The Scroll. January Tevet 15 Shevat, 5778 Published Monthly Vol. 11 Issue # 1. From the Desk of Rabbi Blatt:

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1 The Scroll Celebrating 25 years in our spiritual home CONGREGATION SHAARA TFILLE 84 Weibel Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY Phone: Fax: January Tevet 15 Shevat, 5778 Published Monthly Vol. 11 Issue # 1 CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY 1 New Year s Day 2 Board Meeting... 6:00 pm 7 Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class... 10:00 am 9 Sisterhood Meeting... 6:00 pm Book Group 14 Synagogue Breakfast... 9:30 am Adult Ed... 10:00 am 14 Jewish War Veterans.. 11:00 am 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 31 Tu B'Shevat Regular Services Mondays and Thursdays... 7:30 am Saturdays... 10:00 am Hebrew School Sundays... 9:30 11:30 am No Hebrew School January 14 Bingo Thursdays... 5:30 pm Office Hours Monday-Friday... 9:00 am 1:00 pm Office Closed January 1 and 15 Rabbi Blatt Away January From the Desk of Rabbi Blatt: World War I ushered in the era of modern warfare. The Great Powers of Europe, including France, Great Britain, Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary, expected the war to be fought in a similar fashion to all previous conflicts: a few pitch battles employing cavalry and infantry units, after which the loser would pursue an honorable peace agreement. This was not to be. The introduction of mechanized warfare including high capacity rifles and field guns, barbed wire, machine guns, poison gas, aircraft and submarines resulted in extremely high numbers of both military and civilian casualties that were unheard of in all of human history. In every theater of war, Jewish soldiers fought and died, and Jewish civilians suffered to an extent not seen since the Middle Ages. Aside from extremely high numbers of dead and wounded, Jewish communities throughout the Russian Pale of Settlement, home to over four million Jews, suffered forced expulsions and displacement, devastating pogroms, disease and starvation. Throughout the four years of World War I, 1914 to 1918, anti-semitic discrimination reappeared throughout the European continent. The impact of World War I on the Jewish community will be the focus of the second discussion, entitled The World Explodes, that I will lead on Sunday, January 14 th, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. following the synagogue breakfast. Sincerely, Dr. Kenneth Stuart Blatt Rabbi/Cantor Congregation Shaara Tfille Serving the greater Jewish community for over 100 years

2 The Board of Congregation Shaara Tfille Rabbi... Dr. Kenneth Blatt Board of Directors Judith Ehrenshaft... President Philip Weissman... Vice-President Michael Fischer... Treasurer Deborah Sabin... Secretary Board Members Eileen Woodcock... House and Grounds Deborah Sabin... Youth Education Allen Kasin... Cemetery Howard Hirsch... Gabbi Liaison Robert Katzman... Legal Advisor Linda Bertrand... Board Position Arthur Ostrov... Board Position Pamela Polacsek... Past President Committee Chairs Religious... Allan Polacsek Membership... Shirley Schultz Fundraising... Budget... Michael Fischer Strategic Planning... Pamela Polacsek Sisterhood Liaison.... Judith Ehrenshaft Men s Club Liaison.... Allan Polacsek Bingo Liaison.... Joseph Greenbaum Pull Tabs Liaison... Carole Polacsek Endowment Fund.... Robert Katzman Computer & Web... Michael Fischer Scroll... Susan Greenbaum Office Administrator... Carole Leakakos Rabbi Blatt s office hours: Mondays and Thursdays 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. or by appointment. Please call the office at to schedule an appointment. Call the office at if you have any questions about any of our programs. e are looking for volunteers in several W different places in the Synagogue. We need help preparing Shabbat morning Kiddush refreshments. This can be done on Thursday or Fridays. Every Thursday evening we have bingo. We need 11 people from 5:30 7:00 p.m. selling tickets and refreshments. We are also looking for bingo callers and floor walkers. These two jobs begin at 7:00 p.m. and finish about 9:30 p.m. The bingo refreshments are made in advance. The food can be prepared on Wednesdays or Thursdays. It takes about 1½ hours. (Please note: we are now a smoke-free facility.) Reminder: Due to the increase in postage and materials, the minimum amount for contribution cards sent from the synagogue will be $10. If you need transportation to attend one of our religious services or events, please contact the office and we will try to arrange a ride for you. ongregation Shaara Tfille sends out a reminder C letter with a memorial candle when you have a yahrzeit for a loved one. We also send annual birthday greetings. f you have not been receiving something from I the Synagogue, please call Carole in the office at to make sure that your information is updated. Mistakes do happen and we would like to correct them as soon as possible. The deadline for all articles is the 10 th of the month prior to publication. If possible, please articles to: suji@nycap.rr.com. Otherwise, leave in the synagogue office. Thanks. Sue Greenbaum, Scroll Editor In the event of an emergency, Rabbi Blatt may be contacted by cell phone at (917) Support the Local Food Bank Please remember our neighbors in Saratoga who are less fortunate than we are. Please be generous with your food pantry donations. We have a box in the front lobby waiting to be filled. Please bring unopened, nonperishable foods. Thank you in advance for your generosity. A Congregation Shaara Tfille Community Project

