FROM THE RABBI S STUDY Rabbi Sidney M. Helbraun

Transcription

1 3610 Dundee Rd. Northbrook, IL Volume 230 March 2017 Adar/Nisan 5777 Dear Friends, FROM THE RABBI S STUDY Rabbi Sidney M. Helbraun Last month I traveled to Vienna and Israel on Chicago s JUF Rabbinic Mission. Among the many notables we met with was Likud party member Benny Begin. At 74, not only is Begin the oldest member of Knesset, he also has the longest tenure, having served for 30 years. Although his professional background is in agronomy, Begin s deep political roots come naturally. His father, Menachem, was the leading figure of the Herut party, the forerunner to Likud, who became the first right wing Prime Minister in the history of Israel, an event which caused a wave of panic, and shook Israel s political establishment to its core. Until then, Israel s government had always been led by politicians on the left, primarily from the Labor party, which represented the halutzim the young, idealistic pioneers from Eastern Europe who drained the swamps, established kibbutzim, and believed in socialism. Meanwhile, Begin s Herut party developed its following among Mizrachi Jews who had immigrated from Arab countries during the early days of the state, and were largely looked down upon by the political establishment which saw them as uneducated, and even backwards. This was the world that Benny Begin, the son of a Prime Minister grew up in. One would assume that with the Likud party in charge of Israel for most of the last decades, that this elder statesman would be a celebrated figure within his party. And yet, to a large extent, he has become an outcast. During our meeting he shared why this is so. Begin explained that his father s political party was proudly nationalistic. During times of war or danger it strongly believed in Israel first. And yet, Herut also saw itself as a liberal party, believing that there is no inherent conflict between patriotism and the ethics and values of a society. He said that his father would quote Theodore Herzl on this point, who wrote that there are two types of nationalism, positive and negative. Positive nationalism arises out of love. Negative nationalism arises from hatred. The nationalism of his father s political party exemplified the positive, he said. But more and more, the nationalism of the Likud party is negative. As Israeli society has turned increasingly to the right, right wing religious parties have tended to view values, like human rights, as being in conflict with the interests of the state. Over time, this perspective has pulled some of the more secular parties, like Likud, in this direction. A clear example of this trend is the recent decision passed in the Knesset to retroactively legalize Israeli settlements in the West Bank that were built on Arab owned land. Benny Begin was the sole member of the Likud party to vote against this legislation, which will soon be reviewed by Israel s Supreme Court which will determine if the law violates Israel s fundamental principles. Interestingly enough, we see an identical trend in America where a love of country, and a belief in human rights, are increasingly viewed as conflicting, rather than complementary values. Today in Israel, America, and across the globe, human rights and nationalism are viewed as a zero sum game, in which the elevation of one of these values is seen as coming at the expense of the other. But this is not how it has to be. Judaism has a cherished tradition, the teachings of the Torah and our prophets, who believed that the ultimate strength of a nation comes, not only from military might alone, but from the values which underpin a society our prophets preached on justice for all, paying attention especially to those who are most vulnerable: the orphan, the widow, the stranger, the immigrant. After all, they reminded, we were strangers in Egypt. We know what it s like to be insecure. We understand the evil that comes when good people turn their heads and refuse to see the pain and suffering of their neighbors. Our prophets taught that for our nation to stand, it must be one of ethics and values. Not simply because we are supposed to be better than other nations, but rather because a country that does not act with decency and care will rot from within, even before it is assaulted from external enemies. As Benny Begin strives to remind his party of the values they were founded on, you and I are called on, as Jews and as Americans to do the same. Let us strive to create a nationalism that comes from love, not hate; which believes in the beauty and worth of our country, and understands that its foundations come out of the respect, care and dignity with which we treat one another. President s Message/Cantor s Notes Library Notes & Sisterhood Update Upcoming Events Adult Opportunities Youth Group News/Member News IN THIS ISSUE Tikkun Olam Acknowledgements Calendar Service Schedule Back Page

