congregation sha’arai shomayim founded 1844 springhill
TRANSCRIPT
VOLUME 60 EDITION 2
1 October 2017
11 Tishri 5778
Congregation Sha’arai Shomayim Founded 1844
Springhill Avenue Temple
The Temple Bulletin
springhillavenuetemple.com
We are coming together as a caring, inclusive community united in a common commitment to Judaism and to
furthering our spiritual growth. We desire to do this recognizing that worship of God, study of Torah, caring for the
Jewish people and our community, are central to our being as a Reform Jewish congregation. With these principles
as our foundation and guided by a historic past, we anticipate our future, one of continual lifelong self-renewal.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Friday, October 6 6:00 p.m. Sukkot Service
Dinner to follow
Saturday, October 7 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast
10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service
Friday, October 13 6:00 p.m. Simchat Torah Service
Consecration of Alice Handmacher
Dinner to follow
Friday, October 20 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service
with the Congregational Choir
Friday, October 27 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service
Torah Selection:
Exodus 33:12–34:26;
Numbers 29:17-25
Haftarah – Ezekiel 38:18-39:16
ALL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES.
PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIP
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FROM THE RABBI
Rosh Hashanah
Midrash teaches us that the holiday of Simchat
Torah is derived from the celebration of
Solomon. In the Midrash, God asks Solomon
for one desire that is more important to
Solomon than anything else. Solomon, of
course, was known for his wisdom. So,
naturally, he asks for wisdom and God, being
in a benevolent mood, grants him his wish.
Solomon was thrilled and was able to utilize
this wisdom for all
sorts of good things.
So, what does a
king do when he is
celebrating?
Solomon called for
a holiday and made
a feast. That was
the origin of
Simchat Torah,
where we celebrate
the wisdom that we
have, as well as the
wisdom that we
might come to
acquire. Since Simchat
Torah is a joyful
affirmation of the
mitzvah of Torah
study, Reform
congregations
perform a special ceremony for children in the
early stages of Religious School. This
ceremony is called Consecration, not to be
confused with Confirmation. The Consecration
emphasizes the joy of Talmud Torah for our
youngest members. It is therefore a custom at
Consecration to give our children something
sugary to symbolize Torah wisdom as sweet.
We also give our children miniature Torah
scrolls, which they can keep as their own
physical possession, as well as a spiritual
possession. This year, Alice Handmacher, will
be making her Consecration. She will receive
her Consecration certificate on Friday, October
13th. We invite everyone to come and
celebrate with the Handmacher family. On Simchat Torah, all of our Torah scrolls are
taken from the ark. We dance around with
them through seven cycles called Hakafot
(which is in the plural
form). We read from
the very end of one
Torah scroll to
symbolize the
completion of the
reading of the five books
of Moses and then we
read from the very
beginning of another
Torah scroll to
symbolize that we begin
the process over again
from the beginning. Simchat Torah is an
extension of the Sukkot
holiday, which in turn is
one of the three
pilgrimage festivals,
which is Sukkot,
Passover, and Shavuot.
Simchat Torah
developed out of the end of Sukkot because of
its proximity to the end of the Torah cycle as a
way to further show the organic nature of
Jewish ceremonial practices in the context of
the Hebrew calendar year. We celebrate with great joy. We look forward
to welcoming everyone to join with us as we
dance and sing and read the Torah anew.
Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan
Susan Rosenbaum and Rabbi Kaplan at the Sisterhood/Men’s
Club Brunch, September 9, 2017
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FROM OUR PRESIDENT
171-Year Old Shofar Although our Congregation was organized on
January 25, 1844, we did not have a formal
house of worship until 1846. On December 27,
1846, the St. Emanuel Street Temple was
dedicated. This was our first house of worship. To quote the book entitled, The Gates Of
Heaven, our first rabbi was a man of
Portuguese descent named Benjamin da Silva.
Da Silva came to Mobile
from Holland by way of New
York. He dedicated the St.
Emanuel Street Synagogue. The shofar shown in the
photo accompanying this
article may have been in that
synagogue. If so, it is very
probable that Benjamin da
Silva used this shofar during
the High Holy Days. This shofar is a direct and tangible link to those
who had the dedication and determination to
start our Temple. In fact, the October 13, 1968
edition of the Mobile Press Register had a
picture of the then 122-year-old shofar. The
Press Register was writing of our upcoming
125th Anniversary.
