Rabbi Heather Borshof
Captain, United States Army

Hanukkah 2014 at Temple Rodeph Torah

It is hard to believe that four years ago this Hanukah I took my commission to serve in the Army as a rabbi to the Military Jewish community and as a chaplain to every other Soldier I encounter. Four years ago I spoke about the miracle that Hanukah celebrates – not just the oil that miraculously lasted for eight days, but that a very small, determined group of people was willing to fight hard and risk everything in order to keep Judaism alive. While the Jewish people have always been a minority and have often struggled to survive, most of us have always enjoyed our freedom. And sometimes it is hard not to take for granted what we have always had.

Four years in the Army have gone quickly, but feel like a lifetime. During this time I have been stationed in Virginia, North Carolina and have been deployed to Afghanistan for nine months. It is hard to describe in just a few minutes the experiences I encountered in Afghanistan. A lot has happened and I have changed a lot. But the one thing that remains the same is how honored and blessed I feel to have the opportunity to give something back to the people who risk their lives on a daily basis so that we may enjoy and take advantage of the freedom and sovereignty that we possess.

In Afghanistan, while our living conditions left something to be desired and there were a million and one things to complain about, I have to recognize that we still had a bed to sleep in, and access to fresh food on a daily basis, which is more than the average local national Afghan has access to during their entire lifetime. But given the fact that most of our Soldiers didn’t appreciate what we had, (like most of us who take for granted the things that are a given for us, such as our freedom) deployments are nonetheless challenging. Soldiers are away from their families and friends. The air quality that we breathed was nothing short of unhealthy and nasty. There is no such thing as a day off. (I realized that after this deployment the Army owed me 72 days off – which I will never see.) We worked absurd hours, from 6:30am to 11pm every day, and lived with dangers on a daily basis that one does not usually share with their loved ones.

But one of the things that our country has learned in the last 14 years is how to support our military in a deployed setting. And so even with all of the challenges that we dealt with, Temple Rodeph Torah had a big role in helping to raise the morale of the Soldiers. The gourmet lollypops traveled with me as I visited our Soldiers all over Afghanistan. The Soldiers looked forward to receiving them when they knew I was coming back a second time to visit. The toiletries that were collected and sent from everyone went a very long way; some people called my office “Walmart,” and they came shopping for snacks and hygiene products. In Afghanistan, everyone looked forward to receiving the simple things that we all take for granted here in the United States. On behalf of myself and my Soldiers, I would like to say thank you to the Religious School, all of TRT, and all of you for your hard work and constant support and for continuing to be my home away from home. I would also like to thank my family: I know that it wasn’t easy for you when I was in Afghanistan, as I imagine it is difficult for most families, and I thank you for your love and support.

And so, as a way to say thank you, I would like to present Temple Rodeph Torah with an American flag that was flown over our Battalion in Bagram, Afghanistan. The flag flew over the battalion on the anniversary of the very first Shabbat service we ever had in this building. It is sort of a random date, February 23rd. The reason I remembered it was because that was the day, now soon approaching 25 years ago, that my younger sister Kara was supposed to be born. She was not born that day, so I was able to attend the very first service we had here in this building, in this sanctuary. May this flag continue to guard and represent the freedom that so many people in the world can only dream of having, but that we have been fortunate and blessed enough to experience.

On this evening of Shabbat Hanukah, this evening of dedication, may all of our men and women in uniform one day know the blessing of Shalom.

Happy Hanukah, and Shabbat Shalom.

Reform Jews 4 Israel needs you to register to vote…

Not for the normal political parties that you see on the sample ballot that you will be receiving shortly, but for the ARZA slate to the American Zionist Movement election of delegates to the 2015 World Zionist Organization Congress.

Reform Jews 4 Israel is the campaign to encourage American Reform Jews to vote for the ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America) slate in the upcoming World Zionist Congress Elections. Voting begins on January 15, 2015 and runs until April 30, 2015. ARZA is managing the campaign on behalf of the entire Reform movement.

Please vote for the ARZA-Representing Reform Judaism slate

From January 15th through April 30th, the American Zionist Movement will hold open voting for all American Jews to determine the United States’ delegation to the 2015 World Zionist Organization Congress. The Congress is the WZO’s legislative body which meets every four years in Jerusalem. The Congress makes decisions which affect the status of Reform Jews in Israel and around the world as well as the funding available to Progressive Jews in Israel. In addition, the Congress will help determine the leadership of major global Jewish organizations, budgetary decisions, and policy in Israel and worldwide.

