CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL A Family of Families January 2010

Transcription

1 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL A Family of Families January 2010 CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES January Friday, January 1 6:00 pm Saturday, January 2 9:00am Friday, January 8 7:30 pm Saturday, January 9 9:00am Friday, January 15 7:30 pm Saturday, January 16 9:00am Friday, January 22 Reform Traditional (Racusin Chapel 7:30 pm Saturday, January 23 9:00am Friday, January 29 6:00 pm (Followed by Family dinner) Saturday, January 30 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am Please come and join us. Dear Friends: As many of you know, I teach in the History Department at TAMUCC as an adjunct faculty member. The University has a small Philosophy Department, but offers only one course in the Philosophy of Religion. There is no Department of Religion, but my Ph.D. is in history, so I have been included there. One of the courses that I very much enjoy teaching is called The History of Religion in America, a course that is taken mainly by advanced students in the History Department. I am beginning to prepare for this course, which will be offered again in the Fall semester of 2010, and that has led me to spend some time reading and thinking about fundamentalism, both in Judaism and Christianity. Anyone who knows me, even a little, recognizes that I am far from being a fundamentalist, which means that understanding this kind of religious perspective is a stretch for me. But, of course, one of the things that I treasure in my teaching is the opportunity to confront new ideas and wrestle with them. Fundamentalism first came on the scene in American religion in the 1920s when a group of Protestants published a series of pamphlets in which they described the fundamentals of what a Christian was supposed to believe. Since that time, however, it has come to mean a resistance to change, a dogged adherence to what the believer thinks are the unalterable basic tenets of the religion. Most fundamentalists, however, go beyond simple belief; they resist any change whatsoever. If grandpa davened by rocking from right to left, then that s the way it has to be, forever and ever. If we only use prune filling for hamentaschen or put raisins in the noodle kugel or take the left crown off the Torah before the right one God forbid we should change even one iota! In Jewish life, this kind of fundamentalism stems from the nineteenth century when a Rabbi in Hungary, Mordecai Schreiber (also known as The Hatam Sofer) announced that any change or innovation is forbidden by the Torah. Since that time, Orthodox Judaism has become less flexible than it was before, even to the point of insisting that the adherents to various Hasidic sects wear exactly the same type of clothing that their predecessors wore two hundred years ago. A religious stance like this, it seems to me, completely misses both historical truth and religious purpose. First, historical truth. When the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, the new leaders of the Jewish community were not priests, but rabbis. This was a major change. Sacrifice was no longer of animals and other agricultural products, but prayer and study and tzedakah. The Temple was replaced by a synagogue; one change followed another all the way through the Middle Ages and early modern period. Mordecai Schreiber inveighed against innovation precisely because Jews continued to adjust the practice of their religion to modern times. We kept to the basics, but changed the implementation, and we continue to do so.

