Please join us to congratulate the Confirmation Class of Sunday, May 31 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary (Meet the Confirmants, Pages 6-7)

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1 Volume 156, Issue 10 Iyyar/Sivan 5775 May 2015 MAY S HIGHLIGHTS Ira Wise s Milestone This month we give a special tribute to Temple Educator Ira Wise for 20 years of exceptional, committed service to our congregation and the Reform movement. The celebration begins May 1 with a festive oneg at 5:00 p.m., followed by Shabbat services at 6:00 pm., during which Dr. Evie Levy Rotstein, director of the New York School of Education at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion, will present Ira with the NATE/ARJE Distinguished Educator Award. Please join us to congratulate the Confirmation Class of Sunday, May 31 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary (Meet the Confirmants, Pages 6-7) Following a dinner, Dr. Rotstein will speak about her research, Why is Authenticity a Critical Element for Jewish Learning? On Saturday, May 2, Dr. Rotstein will lead us in Torah study, and then at 11:30 a.m., all current and former religious school teachers are invited to both celebrate with Ira and study with Dr. Rotstein during a lunch-and-learn session. Celebrate Shavuot B nai Israel will offer up quite the Shavuot celebration on Saturday, May 23. There will be fun for the whole family. Join as we plant flowers and vegetables to beautify the Temple grounds, followed by a potluck dinner and then an outdoor screening of the Israeli film Footnote. See Page 5. Generation Chai Temple life is a family affair for the Beckers. Discover their B nai Israel story and find out what makes them One of Us. See Page 9. More Inside Rabbi Prosnit... P.3 BIFTY... P.4 Adult Learning... P.4 Rabbi Schultz... P.5 Shabbat Services... P.5 Ira Wise... P.8 A century of Confirmands greet passers-by in the Temple hallway along the library. Celebrate 100+ Years of Confirmation Walk down the hall alongside the Temple library and generations of Confirmation classes stare back at you. The wall is lined with photographs of Confirmands dating back to Records show our Confirmation celebrations go even further back than that, but we will use the photographs as our reference this June in celebrating 100-plus years of Confirmation at B nai Israel. Please join us for a multi-generational celebration on Friday, June 5. The special Shabbat service will begin at 7:30 p.m., followed by a festive dessert Oneg. Check out the Facebook page for this event. Go to ly/100yearsofconfirmation for the ever-expanding Confirmation Wall, tag yourself and your classmates! A virtual journal linked to the Temple s website is part of the program. Make a donation by placing a congratulatory ad in the journal and a personal or class gift commemorating this milestone event. Continued on Page 2

2 CONFIRMATION Continued from Page 1 The later starting time for the service will allow Confirmands outside the immediate area to travel to Temple and share the moment. Parents of Confirmands, please alert your children about the celebration! So mark your calendar for Friday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. Contact Larry Levine at llevine@congregationbnaiisrael.org with any questions or to write about your own experience with Confirmation at B nai Israel. CONFIRMATION FUN FACTS For many years, only Confirmation was celebrated at B nai Israel, not B nai Mitzvah. Confirmation was so big that a homecoming-style dance was held the same weekend as the service at one of the fancy hotels then in Bridgeport. Sharing our Joy Rabbi Jim Prosnit and Wendy Bloch, on the birth of grandson, Caleb Benjamin Traub Prosnit, son of Ethan Prosnit and Arielle Traub. Elaine and Juda Chetrit, on the birth of granddaughter, Julia Sealey Laragh, daughter of Marci and Rob Laragh. Sincere Sympathy We extend our sympathy to the bereaved families of: Max Maisel, son of Ivan Maisel and Meg Murray, brother of Sarah and Elizabeth Maisel Shirley Zeisler Deutsch, sister of Gloria Sheiman AARP Driving Class Mondays, May 18, June 15, and July 13, 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. In the Temple Library Please join our congregant, Ernest Ernie Malecki, who is well versed in training this four-hour, one-day class designed by AARP for senior drivers. Not only will Ernie share tips to save on your insurance costs, but more importantly driving tips that may save your life and the safety of those around you. Please pre-register to Ernie directly by calling (203) or enmalecki113@ gmail.com. