...In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation.

Transcription

1 September, 2018 Congregation House of Israel 21 Elul, Tishri, In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation. -Leviticus 16:24 L Shanah Tovah The complete schedule of High Holiday Services is on page 4 and also on our website at

2 Thank You We would like to thank the following donors (as of August 20, 2018) General Fund Cynthia Rephan In honor of Congregation House of Israel Ed Berkun In honor of Congregation House of Israel Barbara Morgan In honor of the B not Mitzvah of Hannah and Mimi Reagler In beloved memory of her husband, Jonathan Morgan Shep and Myrna Taxer In beloved memory of Lee Staffin, Bruce Staffin and Phillip Taxer Kathy Klein In honor of the 90th birthday of Cynthia Rephan Steven and Clarissa Kirsch In beloved memory of Lila Raines, Mother-in-law of Steven Kirsch Sisterhood Fund Mary Klompus In honor of Hal Koppel s 80th birthday Louis and Betty Kleinman In honor of Hal Koppel s 80th Birthday In honor of Cynthia Rephan s 90th birthday Carol and Shelly Kleinmaan In honor of Cynthia Rephan s 90th birthday Published monthly by: Congregation House of Israel PO Box Quapaw Hot Springs, AR (501) Website: Editor: Shelly Kleinman Webmaster: Shelly Kleinman Editorial Assistance: Anita Williams to: info@hschi.org Submissions due the 15th of the prior month. Distributed free to members, prospective members, local clergy and other interested parties. Jackson House Canned and Non-Perishable Food Drive This year, as in years past, we are taking this opportunity when we come together as a community to worship at High Holy Days to collect food for those less fortunate. We will be collecting food from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur. Please bring those things you wish to donate and leave them on the stage in Burgauer Hall. Jackson House is able to use the food we bring to give to families who do not have food to eat. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to begin the new year with a Mitzvah. Thank you in advance for your gifts of canned goods, dried goods, cereal and other non perishable foods. Page 2

3 Reb Shelly s Desk I was wondering. What is it that makes CHI a congregation? Sure, we all come out to observe the High Holy Days together. Many of us will come beyond Yom Kippur to celebrate in the Sukkah, and maybe even Simchat Torah. We experience a wonderful sense of camaraderie during that sacred time. Nevertheless, I wonder, what keeps us linked together as a congregation the rest of the year? Elie Wiesel once asked: What does it mean to be a congregation? It means to care about each other. Pray? We can pray at home. We come together as a congregation in order to share in each other s lives and in order to share in the life of the Jewish people past, present and future. I read an anecdote about the Gerer Rebbe, who decided to question one of his disciples: How is Moshe Yaakov doing? The disciple didn t know. What! shouted the Rebbe, You don t know? You pray under the same roof? You study the same book? You serve the same God? yet you tell me that you don t know how Moshe Yaakov is, whether he needs help or advice or comforting? How can that be? Here lies the essence of our way of life: every person must share in every other person s life, and not leave anyone to themselves. Not in sorrow and not in joy. In our religious life, we need Jews who are more than just a consumer of services. CHI is no different. And while we need people to help us build and maintain our community, we only thrive when we have real commitment and concern for one another as well. If we only pay our dues, drop off our kids, and occasionally visit, we can t expect to be part of a genuine congregation. Yet it is precisely that sense of community connectedness that we are all striving for and are yearning to create. Meet Our Cantor Lex Rofeberg We couldn t be more delighted to announce that Lex Rofeberg will be returning to CHI for the High Holidays, not only as Cantor but also Rabbinic Intern. Lex is now in his 4th year of rabbinic studies through ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal. His official bio follows. Judaism Unbound is a weekly podcast about issues in contemporary Judaism that is downloaded 40,000 times a month, all around the country and the world. Lex Rofeberg is a Jewish Educator and Organizer who serves as Strategic Initiatives Coordinator of the Institute for the Next Jewish Future, and as co-host of the Judaism Unbound podcast. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island, with his wife (Valerie) and cat (Peeve). He graduated with a BA in Judaic Studies from Brown University. While a student there, he served as Student President of Brown RISD Hillel and as a Student Representative on the board of Hillel International. He came to Judaism Unbound in 2015 after a twoyear Education Fellowship at the Goldring/ Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, based in Jackson, Mississippi. He has had articles published by JTA, MyJewishLearning.Com, Sh ma Journal, JewSchool: Progressive Jews & Views, New Voices, and others. He is currently studying towards rabbinic ordination through ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal, and received his certificate in Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement from Hebrew College. He is a member of the activist group If NotNow, and serves in advisory capacities for the American Jewish Peace Archive and Tikkun Olam Productions. Lex is a die-hard Packers fan and a former college a cappella nerd. He can be contacted at: Lex@nextjewishfuture.org. God willing, with your involvement, your concern for one another, and your support, together we can make CHI into just that kind of congregation. Page 3

