NEWSLETTER April RYYA / ISYN

Transcription

1 NEWSLETTER April RYYA / ISYN This Just In... Property developers want to build a super-mall smack dab in the middle of one of America s most breathtaking world heritage sites, the Grand Canyon. The mall would include an IMAX, shops, hotels and fast food cafes. I didn t make this up. Check it out at Rabbi Moshe Adler XSp GX Rwk XMsW Wishing you a kosher and happy Pesah! Besides destroying the beautiful, untouched landscape of the canyon, the plan tramples all over the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The site for the proposed development is called the Confluence and is a sacred place for the Navajo. This is the place where their people first emerged; as told in their creation story. But it s not just the Navajo whose sacred sites are being threatened by the development. The Hopi people and the Zuni tribes are also fighting for their spiritually significant sites. No wonder Rabbi Arthur Waskow portrays Big Oil, Big Coal and their ilk as modern Pharaohs holding the planet in thrall to their profits. That distinguished company can now include greedy developers, who show us that you don t have to ravage God s earth to make a profit -- you can make it repulsive. What if an Egyptian developer some three and a half millennia ago had decided to build a super-mall smack dab in the middle of the Sea of Reeds, on the dry land between the two walls of water? We might have been seduced by the great shopping and amenities and strolled back to Egypt arm in arm with our oppressors. On the way, the sea might have closed over the lot of us. Pesah is the holiday of our liberation, a perfect time to pray, and resolve to work, for humankind s liberation from greed and for a world based on care for our planet and for each another. Have a happy and kosher Pesah! Beth El - The Heights Synagogue builds vibrant Jewish community. We welcome all in participatory, traditional, egalitarian worship and learning. Rabbi Moshe Adler s Saturday Morning Services at 9:15, 3246 Desota Ave., Cleveland Hts., OH s (

2 President s Perspectives, April 2015 Mother Knows Best Sherry Ball, President Questions? Concerns? Comments? Complaints? Please do not hesitate to contact the President by or home telephone (216) Help Us Stay In Touch! Please be sure we have your current contact information. Send changes to info@ bethelheights.org or call (216) Keep Up with the News! Join the BE-THS Lists! Send an to Mick Miller, mick@mickmill.com, if you need help with signing up. Newsletter: If you d like to get the pdf version, contact news@ bethelheights.org As we search for our next president, I have been repeatedly asked, What does the president do, and, How do you manage the job? The newsletter seems like a good venue for an attempt to answer this question. First, the job description: The president develops and exercises people skills in order to listen to every member. Perhaps a quick review of the classic literature on people skills, beginning with Dale Carnegie, is fitting. His training focuses on building rapport, improving communication, and resolving conflicts. His book proposes that the first step is learning not how to lead, but how to feel. How to feel empowered, respected, and at ease in any situation. Please note the emphasis on the perpetually dynamic aspects of the ongoing process of learning and feeling. Now to the fun part, building rapport. This involves connecting with others and establishing a relationship of mutual liking and trust. To begin courting our members as well as potential members. Engaging in mutually beneficial interactions and having fun together. Throughout the presidency a series of real situations are provided to practice communication and conflict resolution. The challenge is to be assertive, to speak and act in ways that promote attention and elicit positive responses while resisting the urge to react to pressure with aggression and to remember the words of Dr. Frank Luntz It s not what you say, it s what people hear. Now, how to manage: To tell you the truth, the best two pieces of advice I can offer both came from my mother: 1. Do a little bit towards your goal everyday (of course take 24 hours off for Shabbat). And 2. Grin and bear it. Growing up, I never much cared for either piece of advice especially the grin and bear it part. Now we know from neuroscience research that Mom was right. There are benefits to smiling. In fact, a recent study conducted by Kraft and Pressman, examining the effect of smiling while engaging in stressful tasks, suggested that smiling may actually influence our physical state. In this study, participants who were instructed to smile, and in particular those with Duchenne smiles, smiles which engage the muscles surrounding both the mouth and eyes, had lower heart rate levels after recovery from stressful activities. These findings suggest that smiling during brief stressors can help to reduce the intensity of the body s stress response, regardless of whether a person actually feels less stressed (I think that s the bear it part). In addition to the opportunity for enhanced well-being and personal growth, the next president of our community will have a lot of fun and will have a lot to smile about because our board is representative of our community and is functioning. The tasks of scheduling the service and events such as Lunch and Learns, Purim, and Kabbalat Shabbats are run entirely by the respective committees with the help of Executive Chef Marvin Palevsky, (continued on page 5) Beth El The Heights Synagogue Newsletter, Vol. 17, No. 7, April 2015 Beth El The Heights Synagogue Carol Bruml, Editor Telephone , news@bethelheights.org General submittal deadline is the 7th of each month Desota Ave., Cleveland Heights, OH Published 11 times per year. For address or mailing list change, call

