Beth Hillel. Chai-Lites

Transcription

1 Beth Hillel Chai-Lites A Conservative Synagogue for the Greater Hartford Area September 2016 Edition Av-Elul 5776 Inside this issue... Monthly Announcements 2 From the Rabbi s Desk 3 The President s Column 4 Sisterhood 5, 7 Shabbat 6 High Holidays 6-8 Community 7 Contributions 9 Calendar 10 Sponsors 11 UPCOMING EVENTS September 2 Early Service 5 Office Closed 24 Selichot 25 Brotherhood Pancake Breakfast Cantor Shabbat October 2-4 Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippor Sukkot 23 Hoshanah Rabbah 24 Shemini Atzeret 25 Simchat Torah Join us for High Holiday Services! Rabbi Gary Karlin & Cantor Colman Reaboi will lead us through spiritually lifting prayers. Let s come together as a community during the holiest time of the year! For more information, please turn to pages 6-8. Visit us online at

2 Mission Statement Beth Hillel is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue rooted in the ancient traditions of the Torah while growing to meet the changes and challenges of our world. Its core are the many people of different ages and backgrounds who have chosen to make it their spiritual home, joining together for prayer, learning, and celebration. The many branches of Beth Hillel s community provide support to its congregants, reaching out to each other and welcoming our neighbors as together we learn from the past and teach for the future. Take a moment to send a Sonnygram at Hebrew Health. You just log into Hebrew Health Care's website and send one to a resident or even an employee. It s easy and free and brightens the day of any recipient. Here are the three easy steps! 1. Go to: 2. Scroll down until you see Sonny Gram on the left side of the page, and click on the icon. 3. Simply follow the prompts...it s as easy as that. SISTERHOOD FLOWER FUND Please consider sponsoring bima flowers for Shabbat, holidays, or a special occasion. Call Barbara Kaplan at (860) Announcements Condolences Abe Sigal on the passing of his beloved sister, Beatrice Gold Joel Lefkowitz on the passing of his beloved sister, Sylvia Loretta Dorfman Passing of our long time member, Carol Rosenbloom BHS Office Closed - September 5 October 3 & 4 If you need a minyan If you have a yahrzeit and need a minyan, please try to inform the office two weeks in advance. The office will send out an with your request this way, we will know that there will be a minyan for you. BETH HILLEL SYNAGOGUE 160 Wintonbury Avenue Bloomfield, CT Rabbi: Rabbi Emeritus: Rabbi Emeritus: Staff: Gary Karlin Gary L. Atkins Philip Lazowski Administrative Assistant: Susan Fried Joann Anderson Bonnie Eisenberg Greene Bookkeeper: Madalyn Levy Bulletin Editor Susan Fried Officers: President Alan Goodman Vice Presidents Mark Goldberg Stuart Kopel Penny Gitberg Treasurer Norm Famely Asst. Treasurer Lou Blumenfeld Financial Secretary Richard Gutcheon Asst. Financial secretary Marvin Hoberman Corresponding Secretary Myrna Schaffman Recording Secretary Shirley Morrison Main Office: (860) Fax: (860) Website: susan@bethhillelsynagogue.org OFFICE HOURS (except for Jewish holidays) Mon, Tues, Thurs 9:30 am 2:30 pm Fri 9:30 am 1:30 pm Closed Wednesday Beth Hillel Synagogue is a member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism From the Ritual Committee: Want to celebrate the anniversary of your Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Do you remember your haftarah? Volunteer to chant again on your special Shabbat Anniversary. Or perhaps you'd like to chant a new-to-you haftarah sometime? We would love to reserve a Shabbat or holiday haftarah for you. Just contact the office or the rabbi. (860) Beth Hillel Chai-Lites Page 2