4 High Holiday Service Schedule Rosh Hashanah Sunday September 9 7:30 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Evening Service Oneg to follow Monday September 10 10:00 a.m. Rosh Hashanah Morning Service 3:00 p.m. Tashlich Service (location TBA) Yom Kippur Services Tuesday September 18 7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre Wednesday September19 10:00 a.m. Yom Kippur Morning Service 1:00 p.m. Study with Lex (see page 11) 3:30 p.m. Yom Kippur Afternoon Service 4:30 p.m. Yizkor Service 5:30 p.m. Neilah Service 6:00 p.m. Havdalah & Break-the-Fast Sukkot Friday September 21 6:00 p.m. Oneg Shabbat and service in the sukkah Simchat Torah Friday September 28 6:00 p.m. Simchat Torah celebration Jews Praying In the Synagogue on Yom Kippur Artist: Maurycy Gottlieb Year: 1878 Type: Oil on canvas Location: Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv Page 4

5 ARZA - World Union July 27, 2018 Love Hurts with our partners on the ground to create a Jewish State that embraces equality, democracy, and pluralism. This week we are commanded "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. What does it mean to love so thoroughly? Throughout history, we continued to adhere to this commandment even in times of sadness, destruction, confusion. Today, we continue to love Israel even in difficult times, to engage and find bright spots, to be inspired by our partners fighting for justice. Tina Turner asked an essential question back in the 80 s: What s love got to do with it? It can be tempting to ask, as she did, who needs a heart when a heart can be broken? Looking at recent events in Israel, I do indeed feel heart-broken. The passage of the Nation-State Bill significantly undermines the strength of Israel s democracy, changing the nature of the country I love. The pre-dawn interrogation of Conservative Rabbi Dov Hayoun made my heart miss a beat, as officiation of non-orthodox weddings becomes treated as criminal behavior. The rejection of a law that would have allowed same-sex male couples access to surrogacy in Israel is heartbreaking for those families and all who support LGBTQ equality. And yet, the calendar marches on and brings us from the bitterness of Tisha B Av to Tu B Av, the holiday of love. Last week, progressive Jews received no love letters from Israel. We got no major legislative win, no box of chocolates. Still, we persist in our love for Israel, not for the actions of this current coalition, but for Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael, the Land and the People Israel. Two bright spots did come this week, amidst all the difficulties. At the government level, thanks to international pressure, Israel evacuated hundreds of White Helmet humanitarian workers and their families from Syria. At the community level, Rabbi Hayoun is now flooded with requests to perform non-orthodox weddings, as are many other Reform and Conservative rabbis in Israel. We continue to advocate for good, to see this side of Israel more and more. We answer Ms. Turner by saying that we know heartbreak is part of the package of loving something so fully. Being open to a love that makes our hearts soar also means being open to a love that can hurt. We will not shut ourselves off from our Land or our People. This Tu B Av we remain open, invested, and confident that our vision will one day be realized. After all, just a few years after her song came out, the radio waves told us that Love Conquers All. Josh Rabbi Josh Weinberg is the President of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He was ordained from the HUC-JIR Israeli Rabbinic Program in Jerusalem, and currently lives in New York. Our NFTY teens are traveling the Land, meeting with its people, deepening their learning and asking hard questions. Our HUC-JIR students are exploring Jerusalem, practicing their Hebrew, engaging in cultural events. Our congregations are exposing community members to Israel for the first time and encouraging veteran travelers to return. We are part of a Movement fully committed to seeing our values realized in Israel, to working Page 5

