ATID: Looking Toward the Future. Food, Fun, and Lots of Laughter. January Highlights. Volume 158, Number 6 Kislev/Tevet 5777 January 2017

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1 Volume 158, Number 6 Kislev/Tevet 5777 January 2017 January Highlights Special Sabbath of Song Cantor Blum says, thank you, to the congregation with a special Shabbat Shirah Sabbath of Song as we welcome Israeli singing star Bat Ella (above) on Friday, February 10. Find out more on Page 15. Remembg MLK We welcome Pastor Anthony Bennett of Bridgeport s Mt. Aery Baptist Church on Friday, January 13, for our Martin Luther King Jr. weekend service. Learn more on Page 3. Best Thing for Your Kids What is the best Jewish thing you can do for your children? Temple Educator Ira Wise (right, with B nai Israel student Allison Roll at 6 Points Sci-Tech) makes the case for a summer at a Jewish camp. See Ira s column on Page 7. Also Inside: Bulletin Board...P.2 BIFTY...P.4 Adult Learning...P.6 Shabbat Services...P.15 ATID: Looking Toward the Future Our congregation has a rich history of devoted leadership, both volunteer and professional. This can be attributed to many factors, including that B nai Israel has always been a place that strives to be warm and welcoming, spiritually nourishing, willing to change to meet the needs of its congregants, dedicated to social justice, and deeply committed to the principles of Reform Judaism. In today s world of using social media as a major avenue of contact and connection, the synagogue (as with all religious institutions) faces the challenge of staying relevant and communicating the importance and value of a physical community as opposed to a virtual one. The Congregation s leadership is entrusted, among other things, with this task. Cultivating a pipeline of vibrant, knowledgeable leaders ensures that our legacy continues. It leads to seamless leadership transitions and helps ensure the vitality of B nai Israel s future. With this in mind, immediate past president Sam Rosenberg reinstituted a program that we have run periodically over the years Atid, which means future. Last February, Rabbi Prosnit, Rabbi Schultz and past temple Presidents Rosenberg, Mindy Siegel and Luise Mann Burger, with assistance from Continued on Page 6 Food, Fun, and Lots of Laughter Comedy night is back! Join us on Saturday, February 4 Super Bowl Weekend at 7:00 p.m. for a night of laughs with Rabbi and stand-up comic Bob Alper. Yes, Rabbi Bob Alper. Invites were mailed in December. Look for more details in Hashavua.. Rabbi Alper s unique background he s an ordained rabbi who served congregations for 14 years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary prepared him well for a 27- year comedy career with wonderfully unique material presented in a way that s intelligent, sophisticated and 100 percent clean. He has performed before a standingroom-only crowd at the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival to a standing ovation before 2,700 people at New Rabbi Bob Alper York s famed Chautauqua Institution. He s even appeared at Hollywood s Improv and the Comedy Store. He performs all across North America Continued on Page 5

2 Sharing Our Joy Richard and Rebecca Rosen, in honor of the birth of granddaughter, Amalia Renée Eshel, daughter of Rachel & Michael Eshel Welcome! A warm welcome to our newest members. We look forward to their participation in our many programs and hope their affiliation will not only enrich their lives, but that of our congregation. Keith Weindling Sportsman Road, Orange Jeff and Nancy Oberman Greenlea Court, Weston Sincere Sympathy We extend our sympathy to the bereaved families of: Seymour Lubchansky, father of Steven Lubchansky Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar Theresa Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler Donald Schorr, husband of Harriet Schorr Antoinette Marie Pappas, mother of Achilles Pappas Erich Bloch, father of Rebecca Rosen Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin Marilyn Schiff, mother of Mark Schiff Frederic Brown, father of Doug Brown Food For The Soul Before each Shabbat service, the temple provides a small Oneg in the lobby. These small (nut-free) snacks and drinks are a great ice-breaker as you meet fellow congregants, a perfect quick bite if you re ravenous after a long day, and a helpful distraction for toddlers and younger children. Give Blood in February We will be hosting our next Red Cross blood drive on February 20, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Past experience has shown us that there is an increased need for blood during the winter months. Please make an appointment by calling RedCross ( ). You can get donor eligibility information on the Red Cross website at org/donating-blood/eligibilityrequirements. New Name for Regional JFS Jewish Family Service of Stamford Inc. is now named the Elayne and James Schoke Jewish Family Service of Fairfield County. Since 1978, the Elayne and James Schoke Jewish Family Service of Fairfield County has been all about families and community. Its mission is to sustain families and individuals through all of life s challenges and build strong, healthy communities. An ever-changing, ever-evolving social service agency, Schoke JFS is a presence in the community that continuously responds to challenges with the highest degree of professionalism, so that those who need it the most can benefit from our services. Schoke JFS can be reached at the following offices: Bulletin Board Stamford 733 Summer Street, 6 th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901, (203) Westport 431 Post Road East, Suite 11, Westport, CT 