2 2 Message from the President /Cantor s Notes FROM THE PRESIDENT Marty Pomerantz So here I am, 6 months into my presidency, and already beginning to prepare for the next group of Temple Beth-El board members. The first 6 months have been a great learning experience for me in gaining an understanding of how we are doing as a Temple; and things look pretty good! The world is changing and many families don t have time for religion in their lives. Trust me, I completely understand that! The activities of children today and the amount of time spent driving them all over the place, how do we find time? It really comes down to priorities. The lucky part about being Jewish is that it is not just a religion, but a culture. It is a big priority for me that my children completely embrace their Judaism and the history of the underdog that comes along with it. When I think about my life, while I did not spend a great deal of time at the temple after my bar mitzvah, I still had an incredible connection to my Judaism. Growing up in Skokie during the time when the Nazis were marching, it was something that made me incredibly angry. There was a deep passion to defy the hatred they represented, not because of the temple, but because I am Jewish. I went to Indiana University and joined a Jewish fraternity where I experienced my first real anti-semitic experiences. I had a nice young girl ask me where my horns were. It wasn t a joke, she was CANTOR S NOTES Cantor Faryn H. K. Rudnick, ACC Purim is the story of courage in the face of adversity. We all know the story: When Mordechai learns of Haman s plan to annihilate the Jewish people, he convinces his cousin Esther to step in, marry the king, and persuade him to help keep the Jews alive. The story is one of intrigue, politics, sacrifice, and courage. Each year, as is custom in Jewish communities all around the world, we celebrate Purim with a Purim spiel, a play that tells the story of Purim while spoofing another, well known musical. In my time at Temple Beth-El, our Purim spiel author extraordinaire, Nancy Vizer, has masterfully set our spiel to time honored and popular musicals, such as The Sound of Music and Frozen. And this year will be another hit, right off the stages of Broadway: Hamilton! You ve been dying to see the show, but couldn t get tickets. You know the music and know the story of the show s creator. And you know why the show is so popular. And now, for one night and one serious. I experienced anti-semitic chants during intramural sports in championship games. The hatred was built into these people who had no idea why. In the work place, the anti-semitism continued. It is shocking how these experiences made me feel. It wasn t really anger. These people were my friends, co-workers and customers. The things they said were not about hatred toward me or other Jews. It was just the kind of apathy toward what they were saying, or more importantly, a complete lack of education. Today, uneducated hatred continues to grow. Non-Jews hear the hatred and don t understand. They ask questions like Why don t all the Jews just leave Israel and go to Texas? That statement from a friend of mine, really woke me up to the lack of understanding about the importance of Israel to Jews around the world. While I would always take the time to have the conversations with these people in an attempt to educate them about what it was like, I didn t really feel the impact until I had children. I began to realize that they needed to be educated, not only for themselves, but to be able to educate the people that they come into contact with, to defend against the ignorance of the world. I believe my children have already begun to show signs of that connection. I believe it is time for our Temple to find a way to educate our communities at this time in which our enemies are espousing hatred toward people. We need people to understand the truth, to see what is really going on. We need to speak about the good that happens in Judaism. We need you to start the process with participation in your community, Temple Beth-El. Help us to build the future of Judaism and the survival of Temple Beth-El. night only, you can see Hamilton like it s never been done before. Together with the Purim spiel cast, the guitar band, and Craig, we will perform our own version and vision of Hamilton, which for the one night will be known as Haman-ton (see page 5). Often when we choose our spiel, we go with something that everyone will know the music to, something popular or something meaningful for people of all ages. But when we chose Hamilton for this year s spiel, it was not just because of its immense popularity or the incredible power of its music. Rather, there is a connection between the story of Purim and Hamilton. Anyone who has seen the show might tell you that Hamilton can be described as a story that addresses politics, facing enemies, loyalty, and generations of descendants. The stories have similar themes, as Esther and Mordechai stood up to injustice in the face of their enemies to save our people, to ensure freedom for the generations to come. Purim comes but once a year. This year, we hope that you will join us on Saturday night, March 11, for our annual Purim spiel. We hope you won t throw away your shot to see your fellow Temple Beth-El members share the story of our people in this once in a lifetime performance of Haman-ton.

3 Library Notes Judas, by Amos Oz LIBRARY NOTES Rabbi Victor Weissberg Amos Oz is one of modern Israel s greatest writers. I define Oz as writer instead of author because he writes fiction and nonfiction. He writes for adults and children. He writes books and he writes articles. He tells wonderful stories and thoughtful essays on issues of conscience. He is an outstanding example of Israeli thought on a myriad of subjects and issues. Amos Oz s latest novel is entitled Judas. As you might infer, it deals with the anti-hero of the Jesus story, Judas Iskariot. If you know the New Testament story, or of the Last Supper, you might be falsely led into believing that Oz s retelling is merely the popular version. Disabuse yourself and read excitedly on. While the Jesus-Judas story seems to be the organizing theme of this profound novel, Mr. Oz lays before us a series of historic moments in human existence. He has us consider both sides of issues as described by the novel s characters. There is the Jesus -Judas issue re-examined. There is the issue of Zionism, which is so central to Jews, which Amos Oz artistically examines. He SISTERHOOD UPDATE Amy Tuchler, President Many thanks to BARB BERMAN for baking muffins and buying other provisions for the Big Breakfast. And thanks to BARB BERMAN, again, for hosting the Sisterhood Book Discussion in late February. shows us that some Zionists differed with Ben-Gurion. They believed that Jews and Arabs could live together. In the fictitious person of Shaltiel Abravanel, Oz shows us how some Zionists eschewed the idea of a Jewish State in favor of a Cultural Jewish Community, living in condominium with a flourishing Arab community. Oz then draws a picture of Arab rejection of the idea replete with acts of savagery which forced a different outcome and led to Israel s present situation. However, Dear Reader, Oz s writing and exposition is placed within a fascinating plot that does not lead to any simplification. His artistic literary achievement lets you understand what was and what is, in human events. And perhaps most importantly, how human views are often controlled by unforeseen circumstances, which force us to forge ahead even if events lead to unforeseen outcomes. Oz s thesis is fascinating and thought provoking, offering us something very special: A wonderful plot, deftly defined characters, whose interactions and musings help us better understand the story, and the inner story, of Israel, religion, Jerusalem, love, loss, frustration in a way that helps us perceive the difference between great writing and lesser attempts. Oz is outstanding and you, Dear Reader, will hopefully feel as I do, that this book will remain memorable for its many stories, wise observations, literary style and reading pleasure. Hooray for style and substance. Sound good? Tell a friend. Most likely, by the time you read this column, the Mishloach Manot bags will have been stuffed and delivered. Big thanks to LESLIE SCHLESINGER and SHANNON MILLER for pulling this huge project together. And thanks to our heroes, stuffers and deliverers. Mishloach Manot is really a community project from assembling the bags, to contributing by adding your own name to friends bags, and finally to delivering them. We hope the tradition continues throughout the years. Our Sisterhood Seder is on March 22. It is always a warm and festive event. Please sign up. 3