6 Page 6 Sisterhood From the Sisterhood Treasurer Following is the list of Sisterhood members who have paid their dues for this 2018/2019 year. These members include the daughters of CHI who have grown up in this synagogue. If your name is not on this list, I have not received your dues. If you wish to be part of our Sisterhood and are not already on the list, please send your dues in the amount of $36.00 for the year to Ruth Sedler 152 Blue Heron Drive Hot Springs, Arkansas We appreciate your support even if you are unable to make our meetings, the first of which is Monday, August 27, 11 AM in Burgauer Hall. Sisterhood membership entitles you to all Sisterhood eblasts that are sent, and the minutes from our meetings. Thanks you to everyone who has joined and who will be joining. Ruth Sedler Treasurer of Sisterhood. Sisterhood Members 2018/2019 Annette Baim Kim Baron Millie Baron Marilyn Blumbeks Madeline Bull Barbara Bushee Jodi Chalmers Betty Feir Kay Fleischner Patti Fleischner Betty Forshberg Elaine Gartenberg Jean Gershner Diane Goltz Gail Greenberg Phyllis Hearn Lynda Kass Glenda Kirsch Kathy Klein Betty Kleinman Carol Kleinman Stephanie Kleinman Mary Klompus Sue Koppel Lori Lewis Harriett Marcus Barbara Morgan Sherrill Nicolosi Karen Reagler Cynthia Rephan Rachel Schulman Ruth Sedler Diana Surfas Myrna Taxer Sharon Waxler Anita Williams Daughters of CHI Sophie Fleischner Shelly Baron Mattea Fleischner Leah Fleischner Sally Nicolosi Hannah Reagler Mimi Reagler Tillie Reagler Margaux Belle Klein From the Sisterhood President We have so many nice traditions at our temple! One of my favorites is that Ruth Sedler and Betty Kleinman have been hosting our first Sisterhood meeting of the new year for a while now. They always prepare such a nice luncheon for everyone that all those Holiday Sign Up Sheets seem somehow fun! Our first meeting will be Monday, August 27th at 11:00. And don t forget, this is your free luncheon hosted by Sisterhood to thank all of our great members for renewing their annual dues! In addition to all of our regular High Holidays duties that we will be signing up for, we will also be asking for volunteers to host our Cantor Lex for dinner while he will be staying in Hot Springs for a few days. If you can t make the meeting and you are interested in helping out, please just let me know. He is a delightful young man and he enjoys our hospitality very much! So thank you to all of our great members for your help with so many projects and I hope to see you on the 27th! Millie Baron President of Sisterhood

7 From the President Shanah Tovah to the Congregation House of Israel. In the Torah, the beginning of the year was clearly set at the first of Nisan, in the context of a description of the first Passover. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you (Exodus 12:1-2). This new year celebrated the creation of the Jewish nation through the redemption of the Israelites from Egypt. Nisan, as the first of the months, coincided with the beginning of Jewish national history. Mazel Tov Mazel Tov to Betty Feir and Michael Richardson on the marriage of their grand-son Simcha Varon to Fagi Grainaman. The bride s parents are Tamar and Rabbi Areyeh Vation. The wedding took place in Israel in early August. We now celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the First Day of Tishri which is the seventh month of the year. The Torah makes no mention of a new year at 1 Tishrei, which today is so central to the Jewish religious experience. Yet by the period of the Mishnah at the beginning of the second century, the outlines of today s Rosh Hashanah holiday are clear, and discussions about the prayers of Rosh Hashanah appear as early as the teachings of the schools of Hillel and Shammai, which date to the first century CE. Scholars looking for biblical precursors of today s fullblown Rosh Hashanah holiday also look to the text of Nehemiah 8:1-8, although it never refers to a new year celebration. Rather, it describes Ezra reading the book of the law before the people on the first day of the seventh month. Some wonder, given this accumulation of hints about the importance of 1 Tishrei, whether this day was a new year in biblical times and the Torah covered it up because the pagan connotations of the day were too strong to acknowledge it as a Jewish new year. Because Rosh Hashanah occurs at the beginning of the seventh month, counting from Nisan, Nachmanides (Ramban), a 13th-century commentator, tied the two together by positing that the very process of counting tied Rosh Hashanah to the redemption from Egypt. This, suggests Ramban, is similar to the tie between the weekday and Shabbat that is also accomplished by counting. Therefore, when the month of Nisan is called first and Tishrei seventh, the meaning is: the first from the redemption and the seventh therefrom. Dennis Williams Betty pictured with her beautiful daughter, Tamar, and the soon-to-be Rabbi Simcha. Betty with her lovely new great-grandaughter, Fagi Page 7

8 Life and Legacy As the High Holidays approach, we are reminded that this is a time to reflect on the past, and to plan ahead for the coming year. We may want to think about the performance of mitzvotrighteous or good acts- and resolve to do good things for our family and our community. What if one of those good acts was to make a commitment to name CHI as a beneficiary in your Will, Trust, life insurance policy, annuity, or as part of your investment account? By doing so, you are leaving a legacy, something of great importance to you and future generations of Jews, to remain a presence in the Jewish community. amount of $5,000, for receiving Letters of Intent, in which individuals and couples pledged to name CHI as a beneficiary. That program has concluded; however, we must now continue to promote the naming of CHI as a beneficiary, to ensure the legacy of our traditions will remain for future generations. Perhaps you can encourage others in your family, such as your adult children and/or grandchildren, as well as other friends of CHI, to take the step to name CHI as a recipient of an after-life gift. In this month of reflection, repentance, and remembering the Covenants, consider the importance of commitments to CHI, and the impact this has on our Jewish community. The JFAR sponsored Life and Legacy program was a huge success for CHI. The Congregation received two monetary incentives, each in the Page 8

