DECEMBER 2015 THE SHOFAR

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1 TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA DECEMBER 2015 THE SHOFAR Friends, We have entered the Jewish month of Kislev, the month in which Chanukah falls. It is a little known fact that the first Chanukah was actually a delayed observance of Sukkot. While Sukkot is a day of Thanksgiving, the word Chanukah actually means dedication, as it celebrated the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the Hasmonaen (Maccabee) revolt. In the past year we, the Temple Beth El community, have dedicated ourselves to the renewal of the community life at the Temple. We have joined together for potluck dinners, Torah study, lunch and Learn, Shabbat and Festival worship and celebration. We have showed up for each other in times of joy and sorrow, and have looked after each other in times of sickness and need. I am regularly moved by the ways in which the community and its members have stepped up to take care of each other and to refresh our commitment to the Temple and the life inside it. Chanukah this year begins on the night of December 6 th. This Jewish Festival of Lights resonates with other ancient solstice festivals, a time when we light lights in the deepest darkness of short winter days. Chanukah, however, carries an additional and deeper meaning. It celebrates a time when Jews overcame enemies who would have had us surrender Judaism. It reminds us that religious freedom is a tremendous gift, one that, since that first Chanukah, we have never had outside of our lives in America. At a time when so many Jews, Christians, Muslims and others around the world are not free to practice their religion as they choose, let s remember as we light our Chanukah lights to be proud of our Judaism, and grateful for the opportunity to practice it in freedom. This Chanukah mindfulness practice of remembering and appreciation calls us to sit with the Chanukah lights once we have lit them; to practice gratitude and awareness for some (or all) of the time that it takes our candles to burn on each (or as many as possible) of the eight nights of Chanukah. These moments give us eight opportunities to engage in thankfulness and appreciation for all that we are given. Rather than light our candles and walk away, this mindfulness practice invites us to spend a moment with ourselves and/or our loved ones. We can even ask some questions during this time: what am I (or you) grateful for? What do I have that I appreciate? What hidden light inside myself is calling to be nurtured or encouraged to shine? What light can I bring to the world that will help make it a better place? We will celebrate Shabbat as a community on Friday night December 4 th at 7:30 PM. We will celebrate Shabbat Chanukah on Friday night December 11 th at 7:30 PM, preceded by a Chanukah potluck dinner at 6:00 PM. Please do join us! There will be a special gift of 3D Chanukah glasses, latkes, dreidles and Chanukah gelt to enjoy, not to mention the most important part of all the warmth of our community and the companionship of being a part of it. Please do join us! It is not too late to join us for Judaism 101 Lunch and Learn! You can attend on a drop-in basis, for as many or as few sessions as you like. This course of study introduces our sacred calendar, Jewish life cycle rituals, the sweep of Jewish history, thought, literature, and more. It is geared for Jews, non-jews with Jewish partners, and those considering the possibility of becoming Jewish. Please reach out to folks who you feel fit this description, and/or contact me if you would like a copy of the syllabus or class handouts. This month we will meet on Saturday December 5 th and 12 th from noon 2 PM. Please bring a meat-free, shellfish free lunch. Torah Study meets this month at 9:00 am on Saturday December 5 th and 12 th. As always, please don t hesitate to reach out to me at rabbimollykarp@gmail.com at any time or for any reason. Kol tuv (all the good), Rabbi Molly Karp

2 President s column By now, all readers of The Shofar surely have heard about Temple Beth El s very moving 80 th anniversary celebration held on November 20, For those who attended, it was a special night that included a potluck dinner, Friday night Shabbat service, Robin Seletsky s beautiful arrangement of the Shema, a performance of Bernstein s Chichester Psalms, stories from a few of our members, and another opportunity to gather for food and conversation at our vast dessert oneg table. The night included elements of Jewish life from antiquity through modernity. We began with a regular Friday night service which included prayers and liturgy that are thousands of years old, and moved on to modern Jewish music composed by Leonard Bernstein, a great Jewish-American figure in this nation s musical tradition. Temple Beth El has long served as a Jewish cultural center for the larger Oneonta community, so this event was only one of many that we shared with our neighbors. Our mission to open our doors as wide as possible is shared by most members, and it is this spirit that makes us valued in the community. But like all other religious institutions doing their best to survive in an economy and historical period where houses of worship are suffering, our Board of Trustees has concerns about Temple Beth El s future. In Oneonta, we have seen neighboring churches close. Our synagogue s longevity is the result of the sacrifice and commitment of those who volunteer their time and money to keep Temple Beth El strong. We do not have an endowment, corporate sponsor, silent partner, or generous benefactor underwriting us. In fact, we have none of those. We survive by the generosity of spirit and financial support of our members. And to be clear, we need every bit of support of we can get. Temple Beth El s financial state has been challenged due to a long-term, steady loss of members, plus the consistent dues reductions requested by a large percent of our members. This is not a complaint since we all understand hardship, but an admission of our financial status. Thankfully, during the past year, our membership has begun to climb ever so slowly and steadily. As president, I am charged with the unspoken expectation that I will point our synagogue on a course that will keep us flourishing for another 80 years. I am trying to do this, but I am not able to do it alone. During my Yom Kippur address, I spoke about the need for us to think about future Jewish generations in Oneonta, not merely our short-term future. This requires help, a lot of help. If visited by a Jewish genie, I would make three wishes: 1. Members, 2. Money, and 3. Participation. Nothing is more important than members. Without members we have no heart and soul. However, membership does not always correlate with financial security, so we need money. Our synagogue family cannot thrive without the financial support required to offer services and programs, therefore, participation is improved with both of these. As many would agree, when we are feeling the need to recharge our Jewish batteries, nothing is more satisfying than a large, happy gathering of Temple members. Until that genie shows up, I must ask for your support to make another 80 years possible. Whether you can help with membership, money, or participation, please do help. We really need you. Ken Oneonta Interfaith Thanksgiving service was a success The annual Interfaith Thanksgiving event was held at the Church of Latter Day Saints in West Oneonta this year. Robin Seletsky participated with her clarinet and Hollie Jaffe read from the psalms. Over $350 was raised to donate to the local food banks and pantries, along with non-perishable food items. 2

