BULLETIN CONGREGATION B NAI JESHURUN OF STATEN ISLAND. Dec 2018 Hanukkah Tevet 5779

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1 1 BULLETIN CONGREGATION B NAI JESHURUN OF STATEN ISLAND Dec 2018 Hanukkah Tevet 5779 Bulletin Award Winner of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

2 Rabbi s Message As we approach Chanukah this year, we are presented with an opportunity to make connections between the ancient story and our lives in the present. Granted our circumstances aren t quite the same as the Jews at the time of the story, however there are still some similarities we can learn from. Treating Chanukah as the Jewish equivalent of Christmas, focusing on presents and special foods, is understandable, but we should think beyond the superficial to find a deeper meaning. The traditional story tells us that King Antiochus, the foreign king ruling over Israel, tried to force the Jews to take on the Hellenistic practices and pagan faith of the time, but he failed. Instead, the Maccabees revolted and heroically saved Judaism. Although in our country today there is no King Antiochus trying to force us to convert to a different religion, we do still experience religious persecution. We are reeling from the attack on the Tree of Life Conservative synagogue in Pittsburgh, as well as from other recent anti-semitic attacks and harassment. Hate crime incidents targeting Jews and Jewish institutions in the U.S. increased by about 37 percent between 2016 and 2017 according to the FBI. Also, we may not have a Judah the Maccabee to save us from hostile anti-semites in the US, but we do have protectors in the form of police, anti-discrimination laws, friends outside the Jewish community and our very own Steve Lerner teaching us Krav Maga, not to mention the option to move to Israel if we need to. 2 Rabbi s Message This Chanukah, in addition to giving gifts and gelt, playing dreidel, lighting the menorah, and eating latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) I encourage us to consider the deeper meaning(s) of Chanukah. We can do this by studying more about the story and asking ourself and speaking with our family about some of the more complex questions. For example: If we lived during that time would we be fighting with Judah the Maccabee, with the Hellenized Sadducees, or not fight at all? Put differently, would our values reflect those of modernizers, those of the traditionalists or neither? But most importantly, just engaging with the story, ideally by the light of the menorah will have already made our Chanukah more meaningful. May it be God s will that by engaging with our Judaism in a more meaningful way, in addition to traditions and rituals, that we find a way to re engage Jews who are drifting away and thus be the modern maccabees who protect Judaism in our time. Chanukah Sameach, Rabbi Sam 3.When we take a closer look at the Chanukah story we find that the in addition to the persecution from foreign rulers, Judaism was also threatened by the Sadducees, Jews who embraced the Hellenistic ways and tried to eliminate Jewish practice. Temptation of abandoning our Judaism to follow the prevailing culture is something I think we can all relate to. In our time, the prevailing culture that often tempts us is characterized by the pursuit of pleasure and personal freedom, resulting in sense of apathy towards religion. I believe the antidote to apathy is finding, and when necessary, creating meaning

4 5 Presidents Message As we come to the end of the current year, we are also marking the end of the first co presidency term of office at Congrega on B nai Jeshurun.

One of the most important accomplishments realized during the past year, due to the efforts of Joyce Lieb and the Ritual Commi ee, has been the implementa on of egalitarianism during our services.

