newsletter /november 2017/ volume 23, issue 11 november 2017 newsletter november 2017.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
RABBI’S MESSAGE - NOVEMBER 2017
Congregation B’nai Harim Children of the Mountains
Congregation B’nai Harim, P.O. Box 757, Pocono Pines, PA 18350/ (570) 646-0100 http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org
NEWSLETTER /NOVEMBER 2017/ VOLUME 23, ISSUE 11
PAGE ONE/B’NAI HARIM
As an old folksong has it, “All things shall perish from under the sky/Music alone shall live, never to die.” It would certainly be terrible to put that sentiment to the test! And, if there is no one to hear, can music be said really to be music? We all know how much music does for our lives. There are opera lovers among us whose calendars are filled with performances. Some play instruments. Some just play the radio. Our services have been enhanced lately by our accompanist and by our incipient choir. And, of course, we’ve been blessed to have the glorious voice of Dan Schidlow filling our High Holy Days and other sacred occasions with song or traditional Jewish chants.
In the days of Ezra and Nehemiah (5th century BCE) Jews had lost touch with their sacred music. About half a century earlier, as the people were dragged into exile in Babylon, they had wondered, “How can we sing the songs of Zion in a foreign land?” Back in their land once more, they were gathered by Ezra to hear the words of Torah, not spoken but chanted. And, because (like many of us) they didn’t understand the words, a translator called a meturgeman would translate into the language of the day. In the Tanakh we learn that, despite the other distractions that must have been present in the Water Gate, the people did pay attention to the strange music and they were so moved that they began to weep. Ezra realized that the power of the text was increased by the music and he reassured the people to react in joy to the words and stirring melody. “Go,” he said, “eat choice foods and drink sweet drinks and send portions to whoever has nothing prepared, for the day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad, for your rejoicing in the LORD is the source of your strength." (Neh. 8:10) We’re also urged to “sing a new song” to God. That is exactly what our new choir is setting out to do! It is well known how important music is to B’nai Harim. If only I could add to that myself, I would! Alas, singing isn’t my strong point. But, I can urge you—those who like to sing, those who can play a musical instrument or those who enjoy listening—to do any or all of the following so we may make beautiful music together: join the choir (even if you don’t separate yourself from those around you in order to sing at services, come sing for joy at rehearsals); bring your musical instrument and play along during those rehearsals (who knows? Maybe there’s a B’nai Harim House Band waiting to gather!); volunteer to sing at the Chanukah party or for the Pu-rim shpiel; make a note to learn our songs (Dan has all the HHD music on my site: rabbipeg.com); and sup-port the Music Fund to ensure that we can continue to fill our sanctuary with sacred music. At the very least, sing loudly and drown me out!!
Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum
YOM KIPPUR ROSH HASHANAH
Jonathan
Saperstein
Grandson of
Ron & Lee Emerson
Singing with
Rabbi Peg
During
Yom Kippur
Jacob Serfaty Grandson of Barbara & Richard Feman Blows shofar in an echo duet with Rabbi Peg During Rosh Hashanah
2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - NOVEMBER 2017
PAGE TWO/B’NAI HARIM
Recently I started to read a variety of Synagogue newsletters. Similar to our newsletter the other synagogue newsletters all had their own unique style. Our newsletter has taken on a very unique flavor. Over the years we have added humor-ous articles, sad articles, nostalgic articles and informative articles. Our Rabbi writes reli-gious articles. All of the newsletters served numerous purposes, such as disseminating information, mo-tivating performance, promoting unity, improving our morale. The newsletters are our repre-
sentational tool. They help us as an organization spread word about our existence and welcomes new members. Our newsletter helps inform our readers and get people interested in our synagogue. It serves as a medium to announce upcoming events and updates. Every newsletter must serve its purpose. To write an effective newsletter, it is important to set goals. It also helps to describe the purpose of the main message. The content of our newsletter includes timely, trustworthy and specialized information. It offers valu-able information that the reader will find useful. The one thing that was not included in any of the syna-gogue newsletters were articles that caused devision. We all have one thing in common; our Jewish-ness, Our synagogue and everything that represents it should be a celebration of this. Please lets leave the politics at the door.
