Temple Talk. April 2011 Nisan Iyar 5771 MEN S CLUB SHABBAT

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1 Temple Israel & JCC Tel: Fax: Dr. David J. Fine, Rabbi Caitlin O. Bromberg, Cantor Rabbi Sharon Litwin, Education Director Denis Vogel President INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Rabbi s Message Pages 2-3 Cantor s Message Page 4 President s Message/ Adult Education Education Director s Message Milestones/Oneg & Kiddush Circle of Honor/ Interfaith Holocaust Service/Hametz Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Ways & Means Pages 9 Jubilee Photos Pages Tikkun Olam/Hazak Page 12 B yachad/babysitters Page 13 Israel Action/Chesed Page 14 Men s Club Page 15 Sisterhood Page 16 Youth Happenings Page 17 Purim Photos Pages Donations Page 20 Opportunities for Giving Page 21 Calendars Pages Advertising Back Cover Temple Talk April 2011 Nisan Iyar 5771 MEN S CLUB SHABBAT Sat., April 2: 9:00 am Services followed by a festive kiddush Sun., April 3: 9:30 am Minyan followed by breakfast and the Harry Grant Award presentation to Man of the Year, Denis Vogel Family Service Friday, April 8, 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! Nosh & Drash Saturday, April 9 Our drasher is Evelyn Auerbach 9:00 to 10:00am Preliminary Service and Shacharit 10:00 to 11:00am Light Kiddush Breakfast and Communal Torah Study 11:00am to 12:30pm Torah Service and Musaf Pesach 5771 Passover Mon, April 18 7:00 am Ta'anit Bekhorim, Fast of the First Born at Temple Israel Tues., April 19 9:30 am First Day Wed., April 20 9:30 am Second Day Fri., April 22 8:30 pm Friday night services Sat., April 23 9:00 am Shabbat Morning Services-Torah Club Shabbat Sun., April 24 9:30 am Chol HaMoed Services Mon., April 25 9:00 am Seventh Day Tues, April 26 9:00 am Eighth Day approx. 10:30 am Yizkor Saturday, April 23 Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach 9:00 am Annual Torah Club Shabbat 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 Celebratory Kiddush follows services

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 will 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 Nassan. 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. Trust me, Maureen will not come to possess our liquor cabinets! 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. 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. Many people 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. We have always done that in my family. 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. But this loophole does not apply to making china kosher for Passover, unless it had not been used in over six months. 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. Finally, there are parts of the kitchen that cannot be exchanged for Passover, like the 2

3 FROM THE RABBI S STUDY (cont.) 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 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 to just 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 kosher-for-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. Our supermarkets and local kosher butchers carry many items that are kosher-for-passover. The Nullification of Hametz. On Sunday night, April 17, 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) on Monday morning, April 18. 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. Monday, April 18, 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. Temple Israel will host the siyyum this year at 7:00 am. Hametz is not supposed to be eaten after around 11:00am. 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 Monday and Tuesday evenings, April 18 and 19. 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. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 19 and 20, and Monday and Tuesday, April 25 and 26, are called yom tov or festivals. They 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 (except for Shabbat). Yizkor. On the final day of Passover, Tuesday, April 26, we say the Yizkor prayer 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 Tuesday night, April 26. 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 CANTOR CAITLIN BROMBERG The Pesach Paradox Pesach is also called the Festival of Freedom. I don t know about you, but preparing for Pesach and exercising the discipline of keeping Kosher L Pesach for a week can seem like the opposite of freedom. How can we use a period of cleaning out the chametz as a metaphor for mental and spiritual housecleaning? How can we transform the experience of restricting what we eat as a metaphor for freedom? After all, after the specialness of the Seder, aren t all those food restrictions just annoying, frustrating and overwhelming? How can feeling deprived for a week make us feel happy and free? I personally believe that you have to actually go through it very thoroughly both the eradication of chametz AND the effort of transforming your kitchen and meals for an entire week to understand the gifts and the liberation that come from the practice of Pesach eating. Matzah is bread stripped down to its essence. It represents both the bread of poverty and the bread of redemption in the Seder. It is simple, not inflated or decorated or dressed up. When we want to transform our selves or our lives, it takes effort, and a return to an awareness of what matters most in life the simplicity of love of family and friends, sharing a simple meal together where the focus can t be the food, so it must be each other. Also the beauty of nurturing the self through simple eating and refraining from excess. May this Pesach bring you many moments of the satisfaction that comes from true spiritual liberation. Torah Club Shabbat will be coming soon. As always, it will be the Shabbat during the intermediate days of Pesach. This year that will be Shabbat April 23. On that day many current and former Torah Club members, including many of our wonderful high school readers, will chant Torah and help lead the service. Torah Club members will be recognized for their achievements and new members will receive their own Tikkunim, the traditional Torah reading preparation book. Please plan to be there that Shabbat to honor our inspiring young people who make this contribution to the beauty and continuity of our Torah reading tradition at Temple Israel. Thank you to the March Torah and Haftarah Readers! Cheryl Alterman, Abe Davis, Dylan Fishbein*, Emily Fishbein, Tamara Freeman, Beth Kotek, Dara Kotek, Elaine Silverstein, Cayla Whittaker*, Jeff Whittaker, Bobby Zur, Coby Zur*, Eitan Zur, Tracy Zur *Mazal Tov to our March B nai Mitzvah: Dylan Fishbein, Cayla Whittaker, Coby Zur And Special Thanks to this Year s Purim Megillah Readers! Debbie Cantor, Chris Dobkins, Rabbi David Fine, Alan Gallatin, Jamie Kreitman, Elaine Silverstein 4