4 4 Upcoming Events Mon., Feb. 27, Tues., Feb. 28 & Wed., Mar. 1

5 Upcoming Events 5

6 6 Upcoming Events

7 Adult Opportunities 7

8 8 Youth Group News/Member News 3 rd - 8 th Graders 9 th - 12 th Graders Mike and some KoBE kids having fun at the Harry Potter Tu BiSh vat Party Upcoming Event Sunday, March 5 1:00 pm Purim Carnival Volunteer Meeting Monday, March 6 9:30-11:30 am Movie & Bernie s Book Bank Details to follow Saturday, March 18 Bulls Game Details to follow Watch for s and flyers with details. Mike Greenstone, our Youth Coordinator, can be reached at greenstone1987@gmail.com KoBE kids had a great time at Key Lime Cove. Upcoming Events Monday, March 6 9:30-11:30 am Movie & Visit to Bernie s Book Bank Details to follow Tuesday, March 21 6:00-7:30 pm GaGa $5 Please RSVP

9 Member News 9 Meet Cindy Schoenstadt and Gloria Glickson Weiser: PERPETUATION is about more than buildings it is about the future of our community, our People. This article is the sixth installment in a series of discussions with donors to the Legacy & Endowment (L&E) Program. Its purpose is to share insights about their connection to Temple Beth-El and why their generous support of the L&E Program is important to them. In this article meet Cindy Schoenstadt Past President, TBE, and her mother, Gloria Glickson Weiser, a long-time TBE member, who share their thoughts with our membership. 1. Can you give us some background on your connection to Temple Beth-El? My parents, Gloria and Art Glickson, joined TBE in 1961, in anticipation of my brother Scott s bar mitzvah. (Our family was a member at a different reform temple, believing that synagogue affiliation is important to maintaining Jewish identity, culture, and existence, but decided needs were not being met there.) That is where the connection began, and over all these years, we have both maintained active participation. Art Glickson (the Mishkan is dedicated to his memory, by Gloria, my siblings and our spouses) served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and as an active Board member for many years. Richard, as you well know, served in many leadership capacities, as Chairman of the Board, Chairman of Perpetuation (Phase 2), Board member, and whatever else he was asked to do. And I was a member of many committees, chair of two sub-committees of the Perpetuation Committee, member of the Board, Secretary, and President. Tamar Weissberg introduced Gloria to Morrie Weiser, another Temple member, and they were married. Morrie, too, had a special commitment to TBE. He dedicated the Eternal Light in the Sanctuary. 2. What are some of your most meaningful memories as members of the TBE community? So many meaningful memories TBE clergy has performed 9 b nai mitzvot (2 generations), 7 family weddings (3 generations), and 5 funerals (2 generations) for our family. Our TBE family has been supportive beyond expectation. Beyond life-cycle events I vividly remember crying in the parking lot when I arrived at the Temple once the new sanctuary was completed. The time, work, and love that our family poured into the project was worth it all, and we feel at home. The dedications of the Pillar of Strength in Richard s memory, and of the Mishkan, in memory of my Dad, were very beautiful events. Participation with members of our TBE family at AIPAC s Policy Conference in DC (we have both attended) is a special source of pride. 3. Why did you take a leadership role in the Legacy and Endowment program? We recognize the crucial importance of establishing the Endowment Fund to ensure the future of TBE for generations to follow. The fact that our family is multi-generational at TBE has enriched our experiences. Even though many of the third generation (and all of the fourth) now live on the east coast, they return to TBE for High Holidays whenever possible. I know you have seen some of them. 4. What difference do you think your gift will make to the future of TBE? We made our gifts in the interest of the future of TBE, hoping to motivate and inspire others to step up to the plate, too. We have benefited from those who came before us, whose names we may not know. All of us need to do something. PERPETUATION is about more than buildings it is about the future of our community, our People. 5. What advice would you give to others who are considering making a gift to the Legacy and Endowment program? Recognize that TBE, no Temple, can exist on dues alone. It is up to us to ensure the future of our spiritual home. To find out how you can support the Temple Beth-El Legacy & Endowment Program, contact Jill Weininger jillweininger@icloud.com or Janice Hadesman jhadesman@templebeth-el.org ext. 211