3 MEMORIAL CANDLES Roslyn Goldsmith in memory of Nate Goldsmith Roslyn Goldsmith in memory of Fanny Greenblatt Linda Bertrand in memory of Florence Ike Sue and Allan Littell in memory of Mollie Margolis Sue and Allan Littell in memory of Sidney Margolis Roberta Mintzer in memory of Jennie Sherman Roberta Mintzer in memory of Abraham Schechter Terry and Harold Weinstein in memory of Rose Weinstein Jack Mintzer in memory of Milton Mintzer Jack Mintzer in memory of Walter Levy Felice Karlitz and Jerry Grodin in memory of George Grodin Iris Jourdan in memory of Baruch Weiss CONTRIBUTIONS Vivian and Mort Greenberg would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and good wishes for Vivian on her recent surgery Shirley Schultz sending get well wishes to Shirley Lavine Helen and Sid Gordon sending get well wishes to Chris Becker Merry Slone in honor of Dietra and Howard Hirsch Jewish War Veterans of Saratoga Springs Post 36 in memory of Mort Zelikofsky Jack Mintzer in memory of Rabbi David Senter In Memory of Joseph Jacobson Elizabeth Huntley and Ralph Federiconi Jewish War Veterans of Saratoga Springs Post 36 Piper Lutbak SOUND SYSTEM FUND Iris and Irwin Friedman in memory of Mort Zelikofsky Arleen Brilliant in honor of Rabbi Kenneth Blatt Judith Okun in honor of Helen and Sid Gordon Judith Okun in memory of Lillian and Henry Wertheimer MITZVAH CLUB * Sharon Dunn and Harvey Zirofsky Rita and Michael Fischer Lorraine and Steven Hammer Judith and Martin Kaplan Loretta and Arthur Ostrov Roberta Baruch and Jerome Ostrov * Donations of $1,000 or more per fiscal year From the President's Desk: As the secular year turns, let us reflect for a moment on the last year; first on our loss of too many beloved members, yet also on our Congregation's achievements: a very successful Silver Anniversary Gala dinner and dance, a balanced budget for the third consecutive year, entertaining musical programs and guest speakers, celebrations and regular morning minyans, adult education and, of course, bar and bat mitzvahs and other festivities. A new year, a new start. Wishing you all a happy, peaceful and healthy 2018! Judith Ehrenshaft President Prayer Book Dedications Chumashim (Etz Hayim Torah and Commentary) can be dedicated in honor of someone for $72. Prayer Books can be dedicated for $36. Please contact the synagogue office for details. Celebrate your special birthday, anniversary, or other happy event with all your friends. Sponsor a Sabbath Kiddush or Friday night Oneg. Call the synagogue office at to arrange a date. January Birthdays and Anniversaries 1 Skip and Eileen Woodcock 4 Zhanna Cohen 4 David Kieserman 5 Harold Flax 6 Seth Rosner 8 Martin Cohen 14 Josef Solomon 15 Rita Fischer 17 Carol Anne Chait 18 Charlie Weintraub 22 Harold and Cynthia Flax 3

