TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA June The Shofar

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA June The Shofar"

Abigayle Green
5 years ago
Views:

1 TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA June 2018 The Shofar Friends, The Kids Shabbat Party will gather to celebrate Shabbat on Friday, June 1 st at 5:30. Parents are invited to bring a meat-free, shell-fish free dinner for their kids so that they can eat before services. Services that night will begin at 6:30. I hope that you will be there to join us! Please RSVP to me for this event!! We will celebrate Shabbat on Friday night June 1 st at 6:30 PM, followed by our Potluck Dinner at 7:30. I hope that you will join us to create and share the warmth of our community and to enjoy the companionship of being a part of it. RSVPs to me for Potluck, along with the main course dish that you bring, ensures that we have enough food for everyone. All dishes should be meat-free and shellfish-free. We are in need of potluck people to set up and clean up. Please let me know that you will be able to make this happen! We will also celebrate Shabbat on Friday night 22 nd at 7:30 PM. At this service, we will celebrate triple smachot (joyful events)!! First, Gabe Chauveron will receive his Hebrew name and a special blessing! Second, we will honor the volunteer teachers, members of the congregation who have dedicated their time to teaching our Hebrew School children. Last, but far from least, we will honor Howie Gelbsman, who is retiring from the Board of Trustees after an astounding 30 years of service to the congregation. Please make every effort to be there, and remember that a donation to the Temple is the most appropriate way to honor our honorees. Torah Study will meet Saturday June 2 nd and 23 rd. Coffee and Shmooze starts at 9:00 am; we begin our studies at 9:30. No previous knowledge is needed. Please note that this group is usually lively, opinionated, vociferous and at times argumentative. We have a lot of fun!! Events in Israel these past few weeks have been challenging. As these events are not covered very well in America, I would like to provide you with news sources from Israel, so that you can be informed of events as they unfold, and read a wide variety of Israeli perspectives. Here you will find links to many Israeli news sources, including notes on their political leanings (if any). Reading a wide spectrum of Israeli outlets for news and editorials will allow you to be informed and draw your own conclusions. Also, at the link below, you will find 13 Inconvenient Truths About What Has Been Happening in Gaza Lunch and Learn continues with our study of Tikkun Middot (improving our soul-traits) and Mindfulness on Saturday, June 2 nd and 23 rd. We start lunch at noon, and begin our studies at about 12:30. Feel free to drop in to see what it s all about! This practice helps us to become our best selves, and to stay calm, focused and aware in a chaotic world. Please bring a meat-free, shellfish-free dish for yourself or to share. No previous knowledge is needed. As always, please don t hesitate to reach out to me at rabbimollykarp@gmail.com at any time. Kol tuv (all the good), Rabbi Molly Karp 1

2 President s Column Believe it or not, Temple Beth El is winding down its 83 rd year. Given the size of our town, the even smaller size of the Jewish community, and the fact that so many Conservative synagogues in America have merged or closed, this is remarkable. The recent Congregational Survey asked about the strengths of Temple Beth El, and someone answered, Just its existence. Amen. We are here and we need to be. We are the only year-round, active shul within a 60-mile radius. In a town where we are a tiny minority, our synagogue is even more important. We are all aware of the threats to Jewish continuity and the survival of American synagogues, but Temple Beth El s rural location presents a greater challenge. We are deep in the Diaspora (only 4% of US Jews live in rural areas), and have no one but ourselves to rely on. Those of us who belong to Temple Beth El are proud to support this institution. We are still here, and we have a lot to celebrate. For the past few years we have always had a minyan on Friday night. Our Men s Club and Women s Group are both lively and active. The Hebrew School is small, spirited, and continues to bring together Jewish children and their families. A Tot Shabbat service for children is beginning in the Fall. Our synagogue is respected and embraced by the community. We have a positive relationship with Rabbi Meir and Chabad, our neighbor and friend down the street. Our social action programs are ongoing and expanding. Our adult education classes are lively and beloved, and attract new members. We are a welcoming synagogue. And most importantly, people feel warmth and friendship when they gather. Given all our strengths, Temple Beth El is a success story. On Thursday, June 21, Temple Beth El members will gather for the annual congregational meeting at 7:00 pm. Please join us so you can learn more about our accomplishments of the past year and goals for the future. We will vote not only on new board members (see below for the slate of candidates; nominations from the floor can also be heard), but also on two proposed changes to our by-laws. 1. Several members of the congregation and Board have requested that proxy voting be allowed at the community meeting. The benefit of proxy voting is that if a member cannot attend a meeting, he/she can give authority to someone else to vote so their voice can be heard. Disadvantages of proxy voting are that members will not hear discussion about issues which might change their positions and that we might not get a quorum at the meeting if not enough members attend in person. (Note - a "proxy" may vote how he or she wishes and is not bound to vote the way the person giving the proxy tells him/her.) The Board of Trustees will recommend the following amendment to Article VII, CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS: Every member entitled to vote at a meeting of members or to express consent or dissent without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her by proxy. The Board of Trustees shall, from time-to-time, promulgate rules and procedures for proxy voting, consistent with the applicable provisions of law. Some of the rules and procedures the Board is discussing are that a proxy must be a member of Temple Beth El, that no one can be a proxy for more than two other members, that the proxy be in writing and that it can be revoked at any time. The Board has not yet voted on these or any other specific rules or procedures. 2. The Board will also recommend amending Article VIII Section 1 of the By-laws to provide that "a past year's president" be a member of the Board, rather than "the immediate past year's president." This change is proposed because not all immediate past presidents are willing or able to serve. The amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the members present at the meeting. Your participation in this process is important. Ken 2