10 10 Member News Grandparents Leslie Leiter & Irwin Leiter on the birth of their grandson Slater Terrance Ragan born January 13, 2017 to Mindy & Todd Ragan. Great grandmother Martha Young on the birth of Reid Hudson Kelly born January 24, 2017 to Ashley & Michael Kelly. March 18 Michael Swift Son of Lisa & Bill Swift Wood Oaks Jr. High School B nai Mitzvah March 25 Samuel Singer Son of Jarmila & Gary Singer Springman Middle School Share ALL Your Good News Share the news of any new additions to your family. Tell us about the birth of your child or grandchild, engagements, weddings and anything else. We want to wish you, our Temple members, a mazel tov, and notify the congregation via . In addition, babies will receive a gift from our Temple and JUF s J Baby program. Our clergy would love to name the baby at a Shabbat service. Please contact Joanne Gold to share your good news at ext. 202 or jgold@templebeth-el.org. Thank you to our Oneg and Kiddush Sponsors Donna Joseph, Natalie Simon and Mel Simon in honor of the bar mitzvah of Matthew Joseph. The Smith family in honor of the bat mitzvah of Rachel Smith The Suffet family in honor of the bat mitzvah of Jessica Suffet. Consider a contribution to one of the many TBE funds to honor, celebrate, or memorialize a family member or friend. Donations can be earmarked to one of the following funds via our website ( or stopping at the Temple for a form. To ensure accuracy, we prefer not to receive donations over the phone. TBE General Fund Blitz Family Children s Cultural Arts Fund (Payable to: BFCCA Fund)* Cantor Rudnick s Discretionary Fund (Payable to: Cantor Rudnick s Discretionary Fund)* Free Will Kaplan Camp Scholarship Fund Libby Golden z l Memorial Fund (Payable to: Libby Golden Memorial Fund)* Matthew Schaffer-Schwartz z l Tikkun Olam Award Fund (Payable to: MSSM Fund)* Memorial Fund Milton Steinberg z l Parenting Fund (Payable to: Milton Steinberg Parenting Fund)* Mishkan T filah Prayer Book Plate ($36 minimum donation) Perpetuation Fund Phyllis Natalie Podolsky z l Library Fund (Payable to: PPML Fund)* Rabbi Helbraun s Discretionary Fund (Payable to: Rabbi Helbraun s Discretionary Fund)* TBE Endowment Fund (Payable to TBE Endowment Fund) TBE Men s Club (Payable to:tbe Men s Club)* TBE Sisterhood (Payable to:tbe Sisterhood)* Torah Fund Tree of Life $154/leaf (Leaf wording form will be sent) YoBE Youth of Beth-El (Payable to: YoBE)* We appreciate all contributions and suggest a minimum donation of $18 per acknowledgement. ATTENTION ALL GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS! Tikkun Olam Award In 2004, congregants Cyndee Schaffer and Doug Schwartz established a college scholarship fund called the Matthew Schaffer Schwartz Tikkun Olam Award, in memory of their beloved son. The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating high school senior of a TBE member family, who, by word and deed, has made significant contributions to the Jewish ideal of helping to repair the world. In addition to receiving a $500 check, the recipient of the award will have his or her name inscribed on a plaque displayed at Temple Beth-El and on a prayer book plate. The deadline for submissions is April 14, Students must submit a list of their Tikkun Olam activities along with a short essay (250 words or less) describing their involvement. It can be one large project or several smaller projects in which the student has participated. The project name, the location where the project work took place and the name of a supervisor, if any, should be included. Also, the student s list of high school activities must be included. If you have questions, please contact Joanne Gold ext. 202 or jgold@templebeth-el.org.

11 Member News 11 H e a l t h y N o s h i n g w i t h K i m Kim Seiden Healthy Food 4 Life Certified Nutrition Consultant For private nutritional/weight loss consulting, contact me at kimseid@gmail.com Whether it s because of our kids, jobs, school, housework, errands or aging parents, life gets hectic!! But that s no excuse for poor eating habits. We have to make our health a priority no matter what. The fact is eating right will provide you with WAY more energy for your busy life than eating crap. The key is to find ways to make it easy to eat healthy. Yes, eating right takes some time and effort, but a little goes a long way. Here are 7 tips to help: Prep your produce. After grocery shopping, take a few minutes to prep your produce so it s easy to grab and eat! Wash and slice peppers, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, strawberries, melon, etc. and put them in glass containers in your refrigerator. This way, when it comes time to make a meal or a snack, they are ready to go. Time commitment: 10 minutes Buy ready-to-eat produce. If tip #1 does not sound realistic for you, then buy convenient, ready-to-eat fruits and veggies. Baby carrots, mini peppers, sugar snap peas, pre-cut broccoli and cauliflower, grape tomatoes, bagged salads, pre-cut fruit these require no prep at all!! Time commitment: 0 minutes Keep your house stocked with healthy staples for throw-together meals. Healthy staples make it easy to throw together a meal. Always keep frozen chicken breasts and ground turkey, quinoa and brown rice, canned beans and dried lentils, canned tomatoes, vegetable and chicken broth, spices and sauces like pesto, teriyaki and barbecue, condiments like artichoke hearts, olives, hearts of palm, and of course lots of fresh and frozen vegetables in the house. Time commitment: you re shopping anyways, so 0 extra minutes Use time-saving kitchen tools. The Vidalia Chop Wizard is a fantastic tool that makes chopping vegetables a breeze! Get it at Bed Bath & Beyond! Also a slow cooker or pressure cooker can be a big help on a busy day. Time commitment: negative because these SAVE you time Cook extra and freeze. When you do cook, double the recipe and freeze extras in small portions. Then you can have leftover soup, chili, or stew for lunch or dinner any time. Time commitment: you re cooking anyways, so 0 extra minutes Pick 1 day per week to cook and prep. Many people who make meal planning really work choose one day a week like Sunday to cook a lot of food that can be eaten for much of the next week. Grill a batch of chicken breasts, assemble a set of salads and put them in individual mason jars, make some quinoa, cook up a pot of soup. Then enjoy all week long! Time commitment: 1-2 hours Take advantage of companies that exist to help. Peapod can deliver groceries, while Hello Fresh and Blue Apron send healthy meal kit dinners right to your home. Time commitment: 15 minutes on the computer Here s a recipe for Overnight Oats that can save you time in the morning. Simply put all of the ingredients in a container in the evening and place in the refrigerator, and in the morning grab and go! Delicious Overnight Oats 1/3 cup non-instant rolled oats 1/3 cup water, milk, almond milk or coconut milk 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/3 cup frozen or fresh blueberries dash of cinnamon 1-2 Tablespoons chia seeds 2 Tablespoons chopped raw almonds or walnuts Stir everything together, except nuts, and place in a container. Put in refrigerator overnight. In morning, top with nuts and enjoy!! JoAnne Barston, Onsite Coordinator Welcome to the month of March at the Board of Jewish Education- Early Childhood Center at Temple Beth-El. On any given day this month, you will be seeing children wearing costumes, shaking greggers and baking hamentaschen. It s Purim- a time for fun, families and celebrations. Our BJE-ECC has a wonderful Parent-Toddler class. The class is physically active and developmentally stimulating. It offers an opportunity for a parent/caregiver to experience time together with their child in our preschool setting. Registration is ongoing. Please call or joannebarston@gmail.com. Chag Sameach!