4 2 There will not be a Friday Evening Shabbat Service in January Sisterhood Tuesday, January 9 th at 6:00 p.m. lease join us for our monthly P business meeting. We will be discussing the luncheon fundraiser on April 22, 2018, to honor the Polacsek family. isterhood s Book Group S discussion will follow the business meeting. Our January book is After Anatevka, by Alexandra Silber, who delighted us with her presentation at our annual Jewish Book Fair in November. Alexandra, who appeared in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway and in London, tells the tale of second-eldest daughter Hodel and her fiancé Perchek following the end of Fiddler on the Roof. Synagogue Breakfast Sponsored by Men s Club he next synagogue T breakfast will be held on Sunday, January 14 th at 9:30 a.m. Breakfast will be followed by Adult Ed with Rabbi Blatt (see back cover). There are no dues, only a $10 charge for breakfast. RSVP to by Wednesday, January 10 th, if you are able to attend. Jewish War Veterans Post 36 T he monthly JWV meeting will be held on Sunday, January 14 th at 11:00 a.m. (following the synagogue breakfast). Havurah Vatik will not meet in January or February Post Bar and Bat Mitzvah O n Sunday, December 3rd, the first Post Bar and Bat Mitzvah Class met at Congregation Shaara Tfille. Bagels and lox were enjoyed by the participants as was much lively discussion of the BDS Movement and its impact on American college campuses. The group also toured the recently renovated kitchen to become familiar with rules for Kosher food preparation. The next class is tentatively scheduled for: Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. at the Synagogue. Please RSVP to Deborah Sabin, aljmom53@hotmail.com or , if you plan to attend. There is no charge for the class. If you know of a congregant who would like a home or hospital visit, please contact Carole in the office. Cynthia Flax has generously started a sunshine outreach to our friends in the synagogue. SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 22, 2018 On Sunday, April 22 nd we will have a catered luncheon to honor Carole, Allan, and Pamela Polacsek If you would like to help with the planning of this event, and/or sponsor/co-sponsor any part of the event, please contact Carole in the office at

5 Congregation Shaara Tfille FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS sends its deepest sympathy to the family of Rabbi David Senter on his recent passing A s our cemetery is open all year round, we ask that you be careful when visiting in the winter, especially after a snowfall. Please wear proper footwear and be aware of icy spots. Jan Heb Member s Name Deceased Rel 1 Tevet 14 Felice Karlitz Nathan Karlitz F 3 16 Edward Dweck Sophie Dweck M 3 16 Norman Mann Harry Mann F 4 17 Avram Freedberg Melvin Freedberg U 4 17 Carole Leakakos Ernest Shapiro F 4 17 Marilyn Shapiro Ernest Shapiro F 4 17 Martin Sherman Samuel Sherman F 4 17 Harold Weinstein Isadore Leiberson GF 5 18 Sidney Gordon Naomi Gordon M 5 18 David Koss Max Koss F 7 20 Jay Goldman Mae Goldman M 7 20 Stephen Golub Irving Golub F 7 20 Sondra Silverhart Mae Goldman M Lary Opitz Eleanor Opitz M Rachelle Rubenstein Gussie Lustig M Diane White Alex White F Lorraine Hammer Shirley Hochberg M Howard Hirsch Lori Burbank D Cemetery Rules and Fees The Cemetery Rules and Fees document spells out eligibility, rights, and fees. It also sets guidelines for use of the building and sanctuary during funerals. This document can now be found on our website: Click on About Us/General Info. Scroll down to the middle of the yellow box and click on rules, regulations and prices. Or call Carole in the office at or Al Kasin, cemetery committee chair, at for a copy or if you have any questions about the cemetery. January Yahrtzeits Jan Heb Member s Name Deceased Rel 13 Tevet 26 Allen Kasin Joseph Kasin F Shirley Lavine Samuel Lavine F Judith Craven Joseph Barry F 17 Shevat 1 Edward Dweck Jacob Dweck F 19 3 David Kieserman Benjamin Kieserman F 19 3 Howard Stark Molly Stark M 20 4 Judith Craven Grace Barry M 21 5 Seth Rosner Jonathan Rosner B 22 6 Steven Hammer Claire Hammer M 23 7 Steven Hammer William Hammer F 23 7 Iris Jourdan Michael Jourdan H 25 9 Allan Polacsek Otto Silverhart U 25 9 Marcia Metzger Otto Silverhart U 25 9 David Silverhart Otto Silverhart B 25 9 Rick Singer Abraham Singer F David & Sondra Silverhart Peter Silverhart Son Gene Salerni Sam Benson F/L Please help us keep our yahrtzeit list up-to-date. Call Carole in the office with any additions or corrections. Memorial Plaques plaque on the memorial tablets on the wall in the Sanctuary is a meaningful way to memorialize the passing of a loved one and also support Congregation Shaara Tfille. For a donation of $500, a plaque with the English and Hebrew names and date of death will be mounted on one of the memorial tablets. These plaques can be a permanent remembrance of a family member, friend or loved one, whether or not the deceased was a member of the Congregation. Please contact Carole in the office at for details. 5 A

