Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites

Transcription

1 January 2009 Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites A Conservative Synagogue for the Greater Hartford Area Tevet/Shevat, 5769 Inside this issue: Calendar 2 Rabbi s Message 3 President s Message 4 Monthly Announcements The Shabbat Page 5 News from the Religious School Adult Education 6 Sisterhood News 7 Donations You are invited to The Dedication of our new Memorial Board Which was generously donated by Mickey and Marty Kesten And a tribute to Events January 8 Schmooze & Lunch 9 Kol Haneshama 10 Learning Service 16 Israel Program 17 Memorial Board Dedication 22 Schmooze & Lunch 24 Saturday Sundaes 30 Tu B Shevat Seder February 1 World Wide Wrap 12 Schmooze & Lunch 20 Simcha shabbat 21 Hav-Deli 26 Schmooze & Lunch 28 Saturday Sundaes 28 Learning Service, Junior Congregation &Tot Shabbat Gershon Sosin For all his hard work in building the new Memorial Board Saturday, January 17th, 2009 With a Wine and hors d oeuvres Reception During Mincha/Maariv/Havdalah 4:15 PM Reception is sponsored by Mickey and Marty Kesten Return RSVP form on page 14 by January 9.

2 January 2009 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Minyan 9 AM, 5 PM Office Closed 8 5 Tevet LC 4:12pm 6 Tevet 9 M/M 4:14pm 7 Tevet 10 8 Tevet 12 9 Tevet Bd of Directors 10 Tevet Tevet Schmooze Bd of Ed Tevet Kol Haneshema LC 4:19pm Tevet Jr. Cong. and Tot Shabbat Learing Service M/M 415pm Tevet 15 Tevet Calendar Meeting 16 Tevet 19 Sisterhood Board 17 Tevet Tevet Adult Ed Bd 19 Tevet 22 Simcha Shabbat School dinner Israel Program LC 4:27pm Tevet Kesten Memorial Plaque Dedication 4:15p M/M 4:15pm Tevet 22 Tevet Martin Luther King Service 7pm Tevet Membership w/miriam Benson Tevet Tevet Schmooze Fundraising Tevet LC 4:35pm 27 Tevet 30 Saturday Sundaes M/M 4:30pm Tevet 29 Tevet Exec Bd 1 Shevat 2 Shevat 3 Shevat 4 Shevat Tu B'shevat Seder 6:15pm LC 4:44pm 5 Shevat M/M 4:45pm 6 Shevat Tevet/Shevat, 5769 Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Page 2

3 A Message from the Rabbi The start of a new year is a time to reassess the old and look forward to the new. Especially this year, when our country starts a period of new leadership, it is worthwhile to see what can and might be done in better ways around BHS. Communicating information to and with members has been a problem. When we rely on the post office for delivering mailings in a timely way, it is upsetting when that doesn't occur. People feel frustrated when they don't know about special programs until after the fact. Those who spent time and energy have the same feelings when the programs do not reach their full potential. And yet for financial reasons, as President Rona wrote in her column last month, we obviously cannot send out everything with first class postage. We are struggling with this question. As I write this column, I don't know what the answer will be, other than as we get more and more into the 21st century, computer and communication will have to be used more and more. If you have an address but are not receiving from both the synagogue and myself (I send out a weekly e-shul), then PLEASE share it with the synagogue and me. (If you don't use a computer, know that we will continue to use the tried and true methods of communication.) If you are getting , the office and I will always welcome feedback on how it can be more effective. Rabbi Gary Atkins The fact that some of our members are "snow-birds," that they winter down south, does not mean that our programming lessens over the winter months. In fact, there are many exciting programs coming up. Two noteworthy January ones are a visit by our community young emissaries from Israel, Shirli Aviad and Amit Segal to Beth Hillel on Friday evening, January 16. And then, on Friday evening, January 30, we will be having a Tu Bishevat seder following an early service. Yes, it's a week earlier than the calendar would have it, but in early February I will be in Israel, attending the annual Rabbinical Assembly, this year being held in Jerusalem. We will also be having a special program Saturday afternoon, January 17, dedicating a new memorial board donated to Beth Hillel Synagogue by Martin and Mickey Kesten. On Monday evening, January 19, Beth Hillel Synagogue will host the Bloomfield Interfaith Clergy Association annual Martin Luther King Remembrance Community Service. A good number of congregants have attended this service in previous years when it was held in other locations, as well as the recent group Thanksgiving service (we were the largest group present on November 23rd). I hope many of you will attend the service here as well. As the new year begins, I will tell you most earnestly that we need your involvement, we need your presence, we need your reaching out to invite friends and unaffiliated Jews to share in our services and programs. We are working very hard to make your synagogue a shul where you will be proud to belong. We have a message and a mission. We want to be, as someone kindly said, a destination and not an obligation. So. be engaged/ participate/ catch the magic as 2009 begins. Rabbi Gary Atkins Your Rabbi PS. Have you noticed the beautiful new sign that announces the entrance to the synagogue on Wintonbury Avenue? It s just one part of our development and beautification program. Sincere thanks to Rona and David Gollob for making it possible! Page 3 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

