March. Maya Nissana Sussman Hiatt Bat Mitzvah. CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL A Family of Families March 2011 CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES

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1 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL A Family of Families March 2011 CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES March Friday, March 4 Led by lay members of CBI 6:00 pm Followed by Family dinner Saturday, March 5 Led by lay member of CBI 9:00am Friday, March 11 Led by lay member of CBI Saturday, March 12 9:00am Friday, March 18 Reform (Main Sanctuary) Traditional (Racusin Chapel) Celebration of Purim Saturday, March 19 9:00am Friday, March 25 Saturday, March 26 9:00am Friday, April 1 Maya Hiatt will help lead the service Saturday, April 2 Bat Mitzvah of Maya Hiatt 10:00am Torah Study 11:00am Please come and join us. Maya Nissana Sussman Hiatt Bat Mitzvah Friday, April 1st at Saturday, April 2 nd at 10:00 am Maya Hiatt will lead Friday night services on April 1 st and will be called to the Torah for her Bat Mitzvah on Saturday morning April 2 nd. Maya is the daughter of Marian Sussman and Michael Hiatt. She is in 7 th grade at Baker Middle School where she enjoys playing saxophone in the band and is a member of the Cross-Country team. Maya takes Ballet and has danced in the Corpus Christi Ballet production of the Nutcracker for the past four years. In her spare time Maya loves to read, and most of all spending time with her two Wheaten Terriers Sak e and Kiri. Please join the Sussman/Hiatt Family as they celebrate this happy occasion with an Oneg Shabbat on Friday evening, and a Kiddush luncheon following Saturday morning services.

2 Dear Friends: As I write these words, I am just a week before the departure of our tour group for Israel. Over the last several months, I have had repeated conversations with both members of our own congregation and some of the non-jews who will be with us. One consistent theme is that some of the travelers hope that they will have a spiritual experience in the Holy Land, that they will have some kind of new awareness of God. I know that this aspiration is held out, particularly to those who are going to visit the Western Wall of Herod s temple in Jerusalem. I have seen videos and heard testimonies of people who have approached the Wall and who have had, what they describe, as transformative experiences. For a person who does have such an experience, it s wonderful and it s real. But it does not happen for everyone, at least not in the same way. Some people are repelled by the unremitting orthodoxy surrounding this site, and the demand of the ultras that there is only one way to pray. Others are equally turned off by the misogyny of the Wall s custodians women are strictly limited and segregated. A day or two ago, I drove up Shoreline Blvd., from town and passed the First United Methodist Church. Their new neon billboard advertised a shining Rock and Worship event. Out at Bay Area Fellowship, a variety of bands and styles of popular music entertain and, perhaps, inspire the faithful. Maybe, I thought, it is not the stillness of the stones in Jerusalem and their black-clad guardians that conveys the reality of God, but the concussive blare and swaying of contemporary religious and even secular music. Maybe God is more likely to be found in the jukebox than in the sanctuary. On Friday night, March 18, we shall celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim. Is it possible that one might find God amid the revelry and silliness of that festival? How ironic it would be if God were to become apparent in the midst of the reading of the Megillah, the book of Esther, a volume that almost did not gain admission into the canon of Holy Scripture. Why? Because Esther never mentions God, prayer or religion. It is a totally secular folktale that was ultimately accepted into the Bible because after all, a miraculous rescue like this could only have happened as part of a divine plan. Maybe God is at the Wall or in the sound of the rock band or at the Purim celebration or maybe at any number of other venues. Or perhaps the path of biblical Elijah (I Kings 19:9ff) offers the most effective guidance. Fleeing into the desert from King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, the prophet was told that God is not in the strong wind, nor in the earthquake nor in a consuming fire. God for Elijah appeared most powerfully in a still small voice, inside his own mind and his own heart. I find the advice of the prophet Isaiah to be the most helpful in this matter. He said: Seek the Lord at any time that He may be found; call upon Him whenever He is near. There are obviously many different times and places, many situations and conditions under which one may become intensely aware of God. The important things to me are two: never impose limits on the possibility of becoming alert to God (because that is the equivalent of imposing limits on God not a good idea) and always keep yourself open to a sacred experience. Then, perhaps, when you least expect it, the presence of God will become a reality in your life. I pray for this blessing for each of you. Fondly, Kenneth D. Roseman, Rabbi CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 Saratoga Telephone /Fax congregation@bethisraelcc.com Website: bethisraelcc.com Rabbi Kenneth Roseman Debbie Bustillo, Office Administrator Susan Martin, Corpus Christi Community Religious School Administrator President Maury Wolfson First Vice President Jim Gold Second Vice President..... Suzy Hilliard Secretary Gary Blum Treasurer Ed Mange Past President.....Andy Lehrman Sisterhood President.... Iris Karas Cofty President Meredith Hilliard Adult Education David Jacobs Cemetery Co-Chairs...Robert Adler, Carl Kuehn, Gary Blum and Clara Braslau Ritual Committee Co-Chairs....Andrew Sheinberg and Joe Loon Program Coordinator Meredith Ryan Membership Committee Chair......Susan Martin Social Action Committee Chairs....Jim Gold Dues Committee Co-Chairs..... Ann Engel and Leslie Kane Building Chair......David Jacobs Grounds Chair...Rikki Schmitchel Fine Arts...Laurie Mintz and Ross Burney Webmaster Jack Widder

