Piyutim: Poetry, Prose, Prayers, & Art

Days of Awe 5777

Congregation Beth Shalom

This is where a picture will eventually go

The wilderness shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing.

Isaiah 35:2

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Photo Jeremy Alk Cover

Introduction Jeremy Alk 3

Modeh Ani Carolyn Cohen 4

DEATH OF HIS OLDER BROTHER Jeremy Alk 5

HaShem Hear Us Rose Yu 6

A Heavenly Hand Rose Yu 6

At the Gates Tree McCurdy 7

HOLY BROTHER Cynthia Green-Alk 8-9

Irving Berlin Inspired Rochelle Wynne 10

I LOVE MY LIFE Leora Alk 11

A Haiku for 5777 Michael Blum 11

Voice of Stillness Rabbi Sarah Rubin 12

HEART-FELT MIRACLE Jeremy Alk 13

Sim Lev Jeremy Alk 14

Living Waters Lauren Fellows 15

Tikkun Olam Marsha Malkin 16-18

Free as a Bird Marsha Malkin 16

Fish Story Marsha Malkin 17

We Remember Them Jeremy Alk 19

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Introduction - Yamim Noraim 5777: "Tradition is not the worship of ashes but the preservation of fire." Jewish composer and conductor Gustav Mahler.

Dear Fellow Congregants and Friends, According to Rabbi Reuven Hammer in Jewish Publications Society’s Entering the High Holy Days, the piyyut dates back to such liturgical poets as Yose ben Yose, Eleazar Kafir, and Yanei – all from the Land of Israel. Their writing occurred between the third and sixth centuries C.E. and was emulated by the paytamim of Spain, Italy, France, and Germany during the Middle Ages. It was intended to add variety to the services on Shabbat and especially the Days of Awe. Piyyutim like “Adon Olam” became and remained very popular. Indeed, in the 1920’s Israel Davidson was able to collect some 35,000 poems written by 2,836 poets. Although only a few piyyutim remain in print in holiday prayer books, there are still today some congregations who open the ark and stand while holiday piyyutim are read. Originally the poems had a formal structure placed before and after certain prayer sections, employing acrostics, rhyme, and both Talmudic and folk quotations. Congregants came to services eager to hear a new work of devotion written for the use of the service leader. Popular piyyut repetitions were taken up and chanted by the lively congregants, who were accustomed to hearing, rather than reading, their poets. We remember and are grateful to the poets, who have left us such a rich tradition.

This year's annual creative expressions by our community reflects the fire of its diverse ideas. The poetry, prose, photography and paintings are all worthy additions to the contemplative spirit of the High Holidays. Our thanks to the contributors, to the Beth Shalom staff, and especially Lauren Fellows for the diligent work they did in prepar-ing this booklet.

Jeremy Alk, Editor

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Modeh Ani Carolyn Cohen

רת בי נשמתי חז לך חי וקיים. שה יך מ מודה )מודה( אני לפנך ונת בחמלה. רבה אמ

I offer thanks to You, living and everlasting Ruler, for having returned to me my soul with compassion and great faithfulness. According to various texts, while our bodies sleep, our neshama ascends to be refreshed with HaShem. We start every day reciting Modeh Ani, thanking God for returning our soul, and thus our earthly life, to us. Each morning, just before coming to full consciousness, I pray Modah Ani, and appreciate that the very first word of the day–modeh/modah—is an expression of thankfulness. Yet, what I wonder is this: with whom, besides God, does my neshama dwell each night? Are our souls with God individually, but separated from each other? Or, do the souls of all who are asleep at the same time gather together not only with God, but with each other? I picture people whose paths never cross mine-- from other countries, social classes, ethnic groups, and neighborhoods in my own city. Do our souls nest together under God’s wings each night? In our prayer we thank God for ,חמלה translated as compassion and mercy. The fact that we have awakened is text proof of God’s compassion. In our transition to wakefulness, can we capture the experience of our collective souls sheltered together, including those we fear, distrust, and don’t want to understand, and then carry that vision forward in how we choose to actively emulate God’s compassion? Isn’t this the way to show our thanks to God?

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DEATH OF HIS OLDER BROTHER Jeremy Alk Isaac was on his way back To the tents of his father -Though he rarely wandered- When he heard the news. Ishmael was on his way To the wilderness -And he always wandered- Far away from home. All his many antique gods Couldn't save him, And he had many. All his many followers Couldn't save him, And he had many. Isaac could see that his One God Wouldn't save him either When his time came. Both die alone, Prophet or profligate, Both die alone. Ishmael's grave is unmarked. Isaac will find a way For his God-fearing decendents To find him. Though he could not really see, He had vision.