5 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Benefits of Membership We are fortunate at Temple Israel to have a wonderfully diverse community that enjoys the advantages of all the programming that we have to offer. Whether it be Tot Shabbat for our youngest, Torah Club for our up and comers or the scores of Adult Education programs for those of us who would like to be considered mature (the book is still out on me), we have something for everyone. Now we have something more for everyone. Through a pilot program with the YJCC in Washington Township, Temple Israel members will be offered the benefits of membership and programming of the Y for the remarkable price of $ per year for the entire family. The gym, the pool and many other offerings will be at no additional charge. Also the great YJCC preschool will be available to all Temple Israel members, (at least those young enough to use it.) We will be partners in building a stronger, more cohesive Jewish Community while also filling the gaps in our own program offerings. The exact details will be shared with the congregation in short order. I would be remiss if I did not mention the incredible job of Jo Rosen and her tireless team of Jubilee coordinators. Our celebration of 50 years on Grove Street was a joyous celebration of all things Temple Israel. We enjoyed good food, music and each other s company, not to mention the fact that we accomplished our fund raising goal for the event. It is your continued support that keeps us going strong. I am looking forward to the next 50 years. By the time you read this, the Rabbi and a busload of our friends and neighbors will be traversing the German countryside. I for one can not wait for them to get back and hear every last detail of their trip. This is the culmination of a vastly successful course taught be Rabbi Fine. Next year, I already understand, will bring us an equally exciting offer. Stay tuned for details. There is always something happening at Temple Israel. Denis ADULT EDUCATION Music & Meaning With Cantor Caitlin Bromberg: Four session mini-course on how music and prayer combine to create spiritual meaning Continues on Shabbat following Kiddush: April 16 & May 14 Jane Rosen, Adult Ed Chair 5

6 EDUCATION DIRECTOR S MESSAGE Many many thanks to Miriam Bakal for the outrageously clever movie theater food themed Mishloah Manot this year. Her hard work and the efforts of over 30 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, Howard and Trude Engle for helping to run the Purim carnival for the last time. David will be heading off to college in the fall, and we are so grateful for all of the years he has dedicated to our carnival. We are actively looking for a new carnival planner, and if you are interested please let me know. Pesach is coming, and April will be a very short month for our Religious School students. On April 1, our Kitah Bet and Kitah Gimmel students will lead us in Shabbat evening services followed by dinner. The students are excited to demonstrate their prayer abilities and to inspire their parents in worship. We will then have April break from April 10-26, during which time our families will have Ridgewood school break and then Pesach will arrive just in time to go back to school. UPCOMING EVENTS: Saturday April 2 Junior Congregation Sunday, April 10 Tuesday April 26 Ridgewood and Pesach Break Friday, April 8 Family Services 7:00 pm Saturday April 30 Junior Congregation *May 22 Last Day of School. June 8, 7:30pm -- Graduation, and awards, and moving up ceremonies. Erev 2 nd day Shavuot services. All students and families are invited to attend. *May 22nd is Lag B Omer a day that celebrates Jewish victories and is traditionally a day for games and fun. At our last day of Religious School we will have a Maccabia, a color war, for all of our students from 9:30-11:30am followed by a Men s Club BBQ for the entire congregation. 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 5, A bus will leave from the Jewish 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. May the April showers really bring May flowers!!! -Rabbi Sharon 6

