Hay m היום. Congregation Agudath Achim. A Glance at what s inside. A Message from the Rabbi. Information from the President. Donor Program.

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MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 ISSUE #4 Hay m היום

, SAVANNAH, GA 31405 912-352-4737 www.agudath-achim.

A Message from the Rabbi Information from the President

School Happenings Shavuot Schedule Weekly Study

1 MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 ISSUE #4 Hay m היום CONGREGATION AGUDATH ACHIM 9 LEE BLVD., SAVANNAH, GA Congregation Agudath Achim A Glance at what s inside A Message from the Rabbi Information from the President Donor Program Thank You Backpack Buddies Program Shalom School Happenings Shavuot Schedule Weekly Study Opportunities Yahrzeits Contributions Calendar for May Your May Birthdays y3 Ma 01 1, 2 5 5:30 P.M.

2 RABBI Ruven Barkan EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Motti Locker PRESIDENT Steven Roth VICE-PRESIDENT Victor Shernoff FINANCIAL SECRETARY Elise Shernoff TREASURER Michael Bonder IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Kenneth Sadler BOARD MEMBERS Liz Arkin Doug Goldstein AJ Haysman David Hirsh Nancy Isaacson Barry Luskey Debby Luskey Morgan McGhie Rick Meier Scott Samuels Barry Schlafstein Harvey Shatz Warren Zeger MEN S CLUB Daniel Skidmore-Hess CHEVRA KADISHA David Reeves ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE Bert Tenenbaum RITUAL COMMITTEE David Hirsh SHALOM SCHOOL Eva Locker Message From Rabbi Counting the Days...Making Every Day Count The Torah directs us to count each day between Pesach and Shavuot: And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering -- the day after the Sabbath -- you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week -- fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the Lord (Leviticus 23:16-17). The rabbis understand this section as the mitzvah of counting the omer. Each night we say a blessing (since the Jewish day begins at night) and then count that day -- e.g., "Today is the twenty-third day, that is three weeks and two days of the omer." We begin the counting on the second night of Pesach and count fifty days, seven weeks and one day, to Shavuot, which literally means weeks. What is the purpose of this counting? Originally, according to biblical scholar, Jacob Milgrom z"l, this was a precarious season in terms of how the weather affected the first wheat harvest. We counted a measurement each day of the crop, an omer, as a way of asking God to protect its ultimate success. The rabbis transformed this counting of grain into a counting of spiritual direction. The rabbis view Shavuot as the day that God gave the Israelites the Torah. Thus, we are counting the days and weeks from redemption of slavery to our life's ultimate purpose, receiving Torah. It is fitting that in modern times this period is close in proximity to other types of counting -- counting the days until taxes are due, and counting down until the end of the school year to summer vacation or perhaps to graduation. The transition from spring until summer is full of excitement and anticipation and holds its own kind of precarious blessings for us. As I prepare to leave as rabbi of the congregation, I feel my own kind of counting happening during this season. This is not simply a counting down of the days until I leave. Rather, I am counting each day to cherish it. I am counting each minyan, each class I teach, each Shabbat as an opportunity to pray, study, and socialize one more time with people who I have come to care for in a very special way. This experience makes me think of the preciousness of life. It is a blessing to live in such a way that we cherish each moment of the limited time of our lives. This is the meaning of the phrase in the blessing that we give to someone who comes for an aliyah on their birthday, "Many people count the days of their life, but a person of wisdom makes every day count." I hope that the way Adina and I count our last days will sanctify the remainder of our time in the congregation and communicate how we hold dear our individual relationships within it. Rabbi Ruven Barkan HONORARY MEMBERS Larry Lasky MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 2

