24 Tevet Shevat The Shofar. Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad Hear, O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One

Transcription

1 January Tevet Shevat 5779 The Shofar Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad Hear, O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One Monthly Newsletter Congregation Bayt Shalom 4351 E. 10th Street Greenville, NC new.baytshalom.org 1

2 Contents Rabbi's Message 3 President's Message 5 Donations 6 Membership 6 CBS January Calendar 7 Upcoming Events Tu Bi Sh vat Seder 8 Martin Luther King Day 9 Talmud of Relationships 10 Sisterhood to Volunteer at Food Bank 11 Hebrew Crash Course 12 Adult B Nai Mitzvah 13 Announcements Sisterhood 14 Hospital Visitations 14 Birthdays 15 Anniversaries 15 Yahrzreits 15 Sisterhood Membership Form 16 CBS Board Members 17 2

3 Rabbi s Message Partnership against Prejudice How to Confront Bigotry, Effectively In response to the Pittsburgh killings of Jews by a Nazi, I am organizing a Partnership against Prejudice in Greenville. For one goal, we will create a group of people, from across the political spectrum (except the haters), who will commit to confront prejudice by building respect. To start, we will simply sign a Covenant, described below. If you want to join our effort, please contact me. I hope many Jews will play prominent leadership roles. As one premise, we look to Talmudic wisdom: In a place, where no one acts like men should, strive to act like a man. That derives from Pirke Avot, in our Talmud, in Hebrew: Bamakom sh ein anashim, hishtadeil lihiyot ish. That quote describes the behavior of (the mythical) Judah Maccabee; Judith, a heroine of Hanukah stories; Nachson, who stepped into the Red Sea, when the Jews fled Egypt; Joshua and Caleb, who committed to enter the Promised Land; Rosa Parks, who sat in the white section of a bus; and Julius Rosenwald (co-owner of Sears, Roebuck), who funded education for blacks throughout the Jim Crow South. If you want to discuss any of those Biblical and historical references, please ask me. Ironically, that quote, which on the surface may strike many today as sexist, provides the pivotal wisdom to understand how we can effectively combat sexism today, as well as all forms of prejudice. Men means all people and man may also be translated as mensch (the Yiddish word for man ), which means any person who does the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. For example, if we hear a sexist joke or comment or notice sexist behavior (please assume, for this column, that we witness behavior which falls well over the line, not those marginal cases which seem to sap so much of our energy), and everyone around us laughs or nods or approves, then we are called (the Talmud reflects what our tradition believes God wants us to do) to confront that joker, commentator, or actor. (By the way, I use the word sexism to describe prejudice, based on gender and/or sexual orientation.) This aspect of Jewish culture, the chutzpah to speak truth to power, has caused us powerful pushback, including damage to careers, friendships, families, and health (such as when we are beaten). The most effective means to confront prejudice is not specified in that quote, but the rest of the Talmud guides us. We should confront with civility (derech 3

4 eretz, the decent way to treat anyone, even if that one said or did something abhorrent); with respect (kavod, we should consider the sociological context, how that one was raised, what norms prevail in that place ); and with wise strategy (torah, if we will suffer severely by confronting at that moment, we should wait and muster greater forces.) Please note the ambivalent (double meaning) of the phrase, in a place : The place can be read as the setting, when we witness sexist talk or behavior. In order to react to that setting, we must imagine another place, any where we recognize God s presence (God, in the Talmud, is often called Hamakom, which means the place, that is, the foundation or location of everything in the universe) especially where and when we recognize the overpowering force of God s love, which drives us to act menschy, even with calculated risks. From that place of God s love, we then confront the place, where sexism abounds. Our Partnership will ask everyone to sign a Covenant (a sacred commitment ), which reads (in this language, or similar words, after we edit this proposal): REGARD Recognize Everyone s Gifts and Respect Diversity -- Our Covenant to Confront Prejudice with Respect 1: When I encounter prejudice, stereotyping, and hate, I will speak out, with respect and civility and thoughtful strategies, to declare it socially unacceptable. 2: I will strive to recognize the gifts of diverse individuals and groups and then acknowledge and praise those gifts. 3: I will encourage my communities to join with other communities, when they celebrate their gifts and when they fight oppression. L shana tova. To a 2019 of goodness. L shalom, Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman Elie Wiesel: The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness; it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy; it's indifference. 4