Barbara Feman
Our son and daughter-in-law’s rabbi delivered this meditation to their congregation on Kol Nidre and she was so affected by the poignant sentiment the rabbi expressed that she posted it on Facebook. I was so touched by it, too, that I wanted to share it with my B’nai Harim family. I think we can all learn from it and begin the New Year with new insight. "What an extraordinary gift it is--what a blessing, what a miracle to have been raised by im-perfect parents who did their very best; to share our life with a partner no more flawed than we are; to count as a friend one who understands and accepts us most of the time. How brave, how hard it is to be 'good enough' in our ties to one another: to give, even when we're exhausted; to love faithfully; to receive with grace the love imperfectly offered to us. Can this night set us free from the tyranny of expectations? Can this night release us from fantasies impossible to fulfill? We resolve this night to embrace the practice of forgiveness: to forgive others who fail to be all we hoped they would be; to forgive ourselves when we fall short of what others hoped we would be. We declare this night that we will cherish goodness wherever it is found, and open ourselves to the gifts that are before us." --Rabbi Lewis Kamrass, meditation on Kol Nidre
THOUGHTS ON THE MEANING OF KOL NIDRE by Phyllis Miller
SAVE THE DATES
Saturday, Nov. 11th 9:00 AM - Religious School 10:00 AM - Service 11:30 PM - Congregational Meeting Saturday, Nov. 18th 10:30 AM - Choir Practice 12:30 PM - Women’s Torah Study Sunday, Nov. 19th 9:30 AM - Board Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 21st 7:00 PM - Interfaith Thanksgiving at Salem UCC Saturday, Dec. 2nd 9:00 AM - Religious School 10:15 AM - Service
Saturday, Dec. 9th 10:30 AM - Choir Practice 12:30 PM - Women’s Torah Study Sunday, Dec. 10th 9:39 AM - Board Meeting 2:00 PM - MCU Event “Getting a Sense of the Jewish Year” Saturday, Dec. 16th 9:00 AM - Religious School 10:15 AM - Services Sunday, Dec. 17th 12:30 PM - Chanukah Party and Luncheon Saturday, Dec. 30th 9:00 AM - Religious School
BOOK CLUB NEWS - NOVEMBER 2017
A very healthy and exciting discussion was held on October 14 as we discussed Henry Roth’s “Call It Sleep.” Our next book club selection is “The One Man” by Andrew Gross, an intense WW11 thriller. Trying to flee Paris with forged papers, Alfred Mendl and his family are brought to Auchwitz. The guards are unaware who he is, but the renowned physicist holds
knowledge that could help the Allies win the war. In Washington, DC, a young intelligence LT, decodes messages from Poland. He is presented with a plan to enter the concentration camp and escape with the one man who can change the course of history for the Allies. Join us on Saturday, December 2, 2017, after the Oneg for a very compelling discussion.
PAGE THREE/B’NAI HARIM
When walking in Central Park, New Yorkers heard these words loud and clear; SHTAI, ZITS, GUT, NEYN and KUM. Certainly not strange in New York but these Yiddish words were being directed by owners at their dogs. Do we have here a newly developed breed of dog that is bilingual and understands Yiddish, the Eastern European Yinglish? So many of you are dog owners and lovers. Have you ever thought about training them to respond to Yiddish commands. Well the Workmen's Circle has created a dog training course in Central Park that teaches man's best friend to respond to Yiddish. Seven of our four legged friends and their owners were there, ready to go after treating their pets to homemade apple cookies and kichel. Some dog owners came to reconnect to their roots saying that their parents spoke Yiddish to them as children so they wanted to use that language with their dogs. Now they would have someone to speak Yiddish to. Others wanted to trick their children into speaking Yiddish by using these dog commands. After the class, many were thrilled with the progress their dogs had made. They loved that they were bringing back, what to them, was a dying language. They were KVELLING, KIB-ITZING and not KVETCHING. Only in New York. Just in case you do not understand Yiddish: SHTAI (stay), ZITS (sit), GUT (good), NEYN (no) and KUM (come), KVELLING (feeling happy and proud), KIBBITZING (to chat or to offer unwanted or meddlesome advice), KVETCHING (habitually complaining).