2 Second, religious purpose. Kashrut is important, but it is a means to a greater end. When Saul of Tarsus (aka Paul) wrote to the emerging church in Rome (Romans 14:17), he said what Jews were also thinking: For the kingdom of God does not mean food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the spirit of God. Some people get so hung up on the minutiae that they forget the purposes for which religions exist. Missing the forest for the trees is a common hallmark of fundamentalism. In these dark days of winter, perhaps the lights of Hanukkah will continue to remind us to shine a little light on our own religious commitments and focus the beam squarely on what is really important and not on the details or transient elements. Fundamentalism may be the choice of some people, but it s not good for the Jews. Shalom, Kenneth D. Roseman, Rabbi CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 Saratoga Telephone /Fax congregation@bethisraelcc.com Website: bethisraelcc.com Rabbi Kenneth Roseman Debbie Bustillo, Office Administrator Susan Martin, Corpus Christi Community Religious School Administrator President Maury Wolfson First Vice President Suzy Hilliard Second Vice President... Rikki Schmitchel Secretary Rona Train Treasurer Ed Mange Past President....Andy Lehrman Sisterhood Co-Presidents...Meredith Ryan Iris Karas Cofty President Meredith Hilliard Adult Education David Jacobs Cemetery Co-Chairs...Robert Adler, Carl Kuehn, Gary Blum and Clara Braslau Ritual Committee Co-Chairs....Andrew Sheinberg and Joe Loon Program Coordinator.... Meredith Ryan Membership Committee Chair...Susan Martin Social Action Committee Co-Chairs.... Michelle Arevalo-Davila, Diana Stillman Dues Committee Co-Chairs Ann Engel and Leslie Kane Building Chair......David Jacobs Grounds Chair....Rikki Schmitchel Fine Arts...Laurie Mintz and Ross Burney Webmaster.....Jack Widder Dear Members of CBI, PRESIDENT S MESSAGE As we begin the calendar year 2010, I want to leave you with thoughts of Shabbat. Imagine how wonderful it would be to completely relax and forget the rush and stress of our daily affairs, to have time for ourselves with no other duties except to reflect on our accomplishments and the direction of our lives. That is Shabbat. It is a special gift from G_d. It is a day G_d finished the activity of creating and gave all creation the opportunity to rest and redirect goals, ambitions and focus. The true meaning of Shabbat is rest and retirement from the working world to a day of tranquility. We welcome the Shabbat by lighting the Shabbat candles that glow with spirituality. I hope you will consider this message and give some thought to increasing your attendance at our Shabbat services. Perhaps you will list this as one of your 2010 resolutions. Shalom, Maury Wolfson

3 Corpus Christi Community Religious School December was busy for CCCRS. Yael Twito spent the morning of December 6 telling our young people about Camp Young Judea in Wimberly, Texas. Several of our students have been campers there and shared their great experiences. A Leadership Seminar is being held Jan. 29 th -31 st, for 11 th & 12 th graders thinking about working at the camp. Open House days for parents thinking of sending their children to camp are Sunday, January 31 st and Sunday, March 14 th. For camp dates and more information, visit info@cyjtexas.org or call (713) Stefani Rozen will visit us on Sunday, January 31 st, to talk about Greene Family Camp. A Message from the Family Corner What a wonderful month December was. The Shabbat dinner was a huge success. We had to pull out extra tables and chairs to seat all of our guests. I would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the people who were so gracious and lent a hand that night. The camaraderie that is displayed at these events really goes to show how much value there is when people have the opportunity to connect and socialize with one another. Please join us for our next Shabbat dinner on January 29 th. We look forward to seeing you! Shalom, Meredith Ryan Lena Wise, Education Fellow from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, MS, visited us December She told the story of Hanukkah to our congregants at the Shabbat Family Service. On Sunday, she led our young people in Hanukkah Maccabeus Games. We also made edible driedels. A big thank-you to our judges for the games Norma Levens, Julia Noble, and Meredith Ryan. Look for pictures in this bulletin. Lena was the house guest of Sam, Catherine, Sophie, Sammy, and Eli Susser. Thanks to the Susser family for opening their home to Lena. (She will be visiting us again April 16-18, Let me know if your family would like to host her.) Hebrew School will resume on Thursday, January 7 th. Remember to call the CBI office if your child will not be in attendance on Thursdays. Sunday sessions will resume on January 10 th. Shalom! Susan RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES Sunday School 9:30 am - 12:00 pm January 10, 24 & 31 Hebrew School 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm on Thursday January 7,14,21 & 28

4 From the Jewish Community Council

5 UPCOMING SISTERHOOD EVENTS Sisterhood General Board Meeting January 6 th, 12:00 at JCC The Yellow Lily is the floral symbol of gratitude, our theme for Sisterhood for this year. Shabbat Dinner January 29 th, 6:00 pm Services at CBI Foodfest Update We would like to send out a special thank you to Ann Engel and Laura Smith-Noe for chairing Foodfest this year. This year, we netted over $30,000. Thank you to all for all of your hard-work and dedication to this fantastic event! Our chartered trip to Houston was cancelled due to the low response rate. We are hoping that next year, we will be able to give this type of trip another try. As we said last month, we believe that the social opportunities that exist for our sisterhood are invaluable. These types of trips give us the opportunity to learn more about each other and to bond in ways that are otherwise not available. The holiday party hosted at Iris Karas s house was a success with much laughter and cheer as all who were present enjoyed good food, wine and incredible company. Iris and Barb Schwamb did a wonderful job of organizing this fun event. Thank you to all the members of the Sisterhood who work hard to make our organization fun and successful; your efforts are greatly appreciated!

