Temple B nai Abraham

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1 June / July, 2013 Temple B nai Abraham Temple B nai Abraham The Temple Shofar Sarah Seidel Sisterhood CHARLIE WEISS, PRESIDENT JULIE PFAU, RABBI RANDYE BLOOM, PRESIDENT Rabbi s Message Temple Officers Birkat HaShalom Blessing for Peace The Seventh Section of the Amida The seventh section of the Amidah is a blessing for peace whose precise content changes depending on whether it is being said in the morning or afternoon/evening. The version used in the morning Amidah includes wording that thematically links peace with light thus, the literal morning experience of renewed light is transformed into a metaphor for the kind of enlightenment that is able to create peace in the world: Grant peace, goodness and blessing in the world, grace, love, and mercy over us and over all your people Israel. Bless us, source of being, all of us, as one amid your light, for by your light, WISE ONE, our God, you give to us Torah of life, and love of kindness, justice, blessing, mercy, life, and peace. So may it be a good thing in your eyes, to bless your people Israel, and all peoples, with abundant strength and peace. Blessed are you, COMPASSIONATE ONE, maker of peace. Although there are multiple melodies for this entire prayer, the line that I marked in bold may also be sung on its own using an upbeat melody that I hope to teach next year. The words in Hebrew are Barchenu avinu kulanu ke echad be or panecha. It is so easy to pass by these words in the rush to finish. After-all, how many people dread the thought of being the last one standing in the sanctuary after everyone else has sat down?! I know as a service leader, standing with my back to the congregation, it is sometimes difficult to keep my attention from drifting into wondering whether the entire congregation is sitting and watching me, hoping that I will hurry up and finish! But this is such a lovely place to linger to imagine ourselves individually, as well as the entire sanctuary and everyone in it, resting in holy light. As if we were sunbathers in a spiritual realm free of the fear of skin cancer, able to soak up that radiance into our bodies and souls. To luxuriate in warmth that reaches the deepest recesses of our beings, that awakens and heals even the places of our hearts that have been numb or cold. Temple B nai Abraham is affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Movement Temple President Executive Vice President Financial Vice President Religious Vice President Religious School Chair Membership Chair Building Chair Adult Education Chair Recording Secretary Sisterhood President Past President Charlie Weiss Linda Osman Michael Rosen Sid Morginstin Robin Affrime Kim Aubry Neil Nissim Brian Epstein Susan Giachetti Randye Bloom Betsy Ramos Sometimes this warmth is not a meditative matter but a real tangible presence in community. The warmth that we share with each other is one embodiment of this prayer. When members of our community feed the hungry and do other work that brings justice into the world they are making manifest this prayer in the lives of others. Even in the evening version of this prayer, which lacks the imagery of light, it is still worth lingering. The Hebrew word shalom is linguistically related to the Hebrew word shalem, wholeness. Morning or evening, the blessing of peace has something to do with wholeness. Ultimately, that kind of wholeness is the end of our prayer it is the literal end in a structural sense, but it is also the spiritual end and purpose of prayer. May we all find ways to discover that wholeness within ourselves and within our community each time we bask in the holy light of prayer. Shalom, Rabbi Pfau Temple B nai Abraham 58 Crosswicks PO Box 245 Bordentown, NJ

