Selichot Saturday, September 24 8:00 p.m. Refreshments and Havdalah 8:15 p.m. Selichot Speaker 9:45 p.m. Service

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1 Volume 158, Issue 2 Av/Elul 5776 September 2016 SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS Going Home Sort Of A B nai Israel contingent journeys to Eastern Europe this month. In some ways, it is a homecoming, but a very bittersweet one that must reconcile some difficult memories. Rabbi Prosnit reflects on Page 3. Shalom, Emissaries Meet our newest class of Young Israeli Emissaries, who will be a part of our community for the next year. Discover who they are and why they are here, on Page 4. Wash Your Hands It is an admonition we learn from an early age wash your hands before eating. Yet, in this case, cleanliness may very well be next to Godliness. Rabbi Schultz explores the ritual on Page 5. Create a Better Fad Children spent the summer chasing Pokemon Go. Now, you can help show them that a Jewish education is worth pursuing. Ira Wise explains how on Page 7. Back to School The religious school year begins this month. Get the details on Page 16. Also Inside Bulletin Board... P 2 BIFTY... P 4 Adult Jewish Learning... P 6 Donations... P 8 Bonim... P 9 Shabbat Services... P 15 Entering the Days of Awe Join with B nai Israel, Beth El and B nai Torah on Saturday, September 24 as we mark the entry into the Days of Awe. Slichot also called Selichot is a powerful time to begin the process of introspection and t shuvah, and we are excited to host the event at B nai Israel this year. We will begin with refreshments and Havdalah at 8:00 p.m., and then at 8:15 p.m. we will mark another new beginning, as we hear from our speaker, David Weisberg, the new executive director of the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County. Continued on page 6 High Holy Days Services 5777/2016 Selichot Saturday, September 24 8:00 p.m. Refreshments and Havdalah 8:15 p.m. Selichot Speaker 9:45 p.m. Service Erev Rosh Hashanah Sunday, October 2 5:00 p.m. Service at Jennings Beach (weather permitting; check website or call Temple that afternoon if uncertain) 7:30 p.m. Service at Temple Rosh Hashanah Monday, October 3 10:00 a.m. Morning Service (Sanctuary) 10:00 a.m. Morning Service (Tent) 10:00 a.m. Babysitting 10:00 a.m. Youth Program (Grades Pre-K-3) 3:30 p.m. Family Services Rosh Hashanah, Second Day Tuesday, October 4 10:00 a.m. Service 12:30 p.m. Tashlich (on Brooklawn Parkway) Cemetery Memorial Service Sunday, October 9 1:00 p.m. in Fairfield 2:00 p.m. in Monroe Kol Nidre Tuesday, October 11 6:30 p.m. Early Service 8:45 p.m. Late Service Yom Kippur Wednesday, October 12 10:00 a.m. Morning Service (Sanctuary) 10:00 a.m. Morning Service (Tent) 10:00 a.m. Youth Program (Grades Pre-K-3) 1:00 p.m. Adult Learning 1:30 p.m. Family Services 2:45 p.m. Afternoon Service 4:45 p.m. Yizkor Service (approximate time) 5:45 p.m. Neilah (Concluding) Service Sukkot Sunday, October 16 5:00 p.m. Sukkah Decorating 6:00 p.m. Family Service 6:30 p.m. Potluck Picnic Monday, October 17 10:00 a.m. Sukkot Service 10:00 a.m. Young Children s Sukkot Program and Service Simchat Torah Sunday, October 23 5:30 p.m. Flag-making 6:00 p.m. Family Services Monday, October 24 10:00 a.m. Yizkor Service, with Festival brunch to follow

2 Sharing Our Joy Ellen and Sam Rost, in honor of their 50 th Wedding Anniversary. Gail and Barbara Saltman, in honor of their 50 th Wedding Anniversary. Lauren and Jonathan Tropp, on the engagement of daughter, Sarah Tropp, to Eric Pacelli. Gail and Peter Weinstein, in honor of the birth of granddaughter, Alexa Eve, daughter of Brad and Jordana Weinstein, sister of Chloe. 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. Asher and Jaclyn Epstein Longdean Road, Fairfield Daniel and Shana Greenwald, and Nora Roosevelt Drive, Trumbull Henry and Marilyn Banach Kitcher Court, Trumbull Michael Leopardi and Shari Strulson, and Jake, Cole and Chase Driftwood Lane, Trumbull Nicole Bobko, and Eliana May Street, Fairfield James and Tamar Rubin, and Julian Middlebrook Drive, Fairfield Sincere Sympathy We extend our sympathy to the bereaved families of: Joslin Ross, father of Dyann Ross Carmel Connolly, mother of Michael Connolly Adele Soalt, mother of Nina Soalt Mitzvah Morning In The Afternoon Join us for our next Mitzvah Morning (in this case, Afternoon) of the year! You will be glad you did! We ll be meeting this time at United Congregational Church on Sunday, September 25, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. We will be helping outside on the church grounds and in their community garden. The church is located at 877 Park Avenue, at the corner of State Street. There is plenty of onsite parking. You can learn more on the church s website at Again, we will meet at the church this time. There will be refreshments after our work is done. Adults and children of all ages are welcome