YIDDISH by GEORGE NOVICK
SOCIAL ACTION by Steve Levine
LIBRARY NEWS by Phyllis Miller
Thank you my fellow Temple Members for your generous donations during our High Holidays Food Drive. Thank you, Jerry Goodstein for sorting out all the food bags and delivering the kosher foodstuff to the Kosher Food Bank. I brought all the non-kosher foods to the Five Loaf House; both groups gave us their special apprecia-
tion and thanks to our congregation. All the Hugs items went to CAME last month. Their cli-ents are in desperate need of food, clothing, bedding items and housing. I attended a meeting with the Outreach Executive from St. Lukes Hospital where we worked on plans for a medical clinic to be created at the Five Loaf House. Thank you to all who attended and participated in the Stop the Hate Vigil held at St. Max last month. We are now preparing for our program “Getting a Sense of the Jewish Year” to be held here at B’nai Harim next month. This is part of our Congregation’s work with Monroe County United.
Our B'nai Harim library now has a collection of wonderful DVDs on a shelf in our classroom for you to borrow and watch at home. You can browse on the shelf or search in our online cata-log. The cases are empty and the discs are kept in a case in the synagogue so if you'd like to
borrow one or more, just ask the Rabbi, Gene Schneider or Phyllis Miller to give them to you.
PAGE FOUR/B’NAI HARIM
Martin Niemöller was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian born in Lippstadt, Germa-ny, in 1892. Niemöller was an anti-Communist and supported Hitler’s rise to power at first. But when Hitler insisted on the supremacy of the state over religion, Niemöller became disillu-sioned. He became the leader of a group of German clergymen opposed to Hitler. In 1937 he
was arrested and eventually confined in Sachsenhausen and Dachau. He was released in 1945 by the Allies. He continued his career in Germany as a clergyman and as a leading voice of penance and recon-ciliation for the German people after World War II. His statement, sometimes presented as a poem, is well-known, frequently quoted, and appears at the United States Holocaust Memorial: First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. At the US Holocaust Memorial in Washington, D.C., https://www.ushmm.org/ the quotation is on display in a variation that substitutes "Socialists" for "Communists". The Holocaust Museum website has a discussion of the history of the quotation and lots of information on Martin Niemöller: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Martin+Niem%C3%B6ller&search_field=all_fields A version of the poem is on display at the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. The poem is also presented at the Virginia Holocaust Museum, New England Holocaust Museum and the Florida Holocaust Museum. I was particularly interested in how Yad Vashem memorializes the victims of the Holocaust and hon-ors the Righteous Among Nations such as Reverend Niemöller. Here is a link to their website: https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/righteous/index.asp Happy Thanksgiving – we have so much to be thankful for! Next month – my Latke recipe.
NETTING IT OUT by Honi Gruenberg
JUDAICIA SHOP by Norma
Shop for Holiday Gifts The Temple Judaica Shop is bursting with new items. Come check out all the new goodies we have to offer. Remember Jewish Book Month is here and there are some great books and CDs available. Chanukah is coming.
We have a wonderful selection of gift ideas including gifts for children along with Chanukah story books. Save yourself the hassle of bucking the crowds in the Mall. If you don’t see what you want contact Norma at [email protected] I will be happy to shop for you.
ONEG HOSTS
Onegs are such a delightful part of socializing after a Saturday Morning service. We al-ways welcome hosts for our Onegs. The cost is $65.00 and includes bagels, cream cheese, coffee, tea, orange juice, milk and all needed paper goods. Sponsors are welcome to sup-plement the oneg. To host an Oneg, call Roberta Pineiro (570) 839-0107.
November 11th - From the Oneg Fund
CALLING ALL WHO LIKE TO SING
Our choir needs you! You don't have to know the words or the music. All you have to know is that your voice is important. We rehearse once a month and sing during the next service. Even if you don't want to sing in a group during services, come sing together at practice! We need you!! Our next rehearsals are Sat., Nov. 18th and Dec. 9th at 10:30 AM.
