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Program Guide 5773/2012

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Romemu (roh·meh·moo) seeks to integrate body, mind,

and soul in Jewish practice. Unabashedly eclectic, we

engage in body practices like yoga, infuse traditional

liturgy with the energy of ecstatic chant, and ground

our practice with meditation and contemplation.

This is a Judaism that will ignite your Spirit.

A Brief History of Romemu Rabbi David’s path began with an orthodox upbringing, steeped in love of Torah and all things Hasidic and mystical. He spent many years learning Eastern religions, immersing in the works of Ken Wilber and Carl Jung, and engaging deeply in body practices. Rabbi Ingber was moved to re-engage with Jewish life when he found his teacher, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, the founder of “Jewish Renewal.”

After two years as Rabbi-in-residence at the Elat Chayim Spiritual Retreat Center, Rabbi David began Romemu with a monthly service on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in March of 2006. He invited others who were looking for an accessible place to join him in the practice of a compassionate, Jewish life.

After two years of part-time services, in 2008 the Romemu community came together and became a full-time congregation, led by Rabbi David, with an extraordinary group of congregants seeking a Judaism they had only imagined possible. That year, Romemu held its first High Holiday service with a borrowed Torah, a converted armoire as an ark and a rush of excitement.

Since then we continue to build a community that embraces the Divine Image in each of us.

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To all our friends, old and new, a heartfelt welcome to Romemu!As we begin the High Holy Day season, we gather as a sacred community and open ourselves to a journey of reflection, possibility and transformation.

It has been an incredible year for Romemu. Our rabbi and founder, Rabbi David Ingber, was named one of the “50 Most Influential Rabbis in America” by Newsweek/The Daily Beast. Our Creative Director Shir Yaakov Feit produced Romemu’s first music CD, A Taste of Romemu, and distributed it to our members and the larger community. We launched an engaging and musical family program with Sha’baby on Friday night and Sha’Boker Tov at Saturday morning services. We introduced a Seekers Program (see page 14) for B’nai Mitzvah students and an exciting Adult Education program (page 12). We invested community time in the area of Social Justice, and came together to work on Ending Hunger as Romemu’s commitment to improving our larger community.

This coming year at Romemu should be equally exciting. Our new Executive Director, Ilene Sameth, will share her wealth of experience to help lead us to new possibilities. We have plans to expand our Seekers program and have hired an Education Director, Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses to create a new curriculum for our B’nai Mitzvah students. We are developing a pastoral care program to create a culture of compassion for our members in sickness and in celebration. We will exercise our recently awarded grant to reach out and engage young adults in their 20s and 30s. We plan to expand our family programming and our adult education program. We will further develop our social justice initiative of Ending Hunger. Ruben Ben-Harari, our administrator and the newest addition to our team, will help us communicate and support this vibrant and growing community.

There are many ways to get involved and participate in our new and ongoing programs at Romemu. We welcome your ideas and engagement and will match your interests and passions with our community initiatives. You can check out our website for information about our committees and contact information for our staff and lay leaders. This can be the year that you take that chance, reach out and join us. You’ll be glad you did.

Our community is evolving, growing and transforming with the collaborative effort of our dedicated clergy, staff, board and members. We look forward to sharing our individual and collective stories of searching, discovery and commitment to create a caring, compassionate and welcoming community. May we all be inspired, uplifted and transformed in the process.

On behalf of the Romemu Board, I wish you and your families a Shanah Tovah, a Happy New Year!

Caren Ellis Fried, Romemu Board Chair

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A message from Rabbi David IngberOur tradition teaches that there are certain times of the year and certain places where we feel more alive, more vibrantly connected to meaning and purpose, more open-hearted and more spiritually connected. The High Holidays are an example, our Rabbis teach, of one such opening in time.

With its melodies and prayers, themes of remembrance and forgiveness, the High Holidays help us do the profound work known as teshuvah, literally meaning ‘return’. Teshuvah is a profound remembering of our true self. This spiritual realignment is an annual opportunity to recover and rediscover what is most essential in our lives. As we turn once again to the delicate work of ‘heart-tending’ softening our hearts, feelings that often lie outside or beneath awareness gently begin to emerge. This exposing of the heart is ultimately what all of our spiritual work is about.

