BULLETIN OF BETH EL

CONGREGATION

All Pages in All-Color on the Web

bethelakron.com

Table of Contents Rabbi’s Message ......................... 1

President’s Column ..................... 1

Lunch & Learn ............................. 1

Synagogue Directory ................... 2

Mazel Tov .................................... 2

Happy Anniversary ...................... 2

Tree of Life .................................. 2

Schedule of Services ................... 2

Candle Lighting, Havdalah ........... 2

Beth El in Your Will ..................... 2

Yahrzeits ...................................... 3

In Memoriam .............................. 3

Memorial Plaques ....................... 3

Calendar ...................................... 3

Education Program ..................... 4

Jews and Brews ........................... 4

Sukkot Events .............................. 5

Sisterhood ................................... 5

Contributions .............................. 6

Contribution Form ...................... 7

Additional Holiday Services ......... 8

Wizards of Ashkenaz ................... 8

Rabbi Elyssa

Austerklein

Please Join Us at Noon Tuesday, October 13

- Virtual Meeting -

Please enjoy your lunch in your home or office.

Check your e-mail to log in.

A Gift from the Heart, not the Pocket

Last month in my message, I wrote about

supporting the synagogue through monetary

donations. Giving to the synagogue could take the

form of becoming a seat holder, writing one check to

cover a year of donations in honor or memory of

someone, or thinking about leaving a bequest in your

will. This month I would like to discuss one other way

to give without cost: volunteer your time.

Many non-profit organizations that I work with

(i.e.,Akron Children’s Hospital, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens) could not survive

without their volunteer workforce. At Akron Children’s there is an entire

department dedicated to supporting the hospital’s numerous volunteers.

Volunteers perform the tasks: running errands throughout the hospital;

cuddling babies in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit; putting their canines

through rigorous testing and cleaning in order to be a therapy animal team.

They track hours and reward their volunteers, thanking them often for

dedicating their time and help. This is something that I have not seen done at

Beth El Congregation beyond our wonderful volunteer Sabbaths.

Sharon Merklin

President

President → page 5

The Irony of Sukkot

Sukkot, as one of the three main festivals

of Judaism, is about confronting our

insecurities by going outside. We are supposed

to refocus those insecurities, by understanding

that even when we don’t have a roof over our

heads, God is right there with us. When we

have faith, there is nothing to fear.

Of course, the great irony in the meaning

of the holiday, in this pandemic year, is that we have been trained to feel

more secure outside. When the droplets and aerosols of our neighbors, friends,

and family are not being recycled indoors, we are at less risk of contracting the

virus. This is the first problem with observing the holiday in its usual way. The

second problem is that one of the customs of the holiday, which had virtually

been transformed into Jewish law, is to invite in guests.

I think the ancient rabbis would have a field day discussing, debating, and

thinking about how we are meant to gain and practice the meaning of the

holiday under these circumstances. Rabbi & Hazzan → page 4

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

OCTOBER 2020 AKRON, OHIO TISHRI • CHESHVAN 5781

Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein

Page 2 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

Beth El Congregation

750 White Pond Drive Akron, OH 44320

www.bethelakron.com

Office: (330) 864-2105 Betheloffice750@gmail.com

Affiliated with

The United Synagogue of

Conservative Judaism

The Jewish Theological

Seminary of America

Rabbi Elyssa Austerklein rabbi@bethelakron.org

Hazzan Matthew Austerklein cantor@bethelakron.org

Stephen Grundfast Rabbi Emeritus

Stephen Stein Hazzan Emeritus

Sharon Merklin President

sharon.merklin@gmail.com

Stacey Simonton President Elect

Gregg Manes Vice President

David Stock Treasurer

Susan Osherow & Debra Shifrin Co-Secretaries

Julie Katz Director of Education

Jenifer Jeney Manager of

Synagogue Services bethelservices750@gmail.com

Robynne McKee Administrative Assistant

BethElOffice750@gmail.com

Laurel Gress Baalat Koreh

laurelgress@neo.rr.com

Leonard Rose Editor

Vol. LXXVI No. 1

The Bulletin is published monthly by Beth El Congregation

750 White Pond Dr., Akron, Ohio 44320

(USPS 052-100)

Postmaster: Send address changes to Bulletin of Beth El Congregation,

750 White Pond Dr., Akron, Ohio 44320

Periodicals postage paid at Akron, Ohio.

