Dear Friends: Fundamentalism scares the daylights out of me. Let me tell you why.

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1 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL A Family of Families November 2012 CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES >>> Friday, November 7:30 pm Saturday, November 9:00 am Friday, November 7:30 pm *Guest Speaker - Ron Bernstein Saturday, November 9:00 am Friday, November 6:00 pm *Note early service time Saturday, November 9:00 am Wednesday, November 21 Thanksgiving 7:30 pm Friday, November 7:30 pm Saturday, November 9:00am Friday, November 7:30 pm Saturday, December 9:00am Torah Study 11:00am Please come and join us Rabbi s Message Dear Friends: Fundamentalism scares the daylights out of me. Let me tell you why. We need to understand that the attitude of fundamentalism is not just a religious phenomenon. A secular ideology can share the same characteristics as the most extreme religious system. The basic attribute of any fundamentalism is that there is only one way to understand reality, one truth, one perspective. Everything else is wrong. So, someone who believes that cutting down a tree to provide lumber for the building of a house is a desecration of the environment and that this atrocity should never be committed is very little different from a religious person who believes that there is only one path of worship to the true God. Fundamentalisms, whether religious or secular, are closed systems. They admit no alternative views of reality. Anyone who differs with their conclusions is, ipso facto, in error. It is not a long stretch from deciding that the other person is wrong to concluding that the other person is sinful and even evil. My way or the highway consigns a large number of thoughtful people who happen to think differently from the fundamentalist to exclusion and ostracism. This demeans their human dignity and restricts their human rights. It is only another short step to justifying the forcible removal and even killing of the heretic (anyone who disagrees); after all, if homosexuality is a sin against God, why not do God s work and slay all the homosexuals? That s the logical conclusion when one idea is accorded absolute validity and all others are derogated as wicked and rejected. Fundamentalisms are essentially antagonistic to democracy. If any ideas other than your own are wrong and sinful, what is the point of discussing them or considering them or making a compromise with them? To accept that the other person may have something of value to contribute to the solution of a problem is to do business with the devil, and this the fundamentalist cannot do. Our basic rights under the Constitution (and especially the Bill of Rights) exist to protect minority points of view,, even unpopular ones. But a fundamentalist, religious or secular, has no reason to respect those rights when they foster and protect views which he/she thinks are heretically sinful. Finally, fundamentalisms are dangerous for Jews. If there is only one truth and all other points of view ought to be eliminated, guess who goes out the door! We represent a little less than 3% of the American population. Should our position in this society be dependent on being seen as the one right and honorable path, we lose every time it s just a matter of numbers at that point. The opposite of fundamentalism is pluralism, the idea that there are many different honorable and legitimate paths to the same objectives. In a democratic society, each of those paths is entitled to some respect and to some role in the discussion; a viable solution often reflects a compromise in which elements of several different ideas are combined in a less-than-perfect agreement to move forward. America functions best when pragmatism rules, when all the parties who hold differing ideas come together to craft a solution that works, even when it is not ideologically pure or correct. I hope every member of CBI will vote in the upcoming election. When you do, I hope you will keep in mind the issue of fundamentalisms and make your choices for those candidates who will advance rather than impede the solutions to the many problems that plague our society. Kenneth D. Roseman, Rabbi