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Make checks payable to AARP. Be Heard on the Budget Congregation B nai Israel will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Social Hall. New members to the Temple Board of Trustees will be elected, and the budget for the Fiscal Year will be presented for a vote. All congregation members are welcome to attend, ask questions and offer feedback about 2710 Park Avenue Bridgeport, CT (203) The Bulletin of Congregation B nai Israel is published every month except July. James Prosnit, D.D.... Rabbi Evan Schultz... Rabbi Arnold I. Sher, D.D.... Rabbi Emeritus Sheri E. Blum, D.M.... Cantor Ramon Gilbert, D.M.... Cantor Emeritus Ira J. Wise, R.J.E.... Temple Educator Robert H. Gillette, R.J.E.... Educator Emeritus Alexa Cohen... Early Childhood Director Abby Rohinsky... Director of Facility Bulletin Board the proposed budget and vote on the fiscal plan. The final numbers are still being determined. We will have more information in the June Bulletin. Build a Better Community It will be Mitzvah Morning on Sunday, May 3. Join us at 9:30 a.m. for bagels and coffee at the Temple and then a local service project in Greater Bridgeport. We will return to the synagogue by 11:45 a.m. so you can pick up your children at Religious School. The project will be geared for adults. For more information or to get involved, contact Shari Nerreau at snerreau@cbibpt.org Bulletin Update This is a reminder that the B nai Israel Bulletin does not print in July. Please make sure any submissions are made by May 1 for the June Bulletin. The next deadline will be July 1 for the August edition. Officers Samuel J. Rosenberg... President Michael Blumenthal... 1st Vice President Larry Levine... Vice President Shari Nerreau... Vice President Julie Pressman... Vice President Lori Underberger... Treasurer Jim Greenberg... Assistant Treasurer Evelyn Rubak... Secretary Joe Varon... Financial Secretary Mindy Siegel... Immediate Past President Affiliates Marisa Underberger... BIFTY Advisor/Youth Engagement Specialist Caroline DelAngelo & Harper Wise... BIFTY Co-Presidents 2 What s happening at the Temple? Get Hashavua, our weekly . Send your request to Lynn at lynn@cbibpt.org.

3 From the Rabbi s Desk/Rabbi James Prosnit Angels Appear Each Spring Confirmation as a ritual celebration of Jewish learning has always been important to me. I have spoken on several occasions of my Classical Reform background. The Bar Mitzvah experience was not important to my parents, and therefore I did not officially celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah until I was 27. Confirmation, on the other hand, was an expectation in my home. While learning Hebrew wasn t anything my folks cared about, talking ethics and values and history was a must. In this way, my family reflected the conceit of the early reformers, who felt that the essence of Jewish faith and experience would be lost on a 13-yearold. If children stayed connected into their high school years, there was a better chance of conveying Jewish meaning and significance. It was also a way to affirm the commitment to egalitarian learning as boys and girls would be taught in the exact same way. (The idea of Bat Mitzvah in the 19th century was still on the distant horizon.) On one level, those reformers weren t wrong. That s not to take anything away from our bright and engaging Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, but it is to say that the conversations one has at a somewhat older age about God, Torah and Israel have a resonance that improves with age. In many Reform congregations around the country, the number of confirmands in those group photographs has diminished significantly over the years. Here at B nai Israel, however, while the numbers have waxed and waned a bit and Confirmation may no longer be the centerpiece event of the liturgical year, it remains an experience vital to the fabric of our community. Pre-Rabbi James Prosnit (second row, eight from the left) joins with fellow Confirmands at Westchester Reform Temple in Celebrating 100+ Years of Confirmation on June 5 Some of our longstanding congregants remember the entire congregation showing up for the service, almost akin to the High Holy Days! Other congregants speak of the Confirmation dance as one of the not to be missed social occasions for Bridgeport area teenagers. While those days may have passed, the celebration still proves a special time. I always talk about the angels who appear on the bimah every spring. It is wonderful to observe tenth-graders with bright, questioning minds engaging a tradition in a very unique way. The Confirmation Service also allows for an additional sacred moment that strengthens the bonds between an individual and his or her community. An esprit des corps develops among the class, and a rich communal experience provides a special power