4 It just seems like yesterday that I wrote my December column and now I m already writing January s. Due to our bulletin editor, Andrew s, upcoming Birthright trip we had to provide everything to him early. You will note that donations and milestones are fewer this month than most because of the early deadline. I just hope with the bulletin being sent out so much earlier, that you will receive it in a timely manner. There is always so much activity going on at the synagogue. I just came back from a meeting at the shul and I felt like we were in the big leagues. There were three different committees meeting in different rooms (and I didn t realize that my husband was The President s Message actually attending one of those meetings!). One of the committees meeting was the Honorials and Memorials committee. Due to the generosity of Mickey and Marty Kesten, we will be dedicating a new memorial board. The Honorials and Memorials committee has a list of items that can be donated to the synagogue. This is magic at Beth Hillel and we want that to continue. The Schmooze program on January 22nd will provide answers on leaving a legacy. We are doing other exciting things shortly we should have a new format of the Rabbi s eshul thanks to Norman Hecht. We have all sort of programs scheduled. I encourage all to come to the world wide wrap but especially the women. You have a woman as your president, so you know I will always push for the egalitarian way. But that is the way it has always been for me. Did you know that when I was 14, I was the first female in my temple given an aliyah when it wasn t her Bat Mitzvah?! I cringe every time I read our synagogue by-laws when it refers to the President as he. I want to thank Myrna Schaffman and Tobie Katz for the wonderful job they did with the JCC authors on the Road program. Keep warm! Rona Gollob CONDOLENCES Herb Kaplan on the loss of his beloved brother David Bernard Kaplan. MILESTONES Sandra and Aaron Perlman on the engagement of their grandson Jeffrey Perlman to Pamela Bookman REFU AH SHELAYMAH Sol Boardman Frances Dobrovolsky Monthly Announcements Jennie Greenberg Blanche Klein Sharon Chasen Irwin Lustig Syd Schulman Elaine Weinstein Muriel Barall Myrna Gitberg Mildred Halpert Ken Howell Linda Howell Ethel Sharasheff Sonya Rodin Millie Shor Heidi York Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Rabbi Atkins and the Adult Education Committee would like to offer a plan of study for those Women and Men who would like to become Bat/Bar Mitzvah. Several of you have shown an interest in doing this so NOW could be the time. A minimum of six students is needed in the class. The dates and time will be arranged when we have your response. Page 4 Please call the office or Myrna or Tobie

5 Israeli Emissaries January 16 8 PM Shirli Aviad and Amit Segal, the two young Israeli emissaries will speak at Friday night services, and the congregation will get a chance to meet them. For more information on the Emissary program and Shirli and Amit, see the article on page 10. Children will lead services. Learning Service/ Junior Congregation/Tot Shabbat January 10 9:30 AM Come be entertained and discuss the Joseph story while listening to selections from the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Tu B Shevat Seder Celebrate Shabbat Celebrate the Trees New Year FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009 Services at 6:15pm Seder at 7:15pm (followed by a light dinner) RSVP Form on Page 14 Kol Haneshama January 9 8 PM Join us on Saturday, January 9 at 8:00 PM for a Musical Shabbat service with the wonderful and talented Ethan Nash. Saturday Sundaes January 24 4:30 PM We will be serving Sundaes (and fruit) for the break between mincha and maariv! Please RSVP to the office. Page 5 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