SCHEDULE

OF SERVICES

OCTOBER 2020 TISHRI, CHESHVAN

5781

Morning Minyan Sunday 8:45 AM

Beth El-Facebook LIVE Wednesday and Friday

7:30 AM

Shabbat Services Saturday 10 AM

Beth El-Facebook LIVE

Mazel Tov Congratulations to Ian and Dana Kay on the birth

of their son, Miles Louis Kay. He was happily

welcomed by his big brother Foster. Miles is the

grandson of Teddi and AlanZ"L Kay, and Steve and

Patti Kozer.

Happy Anniversary

OCTOBER YEARS 16 Martin and Shelia Gottlieb............................. 60

29 Daniel and Marilyn Slavin .............................. 70

Candle Lighting

Oct. 2........6:47 PM Oct. 9........6:36 PM Oct. 16........6:25 PM Oct. 23........6:15 PM Oct. 30........6:06 PM

Havdalah

Oct. 3........7:46 PM Oct. 10........7:34 PM Oct. 17........7:31 PM Oct. 24........7:21 PM Oct. 31........7:12 PM

Tree of Life

Our magnificent Tree of Life was created to record the happy events in the lives of Beth El members and their families.

A birth, a wedding, a bar/bat mitzvah, a confirmation, an anniversary – all are among the milestones that can be remembered on the leaves of the Tree of Life.

The cost of a leaf is $125. You may use three or four lines with up to 23 letters per line. To order, call Sherri Leubitz, 330-867-0364.

This is the newest leaf on Beth El’s Tree of Life

Steve Newman Happy 65th Birthday

August 26, 2020 From Dear Friends

Remember Beth El in Your Will

Marsha Friedman, Endowment Chair

For information, call 330.603.1890

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION Page 3

Tishri 5781 October 2020 Cheshvan 5781

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Services (unless otherwise noted)

Sunday 8:45 AM

Saturday 10:00 AM

Let Us Know

Our clergy are eager to talk to congregants in the hospital but can’t if they don't know. If you or someone you know is in the hospital or sick at home, and would appreciate a pastoral phone call, please let us know.

1 13 Tishri

2 14 Tishri

Family Sukkot 5:30 PM ZOOM

3 15 Tishri

Sukkot Day 1 10 AM Facebook

4 16 Tishri

Virtual Sukkah Hop 10 AM ZOOM

Sukkot Day 2

5 17 Tishri

6 18 Tishri

Lunch & Learn 12 noon

Hebrew School

7 19 Tishri

8 20 Tishri

9 21 Tishri

Hoshana Rabbah 10 AM Facebook

10

Shemini Atzeret, Yizkor

10 AM Facebook

11 23 Tishri

Simchat Torah 10 AM ZOOM

12 24 Tishri

13 25 Tishri

Hebrew School

Board Meeting 7 PM Zoom

14 26 Tishri

15 27 Tishri

16 28 Tishri

17 29 Tishri

Bereshit

18 30 Tishri

Wizards of Ashkenaz Concert 3 PM ZOOM

Rosh Hodesh

19 1 Cheshvan

Rosh Hodesh

20 2 Cheshvan

Hebrew School

21 3 Cheshvan

22 4 Cheshvan

23 5 Cheshvan

24 6 Cheshvan

Noach

25 7 Cheshvan

26 8 Cheshvan

Jews and Brews 8:30 PM

27 9 Cheshvan

Hebrew School

28 10 Cheshvan

29 11 Cheshvan

30 12 Cheshvan

31 13 Cheshvan

Lech Lecha

June 1-4

Betty

Sheldon Saferstein Seymour Seider Louis Sinder Milton Weiner Marian Weisman October 10-16 George Aber Miriam Berman Beckey Beyer Zalman Buksdorf Lillian S.Cohen Stephen Michael Gross Jack Heyman Belle Kropko Karin Krueger Florence Marcus Jacob Irving Miller Fannie Peters Flora T. Polachek Archie Rozen John Schlitt Gussy Steinhauer Dorothy Tuchman Henry Weiss October 17-23 Guillermo Alfonso