Rachmanah Liba Ba’ay — the Merciful One desires the Heart. The great Rabbi Kook once remarked that teshuvah is the healthiest feeling a soul can experience.

Allowing ourselves to return, to remember and to restore is a gift we give ourselves. Witnessing and honoring this process in others, is a gift we give to them.

As is often the case, this process has more to do with subtraction than addition, not doing than doing, less and not more. Our hearts are right here, waiting for us to listen, waiting for us to finish making excuses or defending our position, waiting for us to finally say, “Here I am. Sorry I kept you waiting”.

During the ‘Ten Days of Returning’ that begin on Rosh Hashanah, we are all invited to participate in the greatest and most important project that exists —returning to who we are, returning to what we are, and returning (or perhaps arriving for the first ‘remembered’ time) to where we are welcomed to do this important spiritual work.

I pray that your experience at Romemu serves your deepest spiritual purpose while supporting your teshuvah, your return.

I pray this will be a year of peace and love, radical transformative living and loving — for us and G-d’s entire World.

Shana Tova U’metukah, a sweet year for all. Rabbi David Ingber, Founder and Spiritual Director

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Rosh Hashana Schedule

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 — EREV ROSH HASHANA 5773

5:30pm Doors Open

6:30 Erev Rosh Hashana Services

8:30 Rosh Hashana Community Dinner (pre-registration required)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 — FIRST DAY

8am Yoga

9:30 Services

10:30am-12pm Interactive Theatrical Children Services* (0-8 years old)

2pm Share the Love Lunch (Private Residences)

5 Tashlich at Riverside Park (enter at 97th Street) Water-side with Rabbi Jill Hammer

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 — SECOND DAY

8am Yoga

9:30 Services

10:30-11 Birthday Party for the World** (0-4 years old)

11am-12pm Children’s Service** (5-8 years old)

ABOUT OUR CHILDREN’S SERVICES

* A unique, very engaging service/play/musical experience with two superstar kid theater whizzes Jessica Kaufman and Stephanie Olson...

** Have you met Shira Kline — the most well-known Jewish kids rockstar in the US? Well, we are thrilled that she is again gracing our community with her energy and presence for the second day of Rosh Hashana! Check out her holiday recordings: www.shirlala.com/recordings

Childcare for all ages available downstairs from 9:30am-1pm on both 9/17 and 9/18

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Yom Kippur Schedule

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 5pm Doors Open

6 Kol Nidre Services

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

9am Yoga

10 Services

10:30-11 Itsy Bitsy Yoga with Mikki Raveh (0-2 years old)

11am-12pm Interactive Theatrical Service (kids of all ages)

3-5pm Breakout Sessions for Body, Mind & Spirit (see opposite page)

5:15 Mincha (Afternoon Service)

6 Neila

7:45 Break Fast (pre-registration required)

Childcare for all ages available downstairs from 5:30-8:30pm on 9/25 and 9:30am-1pm on 9/26

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Yom Kippur Breakout Sessions

MY FOUR DEEPEST INSIGHTS IN FORTY YEARS OF TORAH STUDY

with Maggid Yitzhak Buxbaum 3-4:30pm Downstairs

After studying Torah for forty years and writing ten books, Reb Yitzhak’s insights strangely merge amidst sparks, fireworks, and explosions and reach to the very center of Judaism. This talk will blow your mind, open your heart, and thrill your soul. A discussion follows the talk.

ENACTING FORGIVENESS

with Andrew Gaines and Shoshana Jedwab, 3-5pm in the Upstairs Gym

Deepen your renewal through the support of your imagination, our community, and stories from our sacred texts. Shoshana and Andrew will safely guide us to dramatize the teshuva journey with techniques adapted from Bibliodrama and Drama Therapy. To create this magical experience, please arrive on time as latecomers cannot be admitted. No acting experience is necessary; participants must be at least 14 years old.