to join us no experience necessary. It is a great way to do good work with fellow B nai Israel congregants and help others in the Bridgeport community. If you have questions, please contact Judy Blumenthal at ctblumers@ optonline.net or Shari Nerreau at shari.nerreau@raveis.com. On the day of the event, if needed, contact Judy at (203) Also, mark your calendars with our next Mitzvah Morning, on Sunday, October 30. Look for details in Hashavua, on the Temple website and the October Bulletin. Meet Some Really Interesting Jews Rabbi Evan Schultz hosts a regular podcast conversation with some really interesting Jews. He created this podcast to connect American Jews with the ideas, conversations, and projects that are changing the face of the American Jewish community. Bulletin Board These are people that matter, and we hope their stories will spark conversations in your homes, communities and synagogues. Recent episodes have featured Dr. David Bryfman on Jewish Teens and the Culture of Now; Nati Passow on Sprouting a Jewish Farm Movement; Rabbi Geoff Mitelman on the intersection of science and Judaism; and Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service on pursuing a career of justice. Go to com/ or reallyinterestingjews to sign up to receive notifications of new episodes. AARP Driving Class with Ernest Malecki Monday, September 26, 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m., Temple Library Please join B nai Israel congregant Ernest Ernie Malecki on Monday, September 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a four-hour, one-day class designed by AARP for senior drivers. Not only will Ernie give you tips to save on your insurance costs, but more importantly, he will offer driving tips that may save your life and the safety of those around you. For details, including the cost, or to pre-register, contact Ernie directly at (203) or by at enmalecki113@gmail.com. 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 Looking Forward to Our Eastern Europe Trip sort of! I m looking forward to our trip to Eastern Europe sort of! (We ll most likely have just left as this Bulletin issue arrives.) Of course, I m looking forward to traveling with so many of our congregants. Past trips have proven to be great fun and a very special bonding opportunity for those who participate. And I feel blessed to be able to travel. I know not everyone has the health, the time or the economic ability to see the world as I have been fortunate to. So I m excited sort of! When I lead a trip to Israel, there s a sense of going home. Rabbi Larry Hoffman calls it being a pilgrim. While thanks to Chaucer and the folks on the Mayflower the term seems outdated, there is a sense that when we travel to Israel, we are returning to a deeper place in our soul, to our history, to our people and to the place where it all began. We are wanted there; we are needed for more than just our dollars. But for Jews, Eastern Europe is a land of many ghosts. And while it is of course crucial to our history (most of us trace our ancestral roots to European soil), it is a place where we were always outsiders. Even when Jews lived there for centuries and centuries, they were still outsiders. Returning then to Poland, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic with Temple members will be a fascinating experience, but it will not be a homecoming. We won t be pilgrims; we ll be tourists. We ll be visiting sites where Jews lived, thrived, died and emigrated. We ll be honoring the memory of those who perished at Auschwitz, and we will be visiting some synagogues that still exist and others for where there is a plaque here once stood a synagogue. There s a new museum in Warsaw dedicated to the history of Polish Jews that is supposed to be amazing. Its curators make it clear that it is not a Holocaust museum. Of the eight galleries, only one is devoted to the Shoah; the rest presents a time when Jews and Jewish culture were a dominant part of Polish life. President of the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland Piotr Wislicki, wrote There is While I will be curious to see how Holocaust memory is preserved in the places we visit, seeing and sensing a thousand years of a vibrant Jewish history will be a crucial part of our travels. no history of Jews without Poland, and there is no history of Poland without Jews. Similarly, Barbara Kirshenblatt- Gimblett, the programme director of the museum s core exhibition, explained: Most of the sites connected with Jewish history in Warsaw are connected with remembering death. But this place is different it is about remembering life. After all, the last thing Poland needs is a Holocaust museum. The whole country is a Holocaust museum. While I will be curious to see how Holocaust memory is preserved in the places we visit, seeing and sensing a thousand years of a vibrant Jewish history will be a crucial part of