12 12 Tikkun Olam A great opportunity to participate in new and exciting programs to help our local community There is a different project every month or you can create your own This feature will highlight many of the ongoing Tikkun Olam community service programs proudly completed by members of the Temple Beth-El community. Please plan your year and community outreach efforts by signing up now for as many projects that interest you. Or, create your own project like Debbie Sandlow and her daughters Haley and Natalie, our fellow TBE congregants. They identified the need to support the Northbrook Community Garden Project. Seven Questions about The TBE- Northbrook Community Garden Project (based on an interview with Debbie Sandlow with thoughts shared by her daughters, Haley and Natalie). 1. How did you identify this particular project and what is the need? Last year, the Northbrook Community Garden approached Temple Beth-El to start a public garden space on its grounds. The Temple approved the space just west of the building for a garden, and last summer 16 plots were allotted for TBE members and the Northbrook community to establish their very own gardens. The Temple designated the corners of the garden to be harvested for the poor in keeping with the Torah commandment. Our plot was adjacent to one of the corners so we volunteered to take care of not only our own plot, but the corner plot too. Our goal was to give that produce and excess vegetables that other gardeners donated, to the Northfield Food Pantry. My daughters, Haley and Natalie, decided they wanted to take this on as Tikkun Olam for their b not mitzvah. The garden fosters community togetherness and creates awareness about the ecological benefits of locally grow food. It also allows for deeds of loving kindness through the donation of food to the needy. Donating garden produce to the Northfield Food Pantry allows food insecure families to receive fresh, healthy vegetables. 2. How does the activity work...what did the volunteers do in terms of growing, collecting the vegetables (what kinds and how many pounds) and how were they distributed? You need to complete an application to receive a plot and then agree to follow certain rules such as keeping an organic garden, taking care of your plot, and helping out with overall garden maintenance. Once you receive your plot, you can plant whatever you like. Our family decided to plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, herbs, and even cantaloupe. Each week, we watered, weeded and took care of the garden. Once we started harvesting vegetables, we picked them, weighed them and delivered them to the Northfield Food Pantry. By the beginning of November, we delivered over 100 pounds of fresh produce from the garden to the food pantry. 3. What TBE members and family members have worked with you on the project? Haley, Natalie and I primarily worked in the garden. The summer pre-school program took care of one of the designated corners too. In addition, the following other Temple members had garden plots: Jack Rudnick, Dustin Herlich and Adrienne Mittelman. 4. What date(s) or over what period of time did you perform the community service work? May through November 5. Is this an ongoing program? Yes. We will resume work in the garden this spring, and we expect to continue coordinating deliveries to the Northfield Food Pantry. In addition, the Northbrook Community Garden hopes to double the size of the garden plots so that additional Temple members can get involved. 6. What is the feeling of accomplishment among you and your children (others?) who worked on this Tikkun Olam project (can you share specific thoughts, comments from each of you)? Haley and Natalie enjoyed working in the garden and watching it grow and flourish. Picking fresh vegetables in the garden and being able to deliver them to the Northfield Food Pantry for less fortunate families was very fulfilling. It was great seeing the shelves of the food pantry stocked with fresh produce. It was also nice to be outdoors and fun to watch the vegetables grow. While it was hard work and required a weekly commitment, we enjoyed being a part of it. 7. Please share any additional thoughts about the project and what it means to the community. The Torah says: And when you reap the harvest in your land, you shall not reap the corners of your field.. You shall leave them for the poor and the stranger. Temple Beth El s commitment to the garden allows Temple members to come together in a common effort to grow food and share it with the community. Gardening is an activity that members of all ages can enjoy. It beautifies the neighborhood, provides healthy produce for those in need and lets gardeners share in the work and rewards. We are grateful to be a part of this wonderful project. FUN FACT besides Tikkun Olam, the Sandlows were on a mission to perfect our gazpacho recipe! In our garden, we grew all the necessary ingredients for good gazpacho: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, jalapenos (we like it spicy!) and parsley. It is a family favorite that we enjoy all summer. If you d like to participate in the garden next year and secure a garden plot, contact Brian Bruce at BrianBruceSr@sbcglobal.net. To find out more about other Tikkun Olam opportunities at Temple Beth-El contact Linda Lopata at llopata@templebeth-el.org.

