The Shofar. 3 Tevet - 4 Shevat, Happy New Year

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1 January, 2017 Congregation House of Israel 3 Tevet - 4 Shevat, 5777 Happy New Year

Thank You We would like to thank the following donors (as of December 20, 2016) General Fund Fred Korngut In memory of his aunt, Katie Fielschmidt In memory of his father, Adolph Korngut Michael and

org Editors: David Kirsch, Shelly Kleinman Webmaster: Shelly Kleinman Editorial Assistance: Anita Williams Email to: info@hschi.org Submissions due the 15th of the prior month.

2 Thank You We would like to thank the following donors (as of December 20, 2016) General Fund Fred Korngut In memory of his aunt, Katie Fielschmidt In memory of his father, Adolph Korngut Michael and Sharon Waxler In memory of his mother, Bernice Waxler Rachel Schulman In memory of her father, David Reagler Steven and Clarissa Kirsch in memory of Lynn Kirsch, Steven s first wife Shelly and Carol Kleinman In memory of Carol s sister, Alyce Brand Hal and Sue Koppel In memory of Sue s father, David Wigderson Sisterhood Fund Larry and Carol Levi In memory of Louise Levi Published monthly by: Congregation House of Israel PO Box Quapaw Hot Springs, AR (501) Website: Editors: David Kirsch, Shelly Kleinman Webmaster: Shelly Kleinman Editorial Assistance: Anita Williams to: info@hschi.org Submissions due the 15th of the prior month. Distributed free to members, prospective members, local clergy and other interested parties. Sisterhood Mazel Tov If you missed our December Sisterhood meeting, you really missed a great time of Sisterhood sharing. Everyone brought their own lunch (no cooks in the kitchen) and I know there was lots of sharing going on among our members. Sisterhood is about much more than meeting and planning activities. It s about friendship and comraderie. Even if you can t make all of our meetings, we hope you ll try to join us for some. They are a fun way to visit with old friends and make new ones -- not to mention the lovely lunches we take turns preparing. Didn t we have fun at our annual Chanukah Dinner! In addition to latkes (prepared by Chairperson, Karen Reagler and her mighty band of helpers), we had a spaghetti chicken casserole, pot luck AND a make our own sundae dessert. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. The next Sisterhood meeting will be on Monday, January 2nd. Y all come. The Sisterhood will be hosting the Oneg on February 17th, the day before Tillie and Louis Bat and Bar Mitzvah. Patti Fleischner will be in charge of organizing the food. That s all for now. Page 2 Introducing 2 week old Stormy Ray Smith, granddaughter of our new Sisterhood member Lori Lewis, and great-granddaughter of our new congregation members Myrna and Shep Taxer. Myrna is also a new member of Sisterhood. Stormy and her parents live in Florida

Davar A Matter for Discussion What will the year 2017 bring the world?

Whatever our moods, we are obligated to persevere in performing good deeds, in making the world a little better place than it is now. So.

Ironically, that agenda is making sure the original agenda of the United States -- assuring the rights of minorities to exist on an equal footing with ourselves -- is once more embraced and