5 President s Message Dear Congregation Bayt Shalom, Before the secular New Year begins, I believe that all of us can find inspiration from this quote by Elie Wiesel: Whatever you do in life...remember... think higher, and feel deeper. Life is not a fist. Life is an open hand waiting for some other hand to enter it in friendship. Ultimately, the answers are so simple. Not simplistic, but so simple. Eloise, my ten-year-old daughter, recently found an angel charm lying in the middle of the sidewalk. She noticed that the letter B, the initial letter of my family name, inscribed on the back of the charm. She pointed this out to me and remarked that this could be a gift from my father and her grandfather. She came to the conclusion that it represents him and all our ancestors watching over our family. Eloise inquired if Judaism believes in angels; I enthusiastically said yes. Several passages from the Torah demonstrate that angels are a very real entity. One example is: May the angel who redeems me from all evil, bless the children, and let my name be named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and let them flourish like fish for multitude in the midst of the land. Genesis 48:16 Angels are the embodiment of redemption, love, and justice. Just as they guided Abraham and Isaac, we can also be enlightened by the invisible but perpetual presence of angels. They signify the greatest good possible in all decisions we make and the path to fulfillment and a more meaningful life. In this coming year, let us be enlightened by Elie Wiesel s immortal words and have an open hand waiting for another hand to enter it in friendship. Choices like having an open heart and an open hand can lead to infinite rewards down the road. This year, may we all have an open heart and invite angels of goodness into our lives. I look forward to seeing all of you in I hope that our congregation grows stronger, more vibrant, and more active in our community and our faith. L Shalom, Suzanne Clark 5

6 Donations Donations help to sustain the synagogue. All gifts, regardless of size, are important! To donate, visit the Congregation Bayt Shalom website, new.baytshalom.org and use the yellow Donate button. Use PayPal or a credit card. Or send your check made out to Congregation Bayt Shalom to: Treasurer, Congregation Bayt Shalom, PO Box 2713, Greenville, Other donation opportunities: Yahrzeit Memorial Plaques ($300) Plaques remain on permanent display in the sanctuary, with a bulb lit next to your loved one s name on the yahrzeit date and during Yom Kippur. Contact Rabbi Harley with name, birth date, death date. Simcha Tree Leaf ($100 large leaf, $75 small leaf) The simcha tree is on display in the lobby. Leaves commemorate milestone events. Contact Carol Woodruff at woodruffc@ecu.edu to provide the information desired for the leaf imprint. Membership This month we welcome for new families to our congregation.! Ati Coughlin of Greenville! Tzvi Farladansky of Washington! Jana Henry of Winterville! Justin Owens of Farmville We welcome them and look forward to getting to know them in the weeks and months ahead. Reminder: If you know of someone interested in becoming a member, please ask them to contact me, or give me their contact information. Thank you for all your help. Carol Rados, Membership, membership@baytshalom.org,

7 CBS Simcha v Torah - Celebration & Learning January Schedule All events, unless noted, held at Bayt Shalom Friday, Jan 4 Sunday, Jan 6 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:00 pm 9:30 am 8:30 am Family/Tot Shabbat Service Pot Luck Dinner Community Shabbat Service Talmud Torah / Religious School Tefilah / Hebrew Prayer, Grades 4-6 Thursday, Jan 10 2:00 pm Adult B Nai Mitzvah - New students may join anytime Friday, Jan 11 7:30 pm Community Shabbat Service followed by Oneg Oneg Hosts: Russ & Wanda Needell Sunday, Jan 13 9:30 am 8:30 am Talmud Torah / Religious School Tefilah / Hebrew Prayer, Grades 4-6 Sunday, Jan 13 6:00 pm Homeless Shelter Dinner at Crossroads Community Center; contact Amy Blumenthal to volunteer Wednesday, Jan 16 6:00 pm Men s Club Dinner location tbd Friday, Jan18 7:30 pm Community Shabbat Service followed by Oneg Saturday, Jan 19 9:00 am Torah Study with 10 am Shabbat Service Sunday, Jan 20 Talmud Torah on Break for MLK Weekend Monday, Jan 21 12:30 pm Interfaith MLK Service (see flyer) Wednesday, Jan 23 6:00 pm Board Meeting Please let Suzanne Clark know of any matter you want the Board to consider Thursday, Jan 24 2:00 pm Adult B nai Mitzvah Friday, Jan 25 7:30 pm Community Shabbat Service and Oneg with celebration of January Birthdays and Anniversaries Saturday, Jan 26 Sunday, Jan 27 Friday, Feb 1 Sunday, Feb 3 9:30 am 8:30 am 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:30 pm 9:30 am 8:30 am 11:30 am Sisterhood Volunteers at Food Bank (see flyer) Talmud Torah / Religious School Tefilah / Hebrew Prayer, Grades 4-6 Family/Tot Shabbat Service with ISJL Education Fellow Harrison Bleiberg Pot Luck Dinner Community Shabbat Service Talmud Torah Tefilah, Grades 4-6 Tu Bi Shvat Seder (see flyer) 7