6 January Tevet 15 Shevat, 5778 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday The office will be closed January 1 & 15 No Hebrew School January 14 Rabbi Blatt on vacation January Tevet 28 Tevet 29 Tevet 1 Shevat 2 Shevat 3 Shevat Tevet Hebrew School 9:30 am Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class 10:00 am No Hebrew School Synagogue Breakfast 9:30 am Adult Ed 10:00 am Jewish War Veterans 11:00 am 5 Shevat Hebrew School 9:30 am Tevet Office Closed 21 Tevet Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Office Closed 6 Shevat 15 Tevet 16 Tevet 17 Tevet Sisterhood Book Group 6:00 pm 23 Board Mtg. 6:00 pm 22 Tevet Bingo 5:30 pm 23 Tevet 24 Tevet Rosh Chodesh Bingo 5:30 pm Bingo 5:30 pm 7 Shevat 8 Shevat 9 Shevat Tevet 4:173pm 25 Tevet 4:24pm 4:33pm 10 Shevat Tevet Shemot Services 10:00 am 26 Tevet Va'eira Services 10:00 am 4 Shevat Bo Services 10:00 am 11 Shevat Beshalach Services 10:00 am Bingo 5:30 pm 4:42 pm 12 Shevat 13 Shevat Hebrew School 9:30 am 14 Shevat 15 Shevat Tu B'Shevat 6

7 CHANUKAH CELEBRATION! Sunday, December 10 th 7

8 We get letters Hello, A healthy and happy and peaceful new year to all. We all know that some of our friends, called snowbirds, are now in the south. With this said, we do need help with our minyans on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. The word wantsmanship is the answer you have to want to come to services for one hour on Mondays and Thursdays and two hours on Saturdays. When you come to shul, you will get that special feeling, and it s all good. So if you are not really busy, give it a try you will like it. Remember: breakfast after the service is also good. Shalom Sid Gordon PJ Library Launches PJ Library Radio As a part of its continual effort to innovate how families with Jewish children can engage and connect with Jewish culture and values, PJ Library is launching a streaming music service. In addition to the free books that PJ Library sends to more than 180,000 children in the United States and Canada each month, listeners will now be able to listen to the best in Jewish kids music, for free. The new service, PJ Library Radio, can be streamed at pjlibraryradio.com, the PJ Library Radio app (available for download on itunes or from the Google Play store), or TuneIn Radio (Sonos, Xbox, Roku). Here is the link to the full article: utm_source=nov+30%2c+2017&utm_campaign=thurs+nov+30&utm_medium= Albany Symphony Concert Tickets Through Jeremy s Circle Helping Children Living with Cancer in Their Families ( Beethoven's Fifth! (Matinee) Sunday, January 7, 2018, 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall David Alan Miller, Conductor Richard O Neill, Viola Schumann: Overture, Scherzo and Finale Christopher Theofanidis: Viola Concerto Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 FREE parking at the State Street Parking Garage, corner of State Street and River Street Tickets $30 (½ to Jeremy's Circle) Children s Concert: STAR WARRIORS: The Last Maestro Sunday, January 28, 2018, 3:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College 815 North Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY, Come one hour earlier for hands-on activities including an Instrument Petting Zoo. The Evil Emperor has outlawed all music in the galaxy. But, from the far reaches of a distant solar system, a mysterious wanderer appears to rally the resistance, a small troupe of singers, to harness the force of song and destroy the Emperor's power. Is he The Last Maestro? Help him use the force of music to save the universe from the Sound of Silence Featuring singers from the Bard College Conservatory Graduate Vocal Arts Program. Come dressed as your favorite Star Wars character. Storm Troopers and Jedi Masters welcome. Tickets: $20 (½ to Jeremy's Circle) for Adults, Children Free Send checks payable to Martin Becker, 40 Schuyler Road, Loudonville, NY Questions? Call , or write beckermartin@ hotmail.com 8

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10 Congregation Shaara Tfille 84 Weibel Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY The Jewish Community Center Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit #8 Saratoga Springs, NY Address Service Requested Adult Ed The Jews and the First World War The World Explodes Sunday, January 14 th at 10:00 a.m. T his Adult Education discussion class, led by Rabbi Kenneth Blatt, will be the second of a three part series of discussions regarding the impact of The First World War on the Jewish people. When the First World War began on July 28, 1914, there was an almost universal expectation that it would end quickly following a few major engagements between the armies of the Great Powers: France, Great Britain, Russia, Germany and Austria- Hungary. Nobody anticipated the utter devastation that technological advances in warfare would have on the battlefields of Europe. More than any other group of people, the Jews of Europe suffered devastating numbers of casualties, pogroms, widespread discrimination, as well as mass displacement from towns and villages that had been their home for generations. We will explore the effects of this conflict on the Jews of Europe in Part II of our discussion of the First World War I. Join us for: Part Two: The World Explodes This program will begin immediately following the synagogue breakfast. 10