3 Learners Torah Discussions Open to All Join us to study and discuss selections from the weekly Torah portion. We consider commentaries, raise questions, and share tips for using the Chumash. Each week s lesson is self-contained so come as your schedule permits. The sessions are accessible for non- Hebrew speakers or readers and open to people at all levels of experience. We meet in the Community Room, after the Torah is taken out and the portion is introduced (about 10:20 am to 10:30 am), and rejoin the service in time for the d var Torah. Questions? Contact Mia Buchwald Gelles: or miabgelles@gmail.com. Upcoming Learners Torah Discussion Dates (every other week this fall): April 18 - Parashat Shmini Note: The May 2 session has been canceled. q Yahrzeits, April 2015 Nisan ~ ISYN Leonora Katz 12 Nisan Hyman Fromson 13 Nisan Barbara Joyce Gilden 13 Nisan Morris Schwartz 14 Nisan Abraham Gordon 14 Nisan Elinor Orche 15 Nisan Samuel Rottman 15 Nisan Clara Soffer 15 Nisan Celia Davis 16 Nisan Leslie Rolle 16 Nisan 5765 Louis Widzer 16 Nisan Rabbi Samuel Fredman 17 Nisan 5701 Mike Michelson 17 Nisan 5766 Bessie Falck 20 Nisan 5767 Irwin Horowitz 20 Nisan Louis Carr 22 Nisan Rachel Gooch 23 Nisan 5764 Morris Harry Haskin 23 Nisan Doris Silver 23 Nisan Herman Eiffer 23 Nisan Jack Zollett 24 Nisan Pearl Gelfand 26 Nisan Esther Markowitz Kazdan 26 Nisan 5773 Harry Katz 26 Nisan 5765 Albert Paige 26 Nissan Abe Fromson 27 Nisan Bessie Wasserman 27 Nisan Leo Goldstein 28 Nisan Herman Givertz 28 Nisan Zev Peretz Bloom 28 Nisan Sylvia Auerbach 29 Nisan Dean Winslow Freed 29 Nisan 5773 Jennie Friedler 29 Nisan Iyar ~ RYYA Adolph Amsel 1 Iyar Yetta Leah Singer 1 Iyar 5765 Maurine Berman 3 Iyar 5762 John Berger 3 Iyar 5733 Jesse Cantleberry 3 Iyar Ralph Lerner 3 Iyar 5771 Helen Podgurski 4 Iyar 5774 Earon Rein 4 Iyar Sam Hemple 5 Iyar Dorothy Katz 5 Iyar 5758 George Friedlander 7 Iyar Sam Neuger 8 Iyar Sam Auerbach 9 Iyar David Shamis 9 Iyar Sarah Frumker 9 Iyar Annie Keller 10 Iyar Max David Fredman 11 Iyar 5765 Shirley Markowitz Katz 11 Iyar 5765 Share your thoughts: Deliver a d var on an upcoming Shabbat. Contact Nina Sobel, or via at (phone is preferred), to learn which parshas are available. If you re interested in doing a D var but haven t done so before, contact Nina, and she will be happy to fill you in about the specifics, such as resources, timing, etc. 3

