The Star. Message from Rabbi

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1 Sept. Oct Elul 5775, Tishrei, Cheshvan 5776 The Star Special Interest Articles: Message from Rabbi Seth Riemer Sunday School and Challah Schedule Individual Highlights: Message from Executive Committee 2 Golden Book 5 Calendar 6 Oneg Schedule 7 Newsletter of Temple Beth Torah Wethersfield, CT Vol. 19 No. 1 Message from Rabbi And we re back! You ve heard that line plenty of times while watching TV. The host or anchor says those words to refocus your attention on the news or talk show after a commercial break. It can serve, too, as a metaphor for what we re about to do in our life together at TBT. All summer long, and for most of the year before that, we ve been wrapped up in work, school, finances, leisure activities, romance all the things that make up our busy, at times noise-filled day-today existence. Although not all of that secular activity that consumes so much of our lives is meaningless and unfulfilling, a large part of it is mere distraction, diverting us from what we should be focusing on the values we cherish, the principles we want to live by and some of it is even corrosive to our souls. It s like the commercial breaks inbetween the segments of actual substantive television programming. The commercials can be informative and entertaining, but for the most part not so much. However, these so called commercial breaks are, for the companies that sponsor the shows we watch, the driving economic factor and thus the overriding concern, and the embarrassing truth is that the network (including, of course, cable) broadcast business short-changes its audience s hunger for content. Here s a quote from TV Week online in May, 2014: The number of commercials shown in a typical hour of television has increased steadily over the past five years, the Los Angeles Times Company Town reports, citing a study from Nielsen. Broadcast networks averaged 13 minutes and 25 seconds of commercial time per hour in 2009, which grew to 14 minutes and 15 seconds in 2013, the story reports. On cable TV, the growth has been even more significant, the report notes. Last year, the average was 15 minutes and 38 seconds, up from 14 minutes and 27 seconds in 2009, according to the report. That means roughly a quarter of television air time is devoted to advertising. No wonder so many are turning away from conventional broadcast television and toward streaming services! Anything to stem the tide of intrusive, in-your face commercialism. Advertising, in my metaphor, corresponds to the noisy, often frivolous demands of secular life; the TV show corresponds to the important life issues we really care about; the TV viewing experience as a whole corresponds to the totality of our lives;

2 The Star Page 2 of 6 and turning the TV on and off corresponds to being born and dying. I grew up learning how to mentally tune out the ads on TV. Imagine mentally tuning out one quarter of your time in this world. Most of us don t apply our mental powers in a particularly focused and efficient way. Try, for example, to concentrate on (repeat in your mind) the word concentrate and nothing else for 3 minutes. Can you even get past 30 seconds without finding that all kinds of other words and thoughts and impressions have snuck into your consciousness like pieces of dreams? The mind drifts uncontrollably. As Rosh Hashanah draws near during this month of Elul, the shofar is sounded every morning after prayer services. Its call is like the TV anchor coming on after the commercial segment and reminding us that it s time to pay attention again because we re switching back to the show. It s helping us snap out of that mental drift and turn back (in Hebrew, lashuv, from which the word teshuvah return, repentance derives) to what really matters: the real reason we turned on our TV in the first place; the real reason we re alive. And we re back! I look forward to seeing you soon at TBT! Wishing you a shanah tovah umtukah umibehinah ruhanit lehagshamah a sweet and good and spiritually fulfilling New Year! Rabbi Seth Riemer Message from the Executive Committee We are approaching another TBT season, of prayer, education and a host of social events designed to make your participation in Temple activities enjoyable and meaningful. We look forward to greater attendance at Friday evening Services, but that can only happen if we, as a congregation, make a conscious effort to make Friday evenings a time of rest and reflection and set aside that time to take a deep breath to renew the spiritual side of our lives. Our spiritual leader, Rabbi Seth Riemer, leads Services with a soothing voice and thoughtprovoking, interactive sessions that leave us all spiritually renewed. We have some important projects in the works: number one, to re-construct the entrance to TBT and to make the building handicap-accessible. Just before Thanksgiving, we will be re-finishing the Social Hall floor, and repairing any damaged boards before having it sealed and polished. I am sure our renters (dance studio folks) will appreciate our efforts to update the facilities. And it will be much more presentable for us, as well!! With the High Holidays traditional appeals for financial support, we encourage all of our member families to reach deeply into their pockets this year. If you pledged a $100 gift last year, would you consider $125 this year? In the aggregate it would make a huge difference in our ability to complete muchneeded (oft-postponed) projects. Erev Rosh Hashanah services are scheduled for 7:30 pm on Sunday, September 13. We look forward to seeing you then.

