Temple Talk. April 2012 Nisan Iyar 5772

Transcription

1 Temple Israel & JCC Tel: Fax: Temple Talk April 2012 Nisan Iyar 5772 Dr. David J. Fine, Rabbi Caitlin O. Bromberg, Cantor Sharon J, Litwin, Associate Rabbi Denis Vogel President INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Rabbi s Message Pages 2-3 President s Message / Hametz NNJJA Director s Message Milestones/Oneg & Kiddush Adult Education / Circle of Honor Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Ritual / B nei Mitzvah Page 8 Membership / B yachad Pages 9 Ways & Means / Goodwill Israel Action / Tikkun Olam Pages 10 Page 11 Soulebration Photos Pages Men s Club Page 16 Sisterhood Page 17 Youth Happenings Page 18 Purim Photos Pages19-20 Donations Page 21 O p p o r t u n i t i e s Giving f o r Page 22 Community Info. Page 23 Calendars Pages Pesach 5772 Passover Fri., April 6 7:00 am Ta'anit Bekhorim, Fast of the First Born Minyan & Siyyum at Glen Rock Jewish Center Fri., April 6 No Friday Night Service Sat., April 7 9:30 am First Day Sun., April 8 9:30 am Second Day Fri., April 13 9:00 am Seventh Day Fri., April 13 7:00 pm Friday Night Family Service Sat., April 14 9:00 am Eighth Day/Torah Club Shabbat approx. 10:30 am Yizkor Family Service Friday, April 13, 7:00pm Families with children of all ages are encouraged to attend Those without children are also welcome! There will be lots of singing, ruach, stories, dancing and more! We look forward to davening with the whole family! Tot Shabbat Saturday, April 14 11:00 am 11:45 am Celebrate Shabbat with songs, a parade with stuffed Torahs, a story, and kiddush (light refreshments). Tot Shabbat is a 45-minute program for newborns through 4 years old. Children, parents and grandparents are invited. Annual Torah Club Shabbat Saturday, April 14 Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach 9:00 am Honoring members of Torah Club New members will receive their own Tikkunim Current members will be honored All members will lead a part of Shabbat service 26th Annual Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service Sunday, April 15 7:30 pm Temple Israel Advertising Back Cover

2 FROM THE RABBI S STUDY We are once again preparing for Passover, one of the most widely observed and yet most complicated of all Jewish traditions. What follows here are general guidelines on the observance of Passover that I include in Temple Talk each year. I understand that there are various degrees to which Passover is kept in our various homes, and I respect all ways that Judaism is marked in our families. What follows are guidelines for keeping kosher-for-passover according to my reading of Jewish law. To keep kosher for Passover, the first thing that one must do is rid the household of hametz (i.e., food that is not kosher-for-passover). This is because we are not only forbidden to eat hametz during Passover, we are also forbidden to own it. Selling of Hametz. One tries to finish up foodstuffs in the house, especially perishables. What one does not finish, if unopened, may be donated for the hungry. All opened foodstuffs are considered hametz, since they may have come into contact with hametz. What one wishes to keep, one must sell for the week of Passover. I, and most rabbis, act as agents for their communities in the sale of hametz. Individuals will authorize me to sell their hametz. I then, as the collective agent, sell the hametz of the community to a non-jew, in our case, Maureen. The sale will be written in such a way that Maureen, while owning all the hametz, will not actually take possession of it until after Passover. But by that time, the sale will have been cancelled and ownership will revert back to the original owners. However, since we do not actually own this food during Passover, what we do is put the non perishable foods away, out of sight. They can be stored for the week in the garage or basement. Or they can be kept in the pantry, and if so, the pantry or specific cabinets containing such foods should be closed off with masking tape (so we don t accidentally eat Maureen s food). You can authorize me to sell your hametz by filling out the form contained in this Temple Talk and faxing, sending or delivering it to the synagogue office, or by ing me at rabbi@synagogue.org and asking me to sell all hametz in your possession. I do need the authorization in writing (so please no voic messages), and the authorization must contain the address (or addresses) of property where you want the hametz to be sold. It is customary to make a small donation with the authorization to sell hametz. If you give me cash, or send in a check for the Rabbi s Discretionary Fund with a note that it is for Passover, I will forward the funds to Mazon, a national Jewish organization based in Los Angeles that collects food to feed the hungry. Last year I was able to send Mazon a check for $500 collected from this Passover appeal. Let s try to improve on that this year. As people continue to suffer from current economic hardship conditions, it is all the more critical that we support efforts to feed the hungry. As we start to shop for our family seders, let us not forget this important mitzvah of providing for others. Making the kitchen kosher for Passover. Making the kitchen kosher for Passover means cleaning out the fridge of all foodstuffs (or taping off the shelves of the fridge containing sold hametz) and thoroughly cleaning all the counters, tables, cabinets and other areas where food is stored, prepared, cooked and served. Some will cover their countertops and shelves with lining (or aluminum foil) to signify that those areas are kosher-for- Passover and to prevent contact with any hametz that might not have been cleaned. All flatware, dishes and cooking utensils must also be stored away or taped off. The easiest thing to do is to have separate sets of Passover dishes, utensils and pots and pans. That is preferable to kashering. But if one must, metal items can be kashered by submersion in boiling water after cleaning. Take your largest metal pot and boil water in it so that the water boils over. That pot is now kosher for Passover. Then, drop metal utensils in the pot of boiling water, and those become kosher for Passover in turn. Make sure to keep the kashered items separate from the other items. There are some rabbinic opinions that treat hard plastics the same as metal. That is, if the plastic can withstand boiling water, then it can be kashered. I prefer not to kasher plastics. The Conservative movement also permits the kashering of glassware simply through the dishwasher. The more traditional opinion is soaking the glassware in water for 72 hours. Finally, earthenware and wooden utensils should not be kashered. There is, of course, the tradition that fine expensive china can be kashered by not being used for a period of six months to a year. This tradition is to save us from losing our inheritance just because the china wasn t kosher. While we may want our best china to be used for Passover, it is acceptable to use even paper plates, if that is done in order to observe and celebrate the traditions of Passover. However, we should also be mindful of not overproducing waste. Simple glass dishware is always a simple solution for Passover. Finally, there are parts of the kitchen that cannot be exchanged for Passover, like the sink, stove, oven, and dishwasher. If the sink is metal, pour boiling water over it. If it is porcelain (which is unfortunate from the point of view of Jewish law) then use a plastic sink liner for Passover. The stovetop should be cleaned and that is sufficient (unless you eat off the stovetop. If you do, just don t do that on Passover!). The self-cleaning device for a conventional oven will kasher the oven. If the oven does not have a self-cleaning mechanism, then a blowtorch is 2

