September / October 2014

Transcription

1 September / October 2014 THE OICE Bimonthly Publication of Congregation Beth Israel, Meridian, MS Rosh H. Service L Shanah Tovah! D etailed activities calendars are on page 2. To get you prepared quickly, here s the first holy day occurrence: Erev Rosh Hashanah Service w/rabbi Goldstein September 24 7:45 pm Reception to follow Board of Trustees Scott Strasser: PRESIDENT Jay Davidson: 1ST VICE PRES Linda Miller: 2NDVICE PRES Sheryl Davidson: SECRETARY Lewis Rosenfeld: TREASURER Marc Fisher: TRUSTEE Barbaree Heaster: TRUSTEE Helen Meyer: TRUSTEE David S. Goldstein: RABBI R osh Hashanah literally means Head of the Year in Hebrew. It falls in the month of Tishrei, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar. The reason for this is because the Hebrew calendar begins with the month of Nissan (when it's believed the Jews were freed from slavery in Egypt) but the month of Tishrei is believed to be the month in which God created the world. Hence, another way to think about Rosh Hashanah is as the birthday of the world. Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first day (or two) of Tishrei. Jewish tradition teaches that during the High Holy Days God decides who will live and who will die during the coming year. As a result, during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (and in the days leading up to them) Jews embark upon the serious task of examining their lives and repenting for any wrongs they have committed during the previous year.

2 Your Activities Calendar for September & October Sept Su M TuWThFr Sa S Sept 1: Labor Day Sept 24: 7:45pm: Erev Rosh Hashanah Service w/rabbi Goldstein reception following service Sept 25: 10:00am: Rosh Hashanah morning service w/rabbi Goldstein Sept 27: Shabbat Shuvah October 2014 Su M TuWThFr Sa Oct 3: Oct 4: Oct 8: Oct 19: Oct 24: 7:45pm: Kol Nidre Service w/rabbi Goldstein 10:00am: Yom Kippur Service w/rabbi Goldstein 3:00pm: Y.K. Afternoon, Memorial, & Concluding Services Break-the-Fast to follow Sukkot Begins at Sunset Annual Meeting of the Membership 6:00pm: Shabbat Lay Service (Rosenbaum Hall)

3 From Our Rabbi s Desk A YEAR OF LIFE A s the summer winds down and we prepare for the High Holy Days for most of us the compelling news has had to do with the war in Gaza and Israel s struggle with Hamas. There is more to talk about, of course, but all other subjects seem to pale by comparison with Gaza and Hamas. Even as I write this Israeli and Hamas representatives are negotiating in Egypt as the most recent cease fire nears half a week. By now you know how I feel about the ongoing struggle in the Middle East. I support Israel s liberal wing and its willingness to negotiate, compromise and take risks for peace. But, there is one circumstance where there can be no negotiation and no compromise. I speak of Hamas willingness to ignore the most fundamental principles of humanity and civilization. The Nobel Peace Laureate, Elie Wiesel, has written: In my own life time I have seen Jewish children thrown into the fire, and I have seen Moslem children used as human shield. In both case by worshippers of death cults. We Jews rejected child sacrifice 3,500 years ago when Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It was a test of Abraham s faith, never intended to be carried out, but also a protestation against child sacrifice. We rejected that barbarous practice millennia ago; now it is Hamas turn. Moderate men and women, and the press, need to shift their criticism from Israeli soldiers whose terrible choice is to fire and risk harming human shields, or hold their fire and risk the death of their loved ones to the terrorists who have taken away all choice from the Palestinian children of Gaza. It has been said many times: Israel uses its weapons to defend its children; Hamas uses its children to defend its weapons. At the dawn of this new year may it be our shared hope that child sacrifice be returned to the darkest corner of history, and that Israelis and Palestinians find a way to work together toward a brighter future for those who choose life. L shana tova! A year of life. Rabbi David Goldstein

