Newsletter Archives:

Brotherhood Event Calendar

• Fri. April 4th 7:30 AM
  First Friday Torah Study
• 
  Sat. April 12th 7:15 PM
  99¢ Family Movie Avalon
  
  Sun. April. 13th 9:30 AM
  Breakfast with Israeli NSC Legal Advisor Roy Keidar
  Balancing between National Security and Human Rights – the Israeli Experience

Looking Ahead

• Thurs. May 1st 7:00 PM
  Brotherhood Social & Planning Meeting (offsite)
• Fri. May 2nd 7:30 AM
  First Friday Torah Study
• Sat. May 10th 7:30 PM
  A Night of Trivia
• Sun. May 18th 12:00 PM
  Annual End of School Picnic
• Thurs. May 22th 9:00 AM
  Temple Isaiah Classic Golf Outing

News & Information

• Annual Family Camping Trip: June 20th - 22nd
• Softball season getting under way (are you interested?)

“Why Not Golf”

A couple of years ago at a Brotherhood meeting we were discussing new ideas and activities that we would like to introduce to the Brotherhood membership. You know, the kind of stuff we all like to do that would interest a lot of people and involve lots of people in the Temple Isaiah community. Someone suggested a class on basic plumbing repair, another board member wanted to sponsor a series of lectures on tax preparation, and yet another wanted to see if Brotherhood wanted to have a field trip to… never mind.

After much back and forth discussion, thankfully, we decided to table all of those ideas. Just when we thought the discussion was over, Irwin Grossman came up with the idea for a golf outing! Wow, what a concept… take off from work on a beautiful May day, hit a few golf balls with friends, and in the great Jewish tradition… then we eat. This was a practically a no-brainer!

So, out of those humble beginnings, the first annual Brotherhood Golf outing was launched. Here are the details. The outing will be held at the Wayland Country Club on Thursday, May 22. Tee off time is 9:00 a.m. The cost is $125 per player (or $475 for a foursome) and includes greens fees, carts, coffee and doughnuts, a full BBQ steak and chicken lunch, and prizes for best scores. We will feature a long drive and closest to the pin competition, and hold a raffle at the lunch. We're sure to fill this premier event, so sign up your foursome before we sell out! If you are a solo player, we will pair you up with a foursome. All net proceeds will go to charities chosen by the Temple Isaiah Brotherhood.

I'm sure many of you are disappointed that we are not sponsoring the plumbing repair or tax preparation classes this year. We will try our best to include them in our events planning for next year. We hope the golf outing will be a worthy substitute :)

Art Rosenberg

Each month, Rabbi Brown leads a Torah Study group in a lively, participatory discussion of a Torah Portion. All congregants, both male and female, are welcome. Brotherhood provides fresh bagels, cream cheese and freshly brewed coffee for each session. It's a great way to start the month!

The discussions take place on the First Friday of each month at the temple. Sessions begin at 7:30 AM and end before 8:30. Bring a Tanach or share; no RSVP needed, just come. …back to top

Now Showing: “Avalon”

“it's funny and sweet… The story of all of our grandparents as they reach for the American dream - first generation Baltimore pioneers that gave birth to the Jewish, suburban middle class. The love, bickering, table talk and kvetching of the overflowing first apartment will make you laugh out loud. You will recognize the characters - they are your siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, all played with a richness and color that will seem all too real. Don't miss this terrific family movie!”

Join us on Saturday evening, April 12, for the latest in our 99¢ Jewish Family Movie Series at the Temple. We'll be showing the touching family drama “Avalon”. The movie starts at 7:15 pm and will be shown on the wide wide screen.

What makes a family, a family?

Barry Levinson examines the essence of this relationship in his introspective movie Avalon. Almost like looking at someone's photo album, where picture by picture a life story unfolds, this film is a collection of exquisitely crafted scenes that reveal the desires and disappointments of Sam Krichinsky's family as they pursue the American dream.

From the snapshots we learn Sam (Armin Mueller-Stahl) was only able to leave Eastern Europe because his four older brothers pooled together their hard earned wages to pay for his passage. We observe many 'family circle' meetings where contributions are collected to bring over other relatives. We join the gathering of aunts, uncles and cousins for crowded Thanksgiving dinners. And we chuckle at the complexities of multiple generations living under the same roof, next door or across the street from each other.

As the years pass and the clan grows, Sam tries to pass on this history to its youngest members. Despite chiding from his wife (Joan Plowright) -- 'How many times do we need to hear that story'-- the aging man loves to share the wonder he felt when he arrived in Baltimore on July 4, 1914. Unfamiliar with Independence Day celebrations, the starry-eyed immigrant believed the fireworks were welcoming him to his new home. Although Sam's sentimental tales are largely ignored, his grandson Michael (Elijah Wood) hangs on every word.

But America is not always the Promised Land. We witness this gradual disillusionment through a series of little events. First, an act of violence touches their lives. Then the melting pot philosophy contributes to Sam's son and nephew (Aidan Quinn and Kevin Pollack) changing their last name, sensing no significance in their identity or heritage. Even the blessing of increased financial security and a nicer house in the suburbs only leads to feelings of inequality and greater distance between the kin. When an overlooked minor tradition is taken as a major offence, the final undoing of family ties occurs.