6 News from the Religious School We have begun a resource room session to assist some of our students who require additional help with their Hebrew reading and prayer practice. I meet with these children in a group setting once a week and during our t ime t ogether provide individual instruction to each and time for them to practice on their own. I am seeing marked improvement in their abilities. If any teenager or adult in the congregation with excellent Hebrew reading skills who would like to volunteer some time towards this effort, your assistance would be greatly appreciated. I would continue my sessions with these children but one or two of them could use the extra tutoring. Help us: once a week, twice a month, or once a month. Whatever time you have to offer. Just schedule your time with me. The Religious School families will be joining in the Israel Shabbat program on Friday night, January 16. We will begin earlier with a school dinner followed by an Israel program for the kids prior to services. Then the Religious School students will lead the congregation in the evening service. It will be a very nice collaborative program for the various generations that make up our congregation. B Shalom, Karen M. Alper Schlossberg We are so pleased with the response to the program we sponsored in conjunction with the JCC Authors on the Road. Close to 70 people from Beth Hillel and the community attended the lecture given by Lawrence Malkin on his book K r u e g e r ' s M e n. H e socialized before and after the talk to the delight of the audience. Many thanks to those of you who helped us prepare for the event. On Sunday, 37 people attended the movie we s p o n s o r e d, T h e Counterfeiters, which was Adult Education based on the same historical event, with a different approach which was discussed by Mr Malkin on the prior Thursday evening. In January we plan to show a lighter film: Honeymoon in the Catskills, an oldie but goodie. The date will be forthcoming in a flyer and the e-shul messages. We are planning another s c h o l a r - in-residence weekend for the first weekend in May. Fred Lazan will be the speaker; topics have not been determined but rest assured that we will keep you updated in the coming months. In the meantime, mark your calendar for another interesting Adult Ed experience. Have a healthy, happy winter and Myrna Schaffman and Tobie Katz Co-chairs Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Page 6

7 I just returned from the W L C J B i - A n n u a l Convention in Detroit and I feel very optimistic about the future of Conservative Judaism. The theme of the convention was Heart and Soul (Lev v Nefesh). Mitzvah Yomit, (A Mitzvah a Day) is the new initiative of the Women s League. Every delegate received a list of Mitzvot and Berakhot in transliteration and English. Our key-note speaker, Professor Arnold Eisen, Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, spoke about Mitzvah With All our Hearts. He is optimistic about the Conservative Movement and about the importance of the Conservative Women in our movement as leaders of change. Rabbi Bradley Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in California spoke about Mitzvot. He related Torah to the convention theme. Torah, he said, is The Heart and Soul of the Jewish people. It is like a living tree being constantly re-invented. Mitzvot is not an obligation and doing Mitzvot gives us joy. Each day was filled with meeting some of the 623 delegates from all over the U.S, Canada, and Israel. I Sisterhood News learned new ideas for fundraising and increasing Sisterhood Membership. One of the highlights of the convention was meeting women authors, writing about Jewish woman in workshops, and in a presentation called The Jewish View. I was excited to meet and speak to one of my favorite authors, Maggie Anton, who wrote Rashi s Daughters, a series of historical novels set in the household of the great medieval Jewish scholar Rashi, whose daughters studied Talmud at a time when sacred texts were forbidden to women. I will remember this convention as being filled with singing and dancing. Each day at Shaharit Prayers we sang, clapped, and shook tamborines. Cantor Meir Finkelstein of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, Michigan a composer of contemporary Jewish music entertained us with his beautiful voice and sang both religious and popular songs ending with the The Impossible Dream from The Man of La Mancha. Cantor Jeffrey Shiovitz of Congregation Sons of Israel, Briarcliff, New York sangs songs from his book B kol Echad: In One Voice, the official songbook of the Conservative Movement. We clapped and danced around the large ballroom when the Gospel Choir of Detroit sang Heart and Soul. Another moving part of the convention was the Close of Convention. The choral group, lead by Florence Belfer, sang a medley of Yiddish and H e b r e w s o n g s commemorating Israel@60. Cantor Shiovitz then lead the entire Convention in singing and all the delegates spontaneously danced in circles around the C o n v e n t i o n H a l l. I t reminded me of other conventions where the ruach engaged us all. We held reunions of groups such as Institute of Learning attendees, past Branch presidents, individual classes where we learned the hows and whys of being a president it was good to meet up with old friends. I r e t u r n e d f r o m t h e c o n v e n t i o n f u l l o f enthusiasm and feelings of joy and pride in being a member of our Sisterhood, our Temple and the Conservative Movement. Shirley Morrison Page 7 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

8 THE BETH HILLEL SYNAGOGUE MINYONAIRES SCHMOOZE AND LUNCH PROGRAM THURSDAY, JANUARY 8TH OUR SPEAKER WILL BE ROB ROWLSON DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES TOWN OF WEST HARTFORD MR. ROWLSON WILL TELL US ABOUT THE EXCITING CHANGES THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT BISHOPS CORNER IN WEST HARTFORD. COME GET A SNEAK PREVIEW OF WHAT NEW STORES ARE COMING TO THE AREA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 22ND A SPECIAL PROGRAM HOW TO LEAVE A LEGACY TO BETH HILLEL, MOSTLY OR COMPLETELY PAID FOR BY UNCLE SAM COME AND HEAR SOME FASCINATING IDEAS DEVELOPED BY THE JEWISH FEDERATION. PROGRAM: 11:00 TO NOON SCHMOOZE AND LUNCH: NOON TO 1:30PM SCHMOOZING (FREE); LUNCH $3.00 RSVP: SYNAGOGUE OFFICE Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Page 8

