12 years after he was ordained as a priest Romuald Waszkinel found out that he was born to Jewish parents, that his name was Jakub

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1 July / August 2013 / 5773 TAMMUZ-AV-ELUL Selihot Program will feature the documentary Torn Saturday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. Please join us for the annual Selihot program and service on Saturday, August 31. The evening will begin with a dessert reception at 7:30 pm, Havdalah at 8:00 pm, followed by the film Torn, a documentary that explores whether one can simultaneously be a Catholic priest and an Observant Jew. Twelve years after he was ordained as a Polish Catholic priest, Romuald Waszkinel discovers that he was born to Jewish parents, and that his name was Jacob Weksler. INSIDE THIS ISSUE PAGE 2XJews by Choice PAGE 3XWashington s Letter to Hebrew Congregation PAGE 6XWorking with Sinai Temple on Education PAGE 10XHigh Holy Days Guide PAGE 17XCentennial News PAGE 18XAll Things Melton 12 years after he was ordained as a priest Romuald Waszkinel found out that he was born to Jewish parents, that his name was Jakub Weksler. Torn between two worlds, a priest in the Polish Catholic church, and an observant Jew. This award-winning documentary film follows his amazing journey: from conducting mass in a church in Poland to life as an observant Jew in a religious kibbutz in Israel. Romuald is torn between two identities, between being Romuald Waszkinel or Jacob Weksler. He is unable to renounce either, and therefore is rejected by both religions and the state of Israel. He is required to choose. The film will be followed by a moving musical service at 9:30 pm. Led by Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz and Cantor Elise Barber, it will feature the traditional changing of the Torah covers by members of our congregation. We hope you can be with us for this beautiful and meaningful start to the High Holy Day season. Anonymous donor to boost this year s High Holy Day Appeal We are thrilled to announce that an anonymous donor has stepped forward with a $20,000 challenge grant to help us with our High Holy Day appeal. Our donor will match (dollar for dollar) each new or increased gift. This is the first time a challenge grant has been given to our Temple for the High Holy Day appeal. Our goal this year is to raise $75,000 and to have 100% membership participation. The High Holy Day Appeal is a vital part of our financial plan. We need your participation to be successful. We understand that there have been many requests for donations especially in our Centennial year, but the High Holy Day Appeal remains our largest annual fundraiser. We understand that often times people feel like they have already been asked for extra donations from TBE. It is confusing to understand how each gift is used. To clarify: Contributions to the Centennial Celebration underwrite the cost of the various Centennial Celebrations we have held this year. Contributions to the High Holy Day appeal underwrite the daily operations of our shul. Contributions to the Centennial Campaign help us to to grow our endowments and make necessary capitol improvements to our aging facilities. Continued ON page 16 MMTemple Beth El Founded In 2008 merged with Congregation B nai Jacob (founded 1891). Devoted to seeking God, doing Mitzvot, studying Torah, and creating Community. 1

2 Jews by Choice Rebecca Gevanthor When you are born Jewish you might take a lot of things for granted. You perform certain rituals every day that you never question because as a Jew they are as much a part of you as breathing. Actions such as praying, lighting the Shabbat candles, reciting the prayers, giving tzedakah, and doing mitzvot are engrained in us from the time we enter a Jewish pre-school. We attend Hebrew School, become Bar/Bat Mitzvah, read Jewish texts and join Jewish organizations because as Jews we are taught to always ask questions and to be life-long learners. But if you aren t born into Judaism, how do you know what you are missing? People choose to become Jewish for many different reasons. Some find Judaism after a long spiritual search. Many become interested because of a romantic relationship. But most people that convert believe that Judaism encompasses sensible beliefs. Conversion is not something to be taken lightly. For many it is something that they struggle with their whole lives. There is a longing or something missing spiritually that they don t quite understand. How does Judaism feel about converts? On one hand, our religion welcomes people of other faiths to join Judaism. The first convert in Jewish history was Ruth, who joined our people by saying Wherever you go, I will go. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. On the other hand, there is the rule that a rabbi should deliberately turn away a convert three times, and on the fourth approach, a rabbi can begin the process of conversion. This tradition came about in order to prove the sincerity of the person or to protect the Jewish people from non-jews who meant them harm. But Continued ON page 4 Musical Trio on Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, August 2 at 6:00 p.m. Clarinetist Amy Rose TBE s Musical Kabbalat Shabbatot have warmed the souls of many as they welcome the light of Shabbat into their hearts on Friday evenings. At these special services Temple Beth El invites featured artists from in and around New England to join Cantor Barber in celebration of Shabbat. Due to the Independence Day holiday, we will not hold this service in July. We invite you to join us on August 2, to welcome guitarist, Sue Burkhart; percussionist, Anna Sobel and flutist and clarinetist, Amy Rose. Sue Burkhart has been performing and teaching music in the area for over 25 years. She serves on the faculty at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT and the Community Music School in Springfield. Continued ON page 16 2 Weekday Morning Monday through Friday...7:00 am Sunday...8:30 am Weekday Evening Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday...5:45 pm Shabbat Worship Erev Shabbat...6:00 pm Shabbat morning...9:30 am Shabbat afternoon...6:00 pm Thursday July 4, Independence Day Morning Services...10:00 am Friday, July 5 Morning Services...8:30 am Rosh Hodesh Av Monday, July 8 Morning Services...6:45 am Rosh Hodesh Elul Tuesday, August 6 and Wednesday, August 7 Morning Services...6:45 am Tisha b Av Worship Schedule Erev Tisha b Av Monday Evening July 16 No 5:45 pm service Evening service...9:00 pm Megilat Eikha (Book of Lamentation)... will be chanted. Tisha b Av Tuesday July 16 Shaharit service..7:00 am (Talit and Tefilin will not be worn) Minhah service..5:45 P.M (Talit and Tefilin will be worn) Revolution & Freedom Two great dates of freedom fall in July: July 4 is the anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, which launched the American Revolution. July 14, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place in 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th s Ancient Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king s power was no longer absolute. Continued ON page 13

3 Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz GEORGE WASHINGTON S Letter to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport, Rhode Island August 21, 1790 Gentlemen: While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens. The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and happy people. The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support. It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity. May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy. Editor s Note: The original of Washington s Letter to the Hebrew Congregations of Newport, Rhode Island is small in size, but its impact on American life is immense. In 340 well-chosen words, it reassures those Jews who had fled religious tyranny that life in their new nation would be different. Jews would be granted rights as citizens. They would no longer be just tolerated they would enjoy religious freedom and their government would not interfere with individuals in matters of conscience and belief. When Washington wrote this letter in August of 1790, he must have been aware of the effect it would have on the fledgling nation. He could not have known the extent of its influence today. The history behind Washington s letter not only gives us an understanding of the values of the early colonists and our founding fathers, but also insight into two fundamental tenets of American democracy: the separation of church and state, and the right of individuals to believe in and practice their religion. Is democracy a Jewish idea? Moment Magazine (September/October, 2012) Rabbi Katz s response: Democracy is a system of government with four key elements: (1) It is a political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections. (2) It provides for the active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life. (3) It protects the human rights of all citizens. (4) Its laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens. The early Biblical system of governance had a democratic institution in the council of elders with whom Moses consulted. Still, in its entirety, democracy is not a traditional Jewish idea since according to the Bible the ideal form of government is a theocracy that rules according to God s law. In practice this doesn t work because God s law is interpreted and enforced by human beings who are always fallible and sometimes corrupt. Modern Western thinking, informed by the abuses of theocratic forms of government, holds that democracy is the best form of government for delivering the four elements listed above. Although the Torah emphasizes a polity that looks to God, other Biblical values promote the rule of law including equality of all before the law, rejection of absolute rule by autocrats who put themselves above the law, and provision of separation of powers among kings, priests and prophets. These Jewish ideas and practices, radical in their time, are echoed in the values of contemporary democracy. A Congregant Needs Our Help Congregant Steve Rubenstein of Enfield, CT, would very much like to come to shul on Shabbat morning, but he is not able to drive himself. Mike Henderson is coordinating a schedule of rides to shul for Steve during the summer months, through September 7th. Any assistance arranging rides is appreciated. Please call the temple office at for more information. 3

4 4 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE: JEWS BY CHOICE today, a rabbi looks upon someone willing to join the Jewish faith as a blessing and as a way of strengthening our people, according to Rabbi Eric Eisenkramer, spiritual leader of Temple Shearith in Ridgefield, CT. and author of the blog, The Fly Fishing Rabbi. In Conservative Judaism, conversion is a process that includes the study of Judaism, observance of some Jewish rituals, participation in some kind of community worship, and studying with the rabbi. After writing some essays and working with Rabbi Katz, our new Jews by choice, Chris Burnett, David Fuentes and Heidi Thibodeau, went before the Beit Din, a Rabbinical Court, where they were asked to expand on the essays they wrote. Members of the Beit Din included Revernd David Aminia, Cantor Elise Barber, Rabbi Devorah Jacobson and Rabbi Katz. When the study and preparation was complete, they went to the mikveh, a pool of pure water. Our conversion students went to the Mikveh Myyim Hayyim in Newton, MA. At the mikveh, the Beit Din consisted of Rabbi Katz, Rabbi Daniel Liben and Rabbi Barbara Penzner. The conversion student enters the Mikveh room alone and removes all clothing and jewelry. They must dip themselves three times, completely submerging themselves as a symbol of the womb. Before going under, the student says the prayer for immersion, as they rise up out of the water the student says the Shahecheyanu, and on the third time the student comes out of the water ready to start a new life as a Jew. I had the opportunity to interview Chris, David and Heidi to discuss their decision to convert and what the process was like. The convert is dearer to God than Israel. When the nation assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai. Israel would not have accepted the Torah without seeing the thunder and the lightning and the quaking mountain and hearing the sound of the shofar. Whereas the the Jew-by-choice, without a single miracle chose Judaism. Can anyone be deemed more worthy of God s love? Tanhuma Buber, Lecha 6, 32a What Chris, David and Heidi discovered during this process was that it wasn t just one defining moment, but a series of moments, from their youth to present, that led them to choose Judaism as their faith. Chris Burnett Chris Burnett, 28, is originally from the western suburbs of Chicago, but moved to Wyoming when her mother remarried. To stay close to her mother so she could care for her, she attended Blackhill State University, a liberal arts university in nearby Spearfish, South Dakota. She moved to New England to attend law school at Western New England University (WNE) in Chris is the Secretary of the Jewish Law Students Association at WNE, and is attempting to work with the Hillel group on campus. She currently works for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, does intake for the ACLU and will begin work this Fall for the Attorney General s office in Springfield. Chris father was originally from Rome, and he was raised Roman Catholic. Her mother made him leave the church and refused baptism of their child. Her maternal grandmother was Jewish, and her grandfather was a non-denominational Protestant. But even though it was a mixed bag of religions in her family, Chris was raised to believe in God and the Bible. When I was 10, I really started thinking more about God and started breaking away from religious ideology, said Chris. I enjoyed reading the bible and challenged a lot of what I read. I was always questioning. As a teenager Chris questioned many of the things religion taught, especially what she deemed as bigotry and hatred cloaked as preaching. As her maternal grandmother Virginia, whom helped raise her, aged she became more religious and felt a sense of urgency to pass on her knowledge of Judaism to Chris. After her grandmother passed away in 2007, Chris immersed herself in Jewish studies and politics. Conversion was never something I thought of doing, I already considered myself a Jew because of my grandmother but one day I found myself sitting in a conversion class. Chris Burnett While an undergraduate gaining her degrees in Political Science, English, and Philosophy, Chris studied Western religions with Professor Nicholas Wallerstein, a Harvard graduate, who taught her about Orthodox Judaism. She wrote several papers, many of which were published, focusing on the development of Zionism and the study of Israel and Israeli politics. Chris also studied Jewish philosophy and became interested in the socio-political aspects of the creation of the state of Israel and Zionism. After moving to New England, Chris became interested in finding a shul and tried Reform Judaism, but she found that it was not what she was looking for. A professor from law school suggested she speak with Rabbi Katz. She studied the Rabbi s writings, read her books on Conservative Jewish thought and liked her way of thinking. The Rabbi wanted Chris to start attending shul, and it was at this time she began studying with Heidi and David. Conversion was never something I thought of doing, I already considered myself a Jew because of my grandmother but one day I found myself sitting in a conversion class, said Chris. With the guidance of Rabbi Katz I found my way home with the Jewish community. Chris now attends shul regularly on Friday and Saturday and continues with her Jewish studies. David Fuentes Springfield native, David Fuentes, grew up in a Catholic home. By the time he was 10 years old he knew Catholicism wasn t for him. He did not believe in Jesus and questioned why Jesus was considered God s son. All of his siblings were confirmed, but David was unwilling to attend church, and by the time he reached age 12, he stopped going altogether. It wasn t that David didn t believe in God, he was just searching for a spiritual home. When David reached junior high school he began studying the history of World War II and that helped him find stronger spiritual ground. David had a lot of Jewish friends and these relationships acted as a springboard to learning more about Judaism. They told