06880, (203) Bridgeport Park Avenue, Suite 300, Bridgeport, CT 06604, (203) For more information, please visit Hospice Volunteer Training Jewish Senior Services will be holding training sessions for hospice volunteers in February. The goal is to have trained hospice volunteers in clusters all over Fairfield County so that when the need presents itself, volunteers do not have to travel far. Chaifetz Family Hospice will hold a two-day Hospice Volunteer Training Program for anyone interested in giving their time and compassion to terminally ill patients and their loved ones. Training will be held at Jewish Senior Services, 4200 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, on Sunday, February 5 and Sunday, February 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Training materials and meals will be provided free of charge. If you would like to sign up or to learn more about hospice training, please contact Ellen Ashkins at (203) or by at eashkins@ jseniors.org. Bulletin Submissions To submit an article, announcement or ad to the Bulletin, please contact Editor Scott Smith at ssmith@cbibpt. org. Submissions are due by the first day of the month preceding the publication month. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. If you can volunteer to bring in treats on a Friday, please contact Naomi Schaffer at naomilev@optonline.net. You can drop them off at any time that s convenient for you. 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 Our Commonsense Gun Laws in Jeopardy Throughout the millennia, we Jews have always prayed for the government, with the understanding that a good and wise government keeps us safe and advances the public good. Those hopes and prayers are in the forefront of our minds today. Later this month, as the new administration begins its term with a majority in Congress now supportive of its expressed goals and promises, many of us will be watching closely (and nervously) as President Trump s policies unfold. Several issues shaped by what to me are core Reform Jewish values the environment and climate change, women s rights and reproductive choice, and gun safety legislation, to name a few will come under early tests. As many of you know, for many years I have been active in the organization, Connecticut Against Gun Violence. Thanks to our efforts, Connecticut has for the third consecutive year been ranked by the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence as having the second-strongest gun laws in the nation. While research on guns and gun violence is not always easy to come by because lobbying from groups like the National Rifle Association has been successful at blocking data collection, Several issues shaped by what to me are core Reform Jewish values will come under early tests. several studies have shown that states with stronger gun laws have lower incidents of gun violence. Connecticut is poised to have the lowest gun death rate in 2016 that it has had in many years and one of the lowest per capita rates in the nation. Gun deaths in Bridgeport this year may be at an historic low. The opposite is true for those states with the most lax gun laws. The research that is available shows over and over that it is far more likely that guns are used to harm the owners or other innocent people than to stop a crime. Along those lines, availability of a gun significantly increases the rates of suicide and the success of a suicide attempt. On the horizon, however, is a national bill being pushed heavily by the NRA that would require states to recognize concealed-carry permits issued by other states. In other words, states like ours, with tight restrictions and strong background checks, would be forced to accept someone s right to carry a concealed weapon if that person received a permit from a state with lax standards or no permit requirement at all. This would be a huge setback to Connecticut s attempt to maintain its example of effective, commonsense requirements for gun ownership. On a national level there have been many frustrating attempts for gun safety legislation, and all (even those that were tried after the Sandy Hook shootings) have come to naught. It is ironic that the States Rights argument is now shifting to us in the north but on this one, we may have to be prepared to defend something that we have worked hard to achieve if we want, as the blessing says, to keep us safe and advance the public good. Honoring the Memory of MLK Pastor Anthony Bennett On Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, we will welcome Pastor Anthony Bennett to our congregation. Pastor Bennett has been the long-serving minister at Mt. Aery Baptist Church in Bridgeport and one of the leading voices for social justice in this city. Pastor Bennett is cochair of CONECT, a dynamic speaker and inspiring teacher. Please join us on Friday, January 13, for Shabbat services, starting at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and then a dialogue at 8:00 p.m. Reservations are necessary for dinner at $20 per person. To make reservations, contact Chris in the office at (203) or chris@cbibpt.org. Donation Item of the Month: Cans of Soup and Stew for Operation Hope. 3