PAGE FIVE/B’NAI HARIM
DONATIONS
GENERAL FUND From: Judy Ann Brown In memory of her Father-in-Law, Sol Brown. From: Anita & Gene Schneider 1. In memory of Gene’s Mother,
Belle Laff Schneider. 2. In memory of Anita’s Mother,
Rose Landau. From: Marjorie & Alan Seger In memory of Alan’s Father, Louis Seger. From: Jeff Dockswell In memory of his Wife, Sharon Dockswell. From: Dorothy Jablonka In memory of her Uncle, Samuel Spielvogel. From: Barbara Kapitansky In memory of her Mother, Etta Thaler. From: Ronnie & Ken Feder In memory of Ken’s Father, Fred Feder.
YAHRZEIT FUND
.
GENERAL FUND (Cont’d)
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Birthdays/Anniversaries/Yahrzeit Rememberances - On page 6
From: Dr. Helen Heeren In honor of Joe Bedrick on his very special birthday. May he have many joyous and healthy years. From: Jerry & Elaine Goodstein 1. In honor of Joe Bedrick’s Spe-
cial Birthday. 2. Get well wishes to Sara Bedrick. 3. Get well wishes to Peggie
Hannan. From: Peggie & Jim Hannan Happy Birthday greetings on a BIG birthday to Joe Bedrick. From: Al & Ellen Kagan A speedy recovery to Sara Bedrick and Peggie Hannan - May you both enjoy your new knees.
From: Michael Priscilla Riskin In memory of Barbara Glazier. From: Angel M, Carra In memory of Barbara Glazier. From: Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Glazier In memory of Barbara Glazier. From: Tama Fogelman In memory of Barbara Glazier. From: Rich & Jan Silverman In memory of Barbara Glazier. From: Marian Tabak 1. Wishing Beverly & George
Novick congratulations on The Bar Mitzvah of their grandson Eli - Great Joy!
2. Happy 75th Birthday to Joe Bedrick - Lovely milestone.
From: Jane & Patrick Finnigan In memory of Barbara Glazier. From: Anita & Gene Schneider 1. Congratulations to Bev &
George Novick on a wonderful milestone for Eli and the family.
2. To Laurie & Larry Weinberger - Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
3. To Peggie Hannan - We hope you are up dancing very quickly.
From: Maddi Kane 1. To Shelly Wismer - A much
HEALTHIER New Year - with your winning personality and making good things happen, just continue to keep life & love on the positive track.
2. To Dorothy & Al Schips - Dottie, Many more Happy Birthdays for toasting to! For Al & Dottie - and they said it wouldn’t last - keep those anniversaries a-coming!
3. To Sara Bedrick - Happy Heal-ing for new and improved knees.
4. To Joe Bedrick - Happy Mile-stone Birthday - to the next 5 year milestone.
5. To Honi Gruenberg & Skip Spady - Happy “kvelling” with Emilia!
6. To all of you I didn’t quite reach by phone or note for New Year Health & Happiness Wishes, October is still with us. Love - Live - Laugh.
From: Judy & Henry Hoenig A sincere thank you for the beautiful Rosh Hashanah service and the warm welcome we were afforded. Please accept our donation for this fund - In honor of Rabbi Peg, Cantor Dan, and Peggie & Jim Hannan. A Happy, Healthy and Sweet New Year to all.
New Members
Mikhail Zazovskiy Alla Leybinsky
Gabriella & Mariella Zazovskiy
NEW PROGRAMS PLANNED
Watch for more information
Janet Wile Lecture series. Jews in Sports
MUSIC FUND
From: Dan Schidlow
BEAUTIFICATION FUND
From: Honi Gruenberg & Skip Spady 1. To Chuck, Tommy, Liz, Barry
and Jeremy - In memory of dear Barbara Glazier - artist and friend.
2. To Peggie Hannan and Sara Bedrick - we KNEED for you to get back on your feet soon.
From: Richard & Barbara Feman 1. Congratulations to Beverly and
George Novick on their Grand-son Elliot's Bar Mitzvah.