5 him what to read and guided him through the early part of his Jewish self-discovery and in turn he helped them become more enlightened about Judaism. Many of the things that Judaism teaches us to do I was already doing, such as donating tzedakah, blessing God and reading Torah. I am mostly intrigued by interpreting the word of God and what that means to me. said David. David is in the process of learning Hebrew. In his late 20s, David decided he wanted to convert, but it wasn t until 4 years ago that he decided to go forward with the process. After marrying his wife Jessica, who is Catholic, it became increasingly important to her that he choose a religion. David and Jessica have three children, Teagan, 12; Emily, 13; and Daniel, 2. They have decided not to teach any religion to their children right now as they believe children don t get a say in what they believe. Religion is a personal choice, said David. It is more important to us to teach them how to live a moral life and learn right from wrong. David started to attend synagogue and met with all of the rabbis from the three local shuls. He decided to study with Rabbi Katz because her thoughts and ideas about the Conservative movement best matched what he was looking for and needed. It was at that time the Rabbi Katz was forming a new conversion class. They met once a month for about a year and a half to discuss various topics. The rabbi would give them materials to read and they d exchange ideas about the holidays and even talk about eco-kashrut, a wonderful way to incorporate caring for the environment and adapting Judaism into the 21st century. There was no time frame as to when they would be finished, Rabbi Katz said she would know when they were ready. When the day finally came to go before the Beit Din we all spoke from the heart, not from our heads. They wanted to be sure that we were planning to live a Jewish life - to live by our actions not just words. said David. When David came out of the Mikveh, the learning process was indeed over, but a new life was beginning. David now prays during the week and tries to attend services several times a week and on Shabbat. I have been a part of Temple Beth El s Minyanaires Club for a while, but now I count! said David. I am officially a part of the ten people needed for a minyan. David feels at home at Temple Beth El, and when he can t come to shul he uses his Circle of Prayer book to pray at home. I hope that by sharing my experience with other congregants, I will inspire them to continue their Jewish studies too. I am looking forward to the Melton classes this Fall. Heidi Thibodeau Heidi Thibodeau, of Enfield, Connecticut, grew up attending a Baptist church until she was 11 years old. She fondly remembers singing with her mother Judith, and sister Elisabeth in their church s choir. But she also remembers when the family abruptly stopped attending their church. She recently asked her mother what happened. I found out that the minister from their church had started a building fund and was traveling door to door collecting money. When he came to our door he asked my mom to donate $ 5.00, but she said we couldn t afford it. He replied by saying, You can give me $5.00, just don t tell your husband This left a bad taste in my parents mouths. It really bothered Heidi when her family stopped going to church, so she began trying different churches on her own. Over time she started to not believe in some of the tenets of Christianity and a lot of ideas stopped making sense. During that time Heidi read two books that inspired her - The Diary of Anne Frank and The Endless Steppe (1968) written by Esther Hautzig; describing her and her family s exile to Siberia during World War II. Heidi became fascinated with what happened to the Jews during the Holocaust and she began reading veraciously about Jewish culture, religion, and history. The more she read, the more she fell in love with Judaism. Heidi has been married to her husband Bruce for 29 years. He was raised Catholic and they were married in a Catholic church, but he feels no connection to Catholicism. Heidi and Bruce have two children, Amber, 27, and Kyle, 23. When the children were younger she started going to a Reform temple Heidi became fascinated with what happened to the Jews during the Holocaust and she began reading veraciously about Jewish culture, religion, and history. and began to feel a profound attraction to Judaism, but Bruce didn t feel comfortable introducing Judaism into their lives. She waited until her children were older and spent a lot of her time reading and learning about being Jewish on her own. Eventually it was time for Heidi to become part of a Jewish community and when she found Temple Beth El she felt an immediate sense of warmth as Rabbi Katz and the congregation welcomed her into the shul. Bruce has joined me several times now and feels much more comfortable, said Heidi. Bruce is also reading about how to honor Shabbat in their home. Although the Conservative services are mostly in Hebrew, Heidi manages to follow along by keeping track of the small boxes which mark certain portions of the Hebrew text, as suggested by member Mike Robinson when she first started going to services, and she reads the English too. She loves to sing and has learned many of the prayers by listening to the music. I concentrate on reading and learning about living a Jewish life. I attend synagogue and I remember to say the prayers before and after eating and while lighting the Shabbat candles, said Heidi. I never doubted my choice to convert to Judaism, and other than attending services for the first time, I ve never looked back. Our new Jews by choice have learned that Judaism encourages religious freedom of thought and welcomes tough spiritual questions. Conversion is challenging, but Chris, David and Heidi, describe it as an exciting time of spiritual growth, intensified feelings of love and support, and closeness to family. The staff at Temple Beth El are thrilled to have them as part of our prayer community and it is our hope that the next time you see them at services, or at a TBE event, you will remember to greet them with open arms. By virtue of their nature, people seek to form communities... Moses Maimonides Guide for the Perplexed,

6 Exploratory Conversations... The leadership of Temple Beth El has decided to work with Sinai Temple in exploring how we might re-imagine and hopefully further improve our children s religious school experiences. The first step of this process is to establish a Task Force, that will study supplementary school education and look for best practices. The Task Force will consist of 9 representatives from each congregation. Recognizing that process is critical, we have engaged Professor Sara Lee as our consultant. Continued ON page 9 From the Education Director Caryn Resnick We are looking forward to celebrating the Fall Holidays with our students and their families. High Holy Day programs are in place along with exciting plans for Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Religious school will open its doors on Monday September 9, for grades K-7, and our Hebrew High School, B Yahad, will begin Thursday, September 12. We look forward to our hallways becoming alive again with children s voices and smiles. I wish you L Shanah Tovah Tikatayvu! USY Nora Gorenstein, USY Advisor Our exciting year recently wrapped up with a fantastic and well-attended community-building program at Shaker Bowl. The 9th-12th grade USY members officially welcomed the 8th grade into USY. Hava Nagila played during Galactic Bowling as the teens enjoyed a late night of games and dancing while celebrating their Jewish heritage. The year s final event during Shabbat on June 1st was a special celebration and discussion and included the presentation of the SCUSY Executive Board for We welcome President Max Rubin, Israel Affairs VP Jonathan Travers, Religion/Education VP Emily Robinson, Communication VP Sarah Bernstein, Social Action/Tikun Olam VP Alexa Zippin, Membership/Kadima VPs Max Robbins and Dan Berg, and 8th Grade Liaison Spencer Robbins to the Executive Board of SCUSY, Temple Beth El s chapter of USY. SKLC We appreciate our librarian Liz Marinelli Morah Suzanne Chorowski is retiring! We had fun at our school party honoring her Kadima Meital Aloush, Kadima Advisor Being a member of the youth group offers our children a chance to socialize with other Jewish children in an informal way and in many different venues. I hope you will register your child in September. Kadima membership is another way to help build community and your child s Jewish identity. Get on Board... Our School Needs You! Help our School acquire desperately needed equipment and supplies FREE! Sign up now at any Big Y or online at bigy.com. Our school ID# is Use your Big Y Express Savings Club card to purchase items designated with the Education Express Logo. October 3rd MELTON BEGINS, REGISTER EARLY! 2013 Jewish Campers We ve seen how much our children have enjoyed the Jewish Camping experience. We wish them another fun-filled summer making lasting memories! Glenn Baevsky Camp Ramah Palmer Ameila Cayen Camp Oasis Rachel Cranna Camp Ramah Palmer Sarah Cranna Camp Ramah Palmer Jordan Ditusa Crane Lake Camp Noa Ditusa Crane Lake Camp Joley Frankel Camp Pembroke Elizabeth Geer Camp Jori Harry Gevanthor JCC Smmer Camp Max Gevanthor JCC Smmer Camp Rose Gevanthor Camp Jori Max Goldberg Camp Laurelwood Adam Greene JCC Summer Camp Josh Greene JCC Summer Camp Mark Horowitz Camp Laurelwood Gabriel Katz Camp Ramah Rockies Nina Katz Camp Ramah Palmer Tamar Katz Camp Ramah Wisconsin Zachary Kornblum Camp Ramah Palmer Alyssa Peck Camp Tel Noar Ilana Rapaport Camp Tevya Talia Rapaport Camp Tevya Max Rubin Camp Tel Yehudah Sammy Rubin Camp Young Judea Isaac Schein Camp Laurelwood Harrison Shrair Camp Tevya Zachary Steinberg Camp Laurelwood Jack Suher Camp Chipinaw Max Weissman Camp Ramah Palmer Ryan Zeller Camp Laurelwood Alexa Zippin Camp Young Judea Jared Zippin Camp Young Judea Ascher Zive Camp Tevya Alex Zolotor Camp Pembroke Jami Zolotor Camp Pembroke 6

