Kol+HaLev-+All+Community+Program+2


 * OUTLINE FOR SUKKOT TIME TRAVEL**
 * WRESTLING WITH DIFFICULT HISTORICAL DECISIONS**


 * GOAL**: The goal of the program is to explore various time periods in history when the Jews were faced with difficult choices.


 * MATERIALS:** script for each sukkah visit, Sue Pelleg and Rabbi Steve to lead singing on guitar, snacks provided at each Sukkah

3:45- 4:15 Program at Selkers 4:15-4:30 Load trolleys, drive to Robertsons, and disembark 4:30- 5:00 Program at Robertsons 5:00- 5:15 Load trolleys, drive to Gross-Rosenblatts and disembark 5:15- 5:30 Program at Gross-Rosenblatts 5:30- 5:45 Load trolleys, drive to Friedman-Rommels 5:45-6:15 Program at Friedman-Rommels 6:15-6:30 Return to Agnon
 * TIME TABLE:**
 * 3:30-3:45:** Board trolleys, travel to and disembark at Selkers


 * METHOD:**
 * DECISION #1 (SELKERS) 1492 SPAIN, SECRET JEWS OR THE NEW WORLD?**

Steve calls a community meeting as rabbi of our community (or Greg as mayor) to update us on rumors he has been hearing of what has been going on in larger communities such as Madrid, Seville etc. It seems the Catholic Church has a new policy. By Simchat Torah all Jews in outlying areas such as ours must either convert to Christianity or leave Spain. Many in the larger cities have already converted, but are continuing to practice certain Jewish practices such as lighting candles etc, but secretly in their basement. They are able to thus continue to live their lives as before. The only other possibility is to leave on a ship to the East Indies. It is rumored there is a New World there with new foods but inhabited by a savage people. This new world is very primitive compared to our modern life here in Spain. Many who have already gone have died of diseases and the very harsh snowy winters. This will be our last Sukkah here. Either we must leave Spain or convert to Christianity and never openly practice our Judaism again. Even I must become Christian if I chose to stay. It is not an easy decision- to leave all we have for a primitive New World if we are lucky enough to board a ship that makes it to this New World, or to stay here, and live our lives as we always had, with the one exception of only performing Jewish rituals in secret. We can continue lighting candles but we must not let our grandchildren know the reasons we light them on Friday evening. I know it is not an easy decision, but perhaps if we discuss it as a community, we can help each other come up with an answer.


 * DECISION #2 (ROBERTSONS) 1830 HAMBURG, GERMANY WRESTLING WITH TRADITION VS. MODERNITY**

Pete welcomes everyone to his Sukkah and is especially happy to introduce Rabbi Samuel Holdhein (Jeff Schein) who is visiting our community having heard that our Hamburg Temple had adopted a new prayerook that did not mention a return to Israel and got rid of messsaniam. He looks forward to worshiping with us and hearing h semen read in Hebrew. At which point Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsh (Rabbi Steve) breaks in and demands from Peter how he could invite this “Reformer” to his Sukkah. Did he not know that Holdheim believe the Torah represents human reflection of divine illumination, and that he dares to believe that authority lies not in the texts at all but in reason and conscience. The two engage in a debate arguing the benefits of their philosophy. Then asked the community, which type of congregation would you rather worship one that said prayers and sermons in German, had choirs and musical instruments, and changed the language of prayer.- a service which resembled our Xtain neighbors. Or the familiar comfortable e way we are used to. Holdhiem can end asserting those at the last worshipping this new way quickly forget and convert to Christianity.


 * DECISION #3 (GROSS-ROSENBLATTS) 1880’S SHTETL IN EASTERN EUROPE: TO AMERICA OR ISRAEL?**

Charles and Deborah welcome us their neighbors and friends to their Sukkoh for the last time. Rumor has it the next government incident (pogrom) will be somewhere in this region. They are not going to sit around and wait. They will be leaving this shtetl, but where they are still uncertain. Charles would like to join his brother in New York. His brother writes of the streets being paved with gold, school is free, there is plenty of work and lots of food. Charles is concerned thought about the lifestyle there. His brother haws also told him to shave his beard, not wear his Kipah, and that he must be willing to work on Shabbat. If they go to America, they can live with his brother at least for a while, and won’t it be nice for Emily to not be afraid of being Jewish, to go to school for free etc. Deborah interrupts the reason they are not afraid to be Jewish there is because they abandon their Judaism. No kiippot, working on Shabbat, what kind of life is that for a Jew. She shares with us that she wants to join her brother Moshe, in Palestine. There Emily can grow up speaking Hebrew ,the Jewish language, and fighting to establish the first Jewish country in modern times. We can join his family on their farming settlement, work the land, and celebrate and live life proudly as Jews. And no more cold winters. We can be halutrzim, pioneers. Emily expresses she is torn. She likes the freedom it sounds like will be hers in America and the opportunity, but to live as a Jew in what she hopes will someday be a Jewish country. And to farm the land instead of working in a factory, but America is supposed to be full of money and there is always a chance of an Arab attack in Israel.. She is not sure which she wants to do. What do we think?

Beth: A shat? Frederick: A yurt. Beth: A yurt. Frederick: (pleased with himself). Yeah. Isn't it great? Beth: As in Mongol hordes and Attilla the Hun. Frederick: As in it's only going to cost me 50 bucks to make it. And, it's temporary, like a sukkah, it's got an open roof made of natural materials – it'll be great! Beth: But it's ROUND!
 * DECISION #4 (FRIEDMAN-ROMMEL) IS A ROUND SUKKAH OK.? IN THE YEAR 2000 IN CLEVELAND, OHIO**
 * F**rederick: Beth, I've come up with the perfect design for our sukkah. Ta-da (show picture of yurt) It's a Mongolian yurt.

Frederick: So? Beth: A sukkah has to have at least three walls.

Frederick: Why?

Beth: Um, well, um, because...it needs to have four corners to recall the four corners of the earth from which all Jews will be gathered together, as symbolized in the four //tzitzit// (fringes) of our //tallit// (prayer shawl). It's a Jewish unity thing. Frederick: The earth is round. Beth: Oh. yeah. (pause) Look, I've waited 36 years to have a sukkah, and I don't want some weird imitation YURT cluttering up my backyard. Frederick: Fine, then build it yourself. Beth: Fine, then we just won't have one! enter the ghost of Mordecai Kaplan MMK: Beth, why are you so hung up on this particular piece of halacha? As a Reconstructionist Jew, don't you realize "The past has a vote, not a veto?" Your husband's obviously excited about doing this mitzvah. Wouldn't it be better to promote //shalom bayit//, peace in your house, and compromise? (pause here to let the community weigh in) Frederick: Beth, look at this email I just got back from "Ask a Rabbi.com." Apparently the Talmud gives specific calculations based on //pi// for the dimensions of round sukkot. And he also said the halachically important thing is the roof, not the walls. Beth: Well, what do you know? MMK: One week later... Beth: Frederick, look at the great lulav and etrog I made from the garden. Fresh basil has taste and fragrance – like Jews who have learning and good deeds: the tomato, with taste but no fragrance is like those who possess learning but no deeds; the lily had fragrance but no taste, i.e. deeds but no learning, and the corn stalk's got bupkes. And I grew them myself, so it's really my harvest! And it didn't cost a dime! Frederick: Now //you've// really gone too far... (community be the judge)