the Shofar Memory from the rabbi

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1 the Shofar 26 Nissan-26 Iyar, 5768/May 2008 Inside this issue: From the Rabbi 1 Library Notes 2 President s Message Tikkun Olam 3 B nai Barak Walk 3 Religious School 4 Kids Korner 4 Center of Learning 5 Ma aser Sheni 6 Calendar 7 Advertising 8 3 Memory from the rabbi M y friend Ruth, who will be ordained as a rabbi this May, taught me about the idea of civil religion. It was our first year in school together and we were living in Jerusalem. Civil religion, she said, is that group of universally observed cultural norms and holidays that are part of a people. In the United States, our civil religion is reflected in what we share as Americans think Thanksgiving, for example. This month we observe Memorial Day. It has become the official kick off for the summer season and yet it needs to be more than that. Originally Memorial Day was a time when we paused to remember those who gave their lives in wars, thankfully long over, on behalf of our country. I srael Congregation observes Yom ha Shoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, on May 1 at 7:30 pm with special guest speaker Walter Rosley, who lived in Holland at the time of the German invasion of Mr. Rosely and his family were sent first to Camp Westerbork and later to Bergen Belsen. They were subsequently liberated by the Russians in April Our service of remembrance will include a candle lighting ceremony and readings by teenagers from our congregation. Today, we have men and women, some serving three or more tours of duty, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over four thousand of them have perished. We remember them as we remember their families and loved ones. In Israel, civil religion has a similar observance with Yom ha Zikaron, the Day of Remembrance for the Fallen, observed on May 7. This is a day where all of Israel gathers in hundreds of small ceremonies in schools and other places to recall the friends and neighbors who have died in Israelʹs many wars. This day of great sorrow is followed immediately by Yom ha Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, a day of great joy. These two observances coming in tandem are like being on an emotional roller coaster deep reminders of the price Israel has paid over sixty years connected with the great celebration of Israelʹs reborn existence. Services of Remembrance & Celebration May 8 at 7:30 pm Israel Congregation celebrates Yom ha Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, with special guest speaker David Gutmann. Mr. Gutmann, an American, fought with the underground Irgun and then with the Hagganah during Israelʹs war for independence in A resident of Wallingford, VT, Mr. Gutmann will share with us his first hand observations of the birth of the Jewish nation. More information about Mr. Gutmann can be found on our website,

2 Page 2 Library Book Notes A WILD FAITH: JEWISH WAYS INTO WILDER NESS, WILDERNESS WAYS INTO JUDAISM Rabbi Mike Comins S pring! It s almost here, and spring in Vermont, once we slog through mud season, presages a bountiful summer, filled with opportunities to enrich body and soul beautiful music, engaging classes, arts and crafts festivals, and, of course, the great outdoors. Vermont is the perfect place to connect with wilderness, be it an afternoon walk around Equinox Pond, a picnic lunch in the backyard, a hike on the Long Trail, or perhaps a climb up to the top of Bromley Mountain. A WILD FAITH: JEWISH WAYS INTO WILDER NESS, WILDERNESS WAYS INTO JUDAISM encompasses numerous practices for enriching one s spirituality by encountering nature in simple yet profound ways. From the Jewish mysticism of the Kabbalah to Martin Buber s I & THOU, Rabbi Comins describes paths to mindfulness within a Jewish context. Publishers Weekly writes: In this lyrical but practical primer to fusing Torah and nature, Comins writes: ʺFar from humans, in Godʹs handiwork, my heart sheds its burdens and my prayers flow.ʺ An ordained rabbi, he felt suffocated by books and buildings until he returned to the source of his first spiritual feelings: the wilderness. Ironically, he writes, ʺI felt compelled to rebel against the very tradition that planted the thirst for God within me.ʺ To overcome the stereotype that ʺJews just donʹt do that outdoor stuff,ʺ Comins offers insights from Jewish philosophers and spiritual practices that include meditations, mindfulness, journal writing, reciting and writing psalms and blessings, and much more. As the subtitle indicates, Comins asserts that the relationship between Torah and nature is a two way trail: wilderness is the best place to work out a personal, unscripted, the Shofar fresh relationship with divinity, and Judaism offers a vocabulary and practice to translate the experience of wilderness into a life of purpose and meaning. For those who love nature and know little about Judaism, and those who love Judaism but know little about wilderness, Cominsʹs message is clear: one need not choose between the two to find potential, promise and fulfillment. As author Rabbi Shefa Gold writes, A WILD FAITH is ʺA soulful manual... [It] Connects us back to our roots in the wilderness where we can be nourished and tested; where we can encounter Godʹs mystery directly.ʺ So before you head outdoors, be sure to visit Israel Congregation s library and check out this terrific read just one of many new books to be found in our ever growing collection. Happy Reading! Library Volunteers Needed Janet Kleinberg S tan Reisman, a member of the Library Committee since its inception, is the new Chairman of the committee, and is putting out a call for volunteers willing to work just a few hours a month in a fabulous environment, surrounded by books, books, books. Please call Susan in the office at if you would like to speak with someone on the committee to explore volunteer opportunities. New books are being ordered on a continuing basis and some of them, in the area of Jewish Life Cycles, Customs and Holidays have already arrived and are on display in the library anteroom.