3 FROM THE RABBI S STUDY required to kasher the oven. One hit with the blowtorch will suffice. But only use that if you know how! The best thing to do with a barbeque is just to cover the grills with tinfoil. (While I have been informed that that may not be good for the food, I know of no other way to kasher a barbeque short of installing new racks.) The dishwasher should be run once with an empty load. Buying Passover Foods. Fruits and vegetables and (kosher) meats are kosher for Passover. Just rinse them with water as you normally should do. Everything else is more complicated. Milk does not require a kosherfor-passover marking if it is bought prior to Passover so buy your milk before Passover. All processed foods should have a kosher-for-passover marking. Because so many ingredients are added to foodstuffs today, it is easier to buy only kosher-for-passover foods. We are fortunate to live in an area where there are plenty of kosher products available. Our supermarkets and local kosher butchers carry many items that are kosher-for-passover. The Nullification of Hametz. On Thursday night, April 5, we search the house for hametz (we search with a candle, a ritual that I always looked forward to growing up) and we burn the hametz (in the driveway in a paper bag, perhaps contained in a tin) on Friday morning, April 6. When we burn the hametz we recite a formula that nullifies all hametz in our possession that we know or don t know of. The purpose of this is to protect us just in case we forgot to either sell or get rid of certain hametz. It is a legal safeguard and meaningful ritual at the same time. The text with instructions is found in most haggadot for Passover in the first few pages. The Day Before Passover. Friday, April 6, is the day before Passover, or the day of the first seder, when we mark the Fast of the Firstborn when firstborn are asked to fast from sun-up until the seder to remember the first born of Egypt who died in the tenth plague. Traditionally, synagogues hold a siyyum after minyan on that morning when the rabbi or someone else teaches the concluding paragraph of a tractate of Talmud, following which it is a mitzvah to celebrate with a meal, taking precedence over the fast. By attending the siyyum and then having a bite to eat, one can be exempted from the fast. While this observance has been traditionally limited to first-born males, in my opinion it ought to include first born females as well. Temple Israel and Glen Rock Jewish Center have traditionally combined for the siyyum for erev Pesach. Glen Rock will host the siyyum this year at 7:00am, and I will teach the siyyum. Hametz is not supposed to be eaten after around 11:00 am. However, matzah is not permitted to be eaten until the Seder. So, while the siyyum exempts the first born from fasting, there is not much to eat during most of the day in any case. But we all know that there is much food to come in the evening. The Passover Seder. We celebrate the Seder on Friday and Saturday evenings, April 6 and 7. Please note that there will be no Friday evening service at Temple Israel on Friday, April 6, so that we can all celebrate at our sedarim. The Haggadah is the special book containing the Seder service. There are more haggadot published than any other book in the world. At a Jewish bookstore or online you will find a wonderful selection. I generally recommend the Rabbinical Assembly haggadah, The Feast of Freedom. Yom Tov and Hol HaMoed. Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8, and Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14, are called yom tov or festivals. Sunday the 8 th and Friday the 13 th are treated like Shabbat in that we are supposed to refrain from work. Temple Israel holds festival services on those days similar to our Shabbat services. The intermediate days between the festival days are called Hol HaMoed when we still eat only kosher-for-passover foods, but we are permitted to work. Yizkor. On the final day of Passover, Saturday, April 14, we say the Yizkor prayers at synagogue, remembering those who used to celebrate with us and are here no longer. It is customary to make a donation to the synagogue where Yizkor is said in memory of our loved ones. End of Passover. Passover ends Saturday night, April 14. Many enjoy a hearty meal of carbs that evening! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding these guidelines, or anything else. Passover has a special greeting: hag kasher v sameah (a kosher and a happy holiday!). Usually we just say hag sameah (happy holiday!) on Jewish festivals. But on Passover we wish one another a kosher and happy holiday, because we are challenged to keep kosher-for- Passover for eight days. Alla, Laurence, Ariel and I wish you and yours a kosher and happy Passover. Hag kasher v sameah. 3

