From Our Co-Presidents

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1 Congregation Sons of Zion 378 Maple Street Holyoke, MA Phone: (413) Upcoming Dates to Remember: Senior Center Holocaust Program May 4 Board Meeting 5/9 7:30pm Erev Shavuot Study May 30 Shavuot/Yizkor June 1 at 10am Inside this issue: Presidents 1 Thank You! 2 Board Meeting Summary 2 Calendar 6 Yahrzeits and Minyan Chairs Ads from our Sponsors 7 11 From the Office 12 Sons of Zion News Volume 2, Issue 8 From Our Co-Presidents As the weather is warming, and blossoms unfolding, there is a lot of excitement blooming and taking root at SOZ. Most notable is the new system in our sanctuary that allows us to simultaneously transmit our services to members who are unable to attend in person. While they can not be considered for minyan, as we do not know who is watching at the time, we are thrilled to be able to include people who would like to participate and share Shabbat and weekly services with us. A huge thank you goes out to Laura and Jordan Marks for their research, donation of some of the equipment, and for the installation of the technology. A April 2017 Nisan/Iyar 5777 special shout out also goes to Rabbi Perlmutter for having the vision, persisting and insisting on the need for the project, and finally for personally spreading the word by calling members to encourage them to tune in and join us. Instructions on how to access Shabbat live can be obtained from Laura in the office or through our website. If you have checked this out, we would appreciate any feedback. Spring also uncovers all that has been hidden under the snow and sadly we seem to have a great deal of refuse strewn throughout the property. Thank you to Cindy, Ken and members of the activities committee for staying on top of this important job of presenting a clean image of us to our community. Thanks go to those who came that day including: Cindy and Ken Vieu, Michael Rosner, Steve Levine and Gellya Shulman. Another huge piece of work that is nearing completion is the update of the bylaws of SOZ. Working from a document dated back to 1987, typed on a typewriter with hand (Continued on page 2)

2 Page 2 (Presidents cont d from page 1) written notes in the margins, we are grateful to Larry Carmen, David Carmen and Steve Levin for their important work in drafting much needed revisions. Kudos and gratitude also go to our resident expert on Bylaws, Attorney Buddy Resnic. The dedication and commitment of the Board was exhibited through the decision to dedicate almost the entire April Board meeting to review, discuss, and revise a document that will hopefully bring us forward. Final revisions are underway and it is the hope of the Board that we can complete and vote in the new bylaws in time for our Annual Meeting and Elections in June. Speaking of which, as we continue to grow, there are many opportunities to participate in the work of being a great synagogue. We will be looking for new members to join the Board and ask each of you to consider Sons of Zion News this important role. If you have any questions, please speak with any Board member, or better yet, please come and observe a meeting. They are open to all. With best wishes for a beautiful and bountiful Spring! Andrea and Michael Summary of the Cong. Sons of Zion Board of Directors Meeting April 13, 2017 In attendance: Lois Levin, Steve Levine, Alfred Hutt, Larry Carmen, David Carmen, Andrea Fox, Joan Rosner, Michael Rosner, Laura Marks. Minutes of March 8 approved with several edits. Bylaws Extensive review and discussion of bylaws for the majority of meeting (from 8:10 PM to 10:30 PM.) We will draft a final document and ask for Buddy to review again. It will then be presented for a vote by the Board at the May Board meeting in time for elections in June. Special thanks were extended to Dave Carmen, Steve Levin, and Larry Carmen for their hard work, and to Buddy for his expertise. Thank You! We gratefully acknowledge the donations of... Barry Federman Lois Levin Nancy Shulman, in honor of Joan Kagan s receiving the Difference Maker award. Laura Marks, in honor of Jordan s becoming an Officer at Unibank. Old Business follow-up Award winning chocolatier and SOZ member Elaine Shepard will begin making chocolate in our kosher kitchen on or around May 1. Next board meeting scheduled for May 9 at 7:30pm. All are welcome to attend. Michael and Joan Rosner, in honor Joan Kagan s receiving the Difference Maker award, and in memory of Michael s mother, Lillian Thorn