our travels. I am also looking forward to meeting the Jews who live there today. A number of years ago, Wendy and I and Elaine and Juda Chetrit visited Prague and met a group of young Jews who were working hard to rekindle Jewish life in that city. They were intent in learning about a progressive, non-orthodox expression of Judaism that they felt would better reflect the attitudes and sociology of Czech society. It will be interesting to see what s happened a decade later. I m told similar attempts are being made in Warsaw and Krakow. Certainly the Budapest Jewish community (one of the largest in Europe) is a place of great vitality. But as far-right elements rise again in parts of Europe, especially Hungary, it will be fascinating to learn of their challenges and concerns. Upon our safe return, I look forward to sharing stories. Even as a tourist, it promises to be a great experience, one that I am most definitely looking forward to! Donation Item of the Month: Pasta and Sauce for the Salem Lutheran Church Food Pantry 3

4 Shalom to Our New Israeli Young Emissaries Welcome to Guy Shamai, Meshy Gabay, Noa Feldman and Rotem Rotner to our community. They are joining us this fall as part of the Israeli Young Emissary program, sponsored by the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County. Now in its 18th year, the program s goal is to build a living bridge between Israel and our community. Guy, Meshy, Noa and Rotem are recent high school graduates who have chosen to postpone their army service to spend the year in Upper Fairfield County. They will work with our preschools and religious schools as well as in our adult education programs, local high schools, day schools and Jewish Senior Services. While all four will work together on community events, they will have primary responsibilities at individual synagogues. This is a wonderful opportunity to add some cross-cultural enrichment to your family life. Please reach out to these special young ambassadors. Invite them to your home for a Shabbat dinner or to spend a day with your family going apple picking or to a baseball game. Show them a bit about life in the United States, and BIFTY September 2016 Enjoy having fun? Want to meet new friends? Need a break from homework? Then join BIFTY! BIFTY is B nai Israel s high school youth group! We meet most Thursdays from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. in the BIFTY lounge upstairs on the second floor of the religious school. listen as they share their thoughts on life in Israel. Yet, this program is not just for the youth of our community. Invite them to one of your adult dinner parties, and let them share their observations about politics, culture and societal issues in Israel. This wonderful opportunity to build bridges is made possible through our Federation s relationship with the Jewish Agency for Israel. If you are interested in inviting any or all of the Shinshinim to have a meal with your family or just spend the day, please call contact Stacy Kamisar at skamisar@ jewishphilanthropyct.org or Judy Blumenthal at ctblumers@optonline.net. Now, let s meet our Shinshinim for : Hello! My name is Guy Shamai. I am 18 years old, and I live in Kiryat Tiv on, which is a small town in Galilee in northern Israel. I learned in a Waldorf school, and really like the arts. In particular, I like to paint. I like to travel and hike, in Israel and abroad, and I do so with my family and friends in my free time. My mother, Orit, has a business Ph.D., and works as a lecturer in University of Haifa. My father, Nir, is an engineer and works as a manager. My younger brother, Roy, is 15 years old. He goes to the same school I did, and he plays saxophone, piano, and guitar. He is also a very good Capoeira trainer, and he goes to international competitions. We like to hang out together, and we are very close. I chose to do shlichut (be an emissary) because I believe human relations are the key for bonding, which is really important between Jews around the world. I am fascinated to experience the life in a Jewish community abroad, and I want to bring some of my love of Israel to you. I also believe that I can learn a lot from the experience. I can t wait to come, get to know the people, and join in the community! My name is Meshy Gabay. I am 17 years old, and I live in Rehovot with my family. My parents are Dana and Oren. My father recently retired as an IDF officer and established his own company called Jointness Group, and my mother is the company secretary. I have a twin Continued on Page 10 How can you get involved? Come to an event! This month, we will meet September 15, 22, and 29. Also, join our group on Facebook at BIFTY , or follow us on Istagram at cbi.bifty. This gathering reflects well on the camaraderie that B nai Israel teens can find as members of BIFTY. We look forward to seeing you in September! 4 Follow us on Instagram at Cbibpt.