3 From Rabbi Karlin s Desk The word synagogue derives from the Greek for bringing together, that is, a place where people assemble. This corresponds to the Hebrew Beit K nesset, a house of meeting. Jews come together for many things: to study Torah, to celebrate and commemorate, to engage in acts of caring and justice. But most regularly, a synagogue is a communal meqom t fillah, a place of prayer. I write these words when we think of prayer more than any other time of year longer synagogue services, larger attendance, unique melodies and texts that transport us back to earlier times the Yamim Nora im, the High Holidays. But why such a focus on prayer? So many grow up seldom if ever praying with a community in a house of worship. According to a recent Pew study, America s fastest growing religious self-identification are those whom they call the Nones, that is, people who have no formal affiliation with any religious group at all. Clearly, these Nones are not regular attendees to shul (or church or mosque). Nonetheless, for so many of us, prayer is foundational. When we pray we firmly plant ourselves in the soil of millennia of Jewish practice, faith, and experience. This is no small feat; Jewish prayer is rooted in and developed from the ancient sacrifices commanded in the Torah itself. Before we Jews had a fixed and formal liturgy, our people brought sacrifices Hebrew qorbanot, or that which is brought near (to God) to express their relationship with God. For example, God instructs Moses and the Israelites to be in charge and to bring-near to Me at its appointed time My nearoffering, My food (Numbers 28:2, following Everett Fox s translation). One very lovely and inspiring commentary on this verse was taught by Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter of Ger ( ), the Sefas Emes, There is food that comes from heaven [the manna provided by God to the Israelites in the wilderness], and food that comes from earth [the food that our people would grow in the land]. [But this flow of manna from heaven would not continue indefinitely]; it was time for the lower creatures to bring offerings for the sake of heaven [that is, humans are commanded to bring God s food near to Him]. This refers to sacrifices and to prayer, which came in their place, the worship within the heart, the longing of the heart to be attached to its root above. (translated by Arthur Green) Prayer, as sacrifices were in antiquity, is the means for the yearning heart to return to its root above. Difficult, even intimidating, stuff. Even so, on some days, such as Rosh hashanah and Yom Kippur, the longing becomes so intense that even those who have not been in synagogue for some time find their way back. Some may find the relatively large numbers of Jews who flock to shul at this time of year to be a source of frustration and dismay. I can t count the times I ve heard people complain Where are these people on the other 362 days of the year! I think this attitude is unfair and dead wrong. Attending synagogue on the High Holidays is a tacit acknowledgment, in the face of our largely secular lives and in spite of our doubts and rationalizations, that we understand that Judaism is more than a culture, more than a vague sense of peoplehood. On some level, we recognize that there is a deeper reason to live a religious Jewish life, even for those of us who are not ready to go full time. Somehow, in a way we don t fully comprehend but feel instinctively, God needs us to bring Him the words of prayer. God needs us to do that which God cannot do for Himself. And we understand that the High Holidays are a time to again acknowledge that we all must take responsibility for our own lives, our own choices. We should ask ourselves, Why am I doing this? without falling back on the evasive answer for the grandchildren, parents, spouse, social circle, kids. Attending synagogue on the High Holidays can give us a perfect setting to consider the fundamental question of Why do I?, and to articulate an answer that we can feel proud to express to others who ask us Why do you? On these Yamim hanora im, let us become more aware of why we seek to attach our hearts to its root above, returning to God. And let us recognize that the reward will be unique for each of us, and intrinsic to the efforts we make. It will delight me to see so many of our members, loved ones, neighbors, and visitors in Beth Hillel Synagogue on the High Holidays. Please make sure to let me wish you a sweet New Year. Shanah tovah tikatevu may we all be inscribed for a good year, Rabbi Gary Karlin (These comments were adapted from Rabbi Karlin s sermon on Shabbat Pinḥas, July 29, 2016) Page 3 September 2016 Edition Av-Elul 5776

