Sons of Zion. Inside this issue: From Our Rabbi. Upcoming Dates to Remember: 8/2 at 7pm. SOZ Picnic 8/6. SOZ Board Meeting 8/9 at 7:30pm

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1 Congregation Sons of Zion 378 Maple Street Holyoke, MA Phone: (413) Upcoming Dates to Remember: Religious Committee Meeting 8/2 at 7pm SOZ Picnic 8/6 SOZ Board Meeting 8/9 at 7:30pm Hebrew Class 8/10 at 9:30am Tikkun Olam Committee 8/22 at 7:15pm Inside this issue: Board Meeting Minutes President s Message 4 6 Calendar 8 Yahrzeits and Minyan Chairs Committee Reports 9 11 Save the Date! 12 From the Office 16 Sons of Zion News Volume 2, Issue 10 From Our Rabbi Many of us love Congregation Sons of Zion and want to see it grow and prosper. We may have warm childhood memories of growing up in the congregation or we may have more recently discovered this welcoming and friendly community. Whatever our path to Sons of Zion, many of us feel a strong and positive connection to this community and this synagogue. At the same time, we are aware of the challenges facing our shul and others across the country. Only 31% of Jews in the United States belong to a synagogue. A generation or so ago, having a bar or bat mitzvah ceremony was pretty much standard practice for every American Jew; today only 51% mark this moment in their lives. But it s not all bad news. An astonishing 94 percent of respondents in the most recent Pew Research Center study report they are proud to be Jewish and 75 percent say they have a strong sense of belonging to the Jewish people. For a long time the assumption was that intermarriage spelled the end of Jewish identification, but what we are seeing, today, for the first time ever, the majority of children of intermarried families consider themselves Jewish (59 percent). If there are such positive feelings about being Jewish, why is there a disconnect between so August 2017 Av/Elul 5777 Abraham, Sarah & the Three Strangers, Psalter of St. Louis, Paris, c many Jews and the Jewish institutions like synagogues that aim to serve them? How to bridge that gap is the focus of a book that I am currently reading called Next Generation Judaism: How College Students and Hillel Can Help Reinvent Jewish Organizations, by Rabbi Michael Uram. It shows how synagogues and other Jew-

2 Page 2 ish institutions could utilize successful methodologies developed by Hillel to reach unaffiliated Jews. I m only half way through the book, but I m finding much that is thought-provoking, challenging, hopeful, and potentially very beneficial for us as a community. Here are some key ideas I ve encountered so far. One size does not fit all. The approaches that work for Jews who are comfortable in Jewish institutions may not work for other Jews, referred to as Engagement Jews by Uram. We often think about what programs or services will attract potential members to our synagogue. In some cases, that kind of thinking can be counterproductive and drive people away. Move from program planning to relationship building The only way to make a transformative difference in the lives of Engagement Jews is to cultivate a large number of deep, personal relationships. Organizations need members, participants, and donors, while individuals need Jewish experiences, personal connections, and support for their own Jewish lives. Sometimes these needs overlap and individuals can get what they need from Jewish life through institutional affiliation, but often they don t. In that case, Jewish organizations need to find ways to engage people regardless of whether they affiliate or not. The best way to secure the institution is to forget about the institution, and focus instead on innovation and impacting people s Jewish lives. I found this one especially thought-provoking: how to greet and how NOT to greet someone new to the shul. Rather than using a greeting to make the event or the organization the central focus of the conversation, a better approach is to make the person and the relationship the central focus instead. This means that rather than talking about the Federation, the synagogue, or whatever organization you represent, start by getting to know the person. Good Sons of Zion News rules for these conversations are to avoid anything that sounds like a sales pitch and to leave out any of those well-meaning questions about Jewish involvement (like do you belong to a synagogue? ). While you might just be trying to get to know them better, they can end up feeling interrogated, especially if they don t do the things you re asking about. Words like membership and affiliation sometimes become measures of success that assume that the mission of a Jewish organization is to get people to join, show up, or participate, stealing from the real work of inspiring Jews to access their tradition in powerful and transformative ways. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book. I invite you to read it as well. It could lead to a very fruitful discussion about how we can make a real and meaningful connection with the lives of fellow Jews who may not be part of our shul. Rabbi Saul Perlmutter

