TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA March The Shofar

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1 TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA March 2017 Friends, The Shofar This month we will celebrate two exciting events. On Friday March 10 th at 7:30 PM, we will celebrate Purim with a performance of The Motown Megillah, followed by our traditional hamentaschen oneg. Please let me know if you would like to participate in the spiel (reading and singing parts are available), bake hamentaschen, or help set up the oneg. Adults and kids are encouraged to come in costume!! On Friday, March 24, we will celebrate the 90 th birthday of Zach Weinberg. Zach will be called to the bima for a special blessing, and we will all join in singing the shehecheyanu with Zach for this milestone event. It is a mitzvah to give tzedakah in celebration of a simcha. Please consider making a donation to the Temple in honor of this important occasion. We live in a time when love is sorely lacking. This month we are exploring the Jewish value of chesed, lovingkindness. In Pirke Avot, we learn: On three things the world stands: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of lovingkindness. Our Chesed Committee is coordinated by Bernadette Winters Bell and Anne Green, who work to support congregants in times of need. We learn from Maimonides: Everyone entrusted with a mission is an angel... All forces that reside in the body are angels (Guide for the Perplexed, II, 6). If you are able to be an angel in some small way, know that more hands are needed to make our community more filled with lovingkindness. If you can help another in any way, by providing a meal, making a visit to someone who is sick or recovering from surgery, driving someone once in a while, helping to organize a shiva minyan, or perform other acts of lovingkindness within or outside of the TBE community, please do let me know. There are those in our congregation who are involved in acts of chesed outside of the Temple. Some are involved in the Lord s Table, which could always use more hands. Our TBE Lord s Table team is coordinated by Hollie Jaffe. Please let her know if you can help, even if it s only occasionally. As well, a Tikkun Olam (Fixing the World) committee is trying to be born at Temple Beth El. If you are interested in participating in making the world outside of TBE better, whether in Oneonta, America, Israel, or other parts of the world, please do reach out to me to tell me of your interest. Mussar continues to be the topic of our Saturday Lunch and Learn sessions. This practice helps us to be the best versions of ourselves and become more of the solution to a troubled world. Please do consider joining the group. Lunch and Learn meets on Saturday March 11 th and 25 th at noon. Please bring a non-meat, non-shellfish dish for yourself or to share. me to receive the handouts in advance. Torah Study meets on Saturday March 11th and 25th. Coffee and Schmooze starts at 9:00 am; we begin our studies at 9:30 am. Shabbat Services take place on March 10 th at 7:30 PM, and at 6:00 PM on March 24 th, followed by our monthly potluck dinner at 7:00 PM. We are in need of more potluck people to participate in set-up and clean-up. Please let Ken know if you can participate. As always, you can reach me with questions and concerns at rabbimollykarp@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from or seeing you soon!! Kol tuv (wishing you all goodness), Rabbi Molly Karp 1

2 President s Column Life at Temple Beth El has been quiet lately. We continue to enjoy active participation in services, adult education, and Men s Club, but have many empty seats at our monthly Israeli Film Series. The Board has been working hard to manage our finances and raise income, which is not a simple task. The Chai to Life campaign is helping, so please continue to make your monthly $18.00 donation. If you have not done this, it is never too late to begin! One simple and often overlooked source of income is donations to Temple Beth El made in honor or memory of a loved one. You can support the synagogue by making $18.00 or $36.00 donations (or more) for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, yahrzeits, bat/bar mitzvahs, graduations, etc. Donations will be listed in The Shofar (without the amount), so you will see the result of your generosity. This practice is the norm in all synagogues, and Temple Beth El is trying to revive it. We need and appreciate your generous support. For American Jews, these are contentious times. The transition from President Obama to President Trump coincides with American Jewish divisiveness of unprecedented proportions. I would like to share what I believe is a cogent explication of the conflict American Jews are enduring. It comes from Yossi Klein Halevi of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Israel. His full-length article appeared in The Times of Israel on January 17, 2017, and is worth reading. Below is an excerpt from his study of our relationship with our presidents: For American Jews, all the guidelines that once helped define their community have eroded. The generation of American Jews after the Holocaust was united around two commitments: support for Israel and opposition to anti-semitism. American Jews have long since lost their ability to unite around Israel. And now, with this election, they have lost their final common ground the ability to agree on anti-semitic threat. Obama s legacy is a decimated Middle East, along with the unleashing of an imperial Iran that remains on the nuclear threshold. As for Trump, he has already created a legacy a vulgarized politics, a society poisoned against itself. Candidate Trump declared war against precisely those pluralistic values that have allowed American Jewry to become the most successful Diaspora in Jewish history. Neither man is worthy of Jewish adulation. While we are all shocked by the rise of anti-semitism in America, there are signs of hope such as Muslim Americans taking a public stand to support the Jewish community in St. Louis. Thankfully, our synagogue has avoided the threats and harassment suffered by our Jewish neighbors in Binghamton, Albany, and Syracuse. I hope the hatred of increasingly vocal White Christian groups is not visited upon our members or synagogue. Now more than ever, we should gather for any and every reason. Please check Temple Beth El s website, calendar, The Shofar, and s so you remain up-to-date. We look forward to seeing you. Ken 2

