Etz Chayim Conservative Synagogue s Monthly Newsletter SEPTEMBER, 2015 ELUL/TISHREI, 5775

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Annabel Heath
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I retired from the congregational rabbinate after a career of 40 years.

1 Etz Chayim Conservative Synagogue s Monthly Newsletter SEPTEMBER, 2015 ELUL/TISHREI, 5775 Friday evening services begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday morning services begin at 9:30 a.m. FROM RABBI STEPHEN LISTFIELD I m delighted that we will be together for the Holy Days this month, and for periodic weekend visits through the rest of the year. I retired from the congregational rabbinate after a career of 40 years. And, although I am quite content to have completed that span of spiritual leadership, I am very excited to be spending time with you all at Etz Chayim. As we know, being Jewish is a blessing and it s also a challenge. The Holy Days are the time of year when we most intensely reaffirm both of those truths. These Holy Days will be an opportunity for us to meet each other, and to start to get to know each other. So let me say a few words about myself. My style tends toward teaching more than preaching; to explaining rather than following by rote; to invoking humor because being Jewish should include joy and uplift. thing is that we think for ourselves. God gave us brains He surely wants us to use them! So my style is to ask you to come to synagogue with your doubts and questions as well as with anything else you wish to bring. Below is a picture of my wife, Leslie, and me taken in Etz Chayim during our visit with you in May. We are smiling because we were happy to be with you. Leslie and I look forward to celebrating the New Year with you we ll no doubt wind up smiling even more! Shanah tovah, Stephen Listfield To me, Judaism is not dogma but is rather a quest and a journey. Yes, we Jews have certain core beliefs. But to me, the main

2 UPCOMING EVENTS Sep/Oct: See the last page of this newsletter for a complete listing of the High Holy Day Services Schedule Sep 05 Selichot Sep 13,14 Rosh Hashanah Sep 19 Shabbat Shuvah Sep 23 Yom Kippur Sep 27 Build the Sukkah Sep 28-Oct 2 Sukkot Oct 17 Sisterhood Ghost Trolley Tour Oct 20 Oct 22 Men s Club, 7:30 PM Worldwide Challah Baking Event ABOUT SELICHOT: SEPTEMBER 05 Selichot or slichot (Hebrew: (תוחילס are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days. God's Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are a central theme throughout these prayers. The Conservative tradition is to begin reciting those special prayers on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah and to begin at least 4 days before the holiday. This year, meeting both requirements has Selichot services beginning 9 days before Rosh Hashanah. We will meet at 8 pm on Saturday evening and begin with Havdalah. We will then enjoy refreshments and the movie The Chosen. This movie has been rated as one of the top ten Jewish themed movies of all time. See the below brief description of the movie. We will conclude by conducting the Selichot services beginning at about 10 pm. Bill Goldberg The Chosen PG, -108 minutes In 1940's Brooklyn, Reuven Malter, the son of a modern, observant, Zionistic Jew, and Danny Saunders, the son of the very observant, Orthodox, Hasidic Rabbi Saunders meet in hostility on a baseball field. Even though they are both Jewish in such a turbulent and anti-semitic time, they both hate each other and yet, they don't really know why. They began to see that maybe they had a lot more in common than they previously thought. As the film progresses, and the war rages on, Danny and Reuven are forced to fight their own battles and mature to adulthood. Robbie Benson, Rod Steiger, and the other actors did a fabulous job on this film and brought it to life magnificently. The Chosen is a true eye-opener that teaches a lot about humility and about relationships between Jews with different viewpoints/educations. GROUNDS CLEANUP THANKS In spite of the heavy morning rain, we had a very good turnout on Sunday, Aug 23, for cleaning up the synagogue grounds in preparation for the High Holidays. We would like to thank Kevin Thompson, Barry Meyer, Bill Goldberg, Bill (Chain Saw) Brigadier, Richard Berry, Jon Berger, Marvin Kalachman, Joe Sacks, Howard Polin, Natha and Scott Hancock, Shoshanna Rosenthal, and even our out of town visitors, Andrea Rosenthal and David Pitt for trimming, cutting, raking, bagging, and shleping. A special thanks to Millie Rosenthal for sponsoring the breakfast for the workers and to Shirley Roberts, Harriet Sacks, Diana