2 Sisterhood Officers Sisterhood President Vice President Treasurer/Fin. Secretary Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary Trustees Randye Bloom Debby Weiss Marcy Schwartz Ellen Wehrman Patricia Light-Tolomeo Phyllis Chudoff Eileen Gail Susan Giachetti Elaine Trackman Amidah Structure Preceding Meditation: begins Adonai sifatay tiftach. Initial Section: 1. Avot v Imahot Ancestors 2. Gevurot God s Power 3. Kedushat HaShem/Kedushah God s Holiness Middle Section(s): 4. On : Kedushat HaYom Holiness of the Day [On weekdays: 13 blessings/petitions] Final Section: 5. Avodah Worship/Temple Service 6. Hoda ah/modim Thanksgiving 7. Birkat HaShalom Blessing for Peace Sisterhood News & Announcements The covered dish was a huge success with a great attendance of members and guests. It was great to see everyone, especially Charyl Morginstin. Special thanks to Joel Dowshen who worked with Marsha to send the evite for covered dish. It worked out extremely well. Caitlyn Monahan, a recent intern at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a Holocaust museum in New York, spoke about her activities educating children and preparing exhibits. It was extremely interesting. Caitlyn's interest in the Holocaust was sparked by Ellen Wehrman when Ellen taught the Holocaust to her class. Effective July 1, the donation for each Sisterhood Joy and Sorrow card will be $3.50. Temple Yom Kippur Community Booklet: The form to use to submit names for the Yom Kippur Community Booklet is in this newsletter. This fundraiser has existed since 1992 and all of the money that you donate goes to the Temple- the copying and postal costs are not charged to the Temple. We collected just over $1000 last year and hope to do more this year. Please consider participating in this fundraiser- a small donation of $10 will allow you to honor or remember five people. If you have any questions or wish to see the booklet from prior years, please call Randye [ ]. If you participated last year and your listing remains the same, just send a check to Randye and tell her that nothing has changed. This was a successful year for the Sisterhood. We provided funding to the Temple for the camera and sound system in addition to the funds from the Seidel Trust. Meetings included making Thanksgiving centerpieces, preparing lunches for T.A.S.K., discussing The Dovekeepers, and learning more about Tallit. And of course the camaraderie of the members of our group remains strong. We hope to see you in the Fall. Have a wonderful summer! ~Randye Bloom Message From The President My message for the end of this season is a simple one: Have you thought about how you can help YOUR Temple? - Newsletter Membership Finance & Accounting Hebrew School Building Maintenance - Religious Committee Adult Education Fundraising Sisterhood Administrative We desperately need help in ALL these areas! This congregation and synagogue cannot run on its own, and the same core group of dedicated members cannot do it all alone. We all lead very busy lives, with increasingly stressful and challenged schedules. It s a sign of the times. But no one member is any busier than the next, so we must all make the time needed to help where and how we can. Take the summer to PLEASE consider the amount of work and time needed to keep this organization running. It is a business, after all, and we must have your help to maintain, improve, sustain, and manage. Thank you. ~Charlie Weiss Temple B nai Abraham 58 Crosswicks PO Box 245 Bordentown, NJ

3 Memorial & Sisterhood Donations - Cheryl and Barry Fulmer - Dolores Marue - Employees of NJ Inheritance Tax Branch - Johanne & Warren Rednor - Karen Rednor - Lillian Sharrah - Linda Bowker - Liz Orlandi - Arthur & Judy Agulnek - from Perry & Anne Tepper Madge Rosen memorial Marcel Nissim memorial - Lou & Lisa Maldera - Martine Jaffe - Mollie Goodman - Prayer book plaque from Anita Berson - Randye Bloom - Royanne Braneck - Susan Goswami - Jill Popko - Patty & Larry Loomis - Randye Bloom - Brian & Maribeth Epstein - memory of Selma Levitsky and Howard Brewis - Brian and Maribeth Epstein memory of Harry Brewis - Eileen Gale - memory of Rose Kaiser - Elaine & Jay Trackman - memory of Edith Trackman - Elaine & Jay Trackman - memory of Jack Roth - Elaine & Jay Trackman in memory of Willaim Trackman - Elaine & Jay Trackman Joy & Sorrow Cards - Jeff Goldman - memory of Sylvia Goldman - Len & Liz Klepner - memory of Rose Klepner - Marcia & Mike Rosen - memory of Lenny Greenblatt - Marcia & Mike Rosen - memory of Marion Greenblatt - Marcia & Mike Rosen memory of Bernard Greenblatt - Marcy Schwartz & Rick Shain - memory of Julie Kwait, Joan Sandusky, Sam Shain, Celia Schwartz - Marsha & Joel Dowshen memory of Albert Dowshen - Mindy Fink in memory of Miriam Fink - Phyllis Kamer - memory of Rose Goldberg - Randye Bloom memory of Rita Hodes - Rene Harrison in memory of Jack Harrison - Rene Harrison memory Joseph Harrison - Rene Harrison memory of Anna Harrison - Rhea Goldman in memory of Sylvia Goldman, Irving Epstein, Frances Epstein - Rhoda & Henry Kessler - memory of Max Kessler - Rhoda & Henry Kessler in memory of Gertrude Urken - Rita NIssim - memory of R Shemesh - Rita Nissim in memory of Flora - In memory of Sam Josephson from Bonnie Goldman and Steve Lederman - In memory of Madge Rosen from Bonnie Goldman and Steve Lederman. Temple Donations - Anita Berson in honor of Josh & Lily Grabenstien B'nai Mitzvah - Daniel & Gloria Grabenstein in honor of Josh & Lily Grabenstien B'nai Mitzvah - Jill Popko honor of Temple and Sisterhood, daughters, Rabbi Julie, Get well Charyl, Trackmans (see letter) - Marcia & Mike Rosen - honor of Kim Aubry Member of the Year - Marcia & Mike Rosen Get Well Charyl Morginstin - Ned & Fran Meyer - in Honor of Jaden Weiss' Bar Mitzvah - In honor of Jaden Weiss receiving the Community Champion Award from Eileen Gale - In honor of B'nai Mitzvot of Josh and Lily Grabenstein from Anita Berson - Get well to Rabbi Julie from Eileen Gale - Get well to Ronnie Zeichner from Eileen Gale - In honor of Jay and Elaine Trackman's 60th anniversary from Michael Scolaro & Randye Bloom - Get well Charyl Morginstin from Phoebe and Jeff Nissim - Get well Amy Bergman from Sheila Lamonsoff - Happy Anniversary to Marlene and Sid Lavine from Elaine and Jay Trackman Tikkun Olam / Social Action TBA continues to make meaningful contributions to hunger relief in our area, and YOU can be part of it! Here are ways to help: Donating boxes of granola bars or cans of tuna or chicken for our monthly contribution to grocery bags for motel residents. Any non-perishable food items are welcome for the St. Mary's Food Pantry, just place them in the baskets at the temple. We deliver hot meals prepared by the Friends Meeting in Crosswicks to the Pine Motel on the first Thurs. of every month. All of these efforts are interfaith collaborations with area worship centers. Together we can make a difference!.