3 Information from the President: During the Month of May we will be celebrating Shavout. Originally an agricultural festival, the holiday has evolved to a celebration of the day God gave the Nation of Israel the Torah. It also marks the conclusion of the counting of the omer. For Conservative Jews in the diaspora it is a two day holiday with a Yizkor service on the second day of Shavout. That will be on May 25 th, the holiday beginning at sundown on May 23rd. Separately I thought I would take this opportunity to update the congregation on other issues of importance. We will be having a farewell Kiddush for Rabbi Barkan and Adina on July 11th. We are hoping and expecting good congregational and community attendance. All interested in participating as a sponsor should contact me. Our search committee for a permanent Rabbi has been formed and is being led by Lynn Reeves. The committee will be seeking congregational input during this process. Our interim Rabbi Moshe Silberschein will begin work in early September for a period of ten months. Our major fundraiser will be Sunday May 31st and this year this will include a 90 minute "Beatles performance", a New York deli meal with all the fixin s, and two trips to the Big Apple as the grand prize (two winners). On a separate note, I have been able to schedule a talk by Mary Ann Biel, a MMC VP and ethicist, on advanced directives, living wills and common medical ethical dilemmas, on May 17th at 930 a.m. A few weeks later on Sunday June 14th also at 9:30 a.m. we are fortunate to have attorney Russ Simpson to come to speak to us on Estate Planning: what happens if you die in Georgia without a will and similar fun subjects. Russ specializes in Estate Planning. We are hoping to have Kosher Krispy Crème donuts at all of these Sunday events in case that is important to any of you. All of our Rabbi study groups are alive and well and we are hoping to continue and perhaps expand these in the future. Dan Skidmore-Hess is our newly appointed Men's Club chair and I expect he will be coming up with some innovative ideas to reenergize our Men's Club. Our annual Congregational meeting will be on June 7th at 3 p.m. Lastly but importantly, regarding the Tikvah project that I previously communicated to you about, the committee that was looking into the possibility of selling our present building and building a new synagogue on the JEA campus has for the present suspended activity on this project. We will continue, with your help, with our efforts to maintain, modernize and beautify our present Agudath Achim synagogue on Lee Boulevard. Steven Roth President MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 3

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6 BackPack Buddies Program (BPB) We wanted to provide the congregation with an update of our very successful sixth year of the BPB program. We are now servicing four elementary schools ( White Bluff, Largo-Tibet, Hess and Savannah Classical Academy) and providing weekend meals to approximately 125 children each Friday. This past November, we purchased 100 Thanksgiving meals for the families of the children and really made their holiday season very special! And in the next several weeks, we will be delivering more than 500 new books for the children to read over the summer. Most importantly, we want to thank our volunteers who help purchase, pick up food from Second Harvest, pack and deliver the food each week. And a special thank you for all those who donate to this great cause. We spend almost $18,000 each year on the entire program and rest assured that you are making a significant difference in these children s lives. Thank you very much! Samra and Ronald Robbins MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 6

7 Shalom School Happenings As Spring arrived and the azaleas around Savannah began to bloom, Passover also made a much anticipated arrival at Shalom School. Our Parsley Contest, which began in February when students planted seeds during Tu Be shvat, had multiple winners. Students who succeeded in keeping their plants alive (no mean feat), were awarded 10 shekels to trade in for prizes later. Even though the contest closed out a few days before the first Seder, we held out hope that some of those parsley sprouts would still hang in make it onto the Seder plate. To keep the excitement going, we also held a Ma Nishtana contest for 1 st 6 th graders. Students who were able to sing the Four Questions received 3 shekels per question that they sang. All the students who participated are to be congratulated. Special kudos to Catherine Mafcher and her 1 st grade class for having so many especially well prepared students. No doubt they were ready to shine at the Seder table! Congratulations also go out to the top finishers in our Passover candy sale: Jonah Mafcher (1 st place), Jack McGhie (2 nd place) and Ellie Rich (3 rd place). Thank you to all who sold and purchased candy. Proceeds of the sale go to our Scholarship Fund to offer assistance to those students in need of tuition support. The school s study and preparations for Passover culminated in a student Seder. Led ably by the 5 th and 6 th graders (with assistance from teachers Ms. Amanda and Mr. Giver), the students hosted the 1 st -4 th graders in two shifts. They led the reading of the Haggadah and even added in a skit in the middle. The students all seemed to enjoy the morning, and many even tried the bitter herbs. Lucky for them we substituted celery, a bit less harsh on the young palates! With Passover behind us, we turn our attention to preparing for the next school year. Fundraising to cover costs of capital improvements, scholarship support, curriculum updates, security upgrades and teacher training continues in the form or our annual spring fundraiser. If you have received a letter and have chosen to make a financial contribution, please know how sincerely we appreciate your support. Shalom School welcomes children from pre-k through grade 12. If you would like to enroll your child or know someone who would, please visit our website at for more information and an application. MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 7