3 Davar A Matter for Discussion What will the year 2017 bring the world? It s not a particularly Jewish question, but to disregard the secular new year would be the equivalent of sticking our heads in the sand. Judaism demands the opposite perspective. Whatever our moods, we are obligated to persevere in performing good deeds, in making the world a little better place than it is now. So...despite some public signs to the contrary, I m assuming once again the mantle of optimism. The religious world has a major agenda in America. Ironically, that agenda is making sure the original agenda of the United States -- assuring the rights of minorities to exist on an equal footing with ourselves -- is once more embraced and re-secured. Too many people in our country feel disenfranchised; others are simply disaffected. What is needed is a renewed commitment to the ideals espoused by our Judeo-Christian heritage as well as the leaders of our great country, past and present, to right a ship that has lost its moral compass. During December our Fellowship of Clergy in Hot Springs met and vowed to be more vigilant in supporting programs that will promote goodwill among all the residents of our land. In that regard, and in the spirit of Interfaith programs, I have invited Rev. Gregory Nettles, Pastor of the AME Church, to join us on our pulpit for a Friday night in February during Black History Month. I know that this will be a program that our entire congregation will want to support. May Jeanne and I wish all our friends at CHI a happy and healthy Thank You from James and Marie! We want to thank the CHI Family for such a beautiful card and lovely gift. You all show so much love and our heats are so touched. We truly love every one of you. From the President The Board of Congregation House of Israel (CHI) is recommending that at the annual congregational meeting on Sunday, January 22, 2017, the congregation votes to keep Rabbi Richard Chapin as our fulltime Rabbi through the end of June I am up for election as President of our Congregation and have asked Ira Kleinman, David Reagler, and Susan Siegel to become board members. Ira, David, and Susan will be replacing Yossi Baron, Michael Waxler, and Anita Williams who are going off the board. I am asking the members of CHI to vote for us. Members of CHI have indicated they want to have a fulltime Rabbi. However, CHI s biggest expense is the cost of keeping a Rabbi. The board of CHI has recommended that each family membership give at least two percent of their adjusted gross income or a minimum of six hundred dollars per year in dues. The congregation needs to understand the seriousness of our situation. Currently, the total amount collected from membership dues covers only fifty-six percent of the Rabbi s total cost. The remainder, plus all other congregational expenses, including utilities, housekeeping, maintenance, security (and everything else) needs to be paid from our reserves or other sources. Although Rabbi Chapin has agreed to a sizable reduction in his next compensation package, there is still a substantial shortfall between what is collected in dues and his salary, as well as normal congregational expenses. After June 2017, the membership dues at current level will cover seventy-seven percent of the Rabbi s total cost. This does not include the other costs of our temple or our two cemeteries. To make up the shortages, we are depending on funding from our dwindling reserve fund and two outside sources: Levi Hospital and an individual connected Continued on page 6 Page 3

4 ARZA - World Union Taking Back the Z: Why Zionism Isn t Just for Right Wing Jews By Josh Weinberg This past Shabbat, Noam Rotem wrote a thoughtful article in +972, calling for Israelis and Jews to say goodbye to Zionism. Contrary to the position of our organization and movement, to Rotem, Zionism is an empty slogan, used only to grant Jews rights over non-jews, and that we should abandon its use as a word and as an ideology. In many ways, this would be the easy solution for progressive Jews seeking peace, democracy and respect for human rights, and wishing to distance themselves from ideologies and policies with which they staunchly disagree. Polling by Frank Luntz, a longtime Republican messaging guru, has shown that the word Zionism evokes deeply negative responses on the left and is associated strictly with a right-wing, exclusionary platform. Meanwhile, the environment in Israel seems to become less open to principled dissent all the time, from the NGO bill to Hagai El-Ad. I feel this issue strongly when I introduce myself as president of The Association of Reform Zionists of America and see people cringe at the Z word. But -isms are always in some sense empty slogans. They are boxes of competing and contradictory principles, into which individuals, groups and leaders can pour their political platforms. Zionism has no more inherent meaning than patriotism or Judaism or socialism. American patriotism and the words of the Founding Fathers can be equally used to justify the savage oppressions of white supremacy as the cry for freedom of the Civil Rights Movement. Socialism, depending on who you ask, is both the horrors of Soviet gulags and the democratic demands of Bernie Sanders campaign. Page 4 Zionism means what we make it mean. The right of the Jewish people to self-determination as much argues for assertive support of a Palestinian right to the same as perpetual Israeli rule over the occupied territories. A Jewish state does not only mean a state based on Halakha or a Jewishmajority state, but a state that is Or Le Goyim, a moral beacon of democracy and justice for the world. Zionism can mean Occupation or liberation: the choice is ours. Progressive values are not foreign to Zionism: they are the values that liberal and left-wing Zionists, from David Ben-Gurion to Yitzhak Rabin, expounded, and are the values we represent today. Every day, we help redefine what Judaism means in the Jewish state, fighting for an egalitarian, pluralistic and participatory vision of Jewish life that is connected both to the words of the Sages and to the modern world. The Israeli Reform Movement held 65 minyanim this past High Holidays season, and we see surging demand every year. Every day, we are TAKING BACK THE Z to make Zionism about building a great nation even while recognizing our imperfections and fighting to change what needs to be changed: the exclusion of non-orthodox Jews from religious life, the soaring gap between rich and poor, discrimination against LGBT Israelis, women, Mizrahim, Ethiopian Jews and Arab citizens of Israel, and the Occupation. Meanwhile, while there is not clear polling on what percentage of Jews consider themselves to be Zionists, among North American Jews, a clear majority feel that a strong connection to Israel is a vital part of their Jewish identity. And if the makeup of the Knesset is anything to go by, Israeli Jews overwhelmingly identify as Zionists. We cannot cede the term to those who would make Zionism an ideology of exclusion. If the choice for Jews becomes abandoning Jewish nationhood or abandoning our moral foundations as a people to lift up the downtrodden, welcome the stranger and fight for freedom, we are truly lost. We should join hands and work to rescue Zionism, to reclaim it for our values of democracy, pluralism, and equality. That love of Israel demands honesty and a commitment to the continuation of building a morally exceptional society. Saying goodbye to Zionism is no choice at all: we should cry out We are Zionists instead, and fight to make sure Zionism is something that makes us proud. Rabbi Josh Weinberg is the President of ARZA, the Association of Reform Zionists of America. He was ordained from the HUC-JIR Israeli Rabbinic Program in Jerusalem, and is currently living in New York.