5 From the Rabbi s Study/Rabbi Evan Schultz Try Washing Your Hands The Jewish Way As a father of now three children (yikes!), I spend a fair amount of time reminding my boys to wash their hands. You just touched about 359,223 germs, please go wash your hands! Usually the response is something to the effect of Ugh! But why do I need to? To kids, and to many of us adults, the act of washing our hands can feel like nothing more than a chore, a meaningless means to end. In Judaism, however, the act of washing one s hand is considered a spiritual practice, a ritual to prepare one s self for the sacred experience of eating a meal. It s a practice that can be a beautiful and meaningful way to begin a meal together, and you already have everything you need to try it hands, water and a cup! Maimonides (12 th century) discusses the process of washing one s hand in his compendium of Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah. Here is an excerpt from his Book of Blessings, chapter six: Anyone who eats bread over which the blessing hamotzi is recited must wash their hands before and after partaking of it. This applies even when the bread one eats is not sacred food. Although a person s hands are not dirty, nor are they aware that they have contracted any type of ritual impurity, they should not eat until they wash both of their hands. You also might find a sense of spirituality in one of the most dreaded chores following the meal washing the dishes. The ritual is a simple one: The procedure is to pour water out from a cup or glass first twice over the right hand and then twice over the left hand care being taken that the unwashed hands do not touch the water used for the washing. The hands are then dried with a towel before partaking of the meal. A benediction is recited over the washing of the hands: Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has commanded us concerning the washing of the hands. As we begin to look towards the new year, school starting, fall beginning, the hecticness of life resuming, I encourage you to give this ritual a try, to take a few moments to pause, to wash, to view this practice as means of spiritual preparation before sitting down together for a meal. P.S. And as a bonus ritual (or if washing your hands just isn t for you), you also might find a sense of spirituality in one of the most dreaded chores following the meal washing the dishes. Consider this meditation I recently discovered from Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, in her recent book, Nurturing the WOW: [When] washing dishes as you wash, be aware of how your feet feel on the floor; notice the weight of the pot in your hand; note sensations in your hand of pressure, slipperiness, the temperature of the water. Observe the sensation of your breath as it enters and leaves your body. Most importantly, notice the thoughts that rise up, but rather than getting sucked into them, let them fall away if the need to write a grocery list pops into your head, don t say, Oh, yes, the grocery list!, and saunter off into a reverie about onions and tomatoes. Rather, the idea is to keep breathing, to refocus on the sensations in front of you, and to trust that the grocery interest will fade of its own accord. Be immersed in the act of washing. We are on Twitter now! Follow us We ll follow back! 5

6 Adult Jewish Learning at Congregation B nai Israel Preparing for 5777 Spiritual Preparation for the High Holy DaysMishkan Hanefesh Year Two Fridays, September 9, 16 and 23, Noon-1:30 p.m. Last year we introduced Mishkan Hanefesh the new Reform Movement Machzor (High Holy Day Prayer Book) to overwhelmingly positive reviews. This three-part class, taught by Rabbis Prosnit and Schultz, will take a fresh look at the books as we set the stage for the coming Holy Day season. Join us for a look at classic prayers and themes seen through a fresh lens. Yamim Nora im The High Holy Days through a Kabbalistic Lens Monday, September 12, 19 and 26, 7:00 p.m. Each year, we begin again. We journey back to our Source, ourselves, our souls. The High Holy Days period is one in which we turn ourselves around. We remember who we are. Each year, we have the opportunity to dip into the most profound stories of our people from exile to return, from brokenness to wholeness, from separation to unity. The period leading up to these days, the month of Elul, is specifically designed to allow ourselves time to shape our thoughts, feelings and attitudes about our relationship with our fellow human beings and with God. Join us for a three-part series with Justin C. Beck to gain a greater understanding and insights of how to maximize the opportunity this time of year provides us. This series will offer practical preparatory tools. Handouts will be provided. New Year s Resolution: Make Hebrew a Priority We are compiling a list of congregants who are interested in improving their Hebrew. We hope to begin several courses this fall, including: A beginner s Aleph/Bet class, perhaps leading to an Adult Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration with Elaine Chetrit; Modern Hebrew for those with some background, a chance to enhance some conversational skills; and Beyond the Basics for those with some reading ability, but are ready to probe biblical and prayer texts without translations. If interested, please Contact Rabbi Prosnit at jprosnit@cbibpt. org. Times and dates will depend on the schedules of those who express interest. Ongoing Opportunities The Journey Continues... Torah Study Every Saturday Morning at 9:30 a.m. Every Saturday morning we learn Torah together some attend 8:00 a.m. services others arrive in time for the study group. Some participate every week and others drop in when they can. Some have solid biblical backgrounds and others are novices to the study. Some know Hebrew and most do not. Bottom Line: Everyone is welcome! Join us for an enriching, enjoyable and engaging hour of weekly learning of our most sacred text. Adult Roundtable Thursday, September 8, 12:30 p.m. This group holds a discussion about current events for anyone who wants to go deeper than the headlines and enjoys expressing their own opinions and hearing those of others. Facilitated by Gloria Katz. Join us the first Thursday of every month and bring a sandwich, your opinion and an open mind. Slichot... From Page 1 At 9:45 p.m., we will continue with a service led by our local clergy. David Weisberg brings 25 years of nonprofit experience, initially in a variety of town management roles in Pennsylvania, with the last 18 years in Jewish communal service at the local, regional and national levels. This includes serving as the lead executive of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Center of Greater Harrisburg, Friends of the Arava Institute, the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, and Hazon. Among David s proudest achievements is pioneering the first Jewish LGBTQ Teen programming in the country, in partnership with the non-profit Keshet organization. David s unique skills and expertise in leading organizations through mergers, turnarounds, and transitions, while developing innovative solutions to build community, reach the under-served, and engage the disengaged, are perfectly tailored to address the opportunities in our community. 6 Religious School starts again this month. Get the details on Page 16.