Happy Purim Join us on Friday March 10 th at 7:30 PM, as we celebrate Purim with a performance of The Motown Megillah, followed by our traditional hamentaschen

We will gather for the Friday night service at 6:00 pm and then enjoy special potluck festivities at 7:00 pm in honor of Zach's 90th birthday.

That, I believe, is the Hebrew Bible's single greatest and counterintuitive contribution to ethics.

3 Happy Purim Join us on Friday March 10 th at 7:30 PM, as we celebrate Purim with a performance of The Motown Megillah, followed by our traditional hamentaschen oneg. Come Celebrate Zach Weinberg's 90th Birthday! Join the Temple Beth El family on Friday, March 24, as we celebrate Zach's milestone birthday. We will gather for the Friday night service at 6:00 pm and then enjoy special potluck festivities at 7:00 pm in honor of Zach's 90th birthday. More information will be ed later in the month. Jewish Quote of the Month We encounter God in the face of a stranger. That, I believe, is the Hebrew Bible's single greatest and counterintuitive contribution to ethics. God creates difference; therefore it is in onewho-is-different that we meet God. The supreme religious challenge is to see God's image in one who is not in our image. It recognizes the integrity of other cultures, other civilizations, other paths to the presence of God. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks 3

4 * SHABBAT POTLUCK DINNER SCHEDULE * Once a month we have a Friday night potluck to celebrate Shabbat as a community. Since so many of us enjoy the time we get to spend together eating and talking, we will try a new schedule that will also enable families with children to attend Friday night services. Our Potluck Schedule is: 6:00 Service 7:00 Dinner March Potluck dinner will be held on Friday, March 24 th Please RSVP to Stephanie Bauer mbauer@stny.rr.com or to let the hosts know that you are coming and what non-meat, non-shellfish dish you will share. CHAI to LIFE Please remember to send in your $18.00 Chai to Life payment for March. Every donation helps us pay the synagogue s bills and maintain Rabbi Karp s visits to Oneonta. Thank you for your on-going support. Member News The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce annual awards were announced in February. The NBT Bank Distinguished Business of the Year Award was presented to A&D Transport Services Inc., co-founded by TBE member Alan Rubin. DONATIONS TO TEMPLE BETH EL It is a mitzvah to make a donation to honor or remember friends, family, or a special occasion. Please remember Temple Beth El when you have news to share, to recognize a death or remember a yahrzeit. Men s Club Breakfast Men s Club Breakfast will be held Sunday, 10 am Mar 19 th in the downstairs social hall. 4

The Lord s Table Thanks so much to our faithful volunteers, Debra Marcus and Carole Blumenkrantz for helping at the February 9 th shift at Lord's Table Community Feeding program.

5 The Lord s Table Thanks so much to our faithful volunteers, Debra Marcus and Carole Blumenkrantz for helping at the February 9 th shift at Lord's Table Community Feeding program. Next date is March 9 th. Hollie Our shift is the 2nd Thursday each month. Please call or Hollie at hjjaffe@hotmail.com ( ) to volunteer. Israeli Film Series Saturday March 25 th at 7:00 PM Denial Based on the acclaimed book Denial: Holocaust History on Trial, the film recounts the legal battle that Deborah E. Lipstadt (Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz) fought for historical truth against David Irving (Cannes Award winner Timothy Spall), who accused her of libel when she declared him a Holocaust denier. In the English legal system, the burden of proof in libel cases is on the defendant; therefore it was up to Lipstadt and her legal team, led by Richard Rampton (two-time Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson) to prove the essential truth that the Holocaust occurred. Dir. Mick Jackson (USA, 2016, 110 min.) Donations for admission and snacks are appreciated. 5

YOU CAN EARN MONEY FOR TEMPLE BETH EL BY SHOPPING AT AMAZON.COM Every time you shop at Amazon.com, Temple Beth El receives a percentage of that sale with no cost to you.

