It has been a busy few weeks since the last edition of Rabbi’s Resources. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the RIETS Yarchei Kallah I attended in Miami- it was wonderful to spend several days with old friends and long-time colleagues, and to meet some younger ones as well. It brought home that I’m not as young as I used to be, as I was not one of the youngest or newest Rabbis anymore! Purim was terrific at Shaare Tefilla- a full shul at night at both readings, an amazingly successful Mishloach Manot campaign and a delicious and packed Purim Seudah. A separate email will be sent thanking all the volunteers who made Purim so special, and the lengthy list should be read, Megillah style, in one breath (disclaimer: no resemblance is implied between our dedicated volunteers and Haman’s ten dastardly sons).
Rabbi’s Recommendations
The Israeli actor Haim Topol passed away today at the age of 87. He was known for his portrayal of Tevye in the stage and film version of Fiddler On The Roof, a role he performed more than 3500 times through 2009 and for which he was nominated for a Tony and an Oscar. His breakthrough role, and the one for which he is being talked about in Israel, is as the title role in the film Salah Shabati, nominated for an Oscar in 1964 as Best Foreign Film. The movie’s sendup of early Zionist institutions like the Kibbutz, and the Ashkenormative elitism of the early Zionist establishment, have made it an enduring classic in Israel. Here is one of the most famous scenes, in which Topol sings the movie’s iconic earworm song, Mashiach HaZaken.
Previous Mystery Shul Of The Week
The clue:
The outside of this landmark Israeli shul has been expanded and remodeled several times, its architectural style changing completely in the century it has been in existence. The neighborhood has changed, too, and the fortunes of the shul have fluctuated with it, and now it is used especially for Jewish lifecycle events. Recently, a concerted effort has been made to revive the shul, and a campaign was approved to return it to its original appearance. Name the city, and the shul.
In 1969, the Architect Aryeh Elchanani made changes to the facade and added columns around the exterior to match a more modern architectural aesthetic. Changes were also made to the inside, including to the Aron Kodesh.
This is what the shul looks like today. While it is primarily used for lifecycle events, it is also an active shul that is apparently experiencing something of a resurgence.
Here is a picture of the new plans for the reimagining of the shul, according to its original look:
Mystery Shul Of The Week
This beautiful shul bears the same name as many others throughout the world (including one whose appearance is nearly identical to this one), in that they are named after the same person. Name this shul, its location, and its namesake. For extra credit, include a picture of another shul with the same name.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky
Congregation Shaare Tefilla 6131 Churchill Way Dallas, TX 75230