3 Volume 2, Issue 8 Page 3 Tikkun Olam Sparks The Tikkun Olam committee had its first meeting in April and the next meeting will be held on May 9th at 7:00 pm at the Synagogue. All are invited to participate, whether you are able to come to regular meetings or would like to be kept informed of specific projects. At our first meeting there was thoughtful discussion of the motivations that prompted people to join. One of the common themes was the idea of putting prayer into action, and finding meaningful ways to address community and social issues from a Jewish perspective. We generated a list of potential areas of need, and we will be using that list at the next meeting to develop some beginning projects. If you are interested or would like additional information, please contact Deb Levine at dlevine123@gmail.com. ~Deb From the Membership Committee The next Membership Committee meeting will be Wednesday May 10 at 7pm at the synagogue. Last meeting, we studied the membership pages of other area synagogue websites to get an idea of what we liked. We also went over our Membership form, but since there were only two of us, we decided to wait to finalize until more members could give input. Next items on the to-do list include creating a brochure for prospective members, and putting the brochure and Membership Form on our website. ~Laura SOZ Book Club: June 4: Silver Swan by Elena Delbanco I have a new book for us; it s a wonderful and light read, unlike the ones we have been reading: Silver Swan by Elena Delbanco. Our next meeting will be on June 4 at 9:30am at the synagogue. This was a New York Times best seller: A debut novel about a daughter grappling with the legacy of her famous and imposing cellist father, the secrets he has hidden from her, and the fate of his great Stradivarius cello. Alexander Feldmann is a revered and soughtafter performer whose prodigious talent, striking good looks and worldly charm prove irresistible to all who hear and encounter him. After years of searching, he acquires a glorious cello, the Silver Swan, a rare Stradivarius masterpiece long lost to the world of music. Mariana is Alexander s only child and the maestro has large ambitions for her. By the age of nineteen, she emerges as a star cellist in her own right, and is seen as the inheritor of her father s genius. There are whispers that her career might well outpace his. Mariana believes the Silver Swan will one day be hers, until a stunning secret from her father s past entwines her fate and that of the Silver Swan in ways she could never have imagined. ~Joanne

4 Page 4 SOZ Activities Committee Lesléa Newman read from her new book of poems, I Carry My Mother, at a reading given at Sons of Zion on April 30. Sons of Zion News Thank you to all those who helped out for our April cleanup day: Michael Rosner, Gellya Shulman, Steve Levine, Ken Vieu and Brielle Burkett. A lot of hard work was done and the grounds are looking better and better. We will schedule another cleanup date soon, to be announced when we decide on a date. On April 30th we were honored to have the amazing Lesléa Newman read poems from her new book, I Carry My Mother, a collection of poems that are a loving tribute to her mother. It was deeply moving and evoked emotions from our own relationships with our own mothers and even fathers. The words flowed beautifully and the rhythm of the poems filled us with truth of how she was feeling and what she was going though as her mother s health continually declined and she eventually died. Special Kiddush Occasions coming up in May: May 6 th : Birthday Celebration for Laura Marks; join us for a special Kiddush following 10am Shabbat Services. May 13 th : Special Mother s Day Shabbat starting at 10am. Mothers will have special parts in the service. Following services will be a special Mother s Day Kiddush. Anyone want to go bowling?? If anyone has an interest in this fun activity let me know; this is for adults and children. Call or text me at or me at cindyvieu@charter.net. ~Cindy The audience was enthralled and moved by the beautiful and powerful imagery of Ms. Newman s poetry.

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6 Page 6 Sons of Zion News May 2017 Count the Omer after sunset on the secular date indicated. Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 5 Iyar Iyar 4 8 Iyar 5 9 Iyar 6 Yom HaZikaron (Israel Memorial Day) Yom HaAtzma ut (Israel Independence Day) 7 11 Iyar 8 12 Iyar 9 13 Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar Iyar 26 1 Sivan Sivan 29 4 Sivan 30 5 Sivan 31 6 Iyar 10 Iyar Shabbat Begins Acharei Mot - 7:36pm Kedoshim 10am Service Special Kiddush 20 Omer 21 Omer 22 Omer 23 Omer 24 Omer to follow 25 Omer Shavuot Day 1 17 Iyar 18 Iyar 24 Iyar Shabbat Begins BeHar - Lag B Omer 7:50pm BeChukotai Mothers Day 10am Service 25 Iyar 2 Sivan Memorial Day (USA) Erev Shavuot: Study Session at 7:30pm Pesach Sheini Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) 6 Sivan Shabbat Begins 7:57pm Rosh Chodesh Sivan Emor Mothers Day Shabbat & Kiddush 26 Omer 27 Omer 28 Omer 29 Omer 30 Omer 31 Omer 32 Omer 33 Omer 34 Omer 35 Omer 36 Omer 37 Omer 38 Omer 39 Omer BaMidbar 10am Service 40 Omer 41 Omer 42 Omer 43 Omer 44 Omer 45 Omer 46 Omer Tikkun Olam Mtg. 7pm SOZ Board Mtg. 7:30pm 47 Omer 48 Omer 49 Omer Membership Ctee. Mtg. 7pm Shabbat Begins 7:43pm Count the Omer after sunset on the secular date indicated. Please keep in mind: The office is closed on Fridays, weekends, and Jewish holidays. If you need to make funeral arrangements during these times, please contact Joanne at