2. Get well to Sara Bedrick. 3. Get well to Peggie Hannan. From: Rose Gelbard & Richard Kelmans Speedy recovery to Sara Bedrick and Peggie Hannan. From: Lee & Ron Emerson 1. In honor of Bev & George
Novick’s grandson, Eli’s, Bar Mitzvah. Mazel Tov to you and your family.
2. In memory of Marcia Saper-stein, Mother of Jeff & Martha Saperstain.
From: Gail Marie Hummel In memory of Barbara Pass Glazier.
YAHRZEIT NOTIFICATION
MEMORIAL BOARD
Our Yahrzeit list is open not only to those who have plaques, but to the entire congregation. This will allow you to remember your loved ones on their anniversary date. The forms available at the Temple can be completed and
returned directly to me. With this information, a remind-er will be sent to you at the appropriate time, and the name of your loved one will be added to our kaddish list for that date. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected], 718-428-2140 or 570-646-4668.
Sincerely, Stan Kapitansky Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson
PAGE SIX/ B’NAI HARIM
NOVEMBER 1 Sandra Scher
2 Bertha Mora 3 Adele Morrison Ciporen 14 CHESHVAN 7 Abraham Schips 9 Daniel Barnett 10 Fred Feder 14 Sandra Wasserman Anna Wilder 25 CHESHVAN 15 Hannah Kane 18 Harry Scharf 29 CHESHVAN 20 Murray Novick 2 KISLEV 21 Mark Corinoff Seymour Stevens Michael Weinberger 23 Alice Gruenberg Jay Allan Olshein 26 Edward Konigsberg 8 KISLEV Frances Abraham Siegel 8 KISLEV 28 Anita Miroff 10 KISLEV Saul Weinberger 29 Allen J. Spector 30 Jerome Hoenig 12 KISLEV
YAHRZEIT REMEMBRANCE
REMEMBER YOUR LOVED ONES BY ADDING THEIR NAMES TO OUR MEMORIAL BOARD— The cost for each plaque (one name per plaque) is $236. A minimum of $50 must accompany each request. The balance can be paid over one year for 1 or 2 plaques and/or two years for more than 2 plaques. For further information, please contact Stan Kapitansky, (718) 428-2140 or e-mail me at [email protected]. Copies of the order form will be available at the temple, or you may download a copy directly from the web site. Stan Kapitansky, Yahrzeit Committee Chairperson
CELEBRATIONS
WEEKLY ONLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS
In addition to the monthly newsletter, we publish a weekly online newsletter for all members with e-mail addresses
and Internet access. If you do not want to receive email announcements or cannot ac-cess the Internet, please call Richard Feman 570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.
TREE OF LIFE
Dear friends! Every leaf on our beauti-ful Tree of Life is filled with your good news and events. It’s time to order a new batch! I am ready to take your
orders. Each leaf costs just triple Chai ($54.00) and will be engraved to your specifications. Please call Julia Shaykevich at (570) 620-0104 or contact her by e-mail at [email protected] to place your order.
ANNIVERSARIES
Last Name
First Name
Birthday Month
Birthday Day
Leybinsky Alla December 4
Schips Al December 5
Rachlin Tristen December 7
Bedrick Sara December 14
Lee & Ron Emerson December 7
November 17, 2017 December 8, 2017 January 19, 2018 February 2, 2018
Upcoming Shabbat Services
PATRONIZE B’NAI HARIM’S ADVERTISERS
CONGREGATION B’NAI
HARIM OF THE POCONOS
IS ON FACEBOOK!
YOUR PRINT PROJECTS ARE OUR PRIORITY Let The UPS Store print your next project.
