By Rielle Miller Gabriel
Since Rabbi Zemel announced his retirement last January, many members of our community have been working together to make this last year a special one for Rabbi Zemel and our whole Temple Micah community.
We started the year with a panel, “The Future of the American Synagogue,” in September 2024. Rabbi Beraha moderated a fascinating discussion: should the synagogue be the center of ‘Jewish life’ or ‘Jewish spiritual / faith life’? Whose voices are we not ready to hear? Will synagogues go separate ways over beliefs about Israel? How do we build language to help people express their ‘Jewish fitness’? And how do synagogues’ business models need to change to engage and respect the ‘Jew in the pew’? The event honored Rabbi Zemel’s career of pushing boundaries, re-imagining the synagogue, and engaging in deep questions within Temple Micah and with great Jewish minds around the country.
This January, Rabbi Slakman hosted a panel on “Israel in the Year 2048.” The three panelists shared their thoughts on how the current situation in the region will impact the future of Israel and the Jewish people. There were hopeful proclamations about peace between Jews and Palestinians. There were also pragmatic statements about the continuity of the status quo. However, each of the esteemed panelists spoke to the interconnectivity of Jews and Palestinians, highlighting Rabbi Zemel’s long-standing commitment to shared society in Israel.
February saw Rabbi Zemel himself take center stage during “Grandpa Goldman” weekend. Throughout Shabbat Yitro, Rabbi Zemel shared the wisdom of his grandfather, Rabbi Solomon Goldman. Congregants and guests learned about Rabbi Goldman’s biblical theology, his voluminous correspondence (including exchanges with Albert Einstein!), and how Rabbi Goldman’s writings about antisemitism still ring true. The Celebration Committee, represented at this event by Martha Adler and Valerie Strauss, surprised Rabbi Zemel with a gift from the congregation. Rabbi Zemel will spend two weeks at the Hebrew Union College’s archive in Cincinnati , with access to a research assistant, to continue his exploration of his grandfather’s prodigious works. After the studies, the Celebration Committee volunteers hosted a pizza party and brownie bake-off. A huge thank you! to Shelley Fidler, Jane Kerschner, and Harriet Weiner for leading the amazing team of Stuart Brown, Jeannelle D’Isa, Miriam Grogan, Harriette Kinberg, Arlene Lutenegger, Barbara Levine, Marc Levy, Jean Nordhaus, Helaine Palmer, and Ken Schwartz.
March has featured a number of celebratory events. Machon students and families are enjoying age-accessible events with Rabbi Zemel, from pre-K through R2B (grades 8-12). We will also host Rabbi Zemel’s teacher, Rabbi Larry Hoffman, for our Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat, March 21 through March 22. Rabbi Hoffman will speak on “Temple Micah as a Laboratory: How to Put the World Together” at our Kabbalat Shabbat service. On Saturday morning, Rabbi Hoffman will present “God, Prayer, and Other Things that Matter” before joining us for kiddush. That afternoon, “Questions Jews Ask, Or Should: A Conversation among Rabbi Zemel, Rabbi Hoffman, and Our Former Tisch Fellows” will take place before a community havdalah.
Our third celebratory panel, “The Future of American Jews and Israel” will occur on April 27. Rabbi Crawley will host three insightful rabbis as they share their thoughts on this timely topic. On Sunday, May 4, the Temple Micah community will gather for a festive program with music, toasts, and speakers celebrating all that Rabbi and Louise Zemel have given to our community.
In addition to these events, all members and former members are encouraged to contribute to Rabbi Zemel’s Memory Book, edited by Emily Tamkin and Rob Sugar, by Monday, March 31. We want this book to share the wide array of experiences that this community has had with Rabbi Zemel over the past several decades, so share those specific memories! We are also offering a second volume of Rabbi Zemel’s writings, A Time to Reflect. Book orders can be placed from your ShulCloud account.
Thank you to all the volunteers who have made, and continue to make, this year meaningful. It is an honor and joy to mark this milestone year with Rabbi Zemel.
This article was orginally featured in the March/April/May 2025 issue of the Vine.