that the individual Bar/Bat Mitzvah occasion cannot provide. Confirmation is part of the history and future of our synagogue. This year we celebrate with 18 (a good Jewish number) of our families but as I trust you know, we also celebrate over 100 years of a powerful rite of spring. Please join us to celebrate this sacred congregational heritage. We hope that a multi-generational community will join us on Friday evening, June 5, to acknowledge the milestone. If you were confirmed here or if you had a child that was part of the experience please join us ( and encourage them) to be part of special service of celebration. P.S. It s a fund-raiser too! Your generous contributions help make certain that learning on many, many levels continues. Please play a part in honoring the past and preserving and supporting the future. Donation Item of the Month: Peanut Butter and Jelly for Mercy Learning Center. 3

4 BIFTY Adult Jewish Learning at Congregation B nai Israel Meanwhile, Back in Europe, Part II Lifelong Learning Fridays at Noon, May 1, 8, 15 and 22 Last year we followed the Jewish Diaspora into Muslim Lands across North Africa, Arabia and into Spain. At the same time the Middle Ages we also were spreading throughout Europe. This year Ira Wise takes us to Prague, Krakow and points west. No need for a Eurail Pass! Authenticity in Jewish Learning Kabbalat Shabbat, after Services & Dinner Friday, May 1 at 8:15 p.m. As part of our celebration of Ira Wise s 20 th anniversary as our Temple Educator, Dr. Evie Rotstein will speak on the question of Why is Authenticity a critical element for Jewish learning? Dr. Rotstein is the Director of the School of Education at the New York Campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Reservations are required for dinner. Please call Chris at or her at chris@ cbibpt.org. The cost for the meal is $20. Something fun is always cooking at BIFTY. May s Events Join us at 6:00 p.m. on May 8 at Jennings Beach in Fairfield for the BIFTY Beach Service! We look forward to seeing you there! All events are located in the BIFTY lounge on Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. May 14 Israel Fun! May 28 Play It Forward Charity Event Global Anti-Semitism & the USA Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Charles Asher Small, director of the Institute for the Study of Global Anti- Semitism and Policy (ISGAP), explores the relationship between global anti- Semitism and the United States and how foreign policy impacts university campuses. The event is sponsored by 2G Linking Generations of the Shoah, Congregation B nai Israel, the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County, Holocaust Child Survivors of Connecticut and the Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County. Adult Round Table Thursday, May 7 and June 4, at 12:30 p.m. A discussion about current events for anyone who wants to go beyond the headlines. Facilitated by Gloria Katz. Join us the first Thursday of every month, and bring a sandwich, your opinion and an open mind. Continued on Page 11 A Super Experience Zoe Hochberg and Jacob Rodier are high school juniors who enjoy attending BIFTY events every week. Here, they discuss the friends they have made and which superhero BIFTY is. What is your favorite part about BIFTY? ZH: All the people. I love being able to spend time with really cool and fun people that I wouldn t necessarily know or hang out with if it weren t for BIFTY. JR: I enjoy making new friends while also doing fun activities with each other. What has been your favorite event? ZH: My favorite events have been the BIFTY sleepover and Minute to Win It. Everyone had a great time at the sleepover, and we were just laughing the whole time. Minute to Win It was really entertaining, and it was fun to see everyone s competitive side. JR: My favorite event at BIFTY so far was the science lab one where we did the egg-drop contest and other fun science experiments. Why should other teens join BIFTY? ZH: BIFTY is not only fun, but is filled with the most accepting group of people I have ever met. The second you step into the BIFTY lounge, you step into a nojudgment zone and you can be as wacky and crazy as you want to be. JR: BIFTY is a great break from homework and the craziness of school to do fun and relaxing activities with your friends while also making new ones. If BIFTY were a superhero, which one would it be? ZH: We would be Dash from The Incredibles, because just like Dash, BIFTY is always doing something new and exciting. JR: I think BIFTY would be Ironman, because we are smart, creative and awesome to hang out with while also doing good things for other people. 4 Tell us your B nai Israel story. See One of Us on Page 9 for details.