B nai Mitzvah Louis and Tillie Reagler Life and Legacy CHI and JFAR (Jewish Federation of Arkansas) are partners in a program to secure commitments for after-life gifts for our Congregation.

We then have another one year period to secure an additional 18 Letters to receive the second (and final) $5,000 incentive gift. No funds are currently requested.

There are no minimums, no contracts-just a signature on the Letter of Intent.

and serve in a number of capacities and functions for our Congregation. The couple lives in Arkadelphia and make the long drive for services, functions, meetings, programs, etc.

5 B nai Mitzvah Louis and Tillie Reagler Life and Legacy CHI and JFAR (Jewish Federation of Arkansas) are partners in a program to secure commitments for after-life gifts for our Congregation. We have received Letters of Intent from several couples/ individuals, but must receive a total of 18 by March, 2017, to receive JFAR s monetary incentive of $5,000 for CHI. We then have another one year period to secure an additional 18 Letters to receive the second (and final) $5,000 incentive gift. No funds are currently requested. JFAR requires a donor to sign the Letter stating he/ she will include CHI as a beneficiary in a Will, Trust, account, or life insurance policy. There are no minimums, no contracts-just a signature on the Letter of Intent. This month we are recognizing one couple, Dennis and Anita Williams, and one individual, Sally Nicolosi, who made their commitments: Dennis and Anita Williams are long-time, devoted members of CHI, and serve in a number of capacities and functions for our Congregation. The couple lives in Arkadelphia and make the long drive for services, functions, meetings, programs, etc., and all without a complaint! A proud grandpa, David Reagler z l with Louis and Tillie (at a somewhat earlier time). Tillie and Louis Reagler will be called to the Torah on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 5 pm. CHI members are invited to join the family in celebrating this special time as Tillie and Louis begin their trek as Jewish adults. Dennis and Anita serve on CHI s Religious Education Board, although they have no children enrolled, due to their commitment to education. Anita best summed up their involvement when she stated, We see the children along with their parents as our extended family. Education is one of the 613 Commandments (Deuteronomy Chapter 6). Sally Nicolosi was raised in CHI with her brother, Ian. She presently resides in Austin, Texas and will begin her Masters Program in Pathology in the Spring, attending Quinnipiac University. Sally attended religious school and services from early childhood through high school graduation, and had both her Confirmation and Bat Mitzvah at CHI. Sally is fond of saying that she and Ian had at least 20 sets of grandparents growing up in CHI! Her commitment through her Letter of Intent will ensure the next generations will have the opportunity to learn and love Judaism. To learn more, contact an L & L team member, Karen Reagler, Sherrill Nicolosi, or Stuart Fleischner. Page 5