3 4 5 Presidents Message As we come to the end of the current year, we are also marking the end of the first co presidency term of office at Congrega on B nai Jeshurun. We have much to look back on with great pride. One of the most important accomplishments realized during the past year, due to the efforts of Joyce Lieb and the Ritual Commi ee, has been the implementa on of egalitarianism during our services. Although CBJ has been coun ng women for minyan for some me, full egalitarianism was realized on July 1st of this year. Many congregants have welcomed the chance to be fully involved in services. We have been most fortunate to retain the services of Robert Schweitzer as our Hebrew School principal. Rob has brought his experience, exper se, energy and crea vity to Hebrew School and he has expanded his efforts to establish an ac ve Hebrew High School. Thank you Rob, teachers Yoni, Adam and Chaim, and to an interested and ac ve Parents Commi ee, for your efforts towards making CBJ s Hebrew School an engaging place for learning and for giving back to the community. We have monthly early services and dinner with par cipa on by the students, holiday celebra ons, and Hebrew High School members are performing much appreciated community service. Our biggest fund raiser thanks to the sugges on by Cantor Edry, and in coopera on with Corey Stalerman and the Ways and Means Commi ee, was the Cantors Concert. This was held in our ballroom on November 11 in commemora on of Israel s 70th anniversary. Cantor Edry, the renowned Cantor Avi Albrecht and Cantor Zvi Klein entertained us with music, and food of the region From Casablanca to Jerusalem ; it was prepared and served by friends of Cantor Edry. All in a endance agreed that the concert was a huge success! CBJ s catering facili es have been popular throughout Staten Island for all phases of family celebra ons as well as for several Miss S.I. Pageant events. We con nue to be booking into Presidents Message This year, we ins tuted a Spring Flea Market and Book Fair, as well as our annual Fall Rummage Sale. Thank you to all congregants, friends of CBJ, and to our caretaker, for their coopera on and hard work. Under the guidance of Jerry Grushkin and the House Commi ee, improvements are being made to the physical plant of CBJ. Energy efficient windows are being installed throughout the Hebrew School building, a new steel replacement door is being installed in the catering kitchen, and all safety issues are being kept up to code. Rabbi Sam Kastel ins tuted a series of Sunday morning Hebrew reading classes for adults at all levels of proficiency. He was ably assisted by Tamar Owens. Two special Friday night services were held during the past year. The first was to acknowledge Mother s Day with personally meaningful readings by several congregants. The other service was in recogni on of the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht. A very poignant recollec on of her experience during the Holocaust was presented by Susan Finkelstein, mother of member Tamar Owens, and grandmother of Hebrew School students Ben and Jordan Owens. Thank you Joel Brimmer, Men s Club President in perpetuity, for all of the ac vi es that you so ably oversee. The culmina on of the Man of the Year Award this year went deservedly to Rabbi Sam. Yasher Koach to Corey Stalerman, Chair of Ways and Means, and to Joyce Lieb, Ritual Chair for the huge amount of work they handle in leadership of these two very important commi ees. Thank you to our Execu ve Officers and Board of Trustees for their support and coopera on during our term of office. Thank you Rabbi and Cantor for your leadership and dedica on to CBJ. We look forward to going from strength to strength, L Dor V Dor, and believe we have le a posi ve mark on our beloved Congrega on B nai Jeshurun.. Ruth and Arlene

4 6 7 Cantor s Concert Cantor s Concert Sponsors were: Earlier this year, Cantor Edry offered to perform a concert, with some of his talented friends, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel. The purpose of the concert was to raise money for a CBJ fund for emergency use. That sugges on came to frui on on Sunday, November 11th with a packed house of more than 170 a endees! The event was called A Journey from Casablanca to Jerusalem with music and cuisine of the region. The musical program featured songs in Ladino, Hebrew, and English some from well known Broadway shows and were admirable performed by Cantors Mordechai Edry, Avi Albrecht and Zvi Klein. Videos of the cantors past concerts highlighted the program at the beginning. At the end, videos from Israel had the audience singing and dancing in celebra on of Israel s 70th anniversary. At the conclusion of the concert, all enjoyed a feast of homemade borekas, Israeli salads, falafel, hummus, and baked goods of the Middle East. The concert was a smash hit, supported by sponsors, journal ads and cket sales. Many thanks to Cantor Edry, the Ways and Means commi ee members, the volunteer shoppers and chefs, and all others who cooperated to make this a successful event. Cantor Edry Sandy Edry Vickie Gimbelman Ruth and Iz Greenwald Jerry Grushkin Arleen Klapper Marcia Kulick Sheina and Mendel Levin Arlene Rachman Volunteer shoppers were: Arlene Rachman Mindy Carmel Ruth Greenwald Nadya Sheyar Volunteer chefs were: Mindy and Yacov Carmel Nadya Sheyar Anna Zinko Tova and Israel Chaplin Arlene Rachman This was a wonderful coopera ve effort which resulted in a terrific event.

