A Few Words from Rabbi Craig Marantz

Re-entry this past week was very positive. After a great two weeks at OSRUI, I was happy to return to Emanuel and focus on meaningful change.

Cantor Friedman and I worked on High Holy Day plans and innovations. Stay tuned for details, but suffice it to say we look forward to implementing a healing service among other opportunities for new engagement Yom Kippur afternoon.

Our new Director of Jewish Learning & Engagement, Tani Prell, and I began to look at creating a more effective post-Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience. While the specifics are still in formation, we value the opportunity to engage our teens weekly in a meaningful activity or two. The possibilities are varied: learning, prayer, assisting religious school teachers, tutoring, participation in youth group, mitzvah projects, teen travel, independent study, and so on. We're working with lay leadership as we set this new course, and once we have a good sense of direction, we'll let you know the particulars.

The Spiritual Engagement & Ritual team and I sat down, and we look forward to experimenting with an alternative prayer experience in August; date and time to be determined.

The Tikkun Olam team and I met and set up important pillars of practice: a) Service: projects, initiatives, volunteer opportunities, giving back to the community, or in other words, social action; b) Education: facilitating learning and awareness-raising opportunities for community members of all ages about local, national, and international issues; and c) Advocacy: strategic decision-making around and engagement in social and political action to address critical issues and work toward justice. I look forward to the tasting the fruits of these efforts.

Keep a lookout for details marking these innovations and opportunities to participate in making them happen.

I hope your summer is going well.

Make it a day of blessing and be a force for good!