3 Volume 1, Issue 6 A Poem from Vacation Page 3 In my shul, the wind blows cold and the sky is blue. The waves of water gently crash around me. In my shul, the mountains tower above and snow glazes its summits, crevasses and valleys. God resides in the clouds and touches all my senses - I breath in God's love for me, I am cleansed by the breezes. In my shul, the view is as far as it is wide, it so pristine, and welcoming that tears draw to my eyes. In my shul, the warmth of the sun shines down upon me and brings peace. When my son joins me in this place, he picks up stones and tries to skip them on the lake. They go out far and curve back toward him like a boomerang. He does this over and over. I am fully present as I watch and feel joy for him. This is a sacred place that does not judge. While a chill goes through me, I could stand here all day with him in delight for us both. We are truly blessed. Amen. Andrea Fox Kenai Lake -Trail River Campground, Alaska 7/11/17

4 Page 4 Thank You! Sons of Zion News To Gloria and Jordan Koltz, who wish Ozzie Wernick and speedy and complete recovery. In attendance: Joe Cohen, Richard Freyman, Andrea Fox, Alfred Hutt, Lois Levin, Steve Levin, Deborah Levine, Steve Levine, Laura Marks, Buddy Resnic,, Margie Resnic, Joan Rosner, Michael Rosner, Cindy Vieu, Ken Vieu Minutes of the June 4th meeting approved unanimously. New Board members introduced themselves to each other and provided a mini biography of themselves with their connection to and interest of the SOZ congregation. Activities and Fundraising: Cindy Vieu reported that the committee has not met since the Annual meeting though there are plans for Fall events and an SOZ community event to clean and tidy up the yard around the SOZ building. Cindy expects to have more information at the next Board meeting. Cindy also reminded everyone about the SOZ picnic in at the Canoe Club on August 6th. Budget and Finance: Welcome! To Abby and Ken Jaffe, new SOZ members from South Hadley who joined recently. Board Meeting Minutes: July 19, 2017 Michael Rosner reported that the committee met on July 17 th and developed a proposed budget. Though anticipated dues are still a guesstimate because of the new dues structure, we are hoping to reduce deficits as the year progresses. Moreover, there are decreased copier expenses in part because we are now contracting with a local vendor, likely decreases in heating expenses because our furnace has been repaired, and decreases in our insurance costs. Thank you to Steve Levine for actively working on the copier and insurance contracts! The motion to accept the proposed budget was approved unanimously. Building Committee: Ken Vieu reported that he has made several repairs to the building, including repairs to the downstairs Men s Room. He plans to continue to working on the Sukkah and wants to enlarge it. There was discussion on revamping ornamental areas in the SOZ yard and for members of the SOZ community to adopt an area of the yard to keep clean. Cemetery Committee: Michael Rosner reported for Joanne Saltman that money was spent to comply with a Chicopee city report to clean the cemetery secondary to illegal dumping from unknown perpetrators.

5 Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 5 Membership Committee: The committee is also planning on a High Holiday food drive event to raise awareness. Deborah reminded us that this committee is looking to be involved with things that matter for Jewish values. Laura Marks reported that there is now a Membership tab on the website. The committee is working on a membership packet with a goal to complete it by the High Holidays. We have a new member family: Abby and Ken Jaffe. Welcome! Religious Committee: Joan reported that the next meeting will be Wednesday August 2 nd at 7 PM. It is open to the whole congregation. This meeting is important because there will be discussion on building on changes we made for High Holidays in the past. Joan also reported about the challenges getting a full Minyan on Mondays and Thursdays, especially if we don t have a Torah reader. Ideas about how to ensure we can sustain weekday services with Torah readings were suggested with a plan to further discuss them at the August 2nd meeting. Tikkun Olam: Deborah Levine reported that the committee is looking for SOZ members to volunteer at the soup kitchen in Holyoke once per month. A Note from Nitza (via Reader s Digest) Old Business: A personal thank you from Joan Rosner and the full Board was extended to Andrea Fox and Michael Rosner for their work as copresidents last year. Last year was very forward-looking and built a sense of community for SOZ. Announcements: Do not separate yourself from the community. Hillel Steve Levin has stepped down as Treasurer and Michael Rosner is acting as Treasurer at this time. SOZ picnic on Sunday August 6th at the Canoe Club, rain or shine. Please let Steve Levine and/or Laura Marks know if you plan on being there, but all are welcome! Next Board meeting is on August 9th at 7:30pm. All SOZmembers are welcome to attend. Neglecting your house of worship: Women (and men) who get out to attend religious services at least once a week have a 20% reduced risk of death, regardless of whether they smoke, drink, or exercise, says a study of more than 92,000 women by Yeshiva University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Researchers credit the emotional support and respite from stress that going to regular services can provide. Amen to that. Reader s Digest, April 2017, p. 92. So come to morning minyan! Nitza Seaver, July 2017