8 9 Chaverim Men s Club Message Nov 14 MOY Dinner On Wednesday November 14 we celebrated with Rabbi Sam as he was honored at the Northern New Jersey Man of the Year dinner.

5 8 9 Chaverim Men s Club Message Nov 14 MOY Dinner On Wednesday November 14 we celebrated with Rabbi Sam as he was honored at the Northern New Jersey Man of the Year dinner. He was B nai Jeshurun s honoree. This is the signature event for our region. It was a wonderful evening a ended by 300 people, from the Men s clubs in New Jersey, including 28 people, our largest turnout from our Temple. We have two breakfast mee ngs in the planning stages. The first one will be in January with a possible topic of the new tax laws and how it will affect you. A flyer with the details will be sent out some me in December. Super Bowl Sunday, we have the Annual World Wide Wrap. Please join the Men s Club on February 3 rd at Sunday morning services. We reinforce our Jewish iden ty as we all wrap on Tefillin. If you would like to learn how to wrap Tefillin or if you haven t put it on in several years please come and learn how. As always bagels and coffee will be served a erwards. HAPPY CHANUKKAH JOEL

10 11 Hebrew School Message On Sunday, November 18, our Hebrew School High School students and family members volunteered at the soup kitchen at St. Paul Assump on Chapel on Webster Avenue.

Soon a er we arrived, we got to work folding napkins and plas c ware and se ng up the tables to prepare for the food delivery. When the food was delivered, we carried it down to the chapel cafeteria.

He was very clear that we should greet every person with kindness and a smile, and to speak in a respec ul manner.

But, that we should keep in mind that the people coming tonight are not as fortunate and do not always know where their next meal is coming from.

6 10 11 Hebrew School Message On Sunday, November 18, our Hebrew School High School students and family members volunteered at the soup kitchen at St. Paul Assump on Chapel on Webster Avenue. We had a total of eleven volunteers seven students and four parents. What a wonderful mitzvah this was for our students! Soon a er we arrived, we got to work folding napkins and plas c ware and se ng up the tables to prepare for the food delivery. When the food was delivered, we carried it down to the chapel cafeteria. Mr. Mike (AKA Santa Claus because of his large size and white beard) called over our students and parents for serious discussion about how to treat the people at the soup kitchen with dignity. He was very clear that we should greet every person with kindness and a smile, and to speak in a respec ul manner. Mike pointed out how lucky we all are not to have to worry about where our next meal is coming from and how easy it is to take that for granted. But, that we should keep in mind that the people coming tonight are not as fortunate and do not always know where their next meal is coming from. Addi onally, Mike explained how much to serve each person in order to be fair to everyone. Hebrew School Message Mr. Mike, as well as the manger Raul, spoke to me a erwards and complimented our students on their wonderful maturity and caring manner towards the people that came for dinner. They asked us to come back on any Sunday night we have available, that they could always use the assistance. I asked our students whether they would like to return again and received a very strong YES! We ll plan to return as a group again in a few months, but i anyone has me to volunteer, just show up at 15 Webster Avenue on a Sunday evening from 5:00 pm 7:30 pm. A big Yasher Koach and congratula ons to our students and their families for performing the mitzvah of Tikkun Olam repairing the world, through their selfless act of kindness. All of our students, as well as parents, along with the other volunteers, took their places at the serving sta ons, prepared to serve the poor and for many homeless people that came for dinner tonight. Our students really rose to the occasion! They handled themselves in the most mature, caring and compassionate way towards the people wai ng for their dinner. It was very evident by the people s reac ons, that they felt respected and treated with the dignity that they deserved. There were many smiles all around.

