We Went Around the world

Transcription

1 TEMPLE TIDINGS Volume 30, Issue 1 July 2016 Sivan Tammuz Monthly Newsletter of Congregation Beth Yam, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina We Went Around the world with Twyla! MEMBER UNION for REFORM JUDAISM Thank you for a job well done!

2 July 2016 Sivan Tammuz 5776 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 6 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 2 Candle Lighting 8:34 PM Parashat Shelach 3 4 OFFICE CLOSED 5 4 PM Executive Committee 6 4 PM Endowment Trustees 4 PM Music Meeting PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 9 Candle Lighting 8:33 PM Parashat Korach AM Ritual Committee 1 PM Communications Committee 2 PM Task Force 4 PM Board Meeting PM Music Meeting 14 1:30 PM Outreach Committee 3 PM Fundraising Committee 15 Tidings Deadline 6 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service Candle Lighting 8:31 PM 16 Parashat Chukat 17 9:15 AM Religious School Committee PM Music Meeting PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 23 Candle Lighting 8:27 PM Parashat Balak PM Music Meeting PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 30 Candle Lighting 8:22 PM Parashat Pinchas 31 SAVE THE DATE Date Time August Events 1 10:00 AM Ritual Committee 4:00 PM Executive Committee 3 4:00 PM Endowment Trustees 11:00 AM Sisterhood Executive Board 5 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 8 1:00 PM Communications Committee 2:00 PM Task Force 4:00 PM Board Meeting 9 12:15 PM CBY Men s Club Luncheon 11 10:00 AM Sisterhood Board 1:30 PM Outreach Committee 3:00 PM Fundraising Committee Date Time August Events 12 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 14 9:15 AM Religious School Committee 18 1:00 PM Membership Committee 19 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 21 9:00 AM Opening Day Religious School 25 5:00 PM Sisterhood Fashion Show at Pink Pineapple 26 6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Service 29 7:00 PM HHD Choir Rehearsal 31 7:00 PM HHD Choir Rehearsal 2

3 Rabbi s Message I would like to acknowledge a historic moment in the life of the Congregation. It is humbling and gratifying and fills me with such joy and pride. This is the first time CBY has elected its rabbi to a long term commitment and ultimately to become, with God s grace, this congregation s first emeritus rabbi. I do not take this moment lightly and recognize the seriousness of the occasion and for that reason I would like to tie our decision to the forthcoming holiday of Shavuot. Israel stood at Sinai to enter into a much more important covenant where our ancestors accepted the Torah and committed themselves to the Torah and all its values and teachings for themselves and their progeny. Your decision means we, too, are joining together to enter into a covenant between a rabbi and congregation. I would like to first express my thanks to our outgoing President Twyla Sable for her leadership on this recent journey. Twyla, one could say that this should be recorded in the history book of the congregation and that it belongs to your list of accomplishments and your legacy to this congregation during your years of leadership. Secondly, I would like to thank the Contract Committee for its work on this project, especially for all the hours and discussions and deliberations that you invested in order to bring the results of this process to fruition. Thirdly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Board of Directors without whose support I would not be here. Your decision to support this process, approve it and then to extend to me this opportunity to serve Congregation Beth Yam is a great honor for me personally. Finally, it is with the deepest appreciation that I offer my thanks to the entire congregation who supported this lifecycle event to perpetuate the continued work and leadership that I strive every day to provide to this congregation. I have made many meaningful relationships Social Action Committee Judie Aronson & Janet Weingarten, Co-chairs This month, Family Promise, an interdenominational effort, is in the spotlight. Our Congregation, through the leadership of the Social Action Committee, volunteers for Family Promise. Local congregations help homeless and low income families achieve sustainable independence. Homeless families are helped to regain their housing, independence, and dignity. They are provided temporary housing in churches, meals and services such as teaching financial literacy, preparing for job searches and obtaining affordable housing. Tena Graber, a member of SAC, coordinates the Family Promise effort. We partner with All Saints Church where by preaching, teaching and counseling you throughout the last seven years. The words of the sages ring true at this hour when one sage said, MiKol melamdai hiskalti which means from all of my students I have learned. Yes, as I have tried to teach, I have also been blessed by all the presidents and volunteer leaders who have taken me under their wing and taught me many good lessons about how best to serve you, the congregants. I look forward to being a good student as I work hard to be the teacher and spiritual leader you need and want me to be for the congregation. I promise that I will continue to give you the best of my effort and look forward to sharing in your lives and caring for you in your time of need, and learning with you and from you as well. While there is a business component of our relationship, I maintain that the essence and the core of what makes a congregation effective and successful as well as what makes the partnership between rabbi and congregation long lasting is that we are all engaged in a brit, a covenant to see to it that we live out the mitzvah to be a Jew. In conclusion, I would like to end with a prayer. O God of Israel, teach us to be worthy of the name of Jew. May we do nothing to disgrace it. May our every act bring honor to our faith and glory to Your name. May we understand our responsibility as Jews, to continue the task begun by earlier generations of our people who achieved greatness by their faith in the mission to which You had called them; to serve in Your name, to bring light and blessing to all the families of this congregation, to the community and to all the families of the earth. Thank you very much, on behalf of Linda and myself, for this moment in our lives and in the life of this congregation. Shalom, Rabbi Brad L. Bloom MSW DD families are provided emergency housing. SAC provides family friendly breakfasts and dinners. Our Men s Club sets up beds at the church. Volunteers are always needed to provide a meal and spend an evening with client families, sharing the meal, talking, and reading a story or playing games with the children. The latest families in June included two single moms (one pregnant) and their young children. If you would like to help, contact Tena, Judie, or Janet. 3