7 Cuppa Joe Love to learn? Visit & click this link. Learn to read Hebrew If anyone is interested in learning to read Hebrew this Fall, contact Caryn Resnick at or call the temple office at Lunch & Learn hiatus We are taking a hiatus from Lunch and Learn for the summer, please look for an upcoming schedule of dates in September. ALL THINGS MELTON on page 18! We are now examining the draft of the Siddur Lev Shalem for Shabbat. Rabbi Katz has been working on the committee to create the new siddur. This is an exciting opportunity to see it in its early stages. Join us every Sunday for minyan at 8:30 am and/ or breakfast and class at 9:15. Newcomers are always welcome! Katz Family Library SKLC Book Discussion Group The book group is busier than ever during the summer months- we welcome back members who spend the winter in warmer climes, and the more relaxed pace of the season affords more time to read. It s a great time to join us! The selection for the July 17 meeting is 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tennement by Jane Ziegelman. The author explores our culinary heritage by following a variety of ethnic groups that inhabited a building on the Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century. The result is a unique and appealing narrative of New York s immigrant culture. On August 14 we will discuss a mystery, Don t Ever Get Old by Daniel Friedman. When Buck Schatz, senior citizen and retired Memphis cop, learns that an old adversary may have escaped Germany with a fortune in stolen gold, Buck decides to hunt down the fugitive and claim the loot. Both these choices promise to generate lively discussions, so please plan to attend. Both meetings will be held at 10:30 in the Katz Library. Summer is a Time for Relaxing and Reading! Summer is the time for relaxing with a good book, whether you are headed for the beach, mountains, or the lounge chair in your back yard. Here are a few suggestions that are available in the library: Russ & Daughters: Reflections and Recipes From the House that Herring Built by Mark Russ Federman. The former proprietor of the beloved appetizing store on Manhattan s Lower East Side tells the mouthwatering story of an immigrant family s journey from a pushcart in 1907 to an internationally-known institution. Brothers Emanuel: A Memoir of an American Family by Ezekiel Emanuel. The brother of Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel relates the history of his family s classic immigrantsmake-good American story, while trying to answer the question What did your mom put in the cereal? The Innocents by Francesca Segal. Winner of the 2013 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, this debut novel examines the conflict between tradition and independence in a close-knit London Jewish community. The Tin Horse by Janice Steinberg. Part mystery, part sister story, part family history, this novel brings the bygone Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights to vibrant life. Jewish London: A Comprehensive Guidebook for Visitors and Londoners by Rachel Kolsky, and Roslyn Rawson. Packed with fascinating and practical information, Jewish London features everything for the visitor to London, from walking tours of historic areas to listings of kosher restaurants and shops, and information on important Jewish Londoners and where they lived. This is just one of the travel guides available in the library. Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi. A luscious, photographic collection of 120 recipes with origins encompassing the various ethnicities that comprise Jerusalem. The history of the city and its foods are sprinkled throughout. The library is open irregular hours during the summer. Please feel welcome to come in whenever the temple is open, browse, and check out books using the sign-out sheet on the librarian s desk. Liz Marinelli, Librarian katzlibrary@tbespringfield.org x116 7

8 What we won from Moment Magazine Last spring, Rabbi Katz entered an essay contest for pulpit rabbis organized by Moment magazine. She was asked to explain why our congregants might benefit from reading Moment. Her essay explained that each issue is interesting and includes thoughtful articles from a range of authors. The magazine is non-denominational and always publishes a range of perspectives. Since its published every other month, Rabbi made note of the editorial board s timely, thoughtful and enjoyable cover-to-cover content. We were pleasantly surprised (and proud) to learn she won the contest! The winning Rabbi s congregants receive a FREE one-year subscription to Moment magazine! Before we share our mailing list, we want to give you the opportunity to opt out. If you prefer NOT to receive this magazine, send an to office@tbespringfield.org or call before July 15. Moment magazine, North America s premier Jewish magazine, was founded in 1975 by Nobel Prize laureate Elie Wiesel and acclaimed writer Leonard Fein. Fiercely independent, Moment is not tied to any organization, denomination or point of view and offers a balanced accounting of the Jewish experience in America. Moment also strives to counteract anti-semitism, and encourage constructive, meaningful discussion about Jewish history, life and future. With 100,000 print readers and two million on the web, Moment is the flagship project of the Center for Creative Change. Editor s Note: Rabbi Katz publishes a bi-monthly column in every issue of Moment magazine. 8 From the President Pauls Farkas I have been president for less than three months, and (not by my doing) these have been an amazing three months for Beth El. Craig Kazin, Cantor Mortie Shames, and their committee blew us away with the magnificent Soul to Soul concert. Tina Rubin and Allison Steinberg organized the burial of our centennial time capsules earlier that day. Before the first evening service of Shavuot, with its beautiful harmonizing by Cantor Barber and Cantor Levson, the panelists of the Why Choose Judaism program mesmerized us with stories of their Jewish journeys, stories that remind all of us of our own Jewish journeys. Before the next night s Shavuot service, we picnicked and shmoozed in the social hall. Our bar/bat mitzvahs have made many of our Shabbat services even more special. Our Musical Friday night services have been great times as well. At a recent evening minyan, Cantor Barber spoke of beautifying the mitzvah when so many people showed up for evening prayers. The Cuppa Joe class completed Rabbi Hoffman s book on the Kabbalat Shabbat service and is now reading Rabbi Katz s advance copy of that service as revised for our new prayer books. The Lunch and Learn class has looked at many Jewish debates, and is now studying the ways we have thought of God through the ages. There were many good-bye hugs in the hallways at the close of this year s religious school, but a happy reunion on a recent Shabbat, complete with JEWmba dancing and an eagle or two. As we think of these moments, we can understand the special buzz in the air at shul. We look forward to more events and special moments in the coming months. Don t Miss Out! Come and join us at Beth El. Be part of it. Give yourselves a gift. Just Show Up. Transparency has become an organizational buzz word. About a year ago we did a survey of our board to assess Beth El s governance structure. It seemed as if many felt left out. Some congregants felt that they did not understand how decisions were being made, some board members felt they did not have enough input, and many were confused about what the various committees did. In reality, I think the lay leadership at Beth El has done a truly magnificent job over the years, and that we can all be proud of the leadership history of our temple. However, in an effort to address these concerns, we formed a task force on governance, and the board has adopted its recommendations. Some of the changes we have introduced are: 1. The Executive Committee will meet as needed to address personnel issues and emergencies. 2. The Board will be considering all other issues 3. Committee Chairs will report to the board on a rotating basis. 4. I will be reporting to you and summarizing topics reviewed by the board. Please look for these on the web site (where I hope they will be appearing in a week or so) It is an honor to be your president. To succeed, however, I need help from all of you. Please share your concerns or suggestions with me (minyandad@gmail. com) and continue to support our wonderful temple, and please continue showing up. Volunteers Needed for Social Action Events Loaves and Fishes - Wednesdays, July 17 and August 21 at 11:45 a.m. We continue to serve lunch for Loaves and Fishes the third Wednesday of each month at Christ Church Cathedral at 35 Chestnut Street in Springfield. Please arrive there at 11:45 a.m. and bring a gallon of whole milk. Enter on side of church down towards the basement. Dinner at Shiloh Church - Sundays, August 25 and September 29, we will be preparing and serving dinner at the Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church for 50 hungry people. Food should be cooked at home or purchased. For more information or to sign up please call TBE at

9 The Meaning Behind Fasting Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz No one knows how or where fasting had its beginning. It is most commonly associated with religious observation. It s the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam. Buddhism considers it a means to practice self-control and advocate abstaining from food after the noon meal. Fasting in Hinduism indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake of spiritual gains. Some Christians fast whenever they feel a need for self discipline - to become more spiritually orientated towards God. The traditional time for Christians is in Lent, a period of forty days before Easter. Some fast during that time every Friday, as this was the day Jesus died, and especially on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent. Even though fasting is an integral part of certain religions, many are unsure as to whether the physiological effects are as beneficial as the spiritual. It has been proven that during a fast the body rids itself of the toxins that have built up in our fat stores throughout the years. The body heals itself and repairs damaged organs during a fast. And finally there is good evidence that regulated fasting contributes to longer life. What is the purpose of fasting in Judaism? Fasts that commemorate tragedies that have befallen our people. Some fasts commemorate past tragedies and national historical events. The fast on Tisha b Av is an example of such a fast. Throughout Jewish history, the ninth of Av (this always falls in the summer between mid-july and mid-august) has been recognized as a day of tragedy. According to tradition, many dreadful events occurred or began on this day in history, including the destruction of the First and Second Temples, the razing of Jerusalem by Romans (70 CE),10,000 Jews were murdered on Tisha b Av in In 1290, Jews were expelled from England on Tisha b Av and the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition and World War I began on Tisha b Av. During the Holocaust, deportations from the Warsaw Ghetto to the Nazi Treblinka death camp began on Tisha b Av (1942). More recently, the deadly bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires occurred on Tisha b Av (1994). Fasting is also a sign of contrition and repentance. The fast of Yom Kippur is the best known example of such a fast. On Yom Kippur our fasting is a form of spiritual atonement. Aside from the two 25-hour fasts (Yom Kippur and Tisha b Av) there are five minor fast days on the Jewish calendar. These fasts begin at dawn and end at sundown: The Fast of Gedaliah, the day after Rosh HaShanah, commemorates the killing of the Jewish governor of Judah, a critical event in the downfall of the first commonwealth. The Fast on 10 Tevet, is the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem The Fast of Esther, just before Purim commemorates the three days that Esther fasted. before approaching King Ahasuerus on behalf of the Jewish people. The fast is connected with Purim The Fast of the Firstborn, the day of the first seder, is a fast observed only by firstborn males, commemorating the fact that they were saved from the plague of the firstborn in Egypt. The Fast of Tammuz, on the 17th of Tammuz, is the date when the walls of Jerusalem were breached, another major event leading up to the destruction of the First Temple. The fact that a human being will always need the assistance of others teaches us that we were not created to exist just for ourselves. Simcha Zissel Ziv CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Exploratory Conversations Professor Sara S. Lee served as the Director of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at the Los Angeles Campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of PROF. SARA LEE Religion (HUC) from , as well as Adjunct Professor Emeritus of Jewish Education from She has taught courses in many areas of Jewish education including Sociology of Jewish Education, Curriculum and Organizational Development. Together with other faculty from HUC, Professor Lee was responsible for the creation and leadership of The Experiment in Congregational Education, which started in the early 1990 s, worked with congregations throughout North America to renew and transform Jewish learning for members of all ages, and continues in new forms to the present. Professor Lee has co-edited three books: A Congregation of Learners, Touching the Future: Mentoring and the Jewish Professional, and Communities of Learning: A Vision for the Jewish Future, Christians and Jews in Dialogue: Learning in the Presence of the Other, was published in August In June 1997, Professor Lee was awarded the Samuel Rothberg Prize in Jewish Education by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In January 1999, Professor Lee received the degree of Doctor of Hebrew Letters, honoris causa, from The Jewish Theological Seminary. The President of the State of Israel, in cooperation with the Education Department of the Jewish Agency for Israel, awarded Professor Lee the Pras HaNasi, th President s Award for Distinguished Leadership of Jewish Education in the Diaspora in February In May 2012 Hebrew Union College awarded her the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Professor Lee holds degrees from Radcliffe College, Hebrew Union College and the University of Southern California. Her volunteer activities included serving as an officer for Hadassah, her congregation and a community Jewish day school. 9