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HaShem Hear Us Rose Yu

HaShem Hear Us ה ' שומע אותנ

Help us HaShem As the Yetzer Hara Slithers past our Hearts and inflicts venom Ever familiar, disguised as Mind numbing despair Hear us HaShem Elul beckons the Book of Life Already many have passed this year Righteous or not, only you can judge Unite us in confessing our sins, the Serpent recoils from heart pounding teshuva

עזרו לנו ה '

כפי היצר הרע

בעברנו Slithers

ארס לבבות ואוכפים

פעם מוכרת , מחופש

אם לא אכפת משתקת ייאוש

לשמוע אותנו ה '

אלול מזמין בספר החיים

כבר רבות חלפו השנה

צדיק או לא , רק אתה יכול לשפוט

התאחדו אותנו מתוודה חטאינו,

נחש נרתע דפיקות לב תשובה

A heavenly hand An upturned heart

A world of possibilities

By Rose Yu

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At the Gates Tree McCurdy "I believe the Gates of Heaven are always open." A friend says this to me, and I know It should be comforting, but I think Of another friend, caught in a car crash: Her husband, her pregnancy, her ability to walk, all gone In an instant, Her daughter barely bruised back in the car-seat. For years that friend was shattered-- More than by pain, more than by grief-- By the constant realization that her daughter, too Might one day, in any of a thousand ways, be gone In an instant. For years I watched that woman trembling, alone, In the searing light that pours through The open Gates of Heaven. To live is to learn to look away from that light. Put our backs to the sight of the incredible fragility Of all we hold dear. Invest. Indulge. Plan. Play. Make mistakes, and move on. To live Jewishly is to set aside one time of year To tremble, together. At this time, we feel the wind of Ecclesiastes Upon the backs of our necks, We see the shadows that have hidden The faults and failings of our lives Disappear into a Holy High Noon, and we realize-- The Gates of Heaven are open, and it is time To Turn Around.

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HOLY BROTHER Cynthia Green-Alk Sometime after receiving my Masters degree, I moved to Brooklyn Heights. At some point, I wished to increase my knowledge of Torah and went to the lower East Side to purchase a Chumash. At the bookstore I saw a modern looking man who was purchasing a stack of Jewish books and found out that he hosted a weekly co-ed Torah study group in Manhattan. I expressed enthusiasm and interest and asked whether I might attend. He invited me go Thursday evening. There were about a half dozen men and women who were intent in their study. At some point Shlomo Charlebach dropped by and he encouraged us to come to his shul on West 79rh Street in Manhattan for Kabbalat Shabbat services that Friday night. I went, not knowing what to expect. I was delighted with the group of people, Sholomo's davening and nigunnim, the joy and enthusiasm of the prayer, the shabbos meal and Shlomo's wonderful storytelling. So began my 10 year journey with the Carlebach chevra. I would drive from Brooklyn Heights to the upper West Side. The shabbos tish would frequently go on way past midnight. During this time I became more committed to "keeping shabbos" by refraining from all kinds of work and I wanted to hold on to the spiritual high I was experiencing by the end of Friday night and so I decide to go by the subway. I was treating the subway much like a shabbos elevator in that it was constantly running and making all the local stops so I figured I would not break shabbos by going and returning by train. I intended to carry only the tokens I needed for the subway fare. I felt I was coming closer to keeping the mitzvah of keeping the Sabbath holy.

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Holy Brother (continued) Cynthia Green-Alk

One night Shlomo was giving over one of his beautiful, elaborate stories and it was nearing midnight. I needed to get home and did not wish to be traveling on the subway any later and so got ready to leave. A young man offered to accompany me to the subway station located a couple of blocks south on Columbus Avenue which was brightly lit and busy with late night New Yorkers. When we reached the doorway of the shul, I reached into my pocket to get my gloves and I heard a coin drop and roll somewhere down the sidewalk. It was my only subway token!!! We searched in the dark for several minutes and could not find it. What was I to do? !!!! I could not go back into the shul to ask for money! My companion asked what was I going to do? I said that I did not know but that Hashem would provide. As we walked down Columbus Avenue we passed by several beggars asking us if we could spare a quarter. I stopped and turned to look at one bearded African American man who was holding out and jiggling a paper cup filled with some coins. I smiled at him and said I did not have any money and then thought to ask him if I could borrow a dollar and that I would pay him 10 times the money the following day. He looked at me, a well dressed white woman, and immediately said "Here, take what you need!" That was a magical moment, truly one inspired by the Divine. My companion and I were amazed at his generosity and kindness. I went back the next evening to look for him, but I never saw him again. He was a truly " a Holy Brother" as Shlomo would have called him.