4 Make Warm Memories Hannah Mallon is the Membership vice president, and Matt Hochberg is the Social Action vice president. They love spending every Thursday at BIFTY and have great memories so far. What has been your favorite memory of BIFTY so far? MH: My favorite memories have been the skits we do at programs. It is always funny to see what other people create. HM: I enjoyed the scavenger hunt around the Temple, which was the first event of the year. It is so great to see all of the new members who are interested in joining BIFTY and is a great way to connect with old friends. What are you looking forward to at BIFTY? MH: I am looking forward to the BIFTY sleepover in the winter. It s always one of the highlights of BIFTY. It is one weekend during the year where we all spend time together and have a lot of fun. HM: I am looking forward to the Mall Hunt. It is always the last event in June, but it is definitely my favorite event. It takes place at the mall, where we do crazy, funny activities while shopping, and is always a lot of fun! BIFTY would be laying by the fireplace with family. We all enjoy each other so much and BIFTY is a safe, comforting place to be, which makes it feel like home. BIFTY ALL S FAIR IN LAUGHS AND WAR BIFTY members share a lighter moment during their Cupcake Wars event in November. If BIFTY were a winter activity, what would it be? MH: BIFTY would be ice skating. I can already imagine people falling on the ice, but having tons of fun while doing it. That s what BIFTY is all about we get to have fun, look silly, and make awesome friends. HM: BIFTY would be laying by the fireplace with family. We all enjoy each other so much and BIFTY is a safe, comforting place to be, which makes it feel like home. January Events Happy New Year! No better way to start 2017 than with BIFTY. Join us on Thursdays from 7:15-8:45 p.m. in the BIFTY lounge. This month s gathgs include: January 12 Murder Mystery January 19 Midterms Study Break January 26 BIFTY Birthday Bash! You can follow us on cbi.bifty, and join our Facebook Group BIFTY Shofar Blast From Merkaz What are our teens doing at Merkaz, the Jewish high school that meets each Tuesday at B nai Israel? Here are the latest updates: Better Together Merkaz students are participating in a grant that builds relationships with senior citizens. Students are taking part in several programs at the new Jewish Senior Services. Some are all-school events, such as Sukkah Speed Dating, where Merkaz students got to meet and know a large group of residents in a short time and then decorated a sukkah. Better Together Better Books As part of the Better Together program, students engage every other Sunday in an intergenerational book group with JSS residents. Students teach the residents how to use Kindle e-book readers to make reading more accessible. They show the resident how use enlarged text sizes, change background colors, highlight text, etc. Both groups also are reading and discussing the book A Man Called Ove. Merkaz faculty members attended the Shusterman Avi Chai conference on Anti- Semitism and Anti-Zionism on College Campuses in November. They brought back new lessons on preparing our students for dealing with these issues in college that will be incorporated into the Merkaz curriculum. Merkaz board members will be making calls on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5, to raise money for our community and Israel. They hope you will answer their call. 4 Follow us on Instagram at Cbibpt.

5 From the Rabbi s Study/Rabbi Evan Schultz Shabbat is Shalom. Just tell yourself that. In the book of Exodus, Chapter 20:8-9, it states, Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. Our ancient rabbis respond to this commandment by asking the question that is perhaps on many of our minds: Is it really possible for a person to do all of their work in six days?! And their answer is, No way! It s actually not possible for someone to fully complete all of their work in six days. There are seemingly a million things that need to realistically get done on any given Saturday running to Trader Joe s, projects around the house, cleaning up toys, attending birthday parties, driving to sports practices, just to name a few. Even things that are supposed to be relaxing, like trying to take a nap on the couch or watch college football or go for a run or come to synagogue for a needed dose of spirituality, for many of us even these become an item on the to-do list! So if even the rabbis acknowledge that it s impossible to enter Shabbat with every job on our to-do list checked off, how do we honor this commandment to finish all of our work in six days? The rabbis respond, Simple. On Shabbat, just pretend as if all of your work actually is done! Yes, our ancient rabbis tell us to use our imaginations and pretend. We should look in the mirror, cross our fingers, and tell ourselves, It s Shabbat, I did every single thing I set out to do this week. There is absolutely nothing on my to-do or work list. On one hand, the rabbis hold out a small hope that if you tell yourself this, then there s a slight possibility that you might actually believe it, that you may go through the day in some euphoric state, believing you truly have nothing to do. Or, as it says in the Talmud, God might be merciful on you, and in an instant, somehow, all of your work for the week will actually, poof, get done! Okay, probably not going to happen, but we can hope, right? I ll offer you a second perspective that I really love, from a 19 th century Chasidic rabbi named the S fat Emet. He thinks about Shabbat in the context of the Israelites receiving the covenant at Mount Sinai. In the book of Exodus, it says that the Israelites stood at Mount Sinai. The S fat Emet explains this, saying, Regarding the matter of standing at Mount Sinai, at Sinai all of B nai Israel came to the completion of wholeness and were like angels. A person is called one who walks because at all times a person must go from one step to the next to come to completeness. The one is called one who stands. And there is a glimmer of an element of this completeness every Shabbat. In