8 Upcoming Events Tu Bi Sh vat Seder with Brunch Sunday, February 3, 11:30 am, Bayt Shalom Social Hall Join our Religious School families and all our Bayt Shalom community for a Seder, with brunch, in our Social Hall to celebrate Tu Bi Sh vat, our holiday for nature, the environment, and trees. The Tu Bi Sh vat Seder comes from a tradition of the Mystics, who are also called Kabbalists. They adapted the Passover Seder to celebrate nature, with a birthday for the trees. They set an order (which is what the word seder means) of four cups of wine, with four different kinds of fruits and nuts. We will add brunch and community service. For each cup and types of fruits and nuts, we will read (and sing) about deeper and more nuanced ways to connect to nature, to each other, and to God. We call them worlds of existence (olamot). Think of them as different levels of awareness, different ways of relating and connecting to everything and everyone. We will reach towards our pure inner core of goodness, respect, trust, and love, which we insulate from nature by forming shells (hardened layers) of fear. We talk about these four levels as if they exist separately. Yet we always experience them (inhabit them) all mixed together, all interconnected. We will learn more about our role in the natural world. Martin Luther King Day Celebration See flyer on next page for event to be held Monday, January 21, 12:30 pm St. John MBC Church, 2921 Briery Swamp Rd, Stokes NC

9 9

10 Talmud of Relationships Study (in English) from a just published book on Talmudic wisdom, about how we should connect to each other. Sundays, 2:00 3:15 pm February 10 February 24 March 10 March 31 April 14 April 28 Welcome to Judaism deep. Judaism lite has proved unappealing to modern Jews for decades, most of whom stopped studying after B nai Mitzvah. They find depth of wisdom from secular books, classes, web sites, and shows. Now, you can find even more depth from the Talmud, the volumes which shaped the Judaism we now practice. The Talmud edits the collective wisdom of Jews from Abraham to Roman times. As portable wisdom, it kept Judaism alive, since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, updated constantly by each generation of Jews, who debate and apply it everywhere we live. We will read contemporary commentaries, published in October 2018, by America s leading Jewish publisher, the Jewish Publication Society (JPS). As a bonus, the author, Rabbi Amy Scheinerman, is a classmate and friend of Rabbi Harley. As we raise questions and insights beyond the book, we can ask and tell her. As we disagree, an essential element of Talmud study (and the key to Jewish cultural greatness), we will tell her. Talmud invites each learner into the conversations and debates of the ancient study houses, providing a way to explore the big questions and deepest concerns of living and arrive at one s own answer (from the Introduction). Books available for a $20 donation. No background required. 10

11 11

12 Crash Course in Reading Hebrew After six weeks, you could read this: בּ רוּ ך א תּ ה (Baruch atah six Hebrew letters) plus the other 16 letters of the Hebrew Alef-Bet (with commentary about the meaning of words, and meanings behind the meanings, as one reason to know Hebrew) Sundays, 12:30-1:45 pm February 10 through March 17 (class does not meet on February 25) At Congregation Bayt Shalom No cost for class and materials We do encourage donations to Bayt Shalom Your contact information will be given to the National Jewish Outreach Project, which provides the Crash Course materials for free, that is, in exchange for your willingness to be contacted. 12

13 Adult B Nai Mitzvah New students may join anytime Five have plans for a ceremony on May 11, 2019 Schedule your own ceremony or join with others Classes every other Thursday, 2:00 3:15 pm continues January 10, 2019 The Process -- Three Questions: An adult Bar or Bat Mitzvah provides a process to help you respond to three questions (1) what should I believe? (2) what should I do to live out those beliefs? and (3) what role should I play in our Jewish community, which shares my values? For a short version: why, how, and with whom? Ceremony: The process culminates with a ceremony, called a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Preparation: Most adults take about a year to prepare for this ceremony. You will develop basic ritual skills leading prayers; reading Torah and Haftarah; and teaching three lessons (a D var Torah, or commentary on any aspect of Jewish learning, plus introductions to your Torah and Haftarah readings). Community service plays a vital role in Jewish life. As an individual or as a class, your process will include a mitzvah project to help others. You will also meet with Rabbi Harley individually during the process. Parties, etc Beautifying the Mitzvah: You (and your group) can enhance your experiences by planning a party, of any level you choose. Classes led by Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman 13