4 A synagogue s success is measured in many different ways. Some measure it by the breadth and diversity of its programming, others by its services and spirituality and still others by its ability to educate both its children and adults. Many would agree though that success is measured by the stability of its congregation and clergy. I am happy to report that Cantor Caitlin Bromberg and Temple Israel have entered into a new two year agreement to retain her services. Along with a new contract for Rabbi Fine, we have the stability of the bimah that is so vital for the communal health of our synagogue. As with Cantor Bromberg s last contract, she is retained on a part time basis, which means that her time is limited during the week. Please be assured that all of the congregation s needs will be met by all of our clergy. Cantor Bromberg brings genuine warmth to our sanctuary that allows the congregation to both participate and be spiritually moved. I would also like to report that the membership as a whole has maintained a stable level. Though we have lost a few members throughout the year, we have also gained an equal number of families. In an age of membership decline throughout the congregational world, we are seeing a small light at the end of the tunnel that will hopefully lead to future growth. I would like to personally thank Arty Freed and the entire Ways and Means committee for a truly fun and successful Soulebration, both financially and fun-nancially. I hope everyone took pictures because you are never going to see me in a powder blue tux again! As matzo season draws near, Carla, Jerry and I would like to wish everyone a Zissen Pesach. May your Seders by filled with family, fun and joy. B Shalom, Denis PRESIDENT S MESSAGE HAMETZ Mekhirat Hametz Authorization-5772/2012 We hereby authorize Rabbi David Fine to sell all hametz that may be in our possession, wherever it may be - at home, at our place of business, or elsewhere - in accordance with the requirements of Jewish law, as incorporated in the special contract for the sale of hametz. DATE: NAME: ADDRESS: SIGNATURE: 4

5 NNJJA DIRECTOR S MESSAGE Many many thanks to Miriam Bakal for the very clever and fun idea for Breakfast in a Box themed Mishloah Manot this year. Her hard work and the efforts of over 35 families who gave to the entire congregation helped us to more than exceed our fundraising goals. Thank you to all of the students who helped assemble the popcorn boxes and to their families who helped to deliver them. Also, thank you to David Millman for working out the delivery routes. Thank you to David Lipsky and his entire family, Josef Goldberg, Jesse Forstot, Dan Unger and Martin Shames for helping to run the Purim Carnival. David and his family built us six new carnival games, Josef contributed two new games as well. Thank you to Lisa Swill and Joan Goldberg for selling tickets. The carnival was really fun and raised more than budgeted for NNJJA. Pesach is coming and April will be a very short month for our Religious School students. We will have Pesach break from April 8-15 and then we will return in time to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut later in the month. We are looking forward to the Aleph Siddur Ceremony on May 12 and to our last day of school Maccabia and BBQ on May 20. Please keep in mind the important dates below: UPCOMING EVENTS: Sunday April 1 Aleph Parent Workshop Siddur Cover Making Sunday, April 8 Sunday April 15th Ridgewood and Pesach Break Friday, April 13 Family Services 7pm Saturday April 28 Junior Congregation May 20 is our last day of school and also Yom Yerushalayim a day that celebrates the unification of Jerusalem.. At our last day of Religious School we will have a Maccabia, a color war, for all of our students from 9:30-11:30 followed by a Men s Club BBQ for the entire Community. SALUTE TO ISRAEL PARADE: All Kitah Aleph, Bet, Gimmel, Dalet, and Hey students are encouraged to march in the Salute to Israel Parade on Sunday, June 3, A bus will leave from the Jewish Community Center of Paramus in the morning (time to be announced) and return after the Parade in the afternoon. Please check the Shabbat table for more information. Friday June 1 7:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat, Graduation, and awards, and moving up ceremonies. All Students are expected to attend. Best Wishes for a Hag Pesach Kasher V Samayach -Rabbi Sharon 5

6 MILESTONES B NEI MITZVAH Evan Schreiber, son of Tricia & Howard Schreiber We wish our B nei Mitzvah a lifetime of Torah, Mitzvot, and Gemilut Hasadim (Acts of Lovingkindness). REFUAH SHELEIMAH Rubin Auerbach Sylvia Norden We wish complete healing of body and spirit to all who confront illness. DEATHS Dorothy Buchalter, mother of Bernice Yampell Jerome Liebrand, father of Tricia Schreiber May the families be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Oneg Shabbat April 6 April 13 April 20 April 27 Kiddush Sponsors April 7 April 14 April 21 April 28 ONEG/KIDDUSH SPONSORS OPEN SPONSORSHIP-PESACH OPEN SPONSORSHIP-PESACH Family Service Anchalee & Michael Nathanson in honor of their son, Joshua, on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Tali & Alex Shapiro in honor of their son, Daniel, on the occasion of his bar mitzvah OPEN SPONSORSHIP-PESACH Parents of our Torah Club students Anchalee & Michael Nathanson in honor of their son, Joshua, on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Tali & Alex Shapiro in honor of their son, Daniel, on the occasion of his bar mitzvah 6