9 Sunday, February 1st 9 AM At Beth Hillel Synagogue Join hundreds of Conservative congregations around the world participating in the World Wide Wrap to promote and learn the mitzvah of Tefillin. Come to our morning minyan followed by a gourmet breakfast Minyanaires will teach you about/assist you in putting on tefillin. World Wide Wrap and Women (the Four W s) Ask any of the women in this picture about their experience putting on tefillin last year at the world wide wrap and they would all tell you to join us this year! I found the experience of putting on tefillin with my fellow congregants to be truly uplifting. Let s show that we are truly an egalitarian synagogue. This is a learning experience for both how to wear Tefillin and it will be a learning minyan. Don t worry if you don t read Hebrew. We have plenty of spare Tefillin also. No need to feel intimidated at all. And we all get treated to a gourmet breakfast. Join me on Sunday, February 1st at 9 AM. Rona Gollob, President Page 9 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

10 The Home Kashrut Certification Program s now in operation! Members of the congregation who have had their homes certified are bringing in baked goods for our enjoyment at kiddushim and ongai shabbat. More participants are welcomed! If you have a kosher home and are interested in the program, contact Rabbi Atkins. A Message From Rabbi Atkins Rabbi Atkins is most willing to meet with congregants at their convenience. However, because a rabbi s job description includes hospital and home visits, meetings and community activities, there is no guarantee that he will be in the office if you just drop by. It is always better to call the office and make an appointment. His normal day off is Wednesday. Shirli Aviad and Amit Segal SNEC Young Emissary Program The SNEC Young Emissary Program of Partnership 2000 is a 10 month long volunteer service experience sponsored jointly by the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the Southern New England Consortium (SNEC) which is a partnership of 13 Jewish Federations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Israeli high school students from the Afula/ Gilboa region who choose to defer the army service are trained to serve as young ambassadors of Israel to the communities in their partnership regions in Southern New England. The mission of the Young Emissary program is to strengthen the ties between the two regions by building living bridges by means of people to people connections and strengthening the ties with Israel amongst the people living in the host communities. Our Emissaries work throughout the community in our agencies, synagogues and schools to build living bridges Shirli Aviad and Amit Segal are 18 years old. Shirli is from Moshav Devorah, an agricultural community and Amit is from the town of Afula. They both come with tremendous experience in youth leadership, great enthusiasm to share their love of Israel. Rabbi Atkins home phone number is , however, he does not answer the phone on Shabbat or Yom Tov. If you need to leave a message, do so and the call will be returned as soon as possible. Note that the office will be closed January 1. There will also be an early evening minyan on December 31 (5pm) and an early morning minyan (9:00am) on Thursday morning January 1. Rabbi Atkins has a new supply of Israel/American Flag pins for those who might like one. See him at any service or stop by the office. Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Page 10

11 ARE YOU PLANNING TO TRAVEL TO ISRAEL? PLAN A VISIT TO OUR PARTNERSHIP REGION AFULA AND THE GILBOA REGION and BE OUR GUEST! Do you have children (or grandchildren) in grades 6-12? Ask them if they might like to join Beth Hillel s USY chapter! USY is a great way to meet other Jewish teenagers from all over the state and the country. For more information, jackieji@hotmail.com or call the synagogue office. Israeli Radio Stations Online You are invited to stay for free, as a guest of SNEC, in our own kibbutz guest house: Partnership house at Kibbutz Yizreel The guest house has beautiful simple rooms and your stay will include a full breakfast in the kibbutz dining hall. Kibbutz Yizreel is comprised of many immigrants from English speaking countries including the guest house manger, Rahel Piekarski, so communication is no problem. Check it out! C2004=13057&BSP=12854 Now you can listen to Israeli radio stations for FREE over the internet on virtenna.com. No subscriptions, downloads, or registration required. Listen to stations from all over the world including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and all over Israel. Go to radio/main.php? station_list=israel for all 15 Israeli radio stations The genocide in Darfur remains a concern to the world. Express YOUR concern by getting a postcard from the synagogue and mailing it in with your signature! Due to an increase in credit card fees, charges are limited to dues and donations as of 1/1/09. The $25 minimum will remain the same. Page 11 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