14 Announcements Sisterhood Hi, I hope you will consider renewing your CBS Sisterhood membership for ! Reasons to renew: - We have a new programming committee with a number of activities already planned for our community (ladies night out, wine tastings, local community service opportunities, holiday celebrations, and more!) - By supporting Sisterhood we collectively support the CBS community and religious school. - Each year Sisterhood provides a gift of Shabbat candlesticks and Kiddush cups to all Bar/Bat Mitzvah students. - Past Sisterhood donations to CBS include: recent temple renovation projects, new carpet/paint, kitchen items include kitchen appliances, dinnerware, serving pieces for special events, playground enhancements, etc. A membership form is on the last page of the Shofar, with information on where to send your annual dues (only $36!) or pay by Paypal on the CBS website (indicate it is for Sisterhood). As always, if you have any questions or suggestions for new programs and activities, please contact me or Carol Woodruff, our Sisterhood President. Thanks and L'Shalom, Karen Barondes P.S. If you already sent in your dues via Paypal, please let me know. Hospital Visitations Due to HIPAA hospital privacy restrictions, Rabbi Harley does not receive a list of Jewish patients in the hospital. If you or a loved one is in the hospital and would like a visit, please let Rabbi Harley know. 14

15 We Celebrate Birthdays Jan 1 Barrett Woodruff Jan 21 Rosalie Hutchens Jan 4 Marline Balot Jan 25 Tziporah Owens Jan 14 Leah Katell Jan 31 Bill Weissman Jan 21 Lorelei Coxe Anniversaries Jan 5 Dindy Reich & Lee Maril Jan 12 Nicole Luna & Joe Bord We Remember - Yarhrzeits Jan 1 Abraham Barr, father of Judy Kushnick Jan 5 Debbie Benton, sister of Carol Dembo Jan 6 Adele Goldstein, mother of Mitch Goldstein Jan 7 Joann Boltuch Koons, mother of Russell Needell Jan 8 Rena Chen, mother of Rabbi Michael Cain Jan 9 Louis Wagman, father of Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman Jan 9 Louis Libowsky, grandfather of Lynne Jaffe (Shevat 3) Jan 10 Robert Karz, father of Barbara Karz-Wagman Jan 13 Edmond Rados, father of Rich Rados Jan 17 Charlotte Bunin, mother of Judi Goodman Duffy Jan 17 Nettie Sacks, grandmother of Lynne Jaffe (Shevat 11) Jan 18 Morris Dembo, father of Jon Dembo (Shevat 12) Jan 19 Bluma Musicar, aunt of Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman Jan 20 Sidney Libow, father of Lynne Jaffe (Shevat 14) Jan 23 Dr. Alan Goodman, husband of Judi Goodman Duffy Jan 27 Elliott Rocer, Memorial Plaque Jan 28 Dorothy Forman, aunt of Ellen Angus Jan 28 Leona Lunden, Mother of Ellen Angus Jan 29 Kathryn Louis Beard, Memorial Plaque Jan 30 Elvie Katell, grandmother of Leah Katell Jan 30 Ethel Volk Greenberg, Memorial Plaque Jan 31 William Berg, Memorial Plaque 15

16 16

17 Congregation Bayt Shalom Board Please send corrections to CBS secretary, Alan Schreier, First Name Last Name Position Address Phone Harley Karz-Wagman Rabbi C Suzanne Clark President suzannepclark@hotmail.com Jeremy Tuchmayer Vice President jtuchmayer@gmail.com Jeffrey Sterling Treasurer treasurer.cbs@gmail.com Alan Schreier Secretary alan.schreier@gmail.com C; H Committees & Auxiliaries Leona Weissman Finance Chair lgweissman@gmail.com Jodi Adler Co-Chair Education jodilynn13@yahoo.com Marc Miller Co-Chair Education millermarcs@yahoo.com C Elizabeth Myers Co-Chair Education elizjmyers@gmail.com C Carol Rados Membership Chair vrcrados@yahoo.com C Abbie Brown Religious Activities Rosalie and John Hutchens Shofar rjhutchens1@gmail.com Position Available Programs Bill Angus House Chair angusc@ecu.edu Karen Barondes Youth Group Chair kbarondes@gmail.com Amy Blumenthal Youth Group co-advisor ablumenthal68@gmail.com Position Available Young Jewish Professionals Jeremy Tuchmayer Men s Club jtuchmayer@gmail.com Carol Woodruff Sisterhood Pres. woodruffc@ecu.edu C Position Available Chesed Caring Committee Trustees Russ Needell Trustee rneedell@suddenlink.net H; C Rich Rados Trustee richrados@hotmail.com C Carol Woodruff Trustee woodruffc@ecu.edu C 17

18