10 10 High Holy DayS GUIDE 5774 Saturday, August 31 Selihot Reception, Havdalah and Film...Beginning at 7:30 pm Service...9:30 pm Wednesday, September 4 Erev Rosh HaShanah...6:00 pm Candlelighting...7:00 pm Thursday, September 5 First Day of Rosh HaShanah...8:30 am Babysitting (ages 2-4)...10:00 am - End of services Children s Program (K, 1& 2)...10:00 am - End of services Youth Programs Grades 3 & :00 am - 11:00 am Grades 5 & :00 am - 11:30 am Grade :00 am - 11:30 am Family Service (grades 4 and younger)...11:15 am - 12:15 pm Grades 8 & :00 am - Noon Grades 9-12 (gathering in new Youth Lounge)... Noon - End of services Age-appropriate holiday activities...11:30 am - End of services Tashlikh (see next page for details)...3:30 pm Laurel Pond...4:30 pm Forest Park Second Eve of Rosh HaShanah...6:00 pm Candlelighting...8:00 pm Friday, September 6 Second Day of Rosh HaShanah (open to the community)...8:30 am Babysitting (ages 2-4)...10:00 am - End of services Children s program (grades K, 1 & 2)...10:00 am - End of services Junior Congregation (grades 3 7)...10:00 am - 11:30 am Age-appropriate holiday activities (grades 3 12)...11:15 am - End of services Minha/Maariv...6:00 pm Saturday, September 7 Shabbat Shuvah...9:30 am Minha...6:00 pm Havdalah...8:00 pm Friday, September 13 Kol Nidre...6:30 pm Candlelighting...6:51 pm Saturday, September 14 Yom Kippur...8:30 am Babysitting (ages 2-4)...10:00 am - End of services Children s Program (K, 1& 2)...10:00 am - End of services Youth Programs Grades 3 & :00 am - 11:00 am Grades 5 & :00 am - 11:30 am Grade :00 am -11:30 am Family Service (grades 4 and younger)...11:15 am - 12:15 pm Grades 8 & :00 am -Noon Grades 9-12 (gathering in new Youth Lounge)... Noon -End of services Age-appropriate holiday activities...11:30 am - End of services Minhah...5:30 pm Neilah...6:45 pm Sounding the Shofar...7:51 pm Wednesday, September 18 Erev Sukkot First Evening of Sukkot...6:00 pm Candlelighting...6:45 pm Thursday, September 19 First Day of Sukkot...9:30 am Second Evening of Sukkot...6:00 pm Candlelighting...7:45 pm Friday, September 20 Second Day of Sukkot...9:30 am Minha -Maariv...6:00 pm Erev Shabbat Candlelighting...6:39 pm Saturday, September 21 Hol Hamoed Sukkot Shabbat Morning Service...9:30 am Minha...6:00 pm Havdalah...7:39 pm Wednesday, September 25 Hoshanah Rabbah...6:45 am Erev Shemini Atzeret (Yizkor)...6:00 pm Candlelighting...6:35 pm Thursday, September 26 Shemini Atzeret (Yizkor)...9:30 am Dinner...5:30 pm Erev Simhat Torah...6:30 pm Come sing, dance, and celebrate with the Torah. Candlelighting...7:35 pm Friday, September 27 Simhat Torah...9:30 am Erev Shabbat...6:00 pm Candlelighting...6:30 pm

11 How you can make our High Holy Days more special Operation Isaiah Again, this year we will be distributing grocery bags, featuring our Centennial logo on Rosh HaShanah. We ask every family to bring a package or bag of nonperishable food to the synagogue on Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur, to be distributed to those in need, via Open Pantry. Outreach to our Homebound - Should you or someone you know be homebound for the holidays, please know that you can call in to our synagogue and hear our service by dialing and entering the code An audiocast of the service is available on our website, Cemetery Visits It is customary to visit the graves of family and friends as the new year draws near. You are, of course,welcome to visit the cemetery on your own. Please know that Rev. David Aminia will be at the cemetery Sunday, September 1 and Sunday, September 8, 9:30-noon, for families or individuals who need assistance in the reciting of appropriate prayers. Lulav and Etrog The deadline to order your lulav and etrog is Monday, September 9. The cost is $50 per set. Tasklikh We will have two choices for Tashlikh this year. Join us for our traditional Tashlikh on Monday, September 5, 4:30 p.m., at Forest Park, with Rev. David Aminia, as we literally throw away our mistakes from the past year, by using breadcrumbs which are symbolic of our sins. Just let the guard at the gatehouse as you enter the park, know that you are from TBE and you will not be charged an admission fee to the park. You may also choose to attend the Try a Synagogue Tashlikh at Laurel Pond in Longmeadow at 3:30 pm. Held in conjunction with the PJ Library, this program is geared to families with small children, but is open to all. Rabbi Amy Katz will be there, along with Rabbi Mark Shapiro and Cantor Martin Levson of Sinai Temple. Breaking the Fast Temple Beth El will once again host a congregational break fast after the sounding of the shofar on Saturday, September 14. A sumptuous dairy buffet will feature bagels with cream cheese or lox spread, kugel, salads, fruit and a selection of pastries. The cost is $10 per person ages 10 and over, $8 per child ages 5 9 and free for children under 5. Attendance is by reservation only. The deadline for paid reservations is Wednesday, September 4 by calling ( ) or ing (office@tbespringfield.org) the temple office. Family Services We will hold our annual services with your children on the first day of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur (see schedule). This year the family service under the tent will be lead by musican and composer, Brian Bender, accompanied by puppeteer and musician, Tom Knight. Brian Bender is a musician and composer adept at playing the trombone, trumpet, melodica, keyboards and percussion. He has performed all over the world including in the Cape Verde Islands (West Africa), Egypt, Israel, Alaska, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Ireland and England. He has performed at Carnegie Hall as well as the Presidential Inauguration of Bill Clinton. Each summer Brian performs with various Klezmer, Reggae and Latin Jazz Bands based throughout Europe. Tom Knight is a singer, songwriter, puppeteer and videographer based in Northampton. Do not miss these innovative and musical services in the tent behind the Sandi Kupperman Learning Center. Puppeteer Tom Knight Temple Beth El High Holy Days Ticket Policy Members of Temple Beth El in good standing* will be issued tickets for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Tickets may be requested in advance for dependent children ages who are not students or military personnel. Please call the temple office ( ) to request these tickets before the holidays. Children under the age of 18 do not require tickets to attend services. Members who generously offer to pay enhanced dues at the Pillar level receive free guest tickets (2 tickets for Maccabim who pay $2,100, 4 free tickets for Shomrim who pay $2,500, 6 free tickets for Kochavim who pay $3,600 and 8 free tickets for Giborim who pay $5,000). Parents or children (ages 30 or older) of congregants who reside within 50 miles of Temple Beth El must be members in order to receive tickets. Children of members who are either full time students or full time military personnel will be admitted to services upon presentation of college or military ID. Students attending local colleges and military personnel will be admitted upon presentation of ID. Members may purchase tickets for any relative, including children and parents, or a guest who resides further than 50 miles away from Temple Beth El. Associate members are entitled to purchase High Holy Days tickets. An out-of-town relative or guest, affiliated with another synagogue outside of Western MA, may have a ticket upon presentation of a letter from their congregation showing that they are members in good standing*. Please be prepared to present your ticket upon entering the building. * Members in good standing have paid dues in full or have established a payment plan for their dues obligation prior to the High Holy Days. Guest Tickets Guest tickets may be purchased for any relatives or guests who reside further than 50 miles away from Temple Beth El. Cost: $125 for all High Holy Days, $65 for Rosh HaShana or Yom Kippur services only. Member Name WTelephone ( ) - WGuest Name W(Check one or both)w crosh HaShanaW cyom Kippur WWAddress, City, State, Zip WGuest Name W(Check one or both)w crosh HaShanaW cyom Kippur WWAddress, City, State, Zip WGuest Name W(Check one or both)w crosh HaShanaW cyom Kippur WWAddress, City, State, Zip Please return this form to the Temple office no later than August 6, Payment must accompany order. 11