YOM KIPPUR YOGA FOR THE JEWISH SPIRIT

with Shelley Levine, certified yoga instructor, 4-5pm in the Chapel

We will take this special time of Yom Kippur afternoon, when we are suspended between the material and the divine, for gentle yoga postures and guided pranayama (controlled breathing). Our breath can take us deeper into the experience as we prepare to enter into the awesome moments of Neilah. Please bring a yoga mat or blanket and wear comfortable clothing. You can sit on a chair or the floor, whatever is comfortable for you.

SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING

with Elana Shneyer and Rachel Makleff, 4-5pm in the Main Sanctuary

Yom Kippur is an opportunity to take the ritual of fasting and personal exploration and direct it outward to addressing larger structural issues. Turn the experience of hunger into empathy and action for the hunger suffered by others. Explore what the Torah has to say about this issue as we read deeper into Isaiah 58. Text will be provided for further exploration.

Sukkot & Simchat Torah ScheduleMONDAY OCTOBER 1 — SUKKOT DAY 1

8:30am Yoga9:30 Silent Meditation10 Services with Hallel

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2 — SUKKOT DAY 2

8:30am Yoga9:30 Silent Meditation10 Services with Hallel

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4 — SUKKOT DAY 4

Seekers Parent Information Session (see page 14)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 — SUKKOT SHABBAT

6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 — SUKKOT DAY 6

8:30am Yoga9:30 Silent Meditation10 Services12:30pm Potluck Kiddush in the Sukkah La Perla Community Garden, 76-80 West 105th Street (just East of Columbus Ave.)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 — SUKKOT DAY 7

NYC Peace Walk with Rabbi David Ingber, Jack Kornfield and many others see page 21 for details

Sukkot Harvest Festival at Eden Village Camp with Shir Yaakov and many others visit jewishfarmschool.org for details

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8 — SHMINI ATZERET & SIMCHAT TORAH

8:30am Yoga9:30 Silent Meditation10 Services with Hallel

7pm Simchat Torah!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9 — SIMCHAT TORAH

8:30am Yoga9:30 Silent Meditation10 Simchat Torah Services

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HIGH HOLY DAY TIPS

The Holy Days present an opportunity for returning to our sources as Jews. The time in synagogue should not be squandered, but used to great effect. Below are some suggested guidelines:

• Relax: don’t worry about keeping up with the pages. If you find a prayer whose words reach out to you, dwell on it; don’t rush.

• Try not to talk to anyone around you. Not just for reasons of decorum, but because prayer is essentially a question of mood. Chit-chat destroys the mood.

• …Don’t take your pulse. Don’t worry if you’re “enjoying” the services, if you are being inspired, moved, or stimulated. Let the words, the melodies, the mood, your own mind, take hold of you. Forget yourself, lose yourself in the davenning (prayer).

• Bring your whole self into the davenning. Put yourself into it. God loves you, haven’t you heard? And God wants to hear from you. Speak to God when you davven, pour out your heart to God.

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The great Rabbi Israel Salanter was missing from

his synagogue on Kol Nidre eve, the holiest night in the Jewish calendar. The elders of the synagogue went out

searching for him and they found him. There are two versions: one, he was taking care of a wounded

calf, the other, he was helping a sick child. And

they said to them, “Rabbi, why aren’t you in the

synagogue?” He said, “Do you see what I’m doing?”

“But it’s your duty to be in the synagogue praying.” He

said, “I am praying. Every act of kindness is a prayer

– a prayer that walks, talks, moves, breathes and lives.”

–Rabbi William B. Silverman

We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us even in our deepest sleep.... –Henry David Thoreau

The purpose of all prayer is to uplift the words, to return to their source above. The world was created by the downward flow of the letters: the task of people is to form those letters into words and take them back to God. If you come to know this process, Your prayer may be joined to the constant flow of creation, words to words, voice to voice, breath to breath, thought to thought.–Likkutim Yekarim

The sins we commit, these are not the worst thing. After all, temptation is powerful and man is weak. The great crime of man is that he could turn at any time and he doesn’t. –Rabbi Simhah Bunam

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Prayer takes the mind out of the narrowness of self-interest, and enables us to see the world in the mirror of the holy. For when we betake ourselves to the extreme opposite of the ego, we can behold a situation from the aspect of G-d.”