7 From the Education Center/Ira J. Wise Stronger Together No, this is not about the elections. Really. It is about the idea now appearing on certain posters that has meaning beyond the political process. There is much that has been written about the state of synagogues and synagoguebased learning. Most of it is pretty depressing. Some have even said that religious school is over. Far from it. In each generation, we find ourselves remaking the way we do things to meet new challenges and perceived needs. At the end of the day, though, we are still promoting the same Jewish values. We are just trying to find ways to make them meaningful in the world in which we find ourselves living. This summer, Pokémon Go appeared out of nowhere and was more popular than Twitter within 10 days. If you missed it, this is an app for smart phones that uses the characters from the card game and TV show popular with preteens over a decade ago. It requires using the app in the real world and visually is kind of cool. Some said it was a good thing because it got kids off the couch and into the outdoors. I tried it so I would understand it. I also watched groups of young adults cruising the streets of Great Barrington, Mass., and in New Haven looking for animated monsters. But even if they were in groups, they were each engaging with their own four-inch screen on their own. They were not together. Not really. And their narrow focus made them miss opportunities for radical amazement all around them. Let me suggest we do something else together. Come learn with us. We can do it together. And you can model a vital Jewish value for our younger learners. When they see their parents or other adults come to temple to learn together, they understand that Jewish learning has value because adults are spending their time doing it. Come show them the way. The offerings for this month are on the page to your left. And we know time is tight. But you are worth it. There is also one offering you can participate in while working out: check out Rabbi Schultz s Really Interesting Jews podcast! This creature is a Nidorina; I found him in the Berkshires. Fortunately, the campers could not see it! Let s strengthen our congregation, our minds and our souls. Let s learn together. L shalom, Ira J. Wise, D.J.R.E Let me suggest we do something else together. Come learn with us. We can do it together. And you can model a vital Jewish value for our younger learners. When they see their parents or other adults come to temple to learn together, they understand that Jewish learning has value because adults are spending their time doing it. 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. New Tzedek Society Members Marcie and Yury Berson Rabbi Prosnit Discretionary Fund Susan Bauchner, in memory of father, Arnold Kaplan. Edie Baum, in memory of father, Meyer Needell; in memory of father-in-law, Samuel Baum. Judi and David Beier, with sincere gratitude and appreciation to Rabbi Prosnit and Wendy Bloch. Ken Berger, in memory of father, Jerome Berger. Laura and Bruce Braverman, in memory of aunt, Sylvia Weintraub. Maxine and Stewart Gross, in memory if Irving Phillip, father of Suzanne Phillip. Janice and Bernie Jacobs, in memory if Irving Phillip, father of Suzanne Phillip. Carol Krim, in loving memory of husband, Michael Krim. Aleksey and Raisa Ledvich, in memory of grandfather, Max Dovolsky; in memory of aunt, Noemi Dovolskaya; in memory of grandfather, Rahmiel Ledvich. Louise Linsky and Family, a thank-you to Rabbi Prosnit from the Weintraub Family for providing a touching funeral service for Abraham Weintraub. Brad and Linda Rothbaum, in appreciation of Rabbi Prosnit s time. Barbara and Gil Saltman, in honor of our 50 th Wedding Anniversary, and in honor of the Art Show. Miriam Spero, in memory of mother, Rebecca Goldstein. Eileen and Howard Tolk, in loving memory of sister, Helen Cramer. Marilyn and Norman Weinstein, in memory of Irving Phillip, father of Suzanne Phillip; in honor of Helen B. Wasserman. The Yasser Family, in memory of father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Dr. Irv Yasser. Rabbi Schultz Discretionary Fund In honor of the birth of Roie Miles Schultz, son of Rabbi Evan Schultz and Jenny Goldstein, brother of Koby and Elie: Mark and Barbara Edinberg The Giglietti Family Beth Lazar George and Chris Markley Sandra Michaelson Joan and Alan Newman Jane and Jerry Pressman Julie and Steve Pressman and Family Beth and Randy Reich Caren, Bill, Jon and Emily Schwartz Ellen and Robert Sheiman Esther Spiegel Bonnie Alterman, a thank-you to Rabbi Schultz for being so kind to my granddaughter. Mark and Barbara Edinberg, in honor of the Blondins Baby Naming. Sandra Michaelson, in memory if Irving Phillip, father of Suzanne Phillip. Music Fund Judith and David Pressler, in loving memory of Max Farber, father of Judith Pressler. Eileen and Howard Tolk, in loving memory of mother, Justine Tolk. Enhancement Fund Jeffrey and Wendy Bender, in memory of Ruth Bender. Paula and Robert Herzlinger, in memory if Irving Phillip, father of Suzanne Phillip. Alida and Al Kleban, in memory of father, Joseph Shulkin. David and Louise Linsky, a donation. Julie and Steve Pressman, in memory of Ruth Tuchband, mother