Temple Talk. Rabbi s Reflections: A Jewish Interfaith Story from Harris Griff

Transcription

1 Temple Talk Volume 31 Issue 4 February 2016 Shevat - Adar I 5776 Rabbi s Reflections: A Jewish Interfaith Story from Harris Griff by Rabbi David Finkelstein More than a few months ago, Merrill Griff told me a story that I've been trying to fit into a sermon ever since. But, for some reason, this is the first time I'm sharing it. It's a story that Merrill heard from his father, Harris Griff, long-time proprietor of Griff Furniture. After being a Waltham institution for over one hundred years, Griff Furniture is closing its doors in just a few months. According to Merrill, Harris witnessed the story firsthand when he was a very young child. Back in the early days of Temple Beth Israel, between the wars, a Jewish cobbler lost his son. How did the boy die? On that score, the record is hazy. Suffice it to say that it was a tragedy. And at this time the shul was composed of two groups: the Rushishers (Russian Jews) and the Litvaks (Lithuanian Jews). The Rushishers couldn't stand the Litvaks and the Litvaks couldn't stand the Rushishers. So each group had its own minyan. No Rushisher was ever seen davening in the Litvak minyan, and vice versa. Well, the cobbler was in mourning for his son, so he was saying Kaddish. But one day, there was no minyan for him to daven with. The Rushishers didn't have a minyan, and neither did the Litvaks. If they would have joined together, then they would have had a minyan, but of course they wouldn't think of it. So the cobbler couldn't say Kaddish for his son. He walked up and down Main Street and Felton Street, Moody Street and Charles Street, looking for a Jewish man to make his minyan, but there were no Jewish men to be found. So the cobbler sat down on a curb and he just wept. A policeman saw him sitting there crying. He asked him what was wrong. The cobbler replied, I need another man so I can pray for my son. The policeman offered himself, but since he was not Jewish, the cobbler couldn't accept him. No, he said. I'm sorry, but you're not the kind of man I need. So the policeman walked away and came back with another policeman. What about this guy? Will he do? The second policeman also wasn't Jewish. No, said the cobbler. I'm sorry, but no. The two policemen walked away and came back with five other policemen. Now I have to tell you that the cobbler was very well known in town. Everybody got their soles repaired at his shop. Everybody in town knew him, and everybody wanted to see him (Continued on page 5) The next bulletin will be for March. If you have an article that you would like to submit please get it in to the Temple office before February 15th. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Rabbi s Reflections 1 Friday Night Dinner Info 2 Flowers in February 2 Mark s Remarks 3 Children s Services 6 Calendar 7 Donations 8 Yahrzeits 9 Event Flyers Rabbi: David Finkelstein Cantor: Ellen Band Hazzan: Yosi Weintraub President: Mark Frydenberg Vice Pres.: Lester Macklin Secretary: Genevieve Fosa Treasurer: George Isaac Membership Secretary: Ellen Macklin Editor: Andrea Baron Address 25 Harvard Street P. O. Box Waltham, MA office@tbiwaltham.org web site: (781) Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm

2 Shabbat Evening Services and Dinner February 5th March 4th * Services begin at 6:30 pm Future Shabbat Service and Dinner Dates (Subject to Change) April 22 (Passover Seder #1) May 13 June 3 July 1 August 19 Dinner begins after services, around 7:30 pm. Vegetarian option available on request. Please let us know if you have any other dietary requirements when you sign up by contacting the Temple office. $18 per adult, $40 per family if paid by the Weds. before the dinner $21 per adult, $45 per family for later reservations You can register online at or contact the Temple office to sign up. * Return to Upper Remety Our Shabbat dinner on Friday, March 4 th will feature an Eastern European menu, along with music, and melodies of Morris Hollender z"l in honor of what would have been his 90 th birthday on February 12. Please join us after services, for this special evening program led by Hankus Netsky. Flowers in February! Come to the indoor Botanical Gardens at Tower Hill in Boylston, to remind yourself that spring really will come this year. After all, as Victor Hugo said in Les Miserables: A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars. Join us at Temple Beth Israel (25 Harvard St., Waltham) at 10:00 am, on February 28, We will carpool to Boylston, to tour their indoor botanical gardens. Bring a friend, and enjoy. We will then drive to 11 French Drive, in Boylston, Massachusetts. We will stop for lunch at Twigs Restaurant on the premises; you may bring your own lunch if you desire. The cost of the trip is $18.00 a person. You pay for your own lunch. To register please send a check with stub below to Catherine Cantrell, 45 Willow St., Acton, MA For information contact Catherine Cantrell at: (978) , or, Lester Macklin at: (781) Please return this reservation form to: Catherine Cantrell, 45 Willow St., Acton, MA (n.b. this is not the meeting address that is 25 Harvard St., Waltham) Name(s) Address Phone # Cell # Number attending Cost $18.00pp Total enclosed $ 2