5 From the Rabbi s Study/Rabbi Evan Schultz The Omer: Opportunities for Reflection We are in a season of counting. We count down the days until the end of school or until graduation from high school or college. We mark the calendar to anticipate the days until summer begins or until the kids go off to camp! Similarly, we are in a period of Jewish counting known as the Omer. Between Passover and Shavuot, Jews count 49 days to fulfill the words of Leviticus 23:15-16, which read, From the day on which you bring the Omer of elevation offering the days after the Sabbath you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week 50 days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to Adonai. The Omer is a measure of grain, and in Biblical times, sheaves of the new crop were brought to Jerusalem and prepared and eaten there in thanksgiving for God s bounty. The Omer was brought daily and counted for 49 days until the onset of Shavuot. Today, this ceremony is still commemorated in the daily counting of the Omer. Several years ago, Karyn Kedar, a rabbi and author in Deerfield, Ill., began ing her congregants a short reading or prayer each day of the Omer and inviting them to reflect on it. The s began to circulate, and soon many Reform and Progressive Jews found this practice of reading a daily prayer or meditation quite spiritual, meaningful and impactful. Rabbi Kedar recently published these prayers and readings in a book entitled, Omer: A Counting. I would like to share just a few of my favorite readings from Kedar s book with you, which you can reflect on during this period leading up to Shavuot, which begins on May 23rd. Have a wonderful Shavuot. We hope you ll join us on May 23 rd! This is the obligation of a religious life: We must give away our time, give away our money, and give away our kindness. Life is purposeful when we give Change a little corner of the world; make living a bit easier for a stranger; place a hand upon the shoulder of your neighbor. Pursue the life that you wish to live. Be impatient with mediocrity. Do not abide sustained boredom. Care. Tell the Continued on Page 11 SHABBAT SERVICE SCHEDULE (Fridays at 6:00 p.m. where indicated, preceded by an Oneg Shabbat at 5:30 p.m.) Friday, May 1 6:00 p.m. Service with a special tribute to Ira Wise Torah Portion Acharei Mot- K doshim, Lev. 16:1-20:27 Haftarah Amos 9:7-15 Saturday, May 2 8:00 a.m. Service 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah 11:00 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Jenna Lopes, daughter of Dane and Shari Lopes Friday, May 8 6:00 p.m. Service in the Sanctuary or BIFTY-led congregational service at Jennings Beach, Fairfield (No parking permit required) Torah Portion Emor, Lev. 21:1-24:23 Haftarah Ezekiel 44:15-31 Saturday, May 9 8:00 a.m. Service 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah 11:00 a.m. B not Mitzvah of Emma Kortmansky, daughter of Jeremy and Debra Kortmansky, and Emily Rosenburg, daughter of David and Ann-Cathrin Rosenburg Friday, May 15 5:30 p.m. Mishpacha Shabbat 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion B har- B chukotai, Lev. 25:1-27:34 Haftarah Jeremiah 16:19-17:14 Saturday, May 16 8:00 a.m. Service 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah 10:30 a.m. Rabbi s Table with Rabbi Schultz, Library 11:00 a.m. Bat Mitzvah of Julia Winter, daughter of Brian and Rachel Winter Friday, May 22 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion B midbar, Num. 1:1-4:20 Haftarah Hosea 2:1-22 Saturday, May 23 8:00 a.m. Service 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah 11:00 a.m. B not Mitzvah of Julianna Glick, daughter of Gene and Susan Glick, and Catie Delaney, daughter of Robin Delaney Friday, May 29 6:00 p.m. Service with the Band Torah Portion Naso, Num. 4:21-7:89 Haftarah Judges 13:2-25 Saturday, May 30 8:00 a.m. Service 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah 11:00 a.m. B not Mitzvah of Stephanie Ballas, daughter of James and Joni Ballas, and Marlie Forma, daughter of Noel and Danielle Forma Like Us on Facebook. Visit the Congregation B nai Israel page and join us online. 5

6 Congratulations to Our C Anna Cohenuram Benjamin Elbaum Daisy Ferleger Zoe Lehrhaupt Rachel Madwed Will Mandelbaum Elena Smith Leo Spears Alexander Taylor 6 Have the kids left home? Then it s a perfect time to ReConnect with B nai Israel. Contact Mindy Siegel at msiegel@cbibpt.org.

