold High Holy Day services online. While we will miss being physically together, and even though we face many challenges, when we gather together as a community we can find optimism in the traditions that have supported our people generation after generation.
Read MoreAs we enter into August much of our focus at CMI turns to the High Holy Days and the return of our students to religious school. This year our focus is no different. We are still preparing services from our ancient liturgy and familiar melodies to uplift us all during the Days of Awe. We are still preparing lesson plans and workbooks for our students to help them build a positive Jewish identity and build community. The difference, of course, is that we are working hard to do this all online.
Read MoreThis week we begin reading our fifth book of the Torah, Deuteronomy. As we begin reading our sacred text we realize that something feels different. As Professor Bill Hallo, a CMI member of blessed memory, writes in the Reform Torah Commentary, "Deuteronomy occupies a unique position in the Hebrew Bible and in the history of biblical scholarship.[1]" Not only do we know more about its actual history, but the literary style is different than the previous four books. It is written as a series of homilies by Moses for the people before they enter the Land of Israel.
Read MoreThis week, as we conclude the book of Numbers, we recount the journey of the Israelites from Egypt. As the they stood on the banks of the Jordan river, they were about to experience profound change after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. They recalled their history in order to understand their present and future. In 2020 we are experiencing profound change in our world and look to history as a guide. Yet, we also are learning that our understanding of history might differ from our neighbor’s. We might learn that our narrative is different depending on how we and our ancestors experienced past events.
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