3 TEMPLE TALK P AGE 3 Mark's Remarks: Our Treasures By: Mark Frydenberg We have five Torah scrolls, one is passul (unfit for ritual use) our Torahs were last checked by Rabbi Shimeon Miara of Brookline in They are "vav" torahs that is, each column begins with the letter vav (meaning "and") to indicate the Torah is a continuing story of our history. The pasul Torah is about years old and was one of the first scrolls in use at Temple Beth Israel. One of our Torah breast plates is engraved with the words "Waltham Jewish Leisure Club" in Yiddish. It dates back to the mid 20 th century, and shows two lions supporting two columns and a Decalogue tablet. I happened to be in the synagogue one morning in December when the appraiser was here looking at our Torahs and ritual objects, as we were in the process of updating our insurance policy. Elizabeth Kessin Berman is the certified appraiser who issued the report about some of our ritual objects, and I want to share some of what I learned from reading her report, and watching her do her work. We have two scrolls of Esther that we read each Purim; one is a "hamelech" scroll, and one is not. A "hamelech" scroll is one where each column begins with the word "hamelech" (the King). Both are in good condition, and from the mid 20 th century. Finally, our big Torah crown dates back to the early 20 th century, and has images of deer and birds, attached to the crown, with an eagle at the top. These animals are mentioned in the Bible: As a dear longs for a flowing stream, I long to worship You (psalm 42:1), and "Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles " (Isaiah 40:31). The inscription reads "Donation of Rebecca in memory of her husband Israel Ephrim, who died on 30 Sivan 1925." Next time the Torah passes by you at services, take a look at the adornments for their beauty as well as for the stories that they tell. 3

4 TEMPLE TALK P AGE 4 Chanukah Campaign TBI Updates - From Mark Frydenberg Thanks to 42 of our member households who together contributed a total of $6376 to the Chanukah campaign. We appreciate your generosity and your support of Temple Beth Israel. It's still not too late for you to contribute, and help us reach our $7500 goal. By Laws Update As president, I appointed a new bylaws committee, which begins its work in February and will be taking last year's bylaws recommendations under advisement. Therefore the congregational meeting previously announced for February will not take place. You will have an opportunity to hear from the committee at the Community Conversation on Sunday, June 5. Community Conversation #2: The Role of non-jews in a Jewish Community Please join us on Sunday, March 6 at 10 am as Rabbi Finkelstein and I will lead a conversation about the role of members of other faiths in a Jewish community. We will explore opportunities for non-jewish family members and friends of the Temple Beth Israel to participate in synagogue life appropriate for a traditional egalitarian synagogue. We will look at how other synagogues have become more inclusive, and discuss how we might continue to adapt in our own community. In Memory of Morris Hollender By: Merrill Griff Merrill shared these words at the ceremony unveiling the gravestone for Morris Hollender on November 29, V ahavtem et ha-gayr kee gayrim hayeetem b eretz mitzraiyim. You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:19) The community of Temple Beth Israel has lived and practiced this axiom of the bible since its inception over 100 years ago. We have always welcomed the stranger. Over 40 years ago, Edith and Morris Hollender visited our synagogue and stayed. They found a home. Morris Hollender more than any member practiced this biblical tenet and this reminder of how to act and make all who entered comfortable. He greeted all males who entered the sanctuary with a firm handshake, all females with a kiss on the hand and to both, he said a welcome word. Morris exemplified our ancestors: Abraham who greeted the three strangers at his tent, Jethro s invitation to Moses to join him for a meal, Ruth s treatment of her mother- in -law when her husband died, and Job s dedication to make sure that his door was always open to the traveler. Morris went beyond hospitality. Every day he took a bus to the temple and gave countless hours to prepare the Torah reading for services. He was generous with his knowledge about prayers, music and languages. He loved to tell a good joke. He always had time to teach anybody who desired to learn. Because of his love of teaching, we have a cadre of people who can read Torah, Haftorah and lead services despite the huge vacuum created by his passing. As we remember Morris today, let us recall what he always said when we had a L chaim after services, Morris, may your name be a blessing and in times of trouble my you intercede on our behalf and may you have an aliyah in heaven. 4