2 President s Message CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 Saratoga Blvd Telephone: Fax: congregation@bethisraelcc.com Website: bethisraelcc.com Rabbi Kenneth Roseman Debbie Bustillo Office Administrator Susan Martin Corpus Christi Community Religious School Administrator President First Vice President Second Vice President Secretary Treasurer Past President Sisterhood President Adult Education Cemetery Co-Chairs Ritual Committee Co-Chairs Program Coordinator Membership Committee Chair Social Action Committee Chairs Dues Committee Co-Chairs Building Chair Grounds Chair Fine Arts Webmaster Jim Gold Suzy Hilliard Gary Blum Julia Noble Ed Mange Maury Wolfson Robin Adams David Jacobs Robert Adler, Carl Kuehn, Gary Blum and Clara Braslau Andrew Sheinberg and Joe Loon Leslie Green Susan Martin Jim Gold Ann Engel and Leslie Kane Bill Adams Rikki Schmitchel Laurie Mintz and Ross Burney Jack Widder Dear Members of CBI, These days CBI is bustling with people and wonderful aromas emanating from the kitchen, in preparation for Food Fest. This major event sponsored by our Sisterhood, generates significant dollars however, the goodwill generated between the Jewish and Corpus Christi community at large is invaluable. Through the food served we share our heritage but our welcoming spirit shows a genuine desire to be part of a community in which we recognize the similarities among all people and the need to respect our differences. So bring all of your friends and family and enjoy! This will be the 78 th year that Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and CBI have conducted a shared Thanksgiving service. I personally enjoy participating and helping sustain this long time interfaith tradition. I am amazed at the courage it must have taken by both clergies to propose and conduct a joint Thanksgiving services in a time when interfaith activities were limited and even frowned upon. This year the service will be hosted in the CBI sanctuary on Wednesday, November 21, at 7:30. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to experience the true spirit of Thanksgiving and in the process making sure CBI is well represented at this event. Both the Corpus Christi Food Bank and the High Holiday Fund drive will be extended to Thanksgiving. At the present time we have received $1, and are in need of donations to reach our goal of $2,000 for the Food Drive while contributions for the High Holiday Appeal are always welcomed. For those of you who have contributed, I thank you for your Mitzvot. Please keep in mind every contribution large and small is just as important---please give as you can. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Food Fest. Shalom, Jim Gold Jewish Food Fest November 10 & 11 Page 2

3 THANKSGIVING SERVICE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 21 This Fall, we shall have the honor and the joy to celebrate the 78 th consecutive Thanksgiving service with members of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. This year, the service will be held at Congregation Beth Israel on Wednesday, November 21 at 7:30 PM. As the host congregation, we shall conduct the service. The sermon will be given by The Reverend Milton Black, Rector of Good Shepherd. During the service, we shall take a collection that will be devoted to the Corpus Christi Food Bank, as we have done for the past ten or so years. The Food Bank desperately requires our assistance, as the needs have escalated with the downturn in the economy, so your generosity will be most appreciated. And, of course, after services, seasonal refreshments will be served in the Grossman Auditorium. We encourage all members of CBI and their friends to attend this wonderful celebration of the bounties we enjoy, share a time of fellowship with our sister congregation and its members and inaugurate the Thanksgiving weekend with appropriate prayer, song and friendship. Shalom CBI Congregants, We had a wonderful time bringing in Shabbat last month and experienced a record turnout for our Family Dinner as well. Thanks to your hearty appetites, there was NO food leftover!!! It warms a Jewish girl's heart to know that you are enjoying my cooking!! Our next Family Shabbat Dinner will be Friday, December 7 th, when we will celebrate CHANUKAH. Of course, potato latkes will be first and foremost on the menu!!! Speaking of which, I will be needing extra help in the kitchen to prepare the many latkes for all of us to enjoy and would appreciate you contacting me to lend a hand with this project. Wishing all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday and let's always remember the many blessings that we should be thankful for. Until we break bread together again, Leslie Green Programming Director shanacal@stx.rr.com phone: (361) Page 3

