Tu BiShevat The New Year for Trees. January 4:00 pm Family Hebrew School Seder. RSVP to Shabbat Dinners Jan. 19th, Feb.

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1 Jan/Feb 2018 Volume 81 Number 3 Moshe Saks, Rabbi Vladimir Aronzon, Cantor Louis Nivert, President Jay Schectman, VP Steven Vale, VP Motty Chen, VP Alan Smertz, Treasurer RSVP to Shabbat Dinners Jan. 19th, Feb. 16th, March 16th Purim 7:00 pm Megillah Reading & then Hamentashen! Tu BiShevat The New Year for Trees January 30th@ 4:00 pm Family Hebrew School Seder 918 East Gibson Street, Scranton, PA office@templeisraelscranton.org

2 The following joke came across my desk recently; let me share it with you. One Saturday morning, the Rabbi noticed little David was staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the synagogue. It was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it. The seven-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the Rabbi walked up, stood beside the boy, and said quietly, "Good morning David." Good morning Rabbi," replied the young man, still focused on the plaque. "Rabbi, what is this?" David asked.."well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service." Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Little David's voice was barely audible when he asked, "Which one, the Friday night or the Saturday service? I sometimes feel like that Rabbi. It seems to me that many people can only take so much shul! After they sit for an extended period of time, they must leave the Sanctuary to walk around, go to the bathroom, etc. What I find fascinating is that people can sit for far longer periods when attending a concert, listening to an opera, or screening a movie. Perhaps it s time to realize that we need to make room in our lives for serious contemplation, introspection, and meditation. All of these elements can be found in Jewish Prayer. The difference is that it takes serious devotion it is not entertainment, and we should not try to approach our devotion in that way. I wish that I could say that regular prayer is an answer to all of our problems. It s not but it is a beginning. Try it you ll like it! And while I m talking about shul - let me remind you that there is a lot more going on, in addition to our Services. Adult Ed classes are going on; Simcha Shabbat now includes the Cantor and Choir chanting Musaf; Our Torah Tots and Mechina classes are going strong. So much happening be a part of it! \ Sunday Breakfast & Learn with Rabbi Saks 9: :00 Jan. 14 th What happens in Israel stays in Israel Feb. 11 th The Future of Judaism in America March 11 th Passover University M eeting Schedule Board of Directors Wed, Feb. 14, Wed, March 14 Wed, April 11, Tues, May 9 Wed, June 6 Annual Meeting Wed., June 20th Meetings held in Levy 7:00 pm Days and times are subject to change due to weather and/or conflicts. Reminders will be ed. Honorable Menschens Todah Rabah to: Victoria Geyfman for chairing the Hanukkah celebration & Alma Shaffer for arranging the delicious meal. Thank you for all your hard work! Ann & Ed Monsky for donating Mensch on the Bench for our Hanukkah raffle, in memory of Ann s mother Edie Lebowitz. Rabbi & Meira for sponsoring the Dec. 30th Kiddush Cantor & Mila Aronzon and Sheryl & Seth Gross for sponsoring the Jan. 13th kiddush Ronald Laster for sponsoring the Jan. 27th kiddush Our members who enriched our services by reading Torah or chanting Haftarah: Louis Nivert, Stephanie Douglass, Henry Litvak, Murray Glick, Jay Schectman, Miriam Litvak, Vera Platt & Seth Gross. If you would like to join the Yad Squad please contact Cantor Aronzon. 2

3 Kiddush sponsored by Ronald Laster 5:59p Shabbat ends 4:53p Candle lighting 21 5 Shevat Rosh Chodesh Shevat 9: :00 What happens in Israel stays in Israel Shabbat Dinner Sponsored by Robert H. Spitz Foundation Grant RSVP by the 16th! 5:50p Shabbat ends :45p Candle lighting BOD 7:00 pm 12 4:37p Candle lighting Tevet Parashat Va era 5:42p Shabbat ends Simcha Shabbat sponsored by Mila & Cantor Aronzon & Sheryl & Seth Gross Mincha/Maariv: Mon Fri - Tues, Wed, Fri - 7:25 am Shacharit: Mon & Thurs - 7:15 am Parashat Shemot 5:34p Shabbat ends Mincha after Kidush Shabbat Service : 9:30 am 4:29p Candle lighting Unless otherwise noted: 17 Tevet 19 Tevet January 2018/ Tevet-Shevat Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3