4 News from Beth El TW$DX Condolences to: OYLBA OWXYN Fred and Joyce Tavill, whose son-in-law, Michael Wirth s, mother, Marlene Wirth z l, passed away recently in Chicago, Illinois; she was interred at Shalom Memorial Park in Palatine, Illinois. In addition to her son and daughter-in-law, Marlene is survived by three grandchildren, Alexandra, Benjamin, and Hannah Wirth. Refuah Sh lema to: Judith Gerblich Sue Klein Welcome, New Members: Janet Century Barry Starr! HMYL$ HAWPR OYABH OYKWRB Mazel Tov to:! BWU LZM Rabbi Moshe Adler, on the February 24 birth of his new granddaughter, Maya Shira Lilah Adler. Maya s parents are Moshe s son, Rabbi Amitai Adler, and his wife, Rabbi Julie Pelc Adler; she has an older brother, Michael. The family resides in Deerfield, Illinois. Bruce and Polly Wilkenfeld, on the birth of their new grandson, Matan Gil Wilkenfeld. Matan s parents are Josh Wilkenfeld and Rachel Bergstein of Silver Spring, Maryland. Yasher Koah to:! XWK R$YY Grace Bloom, daughter of Michael Bloom and Peggy Sullivan, who won second place honors in the District Power of the Pen Writing Competition. Grace was part of the Gross Schechter Day School 7th Grade Team that won first place at Power of the Pen Regionals, where she also earned thirteenth place in the individual competition. Thanks to our M Gillah Readers: Joe Buchwald Gelles Shani Gelles Nan Hecht Miriam Palevsky Becky Schur Special thanks to Becky for leading Ma ariv, as well. 4 Thanks for your Contributions to: Frank and Jeanette Buchwald, in memory of Frank s father, Sam Buchwald z l. Janice Carrick, in honor of Molly Brudnick. Margaret Conti, to the Rabbi s Discretionary Fund. Marsha and Lowell Katz, in memory of Marsha s mother, Sylvia Protus z l. Philip Kazdan Heather Kurzbauer and Ruth Kurzbauer, in memory of their parents, Lisa Rates Kurzbauer and Robert Kurzbauer z l. Heather Kurzbauer and Ruth Kurzbauer, in honor of Rabbi Moshe Adler. Deborah Michelson Stephen Pepper and Linda Tobin, in memory of Jules Pepper z l. Joanne and Richard Prober, in honor of their long and rich friendship with Ieda and Marvin Warshay. Burton K. Randell Beth and Scott Wachter Bruce and Polly Wilkenfeld, in honor of Rabbi Moshe Adler s new granddaughter, Maya Shira Lila Adler. Thanks for Kiddush Sponsorships to: March 14 Pi Day Kiddush Our Math Teachers Consortium: Bill Bruml, Joel Genuth, and Ari Klein. March 21 Lunch and Learn with Lifsa Schachter Rabbi Moshe Adler, in memory of Nili Adler z l. March 28 Adi and Judith Gerblich, in memory of Adi s father, Jacob Gerblich z l, Judith s parents, Buzia and Jacob Chassis z l, and Judith s brother, Michael Chassis z l. Adi and Judith Gerblich, in thanksgiving for Judith s recovery, Birkat HaGomel LMWGH TKRB April 25 In recognition of Yom HaAtzma ut and Yom HaZikaron, and in memory of Nili Adler z l. An Israeli-style menu will be served. Bill and Carol Bruml May 2 Lunch and Learn with Ilanit Kalir Adam Probst, in memory of Yevgenia Baron Probst z l.

5 Thanks for Simcha Kiddush Sponsorships to: Bruce and Polly Wilkenfeld, in honor of Bruce s birthday. Bruce and Polly Wilkenfeld, in honor of the birth of their new grandson, Matan Gil Wilkenfeld. q (Mother Knows Best, continued from page 2) who always comes through with a meal into which he has put his heart and soul. Our Finance, Building, and Development committees are working together to maintain our building with minimal input from the president. So smile and contact a member of the nominating committee to find out how you might become a more active part of our community. Look to the May and June newsletters for more about all the great work our board and committee members have accomplished over this past qyear. Calendar, april RYYA / ISYN April 3 through 11 Pesah See the Concise Pesah Calendar, attached. Saturday, April 11, after Kiddush Mishna Study Group will meet to continue the discussion of the next 3 stories of the book A Bride for One Night: Libertina, Return, and A Bride for One Night. Saturday, April 18, about 10:20 am Learners Torah Study Group will meet in the Community Room to discuss Parashat Shmini. Saturday, April 25, after services Enjoy an Israeli-style Kiddush in recognition of Yom HaAtzma ut and Yom HaZikaron, in memory of Nili Adler z l, sponsored by Bill and Carol Bruml. The monthly Simcha Kiddush will also be celebrated that day. Purim 2015 Saturday, May 2, after services Lunch and Learn with Ilanit Gerblich Kalir Women in Israel: Agents of Change. Kiddush will be sponsored by Adam Probst, in memory of Yevgenia Baron Probst z l. Sunday, May 31, 5:00 pm Musicale and potluck dairy dinner, location TBA. 5

