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On July 1, 2023, Rabbi Karen Thomashow joined Temple Isaiah as our fifth Senior Rabbi in the history of the congregation. She has already demonstrated leadership, intelligence, spiritual acumen, and exceptional warmth. In the short time Rabbi Thomashow has been with us, she has given us so much, and now is our chance to celebrate her and our vibrant congregation.
We hope you will join us to celebrate Rabbi Thomashow and Temple Isaiah's future the weekend of November 3 and 4 with worship, community gathering, and learning.
Join for one event or the entire weekend!
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Installation Service
Friday, November 3┃7:30 pm
In-person and Online
The welcome of a new Senior Rabbi is a momentous occasion. It is an opportunity to relish in both the history and future of our remarkable congregation. In Jewish life, significant moments of change are marked with ritual, prayer, song, and emotion. As we gather for the holy experience of Shabbat, we include a special ritual of installation for Rabbi Karen Thomashow led by one of her mentors, Rabbi Jan Katzew, with unique blessings by her colleagues and the entire congregation. Share in the joy of the next phase of our congregation's life.
The evening begins with Community Dinner for all and a special Youth & Family Installation for the youngest members of our community.
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Youth & Family Installation for Rabbi Thomashow
Friday, November 3┃5:45 pm
In-person
Families with Young Children and Religious School students and families who prefer an earlier service time are especially invited to our youth & family installation for Rabbi Thomashow. We will sing, pray, and offer blessings to Rabbi Thomashow, as well as hear a special story from her mentor Rabbi Jan Katzew. This Tot Shabbat/Shabbat Club-like experience will especially be geared towards infants through elementary age children and families.
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Community Dinner
Friday, November 3┃6:15 pm
In-person
L'chayim! Raise a glass and fill a plate in honor of our community and our new Senior Rabbi. All ages encouraged to attend!
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Special Minyan Service
Saturday, November 4┃9:00 am
In-person and Online
Our special minyan service will include liturgy and music with a focus on study and discussion. Our guest, Rabbi Jan Katzew, is a master teacher and scholar. He will share his insights and elicit discussion from all those in attendance.
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Tikkun HaNefesh: An Evening of Soul Repair with Rabbi Jan Katzew
Preceded by Dessert Reception & Havdalah
Saturday, November 4┃Dessert Reception & Havdalah: 7:00 pm, Learning: 7:30 pm
In-person, Location TBD
Tikkun Olam, the process of repairing the fractured world around us, has a partner, Tikkun HaNefesh - soul repair, or Tikkun Middot, repairing our dispositions. Like Tikkun Olam, Tikkun HaNefesh is a lifelong, perhaps eternal process. Together, we will study and practice some of what our Sages taught about restraining our vices and strengthening our virtues so that our inner lives will be less in pieces and more at peace. We will know if the session has been successful when the people who attend act to repair the worlds inside them.
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Rabbi Jan Katzew, Visiting Scholar
Rabbi Jan Katzew, PhD is Associate Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought and Education and Senior Educator of the EMA Program at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Jan was ordained in 1983 and after he served as rabbi/educator at The Community Synagogue in Port Washington, NY, he became a Jerusalem Fellow and earned a doctorate at the Hebrew University in Jewish Thought and Education. For fifteen years Jan led a team that comprised the department of lifelong Jewish learning at the Union for Reform Judaism. In that capacity, he and a gifted team of colleagues were responsible for designing, developing, and supporting educational resources for early childhood centers, congregational schools, day schools and adult learning communities throughout the world. Jan’s educational vision and work were deemed worthy of grants from the Jim Joseph Foundation and the Covenant Foundation. Since its inception in 2008, Jan has been a consultant to the iCenter for Israel Education, mentoring students from multiple graduate schools and seminaries. Jan is the author of popular and scholarly articles in multiple fields that include Israel education, Interfaith dialogue, Mussar, Medieval Hebrew Poetry, Moral Development, and educational philosophy and practice. Jan’s spouse is Cantor Alane Katzew, and together they are the parents of two children and three grandchildren, who enrich their lives beyond measure.
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Continue the celebration on Sunday, November 5 with the Me2 Concert! | | | | |