of Steve Tuchband. Caren and Bill Schwartz, in memory of Ruth Berger, mother of Ken Berger. Eileen and Howard Tolk, in loving memory of father, Samuel Tolk. Sylvia Prosnit Adult Education Fund Sylvia and Alan Neigher, in memory of Natalie Barney, mother of Elaine Chetrit. Nursery School Scholarship Fund Esther Spiegel, in honor of the 90 th birthday of Sherry Portnoy s father. Gail and Peter Weinstein, Mazel Tov to Jane and Jerry Pressman on their special anniversary. Eckber; in memory of dear cousin, Melvin Kaster. Ana Maria Pereira, in memory of Gerry Eckber. David and Judith Pressler, in loving memory of Joseph Pressler and Jonathan Pressler. Prayer Book Fund Laura and Bruce Braverman, in memory of parents, Beatrice and Samuel Burger. Slepian Floral Fund Edward and Luise Mann Burger, in memory of Sylvia Weintraub, mother of Susan Rosenblitt. Ellen and Samuel Rost, in memory of Sylvia Weintraub, mother of Susan Rosenblitt. Serena and Arnie Sher, in celebration of the 50 th Wedding Anniversary of Ellen and Sam Rost. Mazon Judi and David Beier, many thanks to Susan and David Glucksman. Religious School Enrichment Fund Stacey and Duane Berlin, in honor of Lauren and Jon Tropp, on the engagement of daughter, Sarah Tropp, to Eric Pacelli. Aleksey and Raisa Ledvich, in memory of father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Peter Ledvich. Rabbi Arnold Sher Social Action Fund Donations made in memory of Irving Phillip, father of Suzanne Phillip, were made by: Laura and Bruce Braverman Edward and Luise Mann Burger Elaine and Juda Chetrit Shari and Brian Nerreau In honor of the birth of Roie Miles Schultz, son of Rabbi Evan Schultz and Jenny Goldstein, brother of Koby and Elie: Andrea Goodman and Jeff Ackerman Sylvia and Alan Neigher Shari and Brian Nerreau Bonnie Alterman Audrey Bloch Laura and Bruce Braverman Edward and Luise Mann Burger Elaine and Juda Chetrit Rabbi Martin Library Fund Dale and Jerry Demner Muggs Lefsetz, in memory of Gerry 8 Reach more than 700 families. Advertise in the Bulletin. Contact Scott L. Smith at ssmith@cbibpt.org. Laura and Bruce Braverman, in memory of parents, Shirley and George Braverman. Shari and Brian Nerreau, in honor of the Continued on Page 9

9 From the Bonim Preschool: Alexa Cohen, Early Childhood Director Who is JEEN? For more than 25 years, our local Early Childhood directors have been meeting as a group and arranging conferences. The grassroots group has gone through many phases, stages and capacities. The directors are thrilled by the latest phase; we will be facilitated by the newly merged Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County as the official JEEN Jewish Educational Early Childhood Network. The goals of JEEN include: Significantly increase the number of Jewish families with young children who choose Jewish education for their children, and choose to maintain their connections to the Jewish community. Coordinate workshops and programming for early childhood educators on topics such as leadership, curriculum, Jewish family education and children with special needs. Provide an incredible opportunity for early childhood educators to network and share ideas under one roof. I am thrilled to be a founding member of JEEN, along with my colleagues Miriam Landa, Mini Gan at Camp Gan Israel/Chabad of Fairfield; Sheila May, K tanim Preschool at Congregation Beth El Fairfield; and Joan Watnick, B nai Torah Nursery School in Trumbull. We look forward to all preschools coming under the FJP umbrella as we work together to make JEEN a professional, meaningful network for the educators in our community. We hope this new group will provide a platform to connect with other educators and provide ongoing professional development. We are already off to a strong start. At our first meeting in July, we welcomed Marcia Lane, who led us in a discussion about Intergenerational Programming. We also discussed our full-day conference, which will focus on Success Triggers and Sensory Integration in the preschool setting. We expect this program to jump-start classroom management and help our teachers understand sensory-related behaviors and self-regulation skills. The goal of this conference, which is set for December 7, is to help educators deepen their knowledge and enhance their creativity and teaching skills, enabling them to bring these tools back to their classrooms and the families they service. The Federation for Jewish Philanthropy will subsidize the program, so the costs will be substantially reduced. At last count we already had more than 60 teachers registered for the gathering. The Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County covers Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Georgetown, Monroe, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Stratford, Trumbull, Westport, Weston and Wilton. Donations Continued From Page 8 (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 Scott L. Smith... Bulletin Editor Greenwald Family and Randi Cohen and Jeremy Wise, welcome to the community. Linda and Allan Smardin, in memory of Jack Newman, husband of Karin Newman. Jim Abraham Education Fund for Jewish Leadership Andrea Goodman and Jeff Ackerman, in memory of Irving Phillip, father of Suzanne Phillip. Daniel Smith Cemetery Fund Serena Sher, in memory of Daniel Smith. Alan Weinstein Scholarship Fund Joni and Michael Greenspan, in memory of Sylvia Greenspan Malamuth, mother of Marshall Greenspan; in memory of Ida Kaplan, mother of Jane Serlin. Donation Item of the Month: Pasta and Sauce for the Salem Lutheran Church Food Pantry 9