12 July 2013 July 4 Bat Mitzvah Sarah SmithlineW10:00 a.m. Office Closed July 5 Office Closed Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW8:10 pm July 6 Shabbat Mattot/Ma sey HavdalahW9:10 pm July 7 Cuppa JoeW9:00 am July 12 Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW8:06 pm July 13 Shabbat Devarim/Hazon HavdalahW9:06 pm July 14 Cuppa JoeW9:00 am July 15 Erev Tisha b Av ServiceW 9:00 pm July 16 Tisha b Av July 17 Book ClubW10:30 am July 19 Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW8:02 pm July 20 Shabbat Va ethanan Shabbat Nahamu HavdalahW9:02 pm July 21 Cuppa JoeW9:00 am July 26 Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW7:55 pm July 27 Shabbat Ekev HavdalahW8:55 pm July 28 Cuppa JoeW9:00 am August 2013 August 2 Musical Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW7:47 pm August 3 Shabbat Re eh August 4 Cuppa JoeW9:00 am HavdalahW8:47 pm August 9 Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW7:38 pm August 10 Shabbat Shoftim HavdalahW8:38 pm August 11 Cuppa JoeW9:00 am August 16 Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW7:29 pm August 17 Shabbat Ki Tetze HavdalahW8:29 pm August 18 Cuppa JoeW9:00 am August 21 Book ClubW10:30 am August 23 Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW7:18 pm August 24 Shabbat Ki Tavo HavdalahW8:18 pm August 25 Cuppa JoeW9:00 am August 30 Kabbalat ShabbatW6:00 pm Candle LightingW7:06 pm August 31 Shabbat Nitzavim/Vayelekh Bar Mitzvah Mark Horowitz Selihot Receptionx7:30pm Havdalah, followed by the filmx8:00, Servicex9:30 pm Wisdom can only come by way of a willingness to accept truth from any source. Solomon ibn Gabirol To our Torah Readers in April and May: Matthew Adler, Emily Anfang, Ayelet Armon, Deganit Armon, Matan Dragon, Dr. Max Chorowki, Samantha Horowitz, Erica Horowitz, Michael Horowitz, Ben Horowitz, Gabriel Katz, Max Robbins, Spencer Robbins, Emily Robinson, Brooke Travers and Noam Zaffron. To our Haftarah Readers in April and May: Matthew Adler, Dr. Stuart Anfang, Dr. Max Chorowski, Samantha Horowitz, Stanley Light, Spencer Robbins, Michelle Schein, Dr. Larry Metz and Harold Stein Shabbat service leaders for April and May: Dr. Dennis Gordan, Joe Lieberman, Dr. Max Chorowski and Steve Weiner. Breakfast Sponsors: In honor of his mother s 90th Birthday Steven Lepow In memory of his father and uncle Steven Lepow In honor of his nephew, Spencer Robbins becoming Bar Mitzvah Mark Robbins In memory of his mother Dr. Ed Gerstein In memory of her mother Carole Cohen In honor of the temple s new Jews by choice Chris Burnett, David Fuentes and Heidi Thibodeau Paul & Esta Farkas If you would like to sponsor a breakfast please contact Reverand Aminia at the temple office at Members of the Kiddush Club In the May/June issue of Tekiah, we listed our congregants who have supported the weekly lunches we provide each Shabbat with a donation of $136. We are happy to report that the following members have stepped forward to support this effort from April 15 through May 15. Elaine Becker and Mike Ezrin Paul and Esta Farkas Selma and Bernard Milstein If you would like to help us with this important effort to build community each Shabbat, please contact Rhoda Peskin or rpeskin@tbespringfield.org. Kiddush Sponsors Temple Beth El is grateful to the following sponsors of congregational Kiddush lunches in April and May: In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Matthew Drs. Louis and Mary Adler For Temple Beth El Suzanne and Max Chorowski For Temple Beth El Steve Weiner and Diane Miller In honor of the of SKLC Student Led Shabbat and the Bat Mitzvah of Noam Zaffron Caryn Resnick and the Anna P. Housen Desk of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Spencer Craig and Maureen Robbins In honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Samantha Michael and Debra Horowitz In honor of the anniversary date of Stuart s Bar Mitzvah Drs. Stuart and Michelle Anfang If you are interested in sponsoring a Kiddush lunch to commemorate a special event please contact the synagogue office at Tree of Life A stone for the Tree of Life was recently purchased: In Memory of Joseph D. Kalicka By the Ingis and Kalicka Families Leaves for the Tree of Life may be purchased for $250 to honor a friend or family member. Stones may be purchased for $2500. Please contact Rhoda Peskin at if you would like to order a leaf. Yahrzeit Plaques A Yahrzeit plaque was recently purchased in memory of: Seena R. Corn By David B. Corn Yahrzeit plaques are fitting way to remember a loved one s yahrzeit in perpetuity. They are displayed in the temple lobby each year during the week of the yahrzeit. The cost is $375. If you would like to purchase a plaque, please contact Reverend David Aminia at office@tbespringfield.org We encourage you to share your news with us, so that we can rejoice together. Or if you have suffered a hardship or loss, please know our Temple Beth El community is always here for you. 12

13 Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive in the land which adonai your God gives you. Deuteronomy 16:20 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Revolution & Freedom Mark Horowitz August 31 Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilekh Mark Horowitz is the son of Arnold and Meri Horowitz. He has a younger brother Max whom he welcomed to the family from Russia in Mark is the grandson of Benjamin and Sara Horowitz, and Sherman and the late Natalie Somerset. Mark is a seventh grader at Glenbrook Middle School. He enjoys skiing, and playing basketball, baseball, golf and tennis. When Mark is not playing or watching sports, he enjoys spending time with friends and traveling with his family. Mark has chosen a mitzvah project that is very meaningful to him. He would like to help orphaned children that are less fortunate then his brother. He is collecting donations to send to an orphanage in Russia. Mark s hope is that these other children in Russia will find a loving family like his brother Max. Correction to our high school graduate list In our May/June issue of Tekiah, we omitted two of our 2013 high school graduates from our list. We want to congratulate Alizah Barker, graduate of Williston Academy and Nathan Weissman, graduate of Longmeadow High School. We apologize for the omission. Harold Grinspoon on being honored by the Hebrew High School of New England. Stephanie Zolotor on receiving the Excellence in Jewish Education Award from the Resource Center of Jewish Education. Charlie Nirenberg on being honored by UMass Hillel. Ellen and David Ratner on being honored by Heritage Academy. Stuart and Michelle Anfang on being honored by Israel Bonds. Minna Halperin on the marriage of her granddaughter, Dr. Avivia Halperin, daughter of Robert and Wendy Russman Halperin of Lexington, MA, to Dr. Craig Alpert, son of Judy and Barry Alpert of Pittsburgh, PA. Aviva is also the granddaughter of the late Norman Halperin (z l). Jennifer Skerker, granddaughter of Goldie and Irving Skerker, on her election to 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Scholastic Honors Team. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Declaration of Independence Have we not all one Creator? Has not one God created us all? Malakhi 2:10 We mourn the loss of the following through May 31. Jerome Finkelstein Robert Guyotte Father of Sharon Tariff Rosalyn Gloth Jonathan Kronick Brother of Pamela Kronick-Axler Josef Vatnikov Husband of Faina Vatnikov Vera Dveyra Sorkina Mother of Alexander Sorkin Henry Vigdor Father of Andrea Shemesh Sandra Krasner Wife of Bert Krasner Shirley Parish Jennie Shapiro Sister of Anne Petlock Sister of Marion Resnick Margrit Miriam Lowell Evelyn Kittredge Mother of Kathy Goodman Grandmother of Adam Goodman May there be peace within your walls and security within your gates. Psalm 122:7 There are of course similarities and differences between the two revolutions. Each revolution was shaped by a different cultural model of freedom. Jews have been the direct and major beneficiaries of both revolutions, but the difference between the two revolutions has led to different Jewish experiences of freedom. In France, the price of equality for Jews was to stop being different. As Clermon-Tonnerre expressed, To the Jews as individuals, everything should be given; to the Jews as a nation, nothing. While the French granted freedom, the assumption was that there is one model of citizenship and one universal culture. The Jews would have earn their freedom. And they would do this by sacrificing their unique character or culture in public spaces. In retrospect, equality is not true equality if one group, the Jews must prove their worthiness by giving up their own heritage. After all, the other French were not asked to give up their heritage as the price of liberty. In America, Jews were not fully accepted as of July 4, 1776, although the declaration that all men are created equal did not exclude Jews. There was also pressure to assimilate in America. As John Quincy Adams said, immigrants must cast off their European skin, never to resume it. Yet because this was a nation of immigrants, the assumption of one unitary culture was fairly weak from the very beginning. Many churches, synagogues, school systems and standards of cultural authority grew up in America. When the French granted the Jews freedom the underlying message was that Jews were an alien nation who could earn earn their freedom. In contrast, the American model of democracy allows for diversity. True there is a pressure that any majority generates over any minority in a democracy. However in America the Jewish community was better able to maintain itself publicly and Jews did not need to earn their freedom in the same way they did in France. 13