7 MILESTONES WEDDING Andrew Fleischman and Vanessa Merrill. Andrew is the son of Roberta and Chuck Fleischman We wish the newlyweds a lifetime of mazel and simchah, of celebration and happiness. B NEI MITZVAH Dylan Fishbein, son of Susan and Daniel Fishbein Cayla Whittaker, daughter of Lorissa Lightman and Jeffrey Whittaker Coby Zur, son of Tracy and Ben-Tzion Zur We wish our B nei Mitzvah a lifetime of Torah, Mitzvot, and Gemilut Hasadim (Acts of Lovingkindness). REFUAH SHELEIMAH Clarence Calman We wish complete healing of body and spirit to all who confront illness. DEATHS Corrine Buchalter, mother of Carla Vogel Lucille Fishbein, mother of Daniel Fishbein Paul Halpern, husband of Rita Halpern Dorothy Holden, mother of Fred Holden and grandmother of Joshua Holden Rabbi Sandy Roth, cousin of Sue Rubinoff Florence Shustak, mother of Lenore Sherman Eugene Weiss, father of Larry Weiss May the families be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Oneg Shabbat April 1 April 8 April 15 April 22 April 29 Kiddush Sponsors April 2 April 9 April 16 April 23 April 30 ONEG/KIDDUSH SPONSORS Parents of our Kitah Bet & Kitah Gimmel students. OPEN SPONSORSHIP-Family Service OPEN SPONSORSHIP OPEN SPONSORSHIP OPEN SPONSORSHIP Brandeis Men s Club in honor of Men s Club Shabbat OPEN SPONSORSHIP NOSH & DRASH OPEN SPONSORSHIP Parents of our Torah Club students The Manheimer & Shames Families in honor of their children, Rebecca and Matthew reading Torah for the first time at Junior Congregation 7

8 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 Shari & Manny Haber Rita & Robert Obeiter Sponsor s Circle Cheryl & Allan Alterman Anonymous Christine & Evan Dobkins The Fels Family Roberta & Charles Fleischman Tamara & Barry Freeman Sharyn & Alan Gallatin Susie & Shelly Goldstein Suzanne & Joshua Holden Debbie, Wayne & Jared Miller Peri & David Namerow Johanna & Michael Rosen Ellen & Allen Rubin Kurt Rosenberg Sisterhood of Temple Israel Carla & Denis Vogel INTERFAITH HOLOCAUST SERVICE 25th ANNUAL INTERFAITH HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE SERVICE SUNDAY, May 1 at 7:30 pm at Westside Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood HAMETZ Mekhirat Hametz Authorization-5771/2011 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: 8