4 Message From The President Pennie Meiselman When Alan and I moved to Hilton Head Island exactly eight years ago, I knew we were going to become members of Congregation Beth Yam. Little did I imagine I would be writing this column as President of CBY. We moved into our house in Hilton Head Plantation on a Tuesday, Thursday we became members of the temple and Friday night we attended services. We were warmly greeted by Karen Blickstein. At the oneg following services we were invited to join a group going out for dinner (Chinese food of course). I joined the Membership Committee which was cochaired by Joel Lerner and Barbara Schuman and I was hooked. I felt and still do feel very passionately about membership, greeting and welcoming people to our beautiful House by the Sea. As we enjoy the heat of summer (or not) and preparations for the High Holy Days begin, I hope everyone will become involved in both our spiritual and cultural life at CBY. Twyla Sable has left a legacy to truly live up to. She put her heart and soul into being President and I intend to make her proud of me. To conclude, I want everyone to know I will work enthusiastically for CBY and hope that I can continue to count on the support of all of our members. Each month I will end my column with a few Fun Facts. Did you know that July is: National Blueberry Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Hot Dog Month and birthdays of my two granddaughters in Israel, Bracha and Maayan? Shalom, Pennie Men s Club Alan Krumholz, President Our next meeting will be on Tuesday August 9, at 12:15 at CBY. There will be an annual meeting and brunch on September 18 from AM. There will also be a board meeting that day from 9-10 AM. May and June were busy times for the Men s Club: Kids and Klutzes, sponsoring and cooking at the annual religious school picnic, ushering for a number of events and helping Family Promise. Our June board meeting laid out plans for the following six months including our annual golf tournament at Moss Creek, this year on September 29. Please contact Stuart Blickstein, Nelson Adelman or Mike Werner of our events committee, with any ideas for new events, or revivals of old meeting programs. We Adult Education Committee Barbara Slagowitz, Chair The Immigration Project: Exploring Our Roots What do we know of our own Jewish immigrant past? CBY s Adult Education Committee is pleased to announce an exciting new year-long project that will begin unfolding this fall. The project will include a wide variety of programs designed to raise congregants awareness and understanding of the history of Jewish immigration to the United States. In addition to formal classes on our history, we plan to offer hands-on workshops on how to research your own family history; music programs; cooking classes; lectures; films; and much more. We anticipate that many of welcome your suggestions for short programs for future meetings, and larger scale events. The Golf Committee is in full swing working on our 2016 tourney to be held at Moss Creek on September 29. Please contact Steve Burstein with suggestions or if you wish to be involved in helping make this event as successful as it has been. If you are a dues paying member and not receiving our regular s it is because your system is blocking the communication using Constant Contact. Please let me know and we will send you a direct to help you fix the problem going forward. these programs will be spearheaded by other committees in addition to Adult Education. Although these programs are still in the earliest planning stages, you will be receiving more information over the summer. In the meantime, mark your calendar now for Saturday evening, September 10, when we kick off this amazing project with an introductory program for all congregants. Details will follow in the weeks ahead. 4