8 Shavuot: Blintzes and Study Saturday Night, May 23rd at 9:00 pm Yizkor Monday, May 25th at 11:00 a.m. Weekly Study Opportunities 1. Food for the Soul - Explore how themes in Jewish prayer are relevant to your life. Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. following breakfast and minyan. 2. Midrash: The Rabbinic Imagination - Learn how the rabbinic mind works through traditional text study. Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. NEW 3. Happy Hebrew Help - Read Hebrew in a joyful setting. Classes taught by Davida Stockton. Sundays at 4:00 p.m. 4. Parashat HaShavuah - Analyze the weekly Torah portion after the Shabbat Kiddush lunch at 12:45 p.m. 5. Havdallah and Ice Cream, Sing, eat, and study as we usher out Shabbat and welcome in the new week with this beautiful ritual. Dusk on Saturday evenings. 6. Torah B Chavurah - Organize a group of your friends to study Torah with the Rabbi Barkan or Motti for one session or on an ongoing basis. MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 8

9 Yahrzeits May 2015 MAY 01/12 IYAR MAX EISENBERG LEAH FARKOVITZ JULIAN WEIL MAY 02/13IYAR CELIA KRISSMAN MIRIAM LEVY LOUIS PAZOL ESTHER ROSENBERG MAY 04/15 IYAR JENNIE BODZINER ABRAHAM BUCHSBAUM EVA DAUB MOLLIE SCHEER MAY 05/16 IYAR SELMA DUNN SHIRLEY WALDMAN MAY 06/17 IYAR EUNICE STEINBERG ABRAHAM STEIRN MAY 07/18 IYAR IDA KARESH ERMANNO KREH ANNA TISCHLER MAY 08/19 IYAR RITA GINSBERG EVELYN GOODMAN BRENT SHERNOFF MAY 09/20 IYAR ABRAHAM RUDOWITZ MAY 10/21 IYAR IRENE BILOON ROSA BOBROW LOUIS LUSKEY MAY 11/22 IYAR SYDNEY GELMAN BESS SIEGEL JACK WALICK MAY 12/23 IYAR LIBBY COHEN HANNAH MILLER BRADLEY MAY 13/24 IYAR MILTON JOSEPH BRADLEY MAY 15/26 IYAR ADOLPH KONTER FAY SACKS MAY 16/27 IYAR LEAH CHERNOFF ABRAHAM KARP MAY 17/28 IYAR JULIUS SCHMIER MAY 18/29 IYAR NORMAN DOBBS LUCILLE RAY MAY 19/01 SIVAN LOUIS BAKER SAMUEL BODZINER ISADORE KARPF MAY 20/02 SIVAN CHARLES KAMINSKY MAY 21/03 SIVAN HARRIET COHEN MAY 22/04 SIVAN JULIUS GALIN MAY 23/05 SIVAN DAVID ARTIS DAVID KRAMER FRIEDA SCHWACK MAY 24/06 SIVAN MOSES HAYSMAN LARRY HIRSH SIDNEY PADEREWSKY JOY STEINBERG MAY 25/07 SIVAN SAMUEL TENENBAUM MAY 27/09 SIVAN ELLIS CAHN AIGISTA GELLINS ROSE POTICHA MAY 28/10 SIVAN ALBERT ULLMAN MAY 29/11 SIVAN DINAH EICHLER MAY 30/12 SIVAN JEANNE PALEFSKY MIRIAM T. SHERMAN MAY 31/13 SIVAN SAMUEL BERWITZ SARA LOWE JAKE ULLMAN MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 9