3 26 Nissan-26 Iyar, 5768/May 2008 President s Message I want to thank the entire congregation for letting me serve as your president these last two years. The board and I tried to accomplish many things during this time. We transitioned from one rabbi to another, had two years of extraordinary classes in our adult education program, and took a large amount of uncategorized books and formed a library that any synagogue would be proud to have. Décor and functional changes have been made inside and outside the building, our facilities are often used by local nonprofit organizations and our Tikkun Olam committee has raised money for many local, global, and Israeli causes with an emphasis on Jewish life. Our synagogue is made up of wonderful and generous congregants who give their time and their insight to help all of us get the most out of what Israel Congregation has to offer. Let me congratulate your board on a job well done and Tikkun Olam Fourth of July Raffle I srael Congregation s annual Fourth of July barbecue is your time to socialize, schmooze, chow down and watch some terrific fireworks as well as taking a chance on winning some terrific prizes. You may have already received (or will shortly receive) your own copy of the flyer announcing the raffle and prizes as well as your very own book of raffle tickets. On those tickets that you or your friends are buying, be sure to complete the identification information and return the stub to Israel Congregation before the barbecue. The prizes include a 19ʺ knotted strand of uniform cultured pearls with an emerald and diamond clasp valued at $7750 from the estate of Fred Richter, a cozy adorable baby quilt made and do Page 3 thank all the dozens and dozens of other volunteers who help organize, present, and ensure that all the programs and services we have continue to be offered. It has been my great pleasure to work with you all. I have also been fortunate to have worked closely with two wonderful rabbis, Rabbi Bob Freedman and Rabbi David Novak. I want to thank both of them for helping me lead our synagogue without ever forgetting we are a Jewish organization whose first concern is always people. We now are looking forward to a new year, with new ideas and new plans. I encourage you all to get more involved with Israel Congregation. Make an effort to attend our services and programs or offer to volunteer for a committee. I would love to share with you all the joy that I have gotten from helping our synagogue continue to be a living and thriving house of worship and community center. Shalom, Marlene Skulnik nated by our very own talented Vicki Greene, and a $150 gift certificate to the Northshire Bookstore. Purchase one raffle for $18, three for $50, or a book of seven for $100. Please help Tikkun Olam to do our share in caring for both our community and the world. Micki Lisman B nai Barak Walk O n Sunday, May 18, Bʹnai Barak will commence itʹs 6th season with its annual Devil Dog Pawlet Rupert Mountain Walk. All mountaineers are to meet at the Reisman home at 10 am. Once again, Loretta & Stan Reisman will host the luncheon to which Significant Others are cordially invited. This is a 5 mile hike of moderate exertion. Please contact Loretta & Stan at in early May if you plan to attend.

4 Page 4 Religious School News D uring the month of April, we as a school community prepared for and had our own seder. The students learned different parts of the seder, and in our seder they asked the Four Questions and participated in various ways. It was a wonderful event. We thank those of you who helped us in our preparations. May is the end of our school year. Hard to believe! I want to thank everyone for making my first year here so special and for all of your support. This is especially true for our parents and teachers. The children are a joy to teach. In May we will celebrate Israelʹs 60th anniversary. We will wrap up our learning and look forward to seeing everyone in the fall. If you have a child or children returning to the school, please let me know. Have a wonderful summer. Happy Birthday to Religious School Student.. Yuval Sela the Shofar Kids Korner Academic All Stars L arry Stark and Elijah Brown earned high honors for exceptional work in all classes during the past trimester. Both boys were honored at a special High Honors Breakfast at Manchester Elementary Middle School. Way to go! Joel Revo Dazzles at National Competition J oel Revo came through at the USASA Nationals again, rallying for a bronze medal in Slalom, a silver in Giant Slalom and a strong ninth in pipe (a real specialty event in which only two kids his age bested him). This was enough for Joel to win three overall awards including second overall in Alpine (the two gate events) and third in Triple Overall (all five events ranking). The top two kids move up next year in age group, so Joel will return to competition next season as the number one boarder in the US in his 8 9 age group! Joel Revo, May 28 Attention High School Seniors B ound for college? The Marilyn Glatt Lingley Endowment Fund offers scholarships toward funding for books and other necessities to help with your first year expenses. Applications are available in the office and are due back by May 15. Send Us Your News Graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, achievements. We want to hear it all. Send your news by the 15th of each month to Karen at mkte@comcast.net.