5 Sisterhood President s Message Sue Gostanian, President Twyla s Around the World celebration was a tribute to her leadership. She stressed a sense of family. Sisterhood past presidents advocated the need for community involvement and support, the need to access resources to feed and help provide financial assistance to the less fortunate, programs to encourage the culture of the Lowcountry and a deep sense of commitment to CBY. We live in an area that provides the best that native residents and newcomers have to offer...a blending of cultures, religions and ages. Sisterhood is committed to continue the sources of education to foster Women s health, both physical and emotional, as well as accessing resources to benefit the community...cby and the Hilton Head area. We hope to continue the programs initiated by Sisterhood, as well as considering new events that promote our goals. I, personally am honored to work alongside the CBY and community organizations to promote events that support our ideals. Yours in Sisterhood, Sue Onegs Thank you to all the following who contributed to the Onegs for May: The Membership Committee, The CBY Board, The CBY Sisterhood, Karen Blickstein and Alan Krumholz. Funds When you are thinking of how to honor or memorialize a beloved member of your family or a very dear friend, please consider contributions to the sisterhood funds: Oneg/ Kitchen Fund, Building Expansion Fund, Youth and Community Enrichment Fund, Youth Camp Scholarship Fund, Fund of Greatest Need, Book Club and Women s Study Group, Food Pantry Fund and Bereavement Fund. Just put a check in the sisterhood treasurer s folder in the office along with a donation form that is available outside the office on the wall opposite the gift shop. Thank you for your usual generosity to our programs and goals. Sisterhood Committee Volunteering Contact Kathy Burnce if you are interested in volunteering in any of the following committees. Bereavement Help coordinate and serve those in mourning Book Club Help plan and moderate book reviews Community Seder Open to the entire Jewish community Judaica Shop Work in the shop Women s Study Group Discussions of various issues Membership Help with Membership luncheon, mailings, and plan events Oneg Shabbat Coordinate Friday evening refreshments and special events Special Projects Community outreach and fundraising Women s Health Initiatives Holiday Gift Wrapping Women s Seder Coordinate food, music, and service Food Pantry Help distribute food for the needy October 31 The Lilith Salons have been restructured and the program is now known as The Women s Study Group. In this regard, on October 31, Sue Gostanian has graciously offered her home and Myra Goldschmidt will be facilitating Women's Speech: Discriminating Differences. The talk will discuss: 1) ways in which speakers demonstrate different cultural attitudes towards men and women, 2) differences in the actual speech of men and women, and 3) speech differences between the two presidential candidates. 5