12 13 Come to the CBJ Chanukah Magic Party!!! Chanukah, oh Chanukah, come light the menorah..let s have a party!

Time to celebrate and remember the miracles the oil that burned for eight days, the victory of the Maccabees.

We are all so excited that this year s Chanukah party will be more magical than ever we're having a Chanukah Magic Show by Steve the Magician!

7 12 13 Come to the CBJ Chanukah Magic Party!!! Chanukah, oh Chanukah, come light the menorah..let s have a party!!! Hey, it s almost Chanukah time again! Time to celebrate and remember the miracles the oil that burned for eight days, the victory of the Maccabees.and, most importantly, the survival of the Jewish people! We are all so excited that this year s Chanukah party will be more magical than ever we're having a Chanukah Magic Show by Steve the Magician! Our Chanukah celebration begins at 4:30 PM on December 9th, with the Magic Show beginning promptly at 5:00! There will be raffle baskets, balloons, holiday music, singing, and of course..dreydls to play with and latkes to eat! Chanukah menorah lighting will be at 5:45 PM. Admission is $10/family free to our Hebrew School families So, SPREAD THE WORD...tell your family and friends to join us!

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9 16 17 Author: Susie Orman Schnall Sunday, Dec. 2 10:30 AM The Subway Girls The Subway Girls is the charming story of two strong women, a generation apart, who find themselves up against the same eternal struggle to find an impossible balance between love, happiness and ambition. SAVE THE DATE!! New Years Party Monday, December 31 Details to Follow

10 18 19 FOR MEMORIAL PLAQUES, CHAI LEAVES, BRASS HOLOCAUST BRICKS, SANCTUARY TREE OF LIFE LEAVES AND BASES Please contact Bill Wisseman for the purchase of any of these items or to make a dona on to The Congrega on B nai Jeshurun s Beau fica on Fund

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13 24 25 Yahrteits (December) Blackman, Charles Sunday, 12/2/2018 Kislev 24, 5779 Blackman, Sheldon beloved father of Sheldon Goldstein, Helen Monday, 12/3/2018 Kislev 25, 5779 Goldstein, Richard & Judith beloved mother of Richard Moskowitz, Anne Tuesday, 12/4/2018 Kislev 26, 5779 Moskowitz, Roy & Ann beloved mother of Roy Klapper, Minnie Thursday, 12/6/2018 Kislev 28, 5779 Klapper, Arleen beloved grandmother of Arthur Brimmer, Oscar Friday, 12/7/2018 Kislev 29, 5779 Brimmer, Joel & Sharon beloved father of Joel Duberstein, Benjamin (Binyumin b'n Shmul) Friday, 12/7/2018 Kislev 29, 5779 Duberstein, Marshall & Diane beloved grandfather of Marshall Kunda, Clara Saturday, 12/8/2018 Kislev 30, 5779 Blackman, Sheldon beloved mother of Sherry Hess, Hannah (Hindel) Sunday, 12/9/2018 Tevet 1, 5779 Buehler, Ernest & Trophy beloved mother of Ernest Muskat, Florence Monday, 12/10/2018 Tevet 2, 5779 Conrad, Michael & Sandra beloved aunt of Sandra Wisseman, Marie Tuesday, 12/11/2018 Tevet 3, 5779 Wissemann, William & Shirley beloved mother of William Reich, David Wednesday, 12/12/2018 Tevet 4, 5779 Reich, Larry & Sheila beloved father of Larry Swaaley, Jacob Wednesday, 12/12/2018 Tevet 4, 5779 Swaaley, Michael & Sherry beloved grandfather of Michael Yahrteits (December) Kaplan, Jean Thursday, 12/13/2018 Tevet 5, 5779 Kaplan, Barry & Elissa beloved mother of Barry Kaplan, Sarah Thursday, 12/13/2018 Tevet 5, 5779 Kaplan, Barry & Elissa beloved mother of Elissa Steinbruck, Helaine Thursday, 12/13/2018 Tevet 5, 5779 Steinbruck, Richard & Laurie beloved mother of Richard Kaye, Natalie B. Sunday, 12/16/2018 Tevet 8, 5779 Klapper, Arleen beloved aunt of Arthur Kress, Esta Sunday, 12/16/2018 Tevet 8, 5779 Kress, Sid & June beloved mother of Sidney Weiner, Joseph Sunday, 12/16/2018 Tevet 8, 5779 Conrad, Michael & Sandra beloved uncle of Sandra Eison, Maurice (Moishe Leib b'n Yitzhuk) Monday, 12/17/2018 Tevet 9, 5779 Eison, Howard & Karen beloved father of Howard Feingold, Frances Tuesday, 12/18/2018 Tevet 10, 5779 Schwartz, Sheldon & Rochelle beloved mother of Rochelle Meisel, Gussie Tuesday, 12/18/2018 Tevet 10, 5779 Sigelman, Arthur & Diane beloved grandmother of Arthur Goldman, Miriam D. (Miriam) Wednesday, 12/19/2018 Tevet 11, 5779 Edelman, Robert & Diane beloved mother of Diane Landberg, Lillian (Leika) Wednesday, 12/19/2018 Tevet 11, 5779 Gimbelman, Vickie beloved mother of Vickie