5 26 Nissan-26 Iyar, 5768/May 2008 Page 5 CENTER OF LEARNING Celebrating Israel at Sixty Throughout the past year Israel Congregation has been commemorating the 60th anniversary of the declaration of the State of Israel. Choose to come to all or a few of Israel Congregation s array of offerings during this last month of special study. Tuesday Evening Classes May 6: Realities of Israel Today A group discussion about where Israel is as the country turns sixty. As our text, we will use Unforgiven, a wonderful article in the current Atlantic maga zine, found online at: Please either pick up the magazine or read the article online and prepare for a lively conversation. Rabbi Novak May 13: Jezebel, Queen of Israel The Biblical Jezebel is synonymous with evil & deceit. This seminar resurrects her name and will demonstrate that this picture is not only misanthropic but inaccurate. Paul Ross May 20: Religion and Separation from Government The First Amendment Establishment Clause prohibits the government from forming a religion. What was the Founding Fathers interpretation of the separation of church and state? What is the current debate? These issues provoke strong feelings. Come share your opinions as we discuss the prevailing myths and truths about what the Establishment Clause means. Bob Rosenfeld May 27: Did God Have a Wife?: The Consort of Yahweh This seminar will demonstrate that the God of the Israelites was not a bachelor and, invariably had a female consort. Paul Ross Book Club June 3: Fugitive Pieces by poet Anne Michaels. As a child, Jakob Beer witnesses his familyʹs slaughter at the hands of the Nazis. He is smuggled out of Poland to Greece before emigrating to Canada. Jakobʹs story is told through diaries discovered by Ben, a young man whose parents are Holocaust survivors and who is a vessel for their memories just as Jakob is the bearer of his own. It is a book about memory and forgetting. How is it possible to love the living when our hearts are still with the dead? What is the difference between what historical fact tells us and what we remember? More than that, the novel is a meditation on the power of language to free our souls and allow us to find our own destinies.

6 Page 6 the Shofar Ma aser Sheni T he Torah required three tithes of the Israelites. The first, Ma asher Rishon, was given to the Temple priests. The second, Ma aser Sheni, supported the general community, benefiting both giver and receiver. The third, Ma aser Shlishi, provided funds for the poor. Our congregants participate in the mitzvah of Ma aser Sheni by contributing to funds that benefit the synagogue and its members. Thank you for your donations! GENERAL FUND Judith & Michael Adler in honor of Jack Leopold s 90 th birthday Sherri & Bob Alper, Herbert & Judith August, Marion & Justin Mueller in memory of Edward Hyman Roberta Forman in memory of Lillian Grossman Phyllis Shapiro & Martin Flashner in honor of the Glazers SHABBAT DINNER FUND Marion & Justin Mueller in honor of David Skulnik & Arnie Katz s birthdays Elly & Larry Tron in memory of Mae and Al Toroker and in honor of Raymond Lipshutz s birthday TIKKUN OLAM Vicki & Stephen Greene in memory of Joseph Greene MERKADO LIBRARY FUND Robert & Alicia Oberhand in memory of Emanuel Oberhand HOROWITZ CHILDREN S EDUCATION FUND Seymour & Evelyn Metzger in honor of Pheobe Ellis Horowitz Carole & Richard Tannen in honor of Ray Lipshutz s birthday and with wishes for a speedy recovery for Lisa Zalkin Estelle Schwartz in memory of Rose Markovits, Henry Schwartz and Harold Schwartz MARILYN GLATT LINGLEY SCHOLARSHIP FUND Laurie & Jeff Sullivan Thank you.. Libby Harris and Dina Bronson for once again making the Interfaith Seder a big success. We also appreciate all the help given by Mildred Rose, Micki Lisman, Loretta Reisman, Jeanne and Lee Nemlich, Rosalie Fox and Elinor Katz. Thank you to Dina and Henry Bronson of Bistro Henry for donating the delicious salmon. Jodi Stark for organizing our Annual Second Night Seder and to all the people who prepared food and helped with the arrangements.