7 ADULT EDUCATION Coming Up in the Rabbi s Sunday Morning Lecture Series: Under the Crescent: Palestine from the Crusades to the Eve of World War I April 1 World War I & the British Mandate April 29 The State of Israel, from Independence to the Six-Day War May 6 Israel & the Palestinians ( ) May 13 Palestine Today: Politics & Culture May 20 It s Time to Sign Up: Temple Israel Goes to Israel: June 23-July 4, 2012 Don t miss this wonderful opportunity to see Israel for the first time or again with Rabbi Fine and your Temple Israel family. For complete itinerary and to reserve your space, contact Israel Tour Connection at or info@israeltours.com today. Save the Date: Sunday, June 10: Day Trip to National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia Co-sponsored by Sisterhood and Brandeis Men s Club. $26 per person will cover museum admission, guided tour and kosher boxed lunch. Jane Rosen, Chair, Adult Education CIRCLE OF HONOR TODAH RABBAH TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS Benefactor s Circle Beth & Freddie Kotek Tricia & Howard Schreiber Sustainer s Circle Sue Rubinoff Lenore & Neil Sherman Pillar s Circle Audrey Meyers & Scott Agins The Gruber Family Shari & Manny Haber Rita & Robert Obeiter Sponsor s Circle Cheryl & Allan Alterman Anonymous (4) Christine & Evan Dobkins The Fels Family Roberta & Charles Fleischman Tamara & Barry Freeman Sharyn & Alan Gallatin Hayley & Jeffrey Gluck Susie & Shelly Goldstein Suzanne & Joshua Holden Debbie, Wayne & Jared Miller Melony & Robert Muller Peri & David Namerow Lisa Mellman & Toby Nygaard Johanna & Michael Rosen Kurt Rosenberg Ellen & Allen Rubin Sisterhood of Temple Israel Carla & Denis Vogel Bonita & David Weiss 7

8 RITUAL Thank you Jo Rosen for scheduling a successful year of Nosh & Drosh Shabbats and yashar koach to all of our droshers : Bob Smolen, Ira Spar, Sharon Mosenkis, Rabbi Gloria Rubin and Bob Rohrberger. All who have attended have learned a great deal. We look forward to studying with Evelyn Auerbach in May. No service will be held on Friday evening April 6 because it is the night of the first seder. Our new program, Muffins & Mishnah, has been very successful. On non-b nai Mitzvah Shabbats, Rabbi Fine leads a Mishnah discussion in the Social Hall beginning at 9:00 am sharp. Congregants are invited to enjoy coffee, muffins and fruit while learning Mishnah and davening P zukei D Zimrah. Come join us and learn in an informal atmosphere. Thank you Alan and Sharyn Gallatin for donating the muffins and fruit for our inaugural program. Calling all Gabbaim!!! Please contact me if you would like to Gabbai on future Shabbats. Yashar Koach to Bob Smolen for his first Gabbai Rishon experience and to Nanette Rosenbaum and David Millman for their first time Gabbai Sheni experience. Stephanie Gottesman BAT MITZVAH My name is Mollie Bakal, and I am excited to be becoming a Bat Mitzvah on April 22, Rosh Chodesh Iyyar. I live in Upper Saddle River with my parents, Miriam and Todd, and my brother and sister, Robert and Sarah Renee. I have been reading Torah in Junior Congregation for three years and am looking forward to my first Torah reading on the Bimah. My favorite activities include reading, skiing and origami. I have been a Girl Scout for eight years and decided to combine my Silver Award Project and Mitzvah Project by sharing my love of origami with other children. I taught origami at several library parties, and I created and donated special kid-friendly origami kits to Englewood Hospital to be distributed to children waiting in the Emergency Room. I also created a binder of step-by-step directions of origami projects that can be made with a dollar bill. This binder will remain in the playroom on the children s floor at Englewood Hospital so anyone can take out a dollar and be creative! 8

9 MEMBERSHIP Please welcome Rebecca Wolk and Seth Lipschitz and their sons: Samuel age 12, Joseph age 10, and Gabriel age 8, to our congregation. The Lipschitz family currently lives in Oakland and they are eager to get involved in our community. In March the Membership Committee co-sponsored the showing of the film The Power of Community, which is part of our sustainability series. The next film, Food Inc., will be shown on April 29 at 7:30 pm. The films are free of charge. The Membership Committee also sponsored a Shabbat Dinner, formally welcoming all of our new families who have joined our community in the last three years. Over 60 people attended and a good time was had by all. Finally, in conjunction with the Music Committee, Membership co-sponsored an Open Mic on Sunday, March 18 which gave the musicians in our congregation an opportunity to strut their stuff. As congregants, each of you serves as informal ambassadors for Temple Israel. If you hear of any one who is interested in finding out more about Temple Israel, please encourage them to call me at home, or to call our temple office. AND please invite them to attend services, our adult educational classes or even our softball games, which will get started in May. Have a zissen Pesach. Jo Rosen, Chair, Membership Committee B YACHAD Wow, I can t believe it s time for Pesach already! The B yachad crowd has had a lot of fun already this year, and we re not slowing down! I d like to especially thank the Lindenberg s for once again hosting our fabulous Superbowl party. What an amazing game everyone had a blast! After that we had a blind wine tasting at our house. Thank you to everyone who came, we had so much fun discovering just how hard it is to identify wines blindly. You just have to keep trying and trying. At the beginning of March a lot of us came to TI s SOULebration and staked out a b yachad table. Thank you Ways and Means folks for putting on such a fun party! Later in March we took a field trip to the Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum and experienced a bit of life on the seas. So, what s up next for B Yachad? On Sunday, April 15 we re planning an End-of-Pesach Break-the-Hametzfast potluck, and on Friday, April 20, we ll resume our Shabbat dinner potlucks before the Friday night service. On Sunday, April 29, we ll go out for mini-golf, and on Saturday night, May 5, we ll go out and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with ס רו י ס ה ע י מ רג ר ת ס of course! Please watch your s for more details. If you haven t done so already, please join our list! To sign up, just send an to byachad-contact@synagogue.org and tell us which addresses you would like to add. Shalom and Hasta Luego, Suzie and Josh Holden 9