4 Words From Our President Dear Congregants, R osh Hashanah is upon us once again. Another year has come and gone, and we are still here. Soon the shofar will sound the call to worship and the high holidays will begin. We will be asked to reflect on the previous year, and think of our hopes for the coming year. As I get older my hopes seem to get simpler in the fact that I know exactly what I want, but unfortunately more complex in their execution. Above all else I want the ideology that allows one race of people to believe another race of people should not exist is permanently and finally removed from humanity. I hope that Israeli children and Palestinian children can play outside without fear of missile attacks. I hope that all Jews everywhere obtain the same freedoms that we enjoy as Jews in Meridian. And I hope that I never forget that many Jews do not have such freedoms. As we move into the New Year I hope that Congregation Beth Israel remains a strong force in southern Judaism. That we continue to welcome strangers to our services with grace and wonderful hospitality. That our congregation keeps moving forward braving whatever the future holds for us. Most importantly I hope the New Year brings us all peace. May it be a happy and healthy year for us all full of compassion and understanding toward our fellow man. Scott Strasser, President Yahrzeit Observances K addish is the most caring and respectful way we can manifest our everlasting love. Kaddish is the way we can actively demonstrate the Jewish soul is never forgotten. Kaddish recited Sept 24, 25: Miriam E. Mashburg, Paul Storms, Jeanne C. U. Steele, Rosa Threefoot Rothenberg, Eugene Schmidt, Noah Potasnic, Mary G. Solomon, Claire Brande Levenson, Isaac Morningstar, Sam Jonas Lischkoff, Rabbi Leo E. Turitz, Bettye F. Cohen, Sadie Feldman, Ernestine Funkenstein, Dora Potasnic, Carrie R. Burgauer, Barbaree Grant Rosenbaum, Max Mushlin, Fannie Drabkin, Morris Maith, Jean Spangler, Sylvia Rich Kay, Sophie Jonas Lischkoff Kaddish recited Oct 3, 4: Flora Zeigler,Jacob Greenwald, Walter L. Kass, Anna Katz, Sara R. Marks, Alex Jacoby, Irving T. Weitzenhoffer, Mary Beatrice Loeb, Nathan Isenberg Kaddish recited Oct 24: Anne Brezak, Willard Glazer, Daniel G. Netter, Sarah A. Mogelson, Samuella G. Cohen, Amelia Weil Funkenstein, Sam Meyer, Bertha Levy, Alan Bussell, Daphne D. Kendis, Dorothy Joseph Rose, Libbye Cohen Dumont, Johanna Rose, Lewis Levine, Joan Loeb Rose, William Goldberger, Samuel Jacobson, Izzy Motes, Elaine S. Bressler, Irving Harnick, Isadore Levy, Marks H. Rosenbaum, Bertha Holtz Netter

5 SAVE! 2014/2015 Sisterhood Calendar Booze & Schmooze Hostesses Aug 15, 2014: Sheryl Davidson, Morele Rosenfeld Nov 14, 2014: Linda Miller, Ann Stewart, Dorothy Dveirin Dec 12, 2014: Jan Maith, Linda Davidson Jan 23, 2015: Sheryl Davidson, Jimmy Kay Fisher Feb 13, 2015: Morele Rosenfeld, Barbaree Heaster Mar 6, 2015: Jimmie Kay Fisher, Emily Strasser Apr 10, 2015: Barbaree Heaster, Helen Meyer May 8, 2015: Helen Meyer, Jan Maith Dinner Hosts Marty & Linda Davidson Larry & Diane Key Perry & Robin Goodman Lou & Melanie Newman Harold & Barbaree Heaster Marc & Jimmie Kay Fisher Sco1 & Emily Strasser Len & Jan Maith Holiday Meal Hosts Sep 24, 2014: Erev Rosh Hashanah==Jay & Sheryl Davidson Sep 25, 2014: Rosh Hashanah Lunch==Lew & Morele Rosenfeld Oct 3, 2014: Erev Yom Kippur==Harold & Helen Meyer Rosh Hashanah Reception Sep 24, 2014: Linda Davidson & Morele Rosenfeld (co-chrs.), Sheryl Davidson, Diane Key, Barbaree Heaster Yom Kippur Break-the-Fast Oct 4,2014: Ann Stewart & Jimmie Kay Fisher (co-chrs.), Jan Maith, Emily Strasser, Melanie Newman, Linda Miller, Robin Goodman, Helen Meyer, Ann Meyer, Dorothy Dveirin Sisterhood Meetings Oct 8, 2014: Helen Meyer, Barbaree Heaster, Melanie Newman, Sheryl Davidson, Robin Goodman, Linda Miller, Jimmie Kay Fisher Mar 4, 2015: Morele Rosenfeld, Linda Davidson, Jan Maith, Diane Key, Dorothy Dveirin, Ann Stewart, Emily Strasser Study the dates assigned to you. If you have a conflict, please swap with someone and notify Morele Rosenfeld at