10 Shalom School Thank You Danny & Lisa Kaminsky Reggie & Mel Goldstein Sisterhood Mitzvah Committee In Memory Of Solomon Brill Alan & Renie Weinstein Bailee Tenenbaum Kronowitz Kiddush Fund In Honor Of The Locker Family Linda & Joe Cooper Sandy & Marcus Seligman Ralph & Pauline Tenenbaum Chevra Kadisha Fund In Memory Of Rachel Marcus Helen Rosengart Alex Epstein Michael Dobbs Sylvia Holstein D.M.& J. F. Holstein Lewis Danish Tzedakah In Honor Of The Locker Family Julie & Buddy Metzger Marsha & Chuck Bernstein Contributions Building Fund In Memory Of Marsha Gould Jerren Gould In Honor Of The Locker Family Rene Lehrberger Happy Birthday Eric Meyerhoff Elise & Victor Shernoff Rene Lehrberger Eric Nathan Karp Fund Happy Birthday Annette Karp Rene Lehrberger Harriet Ullman Muriel Bono Sylvia Yellin Sylvia & Morris Cohen Israel Travel Endowment Fund In Memory Of Ella Miller & Janice Cohen Alterman Edward & Becky Cohen Thank You Edward & Becky Cohen Reggie & Mel Goldstein Backpack Buddies Fund In Memory Of Evelyn & Nathan Mann Linda & Steve Sacks Shirley Loundy Jane Winter Dorothy Bolden AM Goldkrand Helen Levington Spiers Harriet Ullman Thank You Judy & Harvey Stephens AM Goldkrand Congratulations on the birth of Neely Lawson Garrett & Ross Kaminsky Harriet Ullman In Honor Of The Locker Family Sandy & Lewis Schneider Happy Passover Birthday Merri Bodziner AM Goldkrand Happy Birthday Carole Cohen & Jerald Cohen Harriet Ullman Happy Passover AM Goldkrand Judy & Harvey Stephens Speedy Recovery Of Joanne Hochman Harriet & Eric Meyerhoff MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 10

General Fund In Memory Of Anna Dana Cary Shoob Lea Sutker Elizabeth & Thomas McAndrew Ed Wexler Kenneth & Linda Neidich Hoffman Jacob Sitrin & David Schoer Jackie & Charles Sitrin Joseph Milgram

11 General Fund In Memory Of Anna Dana Cary Shoob Lea Sutker Elizabeth & Thomas McAndrew Ed Wexler Kenneth & Linda Neidich Hoffman Jacob Sitrin & David Schoer Jackie & Charles Sitrin Joseph Milgram Barbara & Ellis Abrams Morton & Edith Metzger Buddy & Julie Metzger Ada Kramer Michael & Linda Zoller Aliza Sutton Eliot & Rachel Israel David Wiseman Betty Ray Wiseman Rueben Rosenberg Barry & Barbara Rosenberg Adolph Roth & David Gold Steve & Beth Roth Morris Vogel Theodore Geffen Contributions Flo Ladd Julie & Buddy Metzger Bette Hoffman & Morris Neidich Kenneth & Linda Neidich Hoffman Evelyn Goodman Allan & Suzanne Goodman Esther Bergman Rosenberg Barry & Barbara Rosenberg In Honor Of Opening the Ark Kenneth & Linda Neidich Hoffman Happy Birthday Adina Barkan Eugene & Joan Bloom Happy Birthday Annette Karp David & Gale Hirsh Dr. & Mrs. Leon Aronson Mazel Tov For Citizenship The Locker Family Rachel & Eliot Israel Bernice Luskey Marilyn & Jim Farley The Zoller s Granddaughter Adeline Barbara & Randy Bart Ross & Garrett Kaminsky New Daughter Neely Barbara & Randy Bart Mazel Tov Nathan Skidmore-Hess Bar Mitzvah Joanna & Morton Rich MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 11