4 The President s Column As I write this column, we are half way through summer. Hard to believe how fast time flies. I would like to give a big thank you to Paula Baram, Myrna Kahan and all of you who had helped on our annual tag sale. I know it was a last minute decision to hold another tag sale. Everyone considered the tag sale a huge success; thank you all. I would also like to thank Sisterhood for the challenge. Although we came up just short of our goal, it was a very good effort. Furthermore, please accept my thanks to all of you who made donations for the challenge. The money helped take a big bite out of the deficit. Also, thank you to David Sasportas, Richard Gutcheon, and Mark Goldberg for leading services as we waited for Rabbi Karlin to come aboard. As we move into September, plans are being made for the High Holidays which fall this year, in October. Ritual co-chairs Richard Gutcheon, Marla Cohen, and David Nemirow with help from David Sasportas are putting together the Aliyots, the changing of mantels, silver polishing and much more. Rabbi Karlin has been communicating with Cantor Reaboi (our HHD cantor) about the services to make sure they run smoothly. If you want a sneak preview of Cantor Reaboi, he will be joining us for a Shabbat weekend on Friday evening, September 30 th, at 8:00 PM and Saturday October 1 st at 9:30 AM. Tobie Katz and the custodians, Arthur and Andy, will be cleaning up the synagogue and getting it ready for the High Holidays. If you haven t met Rabbi Karlin yet, he is in the office Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during normal business hours. Better yet come and meet rabbi on a Friday evening Shabbat service or Saturday morning Shabbat service. We can always use your help to make our Shabbat minyans. We will keep you informed regarding our discussions for the sale of the building. The future planning committee is working hard on this process. The committee wants to have a congregational meeting in September to discuss their progress. The committee also wants your input. Please stay tuned for a letter detailing the Congregational meeting time and date. That s if for now. See you at Beth Hillel. Alan Special Congregational Informational Meeting Watch your and mail for the date The Future Planning Committee wants the congregation to hear about their progress. They also want the congregations input. No decisions will be made at this meeting. Sunday, October 9, noon BHS Cemetery visit 15 Wolcott Road, East Granby Beth Hillel Chai-Lites Page 4

5 Have you ever wondered about the projects done by Sisterhood as part of Women s League for Conservative Judaism? An important part of what we do concerns THE TORAH FUND/Residence Halls Campaign. Each Sisterhood is given a goal to be completed in a year. We at Beth Hillel have consistently reached our goal and have helped to ensure the legacy of future generations of Conservative Jews by providing for rabbis, cantors, Jewish Day Schools, Administrators, Social workers, Scholars, Researchers and Lay Leaders. Our chairperson is Faye Sklar. Members participate in the development, strengthening and maintenance of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Now a crucial source of funding for the Seminary, the campaign was launched in 1942 as a scholarship fund; in 1963 it was combined with the Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall campaign. The Mathilde Schechter Hall for undergraduate students was completed in 1976; the campaign then accepted responsibility for the support of all Seminary student residences, changing its name to Torah Fund-Residence Halls in Our goal this year is $2,600,000. Torah Fund contributions come from all over the USA, Canada, Mexico, Israel, England, South America, and other places---we are just a small part of a very big picture, and are proud of our role in helping maintain the Fund.. For more information, call either Faye Sklar or Shirley Morrison. The following people contributed to the Sisterhood deficit challenge. A total of $4,361 will be matched by Sisterhood. Paula & David Baram; Bob & Phyllis Berman; Barbara Bloom; Lou Blumenfeld & Jackie Isaacson; Norma Bursack; Debbi & Ron Clymer; Norm & Dorothy Cohen; Barbara Dean; Sandra & Michael Delin; Norman & Linda Famely; Mel & Ellie Feldman; Art & Evelyn Gandelman; Jason & Beverly Gans; Penny & Michael Gitberg; Alan & Marilyn Goodman; Beth Goldberg; Marcia Goldberg; Mark & Ellie Goldberg; Rona Gollob; Richard & Deborah Gutcheon; Myron & Beverly Halpin; Barbara & Herb Kaplan; Tobie Katz; Deborah & Joel Kent; Mel & Maxine Marcus; Lillian Miller; Shirley Morrison; David & Maura Nemirow; Sylvia Pilaver; Cynthia Ritvo; Jack Rodin; Steven & Elka Sandler; Marv & Myrna Schaffman; Sydney & Elba Schulman; Faye Sklar; Jean & Gershon Sosin; Jack & Pearl Vogel; Marty & Sue Waterman; & Marcus & Diane Wolfset Page 5 September 2016 Edition Av-Elul 5776

