.png)
Celebrating Half a Century of our Genesis Partnership
- Genesis of Ann Arbor
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Defying predictions of rain, the sun shone down on our shared house of worship last Sunday as our honored guests, Bishop Bonnie Perry (Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan) and Rabbi Rick Jacobs (President of the Union for Reform Judaism) joined our clergy—Rev. Anne Clarke, Rabbi Josh Whinston and Cantor Maier—and several hundred of our congregants to honor Genesis and mark the significance of the 50th Anniversary of our partnership.
While a magician and a colorful bounce house entertained the kids, the clergy and one of Genesis' founding members, Allyn Kantor, offered reflections in the sanctuary.
Rabbi Whinston used the occasion, and what gematria (numerology) may teach about its date, to make a major announcement: our sanctuary will soon be getting brand new, comfy chairs. Replacing the wooden chairs in the sanctuary that predate the Genesis partnership has been a long-standing wish of many in our congregations, one that's needed to be perpetually deferred in favor of keeping our building operational. Thanks to the enormous generosity of an anonymous donor, our wish has been granted!
Our relationship has always relied on both the spiritual and the physical… Spiritual beings living in physical bodies. As we move into the next 50 years, may we always remember to care for both.
Allyn Kantor revealed the secret of the longevity of our relationship and of becoming an "inspiring model for the nation": "This 50-year relationship was built on a foundation of friendship." Rabbi Josh had earlier remarked that "it's clear there was a deep heart connection between [founding clergy Rabbi Warshall and Reverend Evett]." Now more than ever, Kantor said, at a time when our nation faces challenges to our rights and freedoms that we never could have imagined, as the Jewish community is feeling a resurgence of hostility, "friendship, trust, and mutual respect between our two congregations is vitally important…We appreciate this unique and precious partnership and commit to nourishing and sustaining it."
In her comments, the Right Reverend Bishop Perry concurred that in these troubled times "we need things in which we can rejoice."
This partnership is stunning. It was astonishing and groundbreaking when it was conceived. I am so proud that Bishop Coleman McGehee [at the time of foundation] understood the power of this partnership, because that's not always something you can get over a bishop. It was unusual then, and let's face it, not something you see today either.
With reference to the Book of Esther, Bishop Perry reminded us that we have been "called to be a witness to cooperation," and this may require "planning and a bit of plotting [in order to] outwit and outsmart the oppressors and the haters of the world and the naysayers, and instead give life." She also acknowledged that working to overcome polarization and tribalism is "a ton of work," but it is our calling to carry out.
Before citing the Book of Leviticus, Rabbi Jacobs joked that he had a feeling that the bishop might "do Paul" but he "did not see Esther coming."
'You shall make the 50th year holy.' [Leviticus 25:10] There's something about that number. It's not just a big number, it's a specific number…Something big had to happen on the 50th year. It was called the yovel, the Jubilee. Wasn't actually a party. But rather, it was the time that our ancestors renewed their commitment to really shape a more just and equitable society, and to express their commitment to the creation, the land, the earth, and the environment… We could just have a big party, but no, here we are in the sanctuary putting a sacred frame on what this moment could mean.
Rabbi Jacobs closed with the hope that this partnership "will not remain a beautiful part of Ann Arbor alone. This is a moment for the beacon to go out and to raise up many more disciples, and to tell the world what you have done, and that they can too."
Reverend Anne Clarke reflected on our ancestors and the land, including the inspiring and charitable work of the couple who gave the land to St. Claire's 80 years ago, whose own partnership "could never be named or declared publicly in those times," as well as the scars of displacement of those who had lived on the land prior to that. She acknowledged the scars and unhealed wounds of the past that we carry with us while "giving thanks for the healing and the life that has sprung up after the hurt." But when there has been hurt, when times were hard:
[Our ancestors] returned again and again to love. And I've continued to feel surrounded by them, by the love and truth that those ancestors chose, and the divine presence that is here in this place… We all have endless opportunities to return to love… And we know that we can, because we have 50 years of examples of those who have done it before us.
The celebration continued in the newly-established Celebration Courtyard, where Cantor Emma Maier debuted a song she composed for the occasion, and Rabbi Whinston placed the prayer capsule containing prayers for Genesis offered by our congregants, while reflecting on the aspirational nature of prayer. The centerpiece Genesis 50th Anniversary paver will be installed over it to seal it.
Our clergy offered concluding thoughts and prayers before the Star of David and Cross sculptures that stand as symbols of public witness to our partnership as well as our differences, before inviting congregants to tie a ribbon in rainbow colors between the Star and Cross, thereby leaving a prayer for something in this world that is so much in need of healing.
The glorious afternoon concluded inside the Social Hall, where the kids had a chance to adopt a balloon animal, kids and adults painted heart tiles which will soon be immortalized in a new art installation, and all attendees enjoyed ice cream sundaes and just socialized with old and new friends.
Our 50 year partnership would never have survived without the vision and leadership of our past presidents, 13 of whom joined our celebration.
Here's a photo gallery of some more of the highlights of the afternoon. Even more photos are available on this album.