7 onfirmation Class of 2015 Geoffrey Gaugler Rachel Gaugler Alyssa Glucksman Gabriel Lucas Mansour Jacob Pappas Scott Schneider Joshua Taylor Ally Chase Underberger Max Vaughn What s happening at the Temple? Get Hashavua, our weekly . Send your request to Lynn at lynn@cbibpt.org. 7

8 From the Temple Educator/Ira J. Wise The (Jewish Education) Theory of Everything A film about Stephen Hawking seems an unlikely idea for a blockbuster film. While the Theory of Everything made a decent amount of money it did even better at the Oscars. I can just imagine the pitch meeting with potential producers: So this film is about a brilliant mathematician who is barely able to move. He uses a wheelchair to get around and a computer to speak. The key is that he believes he can come up with a mathematical equation that explains everything in the universe! It was actually a beautiful film about love and character and mathematics. And it got me to thinking about my work as a Jewish Educator. Yeah. I get that look a lot at home. I tend to ruin movies because I am always looking for the teachable moment to use in my Merkaz class. This time the film became a tipping point for what I have been thinking about for the past year. If you read the Jewish press and blogosphere (try mosaicmagazine.com, ejewishphilanthropy.com or tabletmag. com), you would see a number of ideas about Jewish learning that have been trending for a while. Some of them we have talked about and adapted here at B nai Israel: Experiential Learning; Israel Education; School as Camp; Independent Minyanim; The Death of the Synagogue; Using Skype and other Technologies; Project Based Learning and Understanding by Design, to name a few. Each is the next new best thing and any institution that doesn t adapt it is bound to go the way of the dinosaurs. I have been a student of Jewish education long enough to know that these trends are cyclical. Twenty years ago the debate was Day School vs. Synagogue School vs. Israel Trip vs. Summer Camp vs. Adult Learning vs. Early Childhood Education. It was presented in just that way like some Jewish educational Ultimate Fighting cage match. I have become convinced that we need to develop a Jewish Educational Theory of Everything a simple and elegant way to describe how we incorporate all of the richness of Jewish life, language, text and history with all of the many and varied ways of teaching and learning. I believe it is not only possible but necessary. As a lifelong Cubs fan, I have seen managers and owners from Leo Durocher and P.K. Wrigley to the present day try to fix losing seasons by using quick fixes and dumping multiple players in the hope that someone anyone else can do the job. I think the whole world knows how that has worked since So I am going to be part of the team that creates that theory. Our school is the laboratory as it has been for the last 20 years. We are not going to try things willy-nilly. We will do what we have done study the new ideas for ways that add value to our teaching and learning. And we will create some of our own. As always at this time of year, we are looking for a few new teachers to help us get there. So come be part of our learning lab. Anyone want to go to the pitch meeting with me? I am pretty sure we can make a movie about this! L shalom, Ira J. Wise, R.J.E. Temple Educator Celebrate Your B nai Mitzvah Anniversary A new trend has developed at our Shabbat Morning 8:00 a.m. service. Adults are chanting Torah on the milestone anniversaries of their B nai Mitzvah 25, 30, even 50 years later! A number of adults, most of whom have not looked at a Torah since their B nai Mitzvah, are learning to chant their portions again. And this time it is their kids who are proud of them! If you are interested, contact Cantor Blum, and she will help you make it happen. The Fun Doesn t Stop: Summer Camp at Bonim School will be out for summer, but the fun will not stop at Bonim Preschool at Congregation B nai Israel. The annual summer camp will take place from June 22 to August 14, with part-day programs for children ages 18 months to 5-years-old and fullday programs for children ages three months to 5-years-old. This year s activities will include special events for 5-year-olds by Bricks 4 Kidz and Mad Science. The daily schedule will include independent activity time, playground, art, singing, science, lunch, nature and water-play and sprinkler fun. For more information or to register, call Bonim Preschool at (203) or Alexa Cohen at acohen@cbibpt. org. 8 Reach more than 700 families. Advertise in the Bulletin. Contact Nina King at nking@cbibpt.org.