6 Shabbat & High Holiday Information Friday, September 2, 6:15pm Early Friday night service due to Labor Day Weekend Saturday, September 17, 9:30am Shabbat Services at BHS Paula Baram will be chanting the Haftarah in memory of her father, Judge Jerry Wagner, bar mitzvah portion Friday & Saturday, September 30 (8 pm) & October 1 (9:30 am) our High Holiday Cantor, Cantor Colman Reaboi, will be joining us! Bring A Shofar Participate in our Group Tekiah Gedolah at the end of Yom Kippur services on Wednesday, October 12 High Holiday Ticket Information For BHS Members If your high holiday tickets were not included in the high holiday letter packet (expected to arrive by September 19), please contact our financial secretary, Richard Gutcheon at Break-Fast Donations for the Break-Fast are greatly appreciated. Please let the office know if you can contribute. Lulav & Etrog Information We want to make a lulav shake. We are interested in lulav and etrog sets at $40 Name Phone Please return by to the office by Thursday, September 29 (This is a hard deadline!) Tashlich Monday, October 3 5:45 pm Meet at the creek by the corner of Wintonbury Avenue and Skinner Drive. LULAV & ETROG Please consider purchasing a lulav and etrog set for carrying out this important and beautiful mitzvah at both the synagogue and home. How much more beautiful synagogue services will be over Sukkot, including the Hoshanot, if more congregants have lulavim and etrogim. Cost: $40 a set THE MONTH OF ELUL.. Traditionally a time of preparation for the High Holy Days. Come hear the shofar sounded at daily minyan. STANDING BEFORE GOD AT NEILAH A now accepted tradition is the idea of standing before the open ark during the Yom Kippur Neilah service. This is the holiest moment of the year for many people, and feeling God s presence standing there can be truly awe-inspiring. Many congregants have commented on this idea being meaningful for them, and we will be continuing the practice this year. Beth Hillel Chai-Lites Page 6

7 Community Sunday, September 25, 10 am Join BHS for a Rosh Hashanah Brotherhood Pancake Breakfast with the Jewish Association for Community Living (JCL) ALL OUR WELCOME! For more information, contact the office at susan@bethhillelsynagogue.org Thursday, October 20, 8 pm BHS-Adult Ed Guest author, Kyra Robinov, will speak about her new book, Red Winter, a beautifully and intelligently written novel about one woman s struggle to survive the Russian revolution. Photo by Beverly Gans Page 7 September 2016 Edition Av-Elul 5776