9 Our Jubilee Celebration WAYS AND MEANS Thank you to our congregation for supporting this wonderful event on March 13, celebrating Temple Israel's 50 years on Grove Street. You supported us with your ads, your attendance, your donations and your purchases of silent auction items, and by working on this event. In particular I would like to thank my committee for all of their hard and heartfelt work and dedication. Our Ad Journal Co-chairs, Susie Goldstein and Linda Paige, successfully solicited over $40,000 in ads. Our Journal was masterfully designed and laid out by Gila Melamed, who in her professional life, is a graphic designer. We hope you appreciate the wonderful graphic images on your ads and the warmth and energy that emanates from this Journal. Yashar cochacha!!! Our Party was co chaired by Alla Fine and Beth Kotek who oversaw the details relating to food, music, liquor, and decor. The results were astounding. Thank You! Cheryl Alterman oversaw the design and mailing of our invitations to present and past temple members. Both she and Arlene Cox ran "the gate" on Sunday. We had over 145 people respond to our invitations!!! Thank you to Shari Haber who was responsible for both the internal marketing of the party and writing up the Silent Auction descriptions with Ariella Drori. The silent auction made over $14,000! Thanks to Bruce Thaler for his press release. Thank you to Peri Namerow for her countless hours of work inputting data, integrating many editing changes, and overall making sure we had a database for the ad journal, the silent auction, and the rsvps. Thank you to our committee members who pounded the pavement, made phone calls, compiled the silent auction book, wrapped baskets, and set up the party: Nancy Bortinger, Irene Bressler, Laura Brody, Arlene Cox, Evan Dobkins, Bob Dworkin, Nadine Genet, Stephanie Gottesman, Susan Green, Miriam Kaftal, Helen Katz, Elyse Levene, Raquel Nachajon, Peri Namerow, Jane Rosen, Howard Schreiber, and Naomi Strachman, and Emily Vandalovsky. Thank you to our clergy, Rabbi David Fine, Cantor Caitlin Bromberg and Rabbi Sharon Litwin. Thank you to our office staff, Maureen Nassan and Judy Baslaw. Thank you to our custodial staff, Tina Polen and Jose Serna for all of their support. AND thank you to our Board of Directors under the guidance of our dedicated, fearless leader, Denis Vogel. This list does not include all the people who volunteered at our party to work the Silent Auction and other aspects of the party. Thank you too! It has been a pleasure to work on this event. Our financial stability is crucial to our being able, as a synagogue community, to go from strength to strength. Here's to another 50 years on Grove Street. Johanna Rosen, Chair, Ways and Means

10 JUBILEE PHOTOS 10

11 JUBILEE PHOTOS (cont.) Party On! 11

12 Thanks Abound TIKKUN OLAM The last couple of months have been very busy for our Tikkun Olam participants Homeless Hosting----December 2010 and February 2011 Once again Temple Israel congregants and friends served a delicious meal of chili, rice, corn bread, mixed vegetables, tropical fruit salad and home made desserts to 120 people in need. Volunteers, including Hebrew School kids, helped cook in the shul kitchen, and apple juice and tropical fruit were donated by Evan Dobkins and Howard Schreiber respectively. Led by Sue Hill, we had our longstanding volunteers as well as some new faces serving on site and cooking in the kitchen. Next Homeless feeding Tuesday, May 10 Blood Drive Continues to be a Big Success The March 6 Blood Drive was a big success on many fronts producing 49 pints of blood. Not only did we have entire families participate, but we also had four first time donors. We were especially well equipped this time and were able to provide 2 platelet donors (taking one hour to donate) and three individuals gave double red cell donations. At least six donors qualified for providing blood for newborn babies----they are O +/- and test negative for CMV (Cytomegalovirus virus). The next blood drive will be in the Fall. HAZAK The Senior Arm of Temple Israel Kudos to Cantor Caitlin for entertaining and teaching us about the history of Sephardic music. Besides the varied music played she sang wonderfully as usual. We also must thank our own Evelyn Auerbach for our delicious lunch. Next month on Wednesday, April 13 we will have a joint lunch and program together with the Glen Rock and Fairlawn temples. We will eat, schmooze and again be taught and entertained by our knowledgeable and talented Cantor Caitlin Bromberg and possibly a surprise guest will add to the afternoon. The lunch is $5.00 for members and $7.00 for non-members. Please join us for a delightful, insightful, and yummy time.. Any questions please call Sonia & Ionel Albescu at