13 Tikkun Member Olam News 13 SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE Elaine Cooper Koffman Social Action Committee (SAC) member Stewart Schram leads an event at CJE SeniorLife s Robineau Residence in Skokie once a month. On January 18, Stewart, assisted by SAC member Doris Guthman, and me, led the residents in a spirited game of Wheel of Fortune played with a real wheel and play money. Our next visit will be February 14, SAC member Marcia Kanarek coordinates the Temple Beth-El volunteers who help at the birthday parties that take place at CJE SeniorLife s Gidwitz Place in Northbrook on the third Wednesday of each month from 1:15 to approximately 3:15 pm. During her last visit, on January 18, she was assisted by her four-year-and-a-half-old granddaughter, Jocelyn Tamez. This is an activity that is appropriate for children of any age. Please call or Marcia ( or imokydoky@aol.com) to participate. SAC member Joan Freud has been arranging for TBE s annual blood drive in memory of Robert Kaiser, the beloved late husband of former synagogue president Rosely Kaiser. It took place on Sunday, February 12, Our Uptown Café dates for 2017 are Thursday, March 23; Sunday, May 21; Sunday, July 16; and Sunday, September 3. Volunteers, who must be at least 12 years old, work as servers from 5:30 to 7:00 pm on weekdays and from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Sundays. Please call or me ( or BennettK@aol.com) to be a waiter/waitress at the Café. Our Yad L Yad partners in Yekaterinburg, Russia held two events to celebrate Chanukah (this photo took place at one of the celebrations). The members of the SAC invite you to join us in our efforts to help repair the world.

14 14 Information TEMPLE BETH-EL FUNERAL PLAN Temple Beth-El has a funeral plan for our members with David Jacobson at Chicago Jewish Funerals, Ltd. The plan includes the use of our sanctuary for your services or the use of the Chicago Jewish Funeral chapel, located in Buffalo Grove and Skokie. Chicago Jewish Funerals offers you the opportunity to guarantee current fees by funding a pre-need plan. If a death occurs, please call the Rabbi first and then David Jacobson at or If you would like to have a booklet mailed to you, call the Temple office TEMPLE BETH-EL CEMETERY Our Temple s cemetery is located on Pulaski Avenue, just north of Bryn Mawr Avenue in Chicago. We still have plots available for sale. Contact the TBE office for more information. If you are interested in a plot at Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington Heights, contact Mike Rubenstein at or mrubenstein@shalom2.com ARE YOU COPING WITH LOSS & CHANGE? We invite you to attend an Adult Grief Support Group led by Noah C. Weinstein, MA, LCPC. Noah is a Northbrook-based psychotherapist specializing in grief, loss and transition. The group will meet at TBE on March 22 at 7:00 pm Open to all Did you Know SHALVA Collects Cellphones? For quite a few years, Temple Beth-El has been generously collecting cell phones for SHALVA. We thought you d enjoy knowing a bit about how this process works. The phones are collected, then shipped to Shelter Alliance, a recycling operation in Florida. They pay SHALVA according to the blue book value of each phone. In processing the thousands of phones sent to them every year, they wipe clean all personal data and either refurbish the phones, recycle the parts or melt them down. Each year SHALVA receives around $4,000-5,000 just by collecting your old or broken cellphones. All of these dollars go directly to help our clients. Shelter Alliance has expanded their recycling program, so, think about all those old cellphones, ipads and ipods taking up space in your drawer or closet, and help us turn them into dollars for clients. SUPPORT ISRAEL BUY ISRAEL BONDS - Need to purchase a gift for a special occasion? Are you unsure of what to buy? Why not purchase a 5-Year Mazel Tov Savings Bond? Prices begin at $100. Pick up an informational sheet at the Temple or log on to israelbonds.com. Mention Temple Beth-El on your form. Questions? Contact the Israel Bond Office BUY ISRAELI GOODS - Maimonides taught us that the highest form of helping people is to support them so they can help themselves. A great way to do that without incurring any additional costs is to make the purchase of Israeli products part of our regular shopping. Israeli products that are readily available from local merchants include food, wine, women s apparel, fashion designer jewelry, baby and child apparel, hardware, health and beauty aids, footwear, toys and games, flowers, and more! Available products, and the local stores that are likely to stock them, can be found at: (BIG). TBE Monthly Tzedakah Collections A tzedakah box is located in the lobby just outside our Mishkan. Tzedakah for March will go to Yekaterinberg Summer Camp: the TBE Russian Jewish community project. Checks should be made payable to Temple Beth-El and mailed to the Temple office marked tzedakah. As always, we thank you for your continuous and generous support.