12 STATE OF CONNECTICUT Martin Luther King Holiday Commission Living the Dream: Let Freedom Ring! Connecticut s Twenty Third Annual National Liberty Bell Celebration Monday, January 19, 2009 State Capitol, Hartford, Connecticut 11:00 A.M. Award Recipients Leadership Award Mark Robinson-S/R Communications Alliance Community Service Award Scot X Esdaile-Connecticut NAACP Humanitarian Award Gloria McAdam-Foodshare Keynote Speaker Rev. Dr. Vance Cotten-Shiloh Baptist Church Chairman Dennis J. King The celebration is free to the public, and will include a variety of presentations, speakers and choirs including the Hopewell Baptist Concert Choir and the Shiloh Baptist Praise Ministry Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Page 12

13 Bloomfield Interfaith Clergy Association Annual Martin Luther King Remembrance Community Service Monday, January 19th 7:00 PM Hosted by Beth Hillel Synagogue One student says: There s nobody like you to read with. One principal says: What you do is priceless. What do you say? Yes, I can spare 30 minutes a week to make a lasting difference for an at-risk child. Become a reading mentor! Sign up NOW for a 2 ½ hour training session on 1/6 or 1/12. The Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy will train, then place you at a school to read books with a kindergarten third grade child. Call the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy at The HJCL is a program of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and is an affiliate of the National Jewish Coalition for Literacy. Major funding by the Jewish Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and SBM Charitable Foundation. Page 13 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

14 Memorial Board Dedication Saturday, January 17 Beth Hillel Synagogue RSVP by January 9 Name Phone: Number Attending Either return this form to the office, call the office at , or lynn@bethhillelsynagogue.org Tu B Shevat Seder Friday, January 30 Please RSVP by January 28, 2009 Cost: $5 adult, $3.00 child under 12 (under 3 free) $15 family max Name Phone Number Attending Due to personal reasons, Barbara Reisner reluctantly had to resign as treasurer. At the November board meeting, the Board of Directors approved Ronald Main as treasurer and Adam Curtis as assistant treasurer that became effective as of December 1st. We would like to thank Barbara for her devotion and commitment to the synagogue. She will be very much missed. Also, at the December board of directors meeting, Steven Horenstein was approved to fill a vacancy on the board of directors effective January 1 st, Please welcome Steven to our board. Come see Israel again (or for the first time) with Super Tour Guide Susan Marcus and Rabbi Gary and Iris Atkins. Beth Hillel s next trip to Israel is tentatively scheduled for Sunday April 10 through Tuesday April 22, Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Page 14

15 Elene R. Needelman REALTOR Certified Senior Real Estate Specialist (860) Office, (860) Fax (860) VM, (860) Home RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE 700 Hopmeadow Street Simsbury, CT Life Auto Home We do the shopping for you! Motorcycle Commercial Liability Marc D. Glass Insurance Agency, Inc. Insurance Services Since Office Fax Cell Marc D. Glass President School Street Square 265 Ellington Road East Hartford, CT Central B. Linda Famely Sales Executive 110 Day Hill Road Windsor, CT Office: FAX: Cell: Each office is independently Owned and Operated THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS CALL THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICE FOR MORE DETAILS Page 15 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