6 Page 6 From Our President Shalom Everyone, Sons of Zion News Humility and excitement are my feelings as I begin the job of President of Congregation Sons of Zion. Often I m in awe of what we are able to accomplish. This Newsletter is filled with reports from the committees that propel us forward. We need each of you; attend an activity, join a committee, attend a service. So, here s an invitation!! Sunday, August 6, 12:30 to 3:30 is the Annual SOZ Picnic at the Holyoke Canoe Club. Feast on hamburgers, hot dogs, sides and desserts brought by those attending and most of all catch up with old and new friends as you swim, play tennis or just relax. Find the flyer in this Newsletter. Several months ago, following nearly a year of study by the Budget and Finance Committee, we introduced a new approach to collecting dues. Gift of the Heart asks you to consider what Sons of Zion means to you and translate that feeling to a dues commitment. Remember that dues represent almost 70% of our budget. Your response is very encouraging, with congregants offering more than the old system, there are 6 Sustainer Members and we welcome more. If we haven t heard from you, there is a commitment form in this Newsletter. Joanne Saltman and I are happy to answer any questions or just to talk how excited we are about Gift of the Heart. Here s a really sweet opportunity to enhance your holidays and help Sons of Zion. SOZ member Elaine Shepherd has turned to candy making and is winning awards. Twice a month Elaine is making candy for Wicked Good Treats in our kitchen and paying rent. A hardy Yasher Koach to Elaine and Steve Levine for making this happen. Here s the opportunity: Elaine is offering a half pound of award-winning chocolate for $18.00 (good number) for Rosh Hashana. SOZ will receive $9.00. All orders go through Elaine. Use the form in this Newsletter (p.15), and there are forms in the synagogue. Watch the dates on the flyer, they are strict!! Thank you, Elaine. Minyon attendance continues to challenge us, especially on Monday. Thanks to Paul Charette for a meaningful service. To quote Jim Eisenstock, How to entice people is the question! Stay tuned or let us know about your creative idea. We welcome Rabbi Perlmutter back for another year!! Thank you to Michael Rosner for working with Saul. Closing with warm wishes and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Max Chorowski for his dedicated and enjoyable coverage of Thursday minyons and Shabbat services during Saul s July vacation. See you at the Picnic! Joan

7 Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 7 A Special Thank You to Our Sustaining Members Andrew Barowsky Steve and Linnea Constant Herb and Barbara Goldberg Steve and Lois Levin Buddy and Margie Resnic Michael and Joan Rosner

8 Page 8 Sons of Zion News August 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Tisha B Av starts at sundown 7/ Av 3 11 Av 4 12 Av 5 Tisha B Av Av 8 16 Av 9 17 Av 1018 Av 1119 Av Av Av Av Av Av Av Av Elul 25 3 Elul Elul 29 7 Elul 30 8 Elul 31 9 Av 13 Av Shabbat Begins at 7:48pm Shabbat Begins at 7:38pm Shabbat Begins at 7:28pm Shabbat Begins at 7:17pm Va-Etchanan 14 Av 20 Av SOZ Annual Picnic! See Flyer p Av 27 Av Ekev Re eh 29 Av 1 Elul 4 Elul Tikkun Olam Meeting 7:15pm Religious Committee Meeting 7pm SOZ Board Meeting 7:30pm Rosh Chodesh Day 1 Rosh Chodesh Day 2 Hebrew Class 9:30am 5 Elul 9 Elul Shoftim Daniel Marks s Birthday Kiddush; Singing After Please keep in mind: The office is closed on Fridays, weekends, and Jewish holidays. If you need to make funeral arrangements during these times, please contact Joanne at