10 WAYS AND MEANS It seems so long ago since I spoke to you during Kol Nidre services about our "home," Temple Israel. So many of you have since approached me to share how you related to the message, that our shul is more than just a building, more than just a place to pray, more than just a place to send our children to religious school. It is all of that and so much more. You recognized, as I have, that Temple Israel is a truly open, accessible, vibrant community that exists to make each of us feel connected to what we each find important in our own Jewish identities, ritual practice, tikkun olam, Israel, education, and each other. I am particularly gratified that so many of you also recognized, as I said last fall, that while dues help us to cover the basics, we are not a shul that is about doing the bare minimum. I want to thank those of you who have already made a 5772 Goodwill commitment, helping us to do that much more, ensuring that we can continue to provide what our community craves, and has come to expect. For everyone else who has not yet decided what their level of support will be, there is still time to be included in this year's campaign! I strongly encourage you to do so. Whatever you choose to give, it will allow us to do incrementally more. And for that, I thank you. You can send your check directly to the temple office, or simply me at goodwill@synagogue.org - and you will be billed for your gift. Again, to those who have already participated and those who are about to... THANK YOU for your "above and beyond" support of our shul... our home. Alan M. Gallatin Temple Israel's annual fundraising dinner on March 3 was a tremendous success. Over 150 members and guests took part in our SOULebration. There was music, dancing, great food and drink and most importantly we enhanced our sense of community. A significant amount of money was raised for the temple through the Ad Journal and Silent Auction. There was a bidding frenzy on terrific items including gift certificates for local restaurants, tickets to sporting and entertainment events, great wines, dinners at congregants homes, and much more. I would like to thank my committee members for donating their time and effort: Bob Dworkin, Susie Goldstein and Linda Paige for the ad journal; Alla Fine and Beth Kotek for party arrangements; Irene Bressler, Beth Freed and Shari Haber for running the silent auction, as well as Jo Rosen, Nancy Bortinger, Cheryl & Allan Alterman, Peri Namerow, Gila Melamed and Denis Vogel for their help. The event wouldn't have been successful without them. Finally, Ways & Means raised a separate pool of money to purchase Rabbi Fine a new laptop. He has promised to learn PowerPoint and give up his overhead projector! Arty Freed GOODWILL 10

11 ISRAEL ACTION On May 6, the 20 delegation of disabled Israeli war veterans under the Zahal Shalom program will arrive at Temple Israel to begin their two week stay with us. The veterans stay in local homes, visit local sites, travel to Washington D.C. and participate in several presentations at local schools and synagogues. They will be greeted upon their arrival at Temple Israel and we welcome all Temple members to join us in receiving the veterans on May 6 at 5:30 pm. During their two weeks the veterans develop very close bonds with their host families which has a very beneficial effect on the veterans, who can relate difficult experiences to people that are outside of their normal social network. Their host families gain an appreciation of both the veterans sacrifice and a better understanding of life in Israel. The bonds that they form with the veterans typically last for a lifetime. All members are welcome to learn more about Zahal Shalom by visiting their website at or on Facebook and also you are welcome to call Richard Schnaittacher at or at rss@aetrex.com TIKKUN OLAM Homeless Walk-In-Dinner Once a quarter we prepare and serve dinner for the homeless at the Walk-In-Dinner program in Hackensack. We serve a full course meal to people on average. We prepare the entrée at the synagogue kitchen on Sunday morning/afternoon (11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) and serve on Tuesday late afternoon (4:00-6:30 p.m.). While we have a core cadre of loyal cooks and servers we always are happy to add more volunteers to our ranks. Please mark your calendars Sunday--Cooking at the Synagogue Tuesday--Serving on Site April 29 May 1 October 14 October 16 December 16 December 18 Please Nadine Genet at nzgnzg@aol.com if you would like to participate in this program. Interfaith Blood Drive Sunday, May 20-8:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Our Spring Interfaith Blood Drive, conducted in cooperation with St. Elizabeth s Church, is scheduled for Sunday, May 20. The need for blood continues to be high during these challenging times. Temple Israel s Blood Drive also will be set up to take those who can give doubles as well as platelets. New Spring Film Series In response to congregant interest in food and sustainability issues, Tikkun Olam Committee, Sisterhood and Membership are co-sponsoring a Sunday, Spring Film Series. Movie time is 7:30 p.m. followed by a group discussion. Dates and topics are: April 29: Food, Inc. June 3: One Man, One Cow, One Planet 11

