The Star. My column for this month is shorter than usual because my message to you this time doesn t translate well into words.

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1 Jan. - Feb Cheshvan - Kislev 5773 The Star Special Interest Articles: Message from Rabbi Seth Riemer Individual Highlights: Message from the Co- Presidents 2 L 4 K 4 Golden Book 5 Newsletter of Temple Beth Torah Wethersfield, CT Vol. 16 No.3 Message from Rabbi Seth Riemer My column for this month is shorter than usual because my message to you this time doesn t translate well into words. I am thinking about the horrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown and the indescribable preciousness of human life. We can endlessly debate (and waste words in talking about) where life begins, but no one can dispute that, among the examples of senseless cruelty, the killing of 6- and 7-year old children is unspeakably cruel. And now we are at the point of considering what to do about it. Watch for the posturing, the moral dodges and the hiding behind convenient rhetoric and talking points (more fancy words that are really pointless) to begin in the corridors of power. Be on guard for those who want to maintain the status quo: allowing a continuation of the status quo profitable to some, dangerous to all. In broad strokes, my vote would be for the following: ban all non-military weaponry that enables one person to kill many people fast amend Obamacare to provide, and pro-actively promote access to, free mental care for all U.S. residents legislate sensible curbs on violent video games. About this last point: Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (z l) wrote: The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic. Lawyers in our congregation, please correct me if I m wrong, but I think Holmes was saying free expression that could trigger mayhem is not protected under the U.S. Constitution s First Amendment. Let s see if our nation and its leaders have the guts, in this new year, to promote the Jewish value: I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life so that you may live you and your descendants (Deuteronomy 30:19).

2 Dear Friends, As usual, our TBT Chanukah Party was fabulous. About 40 latke lovers attended. Special thanks to the Latke Ladies: Kathi Mag, Karen Klein and Team Scott. Neil, thank you for coordinating the event. A special thanks to all of our Religious School parents for providing us with delicious desserts! Thanks to all of our Chanukah Helpers Carol and Susan who pitched in as well with the games and Chanukah activities. Thanks to Cecile and Barry Bronfin for the adorable guitar piñata filled with candy and all the Chanukah gelt as well. Thanks also to Gary Evans for the wonderful Chanukah decorations, which added to the festivities! As always, Ralph Horowitz and Phil Lohman had the TBT menorah up and ready for the first night of Chanukah. Please mark your calendars for these special events. The next The Star Page 2 of 6 Message from Co-Presidents meeting of the TBT book group will be on Tuesday January 15th at 7:00 pm, location to be announced. The book to be discussed is "The Aleppo Codex" by Matti Friedman. On Friday, Jan. 25 th, join us at 6:30pm for a brief Shabbat Service, followed immediately by our fruit-filled Tu B Shvat Seder. Our Purim Shpiel and Megilah reading will take place on Friday, February 23rd. So pull out your hats, scarves, and mittens to brave the winter weather and join us at TBT. The friendliness and camaraderie of our TBT family will warm your hearts and souls! As we usher in the New Year, let us all keep the families of Newtown in our prayers and hope that they find comfort and strength to continue on with their lives. Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy New Year filled with love and peace, Sallyanne and Barry Tu B Shvat Seder Have you been to Temple Beth Torah s annual Tu B Shvat Seder before? If you have, you know it s the Jewish New Year for Trees. It is an enjoyable evening that focuses on the seasons of the year and on the fruits of the trees. It is almost like Arbor Day and Earth Day combined. Come at 6:30 p.m., after your dinner, for a brief Erev Shabbat (Friday night) service. Then, at approximately 7 p.m., we will start the Seder. It is very participatory, with everyone taking a turn reading. We need some fruits so contact Neil at to RSVP.

3 Page 3 of 6 The Star Chanukah 2012

4 The Star Page 4 of 6 Temple Beth Torah 130 Main Street Wethersfield, CT Rabbi Seth Riemer (860) sethriemer@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 Mira Schlein, Barry Schlein, Nancy Stillman Committees: Memorial Park Harold Nevins, Marlene Ellenberg Building Susan Mahler, Dean Kavalkovich, Bert Woodcock Publicity Susan James, Neil Gordon TBTeens Jan Wahnon & Torah Ferrebee Education Cecile Bronfin, Bert and Jeanne Woodcock Membership Karen Klein Star Editor Susan Sackler Reuben Website Deb Hammer, Sam Hammer Ways and Means Judy Gold, Andie Goldberg, Neil Gordon, Mira Schlein, Rhoda London High Holidays Cecile Bronfin, Barry Schlein, Mira Schlein, Kathi Mag, Carol Gershenson, Sallyanne and Barry Scott Mitzvah Susan Mahler Golden Book In Honor of Yahrzeit of DAVID H. GOLDBERG by Rhoda & Fred London In Memory of DAVID GOLDBERG By Marlene Ellenberg Thank you to all of our Gift Card Shoppers We just finished a large order for store gift cards. Thank you to Deb and Aaron Jainchill, Carol Gershenson, Kathi and Eliot Mag, Susan and Jonathan Reuben, Judy and Marty Gold, Harriett and Leo Rosen, Monica and Lee Gold, Rhoda and Fred London. We were able to order $8400 worth of cards and the Temple earned $447. This is a worthwhile fundraiser because it doesn t have any extra cost to the people who buy the cards and they are buying something that they need - groceries. Erev Shabbat Minyans, Quorum of 10 Jewish adults for Friday night services Neil Gordon has volunteered his time and energies to help make sure that TBT members will have a minyan when one is needed for a yartzeit. Our smaller congregation size sometimes means that we don't have a minyan on a Friday evening. If you have a concern, please give Neil a call ( ) at least 1 week prior to the Erev Shabbat, and Neil will make calls to organize a minyan. Thank you, Neil, for performing this mitzvah. TempleBethTorahWethersfield.org

5 Page 5 of 6 The Star New Website Calendar Format Check out the new format for our calendar of services and events! Follow this link: or cut and paste it into your browser. Click on any event to see the full description and details. Book Discussion Group The next meeting of the TBT book group will be on Tuesday January 15th at 7:00 pm, location to be announced. As decided at the last meeting, we will be discussing "The Aleppo Codex" by Matti Friedman. This is a true-life "detective story" about an ancient manuscript which was used as source material by Maimonides during the 12th century C.E. Centuries later, during the late 1940s C.E., this "Crown of Aleppo", as it was sometimes called, was smuggled from its hiding place in Syria into the newly founded state of Israel. How and why many of its most sacred and valuable pages went missing around that time is an intriguing puzzle involving secret agents, national leaders, pious clergymen, and shrewd antiquities collectors, It is a tale of human emotion, mystery, and the fascinating role of historical treasures in creating a national identity. We're looking forward to seeing you in January. Bert and Jeanne.

6 The Star Page 6 of 6 Challah assignments January 6 Poland May 5 Guay 13 Guay 12 Ferrebee 27 Ferrebee 19 Latorra February 3 Latorra June 9 Sondik 10 Sondik 16 Evans March 3 Evans 10 Poland 17 Guay 24 Ferrebee 31 Latorra April 7 Sondik 21 Evans; Israeli emissary will visit 28 Poland Watch the local TV channels WVIT and WFSB for snow days. TEMPLE BETH TORAH 130 Main Street Wethersfield, CT 06109