For Immediate Release: March 19, 2004
Jodi Benjaminson, chairperson of Bet Havarim’s program committee, announces that Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Vice President of Governance at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote, PA, will be returning to Syracuse to lead the Frances S. Mylon Scholar-In-Residence weekend, April 16-18. The weekend is dedicated in memory Fran Mylon, a founding member of Bet Havarim.
Benjaminson states, "Rabbi Waxman, who led Bet Havarim's first High Holy Day observances, will conduct Friday night services, lead an interactive study session on Saturday morning and conclude with Yom HaShoah observances on Sunday morning. We will welcome Shabbat, Friday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. in St. David's Church social hall with Kol Haneshamah, the Reconstructionist siddur (prayer book)."
"Each of our service will combine traditional prayers, poetry and English readings, song, interpretations and more. An Oneg Shabbat following the service will give those attending the service an opportunity to visit with Rabbi Waxman," continues Benjaminson.
On Saturday April 17, at 10:30 a.m., in the social hall at St. David's, Rabbi Waxman will conduct an interactive study session entitled, "And You Shall Have Nothing But Joy: Jewish Perspectives on Happiness." Among the many topics under discussion will be how the Hebrew Bible defines happiness, how the ancient rabbis viewed contentment, and what insights into achieving joy were offered by the Jewish poets and scholars of the Middle Ages. According to Toni Meltzer, committee member, "We will be looking at Jewish perspectives on happiness as it developed throughout the 'evolving religious civilization of the Jews,' and what it means for us today in our 'pursuit of happiness.' At the conclusion of the session, attendees are invited to join Rabbi Waxman and the other guests for lunch."
The concluding session for the weekend will be a Yom HaShoah observance at the S. U. Hillel Winnick Center on campus, beginning at 10:00 a.m., Sunday. The service will include study and discussion of the meaning and history of the Shoah and its relevance to our lives today. Attendees will honor the memory of those who have passed on. The observance will combine ritual, study and through discussion of texts, both classical and contemporary with such themes as suffering, evil, justice, survival, and hope. Bagels and other noshes will be served. The Winnick Center is located on the corner of Walnut Place and Harrison Street. Parking is available in the Winnick Center’s parking lot on Harrison Street or the surface lot on the corner of Harrison & University opposite the new SU parking garage.
"We are very excited about having Rabbi Waxman returning to Syracuse for this Scholar-In-Residence weekend. Rabbi Waxman has the ability to create interesting participatory discussion and these study sessions should prove quite informative. Bet Havarim has invited the Syracuse University Jewish community to join us for the Yom HaShoah observance," concludes Meltzer.
Serving along with Benjaminson on the program committee are David and Marcia Schotz, Roz Bilford, Mel Shindler, Delia Temes, Toni Meltzer, Marty Morganstein, and Rachel Brown. All sessions are free of charge and are open to the community.
The public is cordially invited to Bet Havarim's Shabbat Worship services, which are held at St. David's Episcopal Church in Dewitt, on Jamar Drive, just off Maple Drive. At the intersection of East Genesee St. and Maple Drive, across from Wegman's in Dewitt, follow Maple Drive and take the third right turn on Jamar Drive. St. David's has ample parking and is handicapped accessible.
For information on the Scholar-In-Residence Weekend as well as Bet Havarim, schedule of services, D'vrei Torah, etc., visit Bet Havarim's website at www.BetHavarimSyr.org, email Info@BetHavarimSyr.org, or phone Marty Morganstein at 637-5390 or Mel Shindler at 478-6856.