other words, even if you have to do errands, go to baseball practice, attend a birthday party, etc., on Shabbat, the S fat Emet encourages us to try and change our perspective a little bit. To try to stand instead of walk. Attempt to take a moment to pause, to stand, to look around, to breathe, to take in, to receive it is as if in that moment your work has ceased, that you have a sense of completeness, of wholeness, a moment or period of Shabbat amidst the busyness of a Saturday. We may never actually complete all of our work in six days, but with a little rabbinic imagination, we can try to make it feel like we ve found some completeness and a little bit of rest on the Sabbath. Shabbat Shalom. LAUGHTER... From Page 1 and England, at corporate events, theaters, non-profits, conventions, private parties, churches, and, naturally, synagogues. And he s done over 200 shows with his Arab and Muslim comedy partners at a variety of venues, but primarily colleges and universities. The New York Times reported the comics had the audience convulsing. In addition to being a full-time stand-up comic and conducting annual High Holy Day services, Rabbi Alper is the author of three books that further showcase his considerable talents: Life Doesn t Get Any Better Than This, an inspirational collection that The Detroit Free Press called a volume of spiritual gems; the award-winning, full-color cartoon book A Rabbi Confesses, and the recentlypublished Thanks, I Needed That, more stories that touch readers with their warmth, humor, and wisdom. He s also produced two best-selling comedy CDs as well as a DVD. Bob resides in rural Vermont with his wife Sherri, a psychotherapist. Professionally, he makes people laugh, while she helps people cry. Follow us on Twitter We ll follow back! 5

6 Adult Jewish Learning at Congregation B nai Israel Adult Roundtable Thursday, January 5 at 12:30 p.m. Gloria Katz facilitates a discussion about current events for anyone who wants to go beyond the headlines. Join us the first Thursday of every month, and bring a sandwich, your opinion and an open mind. Kabbalah 102: Monday Midrasha Mondays, January 9, 23, 30, February 6 and 13 at 7:00 p.m. Justin C. Beck returns with another series delving into Jewish Mystical traditions. When we dig deeper into the study of Kabbalah, we may be privileged to discover that Mystical Wisdom can provide us with the universal templates and principles, outlooks, meditations and life tools needed to constantly fuse together Heaven s spirituality and Earth s physicality and worldliness. Kabbalah is for everyone when the student is ready, the teacher arrives. No prerequisite to attend, first-timers and previous attendees welcome. Although it is recommended to attend the series, each class is independent. Recommended: Please contact Temple Educator Ira Wise at iwise@cbibpt.org or (203) to receive readings and information that will enhance the class experience. In this five-part series of classes, we will explore: Personal and Collective Healing Techniques and meditations Souls and Soulmates Who are you? Where is he/she? Evil Eye (a.k.a. ayin hara) - Is it real? Methods of protection provided Tree of Life The structure of Creation and ourselves Reincarnation Nice to see you again! How s this life going? Faith and Trust It is a process; how to stay on course Prayer Connecting to the higher power; different methods provided Personal Prophecy Is this possible? Methods to know your tikkun in life Kabbalah Art and Architecture - Who, what, when, and personal usefulness MLK Weekend Shabbat Friday, January 13, 6:00 p.m. Pastor Anthony Bennett of Mt. Aery Baptist Church in Bridgeport joins us for Shabbat services, followed by a dinner and presentation on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. See full details on Page 3. Shabbat Shirah with Bat Ella Friday, February 10, 6:00 p.m. We welcome Israeli singing sensation Bat Ella and her band to B nai Israel for a special Shabbat Shirah Sabbath of Song. See the full details on Page 15. ATID... From Page 1 other leaders, began meeting once a month with a group of emerging leaders. We structured our monthly meetings as discussions rather than lectures. Our goal was to engage in meaningful targeted conversations. It has been said that synagogue engagement is all about relationships. Connections lead to commitment and dedication to leadership, as well as to the understanding that leadership is a shared experience. This was a dynamic, articulate and thoughtful group. We shared our Jewish journeys, why we chose to belong, and engaged in meaningful targeted conversations. We strived to establish relationships with one another through our time spent together, and our curriculum was woven into these conversations forming connections that hopefully will last beyond the confines of our sessions. While leadership was an important tenant Participants in the Atid leadership program mark the end of the formal training program. Atid aims to develop the next generation of leaders at B nai Israel. of the program, we tried to fuse both the spiritual and the practical, and to connect to the sacredness of our work. We tried to maintain the delicate balance of subjects covered. Though basic skills such as bylaws, budget, finances, governance and communication were essential components, we also delved into more esoteric topics, such as visionary leadership, change management, direction-setting, member motivation, diversity, community and meeting congregants needs while respecting tradition and our core values. Continued on Page 7 6 We want you in the Bulletin! Send your news to editor Scott Smith at ssmith@cbibpt.org.