3 SPRING ADULT LECTURE SERIES ANNOUNCED Pursuant to numerous requests, Rabbi Roseman has agreed to summarize the course that he offered during the first semester to students at TAMU-CC. The course was entitled THE HISTORY OF RELIGION IN AMERICA. Our Spring series will be offered on five Sunday mornings in March and April. All of the sessions will take place in the Grossman Auditorium at 11:00 AM and will conclude about noon. They will be preceded at 10:30 by light refreshments and fellowship. On Sunday, March 13, Rabbi Roseman will help us identify the basic principles that have guided religious practice and development since the first settlement on these shores. In particular, he will address the themes that are found in the foundational documents of early American history, as those documents relate to religious matters. A week later, on Sunday, March 20, he will skip forward in time to the present-day and talk about a contemporary issue, as it demonstrates the basic principles that he elaborated in the first lecture. This issue deals with prayer and Bible reading in the public schools and is a good case study of how the American system of laws and religion mesh together. The last session in that month on Sunday, March 27 will focus on the impact of both immigration to America from foreign countries and of migration within this country and the changes that these population movements had on religion in this nation. On Sunday, April 3, Rabbi Roseman will discuss the growth of two contradictory religious movements during the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth: on the one hand, fundamentalism and, on the other, social activism. If you want to know how to identify a fundamentalist, this is the talk you should not miss! Finally, on Sunday, April 10, he will discuss the crisis of faith that has occurred since the 1920s and the emergence of alternative forms of religiosity and spirituality in the modern era. TRADITIONAL KABBALAT SHABBAT SERVICES SCHEDULED Once-a-month, lay members of Congregation Beth Israel conduct traditional Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming the Sabbath) services in the Racusin Chapel. These services last about 45 minutes; attendees often then join the rest of the congregation in the Sanctuary for the Rabbi s sermon, the concluding parts of the service and the Oneg Shabbat. The mood of these services is relaxed and celebratory, and all are welcome. The schedule for the entire year is: March 18, 2011 No April May 13, 2011 June 17, 2011 We encourage you to enter these dates on your calendar now so that you will be able to attend these services when they occur.

4 FAMILY CORNER For those of you who do not know already, I have resigned as the Program Director for CBI. We are expecting a baby and the time has come to cut back on outside work for myself. I have enjoyed preparing the Shabbat dinners over the years and will miss my monthly time in the kitchen with all of my wonderful friends. I wanted to thank everyone who has helped me over the years to make all of these fantastic Shabbat dinners. Without all of your help, I would not have been able to make such great dinners for our congregants. One thing that I have truly come to appreciate about these dinners is the opportunity our congregants have to socialize with one another. What a wonderful sight it is to see so many members getting to know one another and sharing a meal while laughing and just relaxing. These opportunities will fortunately not end with my retirement. Leslie Green has agreed to take over my position. She will be preparing the dinners and setting up the tables as well. She is an accomplished cook and has excellent ideas for the upcoming year. I encourage everyone to welcome her with open arms and some of your time in preparing the meals. This job is very rewarding and difficult at the same time. If you are interested in helping Leslie cook, I know that she will be very grateful. Thank you all for coming to these dinners and for your compliments; everyone touched my heart. I look forward to seeing all of you at the upcoming Shabbat dinners. this time as a guest. Sincerely, Meredith Ryan As Meredith Ryan steps down and I take over cooking the Family Shabbat Dinners, I know I am not alone in saying a great big THANK YOU to Meredith for all her hard work as programming director as well as planning and cooking delicious dinners for the the congregation over the past 2 years. I'm very excited about our upcoming Family Shabbat Dinners together and want you all to know that I welcome your suggestions for future meals. You can me at shanacal@stx.rr.com and tell me what you'd like to see on the dinner table! The one thing I have enjoyed about our Family Shabbat Dinners over the past few years is knowing I will see my Jewish friends and CBI family at least one night a month to welcome the sabbath together, share a home-cooked meal, good conversation, yummy desserts and now, a fabulous Tot Shabbat for our children! Since Jason and I don't have any family in Corpus, we look forward to spending time with other families, and it feels like home. If you haven't come to a Family Shabbat Dinner, please join us. At the very least, it's one night you won't have to cook! Also, if you know a new family or individual in town, invite them with you for dinner to meet the CBI family and make new friends. Mark your calendars for our next Family Shabbat Dinner on March 4 th. Can't wait to break bread together!! Leslie Green Programming Director