As I write, Mr. Rick Hirsch is studying how to
make a repair to this shofar, as it has an air leak
near the mouthpiece. He also reports that it
also appears to have a small amount of insect
damage. I had hoped that Rick could sound
this shofar this New Year. But in due course,
he will make the repairs and we will hear its
sound in the High Holy Days going forward. I think that it is appropriate for
Rick to sound this shofar, as he
is of Sephardic decent; as was
Benjamin da Silva. I must thank Mrs. Phyllis
Feibelman and Mr. Rick Hirsch
for their help in the research for
this article. And photo credit is
given to Mr. Hirsch.
It would be very nice if we had a display case for
the shofar similar to the one for the portrait of
Mr. Ben May. Our membership, our children,
and our visitors could then view the tangible
evidence of how long we have been part of the
fabric of the city of Mobile. This historic shofar
would be removed from this display case for the
High Holy Days each year.
Mike Pereira, President
The Western Shore Torah Study Group
“Festival of Booths – Why Celebrate
3000 Years Later?”
On Thursday, October 5th at 6:30 p.m., the Western Shore Torah Study Group with Rabbi Kaplan is scheduled to meet again at the Wingate by
Wyndham, 12009 Indian River Road, D’Iberville, MS 39540; 228-396-0036. For members and those interested in the Jewish faith. For questions and/or more information, please contact Dr. Cal Ennis at 228-623-0479.
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The beautiful flowers on the pulpit for Rosh Hashanah were provided
by LeNae & Bill Denson
in loving memory of Mazie Cleveland, Ulysses T. Cleveland,
Alan Denson, and Ida & Abe Sugarman
The beautiful flowers on the pulpit for Yom Kippur were provided
by Phyllis Feibelman
in loving memory of Bert and Petey Feibelman
High Holy Day Tribute Fund We thank those members and friends who have made special commitments to our Temple by contributing to our High
Holy Day Tribute Fund. This list was compiled as of our bulletin printing on September 25, 2017.
Chai (Life) – $1,000 and above Tzedakah (Righteousness) - $500 - $999 Bobette & Lowell Friedman
Iris & Albert Klein
Kavod (Honor) - $200 - $499 Shalom (Peace) – up to $199
Penny & Joseph Adamo Debbie Clolinger
Aimee Walsh & Michael Holberg Nancy & Richard Hill
Elizabeth & Frederick Miller Elaine & Bobby Holberg
YAHRZEIT
It is a true Mitzvah to honor those whose memory we hold dear by attending services on
the Shabbat Yahrzeit (year’s time), joining your congregation in reciting Kaddish,
and the giving of charity in their memory.
October 6 John C. Lemay, Rose Zulofsky, Faye Ennis, Mrs. Ray Werner, Susan Perlman
October 13 Sol Mayer, Kurt Muhlfelder, Clarence Frenkel, Jr.,
Todd Alan Levine, Beatrice Silverman, Paul Paper, Boris Resnick
October 20 Nancy Goldberg, Yetta Schoichet, Myer Weinstein, Carolyn Brown, Sherrell Hoffman Grean,
Sue Magnes, Alice Toubiana, Arthur Heinrich, Sally Zell
October 27 Malvine Goldstein, Edith Zelnicker, Barbara Levine, Annice Miller, Ruth Monheit
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2017 - 5778 New Year’s Greetings
Frances Mutchnick
Eileen Susman
Joyce and Gerard Toubiana
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
By Susan Thomas, Archivist During the past year the Temple Archives has
been utilized by a variety of researchers for
different projects. Below is an update on some
of these endeavors. One year ago, producers of
the PBS broadcast “Finding
Your Roots” contacted the
Archives for information on
the Bernstein family. The
Archives, along with
congregant Barbara Paper, a
direct descendant of the
Bernsteins, was able to
provide them with some
basic family history and
photographs of the
family’s gravesites. It was recently revealed
that the celebrity whose lineage the show was
tracing is comedian Larry David, whose great-
grandmother was Henrietta Bernstein. She was
born in Mobile to a family actively involved
with the Temple. The episode of “Finding
Your Roots” that features Larry David’s
ancestors will air on October 3rd at 7:00 p.m. A few months ago, researchers from the
University of South Alabama began compiling
information on Joseph Bloch, an early
congregant who was very active in Mobile’s
music scene in the mid-to late-1800s.
Recently, the researchers — Deborah Gurt,
archivist; Paula Webb, research librarian; and
David Meola, history professor of Jewish
studies — obtained a grant from the Southern
Jewish Historical Society to complete the
exhibit. They are currently utilizing items from
the Archives’ Bloch collection to supplement
their own research on the Bloch family. They
hope to complete the exhibit early next year.