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Irving Berlin Inspired Rochelle Wynne

God bless America, land that I love, The purr of the engine Hummed with me As I crossed this wondrous land (I-90) The whispering waves of the Atlantic in Barnstable Rolling hills of the Berkshires, the wide expanse of the Hudson The bridge at Bear Mountain I recited: Boruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha'Olam, Oseh Ma'aseh Breishit Blessed are You God, King of the universe, who fulfills the act of Creation.* On through the winding rounded hills of the Alleghenies To the breadbasket of Midwest Where the swaying of the corn meets the horizon Across the Mississippi, the Missouri Through the colorful, dramatic Wall of the Badlands, The red, green, gray, purple, and browns of the Precambrian Belt rocks, And across the Clark Fork Bridge of Glacial Lake Missoula I recited: Boruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Ha'Olam, Oseh Ma'aseh Breishit I weaved through the Rockies, the snowcapped peaks, the lush green valleys The trees so tall they kissed the clouds At last, the Cascades’ sharp peaks, Mount Rainier And Seattle, towering buildings, inlets of ships the smell of the Pacific I sang: God bless America, My home sweet home. On these Days of Awe As the storm clouds gather Let us be grateful for a land so fair And raise our voices in solemn prayer *(Code of Jewish Law - O.C. 228:1,3):

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I LOVE MY LIFE Leora Alk

I really don't realize the impact I have with my job. I'm a barista. You wouldn't think that with a job where I am only interacting with someone from 35-60 seconds that I would even have that much of an impact. But, as I was sitting at my work this morning (after I signed out), working on my religious school curriculum for the next few weeks, I had regular customers ask me how I was doing, what I was doing, how my fiance was, how my life plans were going, if I'm doing any thing new... And then a customer who is a regular comes up. He says to me, "You were my drive-through barista a while ago. I was having a really bad day and you were the best drive through person I had ever had." And he explains that because of me, he has been coming to my store more frequently. I never realize until something like that happens, that I feel so good doing what I do and being who I am. Because you can be a barista and change someone's life... I wish I could change more people's lives.

A Haiku for 5777 Michael Blum

Inscribed in the Book?

Not for this right knee of mine.

It's "Bye-Bye" Friday.

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Voice of Stillness Rabbi Sarah Rubin In memory of my mother, Julia Niebuhr Eulenberg

At first I talked Accidentally too loud Intentionally quiet Rapid then slow then When you spoke your Nonsense I guessed More often than not I gave up understanding And then I spoke more Harder, into your silence Filling your loss of words With nonsense of my own Until I ran out and One day I simply laid My head on your shoulder And was silent and felt Warmth flow between us Kol d'mama daka The voice of stillness Binding us together

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HEART-FELT MIRACLE Jeremy Alk ("Above all else, guard your heart." Proverbs 4:23) Some special things in life make one's heart go pitter-patter. Some special things in life one can experience the awe of this amazing universe, catching your breath or bringing tears to your eyes. It might be being present at the birth of your child, or feeling the blessings of profound love of your soul mate. It might be as simple as watching an amazing sunset or a glorious sunrise. ("...my own heart might fail, But God is the Rock of my heart." Psalm 73:26) We went to the UW's Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine - ISCRM (pronounced "ice cream"). For two hours we met with the head of ICCRM's heart research team, Dr. Charles Murray and top pathologist Stephen Schwartz. We discussed the ethics and politics of stem cell research arising out of the successful animal cloning programs over the last decade plus. ("A new heart I will give to you, and a new spirit I will put inside you." Ezekiel 36:26) Covered in medical whites, we were escorted into the heart stem cell laboratory. Our own hearts were full, our eyes were moist, as we witnessed regenerative stem cells that became clusters of cells beating like a heart, live muscle tissue, self-generating its own electrical im-pulses to rhythmic beats. ("Create for me a pure heart, O God." Psalm 51:12) Some day we will be able to go into the ER and have your heart muscles repaired from a "heart event." Some day the human heart will take "a licking but keep on ticking." Some day. ("I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, I will tell all of God's wonders." Psalm 9:1

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Jeremy Alk שים לב

Unusual phrase for

Pay Attention!