16 We Gratefully Acknowledge the Following Contributions RABBI ATKINS' DISCRETIONARY FUND: In Appreciation of: RABBI ATKINS' support by Barbara & Herb Kaplan RABBI ATKINS' kindness before, during and after Stanley's passing by Muriel Barall & Family Refu'ah Shelaymah to: SHEILA WOLFF by Barbara & Ronald Fishman STANLEY BARALL by Roberta Beck & Family DAVID BERNARD KAPLAN by Sandi & Marc Needelman Bernice & Leon Carr DAVID SHARASHEFF by Norm & Dorothy Cohen ALEXANDRIA T.SCHULMAN by Elba & Sidney Schulman JENNIE RAGOVIN by Sarah Brody GUSSIE PISETSKY ZEMMEL by Estelle Paskowitz SALLY D. RAGATSKY by Marcia Robbins RABBI PHILIP LAZOWSKI EDUCATION FUND: STANLEY BARALL by Bailey Barall DAVID M. KONOVER by Bailey Barall DORIS M. ROSEN by David P. Rosen RABBI EMERITUS DISCRETIONARY FUND: In Appreciation of: RABBI LAZOWSKI'S kindness by Muriel Barall & Family STANLEY M. BARALL by Marcia Robbins Ruth & Harry Smith LEONARD SKALETSKY by Donna & Chick Pritchard LILLIAN MARCUS by Sylvia & Carl Marcus LEWIS BLACKMAN by Sarah Meyers MINNIE GABER by Sylvia Marcus GENERAL FUND: Refu'ah Shelaymah to: CARYL BILLS by Joel Berman & Barbara Dean. In Honor of: SANDI & MARC NEEDELMAN'S son SIDNEY'S marriage by Phyllis & Bob Berman Ellen & Steven Zelman SHIRLEY MORRISON'S installation as President of USCJ CV Region by Faye Sklar LENORE ROSENBLUM'S 80th birthday by Carol & Alan Goldstein BARBARA & DR. RONALD FISHMAN'S grandchildren, DERYN & COLE'S B'nai Mitzvah by Susan & Marshall Seidman The marriage of MR. & MRS. EDWARD SODEL'S son MATTHEW by Susan & Marshall Seidman STANLEY BARALL by Alice & Herbert Margolis Roberta & Donald Baggish Beth Lomasky Mimi & Marvin Hoberman Sara L. Bernstein & Joseph Shortall DAVID SHARASHEFF by Penny & Steven Sigal Kayleen & Ben Goldstein Lynn & Harold Nearman Sue Ellen Bromberg Biantha R. Yuska Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon Karasik RUTH LEVY PRIMACK by Rona Gollob DAVID KAPLAN by Phyllis & Bob Berman Lynn Kaplan Dorothy & Norman Cohen Elissa & Elliott Donn JENNIE GRUBER by Sheryl & Stuart Kopel BENJAMIN REICHLIN by Benjamin Pinkus ALL MY LOVED ONES by Elaine Chaet DORA HOBERMAN LEVY by Mimi & Marvin Hoberman RUTH G. CHERNACK by Larry Gruber HARRY GOLDSTEIN by Kayleen & Ben Goldstein MORRIS DOLINSKY by Rosanne & Jack Dolinsky RITA ANN JACOBS by Hanna Ticotsky SEYMOUR KAPLAN by Marcia Kaufman SAUNDER B. RIFKIN by Elizabeth R. Miller SAMUEL FINBERG by Ruth & Larry Klestinec HELEN HYATT by Evelyn & Arthur Gandelman LOUIS ROTH by Seymour Roth GOLDIE ROSEN by David P. Rosen KESTEN-FISHBERG CHAPEL FUND: In Honor of: MARTY KESTEN'S USCJ Leadership Award by Phyllis & Bob Berman JACK FISHBERG by Mickey & Marty Kesten BENJAMIN FISHBERG by Mickey & Marty Kesten MAX GREIF by Mickey & Marty Kesten HELGA MACKIE by Mickey & Marty Kesten SOSSIE KESTEN by Mickey & Marty Kesten MR. & MRS. CLUB S ENDOWMENT FUND: Refu'ah Shelaymah to: RHODA ROSENTHAL by Marcia Goldberg In Honor of: SIDNEY NEEDELMAN & KARALEE KOWAR on their marriage by Mr. & Mrs. Mike Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Marty Kesten SHIRLEY MORRISON'S installation as President of USCJ CV Region by Marcia Goldberg SHOSHANA LIPMAN Bas Mitzvah by Marcia Goldberg DOROTHY & NORMAN COHEN'S special anniversary by Marcia Goldberg MEL MARCUS' special birthday by Marcia Goldberg Bat Mitzvah of Rabbi Gary and Iris Atkins Granddaughter EDEN by Marcia Goldberg ROSANNE DOLINSKY'S special birthday by Marcia Goldberg DAVID KAPLAN by Mr. & Mrs. Ben Goldstein Mr. & Mrs. Marty Kesten Marcia Goldberg RUTH PRIMACK by Marcia Goldberg AARON BEDICK by Marcia Goldberg BUILDING FUND: STANLEY BARALL by Sue Ellen Bromberg MOLLIE PEARLMAN by Sue Ellen Bromberg LIBRARY FUND: Refu'ah Shelaymah to: JOAN SMITH by Lois & Barry Gordon IRMA ABRAMSON by Leo Abramson PRAYER BOOK FUND: NATHAN KAUFMAN by Arlene Friedman SLESS MUSIC FUND: STANLEY BARALL by Rona Gollob SIDNEY NEEDELMAN LIBRARY: In Honor of: KARALEE & SYDNEY NEEDELMAN'S wedding by Joyce & Mickey Libbin Dorothy & Norm Cohen Janis & Dr. Kenny Lefkowitz LIBRARY PROGRAMMING FUND: In Appreciation of: MARCIA & DR. BENSON HOROWITZ for your beautiful gift by Iris & Rabbi Gary Atkins In Honor of: SIDNEY NEEDELMAN's wedding by Marsha & Michael Kamins MYRA & LEWIS PLATT new grandson, BRODY by Susan & Marshall Seidman MARSHA KAMINS & MAURA NEMIROW for your dedicated work for Library Shabbat by Iris & Rabbi Gary Atkins WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE DONATIONS SECTION. PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE 8TH OF THE MONTH MIGHT NOT BE IN THIS BULLETIN BUT WILL BE IN NEXT MONTH S. Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Page 16