15 Acknowledgements 15 MEMORIAL PLAQUES In addition to the names requested through the Yahrzeit Fund, the following names are read on Erev Shabbat as shown below. February 26 - March 4 March 5-11 March March March 26 - April 1 30 Shevat-6 Adar 7-13 Adar Adar Adar 28 Adar-5 Nisan Anna Barnett Rose Aranowitz Hy Bernstein Edythe Bagel Lawrence Bizar Sylvia Berkowitz Milton Banovitz Max Bloch Ronda Delott Rosa Block Lewis Block Lena Bernstein Morris Blumenthal Lillian Frazin Rose Burrs George Cooper Sam Blossteen Annie Cohen Morris Gethner Estelle Cooper Rebecca Coren Samuel Carnow Celia Cowan Ida Glickin Raymond Elbin Abraham Davis Steven Cohen Tobey Cowen Abraham Grossman Jacob Epstein Shirley Engel Gertrude Eckmann Harry Gorodess Stanley Kandelman Mortimer Friedlander Irving Fishlove Harris Elford John Hoffman Kate Levy Samuel Gates Bessie Franklin Julius Engel Dorothy Koffman Michael Libovsky Samuel Gerson Sidney Heyman Maurice Ezgur David Lerman Fay Lissit Gary Gordon Jacob Hochstadter Betty Funston Adolph Levy Samuel Lissit Minnie Hasse Pauline Hoffman Walter Gertz Charles Lichtenstadt Morris Marbell William Hoff Rose Hoffman Adolph Gottlieb David Lichtenstein Sylvia Oestmann Carrie Israel Louis Laster Edward Guthman Rachel Nelson Paul Robins Ike Kramer Norma Lavin Helen Jacobsen Theodore Podolsky Edwin Shainen Robert Krause Edith Lowenthal Sarah Kaluzna Fay Pusstelnik Hannah Shainen Bernard Levin Max Miletzky Bertha Kaplan Jacob Reinhardt Abraham Stein Rose Levin Clara Nemeroff Irene Katzenberg Daniel Rubin Joseph Tanenbaum Charles Levy Leonard Rosenberg Gladys Kaufman Keva Sheinfeld Harry Vihon Julia Lichtenstein Ida Schwartz Ruth Kraft Henrietta Silverman Miriam Weiss Fanny Moresco Kate Simon Harry Krelof Razelle Tabel George Weisz Sonia Podolsky Eugene Slavin Paul Lipin Ernestina Winter Jack Pomerantz Sarah Solomon Ben Litman Esther Sadin Nathan Starkman Albert Markowitz Joseph Sagaloff Flora Stein Bruce Peckler Lena Silverman Jennie Sterling Hyman Shaffer Morris Simon Saul Wallace Anna Shapiro Bernard Spiegel Joseph Wolff Ruth Shore Jack Spilky Jeanette Wolken Gertrude Silver Beatrice Starkman Mary Ziv Arthur Starkman Minnie Wax Sarah Zlotnik Mitchell Steigman William Weber Sophie Steinberg Edward Zaslousky Jennie Tract Arlene Weiss Herbert Werner Remember A Loved One If you wish to honor the memory of a dear one, a most fitting, traditional and dignified remembrance is a memorial plaque. This permanent remembrance will give you great comfort for many years and will serve as a reminder of the place your loved one held in your life. A permanent memorial plaque is displayed bearing the name and yahrzeit date on the Memorial Wall outside the Sanctuary. Your loved one s name will also be included on the weekly yahrzeit list outside the Sanctuary on the anniversary of their passing and be read at our Friday evening Shabbat Service. The contribution to memorialize your loved one with a permanent yahrzeit plaque requires a donation of $750. If you have any questions, please call Joanne Gold (847) ext. 202.