The composition of the American delegation is critically important to Reform Jews in The United States and Israel because the 145 American delegates make up the largest delegation from outside of Israel.

By pledging below, you’re committing to vote for the ARZA-Representing Reform Judaism slate in the 2015 World Zionist Organization elections. By doing so, you’re pledging to vote for:

• Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
  We strive to create a world in which gender equality is the rule – where men and women can pray, work and live together as equals deserving of the same respect and honor.

• Religious Equality
  we envision and work for a society in which all denominations are treated fairly and with respect – and all of us are seen as Jews, regardless of our level of observance.

• Security in the Region
  Lasting peace, security and stability for Israel, the Palestinians and the surrounding Middle East region is possible and although the road may seem long, we are building the path to that peace every day.

There is much at stake if we want to determine that the values we hold dear will become reality in the Israel that we love.

First, we urge that that you pledge now. By doing so, you’ll receive all the information you need, when you need it, on how to cast your vote.  You can do this my filling out one of the registration cards in the temple lobby, or online at www.ReformJews4Israel.org

Second, between January 15th and April 30th, 2015, you must register with the American Zionist Movement. The registration fee is $10.00 ($5.00 for those under age 30), and goes directly to the AZM – not to ARZA.

Finally, as soon as you register, you can vote in the World Zionist Congress elections – again between January 15th and April 30th, 2015.

Please remember the Tekiah from Rosh Hashanah, and become an advocate for Reform Jewish Values in Israel. Thank you!

L’Shalom

Marc S Willner

TRT ARZA Chair

Here is an excerpt about being “Hopelessly Jewish”, extracted from my High Holiday speech to the congregation.

We live in a society that seems indifferent to whether or not families are involved religiously, a society that honors selfish greed almost as much as altruistic giving.   A society that over-schedules and over-commits, rather than stepping back and cherishing all that we already have.

Yet, in the middle of all this, many of us find ourselves engaging with Judaism, focusing on thanking God for what we have and appreciating the beauty of our world.

Wouldn’t it be easier to just fit in with many others, saving countless hours by skipping services and not volunteering?  Wouldn’t it be easier to ignore our questions about faith and belief in God, versus studying and struggling to find spirituality in a crazy world where we see bad people succeed and bad luck strike down wonderful, giving people?  Wouldn’t it be easier to hire a tutor for our child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah, rather than schlepping the kids to school every week?  Wouldn’t it be easier to crash in front of the TV on a Friday night, rather than getting out to pray with a community at Shabbat services?

But we can’t – because we are “hopelessly Jewish”

I personally can’t imagine my life without thinking about my Judaism every day.  I can’t imagine not giving my time and energy to TRT because of all we do for ourselves and our community.  I can’t imagine ignoring those questions about the meaning of life and why I need to feel a connection to something larger than myself.  I’m hopelessly Jewish.  TRT and Judaism have become a central pillar in my life – and I simply can’t imagine behaving any differently.

So let me ask each of you… why are you here today?  For thousands of years, as an isolated, separate community attending Yom Kippur services wasn’t an option.  Jewish law was local law, and you could be arrested for failing to attend services or honoring Shabbat.  But that’s not our society any more.

So why are you here?  Because you choose to be here.  Whether you attend services regularly, or participate in other Temple activities, or just attend High Holiday services, you chose to be here today.  Judaism, and Jewish practice today, has become a choice.  And by being here today, you are making a choice.  Why … because at least a part of each of us is “hopelessly Jewish”.

As president of Temple Rodeph Torah in Marlboro New Jersey, I spend 2-3 evenings most weeks working on various temple committees or addressing specific issues.  With a full time job, temple activities take up all my spare time.  Only because I want to, I attend Saturday morning minyan services, and I never miss a Friday night Rock Shabbat service.

Sometimes I wonder – wouldn’t it just be easier to become less involved?  I already struggle with my belief in God and doubts about the validity of my faith.  Couldn’t I just redirect my time to other “hobbies”?

No, I can’t.

It isn’t that a part of me doesn’t want to have this extra freedom.  But when I think of doing anything else – of spending less time searching for meaning in my life – I just can’t imagine it.  Judaism has become integral to who I am.  Although as a Reform Jew I feel empowered to chose to be involved less, to observe less – even to care less – I choose not to.

And so I created this blog.  To share my thoughts about being “Hopelessly Jewish”.  And I hope that others will contribute and share their stories.