9 The importance of passing his heritage from generation to generation (in Hebrew, L dor V dor) is integral to Michael Becker s bond with Judaism and B nai Israel. His grandfather, an observant Orthodox Jew who came to the United States from Kiev in 1910, was a positive force in Michael s life as a boy. Today, going to services and being involved in synagogue life provides an ongoing connection with his beloved grandparent. Participating in prayers my grandfather participated in means so much to me, Becker says. In turn, by passing on Jewish traditions to his 14 year-old daughter, Jessica, Michael feels that he is living up to his commitment to continue the chain. Michael, a mediation attorney, was raised as a Conservative Jew, but he and his wife, Cindy, found the Reform movement and the culture of B nai Israel to be much more accessible. The clergy and leadership s flexibility of thought and willingness to try different ideas and also the congregation s values enabled them to find meaningful ways to live their Judaism and bring it into their home and their daughter s life. Since enrolling Jessica in the preschool program years ago, Michael and Cindy have immersed themselves in B nai Israel. It s not just about being members but also about contributing so that we can help to build something that means so much to us and perhaps make it even better, he explains. Early on, they regularly attended Tot Shabbat services, which gave them an opportunity to connect with other young families, some of whom still form the core of their social circle. Then a Judaism Refresher class taught by Rabbi Fred Greene got me really started, Michael says. He participated in the first B nai Israel Attid Leadership program, where he One of Us: Michael Becker From Generation to Generation Michael Becker stands between daughter Jessica, and wife Cindy. learned about the synagogue s history, management, ethics and practices. This inspired him to become more active. He joined the Men s Spirituality Group led by Rabbi Prosnit, which was a unique opportunity to connect with a cohort of other young men. They engaged in both spiritual and practical discussions in a space where they could open our hearts in a way that s really not possible in the parking lot or during a quick encounter at services, Michael says. Cindy took another path, serving on the Temple Board and chairing the Religious School Committee. She now chairs the Vision Team, which is exploring longterm policy and curriculum development for the Religious School. Michael believes that a real turning point on his Jewish journey was when he enrolled in Elaine Chetrit s Adult Hebrew class in He had some basic Hebrew knowledge but never really understood what he was reading. Elaine s approach using the parsha of the week as a teaching tool makes the Hebrew more meaningful and also leads to wonderful group discussions and Torah study with a diverse group of classmates. One Saturday morning, Michael bumped into a congregant who, although dressed in flip-flops and shorts, had just come from Donation Item of the Month: Peanut Butter and Jelly for Mercy Learning Center. the 8:00 a.m. Shabbat service. Michael was intrigued by the man s description of an informal and very welcoming worship group, and he decided to give it a try. He has become a regular, and yes, he often comes in shorts and flip-flops. Once his daughter started learning Hebrew at Religious School, she and Michael studied together, strengthening their already special bond. The first time he chanted Torah, 11 year-old Jessica learned the portion with him. No one in the chapel that Saturday morning could fail to be touched by seeing her quietly mouthing the words of Torah along with her father. Last summer it was her turn. Michael and Cindy stood beside Jessica on the bimah as she became a Bat Mitzvah. Michael says it was a pivotal moment in his B nai Israel experience and probably the single best of day of my life. BJS We want to know what makes each of you One of Us. Please share with us your Congregation B nai Israel story. the B nai Israel Storytellers at ssmith@cbibpt.org. 9