-Abraham Joshua Heschel, Man’s Quest for God

The gates of prayer are sometimes open and

sometimes locked but the gates of repentance

are always open.–Midrash Rabbah, Deuteronomy 2:7

Every brakhah (blessing) could be translated as: “Stop, take three breaths, bring your being together, try to become aware of the significance of what you are about to do or witness. Now: slowly, deliberately, utter the words that connect your intentions with what you are actually about to do. Pause, make yourself spring forth wholly, and connect yourself to the rest of the universe, and to the Source of Holiness and Being Self. “Praised are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe…” has become religious duckspeak. What we ought to do is create radically new translations of that formula which says, for example, “I now voluntarily and with holy intention slow down what I am doing and contemplate the awesome potential of what I hope to do; or by the act that I am about to do – by putting good in my mouth – I hope somehow to turn my table into an altar. Or by the act of lighting these candles, I hope to open channels between this dining room and the gates of heaven.”

–Rabbi Lawrence Kushner

Davvening (Praying) is such a privilege. Look at it as such.

You will be participating, before you know it,

in a mystical colloquy to God, humanity, Israel,

and from the Jewish people, past, present and future.

–Rabbi Emanuel Feldman

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Romemu Adult Education ProgramRomemu Adult Education (RAE) is committed to supporting our community in its quest to rediscover and deepen our Jewish roots. This rich program of learning and study seeks to nourish mind, body and spirit… bringing them into closer connection. We hope you can find time to include one or more of these courses into your daily life in the coming year. All are welcome.

For more information and to register, visit romemu.org.

KABBALLAH CAFÉLed by Rabbi David Ingber Tuesdays starting October 16, 7-8:30pm

Join us as we explore the mysteries of the kabbalah in an intimate setting. Led by rabbi david ingber, we will focus on the wisdom of the jewish mystical tradition (kabbalah) and its application to our daily lives. Sessions will be topical, drawing from the tradition of the Sefer Yetzirah, the Zohar, and Lurianic kabbalah.

OMEK: PARSHA CLASSLed by Rabbi David Ingber Wednesdays starting October 10, 7-8:30pm

Explore the weekly Torah portion from the perspective of from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev’s Kedushat Levi. Rabbi David will follow this chassidic master’s teaching throughout the year parsha by parsha.

SIDDUR SKILLSLed by Shir Yaakov Feit Mondays starting October 15, 7-9pm

Shir Yaakov takes us on a guided tour of the content, form, history and language of the siddur (prayerbook), exploring prayer from the inside-out in classes that are part lecture, part chevruta (learning pairs), and part conversation.

LIVING DEEPLY WITH A SACRED TEXTLed by Nili Weissman

In this class we will develop skills to live deeply with our pasuk (verse of Torah) as a travel companion in our lives. Its deep teaching will continuously be opening to us, becoming a window to our inner lives. We will meet once a month to witness, support and listen to the stories of this unfolding process. This year-long holy journey begins when we receive our pasukim on Simchat Torah, October 8.

SHIVTI: SHABBAT MEDITATIONLed by Larry Schwartz, Rabbi Ingber and othersSaturdays 4:30pm

This course combines periods of meditation, with discussion of jewish text, for a jewish-centered experience of mindfulness through meditation. No prior experience is required.

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New York City Peace WalkCentral Park October 7th, 2012

Peace In The Middle East And Worldwide For Peace Minded People

Please Come Walk Together

The first large US silent Peace Walk is planned for New York City’s Central Park on Sunday October 7th, 2012. Following an opening gathering at the NY Academy of Medicine (1216 5th Avenue @ 103rd; doors open at 2:30pm), the walk will circumnavigate continuously Central Park allowing participants to join along the way.