Last spring, the Archives was
able to provide an internship
for Emily Amos, a history
student from the University of
Mobile. Emily helped with a
variety of tasks and projects
related to the Archives. She
found the work rewarding
enough that she has requested
to return to the Archives this
spring to do an
independent, directed study
of the Archives’ Frenkel
collection. The Archives has six boxes of
correspondence and other documentation
related to Louis Frenkel, a successful Mobile
cotton merchant in the 1890s. Emily hopes to
study the documents to learn more about
business and commerce during that time period. The Archives has always had an active
relationship with The Southern Jewish
Historical Society, with many Society members
conducting research in the Archives’ holdings
over the past years. Recently, the Archives has
learned that the 2018 Annual Conference of the
Southern Jewish Historical Society will be held
in Mobile. This will be an excellent
opportunity for the Temple to showcase its
history and for congregants to learn more about
Southern Jewish history, in general. The
conference is typically held the first weekend in
November; more information on this event will
be shared as it comes in.
Larry David on PBS broadcast
“Finding Your Roots”
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October Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy Birthday To ... 1 Flo Kessler 17 Harryl Friedlander
1 Susan Passman 18 Gregory Borak
2 Connor Furman 19 Harvey Switzkey
4 Nancy Brown 20 Michael Brown
4 Randy Fink 20 Tonia Silverstein
4 Katie Frank 21 Ellie Appelman
4 Nancy Hoffman 23 Megan Denson
4 Michael Monheit 23 Debbie Frank
5 Gary Fishbein 24 Ellen Fishbein
6 Jeffrey Friedman 24 Ceresa Frenkel
6 Sandy Holberg 25 Elaine Berman
9 Daniel Fetterman 27 Phyllis Feibelman
9 Robin Mayer 27 Jenny Rich
10 Patti Grandquest 30 Jason Berman
12 Nell Ennis 30 Jonathan Friedlander
13 Jenny Berman 30 Nancy Hill
13 Sam Brown 30 Murray Mutchnick
14 Andrew Kahn 31 Marc Loeb
16 Christine Clolinger 31 Sandler Passman
Happy Anniversary To …
8 Karen & Hari Singh
10 Carrie & Marc Friduss
12 Bonnie & George Kidd
16 Elizabeth & Fred Miller
26 Liz & Randy Fry
26 Nancy Pierce & Barry Silverman
27 Christine & Jeff Conrad
27 Gaela Youngblood & Jeff Lawley
28 Michelle & Jerry Dobbins
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November Birthdays and Anniversaries
1 Dianna Kubat 15 Margaret Brown 26 Jessica Kogon
1 Martin Lewis 15 Suzy Ginsberg 26 Jeff Lawley
3 Seth Cherniak 15 Scott Silverman 27 David Altmayer
3 Max Lawley 15 Cheryl Spain 27 Reed Feldman Magnes
3 Rachel Metzger 16 Michelle Appelman 28 Phyllis Stern
3 Isabelle Seiken 16 Liz Fry 29 Claris Feibelman
4 Jamie McGinnis 18 Cal Ennis 29 Jordon Elliott Ross
4 Gerard Toubiana 19 Brandon Rose 30 Rabbi Irving Bloom
6 Lee Metzger 19 James Spain 30 Michael Holberg
6 Ellen Shulman 20 Maring Eberlein 30 Sheldon Mutchnick
7 Laurie Berkin 21 Steve Muhlfelder
9 Mark Melamut 21 Marisa Nadas
11 Beth Vorwaller 21 Jonathan Passman
11 Nate Ginsberg 21 Himath Singh
11 Linda Marx 22 Steve Gandler
12 Emily Feibelman 23 Melanie Susman
12 Marissa Gamble 24 Nathan Handmacher
13 Larry Kogon 25 Leslie Berkin Page
15 Terry Barkin 26 Jill Gottlieb
Happy Anniversary To …
10 Enid & Gil Laden
19 Linda & Ed Blassingame
28 Pam & Don Friedlander
29 Gail Chadwick & Jonathan Fratkin
29 Meryl & Terry Harris
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The Oneg Committee: A Journey of Togetherness by Susie Fox, VP, Onegs
As the Year 5777 slipped away and the New Year arrived, I reflected on my first experience with
the Oneg Shabbat Program at Temple. It all started last autumn with Priscilla Gold-Darby and
Jamie Novetsky and their tasty salmon canapés and sweet ice cream creations. But that was just
the beginning of the Oneg Committee as our congregation enjoyed Margaret’s spicy chicken
dish; Dianna’s velvety chocolate fondue; Violet’s poached pear dessert; and, Gail’s
incomparable eggplant dip. We also delighted in Alicia’s creamy chicken salad and assortment
of wines; Jonathan’s aromatic baba ganoush; Larry’s sumptuous cheesecakes; and, Sandra’s
cookie creations. Linda made a fragrant apple torte; Barry added his homemade challah; and,
Mel was there to expertly slice it. Each week Ellen prepared the oneg tables and Patricia
decorated.
