Filmmaker Jeremy Sarachan Features Dorshei Derekh

Facing the filmmaker - Reena, Jane, Betsy, Avruhm, Bobbi, George

Last summer an intriguing email landed in my in-box, from a filmmaker. Jeremy Sarachan, a Rochester-based professor, explained: “While on Sabbatical this fall, I hope to visit several synagogues throughout the United States to capture the spirituality and community associated with Reconstructionist Judaism.” He added that while he happily attends a Reform congregation, he identifies as a Reconstructionist, making this project a voyage of self-discovery.

We were pleased to be included in his travels. The Delaware Valley is rich ground for such a project, given the presence of RRC, numerous Reconstructionist communities, including Minyan Dorshei Derekh, and scores of RRC-ordained rabbis. Filming on shabbat was not an option, so we planned a Havdalah get-together on December 6^th. Jeremy first joined us at shabbat services, chatted with attendees over kiddush, and decided to not just film the Havdalah ritual, lead by Rabbi Malkah Binah Klein, but also to capture a discussion amongst us.

If you’ve seen one Reconstructionist community, you’ve seen one Reconstructionist community. There are many hallmarks of our movement; uniformity is not one of them. Jeremy was surprised at the amount of Hebrew in our service, as well as the level of literacy. The presence of a dozen+ rabbis in our midst contributes to that, and also helps attract Jewishly literate lay Jews.

Rabbi Tamara Cohen pointed out, at Havdalah, that while Reconstructionists make distinctions, we don’t privilege one distinction over another. We eliminate the traditional phrase marking the difference between Israel and all the other peoples. We note the difference between the sacred and the everyday, and appreciate both.

We reconvened in a circle, naturally, and responded to the prompts Jeremy provided. Reflects Rabbi George Stern, “Most exciting for me was the opportunity to listen both to Dorshei members with much more background about our minyan than I and to newer members who provided new insights. The conversation revived my enthusiasm about our wonderful minyan and its devoted and caring members.” We mentioned that our Chesed Committee has been very active, in response to our minyan aging in place and more people needing healing prayers and active support. Jeremy noted the high level of compassion echoing through our service.

Many expressed how impactful the Reconstructionist Prayerbook, Kol Haneshamah (many of its creators attend our minyan, as does the editor-in-chief, Rabbi David Teutsch) is on their prayer experience, providing so many different appellations for God, as well as its inspiring commentary and beautiful poetry.

Dick Goldberg, a newer member, was struck by “the depth and richness that exist within our minyan—depth of Jewish knowledge, of commitment to engaging with the world, of genuine compassion, and of inclusivity, as we genuinely believe that all are created in the image of God; and richness when it comes to the different Jewish paths that have brought us together, variety of life experience, and unique ways of being in the world.”

We are very proud of the role Mark Pinsky plays at RRC, where he serves as Treasurer of the Board. He and Jennifer were introduced to Dorshei Derekh by his colleague Adina Abramowitz z”l and have become pillars of our minyan. Mark’s takeaway: “We don’t usually sit around talking about Reconstructionism, so it was fascinating and uplifting to spend a few hours listening to a cross section of Dorshei Derekh. We discussed what makes it meaningful to us and what we appreciate about our community. It felt like an affirmation of the choices Dorshei has made over the decades.”

People treasure the variety of styles and approaches that change weekly. I observed how rarely a member assigned a task had not made it to shul. Maybe a half dozen times in the nearly forty years I have been attending? That’s barely once a decade! We are very committed to one another; people show up.

We are, of course, excited to see how many of our exchanges make the cut and appear in Jeremy’s film. Regardless, as Debbie Weinstein points out, “the film shoot provided us with the additional benefit of a wonderful opportunity for us to share amongst ourselves our appreciation for the Dorshei Derekh Minyan community.”

Thanks, Jeremy! We are excited about your film. Thanks for helping us see ourselves in a new light.

Thanks to the Invisible Laborers Who Make our Minyan Thrive!

 

It takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to keep Dorshei Derekh thriving.

Yesterday the Mazkirut (at present George Stern is outgoing coordinator, Deborah Weinstein is the Chair, and Betsy Teutsch is the incoming coordinator) thanks Mike Gross, who completed his three year Mazkirut term. We also thanked outgoing Green Coordinator Simone Zelitch and welcomed Jennifer Paget in that roll.

 This was also a chance to thank all the longterm coordinators who are listed on the side bar.

There are more folks whose work people might not be aware of. Neysa Nevins manages our listserve, and has done so for a long time. Betsy Teutsch manages this blog (though many other members are also editors and *could* post.) 

Sheila Erlbaum tends our plants. She selected them, has watered them weekly, and Jennifer Paget took care of them at home during the Pandemic. Thanks to Sheila and Jennifer, our room is graced with growing things!

Thanks, Dick Goldberg, our Minyan Muse, for celebrating our Coordinators, outgoing and presen

February 3, 2024 Kiddush

WE ARE THE VERY MODEL OF A MODERN, MAJOR MIN-I-YAN

(To the tune of “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” by Gilbert and Sullivan)


We are the very model of a modern, major min-i-yan!

Yes, Dorshei’s quite the prayer group in my humblest of opinions!

Whose mazkirut in ’23 was led by rebbe Georgie Stern—

From such a rebbe, oy, mein kind, a person has a lot to learn!


And speaking of the mazkirut, I think we really have to boast!

For three long years that we were blessed to have a leader in Mike Gross

And while we’re hoo- and hah-ing and we’re celebrating our dear own

How ‘bout that green coordinator, our Ms. Zelitch, a/k/a Simone!


Another who coordinated with elan, aplomb and flare

Was Ms. Naomi Klayman who saw to it that our every prayer

Was uttered with con-siddur-ation, Hebraic-ly and every time

Was led by service leaders though Kol Haneshama doesn’t rhyme.


Another who has planning skills quite peachy keen and yes, exempl’ry

Is thoughtful Toby Kessler, who booked Torah readers for both you and me.

And one to whom our gratitude is more than merely o-owin’

For all those Divrei Torah, taka, taka, Debrah Co-ohen!


For managing our membership for now and ever af-after,

We give our thanks— to whom? Of course, the gifted Heather Shaf-after!

For organizing kiddushim, of course, we must express-uh

Our sheer delight from morn to night— to whom? To our dear Pesha!


Well, LBJ, as you well know had Zbigniew Brzezinski.

The Rite of Spring was one wild thing thanks to I-igor Stravinsky.

But neither could outdo our techy poohbah I mean, come on, Dorshei, since he

Is also quite the hagbah, I mean Pinsky, Pinsky, Pinsky!


I’d like to end this ditty with a gentleman who in my view, he

So ably keeps our bank accounts, I’m talking Arnie Lurie!

In short, I think you’d have to say we are one in a trill-i-on—

Yes, Dorshei is the model of a modern major min-i-yan!