4 WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS OF CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL Suzanne Patrick Justin & Sommer Hausman & Family John Cook Chana Hines & Family Bill & Jerri Osberg Andy & Tobi Taubman & Family SUNDAY ADULT EDUCATION SERIES BEGINS IN NOVEMBER During the late Fall and early Winter, Rabbi Roseman will be discussing significant discoveries that have made a difference in our Jewish world. These sessions will be in the Auditorium at 10:30 AM and will be preceded by light refreshments. The programs will end at approximately noon and are open to the public without any charge. November 18 November 25 Rabbi Roseman will discuss the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their impact on what we know about the text of the Bible. Two medieval manuscripts came to light in relatively recent years: The Aleppo Codex and the Sarajevo Haggadah. Each, in its own way, has made a difference in how we understand and use classic documents that form much of our synagogue worship. In December, Rabbi Roseman will help us understand what Dr. Solomon Schechter found when he entered the geniza (storeroom) in the Ben Ezra Synagogue of Cairo and then the very remarkable graphic representations of two Byzantine synagogues, one at Beit Alpha in the Galilee and one at Dura Europus in today s Syria. Sponsor an Oneg Shabbat We are seeking sponsors for the Friday Night Oneg Shabbats. The Temple will provide the drinks while the Sponsor(s) will provide the cakes, fruits and other Oneg snacks. We believe this is a wonderful way to honor people for special days in their lives or to memorialize loved ones on their Yahrzeits. If you wish to participate, please call Debbie at the CBI office and tell her the date you wish to reserve. Several families can share each Oneg. The only dates not available are the monthly Family Dinner dates and B nai Mitzvah dates. Oneg Dates Friday, October 5, 2012 November 2, 2012 Friday, October 19, 2012 November 9, 2012 Friday, October 26, 2012 November 16, 2012 November 23, 2012 Hosted by Dee & Harrie Diaz Page 4

5 Congregation Beth Israel and the 92 nd St. Y present Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of Great Britain Thursday, November 7:00 pm In the Racusin Chapel at Congregation Beth Israel On Thursday, November 29, at 7:00 PM we shall have the good fortune to tune in to the 92 nd Street YMHA program that features Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of Great Britain. A renowned scholar and interpreter of modern Orthodox Judaism, Rabbi Sacks will be interviewed by the host of NPR s popular program, Science Friday, Ira Flatow. There have been ages when religion tried to dominate science and, conversely, times when science tried to dominate religion. Rabbi Sacks sees the two realms of inquiry as interdependent. Join us as the two men explore the ways in which these modes of discussion complement each other in modern life. There is no charge for this program that will be held in the Racusin Chapel. After the program, light refreshments will be served. A LATE NEW YEAR S CARD Here s a New Year s card that was addressed to the Rosemans at their old house and, therefore, arrived a little late for inclusion in the October Newsletter. But it s still worth reading. The card was entitled Airplane Travel versus Rosh HaShanah Services. SIMILARITIES: It s a long ride. It s an uplifting experience. It transports you to someplace new. DIFFERENCES: In AT, the pilot is a captain, whereas at RH God is our pilot. AT has many travel times and destinations, while RH has fixed dates and destination AT is rarely on time, while RH is always on time. Planes charge a fee for baggage, while we bring our own baggage for free. On a plane, you might get a fair movie if you are lucky, while at services you might hear a great sermon (again, if you are lucky) Airplane music is canned, while RH music is can-torial. On a plane, you sit with strangers, but at services you sit with family and friends. If you ve flown recently, you know that AT passengers wear anything they want, while at services people usually dress in nicer clothing. On a plane, you get an in-flight catalogue, while at RH you get a prayer book. Our friends wrote May your journey this year be filled with joy and hope for the future. RON BERNSTEIN TO SPEAK ON NOVEMBER 9 TH We shall again have the privilege of hosting Ron Bernstein, Southwest Representative of the Jewish National Fund at services on Friday, November 9, at 7:30 PM. Ron, as many of you will remember, is a founding member of Kibbutz Yahel, the first Reform Jewish kibbutz founded in the State of Israel. When he is at home, he supervises the large dairy herd and oversees the cultivation of the date palms and pomelo trees that produce a significant cash crop for the kibbutz. A trenchant observer of the Israeli social and political scene, Ron will be able to share with us some insights into the situation of modern Israel. It is important for us to recognize that Israel is a country, not just an armed camp, and that there are positives and negatives that far transcend the military and security issues of which we learn so much on the news. We invite you to join us for these services that will help all of us become more aware of the issues with which the citizens of the Jewish national homeland are dealing today. Page 5