3 Polin, and Christie Berry for helping with the breakfast. Max ONEGS AND LUNCHEONS Hello Etz Chayim Members, We usually have 52 onegs per year, 19 meals with the Rabbi, about 7 Shabbat luncheons, with some other food events sprinkled in. That is more than 78 food events during the year. With the size of our membership and to fairly distribute the work, I ask that each family volunteer twice a year to take the lead. We currently need sponsors for the onegs on December 18 th and December 25 th. We have some available dates for meals with the Rabbi (and possibly family) during High Holidays and Rabbi Weekends. This would be a great opportunity for some private time with the Rabbi or to have a small gathering of friends with the Rabbi. This can take place at a restaurant, at the synagogue, or in your home if you do not have pets. Thank you for your participation in this aspect of religious social life. Lynne Edmondson Etzchayimoneg@gmail.com MEN S CLUB, ETC. Men's Club: No meeting in September. Enjoy the Holiday. Next meeting: October 20, Tuesday, 7:30 PM IMS: Deliveries made biweekly to Food Pantry and First Stop. Please put donated food pantry and personal hygiene items into to the synagogue lobby container...it's a Mitzvah!! Simcha and Memorial Plaques: $50.00 and $75.00, respectively. Please see Joe Sacks for further details. A Happy and Healthy New Year to all...joe SISTERHOOD Greetings, Your Sisterhood has been making plans that we hope many of you will have an interest in. We are looking forward to having you join us. Our October event is scheduled for the 17 th. We have reserved the Huntsville Ghost Trolley Tour. There is limited seating (only 24 seats), so this event requires a reservation. Please call me and commit to being on board. The price is discounted to $12 per person, thanks to Kevin Thompson. The trolley will leave promptly at 6 PM from Harrison Brothers Hardware at 124 South Side Square. We hope our Sisterhood members and ladies of the congregation will join us for a fun evening. Our next scheduled event comes up shortly after our trolley tour. We are excited to be participating in the Worldwide Challah Baking Event on Thursday, October 22 nd. Sisterhood groups all over the world are baking challah on this day, and we want to be part of the event. We will combine all the ingredients for a delicious challah as a group, then you have the choice of baking your challah at our synagogue or baking it in

4 your homes. The Sisterhood will provide the supplies, so this is another event for which we need to know how many people will participate. I look forward to hearing from many of you. Sandra Wiederecht (256) DONATIONS General Fund From: Sue & Joe Paddock From: Arlene & Gerry Averbuch To: In Honor of Max Rosenthal's recovery. Glad you are feeling better. Prayer Book Fund From: Ron Goldberg Randy Sacks Memorial Fund From: BJ & Bill Brigadier From: Harriet E Joe Sacks Rabbi Fund From: Lucy & Charlie Fisher Holiday Flowers From: Diana & Howard Polin From: Janet Schindler To: Max Rosenthal - Glad your surgery is over, continued good health Sisterhood Fund From: Janet Schindler To: Hilda Harris Nathan & Family In Memory of your daughter-in-law, Bobbelise Ciegler From: Sandra Wiederecht To: Hilda Harris Nathan & Family - In Memory of your daughter-in-law. From: Millie & Max Rosenthal To: Hilda Harris Nathan - Just to let you know we are thinking of you during your time of sorrow. From: Harriet & Joe Sacks To: Hilda Harris Nathan - With deepest sympathy on the loss of your daughter-in-law, Bobbelise Ciegler From: Brenda & Cliff Liles To: Hilda Harris Nathan - in memory of your daughter-in-law, Bobbelise Ciegler To: Lynne Edmondson for a full and speedy recovery from your equestrian mishap Rabbi Fund From: Diana & Howard Polin To: Hilda Harris Nathan - With deepest sympathy on the loss of your daughter-inlaw. General Fund From: Maria & Mike Sumerall In Honor of the High Holidays BBYO Fund From: Millie & Max Rosenthal To: Ed Gollop - Wishing you a speedy recovery. Looking forward to seeing you up and around soon. Outdoor Lighting Fund In Memory of Gertrude and Perry Schlein from their daughters Natha Hancock & Robin Slomka and their families.

5 ============================= Etz Chayim Synagogue welcomes the Keenan family to Huntsville. ============================== ONEGS Sep 04 Sep 11 Sep 18 Sep 25 Oct 02 BIRTHDAYS Zelickson Fisher Weiderecht Bulgatz Lapidus Elul 25 Sep 09 Percy Sacks* Tishrei 01 Sep 14 Leon Beck Tishrei 02 Sep 15 Daniel Flank* Tishrei 05 Sep 18 Louis B. Lepp* Tishrei 06 Sep 19 Sylvia Zarovsky Tishrei 07 Sep 20 Sam Natt Tishrei 08 Sep 21 Jerome Gaftman Tishrei 09 Sep 22 Rose Schindler Tishrei 10 Sep 23 Shirley Irene Jacobs* Tishrei 11 Sep 24 Murray Rosenthal* Tishrei 13 Sep 26 Bernard Fisher Tishrei 14 Sep 27 Terry Lee Green* Tishrei 16 Sep 29 Capt. Robert Secher* * Plaque **Light Memorial candle at sunset of the previous evening Sep 06 Sep 08 Sep 14 Sep 15 Sep 18 Sep 18 Sep 19 Sep 23 Sep 24 Sep 26 Janet Schindler Arlene Polin White Robin SLomka Larisa Thomason Sara Brigadier Rudy Sainker Russell Roberts Jesse Kalachman Katja Kay Stone Molly Lapidus PREPARING FOR THE NEXT WORLD A HIGH HOLIDAYS STORY By Ted Roberts On the High Holidays my mind turns to a Talmudic legend a story that offers a solution to the puzzle of why are we here and where s our next stop. What happens when we get off the bus? The gloom of the grave or a new world of sweet dreams? I interpret the legend loosely as follows: ANNIVERSARIES Sep 03 YAHRZEITS** Sandy & Marvin Kalachman Elul 17 Sep 01 Molly Silver Rodkin* Elul 18 Sep 02 Edward Kahn* Elul 21 Sep 05 Phil Wiederecht* Elul 22 Sep 06 William Karmiol* Elul 22 Sep 06 Beatrice Sainker* Elul 23 Sep 07 Alfred D. Freeman Elul 24 Sep 08 Abe Goldberg A rich and benevolent Master is highly pleased with his slave. He releases him. But wait, that s not all. There s more. He gives him a ship loaded with precious goods, accompanies him to the dock and waves a hardy farewell. But, alas, soon after leaving port the ship strikes a reef and all is lost. Due to heavenly intervention the ex-slave survives the wreck and swims to a nearby island (This guy could win the aquatic Olympics) where he is lavishly greeted by the inhabitants. Riches are thrown at him. He is even declared King.

