From the Rabbi - March 2002

Dear Friends,

Pesach is coming. For most of us, this means preparations for the seder, ridding our homes of chametz and looking forward to coming together with family and dear friends. From a theological perspective, Pesach is the festival that is linked with the concept of God's redemptive power. As we gather around our Seder tables, we rejoice in the story of deliverance from slavery to freedom - from Egypt to the Promised land. At the end of our Seder we say the words, "L'shanah ha-ba-ah b'yerushalyim"- next year in Jerusalem. This year, these words will have special meaning for me and other members of our congregation as we will be saying them shortly after returning from Jerusalem.

As most of you know, unless situations drastically change, I will be in Israel from March 4th -19th. Joining me will be participants in the Community Solidarity Mission co-sponsored by Congregation Albert, The Jewish Federation and Yad B'Yad. In addition to co-leading the Solidarity Mission, I also will be attending the convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). I am very excited about this trip. As I stated during the High Holy Days, it is essential that American Jews travel to Israel at this time to show our support. I am especially gratified that Yad B'Yad - an exceptional group of Christian friends of Israel and the Jewish people, will be part of our group.

For some, the idea of traveling to Israel during this difficult time is hard to comprehend. "Isn't it dangerous?" I am often asked. Truth be told, it is four times more dangerous to drive the highways of New Mexico than to walk the streets of Jerusalem. Statistics aside, however, traveling to Israel is not merely a pleasure trip. This will be my 14th trip to Israel. Each time I find myself in Jerusalem I am overcome by the beauty, splendor, complexity and holiness of this amazing city. This is a crucial time in the history of the Jewish State. The current political, military and economic situation is very unstable. We need to show our concern and love.

During the Seder, we begin our narration of the Passover story by breaking the middle Matzah and designating one half as the Afikoman. This piece of Matzah is hidden in a secret hiding place and must be found before the Seder can be concluded. In many ways, in recent years we, the Jews of the Diaspora, have been acting like the Afikoman in relationship to Israel. We have been playing a game of "hide and seek" with our brothers and sisters in Israel. Now, more than ever, it is essential that we come out of hiding and show our support, concern and love. For those of you who will be traveling with me on the Solidarity Mission, I can assure you that, whether this is your 1st or 21st visit, you will return from our trip a changed person. I look forward to sharing our experiences with the congregation upon our return.

B'Shalom,
Rabbi Joseph R. Black

A Special Note From Rabbi Black

Dear Friends,

In just a few days, every member of Congregation Albert will be receiving a packet in the mail. Enclosed in the packet is a special booklet created by Trish Mallot, a member of our congregation. The booklet is entitled: If Not Now, When? Conversations You Have Not Had At The Dining Room Table — A Death And Bereavement Manual. As you will see when you open the packet, this manual is designed to help members of our congregation understand and prepare for the inevitability of our own mortality.

The booklet is divided into two sections. The first section is a bereavement guide and includes information on customs and laws — both religious and secular — surrounding the death of a loved one. The second section is a personal information packet — designed to help you and your loved ones prepare for and make important decisions regarding end of life issues.

I know that this is not a topic with which many of us are comfortable. And yet, I also know that all too often we do not discuss them and leave our loved ones in a position of uncertainty and instability when the inevitable happens.

This project is a valuable asset to our congregational community. Once again, I want to thank Trish Mallot for all of her hard work and dedication in seeing it through.

If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns about the booklet, please do not hesitate to contact me at the Temple.

B‘Shalom V’yididut,

Rabbi Joseph R. Black

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