6 Jewish Food Fest November 10 & 11 Shift Volunteers: There are many jobs to fill and many hands needed. Please consider spending some time as a Food Fest Volunteer. If you would like to work a food fest shift, please contact: Laura Hausman at laurita@northernbeef.com Like us on Facebook JewishFoodFestival SWEET SHOP BAKED GOODS: Please help us fill our shelves with your donated delicious HOMEMADE BAKED GOODS. We need cakes, pies, candy, and cookies of all flavors, shapes and sizes. Whatever you have the time to bake is always greatly appreciated, but please bake! Special Instructions: items need to be homemade. Rugelach, Challah, and Strudel are some of the most requested items. securely tape to the container of your baked items an index card with your name and ingredients used. (The recipe is not necessary...only the ingredient list) do not make anything with peanuts, peanut butter, or peanut oil. Many in our community are highly allergic to any form of peanut. drop off your baked goods Thursday, Nov. 8th or Friday, Nov. 9th Please call Amy Krams or Susan Martin and let them know they can count on you to help bake and / or work in the sweet shop. If you have any questions please contact us. Amy Krams : akrams@grandecom.net / or Susan Martin : wtmsjm@aol.com / Page 6

7 Jewish Food Fest November 10 & 11 RAFFLE TICKET PRIZES! VINTAGE SALE We NEED your DONATIONS to have a another SUCCESSFUL EVENT. Items needed: JEWELRY, such as bracelets, pins, earrings PURSES FUR STOLES-Mink, fox or faux Please drop off items at Congregation Beth Israel or Pat Susser, 3835 Ocean Drive or Catherine Susser's, 3861 Ocean Drive We need items as soon as possible so we can mark them. For questions please call: Pat or Debbie Page 7

8 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES - November Sundays 11/4, 11/11 Hebrew School 9:15am 10:15am Sunday School 10:15 am 12 pm Confirmation Class 12pm 1pm No Confirmation Class on November 11th No Religious Education Classes on November 18th and Corpus Christi Community Religious School Susan Martin, Director October has been busy! Sam Kahan, our ISJL Education Fellow visited Corpus Christi and Congregation Beth Israel for the first time. She gave a D var Torah at the Family and joined us for Leslie Green s delicious meal. Saturday, Sam joined Sisterhood members making Kugel for Food Fest and then attended Torah Study. On Sunday our young people continued learning about Tzedakah by traveling to four stations around the social hall. At Station 1, students made their own Tzedakah boxes that they will bring each Sunday containing money they have earned during the week. Students created cards at Station 2 which will be sent to congregants who are ill. Tzar Baeli Chaim was the theme for Station 3. Students made yummy treats which were taken to the Animal Shelter. (Thank you, Robert Adler!) At Station 4 (Gimilut Hasidim), students listened to The Starfish and learned how they can make a difference in the world. Consecretion was held prior to s. Elan & Aytana Anthony and Micah & Jake Taubman joined Rabbi Roseman on the bima for special blessings. The children were also given certificates and miniature torahs. Also on Sunday, October 14 th, we had our first session of Hebrew School. Our first-time Hebrew students are being instructed by Abby Balkin, Miriam Laska, Olivia Noble, Ryan Butler, and Sophie Susser. Yoav Kadosh is teaching our intermediate group and Rabbi Roseman continues to work with our pre-bar/ Bat Mitzvah students. We are thrilled to have these wonderful teachers for Hebrew and Religious School. If you haven t already done so, pick up Greene Family Camp flyers in the CBI foyer for the 3 rd -6 th grade retreat on November 2-4, 2012, and the family retreat on March 1-3, There is also information about summer camp. You can get more information and register online at Shalom! Susan Page 8