No job too large or small - Newsletters, flyers, manuals -A variety of finish options-
413 ROUTE 940, MT. POCONO, PA 18344 (570) 839-8010 (570) 839-8020
Store [email protected]
PAGE SEVEN/B’NAI HARIM
The Area’s Only Jewish Assisted Senior Living So Much Comfort So Close to Home
465 Venard Rd. Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Phone: 50-585-4400 Fax: 570-585-4500
Website: www.elangardens.org
If you take photos at any Temple function PLEASE send them to my e-mail [email protected] and identify the occasion and the faces. These photos make our publicity more interesting to the community. Thanks, Lee Emerson
JEWISH FAMILYSERVICES
Jewish Family Service is in need of Kosher food and toiletries marked with a recognized symbol. Please remember to bring a donation of at least one item when you visit the synagogue. All items
must be kosher, unopened and within the expiration date on the packaging. If each one of us brings one can or box of food each time we come to the Temple, it will make a real difference to the needy in our commu-nity. You can also write a check to “Jewish Family Service of Northeast Pennsylvania” and it will be delivered. It is also tax deductible. Thank you and keep up the great work. We hope you will continue to be generous throughout the year.
Jerry Goodstein
MISHEBEIRACH LIST
When putting a person onto the Mishebeirach List, it should be with person’s permission. Would the person like to be listed with their Eng-lish or Hebrew name? Please include a contact name and telephone number so that Rabbi Peg
may follow up with the person or with the member who placed the name on the list. Our policy now states that the list will be limited to members and their immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings and their spouses, children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses). Con-gregants are strongly encouraged to mention any person aloud at the appropriate time during the service, so we can pray for their improved health. REMEMBER TO HAVE THE PERSON’S NAME REMOVED, IF THE PERSON NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE ON THE LIST.
Congregation B’nai Harim
PO Box 757 Pocono Pines, PA, 18350
http://www.bnaiharimpoconos.org
PHONE: Message Center (570) 646-0100
E-Mail:
DIRECTIONS Driving East on Route 940, turn right at the Pocono Pines traffic light at Route 423, continue on Pocono Crest road (formerly Sullivan Road) about 1&1/2 miles. Synagogue on left (before reach-ing 940). Driving West on Route 940, turn left at intersection of Pocono Crest Road (formerly Sullivan Road), and the Syna-
gogue will be on the right.(approx. 1/10th of a mile).
Next Board Meeting date: Sunday, Nov. 19th at 9:30 AM. To be put on the agenda, contact Barbara Feman at [email protected] no later than five days prior to the meeting.
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
This is your newsletter, and we want your input. When
you have any news to share, please let us know so we
can publish it.
Deadline is the 20th of the month. News can be sent
(using WORD) to Paula Guenst at [email protected].
The newsletter is published each month. Newsletter
subscriptions are available for $18 per year to non-
members of Congregation B’nai Harim. Please contact
Barbara Feman.
In addition to the monthly newsletter, we distribute
weekly online announcements to all members with
e-mail addresses and Internet access. If you have not
been receiving this please contact Richard Feman at
570-355-5124 or 516-481-6114.
CONGREGATION B’NAI HARIM PO Box 757
Pocono Pines, PA 18350
RECURRING SCHEDULES Services Sat. 10:15 AM Shabbat Dinner Fri. 6:30 PM Religious School Sat. 9:00AM
PAGE EIGHT/B’NAI HARIM
Rabbi: Peg Kershenbaum Pres.: Barbara Feman VP: Al Wismer Sec.: Abbey Spector Treas.: Steve Bram Editor: Honi Gruenberg Member of the URJ - Union For Reform Judaism
The members of B’nai Harim are a very caring, close group but sometimes a member needs a little extra help. If you know of someone who needs a phone call or a visit, please either encourage them to call the Rabbi directly or email her yourself to let her know one of her congregants needs help.
DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES FOR THE DEC. NEWSLETTER IS NOV. 20TH.
NEED SOME CHICKEN SOUP
NEED A CALL FROM RABBI?
KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES?
If you have recently moved, please send your new information to Honi Gruenberg at [email protected]. She will update the Membership list and generate a new list.
NEW ADDRESS?
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
HOW MANY CONGREGANTS DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A
B’NAI HARIM SUKKAH? (Comments by Larry Greenfield)
Let us count a few (others not shown): Good orderly direction is an essential ingredient with willing participants. Though Jacob needed a ladder in his dream, In reality, one is not really necessary at B’nai Harim Others just smile.