3 TEMPLE BETH EL s 83 rd ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 PM Members of Temple Beth El are invited to attend this very important meeting. We will vote on Board members, and two proposed changes to the by-laws. First, in response to requests from members we will consider allowing proxy voting. Second, the Board of Trustees is asking to change language in the by-laws. For more information, see the President s column. Decaf coffee and dessert will be served. The Nominating Committee presents the following slate of officers and candidates for the Temple Beth El Board of Trustees: President: Ken Sider VP: Stephanie Bauer Treasurer: Anne Green Secretary: Irene Weinberg Candidates seeking election unopposed: Jessica Wintringham, Phyllis Sherman Board member's term expires, seeking re-election unopposed: Sue Carbone Board member resignation: Bob Garfield Thank you to Bob Garfield for serving on the Board. Bob is also a Hebrew School teacher and will continue next year. For the first time in years or decades, Howie Gelbsman will be retiring from the Board. Thanks for everything, Howie! Our by-laws allow for other nominations to be added to the ballot, either ahead of time or from the floor by a member in good standing, with someone to second the nomination. Any such additional nominations should be communicated to the Secretary. 3

SHAVUOT NEWS On Sunday, May 20, nine members of Temple Beth El's Men's Club answered Rabbi Meir Rubashkin's call to help make a minyan so he and his family could read the Torah for Shavuot, the

4 SHAVUOT NEWS On Sunday, May 20, nine members of Temple Beth El's Men's Club answered Rabbi Meir Rubashkin's call to help make a minyan so he and his family could read the Torah for Shavuot, the holiday celebrating receiving the 10 Commandments. Several TBE members received aliyot. Rabbi Meir is the leader of Oneonta Chabad, a center for Jewish college students on Chestnut Street. He and his family were appreciative that we joined them, and all present shared a delicious kiddush luncheon together. Temple Beth El Service at Cooperstown Center for Rehab (formerly Focus) On Friday June 29th at 7 pm, members of Temple Beth El will conduct a lay-led service at Cooperstown Center for Rehab and Nursing, located at 128 Phoenix Mills Cross Road, followed by a kiddush and oneg. We will join our members Ernest and Betty Goodman to welcome Shabbat. The service will be held in the special events room on the right-hand side of the lobby. Join Rabbi Karp and the Temple Beth El Family for Shabbat June 1st 5:30 A Kids' Shabbat Party You do not need to have small children of your own to participate; all members of TBE are welcome to join the children and their families! This is a great way for new and veteran members of the congregation to get to know each other! Please RSVP to Rabbi Karp for this event!! 6:30 Shabbat Service 7:30 Potluck Dinner June 22nd 7:30 Service Celebration of joyful events 4