What I realized, in looking back, is that it
was not only a year of culinary joy, it was
a time of togetherness where I got to
know the Committee members and our
Temple family. I invite you to become
part of this incredible Oneg Committee
and take part in the Friday kitchen fun. It
only costs a recipe or two and an hour
before Services, so join us in oneg
togetherness!
Oneg Committee: Ellen Carter, Gail Chadwick, Larry Conaway, Barry Fox, Jonathan Fratkin,
Sandra Gandler, Priscilla Gold-Darby, Dianna Kubat, Christine Norris, Jamie Novetsky, Alicia
Lucas Pereira, Patricia Silverman, Margaret Segal, and Maure Sternberg, Mel Sternberg, and
Charlie and Linda Wainwright
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MAZEL TOV! to the proud first-time grandparents, Ellie and Cole Appelman, on
the birth of Charlotte Eliza-Jane Green, daughter of Danielle Appelman and Tom Green of
Raleigh, N.C.
AND
MAZEL TOV! to Leah Brown, daughter of Yaffa and Mark Brown, for being a
semifinalist in the 63rd Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The students will now
move on into the competition for 7,500 National Merit scholarships worth more than $32 million
that will be offered next spring.
CONTRIBUTIONS
In honor of Amy & Jack Friedlander’s anniversary – Gina Hyman & Tim Hansen Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund – Hope & Alan Goldin Religious School Fund – Susie & Barry Fox In memory of Jean Fry – Betty & Steve Silverman Family Fund of the Dallas Jewish
Community Foundation In memory of Carroll Dixon “Dix” Darby – Iris & Nate Ginsberg A speedy recovery for Shirley Boyd – Iris & Albert Klein A speedy recovery for Steven Gandler – Harriet and William Kahn A speedy recovery for G.B. Kahn – Iris & Albert Klein In memory of George Wagenheim – Iris & Albert Klein In memory of Joe B. Friedlander – Emily & Harold Fink In memory of Ann Aratchofsky – Emily & Harold Fink In memory of Ruby Kamil – Emily & Harold Fink In memory of Carol Bergman – Paul Bergman In memory of Eleanor Ruth Frenkel – Ceresa & Paul Frenkel In memory of Annice Miller – Joan & Gordon McCraken In memory of Isabelle Kossenick – Paul Bergman In memory of Nell and Aris Schoonderbeek – Nell & Cal Ennis In memory of Herbert Scheuer, Sr. and Matilde Endel Scheuer – Harriet Scheuer Kahn In memory of Henry D. Gaggstatter – Ellen & Bill Shulman In memory of Sam Shulman – Ellen & Bill Shulman
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FROM OUR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
by Patricia Silverman, Th.M., Religious School Director
I can’t believe the High Holy Days are over. Our Religious School students learned the meaning
of these special days which are the most religious and holy days of the year. Seth Cherniak and
Michael Friedlander did a wonderful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur children’s service. They
would like some new people to step-up and assist with these services next year. Gabe Sternberg
and Sam Hochhauser did a great job sounding the shofar during the services.
We are getting ready for our special Sukkot Service,
Consecration for Alice Rose Handmacher, and Simchat
Torah Service on Friday, October 13th. We hope our entire
congregation will come to share this special event with
Alice and her entire family. I hope that during the High Holiday Days you were able to
stop by the Religious School and see our new Abraham’s
Tent. It has been a huge success among the students. The teens from our Religious School joined with the teens
from the shul to participate in a Mobile Area Jewish
Federation community service project led by Susan Sass.
Their first joint service was relocating school books from
the Dauphin Island Visitors Center to the newly renovated
Dauphin Island “The Red School House”. Thank you, Leah
Brown, David Brown, Will Kinsella, Sarah Sternberg, and
Sam Sternberg for representing our Religious school so
well.
My warm wishes for happiness, good health, and peace throughout the New Year 5778 - Shana
Tova.