Yet this film is about more than the slow unraveling of the Krichinsky's family fabric. Their plight encapsulates the impact of cultural changes on an entire nation. Some of the subtle influences explored in the movie include the effects of affluence, the introduction of television, and attitudes towards the elderly.

It's unlikely such themes will enthrall many little tikes, and perhaps that's just as well. The film contains mild profanities, many depictions of main characters smoking and drinking (including a pregnant woman), a brief scene showing a stabbing victim's blood, and portrayals of children playing recklessly with matches (the negative consequences are emphasized). More mature audiences however, will most probably be able to relate to some of the experiences presented. Enhanced by Randy Newman's poignant musical score, Avalon's bittersweet mosaic yields deep insights into the importance of families.

Admission to this event is 99¢. Popcorn is FREE. Sponsored by Brotherhood. Contact brotherhood@templeisaiah.net if you have any questions. …back to top

Please join us next Sunday, April 13th when we will welcome Roy Keidar, Legal Advisor of the Israeli National Security Council, for a talk entitled:

Balancing between National Security and Human Rights - the Israeli Experience.

The purpose of this talk is to present the audience with an inside view of some of the basic moral and ethical dilemmas that Israel is facing. It will demonstrate a different side of Israel than we usually hear about, through taking recent national security issues and showing how different measures were adopted (in substance and in process) to ensure compliance with international norms and moral standards. It will draw on recent Israeli Supreme Court decisions that demonstrate a very liberal and activist court compared to other democratic states, including the US. Although the issues are sometimes controversial (the barrier, targeted killing, cutting down electricity to Gaza, and actions in the second Lebanese war), the fact that society and the judiciary deal with it openly and seriously is quite unusual, and reflect true willingness to confront dilemmas that are inherent to Israel's situation in the Middle East.

Roy is the Legal Advisor of the Israeli National Security Council, a position he has held for the last three years. In this capacity, he has dealt with policy planning processes for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on a wide variety of issues including security, political, international and legal matters.

Roy is also in charge of providing legal advice to the Counter Terrorism Bureau on issues relating to legal aspects of counter terrorism, legislation, international cooperation, financing terror and homeland security.

Notably, Roy was appointed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to be a member of the inter-agency team that planned and executed Israel's "Disengagement Plan" from the Gaza Strip. Recently, he was nominated to be the coordinator of the Lt. Gen (ret.) Shahak committee that was appointed by the Cabinet to implement the “Winograd report” regarding the Second Lebanon War.

Currently, Roy is here in Boston as a Wexner fellow, and is scheduled to complete his Masters degree in public administration at the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University.

The morning's event will include a delicious bagel and lox bagel breakfast. The breakfast will start at 9:30 AM and Roy's presentation will begin at 10:00 A.M. General admission is $10, or free with Brotherhood membership (annual dues cost $45; spouses can join for $35; dues are free for new Temple Isaiah members). For further information, contact Murry Awrach at 781-861-0342 or Bob Zacher at 781-646-6027, or email brotherhood@templeisaiah.net. …back to top

For temple members and guests. This fun evening, sponsored by Sisterhood and Brotherhood on Saturday night May 10th, will be hosted by trivia expert Morgan White, renowned around the New England area for his humor and questions.

You can register as an individual or a couple and be placed at a table, or you can create your own table. Minimum ticket costs are $15.00 per person, although this is fundraiser and larger check are appreciated. Edible delights and desserts and snacks will be served (BYOB please). Teens, 20's and older welcomed. You don't have to be a trivia expert to join in on the fun. This event was a huge success four years ago, so come see why!!! Questions can be asked of Pam Awrach pamawrach@yahoo.com (she knows the answers!). Checks mailed to Pam Awrach 11 Goffe Road, Lexington 02421 (made out to Temple Isaiah Sisterhood). …back to top

Here are the details on the Golf Outing. Please respond to Irwin to register. Please note that this event is NOT LIMITED to Brotherhood or Isaiah; we welcome players from other Temples or the greater Lexington community.

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It's not too late to reserve your spot at the 5th Annual Family Camping Trip! We'll be out and about from Friday June 20th – Sunday June 22nd at Lake Dennison Campground in Gardner, MA (about an hour and 15 minute drive from Lexington). The cost per family will be $28. There is a limit on the number of families that can be accommodated, so if you are interested, please make sure to respond soon to Eric Brown at ebrown@prellchil.com. …back to top

It's Spring… time to get to the ball field!

Do you have a passion for softball? Would you like to get to know some additional members of the Temple Isaiah community as you join them to represent our temple in the Men's Shul Softball League (MSSL)? Meet like-minded guys from shuls around the Greater Boston area in a sportsmanlike setting? If so, perhaps you'd like to join the Temple Isaiah Red Lox! The 2008 spring season is underway, and the Red Lox have room for a few more players.

If you'd like to learn more, don't delay! Just send an e-mail to brotherhood@templeisaiah.net or contact Red Lox General Manager Alex Nedzel directly (in the directory). Let's play ball!

Also, for all you spectators out there who would like to root and/or socialize with our teams and their opponents, check out templeisaiahbrotherhood.org for the Red Lox game schedule. …back to top