9 High Holiday Recipes Tomato and Basil Quiche Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 45 mins Yield: 8 servings The yogurt in this quiche makes for light and healthy vegetarian fare to fill you up before the Yom Kippur fast or enjoy when breaking the fast. Serve it with cucumbers dipped in dressing and with buttermilk biscuits or alongside a big salad. Ingredients 1 9-inch unbaked piecrust, completely thawed if frozen 6 eggs 1 cup plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt ½ cup fresh basil, chopped and divided ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ cup shredded Swiss cheese (or use shredded Parmesan or mozzarella) 2-3 tomatoes, diced into ½-inch pieces, watery seeds brushed out (about 2 cups total) 2 tablespoons grated or shredded Parmesan cheese (optional) Preparation Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Press the crust into a tart or pie pan and trim the excess crust from the edges. Bake it for 10 to 15 minutes until it is very lightly browned. Remove it from the oven. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, ¼ cup of basil, salt, pepper and Swiss cheese. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Top it evenly with the tomatoes and remaining basil. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top, if using, and bake it for minutes or until it is firm and lightly browned. Allow the quiche to cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting it into wedges to serve. Contributed by Aviva Goldfarb, from the Jewish Food Experience Aviva Goldfarb is the founder of the Six O Clock Scramble family meal planner. She is the author of four cookbooks, including The Six O Clock Scramble, SOS! The Six O Clock Scramble to the Rescue and The Six O Clock Scramble Meal Planner. Aviva is a Washington Post contributor, freelance writer, cocktail concocter and private cooking coach for children and adults who want to gain skills and confidence in the kitchen. She also helps food businesses market their products more effectively. You can freeze quiche for up to 2 months, if desired, wrapped tightly (allow it to cool fully before freezing it). To reheat it, put the cooked and frozen quiche in the oven at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until it is heated through. Page 9

10 Congregation House of Israel Board of Directors Rabbi Sheldon Shelly Kleinman Dennis Williams, President David D. Reagler, Vice President Glenda Kirsch, Secretary Hal Koppel, Treasurer Barbara Morgan Millie Baron, Sisterhood Ira Kleinman Ruth Sedler Sherrill Nicolosi Jerry Rephan Jerry Tanenbaum, ARZA-World Union Stuart Fleischner, Immediate Past President Page 10 Sep 7 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 Barbara Morgan Carol Levi Ruth Sedler Sue Koppel Karen Reagler Kay Fleischner Millie Baron Patti Fleischner Thank you to the following for sponsoring an Oneg during the month of September: Reminder: If you are scheduled for an upcoming Oneg and need to change dates, please find someone to switch with and then let Carol Kleinman know so the information printed in the bulletin will be correct. Refuah Shelemah The following people are in our thoughts and prayers: Louis Kleinman Ken Baim Annette Baim Imy Marcus Robert Burns Jean Gershner Jerry Tanenbaum Sue Koppel Please offer prayers that they all have a full and speedy recovery. If you are aware of anyone needing spiritual or any sort of assistance, please let Barbara Morgan know. Our Caring Committee is here to help all of our members in any way we possibly can.

11 September Yahrzeits Kaddish Recited September 1 Edward I. Rephan Grandfather of Jerry Rephan Lila Raines Mother-in-law of Steven Kirsch Margaret Gladstein Aunt of Louis Kleinman Sadye Fleischner Grandmother of Stuart Fleischner Grandmother of Mark Fleischner Sybil Fleischner Aunt of Stuart Fleischner Aunt of Mark Fleischner Kaddish Recited September 14 E. Alberta Nugent Mother of Katherine Klein (No Yahrzeit s September 21) Kaddish Recited September 28 Morris Zibrack Uncle of Sharon Ball Birthdays & Anniversaries September Anniversaries David D. and Karen Reagler Sep 13 September Birthdays Elaine Gartenberg Sep 1 Madeline Bull Sep 2 Susan Siegel Sep 4 Etai Grenman Sep 6 Lynda Kass Sep 12 Cooper Bull Sep 18 Jerry Rephan Sep 27 Jean Gershner Sep 29 Mazel Tov Mazel Tov to our member Mike Richardson on being presented with the Outstanding Community Service Award by the Oaklawn Rotary Club in Texarkana on August 1, Study with Lex Is This the Fast That I Have Chosen? We will explore the Haftarah reading associated with Yom Kippur morning. In it, God famously calls on the Israelite nation to prioritize feeding the hungry and clothing the naked over merely afflicting one s soul. How do we understand this text today? How does it influence our observance of this Day of Atonement? We ll explore these questions, and others that arise in our discussion, together. All are welcome, whether it s your 1st time looking at a Haftarah reading or your 500th. Page 11

12 Weekly Parshah Ki Tavo Haazinu Nitzavim