Morris Ash Beverly Eisele Joseph Goldstein Lenore Glauberman Mollie Hoffer Sergei Kanevsky Neil Michael Katz Alvin Korngold Harry Liberman Milton Lichten Dora Mermelstein Harold B. Miller Meyer Minkin Marvin Moss Thelma Osherow Frances Sabetay Anna Schneiderman Florance Sugarberg Abbe Stein October 24-31 Sophie Apple Harriet Berke Rae L. Cohen B.C. Fields Louis Geller Benjamin Goldman Dr. Robert M. Hexter

YAHRZEITS October 1-2 Maury Berger Herbert Goldfarb Florence Koch Norman Nobil Nathan Rothstein Salig Tapper Yetta Tapper October 3-9 Miriam Bloch Sydell Cohen Ethel Mae Fields Herbert Friedlander Jay D.Glauberman Lenore Gordon Emanuel Halpern Julius Horn Ben R. Kay Max Kosins Sarah Ella Levinson Morris Mendelson Judith Merklin Harold Reuben Jack Rossen Isabelle Radin

Eda Kanner Morton Perlman Herman Potrock Katherine B. Morris Joseph Rubenstein Harry Sandler Jay Schlitt Arthur Shapiro Murray Stein Susan Berzon Turcotte Mildred Weiss Eli Witt

Please call the Beth El office to inform us of Yahrzeit

omissions or corrections.

In Memoriam Beth El Congregation

notes with sorrow the passing of `

Sally W. Eichner Mother of Dr. Martin Eichner; grandmother of Scott and Max

David Kattan Husband of Susan

Audrey M. Koch

Mother of David and Peggy; grandmother of Josh and Ashley;

great-grandmother of Eliana, Ethan, Miles, and Isaac.

Memorial Plaques The Memorial Plaques in our Sanctuary constitute a permanent record of the names of men and women departed from this earth. To cherish and keep alive their precious memories is a sacred Jewish tradition. The contribution for an individual plaque is only $250. For further information, please call Beth El at 330-864-2105.

Plaques will be affixed in the

Plaques will be affixed in the Sanctuary in memory of:

Page 4 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

The second problem has an easy solution. It is already customary

to invite in our biblical ancestors, and any other familial ancestors

you know of who you’d like to invite to “dwell” with you. In this

way we are inviting in spirit, knowledge, and insight. Inviting people

in over technology, though not a physical presence, still allows for

their spirit, their words and their ideas to be present with you.

Now back to our first problem. What can we do to shake (yes, a

lulav pun!) up our comfort with things or ego, and return to God?

How can we move ourselves to a place of trust rather than a place of

control?

Here is one wild suggestion: walk outside the perimeter of your

own house. Look through the windows. What do you see? How does

this perspective of looking from the outside in change what you see?

Now, can you do the same thing for yourself? Can you take an

objective look from the outside – where are you asserting too much

or too little control? With whom are you trusting and with whom are

you withholding trust?

Shake the lulav. Shake up your patterns. It’s a new year.

B’Shalom,

Rabbi Elyssa

Rabbi and Hazzan from page 1

Thank you,

Todah Rabbah. As I

have said before,

this year is like no

other. We have

had to teach and

learn in strange

ways. I want to

thank the parents,

students, teachers,

and clergy for their

flexibility and

understanding as

we navigate this

new normal. We

will remain virtual for the foreseeable

future, until conditions significantly

improve in Ohio and Summit County.