14 Temple Fund In memory of Joseph Kalicka Susan & Jonathan Goldsmith David Kalicka In memory of Jerry Simon Anastasia Marangoudakis Marc E. Katz Steven Hochberg Carol Wernick & family Dr. Sally A. Lesik Esta & Paul Farkas Andrea & Ryan Watson In memory of Evelyn Kittredge Carol Wernick & family Anne & Elliot Bloom Esta & Paul Farkas In memory of Sandra Krasner Theo & Mike Glickman Marilyn Erikson Hilda Radin Dr. & Mrs. Alan R. Gerstein Jane Smith Gloria & Jordan Koltz Karla Rogers Selden Beverly Shore Esta & Paul Farkas Jim Vinick Herbert Jackowitz Abbye & Susan Silver Marianne Tompkins Joy, Michael, Jared & Kara Leavitt Charlotte Bergman Stephen & Kathleen Black Leonard & Phyllis Hertz Elizabeth & James Surprise Thomas & Lucy Ashe Miriam Hirschhaut Ken & Renee Hiltner Leah & Bill Goldman Hyman Darling Paul Bloom Ruth Oisteanu Maxine Sisitsky Ellie Markson Martin & Marian Broder Donna & Steve Feldman In memory of Mildred Borden Esta & Paul Farkas In memory of Sandra Maltz Curt Freedman Ann Guttman & Rick Ratner In memory of Rosalyn Gloth Gloria Ray In memory of Jack Anfang Donna & Steve Feldman Ann Guttman & Rick Ratner In memory of Jerome Finkelstein Gloria Ray Phyllis & Irving Feldman Yahrzeit of Morris Kelberman, beloved husband Beatrice Kelberman Yahrzeit of Shirley Goldstein, beloved sister Beatrice Kelberman Yahrzeit of Herbert Goldstein, beloved brother-in-law Beatrice Kelberman Mazel Tov on the engagement of Steven & Carol Steiner s daughter Beverly & David Hirschhorn Mazel Tov to Suzanne & Max Chorowski on the birth of their grandchildren Dr. & Mrs. Alan Gerstein Billy, Rebecca, & Andrew Anderson Mazel Tov on Alison Ratner s engagement Joseph Lieberman Carol Halpern Wernick & family Mazel Tov to Paul Farkas on becoming President of Temple Beth El Judy & Ted Ingis Carol Wernick & family Selma & Bernie Milstein Mazel Tov on Andrew Ratner s engagement Carol Halpern Wernick & family Mazel Tov to David & Ellen Ratner on Heritage Academy honor Carol Halpern Wernick & family Mazel Tov to Stuart & Michelle Anfang on Israel Bonds honor Carol Halpern Wernick & family Mazel Tov on the birth of Sue & Ed Kline s granddaughter Rhoda & Judd Peskin Mazel Tov on the birth of Max & Suzanne Chorowski s grandson Rhoda & Judd Peskin Paul & Esta Farkas Congratulations on Dana Shaker s graduation from college Ina & Rich Werman Best wishes to Fred Brownstein & Elaine Geha in their new home Robert Friedlander & Orville Dale Best wishes to Mel Lavin on his new home Elinor Markson In honor of Nancy Cole s birthday Esta & Paul Farkas In honor of the birth of Mel Lavin s grandchild Esta & Paul Farkas Elinor Markson In honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Barry & Janie Schulman s grandson Sam & Maxine Goldberg In honor of Esta & Paul Farkas Norma & Bernard Vinick In honor of Albert Goldberg s 85th birthday Harold Okun Kiddush Fund In memory of Sandra Krasner Carol Resnick In memory of Eva Levine Linda & George Spitz In memory of Jack Anfang Susan & Jonathan Goldsmith In honor of Stuart Anfang Susan & Jonathan Goldsmith In honor of the engagements of Ellen & David Ratner s son & daughter Susan & Jonathan Goldsmith In honor of Paul Farkas becoming President of Temple Beth El Susan & Jonathan Goldsmith In honor of Carol Wernick s birthday Susan Goldsmith With thanks to Suzanne & Max Chorowski Heidi Thibodeau In gratitude to Rev. David Aminia for being a part of my Beit Din Heidi Thibodeau Minyan Fund In memory of Edythe Levine Sandy Andre In memory of Henry Vigdor Paul & Esta Farkas In memory of Bernard Cantor Paul & Esta Farkas In memory of Doris Cantor Ann Guttman & Rick Ratner In memory of Rosalyn Gloth Phyllis & Irving Feldman In memory of Jerry Simon Susan & Jonathan Goldsmith In memory of Reuben Bergman Charlotte Bergman Yahrzeit of Bertha Chase, beloved mother Marian Broder In appreciation of Rev. David Aminia Mark & Laura Katz In honor of the bar mitzvah of Jane & Barry Schulman s grandson Myra & Jerry Gold In honor of Paul Farkas on becoming President of Temple Beth El Suzanne Chorowski In honor of Heidi Thibodeau, Crystal Burnett, and David Fuentes on their Conversions Paul & Esta Farkas Mazel Tov to Judy & Eugene Baker on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter, Anastassia (Stacey) Phyllis & Irving Feldman With thanks to Rev. David Aminia for his invaluable help with Brandon Goldberg s Bar Mitzvah preparation Michele & Larry Goldberg In honor of Rev. David Aminia David Fuentes Sandi Kupperman Learning Center Fund In memory of Sandra Krasner Sunny Shor & children In memory of Sara Goodman Debbie & Michael Horowitz & family In memory Gerald Simon Debbie & Michael Horowitz & family In memory of Evelyn Kittredge Debbie & Michael Horowitz & family In memory of Joseph Kalicka Caryn Resnick Wishing Seymour Franke a speedy recovery Sheila Blum In honor of the good work done at the SKLC Steve Rubenstein Mazel Tov to Karen & Stan Winer on the birth of their new granddaughter Charlotte Meyer Mazel Tov to Max & Suzanne Chorowski on the birth of their new grandson Charlotte Meyer With many thanks to Elizabeth Wexford and Susan Williams for a wonderful night Seder experience Heidi Thibodeau Mazel Tov to Charlie Nirenberg on his well-deserved recognition from Hillel Betsy & Dick Gaberman Yahrzeit Fund Sylvia Chelder, beloved sister-in-law By Sylvia Allen Carolyn Winer, beloved sister-in-law By Stan & Karen Winer Bessie B. Korolick, beloved mother By Harrisia Lee Rappaport Robert Draymore, beloved husband By Jan Draymore Suzanne Lieberman, beloved wife By Joseph Lieberman Celia Cohen, beloved mother By Paul Cohen Lillian Weinbaum, beloved granddaughter By Lynn W. Cartwright Dora Saxe, beloved granddaughter By Lynn W. Cartwright Dr. M. Maurice West, beloved father By Elizabeth Paleologopoulos Estelle Slossberg, beloved mother By Marilyn Rosenthal Hannah Lieberman, beloved grandmother By Joseph Lieberman Beth Alissa Lieberman-Niejadlik, beloved daughter By Joseph Lieberman Fanchon Ratner, beloved mother By Patricia Ratner McWeeney Beatrice Allen, beloved sister-in-law By Sylvia Allen Dora Saxe, beloved mother By Joyce Weinbaum Robert Kaufman, beloved father By Myrna Robbins Lillian Weinbaum, beloved mother-in-law By Joyce Weinbaum Bertha Sperling, beloved mother By Grace Sperling Robert Fein, beloved father By Jonathan Fein Robert Kaufman, beloved father By Judith Stzelasky Frederick Nissenbaum, beloved husband By Joy Nissenbaum Morris Okun, beloved father By Martha Dalitzky Miriam K. Zeller, beloved mother By Barbara Zippin Esther Rachleff, beloved mother By Fern Newman Ethel Posner, beloved mother By Ann Barowsky Anna Yakovlevna Berman, beloved mother By Galina Gertsenzon Diane Reisner, beloved mother By Maxine Sisitsky Elwood Lutz, beloved brother By Arthur Lutz & Ruth Kimmel Paul Weissman, beloved father By Stuart Weissman Jack Bessel, beloved husband By Ethelyn Bessel 14

15 Joseph Baer, beloved grandfather Tara Wolman Sheila G. Halpern, beloved mother By Carol Halpern Wernick & Richard Halpern Norman Kurland, beloved husband and father By Barbara, Justine & Joshua Kurland Shirley Goldberg, beloved wife By Jack Goldberg Joseph Barowsky, beloved father By Milton Barowsky Anna Simon, beloved grandmother By Abby Goodman & Roberta Goodman Rose Greenberg, beloved grandmother By Carol Halpern Wernick & Richard Halpern Morris Okun, beloved father By Harold Okun Lillian & Charles Young, beloved parents By Beverly Nadler Dorothy Finkelstein, beloved mother & wife By Ellen & Jerome Finkelstein Steven Finkelstein, beloved brother & son By Ellen & Jerome Finkelstein Edith Singer, beloved grandmother By Gerry Berg Isidor Cooper, beloved father By Martha Nadelman Benjamin Gampel, beloved father By Marcia G. Schimmel Goldie & Samuel Davidson, beloved parents By Ina Fine Rebecca Radner, beloved mother By Norma Vinick Edward Berinstein, beloved brother-in-law By Morton Katz Isidor Cooper, beloved father By Ruth Bennett Sylvia Newman, beloved mother By Albert & Fern Newman Mae Gerstein, beloved mother By Ed Gerstein Sylvia Pincus, beloved mother By Susan Burk Frank Meyer, beloved father-in-law By Charlotte Meyer Joseph Schatz, beloved grandfather By The Travers Family Mae Barowsky, beloved mother By Milton Barowsky Murey Colton, beloved father By Miriam Mackler Morris Perlman, beloved father By Sharon Rosenberg Tobey Shabel, beloved mother By Anita Finkel Sylvia Burstein, beloved mother-in-law By Ruth Burstein Isaac Kerlinsky, beloved father By Goldie Newman Max Lewis, beloved father By Florence Barowsky Rose Berger, beloved aunt By Florence Gurwitz Sheryl Passo, beloved sister By Gary Okun Rose Mirkin, beloved mother By Marlene Kimball Lillian Parker, beloved sister By Myer Ezrin Florence Jackowitz, beloved mother By Herbert Jackowitz Ethel Jermyn, beloved mother By Isadore Jermyn Julia Welsh, beloved sister By Rosalyn Levinsky Rose Alpert, beloved mother By Stuart Alpert Rebecca Schaffer, beloved mother By Frances Jackowitz George Stein, beloved father & grandfather By Barbara & Bruce Winer & family Lillian Levine, beloved mother By Doris Chase Harold Goldstein, beloved husband By Ethelyn Bessel Pauline Colton, beloved mother By Miriam Mackler Sadie P. Mackler, beloved mother-in-law By Miriam Mackler Ilean Simon, beloved mother By Abby & Robert Goodman Samuel Dollitsky, beloved father By Ida Schwartz Irving Meyer, beloved husband By Charlotte Meyer Semyon Bogdanis, beloved father By The Bogdanis Family Sarah Lavin, beloved mother By Melvin Lavin Dora Daisy Cohen, beloved mother By Ethelyn Bessel Pauline Allen, beloved sister-in-law By Sylvia F. Allen Ben Farkas, beloved father By Paul Farkas Phillip Zeller, beloved father By Barbara Zippin Desiree Zippin Tranghese, beloved mother By Alexandria Zippin Harold Frank, beloved husband By Edythe Frank Dr. Irving Meyer, beloved father By James Meyer Julian Leavitt, beloved father By Peter Leavitt Gussie Mondel, beloved mother By Harriet Brisk Ida Rosen Pava, beloved mother & grandmother By Abby Pava Austern Malcolm Steinberg, beloved uncle By Steven Lepow Philip Diamond, beloved father By Iris Diamond Linson Celia Rosenfeld, beloved mother By Alan Rosenfeld Tobi Potashnick, beloved sister By Laurie Seigel Ilean Simon, beloved mother By Roberta Goodman Samuel M. Lieberman, beloved brother By Joe Lieberman Milton Shelasky, beloved father By Stephen Shelasky Tanya Novofastovsky, beloved son By Boris Novofastovsky Frieda Ungar, beloved mother By Jay & Elsie Ungar Nathan Dalitzky, beloved brother By Milt Dalitzky Harry Goldberg, beloved uncle By Jack Goldberg Frieda Reisz, beloved mother By Judith Bullock Semyon Bogdanis, beloved daughter By Elina Stein Louis Heit, beloved father By June Okun Barbara Tamaren, beloved sister By Jack Goldberg Adeline Friedlander, beloved mother By Robert Friedlander Sarah Dolitsky, beloved mother By Ida Schwartz Beth A. Lieberman Niejadlik, beloved sister & aunt By Deborah Lieberman Ginsberg Suzanne Lieberman, beloved mother & grandmother By Deborah Lieberman Ginsberg Alan Goldberg Youth Fund In memory of Sandra Krasner Jack Goldberg and Sora Torff Marge & Sid Chase Carol Haase & Mace Shapiro Sorry for the Schreiber Family s loss Sid & Marge Chase Sora Torff & Jack Goldberg In memory of Henry Vigdor Sora Torff & Jack Goldberg Mazel Tov to Sara & Ben Horowitz s granddaughter, Samantha, on her Bat Mitzvah Sora Torff & Jack Goldberg Carol Haase & Mace Shapiro Nettie & Morris Goldstein Fund In memory of Henry Vigdor Phyllis & Elliot Altman Cantor Morton Shames Cultural Art Fund In memory of Sandra Krasner Myrna Robbins In memory of Murray Weinstein Marilyn Rosenthal In memory of Clara Lepow Suzanne Halberstat Chorowski Katz Library Fund Best wishes on the occasion of Liz Marinelli s daughter s marriage Suzanne Chorowski Nechamen/Chernick Fund In memory of Earl Smith Ann Guttman & Rick Ratner In memory of Dr. William Beachman Bea Nechamen Philip & Miriam Zeller Children s Educational Fund In memory of Sandra Krasner Allen & Barbara Zippin In memory of Tillie Lesser Alan & Charlotte Zeller In memory of Bernice Brooks Alan & Charlotte Zeller High Holy Day Mahzor Fund In memory of Sandra Krasner Lois & Cal Goldberg In honor of Sara & Ben Horowitz s 50th Wedding Anniversary Lenny & Laurie Horowitz & family Steve & Elaine Horowitz & family Esther & Morris Okun Music Fund Birthday wishes to Albert Goldberg Martha & Milt Dalitzky Rabbi s Discretionary Fund In memory of Henry Vigdor Deborah Lieberman Ginsberg Lynn & Bob Dashevsky Wishing Seymour Frankel a speedy recovery Selma & Bernie Milstein Sam & Ruth Poppel Miriam & Dennis Gordan Ina Fine Joe Lieberman In honor of my mother s 90th birthday Steven Lepow In appreciation to Rabbi Katz for her kindness and sympathy Anne Petlock & Marion Resnick Happy 90th Birthday of Eunice Lepow Rochelle W. Hodes With love and gratitude to Rabbi Katz Herbert & Roslyn Levinsky In honor of Brandon Goldberg s Bar Mitzvah and with thanks for all of Rabbi s help with his preparation Larry & Michele Goldberg In honor of Ben & Sara Horowitz s granddaughter s Bat Mitzvah Dennis & Miriam Gordan In honor of Rabbi Katz David Fuentes In appreciation to Rabbi Katz Freda Posnick The Kronick Family In gratitude to Rabbi Katz for facilitating my conversion, and for her advice and support during the conversion process Heidi Thibodeau In appreciation to Rabbi Katz for the Bat Mitzvah of Samantha Horowitz Debbie & Michael Horowitz With deep gratitude and appreciation to Rabbi Katz Andy & Kobi Shemesh Cantor s Discretionary Fund In appreciation to Cantor Barber for Adam Katz s Bar Mitzvah Laura & Mark Katz In gratitude to Cantor Barber for being a part of my Beit Din, and for her advice and support Heidi Thibodeau In honor of Cantor Barber David Fuentes This list includes donations received as of May 31. Please note that only donations of at least $10 are listed in the bulletin. 15