The Mobile Area Jewish Federation (MAJF) allocates annual contributions to
Hillel at the University of Alabama and Auburn for Jewish students.
These funds are used to continue the growth of Hillel and expanding activities
to the increasing number of Jewish students on campus. Please email Kathy
at [email protected] or call the MAJF office 343-7197 and give them
the names of your children entering or already attending the University of
Alabama and/or the University of Auburn. Help them stay connected to their
Jewish faith community while away from home.
MAJF Also Needs your help for the 2017 International Festival, November 15 – 18. Please
let them know your schedule preference: Wednesday. November 15 - Setup - Noon to 3 or later;
Thursday, November 16 - 8 to 10, 10 to Noon, or 12 to 3;
Friday November 17 - 8 to 10, 10 to Noon, 12 to 3, take down 3 until.
Abraham’s Tent
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FROM YOUR SISTERHOOD
by Priscilla Gold-Darby, Sisterhood President
TRADITION – A SWEET NEW YEAR
We enter the New Year with a fresh outlook and
new goals. But we also remember the past and
value what others have built. Our Opening
Brunch did just that in honoring the past
presidents of the Temple's Sisterhood and Men's
Club. Present leaders perpetuate our Temple's strength
and beauty, which past leaders created. We
continue to look at our history as we move
forward. We make changes as we honor the past
and understand decisions that were made. One past president who is doing that is Phyllis
Feibelman. To enhance our worship and honor
Judaism, she is developing a history of our
Temple by annotating her collection of
documents about the artists, architects, and
leaders who designed and constructed our
building. Do you know who developed the
concept behind the chapel windows? When you
learn about the origins of our edifice, you will
understand that it is a Temple we dwell in! You may notice that our building is getting
creaky, needs constant caretaking, and from time
to time needs updating. By learning what the
planners and builders conceived, we can make
these needed corrections in sync with their
concepts and maintain the historical perimeters
that they set. Another tradition that Phyllis started over forty
years ago is bringing her lace cookies to the
Rosh Hashanah oneg. This year, I had the honor
of baking them with her and learning the secrets
of her wonderful cookies, which she serves in
two silver bowls. Phyllis calls them “the easiest
cookies on the planet!!” and she advised, “Make
a lot; people like them!” Here is the recipe so you can keep the tradition
of a sweet new year all year!
LACE COOKIES - Yield: 6 dozen 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 2 sticks melted butter or margarine
1 Tb. flour 2 eggs, beaten
2 cups sugar 1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt Put the oats, sugar, and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Pour the hot butter over the mixture and
stir until the sugar has melted. Add the eggs and vanilla, stir well. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cover cookie sheets with ungreased aluminum foil. Drop 1/2 level
tsp. of the mixture on the foil, 2 inches apart. Cooking time is about 10-12 minutes. Color should
be very golden brown. Watch carefully for over-browning. When cookies are completely cooled,
peel off the foil. Store in airtight container. From The Plantation Cookbook by the Junior League of New Orleans. 1972 Doubleday
This is what I learned when making the cookies: Let the butter-sugar mixture cool a bit so that the
eggs won't cook when they are added. Before continuing with the cookies, let the completed batter
rest for 4 hours or overnight to allow the oatmeal to absorb some liquid. What I changed: Use parchment baking paper or non-stick foil. These are new products and the
cookies lifted right off. A perfect example of merging history with the present!
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CALENDAR
Wednesday Torah Study 5:30 p.m. October 4, 11, 18, and 25
Hebrew School Sundays 9:00 a.m. October 11 and 29
(No Hebrew School October 1, 8, or 15)
Religious School Sundays 10:00 a.m. October 22 and 29
Fridays 6:00 p.m. October 6 and 13
(No Religious School October 1, 8, or 15) ❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Thursday, October 5 6:30 p.m. Western Shore Torah Study
(details page 3) Friday, October 6 6:00 p.m. Sukkot Service Saturday, October 7 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast
10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service Friday, October 13 6:00 p.m. Simchat Torah Service
Consecration of Alice Handmacher Monday, October 16 6:00 p.m. Congregational Choir rehearsal Friday, October 20 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service
with the Congregational Choir Friday, October 27 6:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening Service Sunday, October 22 12:00 p.m. Pet Blessing
Dana Evan Kaplan, Rabbi Aaron Solomon, Second Vice-President Michael Pereira, President Liz Fry, Treasurer
Alan Goldberg, First Vice-President Maure Sternberg, Secretary
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