This year’s “A Day of Discovery” began sensually. A sniff, a touch, a taste. Poetry and music, photography, theater and storytelling.
The opening program, on Saturday night, Feb. 8, at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, began with a multi-sensory havdalah service and blossomed into a night of the arts, all centered on the day’s theme, “Embracing Sinai Through Diversity.”
Olive, lavender, Dead Sea salts and the sweet taste of halva evoked images of Israel during the havdalah service led by Israel shaliach Nir Barkin and educator Marty Katz.
The evening celebrated diversity through the music of Lil Rev and Rick Aaron, a dramatic reading by actress and educator Felice Leib, public radio talk show host and producer Ben Merens’ humorous and touching reminiscences and Kipp Friedman’s photo exhibit “Faces of Milwaukee.”
Between performances, Debra Katz read Jewish prose and poetry that spoke of pride and wisdom, strength and holiness.
The evening was capped with the uplifting music and storytelling of Rabbi Michel Twerski, accompanied by Alan Borsuk.
The mood was elevated and intimate, in the spirit of a melave malka, a Saturday night party in which the Shabbat queen is accompanied out with spirit and community.
Continuing Sunday morning with 45 learning sessions by educators, rabbis, artists and community members, the Day of Discovery drew more than 700 participants, according to its organizers. This fourth annual event was sponsored and coordinated by the Coalition for Jewish Learning, the education program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation; the JCC; and the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis; and supported by MJF’s Jewish Community Foundation. Eileen Graves and Douglas H. Frazer were event co-chairs.
‘Higher standard’
On Sunday afternoon, community leaders Shahanna McKinney, Esther Leah Ritz, Barbara Stein and State Rep. Dr. Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee) joined moderator Jody Hirsh, JCC director of Judaic education, to share their perspectives in a closing panel discussion on diversity.
To Hirsh’s question, “What is your greatest accomplishment?” McKinney, 32, director of CJL’s Merkaz education program and the youngest panelist, said she hopes she hasn’t yet achieved hers. But she believes that as an African-American Jew of Ashkenazi and Sephardi heritage, she has been able thus far to reach out to Jews of mixed heritage who may have had little access to Judaism.
Labeling herself a “secular Jew,” Ritz, a longtime local, national and international activist, said her greatest accomplishment occurred when she was a board member of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
“I was instrumental in bringing the Jewish community in Latin America into the organized Jewish world,” she said proudly. “I brought the JDC to Latin America to preserve Jewish life there — full blast!”
Stein, well-known community volunteer, said, “Besides raising two sons, helping to establish a diverse network of colleagues in Milwaukee to improve the quality of life here has been rewarding.”
Wasserman, too, said watching his three children learn and grow brings real nachas. And, “Personally, as a member of the state legislature, I’m trying to make a positive difference in the lives of five million residents of Wisconsin and to make the world a better place.”
McKinney and Ritz spoke of their connection to the Jewish world and other’s reaction to them.
“Sometimes I’m not accepted as the ‘right kind’ of Jew because I don’t belong to a shul,” Ritz said, “but I’m strongly connected to my Judaism because my watchword is tzedakah. I take my obligation very seriously.”
Panelists also discussed their work in the general community and how it influences their lives as Jews. Stein said that she hopes her involvement in the general community reflects positively on the Jewish community.
Wasserman agreed, adding, “I believe that Jews are held to a higher standard, and, if we falter, people remember. We are expected to do better. I feel I reflect my family, community and religion and don’t want ‘us’ to look bad in any light. We must all stand tall.”
Describing himself as the “tall, blond, blue-eyed kid” that a lot of people thought was adopted, Wasserman added, “That the legislature adjourned early so I could get back to Milwaukee in time for Yom Kippur services strongly impacted my Jewishness.”
All of the panelists agreed that their Jewishness defines who they are.
And during the audience question period, Rabbi David Fine told Ritz that he doesn’t believe there is such a thing as a secular Jew. “Who are we to judge anyway? Your sense of Judaism comes from somewhere.”
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