17 We Gratefully Acknowledge the Following Contributions DAVID SHARASHEFF by Pearl & Jack Vogel STANLEY BARALL by Judy & Bernie Poliner Joan & Bernie Smith Susan & Marshall Seidman Pearl & Jack Vogel DAVID BERNARD KAPLAN by Iris & Rabbi Gary Atkins SISTERHOOD KIDDUSH FUND In Honor of: SIDNEY NEEDELMAN'S wedding by Sophie Frank DAVID KAPLAN by Myrna & Marvin Schaffman Muriel Kovalsky ABE MORRISON SHABBAT DINNER FUND: In Honor of: SHIRLEY MORRISON becoming President of CT Valley Region by Nona P. Dorman Dorothy & Norm Cohen Phyllis & Bob Berman MARTY KESTEN receiving Leadership Award by Dorothy & Norm Cohen DAVID SHARASHEFF by Shirley Morrison DAVID BERNARD KAPLAN by Shirley Morrison SOL LANDMAN by Shirley Morrison ALEX LEBED FUND: HARTZEL LEBED by Ann K. Lebed FRED & RONALD PIVNICK FUND: DAVID SHARASHEFF by Millie & Herb Osber EDWARD N. BROMBERG RITUAL EDUCATION MEMORIAL FUND: In Honor of: SIDNEY NEEDELMAN'S wedding by Dorothy Bromberg DAVID SHARASHEFF by Dorothy Bromberg Hilda Grossman & Jack London DAVID BERNARD KAPLAN by Dorothy Bromberg STANLEY BARALL by Sonny & Jack Rodin GUSSIE SLUTSKY by Hilda Grossman & Jack London MINYONAIRES FUND: In Honor of: DOROTHY & NORM COHEN'S granddaughter, EMILY'S Bat Mitzvah by Natalie Baraban & Ben Pinkus DAVID SHARASHEFF by The Minyonaires DAVID ALTER by Gladys & William Goldstein March 7 Purim Karaoke April 25 Major Fundraiser Join us for our annual dinner and karaoke party. B.Y.O.B. Details coming soon! Beth Hillel s annual fundraiser event! An event you won t want to miss!!! Page 17 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

18 MITZVOT TZEDAKAH - YOUR GUIDE TO GIVING Beth Hillel synagogue offers many choices for donations to the Synagogue from formal endowments, designated funds. Honorials and Memorials, to operating and reserve funds. For more detailed information, ask our office staff to have the responsible committee representative contact you. Unless otherwise noted by *, please send the following fund donations to the Synagogue Office. I. SYNAGOGUE OPERATING FUNDS Donations offset expenses for religious school, adult education, youth activity, ritual, programming, etc. thus keeping dues and tuition lower. General Fund II. SYNAGOGUE DEDICATED ENDOWMENTS Donations are added to principal, and earnings are applied to Synagogue operating funds. Kiyum Endowment * Mr. & Mrs. Club Endowment III. RESERVE/REPLACEMENT FUNDS Donations are added to the Synagogue Reserve Fund and used only under special circumstances. Building Fund Ida & Samuel Cohen Wing Kesten-Fishberg Chapel Fund Prayer Book ($25 min for book plate) IV. DESIGNATED FUNDS Donations are used to further the aims and activities listed A. Named in Honor or Memory of: 1. Scholarship/Stipend Joy Risa Berman Edward Gershenowitz Leon Glazer Ethel B. Karp Jean Rosen Samuel Rosenthal Rebecca Schwartz Lazowski 2. Youth Activity Stipend Morris Feigenbaum/Jonathan Lodge Fred and Ronald Pivnick USY & Kadima Youth 3. Higher Education Scholarship Stipend Post Family 4. Health & Human Services Alex B. Lebed 5. Music, Arts & Entertainment Sless Music Paul Wolfberg Entertainment 6. Library Sidney Needelman Library Library Fund PTO Library Programming Fund 7. Adult Education Rabbi Philip Lazowski Education 8. Ritual Edward N. Bromberg Ritual Education Memorial Fund 9. Other Rabbi Gary Atkins Discretionary Fund Rabbi Emeritus Philip Lazowski Discretionary Fund Abe Morrison Shabbat Dinner Fund B. Unnamed 1. Honorial/Memorial Yahrzeit Plaques Major Gifts 2. Sisterhood * Flower * Special Kitchen Kiddush 3. Minyonaires For funds marked with *, send donations per below: Flower Fund Barbara Kaplan 4 Early Dawn Circle, Bloomfield, CT Special Kitchen Fund Faye Sklar 4 Briar Lane, Bloomfield, CT Mr. & Mrs. Club s Endowment Fund Mickey and Marty Kesten 13 Stratford Park, Bloomfield, CT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFT! FUND CONTRIBUTION FORM DONATION TO FUND CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT $ BY DAYTIME PHONE ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP IN HONOR OF REFU AH SHLEMA IN MEMORY OF YAHRZEIT FOR IN GRATITUDE FOR NOTIFY ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP Office Use Only: Date paid Card Sent RDF Letter Bulletin Beth Hillel Synagogue Chai-Lites Page 18