13 B YACHAD Hello my friends! March was a great month for B yachad kids and adults alike, what with Purim and the Jubilee and all. Okay, so we can t take credit for those, but we turned out and had a good time anyway. Our second monthly Shabbat potluck was somewhat less of a carnival than Purim, but fun nonetheless. Thank you to those who came and contributed! Want to know what s happening in April? Sign up for the list, or you ll have to wait for the May Temple Talk to find out how much fun it was! Ideas include a trip to the museum with the kids and a margarita and tapas party without them. We re also sure to have another Shabbat Potluck, and we have a new line on a Karaoke place (our Rebbetzin won t let us give up yet!) And it looks like we ll even be able to put together a quorum for a B yachad dinner in Germany! Who is B Yachad? We re loosely defined as being the fellowship group for the younger families, members and prospective members of the Temple Israel community. Basically, we re Gen X or Y people who want to get together and socialize (with and without the children). For more information, to RSVP, or to be added to our list, contact Josh at (eve), (day), or Byachad-contact@synagogue.org. And be sure to check your for full details on upcoming events! Josh and Suzie Holden B Yachad people BABYSITTERS Current Baby Sitters *Josh Blecher-Cohen Age 17 *Zoe Blecher-Cohen Age 15 *Ashley Caruso Age 14 *Jake Haber Age 16 Carly Haber Age 13 *Jennifer Schuler Age 16 *Red Cross Babysitting Class 13

14 ISRAEL ACTION Zahal Shalom Program: Every year since 1993 the Zahal Shalom program has sponsored a delegation of ten disabled Israel war veterans to visit Bergen County and be hosted by local families for two weeks. The next delegation is due to arrive on May 15 and will be received at Temple Israel. A number of Temple Israel families have been hosts and found it to be a life-changing experience, an opportunity to develop very close relationships with Israelis who demonstrate an incredible will to overcome their disabilities and lead a normal, productive life. At the end of the two weeks, during which the veterans visit sites in the New York area and Washington D.C., the hosts and veterans develop bonds resembling an extended family. Local families who never dreamed of visiting Israel have been inspired to go time and again. If you are interested to become better acquainted with this amazing program please contact Richard Schnaittacher at or rss@aetrex.com CHESED DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CHESED COMMITTEE DOES? If your family has experienced a significant medical issue or even a death in the family, please let us know; we will be glad to arrange for a meal to be sent to your house or for transportation to/from a medical visit. Do you know someone who is housebound and would benefit from a house visit? If so, please let us know. The Chesed Committee has also been collecting nearly-new or gently used medical paraphernalia such as crutches, walkers, and canes, etc. If you have a need for any of these items, please let us know. Here is another way to get involved in the Temple Israel community and feel good about it with little or no extra effort: If you have storage capacity for any of these items and would be willing to let us store some or all of them in your garage, basement, storage shed, etc. please let us know. For any of these, please call Elyse Beidner Levene at Chesed can HELP! 14

15 B randeis M en s C lub BRANDEIS MEN S CLUB On April 2 (Shabbat HaChodesh) we observed Men s Club Shabbat, in conjunction with the Federation of Jewish Men s Clubs. BMC members conducted Shabbat morning services, led prayers, read Torah, chanted Haftarah, and delivered the d var Torah. This event is in conjunction with the Conservative synagogues throughout the United States who observe this day and lead Shabbat services. Thank you to Jeff Meltzer for organizing the event and Joe Wechsler for arranging the Kiddush. On Sunday, April 3, we conducted our annual Man of the Year brunch and roast. We honored and mocked our 2010/2011 MOY, former BMC President and current Temple Israel President, Denis Vogel. Denis was presented with the Harry Grant Award which is awarded annually in honor of Harry Grant, olev hashalom. Harry was a long time leader of the Brandeis Men s Club, and the Northern NJ Region of the Federation of Jewish Men s Clubs. Harry set an example for us all and through his unflagging efforts on behalf of our community Denis more than lives up to that example in all of his hard work and devotion to making Temple Israel a better place for us all. During April we will be distributing Yellow Candles for Yom HaShoah. Every year this is a great opportunity for our young people to volunteer to work with their parents to distribute the candles to our members. Please consider making a donation to the Men s Club to enable us to continue this tradition in the future. Yom HaShoah is on Sunday May 1. Remember to light your candle that night to honor the six million who perished in the holocaust. Golf Outing When: Thursday June 16, 1:30 PM Shotgun start. Arrive no later than 1:00 PM Where: Farmstead Golf & Country Club, Andover, New Jersey (about 60 minutes from Ridgewood) Cost: $60.00 includes 18 holes and electric cart; Fun and camaraderie No Charge! RSVP by June 9th. 10baker@optonline.net Space is limited, so reserve your spot now! Send your check payable to Brandeis Men s Club to: Howard Schreiber, 10 Baker Court, Ramsey, NJ Open to all members of Temple Israel, and friends! Prizes for the winning team! Prize for Longest Drive! Prize for Closest to the Pin! Hag Sameach HaPesach! Bob Rohrberger 15