9 Volume 1, Issue 6 July 30 Aug 5: Lois Levin Aug. 1 Norma Magidson Barowsky Aug. 2 *Samuel Rosenbloom Aug. 4 Mary Baker May Goodstein Fannie Greenspan *Idah S. Hirshon *Esther Malkin *Eva Polansky Aug. 5 *Eric Goldenberg *Rose Palevsky Aug. 6 12: Joan Levine Aug. 8 Samuel Broudy Lena Suher Cooper *Harry Gaberman *Samuel Halpern *Sadie Gamzue Nathanson *Abraham Saul *Minna H. Sills Mollie Smernoff Maurice Zanger Aug. 9 *Rev. Samuel D. Falk Aug. 10 Elsie Gellert *Jennie Housen *Martin A. Jaffe *Ethel Lesnow *Maxwell E. Marshall *Nyoma Sorkin Aug. 11 *Rebecca Finkelstein *Bertha Greenman *Louis Halpern *Abner Wolkovsky Aug. 12 Samuel Epstein *Amy Beth Levin Taube Burstein *Tillie Burstein Anna Jacobson August Yahrzeits and Minyan Chairs Aug : Laura Marks Aug. 14 Eugene Halberstam *Rose Kaplinsky *William Radner Aug. 15 David Fox *Louis Kostin Bernard Ziff Aug. 16 Harry Baker Aug. 17 *Herbert Halpern *Gertrude Hirsch Aug : Buddy Resnic Aug. 22 Zelda Olin Frank A. Stone Aug. 23 *Harry Berman *Jennie Lipshitz Aug 24 *Frank Goldberg *Sarah Merkin Zellan Aug. 25 Morris Goldberg *Rose Koufax Rose *Jacob Nathan Solin Aug. 26 *Martha P. Michaelson Ida Isenberg Stiller Harry Wolkoff Aug. 27 Sept. 2: Steve Levin Aug. 27 William Fortgang Aug. 28 *Lillian Leitzen Aug. 31 Samuel Adelson *Esther "Billie" Posnik Aug. 31 *Julia (Jewel) Berman Suher Page 9

10 Page 10 Sons of Zion News

11 Volume 1, Issue 6 Committee Reports Tikkun Olam Deb Levine, Chair The recently-formed Tikkun Olam committee has as its purpose to create and promote opportunities for members of our Congregation to, heal the world, from a foundation of Jewish values and traditions. We will develop projects and activities that will address individual, community and social needs. The Tikkun Olam committee has had two meetings thus far, and participants have included Rabbi Perlmutter, Steven Levine, Fran Welson, Maggie Wynn, Michael Rosner, Joan Rosner, and Chair Deborah Levine. Page 11 Our discussions have focused on developing longand short-term goals that would allow Sons of Zion members to participate as a community in projects that address providing for those in need. We will continue the long tradition of Congregation Sons of Zion participating in Interfaith efforts and providing help to agencies such as Rachel's Table. We actively welcome ideas and participation as we develop our plans and goals. Membership Committee Laura Marks, Chair The Membership Committee met in July (Steve Levine, Deb Levine and Laura Marks attended) and focused on our core missions: attracting new members, drawing in existing members, and making it easy for those who might be interested in SOZ to find us so we can learn about them and they can learn about us. Before the High Holidays are upon us, hopefully bringing with them some new faces, our Committee will have a welcome packet for those interested in membership, a redesigned card with our information on it, and publicity about our High Holiday services and other upcoming events. Activities and Fundraising Committee Cindy Vieu, Chair If you have been waiting for some fun community activities with your SOZ friends and family, your wait is over! The Activities and Fundraising Committee has been hard at work, brainstorming for the upcoming season. We are planning a Cleanup Day for early September, a Fundraiser in late October, and more special Shabbats. Watch for a Corn on the Cob Kiddush! Some fun activities for the young and young-at-heart are also in the offing: a visit to the Pumpkin Patch, Sukkah Decoration, and Apple Picking, which could lead to something extremely delicious for the entire synagogue!