5 Rabbi s Reflections (continued from page 1) (Continued from page 1) get up off that curb and dry his eyes. Before long, there were 7 policemen and as many firefighters all gathered around the cobbler who was still sitting on the curb in tears. At this point, the rabbi shows up. Of course he recognizes his congregant, the cobbler, and he understands what is happening. The rabbi declares, I believe you have your minyan. The cobbler stands up, dries his eyes, and he says Kaddish for his son, right there in the street. The rabbi answers Amen and Yehei shmeih rabbah. The policemen and firefighters of Waltham none of whom are Jewish - are gathered around, obviously not understanding the words they're hearing. But they can all see that the cobbler's prayer had been answered. The rabbi returned to the shul and made a solemn decree. From that moment on, the Rushishers and the Litvaks would davven together. No more separate minyans. And whoever was leading the prayers, he would lead in the manner he had learned, with his own melodies, with his own pronunciation, according to his own traditions. And so it is in Temple Beth Israel to this day. The cobbler never had trouble finding a minyan ever again. This story paints a picture of how Waltham used to be. In the words of Mayor McCarthy, everybody knew everybody else, and everybody helped everybody else. I will continue to do my part, deepening relationships with other Waltham clergy and with Brandeis University and Bentley University, with the library, with Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, with JF&CS, and with Gann Academy. There are so many more groups and individuals who should not be left out, including the Piety Corner neighborhood clubhouse, the Community Day Center on Felton Street, and of course the mosque on Moody. The Salvation Army and Waltham Fields community farm. Waltham is a beautiful and diverse city, with a textured history, brimming with opportunities for community-building towards the end of enriching the lives of everyone who makes Waltham their home. I ask you to join me so that we can work together to make Waltham a city of friends, a city of helpers, a city that does justice, loves kindness, and walks humbly with God. If you are interested in helping TBI to host interfaith events, if you want to attend an interfaith event, or if you want to represent TBI at an event elsewhere in Waltham, please send me an at rabbidavid@tbiwaltham.org. I look forward to hearing from you. The Rabbi s Classes will continue in February Wednesdays 7:00pm - 8:30pm Feb 10 - Psalms Feb 17 - Weekly Torah Portion Feb 24 - Contemporary Issues Inclement Weather Policy In case of inclement weather, check the school cancellations on the radio or online. If Waltham schools are closed or open late, we automatically cancel weekday morning minyan. We will update the TBI website at and our outgoing phone message ( ) if Shabbat evening or morning services are cancelled. If the roads look bad, please stay safe and stay home. 5

6 Children's Services and Shabbat Babysitting at TBI Temple Beth Israel provides babysitting every Shabbat from 10 am to 12 noon. We have a large, carpeted playroom downstairs with a variety of books, toys and games and sufficient space for both quiet and active play. Children are also joyfully welcome in the main service and often move between the playroom and services. There is no charge for babysitting. Led by Brandeis senior Dani Nurick, our monthly children's service includes singing, storytelling and movement and provides an opportunity to meet other families in the greater Waltham area. Children join the main service for Adon Olam, and the congregation then enjoys kiddush, challah and a light lunch. The program is geared for children ages 2-7 but all ages are welcome. Upcoming children s services will be held on February 13, March 12, April 9 & May 7, starting at 11 am. For questions about children's programming, please contact Susan Kane (suekane@umich.edu) or the TBI office at (781) Contributions are welcome to subsidize the cost of babysitting and other activities for families and kids at Temple Beth Israel. Got News to Share? If you have news to share with the community about things going on in your life, we want to know. Do you have a personal or professional accomplishment, or a family event or happening that is worthy of celebration? Would you like visitors or to receive cards from members who care because you re unable to get out, or hospitalized, or gratefully at home? Is there a way we can support you at a time of loss? Could you use a ride to a Temple service or event? For any of these, please send your information to Susan Holbert (SusanEHolbert@gmail.com) or and she will forward these messages periodically to the community by . If you do not have and would like to receive this information by phone (or to be part of a phone-tree to help make these calls) please also let Susan know. If you would like to receive community news, you must let Susan know. Information will not be sent to members who do not specifically request it. 6