10 Emissaries From Page 4 brother named Eden. He is going to serve in the army next year as a combat soldier. I also have a 12-year-old brother named Adi. They are both handball players. We have a Labrador dog named Linda. We are very connected to one another and love to travel together in Israel and out of it. My biggest passion is acting. I have been in my city s acting course for seven years. I love to play different characters and perform in front of an audience. During the past year, I have been guiding a group of 10-year-olds in Noam, my youth movement. Besides all this, I love to go to the beach, hang out with my friends from school and read books. I chose to be a young emissary because I think that the connection between us is important and necessary for our continuation as one nation. I want to bring Israel to your community through my eyes as a Jewish Israeli teenager. My goal is to get to know as many of you personally and join you on a fun learning experience. Shalom, everybody! My name is Rotem Rotner. I am 18 years old, and I live in Ness Ziona, which is a very small city about 20 minutes from Tel Aviv. I have two older brothers Omer, 26, is currently a student at Tel Aviv University; and Amit, 22, just recently got released from the army and is now getting ready for the famous after the army trip to Australia. My parents are Yoel and Mira. My mother is a marketing vice president for a pharmaceutical company, and my father is a manager for a company which produces water diffusers. We have a dog named Stephan, and he has been with our family for seven years. Meet our new Shinshinim (from left): Meshy Gabay, Noa Feldman, Guy Shamai and Rotem Rotner the year, I got to know an amazing and strong little boy. The years before joining Krembo, I was an active member in the Tzofim, the Israeli Scouts, where I was a counselor for kids in the fifth grade when I was a sophomore, and the year later I was responsible for all the counselors in my Tzofim tribe. I love kickboxing and spin classes. I try to work out at least three times a week. I also love to ski! I also love my family, traveling, and I love to hike in different countries and Israel, and explore different cultures. So far we have visited Sri Llanka, Thailand, Greece and Kenya. I chose to postpone my service in the army for one year and become a shinshinit because I love my country very much and I truly believe it s a home for so many different people. I believe that what Israel needs the most right now is proper representation by people who love the country and who will advocate for it in order to change what people think of it due to the effects of the media. My main goal for this Shlichut is to leave my mark in your community and make as many personal connections as I can with you. I just can t wait for the year to start, and I am super-excited to meet you all! Hello everyone! I am Noa Feldman. I am a member in the youth movement I am 18½ years old from Ramat-Gan, Knafaim Shel Krembo (krembo wings), which is a town close to Tel Aviv. I just which is a youth movement for kids graduated from Blich high school, with and without special needs. There, where my majors were theater and every two teens without special needs French. I was a group leader in the scouts are guiding one kid with special needs. for two years, for 24 amazing girls. My Chanich (the kid I guide) is Rani, who has a very rare syndrome. During 10 We want you in the Bulletin! Send your news to editor Scott Smith at ssmith@cbibpt.org. My mother, Galit, is a psychologist and a couples therapist. My father, Nathan, is an architect. I have two younger sisters Michal, 16, and Ayala, 11½. We also have a beloved dog named Cookie. My sisters and I are best friends. We like to share feelings and experiences with each other. Also, we like cooking together pancakes are our specialty! As a family, we love to travel to foreign countries and eat together (at home and in restaurants). We have an open and warm relationship between us, and we are very close to each other. I m very passionate about cultures and languages. I love my country Israel from the depth of my heart. I also love traveling in different countries and meeting people from all over the world. I like dancing, learning new things, dining in special restaurants and reading books. I chose this Shlichut because I think that it is very important to let people from all over the world know Israel from a different perspective than in the world media. Second, it s important to improve the connection between Israel and the Jewish communities all over the world. Third, from the personal aspect, I m curious about different ways of living, and I am interested to experience that myself. My goal for this year is to represent my country from a personal aspect by being in close relationships with people in the community. I look forward to meeting you!

