Jan. - Feb. 2014

Tevet Shvat Adar I 5774 The Star

Special Interest Articles: Message from Rabbi Seth Riemer Message from the

Co-Presidents

Individual Highlights:

Gif t cards 4

Kvell Corner of Pride 4

Golden Book

Donations 5

Newsletter of Temple Beth Torah Wethersfield, CT Vol. 17 No.3

Next month will mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” which, as a 10 year old kid, I watched with some amazement as I sat mesmerized with my family around the TV set in the basement of our home. I remember being struck, at the time and afterwards, by a dramatic shift in public mood following that broadcast. While it did not entirely wipe away sorrow, shock and disorientation over the Kennedy assassination a few months before, it did lend the country a much-needed jolt of positive energy—giving back to us the joy, playfulness and optimism that seemed to have been suddenly and tragically lost. I was not a Beatles fan at first, but their infectious charm had its effect on me as well as most everybody else. Over time I came to realize the enormous contribution they (guided by their brilliant Jewish manager, Brian Epstein) were making to world culture; their influence continues to reverberate powerfully decades later. As a Jewish community, we recognize the value of and need for creative innovation: “sing a new song to Adonay,” goes Psalm 96, which we recite on Shabbat eve. While tradition is sacred, infusing it with timely, innovative elements enhances the power it can have to keep our faith vital and strong. At the pluralistic Jewish school where I teach, a tefilah

Message from Rabbi Seth Riemer (prayer) session begins the school

day. Students have the option to pray in the conventional way or to create their own unique alternatives to familiar prayer formats. In the music tefilah group, which is one of those innovative approaches, participants experimented with setting “Adon Olam” to a Beatles song; now they’re learning 12-bar blues progression and thinking about how to fit the liturgy into that! As faculty supervisor to this group, I take great personal pleasure in the music and the spiritual uplift and focus for camaraderie it provides. I am delighted to see our youth—even with its very secular outlook and perhaps tenuous Jewish commitment—search for connections between Jewish values and real life. At TBT, likewise, we draw freely upon the grace of the new as we acknowledge the beauty of the old. At our weekly services (indeed, in all our synagogue activities) I am grateful for the presence of young and old faces and for reminders of the past along with glimpses of the future. I welcome your thoughts about how to apply contemporary forms of inspiration to our work of keeping Jewish ritual meaningful and engaging for our generations. In the words of Rav Kook, “the old shall be renewed, and the new shall be made holy.

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Dear Friends, Fall was a very busy time for TBT. Our very successful Progressive Dinner was held on Saturday, November 16th. The Mags, the Golds, the Bronfins, the Goldbergs, The Londons, The Nevins, The Woodcocks, The Reubens, Rabbi Seth and Barbara, and the Scotts started their adventure at Kathi and Eliot Mag’s house with cocktails and hors d’ouevres. After that, the group split up for soup and salad at the Bronfin’s and the Scott’s homes. We all reconvened for dinner and dessert at the Gold’s house. Dessert was hosted by the Londons, the Goldbergs and Rabbi Seth and Barbara. Cecile and Barry Bronfin donated the lovely centerpieces for the evening. They were raffled off and won by Jeanne and Bert Woodcock, and Barry and Sallyanne Scott. Everyone enjoyed an evening of good food, good conversation and good camaraderie. It was a delightful occasion for all who attend! Those of you who could not join us missed out on a fantastic fun-filled night. Oh what fun it was to eat latkes with 44 of our friends at our annual TBT Chanukah party held on Sunday, December 8th. Our latke mavens, Karen Klein, Kathi Mag, Susan Reuben and Barry Scott prepared a plethora of latkes and the dessert crew, our Religious school parents, provided a table covered in delicious delights. Thanks to Cecile and Barry Bronfin for providing the Chanukah gelt and the piñata. Way to go to Cecile for our Menorah egg salad and to yours truly for the tuna salad. Thanks to all of our Hanukah Helpers who pitched in as well with the Chanukah activities. The children had a wonderful time

decorating the Chanukah Sugar Cookie house, provided by the Mags. Rabbi Seth gave the OK to Ralph Horowitz and Phil Lohman to keep the TBT menorah up way past the end of Chanukah so we could have it there for our celebration! A tremendous thank you to everyone who set up and cleaned up. A special thanks to Heather Latorra for washing all the dirty dishes! All had a great time. Thanks to everyone for coming! Please mark your calendars for this special event. The January 22, 2014 meeting of the TBT book group will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the home of Cecile and Barry Bronfin, 70 Far Hills Dr., Avon CT. The book is "Sacred Trash - The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza", by Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole. Anthony Grafton of Princeton University describes this as "A jewel of a book: a lively and deeply informed account of the Cairo Geniza, a magnificent Egyptian treasure-house of Jewish religion, literature, and history that was forgotten for centuries, and the extraordinary crew of scholars and impresarios who saved the documents, fitted the scraps back together, and made them speak and sing." Our own Phil Lohman was honored last week at the 24th Annual Salute to Business at the Wethersfield Country Club. Barry and I attended this wonderful event. Phil received this award for his incredible map making skills! Mazel Tov, Phil! Diana Heymann and Scott Guay deserve an incredibly big thank you for cleaning the TBT gutters and downspouts of leaves and other debris. Their dedication to maintaining our building is truly incredible and we cannot thank them enough for all they have done this year!