5 SISTERHOOD INFORMATION Upcoming Events Wednesday, march 2nd General Board 5:30 CBI Friday, April 8th We will honor Rona Train for her many contributions to our community. Please consider bringing a baked good for this special Oneg. Please join us as we wish Rona and L.A. the very best in their home in Houston. Sunday, April 10th (4-6pm) Save the date! Get ready for Passover with our 2nd annual wine tasting and Passover friendly appetizers and desserts. Tuesday, April 19th 2nd Night Congregational Passover Seder (Please see insert for more information) SAVE THE DATE OF FRIDAY, APRIL 8 On this date, CBI will honor its former President and long-time member, Rona Train, as she and L.A. undertake their move to a new home in Houston. The service will be conducted by members of the congregation & Rabbi Roseman, and the Oneg Shabbat will be in her honor. We hope everyone can be present to express our gratitude for all that Rona has done to make our congregation the vibrant and alive place it is today. Congratulations Olivia & Sarah St. James Episcopal School held its spelling bee Feb. 11. Olivia Noble was champion & will advance to the regional spelling bee on Feb. 26. Her sister Sarah Noble placed 2nd.

6 Corpus Christi Community Religious School Susan Martin, Director Our students have been busy this month. Rikki Schmitchel s class is studying Torah. They tell each week s story in pictures and mount them on the scroll they made earlier in the year. In addition to making their own Mitzvah Books, Elisa Cox s students are learning blessings. I listened to them recite Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha olam, Borei p ri ha eitz before eating their fruit salad snack. Yummy! Brian Honnigbaum and Dave Ryan spend time each week with their students reading and discussing Torah and learning about the Holocaust. Students in the class led by Chelsea Eisenberg, with assistance from Laurie and Amanda McKinley, are studying Jewish values. Students worked in groups to research and then present heroes who promote Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. They also created a website for Yitzhak Rabin, former prime minister of Israel. Our teachers are doing a great job! In addition to programs for our young people at Camp Young Judaea and Greene Family Camp, our teens have opportunities from NFTY: NFTY Adventure (4 weeks in Israel), NFTY L Dor ( 1 week in Eastern Europe followed by 3 weeks in Israel), NFTY Ole (1 week in Spain and 4 weeks in Israel), JewGlee (1 week in New York + 1 week in Eastern Europe followed by 3 weeks in Israel of Choral Musical Performing and Touring), NFTY-EIE Summer Session (6 week academic program for high school credit), and Israel in a Special Way (3 weeks in Israel for teens with special needs. For more information on these programs, visit nftyisrael@urj.org. Don t forget our Family Service and Dinner on March 4 th. Molly Glazer from ISJL will be visiting that weekend. Shalom! Susan Dear Members of CBI, PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Our Congregation continues to move forward with religious services, adult study sessions and specialized lectures. The CBI Board, Sisterhood, and all committees work efficiently for the betterment of Congregation Beth Israel. Later this month we will celebrate the festival of Purim. We read the Megillah and twirl the grogers, noise makers, as we drown out the name of Haman. We also pay homage to the beautiful Queen Esther. The nominating committee is presently being formed, for the election of officers and board for I have appointed Carl Kuehn, a past president, as chairman. If you desire to serve on your Congregation s board, please contact me or Carl. As I close we are pleased to tell you that attendance at services and Torah Study has increased. Come participate. Congregation Beth Israel is the place to be for Jewish stimulation. Shalom, Maury Wolfson RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES Sunday School 10:00 am March 6 & 27 Hebrew School 4:30 pm on Thursdays March 3, 10 & 31 CLASSES in ACTION

