Shir Hadash: Judaism for the head and heart

To hold Sept. 13 Open House

By Susie Davidson

Advocate Correspondent

“The past has a vote, not a veto,” said Rabbi Mordecai M. Kaplan (1881-1983), the founder of Reconstructionism.

With this concept in mind, the Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Havurah of Newton, as a community, has re-examined, and sometimes traversed, biblical text and tradition for the past 22 years.

On Sept. 13, the group of about 60 households, which meets at the Lutheran Church of the Newtons and is an affiliate of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, will hold a Shabbat Open House in the social hall of the Lutheran Church, with services beginning at 9:45 a.m. and a Kiddush luncheon to follow (child care will be available).

The group is a typically Reconstructionist egalitarian, member-led congregation of varied religious backgrounds that encompasses all ages and lifestyles. All life cycle events are held, including Shabbat morning and High Holiday services, b’nei mitzvah celebrations, baby naming ceremonies, and shiva minyans. Reconstructionist and traditional elements are followed with a transliterated siddur; High Holiday services are held at the Solomon Schechter Day School in Oak Hill.

“We daven and mark life’s joys and heartaches together,” said Membership Chair Gerard Badler, who stressed the community’s emphasis on shared values.

“We’re bound together by our love of Jewish learning and the joy of long-lasting interpersonal relationships,” he added. The group, he said, builds membership through the innovative usage of direct mail as well as newspaper ads.

Though suggested membership fees of $390 are low, due to the absence of paid staff or building ownership, the community’s range of offerings is as broad as any synagogue’s. $300 is contributed annually toward the cost of each member child’s Jewish education tuition, at any institution. Shir Hadash’s Sunday school children’s program, taught by professional teachers, received a 2001 Bureau of Jewish Education award for creative programming; a Junior Machers pre-teen group focuses on Jewish culture.

"I liked having class in a relaxed environment with very knowledgeable instructors,” said Michael Lazarus of Newton, who is now attending Yale, of his Shir Hadash educational experience.

The group’s Adult Education program currently offers a series on Judaism and mixed marriages, a book club and ongoing discussion groups; its Passport to Israel program partners with the CJP on high school student trips to Israel. Shabbat services, which focus on the weekly Parsha, include childcare and children’s activities. Social events such as Friday evening potluck dinners, Chanukah and Purim parties, family holiday programs, an annual retreat, hiking and biking excursions, and film and theater outings round out the picture.

“We enrich our ’do-it-yourself’ approach by inviting many outside speakers,” said the Havurah’s President Aaron Seidman, who cited recent visitors Osvaldo Golijov, a young Argentinian Jewish classical composer; Russian journalist Yevgenia Albats; Wellesley College Professor of Religion Barbara Geller; Brandeis post-doctoral fellow Khaleel Muhammed; and Rabbi Arthur Green, past president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.

Inclusion extends to the landlord as well; the Church’s pastor occasionally speaks at services, and the two groups are working together on building enhancement.

"We ask our bar and bat mitzvot to take on roles that are actually performed by adult members of the community,” said Seidman, who said these include leading services, reading Torah and giving a d’var Torah. “Each child's coming-of-age event is unique and is a joyous occasion for the family and the community."

“Our members are eager to help new members to learn to read the Hebrew alphabet, lead part of a service, give a d’var Torah, chant text from the sacred scroll, play in our Klezmer band ‘Shir Madness’ or sing in our chorus,” said Seidman. “Our community celebrates those who take leadership roles and those who practice newly acquired skills, even when the results are less than perfect.”

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Havurah of Greater Boston meets at the Lutheran Church of the Newtons, 1310 Centre St. in Newton Center (corner of Cypress St. and Centre St.). Saturday services begin at 9:45 a.m.

For more information, please write P.O. Box 610431, Newton Highlands, Mass. 02461, call 617-965-6862, email info@shirhadash-ma.org or visit www.jrf.org/shirhadash.org.