16 SISTERHOOD Join Hadassah: Lifetime memberships to Hadassah are available for just $100 through December 31. Contact Susie Goldstein at or Ladies Night Out at Color Me Mine: Come relax during Passover. Join us on Thursday evening, April 21, 7:00-9:00 pm at Color Me Mine in Ridgewood. The seders will be over, and you'll need a night out! This evening of rest, relaxation, and socializing is co-sponsored by Sisterhood and the ladies of B'Yachad. The cost will be $10 per person plus the cost of the pottery you select. Contact Suzie Holden at suzie.holden@yahoo.com or Deb Manheimer at debmanheimer@optonline.net Nutrition Workshop with Waltraud Unger, Sunday, May 1, 10:30 am at Temple Israel. This event is co-sponsored by Men s Club and will include the opportunity for follow-up personalized nutrition consultation with Waltraud. Upcoming events: We will round out the year with a membership meeting and Ladies Night Out in June and the annual Pool Party in July. Sisterhood has High Holiday pew seats and parking passes to auction and we ll do that at the pool party. 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. Linda Van Grover continues to handle tallitot sales this year. A new selection is available in our gift shop, and Linda will be happy to assist you with selection, whether it is in stock or needs to be custom- ordered. Call Linda at (201) or vangrover@aol.com 16

17 YOUTH HAPPENINGS A small but lively group had a glow-in-the dark good time at Monster Golf in March, playing minigolf and arcade games. We enjoyed the friendly competition and also watching the ticket muncher eat up all our tickets after we played games in the arcade. Congrats to Josh Caplan, who got a hole in one! As usual, our Chocolate Seder will be a sticky, gooey, yummy, chocolate-y good time. El Al will enjoy 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! Please join us April 3, 2011 from12:45-2:15pm. Hope you all join us for some El Al fun times! -Rabbi Sharon Spring is officially here and Kadima is looking forward to enjoying it!!! March was a great month with a fun Movie Mystery event and great Lounge Night. April will be another fun month. Our event for the month will be Sunday, April 3. We are going to mini-golf on at Monster Golf. Lounge Night will be a bit early this month due to Spring Break and Passover. It will be Wednesday the 6. I hope to see you at our events this month and I hope you all have a wonderful Pesach! As usual, any questions or concerns me at fhillman78@yahoo.com -Morah Felicia We learned what a sofer does! 17