6 ADULT EDUCATION COMMITTEE SPONSORS LECTURES On Sunday mornings, January 24 and 31, the Adult Education Committee will sponsor two talks by Rabbi Roseman in preparation for the retreat in Rockport that will be held the first weekend in February. Rabbi Roseman will help us understand the historical background of the first and second Christian centuries that led up to the creation of rabbinic Judaism and its two most well-known texts, the Mishnah and the Talmud. We shall begin by describing the various political-religious parties that existed in the Jewish community of Judea of the time and how they perceived their role in the maintenance and preservation of Judaism. Then, we shall look at the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the consequences of this cataclysm in Jewish life, as well as the rise of Judaism s daughter religion, Christianity. Since biblical Judaism could no longer be practiced as a viable religion, adaptations were necessary if Judaism was to stay alive. The rabbinic Judaism that was the creation of this period is the direct antecedent of the kind of Jewish practice and thought in which we engage today. The purpose of these talks is to lay the foundation of understanding so that, when we meet our distinguished guest scholar, Rabbi Judith Abrams, we shall have a head-start in understanding the rabbinic textual materials that she will share with us. Both talks will be held in the Grossman Auditorium at 10:30 AM. Light refreshments and beverages will be available at 10:00 AM. We invite everyone to come. Of course, there is no charge. ADULT EDUCATION RETREAT SCHEDULED On Saturday, February 6, we shall gather at 10:00 AM at the Rockport Yacht Club for the first of our three learning sessions about the MAKING OF RABBINIC JUDAISM. Our guest speaker will be Rabbi Judith Abrams of Houston, a well-known and dynamic interpreter of the literature and history of the period from the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem to the publication of the Babylonian Talmud (approximately 70 CE to 600 CE). The documents of this period are often seen as arcane and difficult to understand, but Rabbi Abrams makes them come alive with her lively presentations, her delightful humor and her vivacious personality. We count ourselves enormously fortunate to have such a gifted scholar join us for our retreat and hope you will look forward to meeting her and learning from her. The retreat will continue Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Arrangements have been made for all meals and for lodging at the Hampton Inn in Rockport. Saturday evening s program is designed to produce smiles and fellowship; you won t want to miss it! Scholarship funds are available to assist anyone who needs financial help in attending. A detailed flyer with reservation information insert in this bulletin. Meanwhile, mark your calendars and hold the dates. This is a special opportunity open only to members of CBI.

7 TRADITIONAL KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICES SCHEDULED Once-a-month, lay members of Congregation Beth Israel conduct traditional Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming the Sabbath) services in the Racusin Chapel. These services last about 45 minutes; attendees often then join the rest of the congregation in the Sanctuary for the Rabbi s sermon, the concluding parts of the service and the Oneg Shabbat. The mood of these services is relaxed and celebratory, and all are welcome. The schedule for the entire year is: January 22, 2010 April 30, 2010 February 19, 2010 May 21, 2010 March 26, 2010 June 18, 2010 We encourage you to enter these dates on your calendar now so that you will be able to attend these services when they occur. CEMETERY GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED Congregation Beth Israel owns Hebrew Rest Cemetery at the corner of Brownlee and Laredo Streets and controls the practices and procedures in two sections of the Seaside Memorial Park on Ocean Drive. Each of these cemetery properties follows its own set of religious practices. A Committee of the congregation is charged with the oversight of these cemeteries and with making periodic recommendations to the Board for the updating of the guidelines that cover the use of our cemeteries. In November 2009, the Board of CBI acted on several recommendations. First, we have revised the guidelines concerning eligibility for funeral services. A current member may be interred in the cemetery without any special fee. If someone is a resident of Corpus Christi, but is not currently affiliated as a member of the congregation, there is a one-time fee of $2, If someone lives more than fifty (50) miles from Corpus Christi and wishes to be interred in one of our cemeteries, the fee is $1, Second, the rabbi of CBI is in charge of all ritual matters concerning the cemeteries. If the rabbi is not available at the time of need, the President of the Congregation and/or the Chair of the Cemetery Committee is responsible for providing a suitable substitute. All funeral services and officiants must be Jewish. Third, memorial markers may be ordered from any vendor. However, there is a structured process for the approval of lettering and art work, both to maintain the Jewish character of the cemeteries and to assure that spelling of names and dates is correct. No stone may be placed without the written concurrence of the chair of the Cemetery Committee and the Rabbi. For your convenience, a complete copy of the Cemetery Guidelines is available at the CBI Office and on-line at the congregation s web site, and we urge you to read them. The web site s address is In future months, we shall also post a copy of a booklet describing Jewish funeral and mourning practices (as accepted by CBI). Should you, in the meantime, have any questions, please address them to the Rabbi who will be glad to counsel with you. As always, we urge members of the congregation to consider meeting with the staff at Seaside and making funeral arrangements before the time of need. Nothing you can do is a greater kindness for your survivors than to spare them the need to go to the funeral home shortly after the death of a loved one and engage in this very difficult discussion.