6 YOU CAN EARN MONEY FOR TEMPLE BETH EL BY SHOPPING AT AMAZON.COM Every time you shop at Amazon.com, Temple Beth El receives a percentage of that sale with no cost to you. You still pay the same Amazon prices as usual and Amazon donates a portion of that sale to our Temple. It s EASY. All you have to do is go to the Temple s webpage at this address: Once at our website, click on the AMAZON tab at the top of the page (second tab from the right) Then, click on the Amazon.com link and shop as you normally do. For everything you buy, Amazon will donate to the Temple. It s as simple as that. Two extra clicks (first, go to the Temple s website, then, click on the Amazon Tab and Amazon link) and you re ready to donate, just by shopping. It really helps and it really adds up. Remember us when you shop. You have to do a few extra steps but then it s shopping as usual and we reap the benefits. Just continue buying what you would buy anyway, and the Temple makes money. How great is that? 6

7 THANK YOU FOR DONATIONS TO TEMPLE BETH EL Many thanks to the following for their donations to Temple Beth El: In memory of Theresa Adler Rick & Irene Weinberg, Carole Blumenkrantz In memory of Marla Calabro -- Anne Green & Bob Garfield, Seth & Linda Blocker, Cynthia Carpentier In memory of Irving Levin -- Carole Blumenkrantz In memory of Helaine Segal -- Robin Seletsky In memory of Erna Vollweiler -- Eleanor Vollweiler Like to knit, crochet, craft? Want to learn? Please join the Sisterhood (men invited as well) for 2 hours of knitting, crocheting or other craft handiwork. Amy Zoltick and Stephanie Bauer will host on the 1st Sunday of the month in the social hall from 10-noon. Total novices (and anyone wanting to learn) to experienced fiber people are welcomed. Stephanie will describe sock knitting May 1st as many people expressed an interest. If you want to learn to knit socks some previous knitting skill is necessary. Please bring appropriate sock yarn and double pointed needles. If you want to learn to knit or crochet please bring a skein of LIGHT COLORED yarn and appropriate knitting needles (or crochet hook). Look for yarn and needles (or corresponding crochet hook) in the 6-8 size range (crochet hooks are in letters) as they are the easiest to work with. RSVP: Amy Zoltck at amysays@gmail.com VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Are you interested in helping at Temple Beth El or with any of our programs? We have opportunities for people who would like to be more involved. Whether it is being one of The Potluck People (helping with our monthly potluck), working at The Lord's Table (a soup kitchen/community feeding program) or joining a committee either in the synagogue or outside as a synagogue representative, we welcome your participation. Contact Ken Sider for more information, ksider@hotmail.com or

8 Cemetery Committee News The Cemetery Committee met recently. After much discussion we decided to create a section for the burial of cremains in the cemetery. We also discussed a proposal to create a third section in the cemetery for Jewish and non-jewish couples and their immediate family members. The details of both of these sections are a work in progress. The price of plots has not changed in over thirty years. The Cemetery Committee has decided to raise the price of plots. Effective April 15, 2017, each traditional plot will be $500 regardless of the number of plots purchased. Currently a single plot is $250, two plots $450, four plots $900 and eight plots $1,800. Note: in order to have a large family stone placed in the Cemetery you have to purchase four plots. The price for a space for burying cremains is $250. If you are interested in purchasing a traditional plot before the prices go up, or you are interested in purchasing a space for cremains, please contact Steven Feuer at Chesed Committee The Chesed Committee provides help and support to Temple members in times of need and in times of joy. Anne Green and Bernadette Winters Bell are available to offer support. Bernadette Winters Bell b15lola@aol.com Home # cell # Anne Green la0130@stny.rr.com Home # Shabbat Torah Study followed by Rabbi Molly Karp s Adult Education Classes Torah study is interactive No preparation required we read the weekly portion together March Lunch and Learn Saturday March 11 th and 25 th at noon Mussar will be the subject of our Lunch and Learn program for the year. This Jewish practice helps us to be the best versions of ourselves, and to find ways to heal the broken parts in ourselves and become more of the solution to a troubled world. Please bring a dairy or vegetarian brown bag lunch or a dish to share. Please contact Rabbi Karp for information. Shabbat Torah Study: at 9:30 am, following 9 am coffee and schmooze on Saturday mornings. 8