4 Save the Date 2013 Oneg Hosts June 7 TH June 10 th June 12 th June 15 th June 21 st High School Graduate s Covered Dish by Sisterhood 2 nd Congregational Meeting, 7:30 pm Saturday morning service Member-of-the-Year Award June 10 th June 15 th June 28 th Sisterhood meeting and covered dish dinner, Dowshen / Bloom morning (Volunteers TBD) Erev Oneg for Member of the Year, Schwartz-Shain / Bloom Supermarket Gift Card Program Tot It is always the season for sharing and giving. Please share with the Temple by purchasing your gift cards from Acme or ShopRite for your New Year s celebration. Please make checks payable to Temple B nai Abraham and send to: Marsha Dowshen / 502 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown, NJ / (609) Your cards will be sent to you the same day. Friday evenings, 6:00 PM Coming Up: June 21 st Includes candle lighting, potluck dinner, story time, a theme-related craft and songs. If you need any additional information, or would like to volunteer to help clean up or set up, please contact Kami Knapp at: kami.knapp@googledoc.com. Yahrzeits for Spring 2013 Old Prayer Books & Kippot June 7 th Estelle Epstein, grandmother of Brian Epstein Claudette Fishmann, mother of Linda Osman Joan Sandusky, sister of Marcy Schwartz Bernard Speiser, husband of Arlene Speiser June Marion Greenblatt, mother of Marcia Rosen 14 th Aaron Cohen, grandfather of Sandra Cohen June 21 st June 28 th Anna Harrison, mother-in-law of Renee Harrison Yettie Epstein, great grandmother of Brian Epstein Solomon Schaffer, father of Rhoda Kessler Joseph Josephson, father of Sam Josephson Jack Roth, father of Elaine Trackman Oscar Wasserman, father of Linda Bowker Julie Kwait, sister of Marcy Schwartz Sam Shain, father of Rick Shain Max Light, father of Patricia Light-Tolomeo Old prayer books, Tallesim, kippot, or other religious items that are no longer needed should be buried. Please place these items into the box (by the sanctuary stairs). Items will be brought to the local Chabad House for burial. $5 donations are appreciated. Siddur & Tallit Donations A new siddur (prayer book) can be purchased in honor of or in memory of someone for $35. A tallis (prayer shawl) can be purchased for $60. Please contact Sid Morginstin at sidmorgy@verizon.net. Memorial Plaques Plaques are available for $250. To order a plaque, send the following to Sid Morginstin, Plaque Chairman, PO Box 8101, Trenton, NJ or sidmorgy@verizon.net. English name of loved one, Hebrew name of loved one and date of death in the English calendar. Once the plaque has been put up, you will be billed. Plaques will not be moved from one board to the other.

5 Monthly Calendar morning services begin at 10:00 a.m. (when there are B'nai Mitzvah, services begin at 9:30 a.m.) June, 2013 ~~ Sivan / Tammuz Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday a.m. Sunday School 10 a.m. Hebrew School 4:30 p.m. Hebrew School Sisterhood Covered Dish Congregational Meeting 7:30 pm High School Graduates :00 a.m. Morning Member of the Year Last Service

6 Annual Calendar [ ]

Temple B nai Abraham

May, 2013 Temple B nai Abraham Temple B nai Abraham The Temple Shofar Sarah Seidel Sisterhood CHARLIE WEISS, PRESIDENT JULIE PFAU, RABBI RANDYE BLOOM, PRESIDENT Rabbi s Message Amidah Ketzurah Abbreviated