5 A Season of Faith and Understanding Oneonta is a small but diverse community even when it comes to faith. Choosing to respect and understand one another, including how we pray, strengthens our bonds. Our unique religious beliefs and identities form the basis for promoting a more just, caring community. Learn about the religions in our community by attending the services and presentations below. This series is designed for education, discussion, and fellowship. What do we all believe? Find out during this special interfaith program. Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Ric Chrislip 107 Balmoral Drive, West Oneonta Sunday, June 10 at 9:45 am Osmanli Dergahi (Islam) Omar Siddiqi 1663 Wheat Hill Rd., Sidney Center (Approx. 25 minutes from Oneonta) Sunday, June 17 at 12:00 Karme Ling (Tibetan Buddhism) Ani Samten 315 Retreat Road, Delhi Wednesday, June 27 at 6:30 pm. Not wheelchair accessible (Approx. 15 minutes from Oneonta) This series is presented by Temple Beth El of Oneonta. All Are Welcome. For more information, contact Ken Sider: ksider@hotmail.com An introduction precedes each service (at the time posted) and a coffee hour follows for discussion. The Women s Club of Temple Beth El At the May meeting, Debra Marcus gave us a great review of Women s Health over the past 50 years. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, June 3 rd at noon. We will be deciding what summer and fall programs we would like to organize. Men s Club Breakfast Men s Club Breakfast will be held 10 am Sunday, June 17th in the downstairs social hall. The Lord s Table Lord's Table: On May 10th our crew of volunteers served at Lord's Table community feeding program. Thanks to Gary and Lynda Preiser, Linda Burkhart, Sheila Birkett, and Alice Lichtenstein for serving food and cleaning up after the meal. Our next volunteer stint is on June 14th. Contact me at hjjaffe@hotmail.com if you'd like to be added to our roster of volunteers. Hollie 5

6 Religious School News The last day of Hebrew school took place on Shavuot, and the children learned about celebration of the holiday of receiving the 10 Commandments at Sinai. (Actually they learned that in Hebrew, it's called "the 10 Statements" because the first one is not a commandment.) We will resume Hebrew school classes in September. Invitation to attend Bar Mitzvah services for Ben Blocker We are pleased to invite the congregation to join us for Ben's Bar Mitzvah services, oneg and Kiddush. Rabbi Emeritus Donald and Barbara Roberts will lead the services. Friday night, July 6 th, at 7:30 pm with an Oneg immediately following services. Bar Mitzvah will be on Saturday, July 7 th, at 4:30 pm with a Kiddush immediately following services. Linda and Seth Blocker Good News From Israel News of Israel's Achievements and Heartwarming Stories from the Jewish State. ISRAEL S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS Reprogramming cancer cells. It was reported previously that Ben Gurion University Professor Varda Shoshan-Barmatz had discovered that suppressing the protein VDAC1 inhibits tumor growth. Her team s latest research shows that small interfering ribonucleic acids (sirnas) can reprogram the cancer cells back to normal-like cells. Ointment for pre-skin cancer is in Phase 2 trials

TEMPLE BETH EL FAMILY PICNIC and BB-Q SPONSERED BY TBE MEN S CLUB WHEN: SUNDAY JULY 15, 2018 (Rain or Shine) WHERE: THE HOME OF STEVEN AND GAIL FEUER 177 CIRCLE DR.

7 TEMPLE BETH EL FAMILY PICNIC and BB-Q SPONSERED BY TBE MEN S CLUB WHEN: SUNDAY JULY 15, 2018 (Rain or Shine) WHERE: THE HOME OF STEVEN AND GAIL FEUER 177 CIRCLE DR. OTEGO, NY (Call for directions: (607) ) TIME: MENU: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm KOSHER HOT DOGS, HAMBURGERS, SALMON BURGERS SODA and MORE. WHAT TO BRING: SIDE DISH TO SHARE; A CHAIR TO SIT ON, A BATHING SUIT IF YOU WANT TO GO IN THE HOT TUB; IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO FISHING YOU WILL NEED A LICENSE IF YOU ARE 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. (No license is necessary for people 15 years of age or younger.) (WE WILL SUPPLY THE BAIT AND A FISHING POLE); BOW AND ARROWS IF YOU WANT TO SHOOT AT THE 3-D DEER AND TURKEY, GOLF CLUBS AND A FEW GOLF BALLS YOU DON T MIND LOSING, AND A SMILE TO SHARE. ACTIVITIES: HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT; BADMINTON; BEAN BAG TOSS; PADDLE BOATING; FISHING; EATING; AND GOOD CONVERSATION 7