8 January 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 6:00 pm Office Closed 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am 3 Sunday School 9:30am 12pm Hebrew School 4:30pm 6pm 8 7:30 pm 9 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am 10 Sunday School 9:30am 12pm CBI Board 7pm 14 Hebrew School 4:30pm 6pm 15 7:30 pm 16 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am 17 No Sunday School Hebrew School 4:30pm 6pm 22 7:30 pm (Traditional Services held in Racusin Chapel) 23 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am 24 Sunday School 9:30am 12pm Hebrew School 4:30pm 6pm pm Followed by Family Dinner 30 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am 31 Sunday School 9:30am 12pm

9 P E R P E T U A L YAHRZEITS Sabbath of January 1st William Adams *Scott Jeffrey Applebaum *Edith Braslau Werner Buchmann *Samuel Chitrit/Skala *Anne S. Dawson *Jake Goldstein *Vivian Goodman Groner *Abe Heifetz *David M. Isenberg Forest Toby Levy *Fannie Maniloff *Gertrude Pashkoff Horace Simon *Herbert Train Sabbath of January 8th *Max Abrams *Myron Appel *Hannah Bobys Charles J. Davis *Frank Davis *Roy Ilowit *Bernard Kane Rita Korn Karp *Bernard Kovner *Milton Sidney Kovner *Sarah Kurzner Lucille Levy Rosalyn Opinsky Morris Pearl *Ida Silverman *Nathan Simon *Simon Weil *Jennie Wiener Sabbath of January 15th *I. M. Alexander *Frances Kridel Barnes *Michael Baum *Hilda Blum Mary Gogel *Julius Goodman *Max Goodman *Reva Horn *Selma Laser *Carrie Lichtenstein *Malka F. Lichtenstein *Anna Maltz *Ralph Mange *David Mayerson Albert Moskowitz *Abe Nebrat Sam Roosth William Rosenkrantz *Rose Vinar *Stephen Glen Wolfson Sabbath of January 22nd *Sarah Rebecca Adler *Isaac Braslau Fannie Charney *Max Chase *Adrian Danziger *Simon Grossman *Silas A. Gunst *Sam Hausman *Annette Holliday *Joseph Brand Jessel *Mayer Katz *Dora Kolpack Miles Lerman *Charles Maltz *Lillian Nisenson *Paul Racusin *Sarah Bassel Rockmore Eddie Rodriguez *Anna Shapiro *Albert Zalim Sabbath of January 29th *Joseph Axelrad Alex Brownstein Fannie Gottlieb Elinor Greenberg David Itkin *Florence Kovner Maxine Lenzberg Madelyn Loeb *Saera Estelle Loeb *Sam H. Maltzman *Jeanne H. Payson *Miriam Racusin Harry Reingold *Oscar Spitz Morris Stein *Edward Unger *Abraham Willensky