7 Volume 2, Issue 8 Yahrzeits and Minyan Chairs April 30 May 6: Lois Levin May 4 *Sidney H. Wilson May 5 *Robert Seaver May 6 *Shorrie Bernstein May 7 13: Joan Kagan Levine May 8 Selma Lesnow May 12 *Joseph Gerstein May 13 *Benjamin Wilson May 14 20: Buddy Resnic May 14 *Saul Magidson May 15 *Gilbert Saex May 16 *Rabbi Frances Kaplan *Frances Karukin May 17 *Alvin Koufax William Shirley May 18 *Sheila Halpern Anna Goodman Samel May 19 *Rachel Saltman May 20 *Lloyd Everett Stein May 21 27: Bill Robbins May 21 *Harold Haley May 27 *Russell Bernstein May 26 Jacob Orlen May 27 *Annie Welson May 28 June 3: Joan Rosner June 1 *Harry Hirsch Nathan Kahan *Louis Marks June 3 Leo Halpern Page 7 Contact Joan Rosner (joanrosner@comcast.net) or the Synagogue Office (office@sonsofzionholyoke.org or ) if you are interested in sponsoring a Kiddush and would like to choose a date.

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9 Volume 2, Issue 8 Page 9 SMUGGLED OUT OF THE GHETTO A Survival Story of a Hidden Lithuanian Child Henia Henny Lewin FEATURING The Holyoke High School Madrigal Chorus With Inspirational Music Led by Mark Todd, Director of Music THURSDAY MAY 4, :45 PM HOLYOKE SENIOR CENTER PINE STREET HOLYOKE, MASS. Sponsored by The Council for Human Understanding Holyoke Public Schools Holyoke Community College Holyoke Council on Aging Get Well Soon, Bill! A hearty Refuah Sh lema to our beloved long-time member Bill Robbins. Morning Minyans are not the same with out you, Bill. We hope you feel much better very soon! Give Generously to SOZ all month. SOZ depends on your support for our programs, services, and future! Please visit our Valley Gives page and show your support.

10 Page 10 Sons of Zion News Save the Date! Thursday, June 1: 10am Shavuot service with Yizkor. Saturday, June 3: Steve Levine s Birthday Kiddush, following 10am Shabbat services. To Be Announced: Sons of Zion Annual Meeting will be in June. Please plan to attend. The date will be well-publicized! A Warm Welcome......to Wicked Good chocolatier, SOZ member Elaine Shepard, who will be starting to make her delicious treats in our kitchen. May your days of chocolate-making in the shul be sweet! Homework House Spelling Bee: Team Sons of Zzzzion Here is the word list contestants were asked to spell. How would YOU have done? Acerbic, eczema, braggadocio, gneiss, gargantuan, mnemonic, heist, halcyon, obsequious, paroxysm, argillaceous, catarrh, reveille, appoggiatura, scythe, poltergeist, embarrass, solecism, boutonnière, legerdemain, catafalque, pipsissewa, triskaidekaphobia, autochthonous, logorrhea. Unfortunately, our Spelling Bee Team did not make the grade this year at the 2nd Annual Adult Spelling Bee to benefit Homework House of Holyoke, falling out in the first round with the word braggadocio. The new champs are the Spell-Smiths from the Smith College Community Service Office. Congrats Loida, Veronica and Yansi! Thanks to everyone who supported our team. We re already planning a comeback in 2018!

11 Volume 2, Issue 8 Page 11 Ads from Our Sponsors Please Patronize our Sponsors. They Make our Newsletter Possible! Always Room for More! BUSINESS CARD ADS: $180 / YEAR PLEASE CONTACT THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICE (413) OR office@sonsofzionholyoke.org

12 Congregation Sons of Zion 378 Maple Street Holyoke, MA Phone: (413) Submission deadline for next issue: May 25. From the Office Discover the wide range of Jewish arts and culture around western Massachusetts. Enjoy the rich fabric of Jewish community in the Pioneer Valley, Berkshires, Southern VT, and beyond at Jewish Culture Connect! May is one of my favorite times of year, and not just because I was born in it. The sun is warming us, the flowers are out in full force, and it s almost time to start putting the seedlings into the garden. Another of my favorite events also happens at this time of year: Shavuot, the celebration of our receiving Torah from Gd on Mt. Sinai. It is said that we were all there, not just the people who were alive at that time, but also the soul of every Noho Pride May 6, 2017 Parade starts at 12:00pm Pride Event 1:30-5pm Free entry - Free parking Jew who would ever live, born-jews and converts alike. We were all a party to the amazing event that brought Gd into our midst with thunder and fire and the sound of the shofar. We were instructed to be a holy light to the other nations, a nation of role models for how a people who resect and love Gd should behave. What an awesome responsibility! Being human, I know I am not perfect, but I try my best every day to love those around me (or at least act that way), to think about, and ask, how I can help, and to accept others for the path that they are on. Happy Shavuot, and Happy May! ~Laura