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16 B randeis M en s C lub Yom Hashoah Yellow Candles Every member should have received their Yom Hashoah yellow candle to memorialize the Holocaust. This either arrived with your Mishloach Manot package, or delivered directly to your house a few weeks ago. It is important for all of us to light a candle in memory of a lost relative, friend, and even for those we never knew. Please light the candle with your family and for those with children at home please explain to them what they are capable of understanding about the Holocaust. This year through the efforts of the Federation of Jewish Men s Clubs, our parent organization for Men s Club of Conservative Synagogues, over 140,000 Yom Hashoah candles will be distributed in North America! Light your candle on Wednesday evening, April 18 We light this yellow candle to rekindle God s flame, To shine His light upon the world once again, To sanctify the memories of the millions of souls, To honor their prayers and all their lost goals. We bless their existence by being alive To light this yellow candle as proof we survived. If you are so motivated, we welcome your donations for the Yom Hashoah candle. There is an envelope and donation form inside the box with the candle. Multiples of $18 are suggested. The money helps us afford Holocaust programs, and other events for our children. Plan now for the annual BMC Golf Outing! Date: Thursday, June 14 Time: 1:30 PM Shotgun Start Location: Farmstead Golf & Country Club, Lafayette, NJ Cost : $60/per player including riding cart Prizes: Long Drive Closest to the Pin Low team score RSVP promptly if you plan to play: 10baker@optonline.net Thanks to David Cox for arranging the Passover Wine sale, and also to Elaine Silverstein representing the Sisterhood in a successful joint effort! Also thanks to Alex Rothschild and David Millman for their help with the food concession at the Purim Carnival! Hag Sameach Pesach! Howard Schreiber, President BMC BRANDEIS MEN S CLUB 16

17 SISTERHOOD Mah-jong Night Wednesday, April 18, 8:00 pm at Temple Israel. You loved Mah-Jong Night last year, so we re doing it again! Whether you re an experienced player or would like to learn, come and have fun. A learner s table will be available. Craft Night and General Membership Meeting Tuesday, May 8, 8:00 pm at Temple Israel. Complete a fun craft project, led by Arlene Bernhardt, or just come to hang out and drink wine! Please attend we will vote in the new Sisterhood board for Congregation-wide trip to National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia Sunday, June 10, all day check out the museum s website at The $26 fee includes a guided tour, admission, and a kosher boxed lunch. Appropriate for the whole family, and co-sponsored by Sisterhood, the Brandeis Men s Club, and the adult Education Committee Torah Fund This year's Torah Fund pin is available, and it's gorgeous. Contact Peri Namerow at For Torah Fund cards, contact Libby Stern at thelib104@gmail.com or Torah Funds cards cost $5 each and are appropriate for all special occasions. Kippot for your Simchas Sisterhood is once again selling custom kippot. Before you buy on line, check with us-- you'll save money AND benefit the synagogue. Contact Carla Vogel at or Carla@synagogue.org Gift Shop News: All merchandise is 20% off the retail cost. Remember that with each purchase, you are making a contribution to our synagogue. We have mezzuzot, tallitot, necklaces, earrings and other bnai mitzvah gifts and a variety of items of Judaica too numerous to list that make appropriate gifts for many occasions. The inventory will be in stock this fall. If the gift shop is closed, please contact Laura Brody at (201) or lwbrody@aol.com to make a purchase or arrange to browse our selection. 17

18 El Al YOUTH HAPPENINGS Our March 18 Chocolate Seder was a sticky, gooey, yummy, chocolate-y good time. El Al enjoyed this annual tradition of eating green M&Ms for karpas and chocolate milk for the four cups of wine and especially those chocolate eggs YUMMM! Our April event will be our first saunter down to the lounge after this year s flood and subsequent clean up. On April 29 we will have a lounge afternoon from 12:45-2:15, play foosball, Wii, games and re-inaugurate our lounge. Many thanks to Bob Smolen, Dan Unger, David Lipsky, Jose and everyone else who helped to make the lounge usable again. And thank you to the Gallatin s for the donation of the new TV and the Crane Moscowitz family for the furniture! Hope you all join us for some El Al fun times! -Rabbi Sharon Kadima April 18 6:30-8:00 - Lounge night in the NEW youth Lounge April 29-1:30-3:30 - Food collection held at Stop and Shop in Ridgewood and ice cream at the conclusion See you soon! Morah Felicia USY Over the last few weeks we have had two meetings at 12:30pm (the conclusion of classes) at BCHSJS. Several 9-12 graders from local synagogues are enthusiastic about building a combined chapter. Please look for s about upcoming events. Send an to dan.unger@hotmail.com with your name and address to make sure you are included in our upcoming events! Looking forward to meeting you! - Heather usyheather@gmail.com 18