7 TBI EVENTS CALENDAR February 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 7:30 pm Religious Committee Meeting 2 3 7:00 pm Congregational Meeting CANCELLED 7:00 pm TBI Board Meeting 4 5 4:46 pm Candle lighting 6:30 pm Shabbat Dinner and Service 6 Parashat Mishpatim 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 10:00 am Babysitting 11:00 am Children's Service with Dani Nurick 5:47 pm Havdalah (42 min) Rosh Chodesh Adar I 10 Rosh Chodesh Adar I 11 7:00 pm Rabbi's Class - Psalms 12 4:55 pm Candle lighting 13 Parashat Terumah 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 10:00 am Babysitting 5:56 pm Havdalah (42 min) 14 Valentine's Day 15 Presidents' Day :00 pm Rabbi's Class - Weekly Torah Portion :04 pm Candle lighting 20 Parashat Tetzaveh 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 10:00 am Babysitting 6:05 pm Havdalah (42 min) Purim Katan 24 7:00 pm Rabbi's Class - Contemporary Issues :13 pm Candle lighting 27 Parashat Ki Tisa 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 10:00 am Babysitting 6:14 pm Havdalah (42 min) 28 10:00 am Winter Outing to Tower Hill Botanical Garden, Boylston :00 pm TBI Board Meeting 3 4 5:21 pm Candle lighting 6:30 pm Shabbat Service and Evening Program with Hankus Netsky 5 Parashat Vayakhel Shabbat Shekalim 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services 10:00 am Babysitting 6:22 pm Havdalah (42 min) 7

8 Donations Goldstein Siddur Fund Amy Muldoon General Fund Donations David Leibovitz, in memory of Mae Leibovitz. Ellen Band, in memory of her father. Yosi Weintraub, in memory of Morris Hollender. Hella Hackerem, in memory of C. Richard Donahue. Julius and Thelma Kennen, in memory of Abe Kennen. Mr. and Mrs. Vadim Bubes, in memory of Maria and Nicholas Goltser, and Judith and Jacob Bubes. Lester and Ellen Macklin, in memory of Sara Meirowitz s grandmother, Betty Winter Samuels. Nessie Baron wishes a speedy recovery to Ed Brown. Condolences To Rabbis Sara Meirowitz and David Finkelstein on the loss of Sara s grandmother, Betty Winter Samuels who passed away on January 16, 2016 / 6 Shevat 5776 Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Chanukah appeal. Remember it is never too late to donate. Israel Tzvi Abush Alan Levine Jim and Andrea Baron Susan Baron Susan Kane & Michele Lauder Ed Kaufman Esther Keaney Steven and Audrey Kennen Noah and Becky Beit-Aharon Diana Korzenik Ed and Renee Brown Catherine Cantrell Alan and Avis Cohen Alan Corman Erika Cohen Lillian Etkind Robert Macauley Lester and Ellen Macklin Arthur and Marge Marion Carol Master David Finkelstein and Sara Meirowitz Stephen Fox Leonard & Esther Meiselman Caroline and Ben Nudelman Marilyn Racette Ian Rosenblum Fradin Silberstein Foundation Zvi Ruder David Freedman Mark Frydenberg Jonathan and Cookie Schiff Arnold and Polly Slavit Stanley and Janice Goldstein Albert Smith Merrill and Carol Griff Robert Gross and Edie Rosenberg Hella Hakerem Edith Hollender George & Judith Isaac David Smith Martin and Joan Taubman Howard Trachtman Bruce Trager and Jill Stanton Thank you to our Saturday Kiddush Sponsors in December and January Bob Macauley Sylvia Hobbs Mark Frydenberg Brown and Gagnon Families Irving and Sheila Lesnick Ben and Caroline Nudelman Thanks to those who read Torah, Haftarah, or gave a D'var Torah in December and January: Susan Holbert Mark Frydenberg Rabbi David Finkelstein Susan Kane Rabbi Sara Meirowitz Mark Rosenberg Caroline Nudelman Genevieve Fosa Phyllis Werlin Hazzan Yosi Weintraub Esther Keaney Celia Schneider Catherine Cantrell Ted Israel Yaron Shragai Please contact readtorah@tbiwaltham.org to volunteer to read from the Torah or chant a Haftarah, or susan@theindexpros.com if you would like to give a d'var torah in the coming months. 8