Congregation Agudath Achim Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Shabbat Services followed by Kiddush Luncheons Come welcome the Shabbat by celebrating with our friends at Buckingham on Fridays at 11am. 7:00 a.

12 Congregation Agudath Achim Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Shabbat Services followed by Kiddush Luncheons Come welcome the Shabbat by celebrating with our friends at Buckingham on Fridays at 11am. 7:00 a.m. Shacharit with breakfast to follow 5:45 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat 7:47 p.m. Candle Lighting 1 9:15 a.m. Shabbat Services 7:35 p.m. Mincha 8:05 p.m. Seudah, Study & Song 8:45 p.m. /Havdalah 2 9:00 a.m. Shacharit 4:00 p.m. Hebrew Class 3 7:00 a.m. Shacharit 4 7:30 a.m. Shacharit 5 6 8:00 a.m. Shacharit with Breakfast and Torah Study 7 7:00 a.m. Shacharit and Torah Study 6:00 p.m. L Yom Tov 7:31 p.m. Candle Lighting 7:00 a.m. Shacharit with breakfast to follow 5:45 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat 7:52 p.m. Candle Lighting 8 9:15 a.m. Shabbat Services 7:40 p.m. Mincha 8:10 p.m. Seudah, Study & Song 8:51 p.m. /Havdalah 9 Lag Ba Omer 10 9:00 a.m. Shacharit 4:00 p.m. Hebrew Class Happy Mother s Day 7:00 a.m. Shacharit 11 7:30 a.m. Shacharit :00 a.m. Shacharit with Breakfast and Torah Study 14 7:00 a.m. Shacharit and Torah Study 7:00 a.m. Shacharit with breakfast to follow 5:45 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat 7:56 p.m. Candle Lighting :15 a.m. Shabbat Services 7:50 p.m. Mincha 8:20 p.m. Seudah, Study & Song 8:57 p.m. /Havdalah 17 9:00 a.m. Shacharit 4:00 p.m. Hebrew Class 7:00 a.m. Shacharit 18 7:30 a.m. Shacharit :00 a.m. Shacharit with Breakfast and Torah Study 6:00 p.m. Mincha & Memorial service for Fallen Israeli Soldiers 21 7:00 a.m. Shacharit and Torah Study 7:00 a.m. Shacharit with breakfast to follow 5:45 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat 8:01 p.m. Candle Lighting :15 a.m. Shabbat Services 7:55 p.m. Mincha 8:10 p.m. Seudah, Study & Song 8:25 p.m. Shavuot Study Session & Blintzes 9:02 p.m. / Havdalah Yom Yerushalayim Rosh Chodesh Erev Shavuot 24 9:15 a.m. Shacharit Shavuot Office Closed 9:15 a.m. Shacharit 11:00 a.m. Yizkor 8:15 p.m. Mincha 9:02 p.m. / Havdalah Shavuot/Yizkor 25 7:30 a.m. Shacharit :00 a.m. Shacharit with Breakfast and Torah Study 28 7:00 a.m. Shacharit and Torah Study 7:00 a.m. Shacharit with breakfast to follow 5:45 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat 8:06 p.m. Candle Lighting :15 a.m. Shabbat Services 8:00 p.m. Mincha 8:30 p.m. Seudah, Study & Song 9:07 p.m. /Havdalah 31 9:00 a.m. Shacharit 4:00 p.m. Hebrew Class Shavuot Study Session & Blintzes, Saturday, May 23rd at 9:00 p.m. Yizkor, Monday, May 25th at 11:00 a.m. Congregation Agudath Achim Gala 2015 Fundraiser Sunday, May 31st at 5:30 p.m. MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 12