7 RABBI ROSEMAN.. will be out of the city, leading the trip to Israel, until March 12. Services will be conducted by dedicated members of the congregation. In the event of an emergency, please call Debbie Bustillo at the CBI office ( ) during regular business hours and she will be able to get in touch with the rabbi. Should an emergency occur outside of regular office hours, please call either our president, Maury Wolfson at or our Vice President, Suzy Hilliard at and they will be able to assist you in contacting the rabbi if necessary. will be conducting a Purim program for the students at the JCC Pre school on the morning of Monday, March 21. He has threatened to wear a costume! on the evening of Tuesday, March 22, he will not be wearing a costume, but he has been honored by a request that he deliver the benediction at the Christus Spohn Lyceum at which former President George W. Bush will be the guest speaker. 92 ND STREET Y PROGRAMMING RESUMES We are delighted to announce that the second program of our Spring series from the 92 nd Street YMHA will be on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 7:00 PM. At that time, ARIANNA HUFFINGTON & JOSEPH STIGLITZ will share their ideas about THE WAY FORWARD: THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY Ms. Huffington is an author, columnist and commentator on current events. Her most recent book is entitled Third World America: How Our Politicians Are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream. Stiglitz is a former chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, and presently serves as University Professor and chair of the Committee on Global Thought at Columbia University. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2001 and writes about the world economic situation. The third broadcast of our Spring series will occur on Thursday, March 10, at 7:00 PM when FAREED ZAKARIA will address the topic AFTER IRAQ: CONCLUSIONS AND CONSEQUENCES The moderator of this discussion will be Eliot Spitzer. Mr. Zakaria is host of Fareed Zakaria GPS on CNN, editor at large of TIME magazine and a regular columnist for The Washington Post. He is the author of the best-seller entitled The Post-Amertican World. Everyone is cordially invited to these free presentations. Light refreshments will be offered in the Grossman Auditorium after the broadcasts.

8 From the Jewish Community Council

9 The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Yahrzeit Donations Joseph Axelrad Dorothy Jessel General Fund Donation By Kornelia Meister Esther Jessel Esther Allen Edith & Ted Mason Susan & Bill Martin Gloria Wolfson Boris Sphorkin Mary & Elijah Ramirez Dora Wolfson MRE Consulting, LTD Esther Jessel Dorothy Jessel Dow Golub Memels & Beverly, LLP Morris Braslau Marilyn & Irving Braslau Jerry Bateman Andrea Dobson Abe Geller Elise & Albert Geller Shirley Liedeker Ronald Liedeker Hebrew Rest Cemetery Fund Audrey S. Zane Memorial Sisterhood Fund Recovery of From Recovery of From Jody Pearson Jerry & Elizabeth Susser Jody Pearson Edy Laser Annette & Jim Cottingham Jeanne Nisenson Children's Library Fund Cemetery Endowment Fund Leonard Nisenson Betsy & Lee Rosenberg Ada Leshin Yetta & Marvin Leshin Leslie Simon Scholarship Fund Recovery of From Ida Levinson Edy Laser Heleen & Ed Mange Endowment Fund Recovery of From Max & Eva Goltzman Fund Dr. Charles Clark Dorothy Jessel Ann Goltzman Joan & Joseph Goltzman

10 The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions Mitzvah Fund Rabbi's Discretionary Fund In Honor of From Mille Zalim Susan & Bill Martin-on the birth of Yetta & Marvin Leshin Offenberg Library Fund Lois & Gary Blum Oshman Family Foundation Susan Zane The Oshman Family Granddaughter Dorothy Jessel-on the birth of her Great Granddaughter Elinor & Hymie Roosth-on the birth of their Great granddaughter Ed Mange on his birthday Ed Mange on his birthday Marcia Marks Iris & Andy Lehrman Recovery of From Recovery of From Dr. Charles Clark The Oshman Family Speedy Recovery of Jody Pearson Iris & Andy Lehrman Penny Baum Perpetual Torah Fund Karma & Michael Lakin Claire & Kevin Koel Rabbi Weissman Memorial Fund Rabbi Ken Roseman Joseph & Ruth Sheinberg Joseph Sigmund Bein Marvin Bein Robert Racusin Joseph & Ruth Sheinberg In Honor of From Wedding Anniversary of Joseph & Ruth Sheinberg Phyllis Weissman Dr. Hymie & Elinor Roosth Rabbinical Endowment Fund Leonard Nisenson Ann & David Engel Katherine Nast Robert Racusin In Honor of From Racusin Jewish Outreach Fund Robert Racusin Ray Ann & Mark Lerman Tracy Braslau Youth Memorial Fund Ann & David Engel-on their Susan & Bill Martin Birthdays Marilyn & Irving Braslau Don t forget. You can remember a friend or relative with a minimum contribution of $5.00 to one of our many funds. These funds support camp scholarships, education, cemeteries, fine arts, library, & building improvements, to name a few. An acknowledgement card will be sent to the honored person or family. Please make checks payable to CBI and specify the fund. Call the CBI office with any questions.