4 Shevat 5:11p Candle lighting Shevat Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday February 2018/ Shevat-Adar 5778 Unless otherwise noted: Shabbat Service : 9:30 am Mincha after Kidush Shacharit: Mon & Thurs - 7:15 am Tues, Wed, Fri - 7:25 am Mincha/Maariv: Mon Fri :00 10:00 The Future of Judaism in America BOD 7:00 pm Fast of Esther Megillah 7:00 pm 15 Rosh Chodesh Adar 5:02p Candle Lighting 16 5:20p Candle lighting Rosh Chodesh Adar Shabbat Dinner Sponsored by Robert H. Spitz Foundation Grant RSVP by Feb 13th 5:28p Candle lighting Parashat Yitro 6:07p Shabbat ends 6:16p Shabbat ends Simcha Shabbat 6:25p Shabbat ends 24 6:33p Shabbat ends 4

5 We recently finished celebrating one of our most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar: the holiday of lights-hanukkah. Before our next major holidays of Purim and Passover there will be another very important holiday: Tu B Shevat( The New Year of Trees). This holiday occurs on the 15th day of Shevat. Special customs and observances are related to this holiday. One is to eat a new fruit on this day another is to plant trees. In the 16th century a tradition developed to make a Seder similar to the Passover Seder. This custom spread primarily in Sephardic communities, however, in modern times it has gained more attention among Ashkenazi. Basically you set up your table like for Passover: a nice new tablecloth, quality dishes, a vase of flowers, wine and a grape juice. The main custom of the Seder is you must fulfill the Mitzvah of drinking four full cups of wine and eat four fruits for the first time since Rosh Hoshanah. My family and I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy & Healthy New Year Reminiscing is so delightful! - This was submitted to us by Joyce Basch. Joyce thought many of our congregants would have fond memories of Junior Congregation. 5

6 Contributions Prayer Book Fund Norman H Hollander Memorial Fund Levy Hall Fund Elaine Bernstein Temple Beautification Fund Sara Morris Mitzvah Fund Irving & Fraydel Eisentat Leadership Development Fund Harry & Marion Nivert Programming Fund Michael L. & Sara R. Goodman Fund Happiness Fund Temple Israel Preservation Fund Temple Fund 6

7 Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Yahrzeit Donations to Temple Fund Birthdays Rosalie Engelmyer 1/3 Geri Berg 1/3 Seth Linker 1/4 Barbara Nivert 1/5 Lee Hollenberg 1/6 Jill Linder 1/6 Jay Okun 1/9 Tiffany Griffiths 1/9 Louis Kahanowitz 1/11 Meira Saks 1/11 Nancy Wimmer 1/13 Fred Levy 1/15 Gloria Jurkowitz 1/19 Audrey Kaufman 1/19 Seth Gross 1/20 Fran Steinberger 1/21 Rhonda Sugarman 1/26 Rochelle Garber 1/26 Steven Vale 1/28 Judy Warshal 1/28 Sheryl Gross 1/30 Leagrams Birthdays Murray Glick 2/1 Robert Land 2/3 Charlene Scott 2/8 Melvyn Wolk 2/10 Ann Monsky 2/11 Kenneth Green 2/13 David Adler 2/14 Mildred Davis 2/16 David Garber 2/21 Cynthia Farber 2/22 Mary Wolk 2/23 Nancy Silverberg 2/23 Harriet Brotter 2/24 Alan Goldstein 2/25 Paulette Okun 2/28 Laurel Glassman 3/2 David Kessler 3/2 Joyce Douglass 3/5 Marsha Glick 3/6 Rochelle Spizer 3/7 Nina Silverman 3/10 Anniversaries Paul & Margery Rosenberg 1/3 Howard & Rochelle Spizer 1/18 Cantor & Mila Aronzon 1/23 Herbert & Lee Hollenberg 1/27 Karen & Robert Pollack 3/19 Stacy & Aaron Nivert 3/27 Jennifer Gell 3/11 Ruth Hollander 3/13 Paula Demerer 3/15 Samuel Green 3/16 Michele Smertz 3/18 Gail Ufberg 3/28 Donald Bernstein 3/28 Stanley Goldberg 3/30 Gail Myers 3/30 Send anniversary and/or birthday greetings. One Leagram is $1.00 used for multiple listings. Please send cash or check payable to Temple Israel Sisterhood to: Shelly Garber /501 Pine Street, Apt. 911 Scranton, PA Total amount enclosed is: $ ($1 per name circled) 7

8 @ Funded by a generous grant from the The Robert H. Spitz Foundation our Community Shabbat Dinners resume in 2018! Please save the dates January 19th, February 16th, & March 16th There is no charge for the dinners funded by the Robert H. Spitz Foundation. Donations will be gladly accepted and greatly appreciated giving us the opportunity and means to schedule future dinners while keeping the cost affordable for all! If you would like to make a donation please call the office Transportation is available for our congregants who would like to attend services, dinners, meetings and other synagogue sponsored events & educational programs. Please call the office for more information. Funded by the Al Brauner Fund 8