3 Page 3 of 6 The Star Kvell Corner The State of Connecticut has recognized and has awarded Ralph Horowitz a veterans wartime service medal for his service from in the U.S. Navy. High Holiday Food Drive Our annual mitzvah (good deed) at this time of year is our High Holiday Food Drive. Flyers and grocery bags will be available in the entry as you leave TBT on Rosh Hashanah. The local food banks welcome all types of healthful, non-perishable food items. Our goal is for each family to return at least one bag, filled with non-perishable food items or donate some money, by Yom Kippur. The bags of food will be distributed to the Wethersfield Food Pantry. Your generous donations are greatly appreciated. Sukkot Pot Luck Our Annual Sukkot (booths) Pot Luck is scheduled for Friday evening, October 2, 6:30 pm. We will start with a short version of Erev Shabbat (eve of the Sabbath) service. Afterwards, depending on the weather, we will eat in or out, among the stars and the mosquitoes (bring some spray). Simchat Torah (Rejoice with Torah] Rejoice in the Torah on Sunday, October 4, 7:00 p.m. This marks the end of one cycle and the beginning of the next cycle of reading the Torah. Let s get a great turnout and dance with the Torah and see it unwrapped around the sanctuary. New Curtains in the Social Hall I hear that Judy Gold and team selected some new curtains for the social hall. I haven t seen them yet but those who have said they look very nice and help to beautify the room. Thanks.

4 The Star Page 4 of 6 Holiday Calendar for September and October September 11 First Shabbat service of the season, 7:00 p.m. 13 Erev Rosh Hashanah service 7:30 p.m. 14 Rosh Hashanah 9:00 a.m. services 10:00 a.m. Jr. Congregation 12:30 p.m. Tashlich (toss sins/bread into the water) at Cove, after services, meet at TBT 15 Rosh Hashanah 9:00 a.m. services 20 Memorial Service at the cemetery 11:30 a.m. 22 Kol Nidre 7:30 pm 24 Yom Kippur 9:00 a.m. service 10:00 a.m. Jr. Congregation 5:39 p.m. minchah afternoon service 7:39 p.m. Havdalah, close of service October 2 Shabbat service then Sukkot Service and Pot Luck in the Sukkah 6:30 p.m. 4 Simchat Torah 7:00 p.m. Gift Cards Do you shop at Stop and Shop, Big Y and/or Stew Leonard s? If you purchase your groceries with gift cards that you buy from us, then we will earn 5% from Stop and Shop, 6% from Big Y (October and April) and 10% from Stew Leonard s (November to December). If you already have a shopping card from Crown Supermarket, recharge your card at the cashier and they will send us a check. Contact Judy Gold to order. Sunday School and Challah schedule Here is the TBT school calendar for Fall Classes meet Sunday mornings 9 11 a.m. Teachers: Rabbi Seth Riemer and Tricia Bonse. Sept. 20 Scott, 27 Evans, Oct. 4 Sondik, 18 Lev, 25 Rose, Nov. 1 Rice, 8 Evans 15 Sondik, 22 Lev Dec. 6 Rose, 13 Rice, followed by Hanukah party 20 Evans The children should plan to attend services with their families on Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and the pot luck supper, and Simchat Torah to march with flags. There will be a children's service on the first morning of Rosh Hashanah and the morning of Yom Kippur. There will be a Chanukah party with lots of latkas on December 13.