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15 Shabbat Service Schedule (Fridays at 6:00 p.m. where indicated, preceded by an Oneg Shabbat at 5:30 p.m.) Friday, September 2 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion Reeh, Deut. 11:26-16:17 Haftarah Isaiah 54:11-55:5 or 1 Samuel 20:18-42 Saturday, September 3 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 Jacob Dawes, son of Stephen and Michelle Dawes Friday, September 9 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion Shof tim, Deut. 16:18-21:9 Haftarah Isaiah 51:12-52:12 Saturday, September 10 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 Jonas Brown, son of Douglas and Kathryn Brown Friday, September 16 5:30 p.m. Mishpacha Shabbat 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion Ki Tetze, Deut. 21:10-25:19 Haftarah Isaiah 54:1-10 Saturday, September 17 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 nai Mitzvah of Ethan and Jordan Weisblatt, sons of Adam and Danielle Weisblatt Friday, September 23 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion Ki Tavo, Deut. 26:1-29:8 Haftarah Isaiah 60:1-22 Saturday, September 24 8:00 a.m. Service Selichot 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 Alexa Sheiman, daughter of Lee and Stacy Sheiman Friday, September 30 6:00 p.m. Service Torah Portion Nitzavim, Deut. 22:9-30:20 Haftarah Isaiah 61:10-63:9 Saturday, October 1 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 Callan Vaughn, daughter of Brian and Stephanie Vaughn Jewish Holiday Calendar 5777 Erev Rosh Hashanah Sunday, October 2 Rosh Hashanah Monday, October 3-Tuesday, October 4 Erev Yom Kippur Tuesday, October 11 Yom Kippur Wednesday, October 12 Sukkot Sunday, October 16-Monday, October 17 Simchat Torah Sunday, October 23 and Monday, October 24 Chanukah Saturday, December 24, 2016-Sunday, January 1, 2017 Tu BiShvat Saturday, February 11 Purim Sunday, March 12 Passover Tuesday, April 11-Tuesday, April 18 Yom HaShoah Monday, April 24 Yom HaZikaron Monday, May 1 Yom HaAtzma ut Tuesday, May 2 Shavuot Wednesday, May 31-Thursday, June 1 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. However, they do not appear by magic! 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. Thank you! Stay Connected While in College It s time to head back to school for our college students and their families. Yet, while you may be spreading out to all parts of the country, we want to keep you connected to B nai Israel. To send you little holiday surprises and for you to keep connected with your temple friends, we would like your school address and address. Please send your information to Chris in the main office at crocha@cbibpt.org. Donation Item of the Month: Pasta and Sauce for the Salem Lutheran Church Food Pantry 15

16 Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 171 Fairfield, Conn. Congregation B nai Israel 2710 Park Avenue Bridgeport, CT Religious School and Merkaz Are Back in Session September means that schools are back in session, and that holds true at B nai Israel. Students from kindergarten to high school return to our classrooms this month. Kitot Zayin and Chet (Grades 7 and 8) get the new year started on Monday, September 12. Classes meet from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. each Monday. Merkaz, the Jewish high school, gathers for the first time on Tuesday, September 13. Classes meet from 6:50 to 8:50 p.m. Kitot Daled to Vav (Grades 4 to 6) start Thursday, September 15. The classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays (there is also an option to take one of classes each week on Sunday mornings) from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Kitot Gan to Gimel (Kindergarten to Grade 3) starts on Sunday, September 18, with the fall family opening picnic following at Noon. Classes meet each Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to Noon. Kitah Zayin students gather in the Social Hall during a Monday night assembly in the last school year. If weather is an issue, you will be notified by phone, so please make sure the school has the best numbers to reach you. Closings also will be posted at www. cbibpt.org and as well as broadcast on WICC 600 AM. Decisions to close the school will not be made before 8:00 a.m. on Sundays, 3:00 p.m. on Mondays and 1:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information on the B nai Israel religious school, call the main office at (203) To learn more about Merkaz, call (203)