9 The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Yahrzeit Donations In Memory of From High Holy Day Appeal Donation From Nettie Golden Aron Golden Helen Goodman Arnold Kolpack Sylvan Wolfson Ruth Sikora Evelyn Greenberg Marilyn & Irving Braslau Jeri Kolpack Gloria Wolfson Mr. & Mrs. David Sikora Ruth & Joseph Sheinberg Catherine & Sam L. Susser Norma & Alan Levens Dolly Oshman Robin & Bill Adams Iris & Andy Lehrman Adler Camp Scholarship Fund In Memory of From Yetta & Marvin Leshin Terry & Randy Berry Elizabeth & Jerry Susser Norren & Milton Barnes Norma & Alan Levens Laura & David Hausman Cemetery Endowment Fund In Memory of From Dora & David Holtzman Jacqueline & Alan Holtzman Rabbi Weissman Memorial Fund Lorraine Hausman In Memory of From Rebecca & Abe Blum Mary Weissman Phyllis Weissman General Fund In Memory of From Elisa Cox Rikki Schmitchel Fine Arts Fund In Memory of From Abraham Weissman Rabbi Hyman Weissman Rabbi's Discretionary Fund In Honor of From Rabbi Kenneth Roseman Sabina Zolte Evelyn Greenberg Elise & Al Geller Dr. Charles Clark, Sr. Dwight & Dottie Ewing Laura Ewing & John Hull on her 95th Birthday In Memory of From Clay Ewing & Bozena Mrozek Evelyn Levinson Dee & Harriett Diaz Melissa Powell Recovery of From Julie Ewing & James Gray Tom & Tania Ewing Yetta Leshin Cookie Silverman Ruth & Joe Sheinberg 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, & 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. Page 9

10 Concert of Peace & Freedom Pictures by Gary Blum Page 10

11 PERPETUAL YAHRZEITS Sabbath of November 2nd *Eli Berman *Edward Birnberg Marie H. Finkel Carl Gogel Aron Golden *Janet Asher Goldstein *Louis Goltzman *Ethel Wolf Goodman *Louis Goodman George Gorsuch *Hattie Hirsch Gunst Dorothy Kaiser *Isaac Lasky *Isadore Mayerson *Julius Racusin Leon Rubin *Irvin Samuels *Lewis Engle Weil *Ruth Dreyfuss Weil Sabbath of November 9th *Harry Applebaum *Anna Dina Davis Gil Elzweig *Ida Goldreyer Benjamin Greenberg *Joe Hausman *Sarah Isenberg *Melvyn Hugh Krinsky *Mortimer Lasky Harold Poplinger *Sidney Posner *Pauline Querido Isidoro Schcolnik *Howard Smith *Harry Sobol *Joseph Zobel Sabbath of November 16th *Hattie Cohn Abrams *Irving Chafetz *Martha Cohn *Milton Eidelberg Ben A. Eisenberg *Eddie Ettelman *Sam Falk *Dora Fenig *Louis Benjamin Finkelstein Bluma Gilman *Sarah Goodman Abe Kaufman *Beckie Kohn *Louis Krasner *Israel Kraut *Isaac Liedeker *Emanuel Morris *Gertrude Pearlman Jacob Peck *Albert B. Prashner *Marvin Sheiness Rabbi Hyman Weissman Sabbath of November 23rd *David Blair Hector DePena *Philip Engle *Jack Henry Goodman *Dave L. Greenberg *Henry Roth Hausman Emil Horner Randy King Evelyn Levinson Jack Marks *Miriam Sheer Nelson *Richard Rocklin Philip Seldin *Lucille Berman Simon *Harry Trodlier *Barry Waldman Sabbath of November 30th *Dora Berman *Maurice Cohn Hans Eyck Ida Mann Falk *Israel Ferszt *Harry Goltzman *Sam Isenberg *Martin Kridel *Erna Lachs *Max Orshanski *Lillian Racusin Juan Rodriguez, Sr. * Arthur M. Roscoe *Kate Smith *Morris Stein Susan Train *Martha Wilson *Audrey Sharon Zane *Yehuda Zebaida Page 11

12 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 SARATOGA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX L Dor VaDor Judaica Shop Call Clara to set an appointment at

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14 November 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 7:30 pm 3 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am 4 Sunday School 10 am 12 pm Confirmation Class 12 pm - 1pm 11 Sunday School 10 am 12 pm NO Confirmation Class :30 pm Guest Speaker - Ron Bernstein 6:00 pm 10 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am FOOD FEST! 17 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am No Sunday School Thanksgiving Break Joint Services CBI 7:30pm Thanksgiving Day 7:30 pm 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am 25 No Sunday School Thanksgiving Break Y 7pm 30 7:30 pm Dec. 1 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am