Annual John M. Haddow Memorial Program in Jewish Culture

Sunday, June 23, 2013
2 p.m.
The Berman Center for the
Performing Arts

This joyous rendition of the classic Jewish
folktales about the bumbling residents of a
Polish shtetl is brought to life through the
magic of marionettes.

Adults $13
Children $11
Tickets available at theberman.org

Cohn-Haddow

Centerf rJudaic Studies

Rabbi Klein's imprint on Emanu-El
has influenced generations.

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S

many important lessons from him. He
challenges them and makes them think
He pushes, but he's not afraid to show his
sense of humor. It works for the kids —
and the adults:'

omewhere in a synagogue in
Terre Haute, Ind., in
the 1980s, a rabbi
Above: Rabbi Klein
Humor And Leadership
and a Presbyterian minister
leads a service
Glenn
Liebowitz of Farmington
got the bright idea to teach
at the southern
the Bible together with a new wall of the Temple Hills became Temple Emanu-El
approach, something make-
president when Klein began his
ruins in the
believe, with magic words, to City of David in
tenure in 1997.
impress a skeptical audience. Jerusalem in April
"My first impression of Joe
"We called ourselves The
was
that he is so personable, a
2005.
Rav and Rev Show, The
peer, not up above us looking
Magic of Religion:' said Rev.
down:' Liebowitz said. "He is a
Lee Dorsey about his partnership with
very well-studied scholar and teacher, but
Rabbi Joseph Klein, Temple Emanu-El
he doesn't set himself apart. He doesn't
rabbi since 1997.
pull his 'rabbi card:
"We had a common interest, and we
"He taught me how to run a temple
both did children's sermons:' Dorsey said.
and get along with people, even difficult
"Simple magic effects were a fun and
people. He's been very involved. He was
creative way to offer lessons of faith and
enthusiastic and willing to make appeals.
life. We began reading, sharing ideas and
He is accessible — but also willing to fight
routines. We often referred to the 'sound'
for his opinions. When people disagreed
of magic as the moment when the audi-
with him, he stood tall. He's not afraid to
ence catches its breath, filled with wonder call it what it is. His humor made being a
and surprise:'
temple president fun.
Klein said Jewish connections to magic
"There are two high points for me'
are time-honored from the Maharal of
Liebowitz said. "My family traveled to
Prague to Houdini and David Copperfield. Israel with Rabbi Klein. He led us to sites
"It's about belief, faith, surprise," Klein
to teach us about history. His ability to
said. "We wanted the response of 'wow,
present a story and make it real is special!
not how: Magic is unanswerable — as
He really paints a picture. He made Israel
memorable and meaningful. And one
some things should be unanswerable. It
encourages us to keep an open mind to
High Holiday sermon stands out for me.
things we haven't seen:'
It was about Judaism as a way of behav-
Magic tricks at Emanu-El's First Friday
ing, not only a set of beliefs. Rather than
Family services will be among things
faith or dogma, Reform Judaism is about
missed when Klein retires June 30.
action:'
Rabbi Jennifer Frenkel grew up in Oak
"Is there another rabbi who teaches
Park and met Klein when he first came
Torah to little kids with magic tricks? Or
who plays the banjo and sometimes sings
to Emanu-El. He became her 10th-grade
silly songs, which is so much fun?" said
confirmation class teacher.
Marcia Leibson of Oak Park
"Despite his busy schedule, he was
Leibson grew up at Temple Emanu-El.
there to talk with me individually during
She married there, raised her own fam-
high school and college," she said. "I have
ily there and became its religious school
deep gratitude for his teaching, mentor-
ship and friendship. I'll never forget his
director for 12 years.
"Joe and I traveled to New York and
support and encouragement when I was
Israel, leading temple and confirmation
considering rabbinical school. It was a
study tours:' she said. "Kids learned so
special and sacred time for me. We kept