8 High Holidays Hazzan Colman Reaboi Hazzan Colman Reaboi began his singing career at age thirteen in Southfield, Michigan. His major debut came as the role of a Bar Mitzvah boy! He attended Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, a Jewish private school and later went on to the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he trained in music for the first time. Hazzan Reaboi later attended the Boston Conservatory of Music where he majored in Vocal Performance and Opera. He has sung with several opera companies, and has performed concerts of classical, Broadway, and Jewish repertoire. The Hazzan is a graduate of Hebrew College in Newton, MA and of the Cantorial Internship program (CICA) of the Cantors Assembly. Reaboi's career has led him to serve three synagogues. One in Tampa Bay, Florida, and two in New England. He served Temple Torah Yisrael in East Greenwich, RI and Temple Tifereth Shalom in Peabody, MA. Colman is an alumnus and past soloist of the distinguish Zamir Chorale of Boston. Most recently, Cantor Reaboi served as Cantor and Educator for Emanuel Synagogue in Oklahoma City. He was also a guest Cantor for the Prague Jewish community, where he conducted services, performed concerts, and lectured at the Prague Jewish Museum. "I strive to have a mixture of musical styles at services. Whatever the reason, if you come for active, upbeat musical participation, or if you come to listen, relax, and meditate in silent prayer, you will hear the music that speaks to your heart. The words to the prayers are the same- it is the music that gives it the flavor!" High Holiday Ushers Needed The holidays are coming and we need help. If you can be available, even for only a short time, as an usher, please contact Marla Cohen at twinkletoesmarla@aol.com HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE SELICHOT Saturday, September 24, 8:30 PM at B nai Tikvoh Sholom 180 Still Road in Bloomfield Page 7 has more details about Selichot. EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2/ CLT: 6:11 pm - Mincha, Ma'ariv, 6:00 P.M. FIRST DAY ROSH HASHANAH - Services Start 8:30 A.M. - Services Conclude 1:30 P.M. Approximate Tashlich, 5:45 P.M. - Mincha, Ma'ariv, 6:15 P.M. Monday, Oct. 3/ CLT: 7:11 pm SECOND DAY ROSH HASHANAH Tuesday, October 4 - Services Start 8:30A.M. - Services Conclude 1:15P.M. - Approximate Mincha, Ma'ariv 6:15 CEMETERY VISITATION Sunday, October 9 - Beth Hillel Cemetery 12 Noon - Other cemeteries by personal arrangement YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 - Services/ Kol Nidre, 5:45 P.M. (CLT is 5:56P.M.) - Services Conclude 8:30P.M. - Approximate Wednesday, October 12 - Services Start 8:30A.M. - Conclude 2:00P.M. - Approximate - Afternoon Break - Mincha, 4:30P.M., - Neilah, 5:30 P.M., Plus standing before the Aron Kodesh - Maariv, SOUNDING OF THE SHOFAR, 7:00 P.M. (Approximate) Beth Hillel Chai-Lites Page 8

9 We Gratefully Acknowledge the Following Contributions ABE MORRISON SHABBAT DINNER FUND Alexander Schulman Sydney & Elba Schulman Lillian Lessinger Ms. Barbara Reisner ALEX LEBED FUND Belle Cutler Bette Rosenthal Kalmon Bercowetz Bette Rosenthal EDWARD GERSHENOWITZ FUND Adelle Oken Lorna Gershenowitz Edward Gershenowitz Lorna Gershenowitz GENERAL FUND Arthur Hirschmann Charles Schweitzer Thelma Schweitzer Dorothy Lewis Stan Lewis Fannie Pinkus Benjamin Pinkus Irene Lovell Jack Lovell Joseph Kesten Mrs. Muriel Kesten Laurence Berman Eleanor Berman Leo Lovell Mary Feldman Mel & Ellie Feldman Mary Gordon Mrs. Roberta Beck Mary Hirschmann Pearl Stanger Mrs. Muriel Kesten Rhoda Goldstein Mrs. Kayleen Goldstein Salo Kesten Mrs. Muriel Kesten Samuel Gordon Mrs. Muriel Kesten Sara Ben-Meir Uri Ben-Meir In Loving Memory of Goldie Taxsar Miriam Wachsman Refu'ah Shelaymah to Joe DiPietro Norman & Dorothy Cohen In Celebration of Paul Cohen 90th birthday! Norman & Dorothy Cohen LIBRARY FUND In Loving Memory of Harold Hesh Epstein Mrs. Luisa Zeldman Mimi Hoberman wishing continued good health Marshall & Sandra Rulnick RABBI DISCRETIONARY FUND Coleman Schwartz Ronald & Martha Moss RABBI EMERITUS DISCRETIONARY FUND Bessie Gruber Andrea Violette Isaac Peck Marvin Peck Jacob Gruber Andrea Violette RABBI PHILIP LAZOWSKI EDUCATION FUND Helen Byron Ms. Judith Simons PAUL & LIBBY WOLFBERG ENTERTAINMENT FUND In appreciation of Mr. Barry Dubofsky s help! Iris & Rabbi Gary Atkins KIDDUSH FUND In honor of Maxine & Mel Marcus's 65th wedding anniversary Marla Cohen Ellie & Mel Feldman's wedding anniversary Marla Cohen Tobie Katz's birthday by Bob & Phyllis Berman For the speedy recovery of Debby Goldberg Bob & Phyllis Berman SISTERHOOD GENERAL FUND In honor of Myrna & Marvin Schaffman's 60th wedding anniversary Marla Cohen Page 9 September 2016 Edition Av-Elul 5776