16 16 Meet the Bernsteins Maxine Bernstein The Bernstein family s connection to Temple Beth El started way back in the late 1970 s. At that time, Maxine, a Windsor Locks, Connecticut native, first visited the temple for a USY event, and Randy, from Holyoke, became friends with a group from Longmeadow. I remember being impressed by how beautiful and grand the temple was,. It was a little intimidating! Maxine and Randy met their sophomore year at Clark University in Worcester and have been together ever since, settling in Springfield to be near both families and moving to Longmeadow in Daughter Alanna was born in 1992 and the family joined TBE when she began first grade at the Sandi Kupperman Learning Center (SKLC). Daughter Sarah was born in 1997 and followed her big sister through SKLC. Alanna became a Bat Mitzvah on December 10, 2005, and Sarah on June 26, Both Alanna and Sarah followed Randy s footsteps and attended Camp Tel Noar for many years. Like her mother, Sarah is very active in USY, currently holding a board position. While always an active Hebrew School mom, Maxine became very involved in the strategic planning process, and as a member With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in... to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address of the education sub-committee. From there, she joined the SKLC Board of Education, was nominated to the Board of Trustees, and currently serves as the Recording Secretary. She s also been part of the planning for the centennial and worked on the ad journal. Her favorite job at TBE is as a greeter for services. I love it! she says with a smile. I get to say hello to everyone and talk during shul what could be better? Randy enjoys coming to TBE because he always seems to meet someone who knew his mother from the old neighborhood in Springfield. Maxine loves the sense of community, and the friends she s made at TBE. Nearly 10 years after her Bat Mitzvah, Alanna maintains strong ties with her SKLC friends, and Sarah has continued her Jewish studies in B yahad. TBE is an important part of the family s life and will continue to be so. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not life sword against nation, and they shall not again experience war. People shall dwell under their own vines, under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid. Micah 4:3-4 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Anonymous donor We are pleased to announce that Nancy Cole and Charlotte Meyer have agreed to cochair a committee, that will be calling many of our members, asking for your support. We hope you will respond generously. The funds raised from the High Holy Day appeal are used to pay for the daily operations of our shul. Membership dues simply do not cover all of our expenses. More than half of TBE members pay reduced dues due to financial need. We are proud that TBE is a congregation for everybody and no one is ever turned away due to financial constraints. High Holy Day pledge cards will be mailed to all members by the beginning of August. Donations may be made before Yom Kippur online at by mailing in your pledge card or by giving your pledge on the phone when called. You can also indicate your pledge on your High Holy Day appeal card and bring it with you to hand to an usher after the Presidentís appeal on Yom Kippur, which falls this year on Shabbat, September 14. The success of this year s campaign depends on your pledge! We hope we can count on you. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Musical Trio on Kabbalat Shabbat Burkhart also has her own original rock band, SUPERKART, and performs with the Ed Vadas Blues Trio and Satinwood. Anna Sobel plays world percussion, specializing in table, dumbek and djembe. She drums for kirtans all around New England with the band Shubalananda and Friends and has performed with the Kirtan Rabbi. She is also a Hebrew School teacher and runs her own puppet company, Talking Hands Theatre. Amy Rose graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music in She moved to Amherst in 1984 and launched Klezamir in She is the band s pianist, accordionist, flutist and manager. She is also a flute and piano teacher in Amherst. Just this year she joined MarKamusic, a band specializing in South American music and Latin jazz. This popular service is always followed by a delicious dairy appetizer buffet. We hope to see you August 2nd!

17 Upcoming Centennial Events Please mark your calendars Thursday, September 27 Simchat Torah We will honor our Emeritus Clergy, Rabbi Herbert Schwartz and Cantor Morton Shames for their commitment to the synagogue and for their years of service to Temple Beth El. Sunday, October 27 Art and Architecture of the Synagogue Symposium Learn the story behind our building, designed by world-renowned architect Percival Goodman, and adorned by significant pieces of artwork, in a half day symposium that will feature noted experts and scholars. October 2013-February 2014 Springfield Museum Exhibit: 100 Years of Jewish Life in Springfield A retrospective on the last 100 years of Jewish Life in the lower Pioneer Valley is not to be missed at the Quadrangle. Saturday, November 2 Temple Beth El Gala Evening of Celebration Our year of celebration wraps up in this festive Saturday evening celebration, featuring a sumptuous feast and a sensational New York City band. You won t want to miss this opportunity to celebrate with past and present members, as well as many others from throughout the community. Temple Beth El was in the news... in 1953! In 1953 several newspaper articles were written about the design and construction of the new Temple Beth El, and it s architect, Percival Goodman. Mention was made of the artists Goodman commissioned to work with him on the project. The community leaders involved were acknowledged to be and referred to as forward thinking. Here are edited excerpts from an article, written by Wayne C. Smith on January 3, 1953 for the Springfield Morning Union. Hold of Traditional Lines Broken by New Temple; Artists Given Free Reign By Wayne C. Smith The new Temple Beth El in construction now on Dickinson Street is to be a departure in architectural design of public buildings and other places of worship around our city. The stranglehold which traditional architecture holds, in this area, has been broken. This is an example of foresight and courage on the part of members of the congregation of Temple Beth El. It is hoped that an example has been set for other groups. Percival Goodman, the architect of the new Temple Beth El, was in town yesterday visiting the construction site. He was accompanied by the artists he commissioned to create art, sculpture and decoration for the synagogue. The artists are Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell, and Ibram Lassaw. I was present during their visit and had the opportunity to learn something about the plans. Artists Given Unlimited Freedom While sitting in with representatives of the congregation, I was made aware of the freedom the artists have been given to create in their own way. Not every group would possess the knowledge necessary to allow for such creative freedom. However, the architect and the temple community want it no other way. The artists commissioned by Goodman, modern and avante-garde are accomplished and respected. Adolph Gottlieb brought his plan for the Ark Curtain, a pictorial design on velvet. Percival Goodman, described the design for the small chapel. With walls of white stucco and a rough wood ceiling, it will be reminiscent of Mediterranean synagogue design, yet still modern and pared down. The chapel design will include a brilliantly colored rug, to be designed by Robert Motherwell, wall hung from ceiling to floor behind the pulpit. Largest Sculpture of its Kind Considerable sculpture is integral to the architect s plan. Designed by Ibram Lassaw, one sculpture will be an ambitious piece for the building s façade. A group of 12 individual bronze panels will be fitted together to form a single sculptural unit, representing the festivals of the Jewish calendar. Lassaw believes his sculpture will be the largest abstract sculpture created to this point. Interest is growing. The artists completed work will be shown in New York City before it is permanently installed at the site. Frederick B. Robinson, Director of the Springfield Museum of Fine Art has also expressed his interest in presenting the architect s plans and drawings along with the work of the three artists. Article courtesy of the Architecture and Design Committee: Susan Weiss Firestone, Chairperson Howard Smithline, Chairperson Jane Schulman, Editor Susan Shaker Sue Heller 17