I am confident that using the

Shalom Learning curriculum will

significantly enhance our children’s

learning experience. Parents of children

in grades 3 and above should have

received a username and password to

access enrichment activities on the

Shalom Learning site. There are separate

usernames and passwords for students

and parents. If you did not receive the

email, or cannot remember the

password and usernames, please

contact me.

On Friday, October 2nd we will be

having a virtual Sukkah program. Please

bring your sukkah decorations, provided

in your holiday kits to Julie’s home by

Thursday, October 1st or to the

synagogue at 4 PM on Friday. Families

are also encouraged to donate at least

one canned good with your decorations.

We will all enjoy a Shabbat dinner,

sponsored by the Lippman Kanfer Family

Foundation, virtually in our homes and

be able to say Kiddush and Motzi

together. Pick up for the meal is after 3

PM at Beth El.

Education

Program

Julie Katz

8:30 PM

Monday, Oct. 26

Virtual

Connect with Hazzan Matt and the men of Beth El

for fellowship and Jewish study

from the comfort of your home.

Contact Hazzan Matt at

cantor@bethelakron.org for a link.

@ HOME

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION Page 5

Beth El has many congregants who

volunteer. My difficulty is that I only know a

few of them. I know the volunteers who serve

on my Executive Board, Board of Directors,

and chair our numerous committees. As my

presidency progresses, I go to the same list of

people for help. I would like to have a list of

everyone in our membership who would like

to help out with anything from office work,

making phone calls, to climbing ladders to

decorate the Sukkah.

I am also thinking post pandemic – to

having a volunteer committee chair. This

person would help track volunteer hours, so

that when you give time to Beth El it is

recognized. That person would know what

strengths and skills our community possesses.

Then, when a job arises that needs volunteers

we would have a ready-made list of

congregants we can draw from.

As our Fall Holy Days draw to a close, I

want you to think about volunteering. If you

have been volunteering, thank you ever so

much. If you would like to be added to my list

of volunteers, I want you to contact me

through text message or email. My email

address is: Sharon.merklin@gmail.com). Since I am discussing volunteers, here are just

a few who have been dedicating many hours to Beth El over the last few months:

David Stock our hard-working treasurer

Susan Osherow our co-secretary & my office liaison

Gary Rosen

Debbie Saferstein

Nick Hall

Marty and Sherry Hellman

Marc Merklin

Bonnie Cohen

Andrea Rabinovitz

Joe Pryweller

and my executive board:

Debra Shifrin

Gregg Manes

Stacey Simonton

Sharon

President from page 1

October 29 Taste of Torah

October 26

L’chaim Cooking Club

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism

S U K K O T Friday, October 2, 5:30 PM

Family Sukkot Program

As noted in the September Bulletin, a Sukkot/Shabbat free

meal for families with children 12 and under

required an RSVP by September 24.

Sunday, October 4, 10 AM Sukkah Hop

Please join us for a brief service and the opportunity to tour the Sukkot of our community members on Zoom.

Reserve the Sukkah for

your lunch or dinner.

Please email Jenifer, at bethelservices750@gmail.com

to reserve your time slot.

Sunday October 4

Noon 1

PM 5

PM 6

PM 7

PM

Monday October 5

Noon 1

PM 5

PM 6

PM 7

PM

Tuesday October 6

Noon 1

PM 5

PM 6

PM 7

PM

Wednesday October 7

Noon 1

PM 5

PM 6

PM 7

PM

Thursday October 8

Noon 1

PM 5

PM 6

PM 7

PM

You must be on time and leave no later than 45 minutes after

your reserved time. Please enter the Sukkah from the outside,

not from the chapel. Please remember to remove your trash

and clean up after yourself.

Shalom,

I hope you all enjoyed the Holiday bags from Sisterhood and Caring Committee. We will soon be planning some virtual meetings. Suggestions are appreciated.