8 Oneg Shabbat Announcement Dear Temple Family, I am certain that you are all aware of the Oneg that takes place at the conclusion of Shabbat services. It is the collective joy or pleasure celebrated by those of us attending services. At Temple Beth El the Oneg is a relatively simple affair. Either one or more congregants personally sponsor the Oneg as a memorialization of a significant event, i.e. Yahrzeit, Birthday, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Baby Naming, etc. Hosting an Oneg creates a nice opportunity to talk with friends about your loved one or special event, and it brings us together as a community. In an effort to sustain this tradition and create a more equitable distribution of this mitzvah, we are asking you to provide an Oneg. Sponsorship of an Oneg requires: fruit, dessert, challah (available at BJ s, Price Chopper, and Hannaford), small gluten-free snack, small sugar-free snack, seltzer and juice, and half-and-half. If you are out of town on the date of the Oneg you wish to sponsor, you may make a donation of $50.00 to the Temple Beth El Oneg Fund so that the Temple can continue to perform this important but costly function. In order to schedule an Oneg, please contact me at hlkaminsky@gmail.com. I thank you in advance. Shalom, Howard L. Kaminsky, Oneg Coordinator 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 June Lunch and Learn Saturday, June 2 nd and 23 rd at noon Our Lunch and Learn Program will continue with Mindfulness Practice for veterans and newbies. This practice helps us to stay calm, focused and aware in a chaotic world. Please bring a meat-free, shellfish-free dish for yourself or to share. You can me to receive the handouts in advance. No previous knowledge is needed. Please contact Rabbi Karp for information. Shabbat Torah Study: at 9:30 am, following 9 am coffee and schmooze on Saturday mornings. 8

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.

9 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 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. 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 # CHAI to LIFE Please remember to send in your $18.00 Chai to Life payment for June. 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 Column If you have member news that you would like to share with the congregation, please send it via by the 20 th of the month to Sue Carbone at tbeshofar@gmail.com for publication in the Shofar. Please put Member News in the subject line of your . Thank you. 9

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.

10 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? 10

11 Yahrzeit List for June 2018 June 1 7 (Sivan 18 24) June 8 14 (Sivan 25 Tammuz 1) Minnie Epstein Samuel Wilk Frances Gelbsman Edith Wilk Ellis M. Krohn Robert George Bauer Ida Stabbins Ellenbogen Jacob Gancfried Frimid R. Krohn Harold (Zev) Kaminsky June (Tammuz 2 8) June (Tammuz 9 17) Rose Swire Hannah Krohn Anna (Chana) Kaminsky David Harris Sara Louise Elfenbein Reis Adolf Auerbach Lillian Zimmerman Pauline Pepper 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

12 MEMBER AND SUPPORTER BUSINESSES 12

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!

13 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. 13

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.

14 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 June 2018 Sivan/Tammuz 5778 Ken Sider Howie Gelbsman Irene Weinberg Anne Green Hollie Jaffe OFFICERS President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Past President BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephanie Bauer Robert Garfield Susan Carbone Debra Marcus Rick Weinberg Save the Dates: Friday June 1 st, Erev Shabbat Kid s Shabbat Party celebration at 5:30 PM, followed by Shabbat Service at 6:30 PM, and followed by potluck dinner at 7:30 PM Saturday June 2 nd, Torah study at 9:30 AM following coffee and schmooze at 9:00 AM, followed by Lunch and Learn at noon Sunday, June 3 rd Women s Club lunch at noon Thursday, June 14 th, Lord s Table Community Feeding program Sunday June 17 th Men s Club Breakfast at 10:00 AM Thursday, June 21 st, Annual Congregational Meeting at 7:00 PM Friday June 22 nd, Erev Shabbat, Celebration of joyful events at 7:30 PM Saturday June 23 rd, Torah study at 9:30 AM following coffee and schmooze at 9:00 AM, followed by Lunch and Learn at noon Friday, June 29 th, lay-led Erev Shabbat Services at Cooperstown Center for Rehab 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 September The Shofar

TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA September The Shofar TEMPLE BETH EL of ONEONTA www.templebetheloneonta.org September 2018 The Shofar Friends, We will celebrate Shabbat together on Friday, August 31, at 7:30 PM. Shabbat Morning Torah Study will meet on Saturday,