10 September 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 9am minyan 11 9:30am minyan 18 9am minyan 25 9am minyan 10am Pancake Breakfast 5 9:00am minyan Office Closed 12 Labor Day pm Ex. BOD 6 8pm BOD :03pm Candle lighting 6:15pm Shabbat Service 9 6:51pm Candle lighting 8:00pm Shabbat Service 16 6:39pm Candle lighting 8:00pm Shabbat Services 23 6:26pm Candle lighting 8:00pm Shabbat Services 30 6:14pm Candle lighting 8:00pm Shabbat Services with Cantor Reaboi 3 9:30am Shabbat Services 10 9:30am Shabbat Services 17 9:30am Shabbat Services 24 9:30am Shabbat 8:30pm Selichot at BTS Beth Hillel Chai-Lites Page 10

11 Sponsors.. Beth Hillel Synagogue Interested in listing your business card here? Contact Susan for rates: Page 11 September 2016 Edition Av-Elul 5776

12 MITZVOT TZEDAKAH YOUR GUIDE TO GIVING Unless otherwise noted by *, please send the following fund donations to the Synagogue Office. I. SYNAGOGUE OPERATING FUNDS Donations offset expenses for religious school, adult education, youth activity, ritual, programming, etc., thus keeping dues and tuition lower. General Fund II. SYNAGOGUE DEDICATED ENDOWMENTS Donations are added to principal, and earnings are applied to Synagogue operating funds. Kiyum Endowment III. RESERVE/REPLACEMENT FUNDS Donations are added to the Synagogue Reserve Fund and used only under special circumstances. Building Fund Ida & Samuel Cohen Wing Kesten-Fishberg Chapel Fund Prayer Book ($25 min for book plate) IV. DESIGNATED FUNDS Donations are used to further the aims and activities listed A. Named in Honor or Memory of: 1. Scholarship/Stipend Joy Risa Berman Edward Gershenowitz Leon Glazer Ethel B. Karp Jean Rosen Samuel Rosenthal Rebecca Schwartz Lazowski 2. Youth Activity Stipend Morris Feigenbaum/Jonathan Lodge Fred and Ronald Pivnick USY & Kadima Youth 3. Higher Education Scholarship Stipend Post Family 4. Health & Human Services Alex B. Lebed 5. Music, Arts & Entertainment Sless Music Paul and Libby Wolfberg Entertainment 6. Library Sidney Needelman Library Library Fund PTO Library Programming Fund 7. Adult Education Rabbi Philip Lazowski Education 8. Ritual Edward N. Bromberg Ritual Education Memorial Fund 9. Other Rabbi Gary Karlin Discretionary Fund Rabbi Emertitus Philip Lazowski Discretionary Fund Abe Morrison Shabbat Dinner Fund B. Unnamed 1. Honorial/Memorial Yahrzeit Plaques Major Gifts 2. Sisterhood * Flower * Special Kitchen * Kiddush Fund 3. Minyonaires The deadline for submission for the October bulletin is September 12 Visit us online at