10 Donations Please note that only contributions of $10.00 or more will be acknowledged with a card and Bulletin listing. Rabbi Prosnit Discretionary Fund Donations in memory of Ruth Green were made by: Janet Jurow The Blumenthal, Green and Orell Families Martin and Linda Zwerdling Donations in honor of the birth of Caleb Benjamin Traub Prosnit were made by: Elaine and Juda Chetrit Ellen and Art Gang and Family Stacy and Rob Giglietti Jim and Lisa Greenberg Sandi Michaelson Bonnie Alterman, in memory of Sid Alterman. Susan Blumenfeld/Pink House Productions, in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Alex Wiggetman. The Cederbaum Family, in memory of Thelma Fields. Henry Diamond, in memory of Dr. Albert Madwed. Melissa Diamond, in memory of Georgiana Sandberg, grandmother of Stacy Sheiman, and great-grandmother of Alexa and Owen. The Greenbaum Family, in memory of Max Maisel. James Kauders, in memory of Diane Kauders. Brenda Kreutzer, with special thanks to Joe Varon. Beth Lazar, in appreciation of Rabbi Prosnit, especially his Shabbat Torah Study, his Friday noon classes and his Artist Weekend idea. Lee Lester, in honor of Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch on the birth of their first grandson, Ezra Jules Gleeson Prosnit. Joan, Marty and Susan Levine, in honor of Bernie Levine on his 90 th birthday. Howard and Shelley Levinson, in memory of Shirley Deutsch, sister of Gloria Sheiman. Carol and Bud Loewith, in honor of Joshua Rubinstein becoming a Bar Mitzvah. Carol Mack, in memory of parents, Edwin and Sylvia Klein. Deborah Miller, a donation. Stacy Sheiman, in memory of grandmother, Georgiana Sandberg. Esther Spiegel, in memory of Anna Spiegel and Dorothy Berkowitz. Gail and Peter Weinstein, in memory of Stanley Weinstein. Florence Yasser s Family, with deepest appreciation to Rabbi Prosnit. Rabbi Schultz Discretionary Fund The Kirsch Family, in memory of Max Maisel. Beth Lazar, in appreciation of Rabbi Schultz, especially his Friday noon classes, his musical talents and his Prayer Stories and Prayer Pictures idea. Burton and Sheila Yaffie, in memory of Shirley Deutsch, sister of Gloria Sheiman. Music Fund Donations in memory of Janice Blum were made by: Lee Lester Susan and Richard Preminger Amy and Glen Rich Barbara Green and Jeffrey Orell, Joel and Erica Green, and Judy Green and Michael Blumenthal, in appreciation of Cantor Blum. Ilse Levi, in memory of beloved sister, Betty May. Judy Rankell, in loving memory of husband, Al Rankell; in appreciation to Cantor Blum and all of our congregational music makers, who enliven services with their talents. Enhancement Fund Jim and Lisa Greenberg, in memory of grandmother, Miriam Greenberg Krieger; in memory of Max Maisel. Bernard Levine, in memory of father, Herman Levine. Alice Madwed, in memory of husband, Albert Madwed. Ruth Madwed, in memory of husband, Jack Madwed, and brother-in-law, Albert (Bud) Madwed. Irving and Wilma Mark, in memory of mother, Anna Metz Mark. Julie Rothstein Rosenbaum, in memory of June Rothstein. Heidi and Ben Rosenberg, in memory of Michael Rosenberg. Patti and Samuel Rosenberg, in honor of Wendy Bloch and Rabbi Prosnit s latest grandson, Caleb. Paul Rosenberg, in memory of Michael Rosenberg. Jamie and Greg Saad, in memory of Max Maisel. Sylvia Prosnit Adult Education Fund Elaine and Juda Chetrit, in honor of Caren Schwartz birthday. David and Alexa Cohen, in honor of the birth of Caleb Benjamin Traub Prosnit. Diane Fried, a donation. Alan and Sylvia Neigher, in memory of Ruth Green; in memory of Ellen Kadden. Judy Rankell, in loving memory of husband, Al Rankell; in appreciation of Rabbi Prosnit. Nursery School Enrichment Fund Eric and Ruth Gross, in memory of Shirley Deutsch, sister of Gloria Sheiman. Nursery School Scholarship Fund Eric and Ruth Gross, in honor of the birth of Caleb Benjamin Traub Prosnit. Gail and Peter Weinstein, Mazel Tov to Rosanne and Steve Ain on grandson Jacob s Bar Mitzvah; congratulations to Shepard and Carole Goldstein on their special anniversary; a warm welcome to Joselyn, new granddaughter of Helaine and Allan Alper; happy special birthday to Donna Goldblatt. Rabbi Martin Library Fund Dale and Jerry Demner, in memory of Irving Jacob Demner, father of Jerry Demner; Anna and David Slive, grandparents of Dale Demner; and Theodore Slive, uncle of Dale Demner; in memory of Joseph Greenfield, father of Dale Demner. Samuel Miller, in memory of Shirley Deutsch, sister of Gloria Sheiman. Mazon Laurie and Daniel Schopick, in memory of Ida Perlstein. Religious School Scholarship Fund Susan and Richard Preminger, in memory of Helene Brier, mother of Judy Katz. Jonathan Spears and Emily Stutz, in honor of Ira Wise s 20 th Anniversary. 10 We want you in the Bulletin! Send your news to editor Scott Smith at ssmith@cbibpt.org.