7 From the Education Center/Ira J. Wise The Best Jewish Thing You Can Do For Your Children Chutzpah! That is what my Grandma Honey would call that headline. Really, the best Jewish thing? What about lighting Shabbat candles as a family every week? How about having Jewish and Israeli music playing in our homes and cars? How about getting everyone involved in planning and conducting our Seder? The time your students made a list of all of the ways they hurt others (a cheshbon hanefesh accounting of the soul) and then went to those people to make amends? What about giving tzedakah every week or regularly volunteg at Feel the Warmth or Operation Hope? You know people who do those things. OK, Grandma, those are all awesome. Each is a viable candidate for the best Jewish thing you could do. And I could probably come up with an even longer list. At the same time, I do believe that if you send your child(ren) or grandchild(ren) to a Jewish summer camp like Eisner, Crane Lake or 6 Points Sci-Tech, you have done something amazing, providing weeks of experiences that are deep and meaningful. ATID... From Page 6 Our program culminated with us coming together in November for a Shabbat service and dinner. We felt it was a privilege to participate with this amazing group. We learned so much from them and are thrilled that the overwhelming sentiment was that the group should continue in some form, perhaps meeting Ira gathers B nai Israel campers at Eisner (above) and Crane Lake (lower left) last summer. Our camps provide an immersive experience that almost always results in lots of friends (many lifelong), a deeper sense of Jewish identity and love of Israel and better swimming skills. I cannot tell you how often the connections made at camp as a child translate into real-world experiences later in life. While the fact that the mother of my son s college roommate and I knew each other from camp and youth group is a pleasant coincidence, the fact that most of our campers connect with their camp friends in the process of searching for and settling into college is much more meaningful. It is a community that follows you the rest of your life. going to all three from B nai Israel, and they would love to have yours join them! I am available to talk to you about any of our camps. Each of them offers different approaches, and I would love to help you find the right one for you. And I will connect you with our other camp families. You also can visit the camp websites: Crane Lake Camp cranelakecamp.org/ Eisner Camp 6 Points Sci-Tech If your child or grandchild is considg an overnight camp experience, please make sure they consider Eisner, Crane Lake or 6 Points Sci-Tech. We have children L shalom, Ira J. Wise, D.J.R.E. Temple Educator quarterly to work on specific projects. Learning and sharing is an ongoing process; the Atid group was a beginning, not an end. Ilana Ofgang, Richard Pearlberg, Scott Pearlman, Annie Ringelheim, Stacy Sheiman, Nina Silberman. Allison Stupak, Anne Tranquilli-Bausher, Mitchell Weinstein, and Rachel Yurdin. Yasher koach and todah rabbah to the 2016 Atid participants: Sarah Fridman, Barry Hakim, David Herbst, Tara Kerner. Jeremy Kortmansky. Gregory Minsky, n Sam Rosenberg, Mindy Siegel and Luise Mann Burger Like Us on Facebook. Visit the Congregation B nai Israel page and join us online. 7

8 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 Audrey Bloch, mother of Wendy Bloch, were made by: Judith and David Pressler Sheila and Burton Yaffie and Family Donations in memory of Peter Mack, husband of Carol Mack, were made by: Elaine and Juda Chetrit Joanne and Richard Krantz Judith and David Pressler Kelly and Glen Reznikoff Jonathan and Cleo Sonneborn Donations in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar, were made by: Kristen and Kevin Carley Randy Dorfman Jim and Lisa Greenberg Janet Jurow Lori Berger, in memory of father, Lester Davis. Stacey and Duane Berlin, in memory of Duane s parents, Joan and Werner Berlin. Eric and Lisa Broder, with thanks to Rabbi Prosnit for his support and guidance. Barry and Linda Diamond, in appreciation. Mark and Barbara Edinberg, in memory of Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin. Gary and Gail Felberbaum, in memory of Helen Weiner, mother of Randy Dorfman. Jim and Lisa Greenberg, in memory of Erich Bloch, father of Rebecca Rosen; in honor of Jerry Demner s 80th Birthday. Janice and Bernie Jacobs, in memory of mother, Marilyn Gerber. Janet Jurow, in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler; in memory of Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin. Judith and Michael Katz, in memory of Erich Bloch, father of Rebecca Rosen; in honor of Richard and Rebecca Rosen, on the birth of their second grandchild. Shirley Jacob Lantz and Family, in loving memory of mother and grandmother, Rose Halpert. Aleksey and Raisa Ledvich, in memory of grandmother, Feiga Vengerovskaya. Samantha and James Pirrie, in honor of the baby naming of son, Maks Pirrie. The Sappern Family, in