12 Page 12 Save the Date: Upcoming Events August 2: Religious Committee Meeting. 7:00pm, Ice cream, 7:20pm Meeting August 6: Annual SOZ Picnic, 12:30-3:30 at the Holyoke Canoe Club August 9: SOZ Board Meeting, 7:30pm August 10: Hebrew Class, 9:30am in the Social Hall August 22: Tikun Olam Committee 7:15pm in the Social Hall August 26: Singing after Kiddush September 5: Deadline to order Chocolates for High Holidays September 9: Corn on the Cob Kiddush September 10: Clean-up Day (9/17 Rain date) September 16: S lichot in the evening September 20: Erev Rosh Hashanah September 29: Kol Nidre October 29: Save the Date for a Special Event! Sons of Zion News Contact Joan Rosner (joanrosner@comcast.net) or the Synagogue Office (office@sonsofzionholyoke.org or ) if you are interested in sponsoring a Kiddush and would like to choose a date.

13 Volume 1, Issue 6 TIkkun Olam News: Putting Prayer into Action The Tikkun Olam Committee needs YOU!!!! Page 13 The Sons of Zion Tikkun Olam Committee has developed two important projects and we invite everyone to participate. We will be volunteering at Kate s Kitchen, a soup kitchen in Holyoke and a program of Rachel s Table, on the second Sunday of every month serving meals to those who depend on this program for basic survival. This will be a very important opportunity to serve those in need and strengthen a sense of community for those who participate. Our shift will be 11:45-3:00.We will be serving the meal and helping to clean up. Kate s kitchen is located at 51 Hamilton Street in Holyoke. Please contact Deb Levine at dlevine123@gmail.com for more information and to sign up. And during the High Holidays we will be organizing a food drive, something that many congregations do at this time of year, when we are reminded by the Yom Kippur Haftarah from Isaiah, of the importance of feeding the hungry. Shopping bags will be distributed on Rosh Ha Shanah and collected on or before Yom Kippur. These will be filled with needed items to donate to Margaret s Pantry in Holyoke,another program supported by Rachel s Table.The coordinator there reports that their need is desperate, and she is very excited about our plans to help. Additional information will be sent in an in early September. Please get in touch with Deb Levine dlevine123@gmail.com to volunteer for Kate s Kitchen or to join the Tikkun Olam committee. Our next meeting will be August 22 at 7:15 at the Synagogue. Singing And Studying with the Rabbi Rabbi Perlmutter will be holding a Hebrew reading class on Thursday, August 10 at 9:30 am, after Kiddush. If you are interested, just show up. No prior knowledge is needed or expected. It would be even better if you could show up for 8am minyan as well! There will be a Singing Session after Shabbat Kiddush on Saturday, August 26. We'll be going over High Holiday songs. It s such a pleasure to get in the High Holiday spirit by learning and singing the prayers in preparation for the upcoming services. Please feel free to join even if you think you can t sing! Both of these activities are open to all!

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16 [Teshuvah] is a process that can effect real change in the world.-adin Steinsaltz Congregation Sons of Zion 378 Maple Street Holyoke, MA Phone: (413) office@sonsofzionholyoke.org Submission deadline for next issue: August 25. Discover the wide range of Jewish arts and culture around western Massachusetts. Enjoy the rich fabric of Jewish community in the Pioneer Valley, Berkshires, Southern VT, and beyond at Jewish Culture Connect! From the Office The Hebrew month of Elul begins on August 22, Traditionally, this month is the preparation period for the deep spiritual work of the High Holidays, a time when we begin to look within ourselves and reflect on what we have accomplished, what we hope and plan for the upcoming year, and what changes we still need to make. Every weekday of Elul, we blow or hear the shofar. These daily blasts are meant to rouse us from our summer slumber and remind us that the gates of Heaven will soon be open to us on Rosh Hashanah, a mere four weeks away. (Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of Sept. 20 this year). What have I done this past year, and what am I doing? What do I want to begin, what do I want to maintain, what do I want to shed? What is the state of my relationship with Gd, with my loved ones, with myself? Do I need to strengthen, or do I need to let go? It s not an easy time of year, but it can be very enriching. I wish you a fulfilling Elul! ~Laura