5 Page 5 of 6 Temple Beth Torah 130 Main Street Wethersfield, CT (860) Rabbi Seth Riemer (860) SethRiemer@aol.com Executive Committee: Sallyanne and Barry Scott, Kathi and Eliot Mag, Karen Klein Treasurer: Barry Goldberg Recording Secretary: Carol Gershenson Corresponding Secretary: Rhoda London Trustees Ellen Sue Moses and Mark Gould Memorial Park Barry Goldberg Building Gary Evans Publicity Deb Ehrlich Education Barbara Checknoff Bert and Jeanne Woodcock Membership Karen Klein Star Editor Susan Sackler Reuben Torah Study, Building Rentals, Webmaster Deb Hammer Ways and Means Judy Gold High Holidays Cecile Bronfin, Kathi and Eliot Mag, Carol Gershenson, Fred London, Sallyanne and Barry Scott, Rabbi Seth Riemer and Barbara Checknoff Artists-in-Residence Phil Lohman with Ralph Horowitz TempleBethTorahWethersfield. org Golden Book The Star In Memory of Our Beloved Wife & Mother Andrea (Andie) Goldberg By Barry Goldberg & Michelle & Bill Cyr In Memory of Rose Michaels-Revzon By Cecile & Barry Bronfin In Loving Memory of Your Mom Rose Michaels Revzon By Judy & Marty Gold By Rhoda & Fred London In Memory of Lewis B. Rome By Rhoda & Fred London Yartzeit of Sadye Goldberg Feld By Rhoda & Fred London Cemetery Service TBT Memorial Park will hold Annual Yizkor Service at the Park on September 20, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. All are invited to attend and participate in prayers for our departed loved ones, led by our Rabbi Seth Riemer. Service will start promptly at 11:30 a.m. and conclude about 12 noon. Cemetery Plots Many new members of TBT are not aware that we have a beautiful park-like cemetery in Wethersfield available to our membership at a reduced price, which includes perpetual care. We must emphasize that all our membership is offered burial in the Memorial Park. Your estate planning is not complete if you have not considered making a purchase. Contact Barry Goldberg for further information and a tour of the Memorial Park.

6 Torah Study The Star Page 6 of 6 Our Torah Study group will have its first gathering of the year on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in the Social Hall. All are welcome and encouraged to attend! Led by Rabbi Seth, these sessions are interesting in so many ways informative, funny, intellectual, philosophical, spiritual, and so much more. No prior experience necessary! Dress is very casual and we generally treat ourselves to coffee/tea and refreshments. Oneg Shabbat Sept. 11 Sallyanne and Barry Scott Sept. 18 Judy and Marty Gold Sept. 25 Cecile and Barry Bronfin Oct. 2 Sukkot Pot Luck in the Sukkah Oct. 9 Ralph and Maureen Horowitz Oct. 16 Deb and Joe Hammer Oct. 23 Helene Rosenblatt Oct. 30 Carol Gershenson Nov. 6 Marlene Ellenberg Nov. 13 Ellen Sue Moses and Mark Gould Nov. 20 Heather and Darryl Latorra Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Break, no services Dec. 4 Kathi and Eliot Mag Dec. 11 Michael and Nancy Hoss Dec. 18 Susan James Dec. 25 Winter Break, no services Jan. 1 Winter Break, no services Shalom! This is the TBT Oneg Calendar. If you cannot participate on your "Host" date, please switch with someone else or find a substitute! As a Host, you will need Kedem Grape Juice and a challah. You can also bring cake or brownies, fruit, soda, seltzer, cider, etc. or whatever else you feel like sharing. Tablecloths are in the kitchen, upper cabinets about 3 down from the refrigerator. If you use a cloth one, just please take it home, wash it and bring it back the next time you come to TBT. In the lower cabinets to the left of the sink, you will find napkins, dessert plates, plastic cutlery and hot and cold drink cups. We should also have ample small wine/juice cups. Just before services are over, count heads and pour the juice. On a typical Friday night we ll need enough for about people. Thanks for cleaning up when you are done!