11 P E R P E T U A L YAHRZEITS *Indicates the names below that are commemorated on our permanent Memorial Tablets. These names along with others whose Yahrzeit commemoration is requested, will be read by the Rabbi before the Sabbath Kaddish Prayer. Sabbath of March 4th *Theodore Beck *Dora Feldman Benjamin *Ernestine Berlin *Josephine Bodker *Mildred Green Chafetz Esther Nubia Chapman *Sandra Goodman Davis *Irving Leo Fenster Mort Finkelstein *Isadore H. Glanz David Greenberg *Fela Grossman *Rebecca Grossman Hattie Belle Hoffman *Freda Jacobson *Rabbi Gerald J. Klein *Ada L. Leshin *Ida Levinson Samuel Livni Birdie Maltzman Harry Lewis Marks *Mary Rednick Roslie Jessel Roberts Aaron Samuels *Serene Lowy Schmidt Dorothy Schwartz Pauline Carol Sheinberg *Joe Simon *Oscar Zantker Sabbath of March 11th *Pauline Beilin *Morris Ettelman Morie Giller *Sarah Goodman *Lois Ruth Grossman *Monroe E. Hausman *Otto Kuehn Yentil Leah *Philip Lieberman *Bertha E. Minsky *Harry Minsky *Jeanette Neumann Steven Rider Rochelle Eileen Roby *S. David Shor Polina Solevey Fannie Shapiro Solomon Helen White Sabbath of March 18th *Joseph Ascher Abbey *Hinda S. Adler Seymour Applebaum Evelyn Baum Rose Sanders Bresler *Nathan Dunn *Daniel Goltzman *Elliott David Hurwitz Helen Jacobs *Philipp Lachs Sanford Mintz Charles M. Patrick Betty Peck Jule Pels Alvin Reingold *Rose Siskind *Pearl Unger *Rae Weltman Sabbath of March 25th Michael Chaplick *Sidney Ginsberg *Mitchell Jacobson *Monette Karchmer Faye Lipton *Jerome Nast *Ruth Goldner Robinson *Jerome Schlader *Isaac Silver Irwin Spear Walter Wisznia *Max Samuel Yaffe Sabbath of April 1st Gil Cavazos *Abraham D. Danziger *Ida Deborah Glanz *David N. Grossman *James Harris *Sherry Katz Hilton Ethel Horner *Jack Kaufman George Benjamin Kopf Maurice D. Nast Peter Oshman *Elizabeth Posner *Leslie Simon, Sr. *2nd Lt. Bill Trodlier *Alex Weil, Sr.

12 March 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Sisterhood General Board Meeting 3 Hebrew School 4:30 pm-6:00pm 4 6:00 pm *Followed by Family dinner 5 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 6 Sunday School 10am-12pm CBI Board 10 Hebrew School 4:30 pm-6:00pm :00 am Torah Study 11:00 13 NO SUNDAY SCHOOL NO HEBREW SCHOOL 18 *Traditional Services held in Racusin Chapel 19 9:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am 20 NO SUNDAY SCHOOL Hebrew School 4:30 pm-6:00pm :00 am Torah Study 11:00 am *Services conducted by a lay member of CBI 27 Sunday School 10am-12pm Hebrew School 4:30 pm-6:00pm 1 April *Maya Hiatt will help lead the service 2 *Bat Mitzvah of Maya Hiatt 10:00 am Torah Study 11:00 am

13 SHABBAT DINNER CBI Friday, March 4 th 6:00 Services Dinner to follow Leslie Green will be hosting her 1 st Shabbat Dinner at the Temple. Please bring your favorite dessert. If you have any questions, please contact Leslie at

14 CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 SARATOGA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED L Dor VaDor Judaica Shop Call Clara to set an appointment at