Page 32 - Jewish News_January 2020

32A January 2020 COMMENTARY

Bring light into the world A touching symphonic

There are so many personal and moment
communal experiences that might en- By Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz, Community Chaplain
From gulf us in darkness. The loss of a loved owadays there is never a short- her that they had not been forgotten
one, a trying family situation, financial
the difficulties or health issues may darken Nabundance of cable television but would be announced at the con-
age of news. This is due to the
our world. Similarly, contemplating
clusion of the concert, just before the
Bimah environmental issues, warfare and po- channels and, of course, the internet. encore.
Additionally, a constant stream of hap-
litical strife also engulfs us in darkness.
Indeed, when the last scheduled
How do we bring light to these areas of penings from family and friends locat- piece ended and the audience’s ap-
Rabbi Michael Werbow our life? ed throughout the world is constantly plause had brought conductor Robert
Temple Beth Sholom One way is to use the light of Cha- being sent to our Romanski back to the stage, he made
nukah coupled with the making of Facebook feed. special mention of the group. This
appy New Year! I hope every- resolutions on New Year’s Day to turn In fact, there are prompted the audience to offer a stand-
one has enjoyed their Chanu- Martin Luther King Jr. Day into a day so many stories ing ovation with several people com-
Hkah celebrations and that you of service and action. It is not enough and photos on it ing over to the survivors to convey
all found much joy and light during a to think about what needs to be done. that we have to their regard.
time of the year that is the darkest and We must act. speed through The conductor then shared a story
coldest. We now take that light that we The Ten Commandments are men- them just to keep about when, at the age of 35, he accom-
all created to head out of the darkness tioned twice in the Torah. In Exodus we up. Nevertheless, panied his mother to a deposition about
and to spread the light to many other are told to “Remember the Sabbath,” Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz in spite of this a car accident she’d been involved in.
areas of our community. and in Deuteronomy we are told to digital onslaught, there are still many Under oath, her revelation that she’d
Often times, in Judaism, people “Observe the Sabbath.” The question worthy events that go unreported. I been married prior to her marriage to
link one celebration to another. After is asked, “Why are there differences in share one with you here. the conductor’s father shocked him.
Sukkot, people will make a liquor out of the two versions of the Ten Command- Earlier this year, The Jewish Fed- Later, she recounted that her father,
the etrog that they can drink on Purim, ments?” An answer given by the rabbis erations of North America awarded a a German cab driver, convinced an
or save the palm from the lulav to use is that both remembrance and action special grant enabling both JFCS of American serviceman to meet his
to burn the chametz on Passover. Fol- are needed. Neither works alone. the Suncoast and Gulf Coast JFCS daughter, whom he then married. The
lowing Yom Kippur, some people head It is not enough to think about how (Clearwater) to develop innovative two subsequently moved to the United
right home to start building their suk- we can make a difference. We need to wellness programming for Holocaust States.
kah, linking celebrations one to another. act on these thoughts. Making the reso- survivors. In her role as project co- Romanski indicated that if not for
We can link our religious and secu- lution to volunteer, to support a chari- ordinator for our area, Anna Eckstein that marriage, his mother would prob-
lar holidays together as well. I suggest table organization or to assist someone has organized a myriad of activities for ably not have survived the war. He
linking Chanukah with New Year’s in need is a great way to start the New survivors such as music performances, expressed deep respect for what the
Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Year. Then, implementing that resolu- poetry readings, an elder-law work- survivors had endured in escaping the
Hopefully, Chanukah stirred up for you tion as soon as possible is a way to make shop, herbal medicine demonstration, cruel fate so many others suffered.
ideas of how you can bring light into sure you don’t forget it and can be a way and presentations on Jewish topics by Following this, Romanski proceed-
the world. Lighting candles is how we to set a positive tone for the year ahead. local rabbis. ed to lead the symphony in the playing
respond religiously to the darkness in May 2020 be a year of light for you In October, members of the North of John Williams’ haunting, piercingly
the world. Unfortunately, that is not and your families as we all bring light Port survivor group inquired if Anna inspiring theme to Schindler’s List.
enough. into the world. could arrange for them to attend a Several of the survivors wept. They
concert by the North Port Symphony.
were tears of sadness for friends and
ConneCt Because funds are not available to pay family that had been lost, but also of
pride and gratitude for the new life
the cost for such an outing, Anna spoke
with your Jewish Community to the symphony’s executive direc- they have found in America.
tor who generously provided 15 free
Though this encore had been
tickets to a performance in November planned for the concert long before
and said the group’s presence would be Anna called the symphony’s executive
facebook.com/jfedsrq announced from the stage. director, it felt as if it had been fore-
However, on the night of the con-
ordained because, as the Baal Shem
cert, when the audience was apprised Tov famously asserted, “There are no
of the special guests in attendance, coincidences.”
the North Port survivors weren’t an- Rabbi Jonathan R. Katz serves as a
nounced among them. Since the group Community Chaplain and Director of
had looked forward to being recog- JFCS’s Jewish Healing Program. His
nized, Anna sought out the executive position is underwritten by The Jewish
Temple Beth Sholom director during intermission to ask Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.
why. Without explanation, he reassured
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