And this is the time.

Literally it means "Put your heart into..."

שים לב לשופר

Put your heart into the blowing of the shofar

שים לב לתשובה למשפחה לידידים

Put your heart into the forgiveness sought by family and friends

לשים לב לתפילה לה׳

Put your heart into the prayers of repentance to God

Praying that God will pay attention

לשים לב לכפר עוונותנו

To forgive our sins

לשים לב לקול דממה דקה

And to pay attention

To the still small voice

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Living Waters As the living waters wash away our sins, let us step forward into a new year.

Lauren Fellows

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Tikkun Olam Marsha Malkin

Beth Shalom members Marty Schnitzer, Marsha Malkin and friends Dina Tanners and Nava Gazitt had the privilege of attending the "Shared waters, Shared values" event on Sat July 8th 2016 in Hoquiam, WA. Its focus was on unity between Native tribes and the rest of the population who were concerned regarding the harm crude oil train accidents may have on the pristine environment of Gray's Harbor estuary. Here, thousands of migratory birds feed in spring and fall every year. A fuel spill could ruin this part of their migration and end their lives.

The other concern of all those present was how a fuel spill could harm salmon who inhabit the estuary as part of their life cycle. The organizers of the event were the Quinaults, including tribal president Fawn Sharp, as well as representatives of the Lummi, Makah and Quiliute tribes. Shared waters, shared values began with four large tribal canoes pad-dled abreast and in unison with tribal flags unfurled. There were also tradi-tional live chants and drumming coming from tribal members standing on the bank of the Hoquiam River.

“Free as a Bird” Marsha Malkin

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Tikkun Olam (continued) Marsha Malkin

Soon a group of about 30 kayakers rafted together made their way down the river. They held poles with signage intertwined with fish net stating the motto, “Shared water, shared values.” A mixture of assorted boats joined the group. This was an emotional time for those present, when words were un-necessary. When the water session was over, tee shirts and free sack lunches were handed out by the Quinaults as the drummers and traditional singers continued. Now there was a festive atmosphere, where people chatted with others that they had not met before. I met an Ocean Shores city council member, as well as the wife of a second generation Scandinavian fisherman who had recently retired and would later address the crowd. The crowd was peaceful and good humored as we marched several blocks to the Hoquiam city hall. There was some chanting where someone would say, "What do we want?" and the crowd would respond, "No oil trains!" Police officers could be seen overlooking the group. Once at City Hall, Fern Sharpe addressed the group on the importance of speaking for the salmon and the birds and wildlife who were unable to speak for themselves. Tribal officials from many of the Northwest Tribes thanked the Quinaults for helping them with their own environmental struggles which in turn were successful.

(continued on page 18)

“Fish Story” Marsha Malkin

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Tikkun Olam (continued) Marsha Malkin A retired fisherman, still active in the state fisherman's association, spoke eloquently about salmon and the Grays Harbor estuary which is an important place in their life cycle. He also mentioned that although his group and the Tribes in the past did not always agree, he was now in favor of joining together. He talked about how an oil spill could permanently harm both native and non-native fisherman and how this could never be worth the risk. The president of Audubon Hoquiam spoke on behalf of the native birds migrating yearly through this area to feed and rest in the mud flats in Hoquiam. He also mentioned the school kids in the area whom Audubon is helping to educate to appreciate the incredible natural environment near which they are growing up. Speaker Sharp also called up a fourteen year old named Gabe from Plant for the Planet. He spoke compellingly of the need for a proposed clean air rule. There will be a three day hunger strike outside Governor Inslee's office in Olympia supporting this law. This event was based on the fact that there were three companies trying to get permits to get an oil depot built in Hoquiam. Crude oil which would be stored there could then be shipped to China. So far two of the companies have been turned down but there is a third waiting for a permit. the vote will take place after the summer at the Port of Hoquiam. I have chosen to share this important protest with those of you who like me are members of Beth Shalom Synagogue who are thinking of how we can work for a better world in which we follow the practice of Tikkun Olam. It seems when we understand how fossil fuels are degrading our planet we as Jews should be involved in joining those who are fighting for the wildlife who as Chief Dawn Sharp stated cannot speak for themselves. My understanding is that Governor Inslee now has the third permit on his desk. The communities around Gray's Harbor are hoping for a veto.

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Photo by Jeremy Alk

“At the rising sun and at its going down; We remember them. “ (From the Yizkor service)

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Congregation Beth Shalom 6800 35th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98115

www.bethshalomseattle.org 206-524-0075.