6 David, let s call him, the former slave, doesn t get it. Maybe he s dizzy and hallucinating from his Olympic Gold Medal swim. Why this generous and enthusiastic reception? One of the islanders gives him the background. The Islanders prayed with passion to the Lord. Send us annually a king, they pleaded. (That word annually is the key to the puzzle.) And so it was. Every year the Lord blesses them with a King. For one year the new King reigns luxuriously. But at the end of his one-year term, he is deprived of all his possessions - his ermine robes stripped from his back shoved in a boat with a one-way ticket in his pocket, if he s lucky enough to be left with a shirt with a pocket. Naked you came and naked you shall go. This boat that seems to have a mind of its own takes him to a desert island. No friends, no subjects. Misery and loneliness are his only companions. But if you re smart, says the island advisor to this newly crowned King, you ll prepare for that day of departure. The temporary king had a one-word answer, How? The advisor pointed out that he could prepare for his sojourn on the Island of Banishment while he still had his imperial resources. Beautify this second island with luxurious landscaping. Colonize it with fascinating people. Send workmen. Make it a civilized paradise. Fertilize the fields. Thou wilt have established a new kingdom for thyself with subjects to welcome thee in gladness. David enthusiastically took this advice and even looked forward to the day when he would lose his kingship. He knew a paradise awaited him. Like all Midrashim, there s a lesson entangled in the words. Prepare for the life to come. Build your second home while you re enjoying the first. The humor of Ted, the Scribbler on the roof, appears in newspapers around the US, on National Public Radio, and numerous web sites. Buy Ted s collected works at Amazon.com, or the Sisterhood Gift Shop. Scribbler on the Roof te11d@hiwaay.net Website: Blogsite:

7 L SHANAH TOVAH! HUNTSVILLE CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FOR THE HIGH HOLY DAYS, Rosh Hashanah Selichot (Havdalah, movie, Service) Sat Sep 05 8:00 PM Evening Services & Welcome Rabbi Listfield Sun Sep 13 7:30 PM Morning & Shofar Services Mon Sep 14 9:30 AM Evening Services Mon Sep 14 7:30 PM Morning & Shofar Services Tue Sep 15 9:30 AM Tashlich Service Mon or Tue at 1:30 PM, after Musaf Shabbat Shuvah Evening Services Fri Sep 18 7:30 PM Morning Services Sat Sep 19 9:30 AM Yom Kippur Kol Nidre Service Tue Sep 22 6:20 PM Morning Services Wed Sep 23 9:30 AM Torah Services approximately 10:30 AM Mincha, Yizkor & N ilah Services 5:00 PM Sukkot Build Sukkah at Etz Chayim Sun Sep 27 2:30 PM Decorate Sukkah at Etz Chayim Sun Sep 27 4:00 PM Morning Services Mon-Fri, Sep28-Oct 2, 9:30 AM Evening Services Fri Oct 02 7:30 PM Morning Services Sat Oct 03 9:30 AM Hoshanah Rabah Morning Services Sun Oct 04 9:30 AM Kiddush in Etz Chayim Sukkah, daily 5:00 PM Shemini Atzeret Morning Services Mon Oct 05 9:30 AM Yizkor approximately 10:30 AM Simchat Torah Evening Congregation Pot Luck Dairy Dinner Mon Oct 05 5:45 PM Evening Hakafot Services & Consecration Mon Oct 05 6:30 PM IT IS A TREE OF LIFE TO THEM THAT HOLD FAST TO IT

Etz Chayim Conservative Synagogue s Monthly Newsletter OCTOBER, 2015 TISHREI/CHESHVAN, 5776

Etz Chayim Conservative Synagogue s Monthly Newsletter OCTOBER, 2015 TISHREI/CHESHVAN, 5776 Friday evening services begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday morning services begin at 9:30 a.m. FROM RABBI STEPHEN LISTFIELD