6 Deeds of Loving Kindness C ongregation Beth Israel gratefully acknowledges receipt of these kind and thoughtful contributions: Barbaree and Harold Heaster remember Donald Adler with a contribution to the CBI treasury. Larry Key thoughtfully serviced CBI A/C filtration systems in all buildings Gene and Wilhelmina Damon honor Donald Adler with a donation to CBI Charles E. Steele, Jr memorializes Donald Adler with a charitable offering Dorothy Dveirin & Jack Dveirin express their sadness at Donald Adler s passing Marty & Linda Davidson remember Pauline Davidson with a memorial contribution Hedra & Harry Merson wish Arlene Merson a most Happy Birthday Edgar & Robbie Morrison donate to CBI in memory of Donald Adler Hedra & Harry Merson send Happy Wedding Anniversary greetings to Arlene and Bob Merson Harold & Leslie Boulding Jr remember Donald Adler with a contribution to CBI Jack Spiegelman made a kind contribution to celebrate the respective Yahrzeits of: Ida Mushlin, Sara Niemetz, Sam Niemetz, Frances Davidson, Max Mushlin Chai Lights: Birth Days & Anniversaries T he Congregation takes great delight in wishing the celebrants the best of everything. Many happy returns of the day. BIRTH DAYS Larry Key September 3 Dorothy Dveirin September 8 Jennie Fisher September 17 Robin Goodman September 20 David Shapiro September 24 Scott Strasser September 29 Adam Goodman October 4 Ann Stewart October 6 Marty Davidson October 11 Denise Stewart October 13 Joanne Miles October 31 Really, Really Early Reminder T his is your first reminder (you ll receive many more!) of the CBI Annual Membership Meeting to be held October 19th. Stay tuned...details will be announced at the appropriate time.

7 Robot Writes a Torah B ERLIN (AP) The robot's quill runs across the paper scroll, from right to left, scribbling down ancient Hebrew letters with black ink. It is penning down the Torah, the Jews' holy scripture, and it is doing it much faster than a rabbi could because it doesn't need to take breaks. The Torah-writing robot was developed by the German artists' group Robotlab and was presented for the first time recently at Berlin's Jewish Museum. While it takes the machine about three months to complete the 80-meter (260-foot) -long scroll, a rabbi or a sofer a Jewish scribe needs nearly a year. But unlike the rabbi's work, the robot's Torah can't be used in a synagogue. "In order for the Torah to be holy, it has to be written with a goose feather on parchment, the process has to be filled with meaning and I'm saying prayers while I'm writing it," said Rabbi Reuven Yaacobov. The Berlin rabbi curiously eyed the orange-painted robot as it ceaselessly wrote down the first book of Moses. Yaacobov then showed visitors the traditional way of writing the Torah the way it's been done for thousands of years. Matthias Gommel from Robotlab said the robot initially wrote down the Christian Bible in German, Spanish and Portuguese before it was reprogrammed with the help of an Israeli graphic designer. Both the robot and the rabbi are part of the exhibition "The Creation of the World" about the significance of Hebrew handwritings in Judaism. The show also presents Hebrew scrolls, wedding contracts and other medieval documents from the Braginsky Collection. The robot will be on display through January 2015 but the rabbi and the scrolls departed August 3, Rabbi Reuven Yaacobov shows how to write a Torah by hand. A robot writes a Torah. It is equipped with a pen nib and ink. It will write the Torah in human speed.

8 Published Bimonthly by Congregation Beth Israel P.O. Box 3456 Meridian, MS FIRST CLASS MAIL