6 Board Abstract Sharon Bass, Recording Secretary Pennie welcomed all returning and new board members May minutes were approved Rabbi presented his report and noted that he will be attending Camp Coleman June He is working with our new student cantor, Daniel Geigerman, in preparation for the high holidays. Treasurer s Report: Ted thanked Bob Sable for a job well done managing the Temple finances. The endowment fund will make a one time $10, contribution to Congregation Beth Yam for the 2016/17 fiscal year. The 2015/16 year is closing with a deficit. The Friends Campaign closed out with a successful year. Religious School: New chairs thanked Melanie Wynne for her conscientious leadership. The committee has four new members. Changes are going to be made to the curriculum with the end goal to make the children more proficient in their Hebrew skills. Pennie read a letter from a congregant thanking Rabbi and Robin Krumholz for making his family feel so welcome at CBY. Pennie is exploring possible rental opportunities with another church to help make up revenue shortfall created by the relocation of the Church Without Walls. Fund Raising: There will be a Texas Hold em tournament held on December 10, Alan Meiselman is developing a fundraising plan which will include founding members of CBY. A gala is being planned for March 4, 2017 to be held at the Omni Resort/Hotel in Palmetto Dunes. Dine Around program has been successful and will continue. 92Y will also start up again in the fall. Life Cycle Policy: When Rabbi is requested by a congregant to officiate at a life cycle event that is to held away from the Low Country, the congregant will be required to pay for the Rabbi s expenses, such as: airfare, accommodations, and meals. Any questions regarding this policy may be directed to the congregation president. There has been a problem with caterers working at CBY for private events and not knowing or following our Kashrut policy. This is going to be more thoroughly covered with caterers and parties involved when an event is planned. It is hoped this will correct the problem. Membership: The board approved Richard and Judy Movshin for membership. Ritual Committee David Kurjan, Chair The Torah portions this July contain some fascinating stories. First up is Parashat Sh lach L cha. Moses sends spies to the Land of Israel to report on its inhabitants and the country. Joshua and Caleb return with a mixed message it is a land of milk and honey but too well-fortified to be conquered. The people are frightened. So, to punish them, God announces that all those who left Egypt would wander another 40 years and not enter the Land of Israel except for Joshua and Caleb. Then comes Parashat Korach. This Torah portion tells the story of Korach and his followers, Dathan and Abiram, who lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. God punishes the rebels by burying them and their families alive. This is followed by Parashat Chukat. Chukat begins by describing one of the most mysterious rituals in the Torah the rite of the Red Heifer and special waters of purification in case of contact with a corpse. Chukat recounts the deaths of both Aaron and Miriam. After Miriam dies, the people are thirsty and complain to Moses. Instead of speaking to a rock to draw water per God s instructions, he hits it. As a result, God tells Moses and Aaron they will not enter the Land of Israel. The next week we read Parashat Balak. This Torah portion tells of a prophet named Bil am hired by Balak, King of Moab, to curse the Israelites so that he can defeat them and drive them out of the region. This prophet-forhire has an amazing adventure which includes listening to his talking donkey and encountering angels. In the end Bil am blesses the Israelites with the familiar words Mah Tovu and prophesies that Israel s enemies will be defeated. New Meron Torah unveiled Please note: the High Holy Days will be upon us before we know it. If you have not purchased your set of prayer books this would be a good time to do so. You can dedicate them in memory or in honor of someone special and a book plate will be inserted into your copy. Please contact David Kurjan for further information. 6