Andrea Rabinovitz

Page 6 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

Contributions In Appreciation for • All the Leagrams and good wishes on our 55th

anniversary from Sid and Faye Glick

FLORAL FUND

(SHABBAT FLOWERS) In Memory of • Dorothy Herzberg from Mark Herzberg

GRESS

TORAH FUND In Honor of • Rachel Simonton receiving the Pollack

Scholarship from Alan Horn

HAKOAH

EDUCATION FUND In Memory of • Dora Beja-Sardas from Etty and Jack Sardas

In Honor of • Esther Hexter being named Historical Society

Woman of The Year from Etty and Jack Sardas

KNITZVAH

FUND In Honor of • The birth of Margot Mae Manassa,

granddaughter of Marsha Friedman and Bob Lazarow, from Esther and Larry Hexter

LISA BOTNICK

MEMORIAL FUND In Memory of • David Bloom from Delores Botnik

LOLA SALZMAN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND In Memory of • Ruth Rakusin from Cantor Fredda Mendelson

LOUIS LOCKSHIN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND In Memory of • Elliot Schprechman from Susan and James

Osherow In Honor of • The marriage of Lizzie Foster and David

Smith from Susan and James Osherow • The special birthday of Marty Hellman from

Susan and James Osherow • The engagement of Jordan Marks, son of

Kathi and Roger Marks, to Maddie Remish from Susan and James Osherow

• The birth of Margot Mae Manassa, granddaughter of Marsha Friedman and Bob Lazarow, from Susan and James Osherow

• The birth of James Theodore, grandson of Diane and William Caplan, from Susan and James Osherow

AARON KRANITZ

MEMORIAL FUND In Memory of • Ann Kauvar from Florence Kranitz

• Beverly Waterstone from Florence Kranitz

ALAN AND JANICE WOLL

EDUCATION FUND In Memory of • Alan Grundfast from Rabbi Stephen and Judy

Grundfast

• Susan Haimes from Rabbi Stephen and Judy Grundfast

• Bessie Rothkin from Alan and Janice Woll

• Harvey Woll from Alan and Janice Woll

BEATRICE & MORRIS SARLSON,

& FAMILY, BEAUTIFICATION FUND In Honor of • Julie Katz being named director of the religious

school from Margaret Chesler

BETH EL FOUNDATION

FOR JEWISH EDUCATION In Memory of • Dora Beja-Sardas from Etty and Jack Sardas

• Harold D. Foster from Harlow Edwards, Greta and Harold Foster

In Honor of • The marriage of Elizabeth Foster, daughter of

Greta and Hal Foster, to David Smith from Esther and Larry Hexter

• The 50th wedding anniversary of Livia and Phil Kades from Etty and Jack Sardas

• The 60th wedding anniversary of Sue and Martin Spector from Etty and Jack Sardas

EDWARD SCHNEIDER

EDUCATION FUND In Memory of • Bella Finkelstein from Lois Nobil

• Harold D. Foster from Laurel Gress

• Jacob Nobil from Lois Nobil

In Honor of • The special birthday of Steve Newman from

Cathy and Mark Baer

• The special birthday of Marty Hellman from Hal and Greta Foster

• The birth of Margot Mae Manassa, granddaughter of Marsha Friedman and Bob Lazarow, from Alice Schneider

• The birth of Miles Louis Kay, grandson of Teddi Kay, from Alice Schneider

• The marriage of Elizabeth Foster, daughter of Greta and Hal Foster, to David Smith from Alice Schneider