Message from Co-Presidents

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Temple Beth Torah 130 Main Street

Wethersfield, CT 06109

Rabbi Seth Riemer (860) 635-3139

rabbisethriemer@aol.com

Co-Presidents: Sallyanne and Barry Scott

Co-Vice Presidents: Kathi and Eliot Mag

Treasurer: Alice Burstein

Recording Secretary: Carol Gershenson

Corresponding Secretary: Rhoda London

Trustees Nancy Stillman, Diana

Heymann

Committees: Memorial Park

Harold Nevins, Karen Klein Building

Harold Nevins, Scott Guay, John Hinze, Ernie Ferrebee,

Bert Woodcock, Michael Suconick Publicity

Neil Gordon, Debra Ehrlich TBTeens

Jan Wahnon & Torah Ferrebee

Education Cecile Bronfin, Bert and

Jeanne Woodcock Membership Karen Klein Star Editor

Susan Sackler Reuben Website

Deb Hammer Ways and Means

Judy Gold, Andie Goldberg, Neil Gordon, Mira Schlein,

Rhoda London, Phil Lohman High Holidays

Cecile Bronfin, Barry Schlein, Mira Schlein, Kathi Mag, Carol

Gershenson, Sallyanne and Barry Scott, Eliot Mag

Grounds Kathi Mag

Nominations Cecile Bronfin

TempleBethTorahWethersfield.org

Save the date! Our TBT Tu B’Shvat Seder will be held on Friday, January 17th. We’ll begin with a brief Shabbat Service at 7:00 p.m., followed immediately by the Seder. We need the following for our Seder: Inedible Outer Shell/ Edible Inner Core: Pineapple Wedges (w/skin), Orange Wedges (w/skin), Almonds (in shell), Bananas (slices with peel still on), Coconut (pieces with shell), Walnuts (in shell) Edible Outer Flesh/ Hard, Inedible Core: Olives (w/ and w/o pits) Avocado, Cherries, Dates, Dried

apricots (we’ll imagine the pits!)

Edible Throughout: Strawberries,

Grapes, Raisins, Figs, Blueberries

Essence: Pine Cones Juice: 3 large White grape juice (K = kosher) 3 large Red grape juice (K) Wine: 2 red (K), 2 white (K) Please RSVP to Sallyanne (860-828-3377) and let her know what you are bringing! Our Purim Shpiel and Megilah reading will take place on Saturday, March 15th. More information to follow. So pull out your hats, scarves, boots, and mittens to brave the winter weather and join us at TBT. Shabbat Services reconvene on Friday, January 3rd, 2014.The friendliness and camaraderie of our TBT family will warm your hearts and souls! Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy 2014 filled with love and peace, Sallyanne and Barry

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Thank you to all of our Gift Card Shoppers We just sold more store gift cards and earned $250! Since the beginning of our fiscal year, the Temple has received $400. Cost to the card purchasers – nothing. The purchasers pay the face value. Most of the gift cards are for grocery stores. Thank you to: Deb and Aaron Jainchill, Kathi and Eliot Mag, Judy and Marty Gold, Helga Rome, Harriett and Leo Rosen, Monica and Lee Gold, Rhoda and Fred London, Cecile and Barry Bronfin, Susan James, Karen and Bob Klein.

At the 11th International Conference on ‘Mercury as a Global Pollutant’, held in Edinburgh, Scotland, Hannah Horowitz was awarded the Best Student Presentation award. Hannah's topic and research was on Mercury in commercial products. Hannah is starting her third year graduate studies at Harvard towards her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Chemistry. Hannah is the daughter of Ralph & Maureen Horowitz.

Kvell Corner of Pride Wonderful news to share! Our own Phil Lohman was honored at the 24th Annual Salute to Business this Thursday, December 12th at the Wethersfield Country Club. Congratulations!

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School calendar and challah list Jan. 5 Lev 12 Poland 26 Guay Feb. 2 Latorra 9 Sondik March 2 Evans 9 Lev 16 Poland Purim 23 Guay 30 Latorra April 6 Sondik 27 Evans May 4 Lev 11 Poland 18 Guay June 1 Latorra 8 Sondik 15 Evans It is important that the children attend Shabbat services on Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. They will also enjoy the Tu B'Shvat Seder, and the Purim Megillah reading.

Temple Beth Torah Memorial Park After many years as the chair of the TBT Memorial Park, Harold Nevins will be retiring from that position. We are looking for someone to take over this important role. Burial plots are very reasonably priced and include perpetual care.

$600 per plot for Temple Beth Torah members $900 per plot for non-members

Golden Book Donations In Memory of AL ELLENBERG By Marlene Ellenberg DAVID H. GOLDBERG By Rhoda & Fred London

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TEMPLE BETH TORAH 130 Main Street

Wethersfield, CT 06109

Tu B’Shvat Seder Friday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m. Celebrate the Jewish New Year for Trees, Tu B’Shvat, meaning the Fifteenth of the month of Shvat. This year we will celebrate on Friday, January 17. Join us after your dinner with a fruit centered Seder. The family-friendly Seder has readings, songs, red and white wine or grape juice. The readings describe the seasons of the year and the meaning of the four different fruit categories – fully edible, edible outer, edible inner, non-edible. Please RSVP to Sallyanne (860-828-3377) and let her know what you are bringing!