7 Fundraising Committee Alan Meiselman, Chair Our new fiscal year starts with a terrific range of programs. The Dine Around program will offer over a dozen possibilities, including a brunch at Buffaloes, dinners at The Sage Room, Cranes Steak House, Santa Fe Café, Hilton Head Prime, The Cottage, Catch 22, Pazzo, Sea Grass Grill, Pour Richard, Hudsons, Wise Guys, Marleys as well as a couple of additional selections. These great dining and social events will be limited to the first 40 reservations. Dates for each of these dining experiences will be published in the August Tidings so that you can make your plans & secure your reservations. Diane Miller is once again chairing this committee and has already done a great job in securing these locations. Bon appetit. The 92Y Live program will continue this fall. The schedule will be available in late August. Due to the presidential election we expect some very interesting discussions. There will be no increase in cost, or limitation in seating. Our Texas Holdem Tournament this past spring was quite successful and very enjoyable. We will have another similar evening on Saturday, December 10th. Get your chips ready to have a great, fun filled night. The highlight of the year will be our bi-annual Gala- Auction evening. This will be held at the Omni Resort Hotel on Saturday, March 4th. This evening will celebrate the 35th anniversary of our founding. We promise every attendee a very special & memorable evening. Religious School Robin Krumholz, Principal Our Religious School year has come to a close, and your principal has survived her first year at the helm. The faculty and I are grateful to the CBY Board of Directors, Sisterhood, Men s Club, Social Action Committee, Care Committee, Ritual Committee, and all other congregants that helped this year be so successful. With all this support we were able to introduce several new programs and welcomed five new families bringing enrollment to over 50 students for the 1 st time in CBY history. Our best success was our Mitzvah Point Program, motivating our students to do good deeds in class, attend more services, and interact more with Rabbi Bloom. We are proud to announce that our highest Mitzvah Point earner was Susana Mogil with 465 points! Our greatest Service attendee was Jessica Walsh, with 11 Shabbat Services in addition to 2 choir performances. We are also proud that 10 of our students are attending URJ Summer Camps this year. We are grateful to Melanie Wynne for two wonderful years of service as the Chair of the Religious School Committee. She will be passing her gavel on to our new co-chairs, Marida Bruggeman, and Jeremy Press. The faculty is excited that this Fall we will modify the Hebrew curriculum and the way we teach Hebrew, to support student s success among others with similar capability, rather than the same age. Religious Studies will remain grouped by secular grade level, but students will re-group for their Hebrew lesson based on their individual ability level. First day of class for next year is August 21, Online Registration for the school year is now open. Find the link on the CBY Website Youth Education pages. Enrollment for the academic year and full tuition payment is due by August 4, unless prior arrangements have been made with the CBY Treasurer, Ted David. The faculty and I are wishing everyone an awesome summer! We are looking forward to another year of fun and learning, beginning on Aug 21 with our opening day festivities. Cemetery Committee Ed Brager, Chair Current out-of-town CBY members would like to sell their two cemetery plots in Beth Yam Gardens, including prepaid opening and closing expenses, at a reduced rate from current cemetery pricing. They can be reached at (678) Please remember that plots can only be purchased by CBY members in good standing. Please let the Cemetery Committee know of any transactions so our records can be updated. 7

8 Membership Committee Candy Solomon & Michael Weingarten, Co-Chairs Important message to all CBY members..our annual Pub Fest for prospective members will be held on September 13. If you meet new people over the summer, let us know. We will invite them to the Pub Fest and you will be invited to join them! Such a deal!! Alexandra Joseph and David Martin live in Hilton Head both joined as resident singles (engaged), Leslie and Neil Green live in Wexford and joined as a resident family, and Lisa George joined as a resident single and lives in HH Plantation. Judy and Richard Movshin live in Hilton Head Plantation and are resident family members. Please welcome them to our Beth Yam Family. We are looking forward to another great year! Current count of membership: 148 resident families 89 resident singles 60 affiliates 2 associates 6 honoraries. Grand total 305 CONGREGATION BETH YAM S 10TH ANNUAL MEN S CLUB CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT Monday, September 26, 2016 at Moss Creek South Course - 9:00 AM shotgun start Cost: $ per person including a barbeque lunch, Proceeds to benefit Deep Well, Volunteers in Medicine, and other local charities Men s and Ladies flights join us for fun and prizes, prizes, prizes!!! Please fill out the form below and send it with a check (payable to Congregation Beth Yam) for $ per golfer to: Steve Burstein 40 Savannah Trail, Hilton Head, SC th Annual Golf Tournament Reservation Form Name: Handicap or average score: Name: Handicap or average score: Name: Handicap or average score: Name: Handicap or average score: Adult B nai Mitzvot Program Rabbi Bloom was excited to launch an adult B nai Mitzvot program at an orientation on Wednesday, June 29. There were approximately a dozen congregants that have shown an interest in the program. According to Rabbi Bloom: Don t get nervous. You can do this! We will make sure that the program we design will be doable for everyone who participates. It is not about how much Hebrew one has to memorize, rather, our mission is to provide a learning experience where an adult can achieve becoming a B nai Mitzvah at their level of learning. This will be a group class where learning and sharing and caring about each other and our spiritualism will be critical goals. I will be teaching the class on Jewish values today. Everyone will receive a Hebrew tutor and we will style a group or individual experience depending on the desire and intention of each student. Take a chance and give it a try. We will do this together. The first step of this program began with a beginning Hebrew reading class sponsored by the Adult Education Committee. It is expected that participants of the class planning to prepare for B nai Mitzvot will continue to expand their Hebrew reading skills with a tutor. If there is enough interest, we may be able to repeat the class. The components and goals of the Adult B nai Mitzvot Program are to acquire Hebrew reading skills, explore the connection between life and liturgy and to increase activity and commitment to enhance the spiritual life of the congregation. There will be 10 two hour group classes led by Rabbi Bloom. They will take place over a 10-month period. There will also be private sessions with Rabbi Bloom for seven weeks prior to the B nai Mitzvot date. This will be a flexible program designed to be meaningful to each of the participants. They may have an individual date or do it as a group. The only cost to the participants will be for materials and tutoring as needed. If you are interested in participating in this program or just want more information, but were not able to attend the orientation, please call or Randy Kurjan at with your questions. 8