7 26 Nissan-26 Iyar, 5768/May 2008 Annual Meeting M ark your calendars and plan to attend this year s annual meeting, set to be held on June 1 at 5pm. This is an important meeting as we will be voting on a new president and proposed slate of Board of Directors. Don t miss this opportunity to be an active participant in the running of your synagogue. Congregant Exhibits Art Work at Burgdorff Gallery N ew member Gordon Abrams will display his paintings in a solo exhibit at the Burgdorff Gallery in the Everett Mansion at Southern Vermont College in Bennington from April 7 to May 15, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The exhibit, titled The Friendly Visit, comprises paintings inspired by Gordon s experiences as a flute player in the Irish traditional music world. Gordon has created in each piece vivid, impressionistic scenes of performing session players, companionable friends, tavern patrons and their rollicking pub scenes. For more information about the exhibit, please contact Gordon at Gordon RAbrams@verizon.net. Bikkur Cholim Do you know someone who is ill and would appreciate a visit from the rabbi? Please call the office at to inform Rabbi Novak. May 1 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 May 6 May 7 May 8 May 9 May 10 May 12 May 13 May14 May 16 May 10 May 18 May 20 May 21 May 23 May 10 May 26 May 27 May 28 May 30 May 31 May Calendar Of Events Page 7 Yom HaShoah Memorial Service, 7:30 pm Special guest speaker Walter Rosley Friday Evening Shabbat Worship, 6:30 pm, followed by our Community Dinner Guest speaker Reverend Dr. Robert Carpenter of the First Baptist Church Saturday Morning Shabbat Worship, 9:30 am Parashat Kedoshim Rabbi Novak will be guest speaker at the First Baptist Church, 10:30 am Conversational Hebrew, with Yuval Sela, 7 pm Center of Learning: Realities of Israel Today, with Rabbi Novak, 7 pm Religious School, 3:50 pm Yom ha Atzmaut Celebratory Service, 7:30 pm with special guest speaker David Gutmann Friday Evening Shabbat Worship, 6:30 pm, followed by our Community Dinner Saturday Morning Shabbat Worship, 9:30 am Parashat Emor Conversational Hebrew, with Yuval Sela Center of Learning: Jezebel, Queen of Israel, with Paul Ross, 7 pm Religious School, 3:50 pm Friday Evening Shabbat Worship, 6:30 pm, followed by our Community Dinner Saturday Morning Shabbat Worship, 9:30 am Parashat Behar B nai Barak Annual Devil Dog Pawlet Rupert Mountain Walk, 10:00 am Center of Learning: Religion and Separation from Government, with Bob Rosenfeld, 7 pm Religious School, 3:50 pm Friday Evening Shabbat Worship, 6:30 pm, followed by our Community Dinner Saturday Morning Shabbat Worship, 9:30 am Parashat Bechukotai Memorial Day, Office Closed Center of Learning: Did God Have a Wife? The Consort of Yahweh, with Paul Ross, 7pm Last Day of Religious School, 3:50 pm Friday Evening Shabbat Worship, 6:30 pm, followed by our Community Dinner Saturday Morning Shabbat Worship, 9:30 am Parashat Bemidbar

8 Page 8 the Shofar O ur newsletter goes to more than 400 households in eight states! You can place ads of any size, from business cards to whole pages. For rates, contact the office at Hanukkah stamps are available at all post offices and can be used all year long.

9 Page 9 The Tree of Life on the wall in our Social Hall is adorned with leaves that commemorate events in the lives of our congregants. To inscribe your family event or Simcha call the office

10 srael Congregation has about 230 member I families of diverse Jewish backgrounds, both full time and part time residents of southern Vermont. We provide weekly Shabbat and holiday services, a religious school, adult education, life cycle events, and cultural and social programming, in a warm and welcoming environment. An integral part of Jewish life in the Northshire for more than 70 years, Israel Congregation has been at its current location on Rte 7A, 1.2 miles north of Rte 11/30, since Kabbalat Shabbat Service: 6:30 pm, Friday (followed by Congregational Dinner) Shabbat Service: 9:30 am, Saturday Religious School: 4 to 6 pm, Wednesday Office Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, M F Telephone: David Novak, Rabbi Michael Cohen, Rabbi Emeritus Susan Ainsworth, Office Administrator Board of Directors Marlene Skulnik, President Arnold Katz, Vice President Barry Brown, Vice President Stuart Revo, Treasurer Doris Bass, Corresponding Secretary Louis Propp, Recording Secretary Marisa Eisemann, Immediate Past President Directors: Morty Bunis, Michael Dreiblatt, Jeremy Dworkin, Phyllis Gottdiener, Bob Horowitz, Sandra Koffman, Stan Lisman, Gary Marmer, Paul Ross, John Sobel, Jodi Stark Shofar Editorial Board: Doris Bass, Karen Dreiblatt, Marlene Skulnik, Laurie Sullivan, Cheryl Ullman PO Box 1050 Manchester Center, Vermont