“I find there is an unfortunate disconnect between what people regard as Jewish in their lives, and what is important in their lives,” said Rabbi Debra Orenstein. “For the Jewish part they tell you about Bar Mitzvahs, holidays and speakers. But ask what is important and they will talk about personal family events. There seems to be a need to connect the two lists together. To get the Jewish life cycles to interact with whatever else is going on in life.”
Rabbi Orenstein will indeed try to reconnect these two lists during her presentations Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 as part of the Caviar Family Jewish Scholar in Residence programs. The weekend’s theme will be “Finding and Making Meaning in our Tradition.”
Rabbi Orenstein is the seventh generation of her maternal family to become a rabbi. She received her ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
“Rabbi Orenstein brings to our community a female perspective on instilling a love and appreciation of Judaism into our families, ritual observance and participation for men and women while creating an atmosphere of spirituality in our everyday lives,” said Rabbi Jeffrey Shron, K.I.’s senior rabbi.
The programs begin with a Rock Balayla Friday night service at 5:25 p.m., followed by a Shabbat dinner at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are needed for this event. Cost is $10 for adults. During dinner, Rabbi Orenstein will discuss “Raising Spiritually Fulfilled Children.” (While she makes her presentation, children will be participating in a special program.)
“Even people who are not connected with the Jewish community, when they have children they want to know how their tradition is impacting their children,” she said. “They want to raise (each of) their children to be a mensch. They want to know what Judaism has that will help them raise their children. This is when people join a synagogue.”
Rabbi Orenstein, who has written three books so far in a Lifecycles series, said when people have children, it then becomes a time when they revisit their own experiences.
On Saturday, Rabbi Orenstein will make two presentations. During services she will focus on “Rosh Chodesh, Women, Men and Ritual.”
“Rosh Chodesh allows for a lot of creative ritual and changes in contemporary ritual because there is no set routine or liturgy,” she said.
It is a good time to discuss issues of gender.
“Rosh Chodesh is a women’s holiday,” she added. “How do women and men relate to ritual? How are women’s perspectives different?”
The rabbi added that men also have their own perspectives about gender issues.
“These issues do not belong to women alone.”
In the evening, during Mincha, she will do a text study of Genesis chapter 34, the story of Dena.
“This is a problematic and very rich text,” Rabbi Orenstein said. “It is one of the stories of the Bible that feminist critique has helped to unpack. I will present a way of studying Torah that is useful and different.”
Finally on Sunday morning, Rabbi Orenstein will discuss the concept of “Gratitude as a Spiritual Practice.”
“The word Jew means to be grateful,” she said. “It comes from Yehudah which means grateful, giving thanks. We have an abundance of prayers of gratitude, but we also kvetch. This is about finding the right balance.”
Rabbi Orenstein said she is honored to be coming to Kehilath Israel “to discuss issues that are so near and dear to my heart.”
“It is so important to discuss issues that matter the most and to have dialogue. It is important to get to deeper questions about whatever we are talking about. Gender is one way to get to the deep structure of what is happening and the personal and historical meaning.”
To make reservations for the Friday night dinner, call K.I. at 913-642-1880.