14 26 27 Yahrteits (December) Yahrteits (January) Schreibman, Bessie Thursday, 12/20/2018 Tevet 12, 5779 Duberstein, Marshall & Diane beloved mother of Diane Mandel, Jacob Saturday, 12/22/2018 Tevet 14, 5779 Grushkin, Jerome beloved father of Esther Weil, Mannie Sunday, 12/23/2018 Tevet 15, 5779 Kaplan, Ruth beloved mother of Ruth Schreibman, Leon Monday, 12/24/2018 Tevet 16, 5779 Duberstein, Marshall & Diane beloved father of Diane Lippman, David Wednesday, 12/26/2018 Tevet 18, 5779 Duberstein, Marshall & Diane beloved grandfather of Marshall Press, Morris (Moishe b/n Zacharia) Friday, 12/28/2018 Tevet 20, 5779 Kulick, Stephen & Marcia beloved father of Marcia Kress, Jacob (21 Tevet) Saturday, 12/29/2018 Tevet 21, 5779 Kress, Sid beloved father of Sidney Shenberg, Max (Meyer) Saturday, 12/29/2018 Tevet 21, 5779 Rokhsar, Emanuel & Eva beloved father of Eva Friedman, Lillian Monday, 12/31/2018 Tevet 23, 5779 Goldstein, Richard & Judith beloved mother of Judith Kantor, Henrietta Monday, 12/31/2018 Tevet 23, 5779 Austein, Lance & Stacey beloved grandmother of Stacey Wiener, Jennie Monday, 12/31/2018 Tevet 23, 5779 Wiener, Marc S. & Jennifer F. beloved grandmother of Marc Estreicher, Benjamin (Beryl Dov b'n Mendel) Thursday, 1/3/2019 Tevet 26, 5779 Estreicher, Albert & Sandra beloved father of Albert Kantor, Louis Saturday, 1/5/2019 Tevet 28, 5779 Austein, Lance & Stacey beloved grandfather of Stacey Schoen, Mary Ann Saturday, 1/5/2019 Tevet 28, 5779 Schoen, Kenneth & Lillian beloved mother of Kenneth Zorfas, Betty Sunday, 1/6/2019 Tevet 29, 5779 Zorfas, Stuart & Eleanor beloved mother of Stuart Shapiro, Murray Monday, 1/7/2019 Shevat 1, 5779 Conrad, Michael & Sandra beloved father of Sandra Sweig, Iris Monday, 1/7/2019 Shevat 1, 5779 Klapper, Arleen beloved sister of Arleen Newberger, Loretta Tuesday, 1/8/2019 Shevat 2, 5779 Newberger, Judah & Naomi beloved mother of Judah Levy, Max Friday, 1/11/2019 Shevat 5, 5779 Jacobi, Mordecai beloved father in law of Mordecai Meisel, Morris Friday, 1/11/2019 Shevat 5, 5779 Sigelman, Arthur & Diane beloved grandfather of Arthur Gangel, Amalia Tuesday, 1/15/2019 Shevat 9, 5779 Gottlieb, Max & Helena beloved mother of Helena