RABBI'S

DISCRETIONARY FUND In Memory of • Marvin Greenbaum from Albert and Jack

Greenbaum

In Honor of • The special birthday of Steve Newman from

Kandi and Allen Friedman

REVEREND PHILLIP SALZMAN

SCHOLARSHIP FUND In Memory of • Dorothy Herzberg from Gail Greenberg

• Benjamin Heisler from Charlotte Heisler and family

• Hyman Kodish from Roslyn and Gerald Thingelstad

• Carl Waxman from Neil, Carrie, and Molly Waxman

SAFERSTEIN

CARING FUND In Memory of • Harriet Horn from Stacey, Rachel and Sarah

Simonton

• Dorothy Richman from Shelley and David Koch

• Faith Stahl from Alan Horn

In Honor of • The birth of Miles Louis Kay, grandson of

Teddi Kay, from Esther and Larry Hexter

For the Recovery of • Arlene Rossen from Jerry and Sandy Schneier

SYNAGOGUE

FUND In Memory of • Harriet Cutler from Joyce and Martin

Oppenheimer

• Sally Eichner from Maxwell Eichner, Joyce and Martin Oppenheimer

• Harold D. Foster from Bonnie and Randy Cohen, Esther and Larry Hexter

• Stanley Gertz from Martin and Karen Rosenfeld

• Ernest Richman from Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• Edith Shapiro from Harry Shapiro

In Honor of • The birth of Margot Mae Manassa,

granddaughter of Marsha Friedman and Bob Lazarow, from Laurel Gress

• The special birthday of Steve Newman from Bonnie and Randy Cohen

• The special birthday of Marilyn Regal from Bonnie and Randy Cohen

BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION Page 7

• The birth of Naomi Zelin and Lennon Olif,

great-grandchildren of Mary Ann Minster, from

Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• The birth of Miles Louis Kay, grandson of

Teddi Kay, from Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• The birth of Ida Rose, granddaughter of Dr.

Marta Roth, from Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• The marriage of Elizabeth Foster, daughter of Greta and Hal Foster, to David Smith from Dr.

Larry and Harriet Richman

• The engagement of Jordan Marks, son of

Kathi and Roger Marks, to Maddie Remish

from Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• The engagement of Jordan Marks, grandson of

Leona Pollock, to Maddie Remish from Dr.

Larry and Harriet Richman

• the birth of Naomi Zelin and Lennon Olif,

grandchildren of Richard and Debbie Zelin,

from Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

SYNAGOGUE FUND

CONTINUED

• The 70th wedding anniversary of Stan and

Marilyn Regal from Bonnie and Randy Cohen

• The birth of Aryana Skyler Zeichner,

granddaughter of Marty and Joyce

Oppenheimer, from Laurel Gress

• The birth of Margot Mae Manassa,

granddaughter of Marsha Friedman and Bob

Lazarow, from Joyce and Martin Oppenheimer,

Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• The engagement of Ben Leubitz, son of Sheri

Leubitz, to Danielle Kohan from Joyce and

Martin Oppenheimer, Dr. Larry and Harriet

Richman

• The engagement of Ben Leubitz, grandson of

Gloria Slavin, to Danielle Kohan from Dr. Larry

and Harriet Richman

Contributions received before the first of the month will appear the next month. Contributions may be submitted by mail or via Beth El’s website.

• The birth of Madison Isabella, granddaughter of Marilyn Apple, from Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• The 55th wedding anniversary of Sid and Faye Glick from Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• The 60th wedding anniversary of Sue and Marty Spector from Dr. Larry and Harriet Richman

• The 45th wedding anniversary of Bonnie and Randy Cohen from Etty and Jack Sardas

In Appreciation for • All the good wishes for our 45th wedding

anniversary from Bonnie and Randy Cohen

• All our Beth El friends for our 50th wedding anniversary greetings from Livia and Phil Kades

Page 8 BULLETIN OF BETH EL CONGREGATION

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AKRON, OHIO

BETH EL CONGREGATION 750 WHITE POND DRIVE AKRON, OHIO 44320

Additional Holiday Services

October 3, 10 AM Sukkot

October 9, 10 AM Hoshana Rabbah

October 10, 10 AM Shemini Atzeret

with Yizkor

October 11, 10 AM

Simchat Torah

Sunday, October 18, 3 PM

Join Hazzan Matt's Wizards A Cappella Group for a Concert a link will go out over e-mail ➢➢

Featuring Cantors Matthew Austerklein, Akron, OH • Sidney Ezer, Toronto, ON

Jonathan Schultz, St. Petersburg, FL • Yakov Hadash, Boca Raton, FL

A CAPELLA CONCERT

Four Cantors

Four-Part Harmony