18 Florence Melton Adult Mini-school No tests. No Homework. No Grades. Know Judaism. Give us 2 hours a week and we ll give you 5000 years of Judaism. The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, a comprehensive adult education program, is offering two Melton Year One classes, and three graduate course, starting October 3. The classes are sponsored by Temple Beth El, the Springfield Jewish Community Center, and the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts. Year One Classes: Year One classes will be held on Thurs. mornings at 9:00 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center or Thurs. evenings at 7:00 p.m. at Jewish Geriatric Services. Class sizes are limited so we encourage you to sign up soon. Rhythms & Purposes Rhythms What s the point of living Jewishly? What ideas, beliefs and practices are involved? This course examines a wide variety of Jewish sources to discover the deeper meanings underlying Jewish holidays, lifecycle observances, and Jewish practice. Purposes Why do Jews believe as they do? What are the big questions of life and how do Jewish thinkers answer these questions? This course explores sources both ancient and modern in pursuit of answers to many of the major issues of Jewish thought and theology. Graduate Courses: (Graduate courses are open to anyone with an interest in Jewish learning.) The Story of the First Jewish Family Dalia Davis, 7:00-8:30 pm Wat B nai Torah Monday October 7 - December 16 This course follows the development of the first Jewish family, from The Birth of Two Nations and Stolen Blessings to Reunion in Egypt and Blessing the Grandchildren. These stories of sibling rivalry, wrestling with an angel, palace seduction, rape, and reconciliation provide some of the most dramatic and iconic images that reverberate across the millennia. Cost: $200 tuition + $75 book fee. The Life of King David Dalia Davis, 9:30-11:00 am Wat Springfield Jewish Community Center Tuesday October 8 - December 17 In the second half of the book of Samuel I, we are introduced to King David. This course will cover the life of King David, and delve into his triumphs, tribulations, and truly human moments. Highlights include David s battle with Goliath, struggles with King Saul, and feelings for Batsheba. Cost: $200 tuition + $25 material fee. Finding God in the Midst of Tragedy Rabbi Devorah Jacobson, 6:30-7:00 pm Wat Jewish Geriatric Services October 8 - December 17 We will read and discuss some of the most poignant Jewish writings over the ages responding to the problem of evil and the age old question: Why do bad things happen to good people. We will consider the Book of Job, passages from the Talmud, theologians of the Holocaust, and writings of Rabbi Harold Kushner. Cost: $200 tuition + $25 material fee GRADUATION EVENT On Tuesday June 10, we celebrated another successful year of adult Jewish learning. Heather Wasilewski and Estelle Lakritz reflected on their experiences in the Melton classes. Below are excerpts from their remarks. Heather Wasilewski Hello, my name is Heather Wasilewski. I must start by telling you that I am not Jewish, but my husband is. He says I m Jewish by insemination. He s quite a joker. Anyway, after about 4 years of marriage, I was becoming increasingly interested in Judaism from exposure to holiday celebrations with my in-laws. About a week before Rosh HaShanah, my mother-in-law gave me a copy of the Springfield Jewish Ledger because it had some good dessert recipes and I always make dessert for the holidays. I had never in fact read the Jewish Ledger before. I read it from cover to cover. I was thrilled when I spotted the advertisement for the Melton Adult Mini-School. I thought, Well that s a silly name. In all seriousness, I thought, This is exactly what I have been looking for! I felt that Marcia having given me that newspaper was serendipitous you know, when God gives you what you need, when you need it. I promptly signed up. That was the beginning of my Jewish journey. Although the majority of students in Melton class are Jewish, I felt like the first year curriculum was, at least for me, a comprehensive introduction into what it means to be Jewish and to live Jewishly. The year 1 courses were Rhythms of Jewish Living, taught by Dalia Davis and Purposes of Jewish Living, taught by Rabbi Amy Katz. I thoroughly enjoyed each class! Rhythms taught us about all the holidays of the year, rites of passage, and aspects of day-to-day Jewish living. Purposes taught us why we live Jewishly, answering serious questions like, Is the Torah the revealed word of God, What does it mean to be the Chosen People, and Why do people suffer. I realize that I said answer, but it fact in Melton the goal isn t to definitively answer the questions. It is to understand the process by which rabbi s of the past, up to contemporary times, have answered these complex questions, often with varying answers. Ultimately, I think that the curriculum is designed to help us understand and respect the disparate views among Jews. The year 2 curriculum was significantly more challenging. I think that the curriculum designers figure that after one year of Jewish learning that they have you hooked and then they can throw some really difficult topics at the students. The courses were Dramas of Jewish Living throughout the Ages and Ethics of Jewish Living. The Dramas course could have been subtitled Important aspects of Jewish History that they didn t teach you in high school, or The Rise and 18

19 Fall, and Rise and Fall, and Rise and Fall of the Jewish People. The Ethics class wasn t exactly happy-go-lucky either. We discussed difficult contemporary topics like divorce, homosexuality, suicide, abortion, and stemcell research. All from a Jewish perspective applying the same logical process as we did in the year one Purposes class. The outcomes were again generally ambiguous, but ultimately we gained an understanding of Halakhic Law, Jewish values, and where they originate. This brings me back to my personal reflections on Melton. Because Torah study is one of God s mitzvot, the individual has a roll in their own religion. As we all know, the answers to life s dilemmas aren t explicitly written in the Torah, leading to diverse interpretations, and a culture that tolerates opposing viewpoints. I am so thankful that I found the Melton course. It turned out to be even more than I expected. Judaism turned out to be so much more than I expected. The course has taught me ways to bring meaning to everyday activities. And that was further aided by Mother s Circle, a class for non-jewish mothers raising their children Jewishly. I found that group as a result of Shoshana Zonderman s lecture on interfaith families, in year one Melton. In my home we ve brought rhythm to our weeks by observing Shabbat. It has become a time to appreciate God, our family, and our friends. We ve joined a temple. I now understand all of the Jewish holidays and rites-of-passage, and I look forward to experiencing them personally and with my children. Furthermore, I feel just a little bit more prepared to respond to life s challenges and ethical dilemmas. Mostly I feel assured knowing that Judaism is always relevant even with modern challenges. This assures me that if I were really struggling with something, that I could consult my rabbi and expect to receive more than just sympathy, but actual solutions. In these times, when Americans are fleeing organized religions that they feel are irrelevant to their modern lives. Yet individuals are seeking spirituality, purpose and meaning in their lives. I feel that I have found all that in the oldest religion of all, Judaism. And the bonus to it all is that there is a strong, passionate, and supportive community that comes along with it. Melton was just the beginning of my Jewish journey. It is a journey tht has no end, because we recognize that there is no end to learning. But most importantly, I have learned that to live Jewishly is to live purposefully. Melton has made that possible. Estelle Lakritz Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad. These words from the Torah have been recited daily by the Jewish people in times of triumph and in times of tragedy. What is it in these words that have inspired generations of Jews to affirm their belief in God, since the times of Moses. Why is it that when we recite the Shema in our Siddurs the last letter of the first word Shema and the last letter of the last word echad are capitalized? They form the word ed which means to bear witness. For those of you who know me, I have always been a spiritual person, Israel has always been a central focus in my life, I always questioned why, what was the underlying factor that made my passion so crucial to my life almost from the beginning? It was in this spirit that I decided to enroll in the Melton Adult Mini-School. My involvement in Melton has undoubtedly transformed my life, it has enhanced my passion and appreciation of Judaism. Undoubtedly, it has facilitated a sense of connection with my ancestors, both the Askenazki and Sephardi sides of my family. Reading the passages from the various scholars throughout history, representing all branches of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist has helped me appreciate the different dimensions and interpretations of Jewish texts. The Torah is like a prism; it brings a different ray of light to each reader. In our classes we have explored many of these dimensions, interpretations of the scriptures in a judgement-free zone and often emerge with different insights into the meaning of these texts. It is truly amazing that these texts have influenced the study of law, medicine, ethics, psychology, literature; the list goes on. The question is, why study our history, what is the relevance to our lives today? We often hear if we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it; I believe that it is much more than that. How can we know ourselves, if we know little about the path that brought us here? Do we owe nothing to our ancestors, who often sacrificed their lives to preserve their beliefs? Is there such a thing as a collective memory? I believe there is. Are there such things as miracles? I believe in miracles which in my view are undeniable. The first is self-evident. Despite the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the Jewish People were about to endure. They transformed the Temple ritual and practices in Jewish prayer while simultaneously transforming Israel and its capital Jerusalem into an ideal and a place that is everlasting. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, in my view, is also a miracle. Jews from all over the world, from the United States, Iraq, France, Soviet Union, India, China have all found refuge, a land where they are free to be Jews without fear or limitations. Why after thousands of years have the Jewish people prevailed, despite constant threats from the outside, world of extinction? We can read about our history in the Torah and we can gain greater understanding of Jewish history from study. The past two years has been an incredible personal journey for me, for I have not only had the privilege of studying with Melton; but through my travel to Israel with Melton, I have literally walked through the pages of the Torah, reading passages with my classmates at the location where Jewish history has unfolded. I have touched the same stones, looked at the same mountains, seas, desert as my ancestors. Not only have I gained a greater appreciation of history, but I am also able to associate our history with a place. There were times that I felt if I would look over my shoulder I just might be able to see all those who preceded me and helped to safeguard my heritage. I hope they would be proud to see my accomplishments and the accomplishments of the Jewish people. I thank my fellow students for their participation in these classes; their enthusiasm and dedication during these classes was quite evident. I have learned much from my classmates, many of whom have a different frame of reference from myself, and I found the exchange of viewpoints quite enlightening. I have also had the privilege of making new friendships which I know will continue in the future. 19

20 Temple Beth El 979 Dickinson Street Springfield, MA (413) (413) Fax Office Hours Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Officers Dr. Paul Farkas President Robert Dambrov Vice President Susan Firestone Vice President Daniel Plotkin Vice President Eric Ratner Treasurer David Ratner Financial Secretary Maxine Bernstein Recording Secretary Dr. Stuart Anfang Immediate Past President Clergy Amy Wallk Katz, PhD Rabbi rabbikatz@tbespringfield.org Elise Barber Cantor cantorbarber@tbespringfield.org Reverend David Aminia Ritual Director daminia@tbespringfield.org Herbert Schwartz Rabbi Emeritus Morton Shames Cantor Emeritus Piano40@aol.com Staff Rhoda Peskin Executive Director rpeskin@tbespringfield.org Caryn Resnick Educational Director cresnick@tbespringfield.org Lisa Laudato (formerly Burnett) Administrative Assistant llaudato@tbespringfield.org Alexandra Espinal Bookkeeper bookkeeper@tbespringfield.org Marie Sampson Administrative Assistant sklc@tbespringfield.org Rebecca Gevanthor Communications Coordinator rgevanthor@tbespringfield.org Nora Gorenstein (formerly Levy) Conservative Youth Educator nlevy@tbespringfield.org Liz Marinelli Librarian katzlibrary@tbespringfield.org NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID SPRINGFIELD, MA PERMIT NO. 327 To get read, we went green. In addition to Tekiah, we rely on to communicate with you. We believe paperless is our environmental and fiscal obligation. If you re not on our list, please send your address to office@tbespringfield.org. Photos from the Melton Graduation 20