3 Temple Beth El s 80th Anniversary Celebration On Friday, November 20, our sanctuary was filled to capacity with Temple members and people from the Oneonta community, assembled for one reason: Temple Beth El s 80 th anniversary celebration. This special event began with a crowded potluck dinner in the social hall and was followed by a regular Friday night service led by Rabbi Karp. To share reminiscences of Temple Beth El s history, Bunny Joseph, Howard Joseph (his remarks, expanded, follow), and Faye Munson all told stories about their experiences as Temple members spanning the past 50 years. The highlight of the event was the participation of the 55-member SUNY Oneonta Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, conducted by Tim Newton, who filled our bimah. Robin Seletsky, Temple Beth El s music director, composed and conducted a beautiful musical setting of the Shema with Chamber Singers, and the evening concluded with the 55- member SUNY Oneonta Concert Choir and Chamber Singers performing Leonard Bernstein s Chichester Psalms in Hebrew. Having a large choir with a boy soprano plus two pianists and a percussionist in the sanctuary was quite an experience for all in attendance. The event concluded with a beautiful oneg provided by our members. Photo by Sandy Shertzer 3

4 Temple Beth El s 80th Anniversary By Howard Joseph 4

5 About The Chichester Psalms, performed at our 80th Anniversary Leonard Bernstein composed his Chichester Psalms in the spring of 1965, near the end of his sabbatical year while Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. The Dean of Chichester Cathedral, near England's south coast, had commissioned a work for Salisbury, Winchester, and Chichester with a suggestion of Psalm 2 as a text. Dean Walter Hussey instructed Bernstein that he had complete freedom to write a piece of any length using whatever forces he desired, and of any length appropriate to the commission. Bernstein intended his sabbatical year to be filled with composing new works, and though a musical with Adolph Green and Betty Comden had been planned, little music was actually completed. Bernstein experimented with new systems of composition, with experimental harmonies of modern composers and especially 12-tone serial music, and yet by April, he had retreated to sounds that were more reminiscent of those used in West Side Story and his Kaddish Symphony. For the New York Times, he penned this verse describing his threemovement setting of Psalm verses: For hours on end I brooded and mused On materiae musicae, used and abused; On aspects of unconventionality, Over the death in our time of tonality... Pieces for nattering, clucking sopranos With squandrons of vibraphones, fleets of pianos Played with the forearms, the fists and the palms-- And then I came up with the Chichester Psalms....My youngest child, old-fashioned and sweet. And he stands on his own two tonal feet. Highlights of Bernstein's inspired musical craft occur in the brash introductory statement of tuning harps and lyres imitating the strummed open strings, the use of 7-beat measures to capture the joy of temple worship, the shepherd boy's innocence reflected in singing Psalm 23, prominently scored for two harps in the full orchestra version, and the final movement's pensive humility in the chorus after a statement of struggle and suffering in the orchestra, followed by a final benediction prayerfully chanting how good it is for brothers to dwell in peace. There are only a handful of Hebrew-texted pieces that have found a permanent place on the concert stages around the world. Bernstein's uplifting and propelling Chichester Psalms is one of the most prominent. The celebration of Temple Beth El's anniversary offered the perfect opportunity to receive the message of the Chichester Psalms on its golden anniversary. With our contemporary world events, the poignancy of Bernstein's settings of such important psalms further underscore how fortunate the community of Oneonta is, as it dwells in peace with one another. Shalom, Tim Newton Associate Professor of Music, SUNY College at Oneonta 5