9 February Yahrzeits Plaque Loc. Name Date 4-4 Morris Freedman 1-Feb Shevat Dora Dame 1-Feb Shevat 22 Sam Bogan 2-Feb Shevat Gussie Kniznik 2-Feb Shevat 23 Jacob Koocher 3-Feb Shevat Samuel Wolk 3-Feb Shevat Solomon Harris 4-Feb Shevat 25 Ida Kulin 4-Feb Shevat Maurry Furman 5-Feb Shevat Sarah Milesky 6-Feb Shevat Louis Nochemsohn 6-Feb Shevat Sarah M. Freedman 6-Feb Shevat Irving Norman 6-Feb Shevat Florence Lipkin 6-Feb Shevat Dorothy Ullian 6-Feb Shevat Sylvia Weinstein 6-Feb Shevat Mildred Rothbart 8-Feb Shevat Fannie Blackstone 10-Feb Adar I Abigail Decker 10-Feb Adar I Jacob Krinsky 12-Feb Adar I Benson Griff 13-Feb Adar I Harry Canter 13-Feb Adar I Saul G. Ginsburg 14-Feb Adar I Vittal Crevoshay 14-Feb Adar I Ruth Gordon 15-Feb Adar I Jacob Shay 15-Feb Adar I Maurice Katz 15-Feb Adar I Philip Rosenfield 15-Feb Adar I Arthur Nochemsohn 16-Feb Adar I Marsha Goldstein 16-Feb Adar I Minnie Milesky 17-Feb Adar I Harold Katz 19-Feb Adar I Yetta Blackstone 19-Feb Adar I Samuel Margolis 19-Feb Adar I Louis Michelson 19-Feb Adar I Frieda Resnick 20-Feb Adar I David Beecher 20-Feb Adar I 11 Rose Cohen 20-Feb Adar I 11 9 Plaque Loc. Name Date Neil Baker 21-Feb Adar I 12 Marcia Slarskey 21-Feb Adar I Ann Wolf 22-Feb Adar I Joseph Harris 22-Feb Adar I Max Ritter 24-Feb Adar I William Milesky 24-Feb Adar I Philip Shapiro 25-Feb Adar I Edward Gilman 26-Feb Adar I Yetta Fischer 27-Feb Adar I Fannie Beecher 28-Feb Adar I Gertrude Levison 28-Feb Adar I Alex Lietsky 29-Feb Adar I Bernard Sharfman 29-Feb Adar I Sal Araten 2-Mar Adar I Dora Milesky 2-Mar Adar I Jennie Goldberg 2-Mar Adar I 22 Martha Mikelbank 3-Mar Adar I Rose Nussinow 3-Mar Adar I Rose Braverman 5-Mar Adar I Annie Alpert 6-Mar Adar I 26 Sandra Gustin 7-Mar Adar I Rose Wolk 7-Mar Adar I Aaron Greenblott 7-Mar Adar I Harry Wolf 8-Mar Adar I Clara Wiggetman 8-Mar Adar I Bessie Levison 8-Mar Adar I Lena Smith 9-Mar Adar I Aaron Mordecai Smith 9-Mar Adar I 29 Abraham B. Feinsand 9-Mar Adar I Alice Wolf Cohen 9-Mar Adar I 29 If you would like to make a donation in memory of a loved one listed above please send it along with a brief note of who you would like remembered to the Temple Office. If you would like help arranging a minyan so you can say Kaddish in the synagogue, please contact the temple office at least one week prior to their Yahrzeit date.

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11 Temple Beth Israel, Waltham, MA Presents: An Introduction to Israeli Folk Dancing with dance leaders Tzipi and Uri Shragai (from NYC) Sunday, Feb. 21 1:00pm - 3:00pm $5 in advance, $10 at the door, kids free wear clothes that are comfortable for dancing To register, please contact the Temple Beth Israel office: , office@tbiwaltham.org Or send your check to: Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard Street, Waltham, MA Think Spring! What is it about Spring that makes us feel good? Winter is over, the days are longer, the snow shovels are back in storage and it is time for baseball, the All American past-time. It is baseball and the Lowell Spinners that I m thinking about. For the past two years, we have spent a Sunday at the ball park, and I d like to arrange to do it again in For the past two years it has been difficult to find enough sports fans to fill half the bus so TBI does not lose money. If we are to buy tickets to a 2016 Spinners game, I need people to commit now. The program is open to congregants, friends and neighbors as well, and you don t have to be Jewish. Early information includes travel by bus, the date is Sunday August 21 st, the opposing team is the Brooklyn Cyclones, game time is 5:05 PM and the cost will still be $25.00 per ticket. Children under 3 are admitted free. If you would like to enjoy a Spinners baseball game, let me know before March 1, 2016 and tell me how many tickets you ll need. Assuming we get enough interest, we ll put the game on the TBI calendar. Lester Macklin 11

12 Temple Beth Israel stamp 25 Harvard Street Waltham, MA Phone: Website: February 2016 Donate on the web at General Fund High Holiday Donation Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Carl and Caryl Goldstein Siddur Memorial Fund Morris Hollender Torah Reading Fund Children s Services and Programming Other, please specify: Temple Beth Israel Donation Form For your convenience, please use this form to make your donations and send to: Temple Beth Israel, 25 Harvard Street, Waltham, MA I have chosen the fund indicated at the left: (Please use a separate form for each fund. Minimum donation: $10) Attached is my check in the amount of: $ The donation is being made In Honor Of In Memory Of Other This donation is made by: Name: Address: City/State/Zip Please send acknowledgement to: Name: Address: City/State/Zip 12