15 28 29 Yahrteits (January) Yahrteits (January) Saltiel, Henriette (Becky) Thursday, 1/17/2019 Shevat 11, 5779 Saltiel, Lewis beloved stepmother of Lewis Saltiel, Jeffrey & Judith beloved grandmother of Jeffrey Zorfas, Samuel Thursday, 1/17/2019 Shevat 11, 5779 Zorfas, Stuart & Eleanor father of Stuart Levy, Rose Friday, 1/18/2019 Shevat 12, 5779 Jacobi, Mordecai beloved mother-in-law of Mordecai Sigelman, Anna Friday, 1/18/2019 Shevat 12, 5779 Sigelman, Arthur & Diane beloved grandmother of Arthur Beckman, Samuel (Shlomo Shmiryahu ben Yitzchuk) Saturday, 1/19/2019 Shevat 13, 5779 Beckman, Jeffrey beloved father of Jeffrey Feld, Diane (Dina b/s Duvid) Saturday, 1/19/2019 Shevat 13, 5779 Feld, Karen beloved mother of Harold Marcus, Lillian Monday, 1/21/2019 Shevat 15, 5779 Brimmer, Joel & Sharon beloved mother of Sharon Ben-Aron, Sara (Sura) Tuesday, 1/22/2019 Shevat 16, 5779 Ben-Aron, Ronnie beloved mother of Ronnie Weingarten, Ilse (Feitzel b/s Yitzchuk) Wednesday, 1/23/2019 Shevat 17, 5779 Observing this yahrzeit\ Relationship Kaplan, Ruth beloved sister of Ruth Rothman, Robert Noah (Yitzchuk Noach b/n Moshe) Thursday, 1/24/2019 Shevat 18, 5779 Rachman, Arlene beloved brother of Arlene Chaplin, Sara (Sura b's Chaim Lev) Friday, 1/25/201 Shevat 19, 5779 Chaplin, Israel & Tova beloved mother of Israel Kaplan, Julius Friday, 1/25/2019 Shevat 19, 5779 Kaplan, Ruth beloved husband of Ruth Kerin, Benjamin Friday, 1/25/2019 Shevat 19, 5779 Kenyon, Robert beloved grandfather of Robert Pomerance, Sylvia Friday, 1/25/2019 Shevat 19, 5779 Reich, Larry & Sheila beloved mother of Sylvia. Gillerman, Joseph Saturday, 1/26/2019 Shevat 20, 5779 Gillerman, Mark & Lenora beloved father of Mark Chapman, Gayle Sunday, 1/27/2019 Shevat 21, 5779 Mushnick, Robert & Melissa beloved mother of Melissa Duberstein, Morris (Moishe Hesh b'n Binyumin) Sunday, 1/27/2019 Shevat 21, 5779 Duberstein, Marshall & Diane beloved father of Marshall Fleischer, Sylvia (Suril b/s Avraham) Sunday, 1/27/2019 Shevat 21, 5779 Eison, Howard & Karen beloved mother of Karen Zeidel, Mendel (Mendel) Tuesday, 1/29/2019 Shevat 23, 5779 Brandwein, Charles & Mimi beloved father of Mimi

Rabbi s Message. Rabbi s Message

Rabbi s Message. Rabbi s Message 1 BULLETIN CONGREGATION B NAI JESHURUN OF STATEN ISLAND December 2017 Kislev 5778 Bulletin Award Winner of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi s Message 2 Rabbi s Message 3 As we approach