6 Yahrzeit List for December 2015 December 4 10 (22-28 Kislev) December (29 Kislev 5 Tevet) Sidney Schlussler Shirley Daniels Rosen Charles Felix Anna Krohn Gloria Yakrus Benjamin Williams Marvin Pincus George Adler Jacob Weisinger Jacob Grossman Rena Messer Edward Puritz December (6-12 Tevet) December 25 December 31 (13-19 Tevet) Meyer J. Cohen Paul Drogen Diane D. Elgart Rae Mandell Bialosky Sol Charles Lazarus Sarah Preiser Morris Hambourger Israel Goldman Rose Wagner Schoenfeld Abraham Krohn Abraham Rosen May they always be remembered for a blessing. MEN S CLUB BREAKFAST Men s Club breakfast will be held on Sunday December 20th at 10 a.m. in the social hall. MEMBER NEWS Welcome to new member Gary and Nichola Segal and their daughter Simmone Welcome to new member Sandy Shertzer Mazal tov on the marriage of Ohad Shem Tov and Joanna We note that on September 27th, former member Barbara Gilbert was the victim of an assault, and after surgery and rehab, is recovering at home. Her Jewish community of Temple Israel Binghamton comforted and supported her during this ordeal. 6

7 THANK YOU FOR DONATIONS TO TEMPLE BETH EL Donations in memory of Shep Friedman: John and Theresa Gschwendtner, Susan M. Gschwendtner Thank you to Sandy Shertzer for his photos of the synagogue and 80th anniversary event on Nov 20th, one of which you can see on page 3. Thanks to Irene Weinberg for sponsoring the oneg on December 4th in memory of her mother, Gloria Yakrus. THANK YOU LORD S TABLE VOLUNTEERS Thanks to Deb Marcus, Gary Preiser and Lynda Preiser for helping out at Lord s Table in November. It was a busy night we served 60 dinners. Our next session is on Thursday, December 10th from 4-6:30 pm. Please contact Hollie Jaffe at hjjaffe@hotmail.com for information. RABBI MOLLY KARP S ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES FOLLOWING 9 a.m. TORAH STUDY Torah study is interactive. No preparation required we read the weekly portion together. December Lunch and Learn - Judaism 101 for Adults If you are coming for the first time, Bring a dairy or vegetarian brown bag lunch or a dish to share. December 5th 12:00-2:00 pm December 12th 12:00-2:00 pm Good Deeds and Jewish Learning Chanukah Rabbi Karp can be reached at rabbimollykarp@gmail.com for a syllabus and readings, or for more information. Shabbat Torah Study: Saturday mornings before services, 9:00-10:30-ish. Services at 10:30ish. Chesed Committee The Chesed Committee provides help and support to Temple members in times of need and in times of joy. Anne Green and Bernadette Winters Bell are available to offer support. REMINDER IF YOU BUY ANYTHING ON AMAZON.COM, Please go to the Temple s Webpage to order. A percentage of what you spend comes back to the temple SO LONG AS you enter through (and don t leave) the TBE webpage. 7

8 MEMBER AND SUPPORTER BUSINESSES In case of emergency Rabbi Karp is not reachable via on Shabbat and festivals. To reach her in the event of a rabbinic emergency, or in the case of an urgent need on Shabbat, please contact Temple Beth El's President, Ken Sider at or ksider@hotmail.com. At all other times, you can reach Rabbi Karp at rabbimollykarp@gmail.com. In the event of a death, please contact Steve Feuer, at TEMPLE BETH EL WEBSITE ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY Please contact Susan Carbone at susanrcarbone@gmail.com for more information about this FREE service for members. 8

9 Thanks, Dr. Neal Schultz! Purchase any products from BeautyRX. The profits from all purchases from Temple members will be donated to the Temple. Just go to redeem it by applying code "tbeth" in the shopping cart or checkout page. Or call beautyrx -that s , thank you. 9

10 Temple Beth El Shofar published by TEMPLE BETH EL PO Box 383 Oneonta, NY Chestnut Street Rabbi Molly Karp 607/ (synagogue) Rabbi Emeritus Donald Neil Roberts December 2015 Kislev/Tevet 5776 OFFICERS Ken Sider President Howie Gelbsman Vice President Hollie Jaffe Secretary Anne Green Treasurer Immed. Past Pres. SAVE THE DATES December 4th services at 7:30. We will welcome the First United Methodist Church s confirmation class. December 6th Light the first Chanukah light. December 11th Come celebrate the Festival of Lights with us. Chanukah Pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. Howie and Jeff Gelbsman will be making their delicious latkes. Please RSVP to Alice Lichtenstein at lichtensteina@hartwick.edu or to Stephanie Bauer at or mbauer@stny.rr.com. Friday night services to follow at 7:30. Bring your own menorah, candles, and matches and we will light the candles together. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rick Weinberg Robert Garfield Susan Carbone Stephanie Bauer Steven Feuer Men s Club President Irene Weinberg Sisterhood Robin Seletsky Music Director Hollie Jaffe Hebrew School Director Temple Beth El PO Box 383 Oneonta, NY