11 Donations Please note that only contributions of $10.00 or more will be acknowledged with a card and Bulletin listing. Adult from Page 4 Religious School Enrichment Fund Joni and Michael Greenspan, Mazel Tov to Suzanne Saletan on granddaughter Julia s Bat Mitzvah; Mazel Tov to Liz and Rich Berkman on daughter Julia s Bat Mitzvah. Rabbi Arnold Sher Social Action Fund Elaine and Juda Chetrit, in memory of Max Maisel, son of Ivan and Meg, brother of Sarah and Elizabeth. Joni and Michael Greenspan, in memory of Kay Gennarini; get-well wishes and a speedy recovery to Peter Russell. Eric and Ruth Gross, in memory of Frances Gross. Etz Chaim Living Torah Fund Karin Newman, in memory of Ruth Aaron, mother of Mollie Keller. Liz and Mark Nigrosh, in memory of Ruth Green. Vision Loan Reduction Fund Patti and Samuel Rosenberg, in memory of Michael Rosenberg. Lorraine and William Smith, in memory of parents, Rose Smith and Solomon and Helen Rubak. Jim Abraham Education Fund for Jewish Leadership Samuel Miller and Family, in memory of Jennie Kot. L & D Lester Kesher Fund Lee Lester, in loving memory of dear mother, Rose Edel Lavitsky; in memory of sister, Ruthie Lovett; in memory of brother, Nelson Lovett; in memory of longtime ORT club member, Ida Perlstein. Alan Weinstein Scholarship Fund Joni and Michael Greenspan, in memory of Richard Schwartz. BIFTY Greenwald Scholarship Fund Ronnie and Jordan Lustig, in memory of Deborah Postyn. Gillette Judaic Enrichment Fund Susan and Richard Preminger, in memory of Ruth Green. Rosh Chodesh Women s Group With Rabbi Suri Krieger Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., May 14 The waxing and waning of lunar cycles has been a guiding force for women throughout the ages, both literally and spiritually. Since the Jewish feminist movement reclaimed Rosh Chodesh in the 1970s, women have gathered on a monthly basis to celebrate in many forms, including ancient text, contemporary outreach, food, and fantasy. Omer from Page 5 children that they are created in the image of God. Tell them often. Be still enough to listen to your heart. Read. Practice obedience cautiously. Stand for something. Care. Make the following declaration: I will search for God. I will not betray my life s calling. What is your Confirmation story? Send your celebration memories to Larry Levine at llevine@cbibpt.org. 11

12 Please Support Our Advertisers Celebrate Deliciously G&H GareliC k & Herbs THE ExclusivE c a TEr E r for MORA MORA the SPOT FOR PARTIES 3,200sq.ft of Creative Ballroom Space Sunday Brunch Dedicated Event Coordinator Attractive Rates for Your Next Event / Room Block! Call or for more details P: sales@westportinn.com Contact our Events Specialists at garelickandherbs.com Westport Southport New Canaan Greenwich The following members of the legal community join together in their support of the B nai Israel Bulletin: Michael Becker Ken Beck Eric Broder Marcia Cohen Irving J. Kern Mark A. Kirsch Richard Krantz Andrew R. Lubin George Markley Daniel Schopick Nancy Wechsler Appellate Bankruptcy Commercial Finance Common Interest Communities Corporate Elder Law & Long Term Care Planning Employment & Labor Land Use & Zoning Litigation Not Just a Law Firm. Your Law Firm. Matrimonial & Family Municipal Personal Injury Physicians Practices Real Estate Securities Securities Arbitration Tax and Trusts & Estates Telecommunications & Utilities BRIDGEPORT DANBURY WESTPORT ORANGE Donation Item of the Month: Peanut Butter and Jelly for Mercy Learning Center.

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16 Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 171 Fairfield, Conn. Congregation B nai Israel 2710 Park Avenue Bridgeport, CT Celebrate Shavuot at B nai Israel Shavuot can be the unofficial start to summer, as we celebrate the first fruits of the season. Join us on Saturday evening, May 23, for an active day with something for everyone in the family. We get things started at 5:00 p.m. with flower and vegetable planting and story time. Help us beautify the B nai Israel grounds with a rainbow of colorful flowers. At 5:45 p.m., there will be a potluck dairy dinner. Last names A-M please bring a side dish; N-Z please bring a main dish. A Family Service follows at 6:30 p.m. as we celebrate receiving the 10 Commandments. And at 7:15 p.m. we will have an outdoor screening (weather permitting) of the Israeli movie Footnote, followed by a discussion about the film. Footnote tells of the rivalry between two eccentric Talmudic Studies professors. Eliezer Shkolnik is a stubborn purist who fears the establishment and has never been recognized for his work. His son, Uriel, is an up-and-coming star who appears to feed on accolades. When Eliezer learns that he is to be awarded the Israel Prize, the nation s top honor for scholarship, his vanity and desperate need for validation are exposed. His son is thrilled for Eliezer, but in a darkly funny twist, Uriel is forced to choose between his own career and his father s. Footnote was nominated for the Academy Award Best Foreign Language Film and was an official selection of the New York Film Festival in Then, on Sunday, May 24, there will be a Shavuot Yizkor Service at 10:00 a.m. The Israeli film Footnote will be shown as part of our Shavuot celebration.