19 BETH HILLEL SYNAGOGUE Mission Statement Beth Hillel is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue rooted in the ancient traditions of the Torah while growing to meet the changes and challenges of our world. Its core are the many people of different ages and backgrounds who have chosen to make it their spiritual home, joining together for prayer, learning, and celebration. The many branches of Beth Hillel s community provide support to its congregants, reaching out to each other and welcoming our neighbors as together we learn from the past and teach for the future. PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED It is always a pleasure to hear good news from Beth Hillel s members and to share nachas. It often helps to share illnesses too. Please make it a policy to let us know if you or someone you know might be helped by a visit or phone call. Many people assume that everyone knows, but an or a call to the office or the Rabbi is a necessity. Thank you. Office Hours: Monday: 9 AM 3 PM Tuesday: 9 AM 3 PM Wednesday: 9 AM 3 PM Thursday: 9 AM 3 PM Friday: 9 AM 2 PM WEBSITE INFORMATION Please visit our website for updates on the synagogue calendar, Rabbi Atkins e-shul, contact information and much more!!! HELP US CELEBRATE For an $18 donation you can help defray the cost of our wonderful kiddushim and have your Simcha announced during services! Send your donation to the Sisterhood Kiddush fund c/o the Synagogue Office and specify the date you want your Simcha announced. SUPERMARKET SCRIP We all need to shop! Help Beth Hillel earn operating funds in this painless, easy way. We all benefit! Purchase Crown, Waldbaum s, Stop & Shop, and Geissler s scrips through the office. Membership Incentives We need your assistance to provide membership referrals; call the office with any names. We have also introduced a revised dues-payment schedule for new members who are under the age of 40 or over the age of 40 with children below 18 years of age. First year: Second year: Third year: 25% of dues category 50% of dues category 100% of dues category All other new members will pay 50% of dues category for their first year. Also, did you also know that our members grandchildren can attend our religious school at member rates (even if their parents are not members)? We now accept Visa or MasterCard credit card for payment of your dues or for donations. Other than dues, the minimum amount that can be charged at any one time is $25. You can complete a form that will pay your dues automatically each month, or complete a form for a one-time charge for any purpose. Call the synagogue office at Call the office at for more information. Page 19 Tevet/Shevat, 5769

20 BETH HILLEL SYNAGOGUE BULLETIN 160 Wintonbury Avenue Bloomfield, CT (860) Fax (860) Schedule of Non Holiday Services: Monday Through Thursday Morning 7:00 A.M. Evening 7:30 P.M. Friday Morning 7:00 A.M. Evening 8:00 P.M. or Early Services 6:15 PM Check Monthly Calendar Saturday Morning 9:30 A.M. Mincha/Ma ariv See Monthly Calendar Sunday Morning 9:00 A.M. Evening 7:30 P.M. The deadline for submission to the February Bulletin is January 14th. BETH HILLEL SYNAGOGUE BULLETIN Rabbi Rabbi Emeritus Religious School Principal Bulletin Editor EXECUTIVE BOARD: President Vice Presidents Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Financial Secretary Assistant Financial Sec. Recording Sec. Corresponding Sec. Gary L. Atkins Dr. Philip Lazowski Karen Schlossberg Andrew Small Rona Gollob Norman Hecht Myrna Schaffman Mark Goldberg Ronald Main Adam Curtis Mark Luster Barbara Leslie Jan Rosenthal Sheila Frankel General Office Manager Bookkeeper s bobm@bethhillelsynagogue.org Rabbi s Secretary s bonnie@bethhillelsynagogue.org