16 16 Acknowledgements YAHRZEIT FUND Received in the Temple office by January 31 Victoria Bahnasy in memory of Sadie Rix Maurice Lipschutz in memory of Arthur Marks Victoria Bahnasy in memory of Polly Stewart Maurice Lipschutz in memory of Herman Tenenbaum Sandy Barr in memory of Julius Kaplan Martin Marks in memory of Abraham Marks Judy Benjamin in memory of Daniel Witt Russell Morris in memory of Debra Caryn Morris Barbara Berman in memory of Lillian Gothelf Joseph Noren in memory of Mollie Friedman Helen & Art Chapman in memory of David Chapman Erwin Pearlman in memory of Barbara Pearlman Bess Warady Cohen in memory of Harry Canter Julie & Steve Rifkin in memory of Roslyn Rifkin Heather Cole in memory of Bernard Levenberg Julie & Steve Rifkin in memory of Jack Salkin Charles Colodny in memory of George Colodny Lisa Rubinstein in memory of Robert Greenfield Geraldine Diamond in memory of Hyman Diamond Cantor Faryn Rudnick in memory of Anne Greenbaum Geraldine Diamond in memory of Irene Tendrock Cantor Faryn Rudnick in memory of George Blumenfeld Leslie Dubin in memory of Jack Salkin Blanche Rusnak in memory of Stewart Rusnak Stuart Dubin in memory of Lillian Dubin Katz Elise Sacks in memory of Sam Gutter Dina Dubrow in memory of Sol Dubrow Jan Sax in memory of Elinor Saperstein Gerald Elbin in memory of Jack Elbin Cyndee Schaffer in memory of Earl S. Harter Sonia Gethner in memory of Rachel Gethner Cyndee Schaffer & Doug Schwartz in memory of Rose Sugar Brown Sonia Gethner in memory of Lizabeth Simon Stephen Scheiber in memory of Frieda Olga Scheiber Georgean Goldenberg in memory of Michael Silverman Leslie Schlesinger in memory of Mabel Sagaloff Joseph Groner in memory of Donald Kaplan James Schneider in memory of Alan Schneider Sharon Gross in memory of Julius Pomerantz Doug Schwartz in memory of Cynthia Geiderman Schwartz Lori Haberman in memory of Oscar Segal Ellen Sharpe in memory of Joan Steinberg Craig Hahn in memory of Rosalind Hahn Edward Simkin in memory of Alex Simkin Aline Heller in memory of Rose Pinchouck Edward Simkin in memory of Irwin Simkin Debbie Herst in memory of Arthur Morris Bruce Werner in memory of Stanley Rauch Judith Immergluck in memory of Estelle Sklansky Bruce Werner in memory of Mollie Silverstein Marilyn Kaplan in memory of Joseph Wolff Bruce Werner in memory of Reuben Brodsky Silverstein Cheri Kates in memory of Irving Hornstein Jack Witlin in memory of Morton Witlin Rai Keefe in memory of Baby Pearl Keefe Jeffrey Lerner in memory of Lawrence Lerner Jeffrey Wolfson in memory of Stanley William Wolfson James Levine in memory of Ethel Levine CONTRIBUTIONS Received in the Temple office by January 31 BLITZ FAMILY CHILDREN S CULTURAL ARTS FUND Mark & Pam Friedman in honor of Dave Kanarek s 70 th birthday Earl & Sharon Lichtenstein in honor of Dave Kanarek s special birthday CANTOR RUDNICK S DISCRETIONARY FUND Alvin Bloom in appreciation and in loving memory of Lois S. Bloom Gary & Judith Katz in honor of David Kanarek s birthday Gordon & Joanne Levine in honor of the birth of Slater Terrance Ragan Gordon & Joanne Levine in honor of the birth of Dorie Kole s grandson Gordon & Joanne Levine in loving memory of Lois Bloom Gordon & Joanne Levine in loving memory of Lillian Aizuss FREE WILL Fred Rosenberg & Barbara Berman in honor of the birth of Wyatt Keith GENERAL FUND Edward & Joan Freud in loving memory of Lillian Aizuss Edward & Joan Freud in honor of the birth of Slater Terrance Ragan Douglas Schwartz & Cynthia Schaffer in honor of Lil Cohen s special birthday Douglas Schwartz & Cynthia Schaffer in honor of the birth of Wyatt Keith Douglas Schwartz & Cynthia Schaffer in loving memory of Norman "Dick" Abrams Douglas Schwartz & Cynthia Schaffer in loving memory of Lois Bloom Florence Weese in loving memory of Lois Bloom William Weese in loving memory of Lois Bloom KAPLAN CAMP SCHOLARSHIP FUND Terry & Gloria Pogofsky in loving memory of Lois Bloom MATTHEW SCHAFFER-SCHWARTZ z l TIKKUN OLAM FUND Jerold & Evelyn Levin in loving memory of Lois Bloom MEMORIAL FUND Alana & Scott Glickson for the yahrzeit of Trent Glickson Linda & Herma Goldstein in loving memory of Lois Bloom PERPETUATION FUND Lonni & Scott Glickson in loving memory of Henry Mautner Lonni & Scott Glickson in loving memory of Irwin Jacobson Gerald & Sandra Lewis in honor of the birth of Slater Terrance Ragan PHYLLIS NATALIE PODOLSKY z l LIBRARY FUND Gerald & Sandra Lewis in loving memory of Lillian Aizuss RABBI HELBRAUN S DISCRETIONARY FUND Alvin Bloom in appreciation and in loving memory of Lois S. Bloom Cort & Elaine Jacoby in appreciation and in loving memory of Bob Grossman Jan & Robbie Sax in honor of David Kanarek s special birthday Barry Siegel in appreciation Norton Siegel in appreciation Jerry & Helen Tivers in appreciation of baby naming of Norah Willow Tivers-Wegner Jerry & Helen Tivers in loving memory of Henry Mautner TBE MEN S CLUB Jo Ann Kirsch in honor of Dave Kanarek's 70 th birthday

17 Calendar 17 Please Note: This calendar was produced for printing on February 13. A more current calendar can be found on our web page at (click on calendar tab at the top). If unsure about a program date or time, contact the Temple office at (847)

18 18

19 P L E A S E S U P P O R T O U R A D V E R T I S E R S 19

20 TEMPLE BETH-EL One of Chicago s Oldest Reform Congregations Founded in Dundee Road Northbrook, IL (fax) Sidney M. Helbraun, D.D. Senior Rabbi Victor H. Weissberg, D.H.L, D.D. Rabbi Emeritus Faryn H. K. Rudnick, ACC Cantor Mandy Herlich Director of Lifelong Learning Janice Hadesman Executive Director Marty Pomerantz President Temple Beth-El is an inclusive Jewish community open to people of all ages, races and abilities, welcoming interfaith families, people who are single, partnered and LGBT. The Temple Beth-El Bulletin is published monthly. Letters, comments and news about the Temple are always welcome. Please send information via to office@templebeth-el.org. Bulletins may be viewed on our website through Acrobat Reader. The deadline for the May Bulletin is March 15, Wednesday, March 1 Morning Minyan Friday, March 3 Shabbat Yeladim Shabbat Service Saturday, March 4 Casual Morning Minyan Shabbat Service Wednesday, March 8 Morning Minyan Friday, March 10 Kabbalat Shabbat Saturday, March 11 Casual Morning Minyan Purim Service & Spiel Wednesday, March 15 Morning Minyan Friday, March 17 Shir Shabbat and Birthday Blessings MARCH SERVICE SCHEDULE 6:30 am 5:30 pm 7:30 pm 9:30 am 10:45 am 6:30 am 5:00 pm 9:30 am 5:00 pm 6:30 am 7:00 pm Saturday, March 18 Casual Morning Minyan Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah of Michael Swift Wednesday, March 22 Morning Minyan Friday, March 24 Early Oneg Kabbalat Shabbat Saturday, March 25 Casual Morning Minyan Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah of Sam Singer Friday, March 31 Early Oneg Kabbalat Shabbat Saturday, April 1 Casual Morning Minyan 9:30 am 10:00 am 6:30 am 5:30 pm 6:00 pm 9:30 am 10:00 am 5:30 pm 6:00 pm 9:30 am