The walk is intended to be slow, beautiful and dignified, without flags or signage, an expression of the goodwill and friendliness of people who live together. It empowers us all to be peacemakers. Instead of shouting in the name of peace, peace will be embodied by our quiet presence. ‘There is no way to peace, peace is the way’.

With over 8 million people living in New York City, it is one of the most densely populated and ethnically and religiously diverse cities in the world. Home to over 100 ethnic groups, including several million Muslims and Jews, the walk is intended to demonstrate that people of all faiths and origins can live peacefully side by side. The peace we long for in the Middle East and Worldwide is actually possible. We call for the urgent cessation of violence in the Middle East and a serious and committed movement towards a sustainable and peaceful coexistence.

The walk will be led by Jack Kornfield, one of the leading Buddhist teachers in America. Dr. Stephen Fulder, founder of Middleway, an Israeli-Palestinian group applying mindfulness and spiritual insights to peacemaking, Rabbi Ingber, the Founder and Spiritual Director of Romemu, Daisy Kahn, Bernie Glassman, Sheykha Fariha and many others.

Large silent peace walks have become famous in Israel and Palestine, for 10 years and Dr. Fulder has been a central teacher and visionary for these walks.

All will be welcome and encouraged to join the walk.

Registration to the opening event is limited to 500. Please visit www.nypeacewalk.org/join/registration/ to register and for more information.

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ART JOY

AWEBODY

NATURE WONDER

CHALLENGE QUESTIONING COMMUNITY

GRATITUDE DIALOGUEBLESSING

SPIRIT IDEAS SOUL GOD

THE HEBREW SCHOOL AT ROMEMU

Seekers: A Spiritual Journey for Children and Their FamiliesWe will open your child’s heart through Jewish exploration, experience and study, giving your child the tools to live life to it’s fullest. Field trips, yoga, prayer, meditation, conversations on life’s big questions, time in nature—will all be part of their encountering what Judaism is about.

Children will meet weekly in our program. Every other week they will study in small groups after school in family homes; on alternate weeks they will meet in a community of peers on Sundays from 4-6pm for experiential activities and field trips.

But Romemu’s youth education program is not just about children. Parents will have an opportunity for study parallel to their children—so they can share what their children are learning on their own level. And the whole family will be invited to celebrate Shabbat and holidays together as well as attend a Spring retreat.

We invite you to join us on this family adventure.

We are currently planning our program for 6-16 year olds. To learn more, come to our parent information session on October 4th at 7pm. Please contact Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses at dianne@romemu.org and schedule a phone conversation or meeting to discuss your family’s needs.

OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses is a master educator who has worked as a teacher or administrator at some of the Jewish community’s most prominent institutions, including CLAL, The Bronfman Youth Fellowship and UJA-Federation of New York. She will ensure our program is in the spirit of Romemu: experiential, educational and fun.

Join us at a parent open house on October 4th at 7:00 P.M. Contact dianne@romemu.org for details.

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ART JOY

AWEBODY

NATURE WONDER

CHALLENGE QUESTIONING COMMUNITY

GRATITUDE DIALOGUEBLESSING

SPIRIT IDEAS SOUL GOD

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rabbi David Ingber, FounderCaren Ellis Fried, ChairEvey Adelsohn Mason, Vice ChairAriel Rosen Ingber, Family ProgrammingPeter Takiff, TreasurerFelice Winograd, Secretary, DevelopmentMarla Alt, Co-Chair, Special EventsNigel Austin, Legal AdvisorJonathan Bickoff, Chair, SoundJeff Cahn, ABIA Center/EducationWendye ChaitinEric Davis, Website and TechnologyArthur Fried, MarketingDr. Steven KaplanPaul Mason, Co-Chair, PR/MediaJorian Polis SchutzElana Shneyer, Social JusticeJeff Wallace, Special EventsHali Weiss, ABIA Center