6 Congregation House of Israel Board of Directors Rabbi Richard Chapin Stuart Fleischner, President Dennis Williams, Vice President Hal Koppel, Treasurer Anita Williams, Secretary Barbara Morgan Sue Koppel, Sisterhood Yossi Baron Steven Kirsch Michael Waxler Patti Fleischner David Kirsch Jerry Tanenbaum, ARZA-World Union Mary Klompus, Immediate Past President Birthdays & Anniversaries January Anniversaries Hal and Sue Koppel Jan 12 January Birthdays Carol Levi Jan 5 Ross Sedler Jan 8 Sharon Ball Jan 16 Carli and Chris Baker Jan 23 Kay Fleischner Jan 27 Oneg Sponsors Thank you to the following for sponsoring an Oneg during the month of January: Jan 6 Jan 13 Jan 20 Louis and Betty Kleinman Betty Forshberg Stuart and Kay Fleischner Ira and Stephanie Kleinman Anthony and Sherrill Nicolosi David and Karen Reagler Jan 27 David and Cheryl Cohen Mick Stoyanov and Millie Baron Reminder: If you are scheduled for an upcoming Oneg and need to change dates, please find someone to switch with and then let Ruth Sedler know so the information printed in the bulletin will be correct. From the President Continued from Page 3 with Levi Towers. Depletion of our reserves puts the stability of the entire congregation in jeopardy. CHI desperately needs your help. I know what it is to be on a fixed income, since my household has a fixed income. As we examine our year end spending, consider dues and contributions, which are tax deductible. Please help to keep us afloat, and consider increasing what you give to CHI. Page 6

January Yahrzeits Kaddish Recited January 6 David Wigderson Father of Sue Koppel and Ellen Eubanks Percy Creim Uncle of Joanne Reagler Ruth Gerber Mother of Elaine Gartenberg Sam Karnofsky Uncle of

Father of Jerry Tanenbaum Walter Kleinman Father of Louis Kleinman Kaddish Recited on January 13 Harry Sedler Father of Ross Sedler Martin Fleischner Father of Stuart Fleischner and Mark Fleischner

7 January Yahrzeits Kaddish Recited January 6 David Wigderson Father of Sue Koppel and Ellen Eubanks Percy Creim Uncle of Joanne Reagler Ruth Gerber Mother of Elaine Gartenberg Sam Karnofsky Uncle of Joanne Reagler Mona Goltz Grandfather of Susan Siegel and Diane Goltz Bernard J. Tanenbaum, Sr. Father of Jerry Tanenbaum Walter Kleinman Father of Louis Kleinman Kaddish Recited on January 13 Harry Sedler Father of Ross Sedler Martin Fleischner Father of Stuart Fleischner and Mark Fleischner David Reagler Husband of Joanne Reagler and father of David D. Reagler and Rachel Schulman Kaddish Recited on January 20 Dorothy Savel Grandmother of David Cohen Eric B. Wolken Brother of Brad Wolken Ida Cooper Ruskin Mother of Phyllis Hearn Pauline Brown Aunt of Betty Forshberg Lois Ginsburg Mother of Millie Baron Norma Mendel Wife of Lenny Mendel Beatrice Zibrack Mother of Sharon Ball Kaddish Recited on January 27 Julius Friedman Father of Paula Alan Fanny Fielschmidt Grandmother of Fred Korngut Belle Freidman Mother of Paula Alan Elsa Greenwald Mother of Jodi Chalmers Rose Schewe ( shoe ) Mother of Richard Alan William Holtzmann Father-in-law of Fred Korngut Paul Forshberg Husband of Betty Forshberg Caroline Suhl Grandmother of Michael Waxler George Z. Ginsburg Grandfather of Millie Baron Leslie Leviton Brother-in-law of Joanne Reagler Sarah S. Levine Grandmother of Cynthia Rephan Helena Peterson Mother of Cheryl Cohen Page 7

8 Weekly Parshiot Page 8

The Shofar. Westley Huttner Kleinman. Bar Mitzvah December 22, See more photos on page 3

The Shofar. Westley Huttner Kleinman. Bar Mitzvah December 22, See more photos on page 3 January, 2019 Congregation House of Israel 24 Tevet - 25 Shevat, 5779 Westley Huttner Kleinman Bar Mitzvah December 22, 2018 See more photos on page 3 Thank You We would like to thank the following donors