9 Yahrzeit List for March 2017 Mar 1 9 (3 11 Adar) Barney Wallace Mildred B. Drogen Dora Ruchia Wojak Sarah Messer Jacob Joseph Novak Morris Swire Barney Wallace Ethel Singer Schoenfeld Arthur Markson Mar (12 18 Adar) Morris Rumelt Russell Wolf Alma Weinberg Morris Purnett Ilene Ussak Francis F. Elfenbein Arthur Freedman Frieda Rosen Esther Fight Beatrice Parnes Julius W. Ettlinger Jacob Schatsky Peter Schnitman Rose Cheitkin Harry Markson Charles Rosen Erna Vollweiler Mar (19 25 Adar) Samuel Markson Sidney Granett Harry Holtz Pauline Kornblath Pearl Budin Mar (26 Adar 4 Nissan) Edward Puritz Joan Bauer Selma Koota Robert Schnitman May they be remembered for a blessing In case of emergency Rabbi Karp is not reachable via on Shabbat and festivals. To reach her in the event of a rabbinic emergency, or in the case of an urgent need on Shabbat, please contact Temple Beth El's President, Ken Sider at or ksider@hotmail.com. At all other times, you can reach Rabbi Karp at rabbimollykarp@gmail.com. In the event of a death, please contact Steve Feuer, at

10 MEMBER AND SUPPORTER BUSINESSES 10

www.templebetheloneonta.org TEMPLE BETH EL WEBSITE ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY Please email TBEOneonta@gmail.com for more information about this FREE service for members. Thanks, Dr. Neal Schultz!

11 TEMPLE BETH EL WEBSITE ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY Please for more information about this FREE service for members. Thanks, Dr. Neal Schultz! Purchase any products from BeautyRX. The profits from all purchases from Temple members will be donated to the Temple. Just go to redeem it by applying code "tbeth" in the shopping cart or checkout page. Or call beautyrx - that s , thank you. 11

Temple Beth El Shofar published by TEMPLE BETH EL PO Box 383 83 Chestnut Street Oneonta, NY 13820 www.templebetheloneonta.org Rabbi Molly Karp 607/432-5522 (synagogue) www.rabbimollykarp.

12 Temple Beth El Shofar published by TEMPLE BETH EL PO Box Chestnut Street Oneonta, NY Rabbi Molly Karp 607/ (synagogue) Rabbi Emeritus Donald Neil Roberts March 2017 Adar/Nissan 5777 OFFICERS Ken Sider President Howie Gelbsman Vice President Hollie Jaffe Secretary Anne Green Treasurer Immed. Past Pres. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rick Weinberg Susan Carbone Robert Garfield Stephanie Bauer SAVE THE DATES... and times. Shabbat Services take place on March 10th at 7:30 PM, and at 6:00 PM on March 24th, followed by our monthly potluck dinner at 7:00 PM. We will celebrate Purim on Friday March 10 th. Zach Weinberg s 90 th birthday celebration will take place during services and the potluck dinner on March 24 th. Torah Study meets on Saturday March 11 th and March 25 th. Coffee and Schmooze starts at 9:00 am; we begin our studies at 9:30 am, with the monthly Lunch and Learn from Bring your own meat-free, shellfish-free lunch or a dish to share.. Israeli Film Series: Denial Saturday March 25 th at 7:00 pm Steven Feuer Men s Club President Irene Weinberg/Joyce Gelbsman Sisterhood Temple Beth El PO Box 383 Oneonta, NY

TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA March 2016

TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA March 2016 TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA www.templebetheloneonta.org March 2016 Friends, This edition of the Shofar marks the retirement of Hollie Jaffe as editor. As you may know, Hollie will also be retiring from her