10 The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Yahrzeit Donations In Memory of From Emil Horner Sam Horner Juliette Goldsmith Barbara Samuels Morris Liedeker, Jr. Cemetery Endowment Fund In Memory of From Marvin Rubin Mr. & Mrs. Ted Mason Irene Roth Mille Zalim Marvin Sheiness William Simpkins Milton Silverman Randy King Susan Train Mike Wormser Hans Eyck Dr. Philipp Rosenheim Anna Maizel Dorothy Greene Jan Meihl Charles Maltz Dora Berman Lucille Simon Rae Rosenberg Bertha Liedeker Abe Kaufman Herschel & Joyce Sheiness Dr. Jerry & Mrs. Barbara Silverman Dave & Meredith Ryan Rona & LA Train Marc & Joyce Wormser Robert & Chris Adler Madeline Appel Sam Horner Evelyn Maltz & Kenneth Maltz Sylvia Rosenberg Morris Liedeker, Jr. Maurice & Katherine Nast Fine Arts Fund In Honor of From Grace Kopf's Conversion Bill & Susan Martin In Memory of From Michael Weil Bill & Susan Martin General Fund In Memory of From Joyce Clark Dr. Joseph Oshman Dr. & Mrs. M.E. Hanisch Irvin Seymour Block Herman & Ruth Josephs Joe Bornstein Rhoda Goldberg Helen Hoffman Donna Reily Davis Michael Weil Mark Wallock In Honor of From Dottie Heffler's Birthday Marcia Marks Mille Zalim Marvin Rubin Audrey S. Zane Memorial Sisterhood Fund In Memory of From Audrey Zane Michael Weil Jonathan Blum- Outstanding achievement Evelyn Maltz & Charles Maltz Maurice & Rebecca Schmidt Richard Rocklin Cheryl Lynn Zane in the Profession of law

11 The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Leslie Simon Scholarship Fund In Honor of From Dottie Heffler's Birthday Ed & Heleen Mange Rabbi Weissman Memorial Fund In Honor of From Miriam Laska's Bat Mitzvah Anniversary Nelda Garcia Mitzvah Fund In Honor of From Dottie Heffler's Birthday Delano & Nedra Lockhart Marc & Joyce Wormser Tracy Braslau Youth Memorial Fund In Memory of From Annette Davis Jordan & Robin Davis Oshman Family Foundation Fund In Memory of From Dr. Joseph Oshman Marvin Rubin Penelope Levens Jeanette Aleman Dolly Oshman Tree of Life Leaf Plate In Honor of From In Honor of From David Engel, recipient of Dolly Oshman the Distinguished Citizen Award Dottie Heffler's Birthday Dottie Heffler's Birthday Charlotte, Sam, Ruth, Rita & Wiley Annette Cottingham & Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Donation From Dottie Heffler's Birthday Doris Katz Hymie & Elinor Roosth Melvyn & Annette Klein Ed Ziegler Clarice & Philip Wallock In Honor of From Dorothy Jessel on her Birthday Ed Massman on his Birthday Sarah Zeidman on her Birthday Joe Sheinberg on his Birthday Marvin & Yetta Leshin Don t forget..you can remember a friend or relative with a minimum contribution of $5.00 to one of our many funds. These funds support camp scholarships, education, cemeteries, fine arts, library, and building improvements, to name a few. An acknowledgement card will be sent to the honored person or family. Please make checks payable to CBI and specify the fund. Call the CBI office with any questions.

12 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 SARATOGA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX L Dor VaDor Judaica Shop Jewelry, Menorahs, Candlesticks, Tallit, Mezuzahs, & more Please call Clara

13 SHABBAT DINNER January 29 th Services 6 pm Dinner to follow Feel free to bring along your favorite dessert. If you have any questions, please call Meredith at

14 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL ADULT EDUCATION WEEKEND Rockport, TX February 6-7, 2010 Name (s) Address Telephone Number Cell Phone Number address The program will begin at 10:00 am on Saturday, February 6, 2010 Transportation: I/we plan to drive our own car I/we can offer rides to other people I/we need a ride Room arrangements: I/we need a single double room for Saturday night. Kind of room preferred? Any special food preferences? Please return this form to: CBI 4402 Saratoga Blvd. CC with your check for $ per person, which covers everything except the hotel bill.