honor of Tobey Roydon Sappern s Bar Mitzvah. Gail, Dustin and Tamara Schriffert, in memory of loving father and grandfather, Harry Vineberg, on his 21 st yahrzeit. Esther Spiegel, a thank-you to Rabbi Prosnit, Rabbi Schultz, and the Saturday morning Torah Study group for their getwell wishes. Laura Sydney and Ted Pulton, in memory of Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin. Sheila and Burton Yaffie and Family, in loving memory of father/father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather, Bernard H. Seigel; in memory of Helen Weiner, mother of Randy Dorfman. Rabbi Schultz Discretionary Fund Rick and Renee Beitman, in honor of the baby naming of grandson, Jacob Beitman. Eric and Lisa Broder, in appreciation, and with thanks to Rabbi Schultz. Marjorie Freeman, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Carol Krim, in appreciation of a delightful and delicious class. Samuel Rosenberg, in appreciation of the thoughtful contributions of Rabbi Prosnit and Rabbi Schultz towards a successful Atid Young Leadership Program. The Sappern Family, in honor of Tobey Roydon Sappern s Bar Mitzvah. Robert A. Spitz, in memory of wife, Judith Spitz, mother of Shari Pearlman, grandmother of Lilly Pearlman; with thanks to Rabbi Schultz for leading Judie s unveiling ceremony. Music Fund Dale and Jerry Demner, in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler. Bari Dworken, in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler. Mark and Barbara Edinberg, in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler. Marjorie Freeman, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Stanley and Judith Lessler, in appreciation of Cantor Blum s support. Ilse Levi, in memory of beloved mother, Leni Strauss; in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. The Markus Family, in memory of Sara Brozgal, mother of Judie Koch, grandmother of Laurie Renzulli. Gil and Barbara Saltman, in memory of Peter Mack, husband of Carol Mack; in memory of Herbert Schwartz, father of Bill Schwartz. The Sappern Family, in honor of Tobey Roydon Sappern s Bar Mitzvah. Enhancement Fund Audrey Bernstein, in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler. Barbara Berkowitz, in memory of husband, Barry Berkowitz. Elaine Borno, in memory of father, Monny Levy; in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Mark and Barbara Edinberg, in memory of Helen Weiner, mother of Randy Dorfman; in memory of Peter Mack, husband of Carol Mack. Gail and Gary Felberbaum, in memory of Helen Weiner, mother of Randy Dorfman. Marvin Gelfand, in memory of sister, Edith Gelfand. Victor and Irma Gurvits, in memory of Julius Geiman. Michael Jacobson, in memory of father, Nathan Jacobson. Albert Kleban, in memory of father, Irving Kleban. Ruth Madwed, in memory of parents, Jacob and Eva Dolid. Bob and Helen Natt, in memory of Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin. David and Judy Pressler, in memory of Beatrice Pressler, mother of David Pressler; in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Mark Schiff, in memory of Audrey Bloch, mother of Wendy Bloch; in honor of Michael Blumenthal becoming president of Congregation B nai Israel; in honor of the Art Show Committee. Richard and Susan Walden, in honor of Harvey and Larry Levine. Kenneth and Rita Weinstein, in memory of Albert Weinstein. Sylvia Prosnit Adult Education Fund Judi and David Beier, in honor of Harvey and Larry Levine s beautiful Torah chanting. Elaine and Juda Chetrit, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Linda and Barry Diamond, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Jim and Lisa Greenberg, in honor of the 10 th Anniversary of Larry and Harvey Levine s Bar Mitzvah. Beth Lazar, in loving memory of a great dad, my father, Leonard Lazar. George and Chris Markley, wishing Jon Sonneborn a very happy 70 th birthday; in memory of Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin. 8 Reach more than 700 families. Advertise in the Bulletin. Contact Scott L. Smith at ssmith@cbibpt.org Continued on Page 9

9 Donations Please note that only contributions of $10.00 or more will be acknowledged with a card and Bulletin listing. Jonathan and Cleo Sonneborn, in loving memory of Clark Rawdon. Rabbi Martin Library Fund Dale and Jerry Demner, in memory of Jessie Demner, mother of Jerry Demner; in memory of Lorraine Hirsch, sister of Jerry Demner. Prayer Book Fund Gloria Katz, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Slepian Floral Fund George and Chris Markley, in loving memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler. Mazon Judi and David Beier, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Don and Wendy Hyman, in memory of Dr. David A. Miller; in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler. Religious School Scholarship Fund Elaine and Juda Chetrit, in memory of Antoinette Marie Pappas, mother of Achilles Pappas. Larry Levine and Alison Bonds, in honor of Sue and Rich Walden. Religious School Enrichment Fund