19 PURIM PHOTOS 19

20 PURIM PHOTOS 20

21 Temple Israel Chai Campaign The Rosenfeld Family in honor of Nancy & Arie Bortinger on the birth of their granddaughter, Leah Grace Bortinger The Rosenfeld Family in memory of Leo Freed, father of Arty Freed Temple Israel Operating Fund Linda & Abe Davis in honor of Arty Freed and his Soulebration Committee Linda & Abe Davis in honor of Nancy & Arie Bortinger on the birth of their granddaughter, Leah Grace Bortinger Linda & Abe Davis in honor of Madison Grossman on the occasion of her bat mitzvah Linda & Abe Davis in honor of Evan Schreiber on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Linda & Abe Davis in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green Linda & Abe Davis in memory of Jerome Liebrand, father of Tricia Schreiber The Frank Family in honor of Temple Israel s new members, Michele & Mark Preminger Susie & Shelly Goldstein in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green Susie & Shelly Goldstein in memory of Leo Freed, father of Arty Freed Susie & Shelly Goldstein in memory of Jerome Liebrand, father of Tricia Schreiber Susie & Shelly Goldstein in honor of Nancy & Arie Bortinger on the birth of their granddaughter, Leah Grace Bortinger Ellie & Marty Gruber in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green Susan & Leonard Jacob in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green June & Barry Kaplan in memory of Jerome Liebrand, father of Tricia Schreiber Beth & Freddie Kotek in honor of Nancy & Arie Bortinger on the birth of their granddaughter, Leah Grace Bortinger Beth & Freddie Kotek in honor of Roberta & Chuck Fleischman on the birth of their grandson, Nathan Everett Fleischman Beth & Freddie Kotek in honor of Evan Schreiber on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Beth & Freddie Kotek in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green Beth & Freddie Kotek in memory of Leo Freed, father of Arty Freed Beth & Freddie Kotek in memory of Jerome Liebrand, father of Tricia Schreiber Elyse & Louis Levene in honor of Nancy & Arie Bortinger on the birth of their granddaughter, Leah Grace Bortinger Sherell & David Miller in honor of Evan Schreiber on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Elaine Silverstein & Bruce Thaler in honor of Evan Schreiber on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Elaine Silverstein & Bruce Thaler in honor of Emily Schreiber on her beautiful Torah ready Carla & Denis Vogel in honor of George Buchalter, father of Carla Vogel on the occasion of his 90th birthday Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of Corinne Buchalter, mother of Carla Vogel DONATIONS We thank all of our donors: Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of Dana Marcus, cousin of Carla Vogel Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of George Katzman, father of Nancy Bortinger Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of Leo Freed, father of Arty Freed Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of Ernest Rothschild, father of Alex Rothschild Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of Jesse Kahan, husband of Naomi Kahan Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of Clarence Calman, husband of Sonja Calman Carla & Denis Vogel in memory of Ruth Kashine, mother of Judy Baslaw Religious School Enrichment Fund Linda & Abe Davis in appreciation of all who sent us Mishloach Manot The Amsterdam Family Endowment Fund Susan Amsterdam in memory of Jesse Kahan, husband of Naomi Kahan Susan Amsterdam in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green Marcia Minuskin & Jeffrey Zonenshine in honor of Nancy & Arie Bortinger on the birth of their granddaughter, Leah Grace Bortinger Donald Fellows Holocaust Education Memorial Endowment Fund The Rothenberg Family in memory of Cindy Spector Carr The Rothenberg Family in honor of Stuart Buchbinder & Kate Dickherber on the occasion of their engagement Barry H. Glick Chesed Endowment Fund Judy Glick in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green Susan Reeve/Temple Israel Feed the Hungry Fund Elaine Silverstein & Bruce Thaler Mahzor Lev Shalem Anonymous in memory of Diane Marcia Wolfson, sister of Larri Wolfson (2) Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Cheryl & Allan Alterman in honor of the Melton School Selma Klein in memory of Robert Klein The Luxemburg Family Happy Purim Rabbi Selig Salkowitz in appreciation of everyone who gave Mishloach Manot Julie & Robert Unger in memory of Jesse Kahan, husband of Naomi Kahan Julie & Robert Unger in memory of Edward Green, husband of Susan Green 21

22 Donations & Dedications OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING While Judaism itself can thrive without reference to finances, a community of Jews who are committed to the purpose of the synagogue learning, worship, and fellowship does need financial resources to help each other and themselves. Most of us recognize our obligation to maintain membership in Temple Israel and to support it by payment of annual dues. However, dues alone do not cover all of our costs. There is a continuing need for donations to help assure the synagogue s strength and development. We encourage any and all donations to Temple Israel. The following are suggested giving opportunities in which the funds are used to support all aspects of synagogue life: Temple Israel Operating Fund any amount Tributes $5 DEDICATION OPPORTUNITIES Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays $54 Mahzor Lev Shalem For Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur $64 Chumash Etz Hayim $118 Simcha Terrace Paver $136 Memorial Plaque $540 Large Memorial Tablet $54,000 The following are suggested giving opportunities in which the funds are used to support specific areas of synagogue life: Temple Israel Chai Campaign Fund any amount Funds the major capital improvements from our synagogue building renovation Religious School Enrichment Fund any amount Funds religious school enrichment programs & materials Endowment Funds $25,000 to establish a fund; $18 donation to established funds Each Fund has a specific purpose. Consult column on the right Susan Reeve/Temple Israel Feed the Hungry Fund any amount Funds Temple Israel s Tikkun Olam Feed the Hungry Program Kiddush Club Funds the kiddush when there is no regular kiddush sponsor $144 Rabbi s Discretionary Fund any amount Funds charitable purposes, at the discretion of the Rabbi Cantor s Discretionary Fund any amount Funds charitable purposes, at the discretion of the Cantor Associate Rabbi s Discretionary Fund any amount Funds charitable purposes, at the discretion of the Associate Rabbi Contribution Form Name: Address: Enclosed is my contribution of $ to Checks for General Donations or Dedications should be made payable to Temple Israel. Checks for an Endowment or Discretionary Fund should be made payable to the specific Fund. This contribution is in honor of or in memory of Endowment Funds TEMPLE ISRAEL GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To fund maintenance and/or capital improvement projects to Temple Israel properties. AMSTERDAM FAMILY ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To provide siddurim to Temple Israel religious school students. DONALD FELLOWS HOLOCAUST EDUCATION MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To fund the education program portion of the Annual Holocaust Remembrance. PHYLLIS ANN ZWEIG FRIEDMAN ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To provide scholarship to a Temple Israel high school student to attend an Israel/Eastern Europe educational program. BARRY H. GLICK CHESED ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To fund both the cost of a professional motivational speaker who will inspire attendees to perform acts of lovingkindness AND the Chesed forum which will follow the talk. DAVID & SARA GOODMAN ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To fund supplemental Jewish experiences for Jewish youth. DAVID & SALLY KIRSCH SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To provide scholarship to a religious school graduating student for continuing Jewish religious education. ALEXANDER & SOPHIE PURITZ MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To fund the Temple Israel Annual Hanukkah Party, which shall include the distribution of silver dollars to all students. MAX AARON STRACHMAN MEMORIAL LIBRARY ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To purchase educational materials for the library as well as fund library related educational events. WILLIAM & RHODA TOONKEL JEWISH MUSIC ENDOWMENT FUND PURPOSE: To promote Jewish musical education for the Temple Israel religious school, as well as other musical and cultural experiences for Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center. 22

