By Ely Zimmerman (5-12-09)

Today is thirty-three days, which is four weeks and five days of the Omer.

 

It is a tradition to count the days between Passover and Shavuot, as we mark our freedom from slavery and celebrate our freedom to accept Torah. This is called "counting the omer." This year we will observe the tradition of "counting the omer" by sharing stories about the many different ways that we have been turned on to Jewish learning, and through Jewish learning to Torah.

How it All Began

On Labor Day Weekend of 1999, we went to Camp Kesher, a Jewish Family Camp that was a joint effort of 7 Seattle-area Reform synagogues.  The idea of hanging out in an idyllic location on the Puget Sound where the boys (then 15 and 9) could "do their thing" while Jill and I could schmooze with friends and make new ones sounded pretty good. I was not particularly interested in the "scholar-in-residence" program of Jewish learning being offered.  Little did I know what a fateful decision going to that camp was. Much like when I was getting married, I didn't have a clue about what lay ahead. 

I had grown up in NYC, went to the Ethical Culture Schools, dutifully attended a Reform Sunday School, and had my Bar Mitzvah without ever sensing that Judaism had any relevance to me.  To those of us who grew up in the 60's and 70's, "relevance" was a big deal. Remember? 

On Saturday morning at Camp Kesher, Rabbi Lawrence Kushner talked to us, told stories, and then opened up Torah and told more stories and asked us questions. All of a sudden, things started becoming relevant.  I don't now recall any details, but I went back to the afternoon session and two more on Sunday; and by Monday, I felt like a new world had opened up between those scrolls. 

On the drive back, Jill and I were so excited both by what we learned and the process of learning that we said "we have to have Torah Study at our Temple." The Rabbi was consumed with B'nai Mitvahs. Even though we knew nothing of the content, we did know how to run groups. We decided to do Torah Study on the model of a graduate seminar: asking questions, and probing the text for relevance to our lives. With enthusiasm from our fellow campers in the congregation, we started out. 

Ten years later, the Torah Study Group at Temple B'nai Torah has become a central feature of the congregation. We are still on the email list and follow the discussions that extend from each Saturday throughout the week.  I think it is safe to say that Labor Day Weekend at Camp Kesher with Rabbi Larry Kushner was the beginning of an unfolding of Torah for me and for Jill. In less than a week, ten years after Camp Kesher, Jill will be ordained a Rabbi herself.

By Ely Zimmerman

These stories are brought to you by the Temple Emanuel RE-IMAGINE project, an 18-month initiative sponsored by Hebrew Union College, devoted to re-thinking and re-structuring our religious school.