9 Sharing Our Lives ~ July Dates Library Committee Felicia Pascal & Linda Stern, Co-chairs This past month we have undertaken an audit of our collection. As you know we provide a list of our holdings on the CBY website. Thanks go to Michael Shapiro whose efforts have allowed us to maintain and update the website information. images/stories/pdfs/libraryinventory pdf If you borrow a book or compact disc, please remember to enter the information in the 3 ring binder located at the front desk space in the JRC. We don t limit the length of time to borrow our material but like to be sure we know what is out on loan. Central to our celebration of Shavuot, we enjoyed a lecture by Maury Fradkin and our Rabbi on the Kabbalah. Some of our holdings on the subject are featured on the electronic display in the central hallway. Our thanks to Sisterhood for the donation of Debbie Graber s book, Kevin Kramer Starts on Monday. Book Report Honeydew by Edith Pearlman submitted by Felicia Pascal Honeydew is a dazzling collection of short stories. The author is a consummate storyteller who pleases us again and again by delving into her character s lives. Ms. Pearlman is a 78 year old New Englander, a master of the short story format. She is both subtle and witty. She draws on life on the small scale, and gives us much to think about. Fundraising for CBY is easy as 1,2,3! 1. Go to 2. Click on the Amazon logo 3. Shop! & when you checkout, 4% of every purchase will be directed to Congregation Beth Yam! I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING DONATION: From: Address: In Honor of: In memory of: Send Card To: Address: SEND TO: Congregation Beth Yam, 4501 Meeting Street, Hilton Head Island, SC Please do NOT publish in the Tidings Please publish in the Tidings General - Unrestricted Care Committee Rabbi s Discretionary Adult Education Flower Rabbi s Enrichment Backpack Buddies Friends of CBY Rabbi s Library Bellet Youth Israel Events Religious School Building Expansion Landscape Ritual Cantor Music Tzedakah/Social Action Caplan Dedicated Prayer Book Youth Group 10

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12 Congregation Beth Yam 4501 Meeting Street Hilton Head Island South Carolina Temple Tidings Vol. 30 Issue No. 1 Published monthly by Congregation Beth Yam 4501 Meeting Street Hilton Head Island, SC (843) fax (843) bethyam@aol.com Editorial Staff Elaine Lust Michele Johnson ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Deadline for submitting materials is the 15 th of the month preceding publication date. The Editor reserves the right to select and edit materials which are submitted. Please submit articles to Elaine Lust by at tidingseditor1@gmail.com or computer disk by the 15 th of each month. 2016/2017 Board of Directors OFFICERS Pennie Meiselman Elaine Lust Jack Miller Irwin Ted David Sharon Bass Marcia Frezza Twyla Sable President 1 st Vice-President 2 nd Vice-President Treasurer Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary Immediate Past President DIRECTORS Ed Brager Jeremy Press Nadyne Ulicny David Kurjan Michael Shapiro Janet Weingarten Alan Meiselman Candy Solomon Melanie Wynne Rabbi Brad L. Bloom Sisterhood President, Sue Gostanian Men s Club President, Alan Krumholz 13