Larry Levine and Alison Bonds, in honor of Audrey and Ira Wise. Laura Sydney-Pulton, in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler. Audrey, Ira, Ethan and Harper Wise, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar; in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler; in memory of Erich Bloch, father of Rebecca Rosen; in memory of Antoinette Marie Pappas, mother of Achilles Pappas. Rabbi Arnold Sher Social Action Fund Elaine and Juda Chetrit, in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler. Ellen and Larry Dinkes, in memory of Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin. Bari Dworken, Happy Birthday to Midge Vas Nunes; in memory of Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin. Barbara and Mark Edinberg, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Jim and Lisa Greenberg, in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Jack Davis. George and Chris Markley, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. The Nerreau Family, in honor of Shana and Daniel Greenwald, on the birth of daughter, Lyla Mae Greenwald; in memory of Joan Broder, mother of Eric Broder. Beth and Randy Reich and Family, in honor of Elaine and Marc Silverman s special birthdays. Jonathan and Cleo Sonneborn, in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar. Etz Chaim Living Torah Fund Judi and David Beier, in loving memory, and with great respect for friend and mentor, Lillian Bergquist. Vision Loan Reduction Fund Patti and Samuel Rosenberg, in memory of Frania Rosenberg. Jim Abraham Education Fund for Jewish Leadership Barbara Abraham, in memory of Peter Mack, husband of Carol Mack; in memory of Leonard Lazar, father of Beth Lazar; in memory of Midge Vas Nunes, aunt of Judy Pressler; in memory of Erich Bloch, father of Rebecca Rosen; in memory of Herbert Chessin, father of Bob Chessin. Gillette Judaic Enrichment Fund Joanne and Richard Krantz, in honor of Jon Sonneborn s important birthday. Audrey, Ira, Ethan and Harper Wise, in memory of Sara Brozgal, grandmother of Laurie Renzulli. BIFTY Greenwald Scholarship Fund Donations in memory of David Rosenstein, husband of Wendy Klein, father of Matt and Jenna, were made by: Judy and Peter Panthauer Debbie and Ted Portnay Kelly and Glen Reznikoff 5777 High Holy Day Appeal Thank you to everyone who made a special donation for this High Holy Day season. Pillar of Congregation Luise and Ed Burger Steve and Jill Elbaum Aline and Roy Friedman Molli and Stephen Hourihan Richard and Joanne Krantz Ivan Maisel and Meg Murray Elizabeth and Mark Nigrosh Susan and Richard Preminger Jerry Saunders and Elaine Appellof Benefactor of Congregation Anne and Mark Kirsch Amy and Glenn Rich President s Circle Andrea Goodman and Jeff Ackerman Elaine and Juda Chetrit Shari and Brian Nerreau Randy and Beth Reich Caren and Bill Schwartz Lori and Dan Underberger High Holy Day Appeal Contribution Fredelle Cederbaum Lori and Brad Chervin Michael Connolly and Myra Shapiro Bari Dworken Sidney Fialk Denise Fried Joel and Iris Goldfield Victor and Irma Gurvitz Janice and Marc Katz Alice and George Kelly Larry and Norci Kochman Larry Levine and Alison Bonds David and Judith Pressler Adam Rosen and Emily Lehrman Barbara and Derek Solomon Artie and Suzie Weissman Donation Item of the Month: Cans of Soup and Stew for Operation Hope. 9

10 Mini Mitzvah Makers Reach Out on Special Persons Day As part of this year s Special Persons Day, Bonim Preschool s Mini Mitzvah Makers and their guests stuffed toiletry packages to donate to the homeless shelter of Operation Hope. We were very fortunate to receive donations from a few local hotels, dental offices and Bonim families for all of the items. We stuffed 80 bags. Each bag included a roll of toilet paper, a pair of socks, a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, and a comb. We also packed 25 lunches for Operation Hope. Each lunch included a sandwich, chips, a clementine, a cookie and a granola bar made by Mrs. Bernstein and Mrs. Zuckman s Enrichment Cooking Class. 10 Learn something new join an Adult Learning class. See Page 6.

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14 Please Support Our Advertisers The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Campus on Park Avenue Celebrate Deliciously G&H Skilled Nursing (The Jewish Home) Goldstein Assisted Living Residences Kuriansky Family Residence 1-bedroom apartments Goldstein Rehabilitation Center Rosnick Fitness Center (The J) Friedman Home Care / Chaifetz Family Hospice Federation for Jewish Philanthropy GareliC k & Herbs THE ExclusivE c a TEr E r for MORA MORA the SPOT FOR PARTIES For questions and information on current or future services: info@jseniors.org Contact our Events Specialists at garelickandherbs.com Westport Southport New Canaan Greenwich 55 Greens Farms Road Westport, CT (203) Eric J. Broder: ebroder@broderorland.com Carole Topol Orland: corland@broderorland.com 14 Like Us on Facebook. Visit the Congregation B nai Israel page and join us online.