1 1 1 2 2 3 5 5 7 8 8 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 13 13 14 14 16 16 17 17 18 19 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 24 24 26 26 26 28 29 30 30 May 2015 Bernice Elman Judith Gruber Beth Sadler Edward Cohen Douglas

Gail Robinson Linda Sacks Sandra Karlin Lucille Smith Richard Berkowitz Jane Winter Helen Cranman Sharon Sand Davida Stockton Mark Cohen Phillip Geffen Nathan Luskey Hadley Gordon Nancy Tenenbaum

13 May 2015 Bernice Elman Judith Gruber Beth Sadler Edward Cohen Douglas Goldstein Samuel Skidmore-Hess Aileen Miller Morton Rich Edward Wexler Amanda Goldstein Cari Shelkoff Cary Shoob Jared Samuels Jessica Cohen David Udinsky Arthur Haysman Harriet Kulbersh Sophia Rich Gail Robinson Linda Sacks Sandra Karlin Lucille Smith Richard Berkowitz Jane Winter Helen Cranman Sharon Sand Davida Stockton Mark Cohen Phillip Geffen Nathan Luskey Hadley Gordon Nancy Tenenbaum Walter Diamond Marylin Poticha Ross Kaminsky Seth Kovensky Lynn Reeves Jami Goldstein Joanna Rich Sarah DeVaro Samra Robbins Solomon Zerden Wendy Cohen Marc Gordon Jeanmare Holstein Nancy Isaacson Yom Huledet Same ach! We Extend Happy Birthday Wishes to the Following Members MESSAGE FROM THE MINYAN CAPTAINS If you are planning to come to Shul for Kaddish, please contact the minyan captain a few days in advance. Monday (7:00am) - Kenneth Sadler Tuesday (7:30am) - Lynn Reeves Wednesday (8:00am) - Ron Ginsberg Thursday (7:00am) - Michael Konter Friday (7:00am) - Bobby Isaacson Sunday (9:00am) - David Hirsh MAY 2015 IYAR-SIVAN 5775 Page 13

Congregation Agudath Achim 9 Lee Blvd Savannah GA 31405 RABBI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FINANCIAL COORDINATOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASST.

VICE/PRESIDENT FINANICAL SECRETARY TREASURER RECORDING SECRETARY CHEVRA KADISHA PRESIDENT PRESIDENT EMERITUS CHEVRA KADISHA PROFESSIONAL STAFF STEVEN ROTH

14 Congregation Agudath Achim 9 Lee Blvd Savannah GA RABBI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FINANCIAL COORDINATOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASST. OFFICE HOURS Monday/Thursday 8:30am / 5:00pm Friday 8:30am / 3:00pm Gift Shop Hours: PLEASE CALL Joanna Rich BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT VICE/PRESIDENT FINANICAL SECRETARY TREASURER RECORDING SECRETARY CHEVRA KADISHA PRESIDENT PRESIDENT EMERITUS CHEVRA KADISHA PROFESSIONAL STAFF STEVEN ROTH VICTOR SHERNOFF ELISE SHERNOFF MICHAEL BONDER AJ HAYSMAN DAVID REEVES ABRAM RUBIN RUVEN BARKAN MOTTI LOCKER LAURA EVANS JULIANA G. BLAND NON/PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 21 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

HAYOM MAY 2018 IYAR-SIVAN 5778

ISSUE #5 HAYOM MAY 2018 IYAR-SIVAN 5778 9 LEE BLVD SAVANNAH, GA 31405 912-352-4737 WWW.AGUDATH-ACHIM.COM In This Issue: Information from the President From the Desk of the Rabbi Synagogue Relationship