18 PURIM PHOTOS 18

19 PURIM PHOTOS (cont.) 19

20 Temple Israel Chai Campaign The Rosenfeld Family in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner Temple Israel Operating Fund Corina & Andrei Aroneanu in honor of Temple Israel s Jubilee Corina & Andre Aroneanu in memory of Esther Fleischman, mother of Chuck Fleischman Ellen & Raphael Blumkin in memory of Joseph Korobchinsky Frankie & Eli Bordowitz in honor of Temple Israel s Jubilee Linda & Ave Davis in honor of Lisa Bennett & Jeffrey Joseph on the occasion of their marriage Linda & Ave Davis in memory of Selma Haber, aunt of Carla Vogel Linda & Abe Davis in honor of Sandy & Joe Wechsler on the birth of their granddaughter, Meirav Goldberg Linda & Abe Davis in honor of Dori & Rick Rosenthal on the occasion of their daughter, Rebecca s bat mitzvah Karen & Steve Diamond in honor of Temple Israel s Jubilee Christine & Evan Dobkins in memory of Harvey Brandenburg, brother of Ira Brandenburg Christine & Evan Dobkins in memory of Rosalie Crane, mother of Jackie Crane Christine & Evan Dobkins in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner Christine & Evan Dobkins in honor of Sara Tova Horowitz, newborn grandson of Roz & Don Horowitz Christine & Evan Dobkins in honor of Lisa Bennett & Jeffrey Joseph on the occasion of their marriage Christine & Evan Dobkins in honor of Sarah Zonenshine, daughter of Marcia Minuskin & Jeffrey Zonenshine, and Matt Green on the occasion of their engagement Christine & Evan Dobkins in honor of Rebecca Rosenthal, daughter of Rick & Dora Rosenthal, on the occasion of her bat mitzvah Christine & Evan Dobkins in honor of Cayla Whittaker, daughter of Lorissa Lightman & Jeffrey Whittaker, on the occasion of her bat mitzvah Sherry & Stephen Frank in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner Judy Baslaw & Joe Freeland in honor of Temple Israel s Jubilee Susie & Shelly Goldstein in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Susie & Shelly Goldstein in memory of Rosalie Crane, mother of Jackie Crane Ellie & Martin Gruber in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Rita Halpern in honor of Temple Israel s Jubilee June & Barry Kaplan in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine June & Barry Kaplan in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner June & Barry Kaplan in memory of Rosalie Crane, mother of Jackie Crane Beth & Freddie Kotek in memory of Rosalie Crane, mother of Jackie Crane Beverly & Arnold Lang in memory of Rosalie Crane, mother of Jackie Crane Melony & Robert Muller in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner Rabbi Selig Salkowitz in honor of Rabbi Fine, Cantor Bromberg, and congregants to thank them for their support & encouragement during my recent recuperation Rabbi Selig Salkowitz in honor of Trude Engle for preparing and delivering a delicious meal to me during my recent recuperation Rabbi Selig Salkowitz in memory of my father, Harry Salkowitz, my aunts Kate Salkowitz and Lottie Reich, for whom Kaddish was recited in DONATIONS We thank all of our donors: December Naomi & Howard Strachman in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine The Van Engle Family in honor of Temple Israel s Jubilee Barry H. Glick Chesed Endowment Fund Judy Glick in memory of Beatrice Rosenfelt, mother of Phil Rosenfelt Judy Glick in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Judy Glick in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner Pamela Grant in memory of Tuve Mechanic, stepmother of Judy Glick Pamela Grant in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner Pamela Grant in memory of Rosalie Crane, mother of Jackie Crane Pamela Grant in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine David & Sally Kirsch Scholarship Endowment Fund Ira Plotnick in memory of David & Sally Kirsch Religious School Enrichment Fund Miriam & Todd Bakal in honor of Coby Zur on the occasion of his bar mitzvah Linda & Abe Davis to all those who gave us Mishloach Manot Lois Rowitt in honor of our children Andrea Glickhouse & Harvey, Jeffrey & Matthew Zachem in memory of Rosalie Crane, mother of Jackie Crane Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays Sherry & Stephen Frank in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Mahzor Lev Shalem The Butensky Family in honor of Drs. Peri & David Namerow The Butensky Family in honor of Christine & Evan Dobkins Rebecca Vogel in memory of Selma Haber, aunt of Carla Vogel Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Judy Baslaw in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Rena Bernstein in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner Linda & Abe Davis in memory of Jacob Kirshner, father of Eli Kirshner Linda & Abe Davis in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Christine & Evan Dobkins in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Sandy, Harris, Ryan & Adam Hirsch in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Sharon & Ken Levitsky in honor of Rabbi Fine s wonderful course on German-Jewish history Risa & Robert Rohrberger in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Jane & Richard Rosen in memory of Dorothy Fine, grandmother of Rabbi David Fine Cantor s Discretionary Fund Miriam & Todd Bakal in honor of Mollie s first Torah Reading at Junior Congregation 20

21 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 $118 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 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 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. 21

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24 Temple Israel & Jewish Community Center 475 Grove Street Ridgewood, New Jersey Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PARAMUS, NJ Permit No. 887 TEMPLE ISRAEL BUSINESS SPONSORS 24