15 Shabbat Service Schedule (Fridays at 6:00 p.m. where indicated, preceded by an Oneg Shabbat at 5:30 p.m.) Friday, January 6 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion Vayigash, Gen. 44:18-47:27 Haftarah Ezekiel 37:15-28 Saturday, January 7 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. Bar Mitzvah of Nathaniel Lipset, son of Alan and Jennifer Lipset Friday, January 13 6:00 p.m. Service with special guest, Pastor Anthony Bennett from Mt. Aery Baptist Church in Bridgeport, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. Dinner and presentation to follow. Torah Portion Vayechi, Gen. 47:28-50:26 Haftarah 1 Kings 2:1-12 Saturday, January 14 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 Skylar Slavin, daughter of Jonathan and Lori Slavin Friday, January 20 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion Shemot, Exod. 1:1-6:1 Haftarah Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23 Saturday, January 21 8:00 a.m. Service 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah Friday, January 27 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion Vayera, Exod. 6:2-9:35 Haftarah Isaiah 66:1-24 Saturday, January 28 8:00 a.m. Service 9:00 a.m. Brotherhood Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Torah Study 9:30 a.m. Young Families Havurah (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, D.J.R.E.... Temple Educator Robert H. Gillette, R.J.E... Educator Emeritus Alexa Cohen... Early Childhood Director Officers Michael Blumenthal... President Shari Nerreau... 1st Vice President Jill Elbaum... Vice President Jim Greenberg... Vice President Larry Levine... Vice President Jerry Saunders... Treasurer Perry Molinoff... Assistant Treasurer Susan Walden... Secretary Joe Varon... Financial Secretary Samuel J. Rosenberg... Immediate Past President Affiliates Marisa Underberger... BIFTY Advisor/Youth Engagement Specialist Melanie DelAngelo & Zoe Lehrhaupt... BIFTY co-presidents Scott L. Smith... Bulletin Editor A Very Special Sabbath of Song A message from Cantor Sheri Blum: As many of you know, this was a difficult year and a half for me, losing both of my parents. My parents loved this synagogue and came here every year on the High Holy Days for nearly 20 years. Many of you knew them well. Due to the extreme generosity of our congregants giving donations to my Music Fund in their memory, I am bringing this very special concert this year to B nai Israel for Shabbat Shirah, the Sabbath of Song, and dedicating it to my parents, Merv and Jan Blum. Please join us Friday, February 10, at 6:00 p.m. for this special Shabbat Shirah featuring Bat Ella and her entire band, singing the music of Debbie Friedman, along with Cantor Blum and the Adult and Junior Choirs of B nai Israel. The music of Debbie Friedman is an indelible part of the American Jewish soundtrack of the past four decades. Debbie rewrote the definition of Jewish music by creating songs that served as popular music and prayer, poetry and entertainment, lessons for life and reasons for living all at the same time. Since her premature death in 2011 on Shabbat Shirah, the American Jewish community has continued playing her recordings and singing her creations in synagogues, schools, holiday celebrations, summer camps and at gathgs for all occasions. In Israel, however, Debbie has been known mainly to American olim and to those Israelis who have had the opportunity to experience her music during her lifetime. One of those who knew Debbie and was inspired by her is the famous Israeli singer Bat Ella, who befriended her during Ella s short time in New York during the 1990s. Their friendship continued after Bat Ella returned to Israel, where she married, raised her family, and pursued a successful singing career, becoming one of the biggest stars in Israel. Donation Item of the Month: Cans of Soup and Stew for Operation Hope. 15

16 Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 171 Fairfield, Conn. Congregation B nai Israel 2710 Park Avenue Bridgeport, CT Mitzvah For MLK Day The next Mitzvah Morning will take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 16. We are joining with our community at the University of Bridgeport Day of Service. There are many activities to join alongside fellow congregants and members the Bridgeport community. Registration opened in late December. You can get details on the volunteer opportunities and register at Mitzvah mornings usually take place on Sunday mornings during religious school hours. So far we have volunteered with the Green Village Initiative, helping improve a community garden in Bridgeport, as well as conducted a Thanksgiving food drive and volunteered at a local soup kitchen. To learn more about Mitzvah Morning activities, contact Shari Nerreau at snerreau@cbibpt.org. The November Thanksgiving food drive brought congregants of all ages to work together to create more than 40 bags of food, including a handmade Thanksgiving card, made by the younger set! Another Mitzvah Opportunity The Community Supper Program is seeking someone who once a month can set up a cart with items from the Temple kitchen pantry that will be then transported by other Temple members to Operation Hope in Fairfield. Operation Hope holds a supper on the second Thursday each month, so the cart needs to be set up either the day before or on that morning. It is an easy and relatively quick Mitzvah, for which you will get reminders. To learn more or volunteer, contact Sherry Portnoy at sportnoy@cbibpt.org.