23 COMMUNITY INFORMATION Hebrew Free Loan Association The Paterson Hebrew Free Loan Association was organized in1900, by eight Patersonians who were of humble circumstances (a milliner, a grocer and a peddler among them) but who had a great humanitarian spirit to be of service to the Jewish community. They gathered between $300 and $400 and loaned small sums of money, without interest, to people they felt were deserving, such as refugees and other immigrants primarily from Eastern Europe. Demands for the loans from the Hebrew Relief Society became so great that they soon incorporated the Paterson Hebrew Relief Association. Over a century later, the Paterson Hebrew Free Loan Association continues this vital work in our community. Any Jewish individual or family in Bergen or Passaic county in need is eligible to apply for an interest free loan. Applicants must have acceptable guarantors (endorsers) who will assume responsibility for repayment in the event that the borrower is unable to fulfill his or her loan payment obligation. We are also members of the International Association of Hebrew Free Loans along with fifty other member organizations from the United States, Canada, South America, and Israel. As the needs of our community have changed over time, the Paterson Hebrew Free Loan Association has responded and evolved. We have a link on the Jewish Family and Children s Service of North Jersey s website and our loans, while typically up to $3,000, in special circumstances can go as high as $5,000. Applications are made for a variety of reasons: student loans, personal loans, lifecycle loans, adoption loans, unemployment loans and health care loans. While loans are interest free, guided by Exodus 22:24, If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, do not act towards them as a creditor; exact no interest from them, 99.5 percent of them are repaid in full. We are totally funded by annual and life membership dues, $25 and $200 respectively, as well as donations and corporate matching gifts. Many people in Bergen and Passaic counties know who we are and what we do, but even more do not. As an important resource to our Jewish community, we want to expand our linkage to support those things that have been proven to sustain Jewish identity and are increasingly becoming out of reach for many of our friends and neighbors: day school tuition, Jewish summer camps, synagogue dues and visiting Israel. Join us as a dues paying member, make a small donation, but mostly, help spread the word in our community about the Paterson Hebrew Free Loan Association. We are located at Norma Avenue in Fair Lawn. Jewish Business Network JEWISH BUSINESS NETWORK HOLDS NEXT MEETINGS AT TEMPLE ISRAEL, APRIL 17 AND MAY 15 The Bergen County chapter of the Jewish Business Network (JBN) will hold a meeting at 8:15 am on Tuesday, April 17 and again on Tuesday, May 15 at Temple Israel. Our two previous meeting were well attended by approximately members each time. Network with The Tribe with Bergen County area professionals. The meeting will be hosted by David Cox of Marathon Energy Group. Meet JBN members and business professionals from Temple Israel and the surrounding area. The registration fee is $8 in advance or $10 at the event. Coffee and bagels will be provided. To register for the meeting or for more information, log on at JBN (JBusinessNetwork.net) is a place for Jewish people to connect online and in person for networking and career growth. Business networking is not about selling, but rather about making strategic contacts. The Web site allows Jewish professionals to make those contacts through the power of online social networking. We also host face-to-face meetings which allow these contacts to develop into true relationships. JBN s mission is to be the premier way for Jewish professionals of all ages, affiliations, and nationalities to connect with other Jews for growing their businesses and careers through personal and virtual networking. JBN seeks membership enrollment of Jews from all industries, religious denominations, political affiliations, and geographic locations. It s a non-exclusive network meaning that there are no limits on the number of members joining who work in the same industry. 23

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26 Temple Israel & Jewish Community Center 475 Grove Street Ridgewood, New Jersey Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PARAMUS, NJ Permit No. 887 Calling all gardeners. This spring, the House committee will be planting perennials in front of the shul. If you have plants to donate or if you would like to help, please contact Elaine Silverstein at 26