STAFFRabbi David Ingber, Founder & Spiritual Director

Shir Yaakov Feit, Musical & Creative Director

Ilene Sameth, Executive Director

Dianne Cohler-Esses, Director of Education

Jade Netanya Ullmann, Development, Membership & Outreach

Ruben Ben-Harari, Administration

308 West 92nd Street, #5B, New York, New York 10025 212-580-4294

info@romemu.org facebook.com/romemu twitter: @romemu

Thank you...TO OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRSMarla Alt & Jeff Wallace, Event Chair

Jamie Askin & Laurie Wolko, Food Committee

Jake Friedman, Avi Green & Yiska Obadia, Gabbai’im

Arthur Fried, Marketing

Ariel Rosen Ingber, Children’s Programming

Jonathan Baron, Decoration

Jonathan Bickoff, Sound

Audrey Ludmer & Kiki Hamada, Volunteers

Rhonda Rose, Yoga

Michelle Harvath, Shomrim

TO OUR WORKSHOP LEADERSAndrew Gaines, Elana Shneyer, Rachel Makleff, Shelley Levine, Shoshana Jedwab, Yitzhak Buxbaum

TO OUR HOME HOSPITATLITY HOSTSAngie & Norman Atkins, Sissy Block, Dr. Stacie Deiner & Dr. Jeffrey Silverstein, Loren Edelson & Jeremy Katz, Andrea Fooner, Rebecca Sharzer, Emily Stern, Fryda Villars & Daniel Savin

TO OUR HIGH HOLIDAY VOLUNTEERSAlan Bernstein, Amy Milano, Andrea Fooner, Andrea Schwartz, Ann Farbman, Anna Kadyshevich, Anne Bassen, Arnold Meyer, Arthur Fried, Aviva Derenowski, Becca Rosen, Brooke Dumain, Cami Aronowitz, Caren Ellis Fried, Caren Fried, Cari Gardner, Cathy Harding, Cheryl J. Fish, Claudette Hale, Daniella Fleisman, David Kaminsky, David Steinmetz, Deborah Hendell Shimko, Elana Bulman, Ellen Lamonoff, Erica Oppenheimer, Eva Blick, Evelyn Goodman, Hali Weiss, Janet Danforth, Janet Thaler, Jeff Silverstein, Jonathan Thaler, Judy Gray, Keith Torgan, Kim Gross, Kim Schneiderman, Kostia Rubinsky, Laurie Wolko, Kostia Rubchinsky, Lisa Rubinksy, lisa schaffner, Lynda Rodolitz, Max Zimmerman, Melinda Mingus, Michael Weiss, Merril Feinstein, Meryl Randman, Miguel Oks, Mijanou Mosher, Miriam Novalle, Nili Weissman, Pat Hartley, Randee Brown, Robert I. Levine, Robin Staver, Ronnie Scharfman, Rudrani Farber, Ruth Rosenblum, Sally Paridis, Sam Steinberg and Joanie Sobsey, Sara Figueroa, Sherri Kronfeld, Shiloh Jaxen, Sonny Greenwald, Stacie Deiner, Susan Lander, Susan Levine, Sylvia Helm, Tammy Anagnostis Klein, Wendye Chaitin, Yehuda Hyman, Zara Watkins

Psalm 150Halelu-El b’kadsho Haleluhu birki’a uzoHaleluhu vig’vurotav Haleluhu k’rov gudloHaleluhu b’teka shofar Haleluhu b’nevel v’chinorHaleluhu b’tof umachol Haleluhu b’minim v’ugavHaleluhu b’tziltzelei shama Haleluhu b’tziltzelei tru’a

Kol han’shama t’halel Yah HalleluYah! HalleluYah! Kol han’shama t’halel Yah HalleluYah! HalleluYah!

Sanctuary Song

May the Words of my mouthAnd the meditations of my heartBe acceptable to you YahMy rock and my redeemer

O Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary Pure and holy, tried and true And in thanksgiving I’ll be a living Sanctuary for you

Ve’a’soo li mikdash (And make me a SanctuaryVe’sho’chanti be’tocham and I will dwell withinVe’anachnu ne’varech Yah and we will bless YahMay’atah ve’ad olam now and forever....)