6 Lunch and Learn Saturday, May 2, 2015 WOMEN IN ISRAEL: Presented in memory of Yevgenia Baron Probst z l AGENTS OF CHANGE Ilanit Gerblich Kalir is Managing Director of International Operations at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. In this capacity, Ilanit manages Federation programs in Israel, and its IConnect initiative in Cleveland. Prior to her position at the JFC, Ilanit was Associate Executive Director for AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, in New York City, a premier Jewish service program for young adults. During her tenure at AVODAH she played a significant role in doubling the organization s size, increasing revenue, and revamping its marketing presence. BETH EL The Heights Synagogue 3246 Desota Avenue, Cleveland Hts., OH info@bethelheights.org ~ We welcome all in participatory, traditional, egalitarian worship and learning.

7 Concise Pesah Calendar 2015 Thursday, April 2 8:35 pm B dikat hametz (final search) Friday, April 3 - Erev Pesah JMX TQYDB XSP BRE 7:00 am Weekday morning service, followed by siyyum (completion of a talmudic tract) and a light breakfast. 11:21 am Latest time for eating hametz. 12:25 pm Last time for annulling (renouncing ownership of) hametz. 7:35 pm Shabbat/Yom Tov Candle-lighting (7:53 pm Sunset) 8:36 pm Nightfall, First seder may begin IWwAR RDS Saturday, April 4 First day of Pesah 10:00 am Pesah I Morning Services: Shaharit, Hallel, and Musaf First blessing of reader s repetition of Musaf includes T fillat Tal (the prayer for dew); mashiv ha-ruah is not said again until Sh mini Atzeret (next-to-last day of Sukkot). 8:37 pm Yom Tov Candle-lighting, second seder may begin YNw RDS Tonight we begin counting the omer (see Haggadah) Sunday, April 5 Second day of Pesah 10:00 am Pesah II Morning Services: Shaharit, Hallel, and Musaf 8:38 pm Nightfall, Havdalah may be said ( borey p ri ha-gafen and ha-mavdil beyn kodesh l hol no candle or spices) Thursday, April 9 Erev Yom Tov 7:42 pm Shabbat/Yom Tov Candle-lighting (8:00 pm Sunset) Friday, April 10 Seventh Day of Pesah 9:15 am Pesah VII Morning services: Shaharit, Hallel, and Musaf 8:44 pm Nightfall; Yom Tov candles may be lit Saturday, April 11 Last (eighth) day of Pesah 9:15 am Pesah VIII Morning Services: Shaharit, Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs), Hallel, Musaf, and Yizkor RWKZY 8:45 pm Passover may be ended and Havdalah recited ( borey p ri ha-gafen and ha-mavdil beyn kodesh l hol no candle or spices) (Please allow the Rabbi an hour to buy back your hametz before you use it.)

8 POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR THE SALE OF HAMETZ Pesah 5775 (Passover 2015) I, the undersigned, fully empower and permit Rabbi Moshe Adler to act in my place and stead, and in my behalf, to sell all hametz possessed by me (knowingly or unknowingly) as defined by Torah and Rabbinic law (i.e., known hametz, substances of doubtful hametz status, and all kinds of hametz mixtures); hametz that tends to harden and to adhere to the inner surfaces of pans, pots or cooking and utility vessels; and all kinds of live animals that have been eating hametz or mixtures thereof. I further authorize Rabbi Moshe Adler to lease all places wherein the hametz owned by me may be found, especially but not exclusively on the premises located at:. (full address, including city and state) Rabbi Moshe Adler has the full right to sell and to lease by transactions, as he deems fit and proper and for such periods of time as he believes are necessary for the halachically effective disposal of my hametz as defined above. I further give Rabbi Moshe Adler full power and authority to appoint a substitute in his stead with full power to sell and lease as provided herein. The above given power is in conformity with all Torah and Rabbinic laws, and in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio and of the United States of America. I hereby affix my signature on this day of, in the year, as reckoned in the United States of America. Signature Printed Name Address City, State, ZIP Please see that your authorization reaches the Rabbi by Monday, March 30, Thank you. Selling the hametz is a free service, and donations are entirely voluntary. Should you wish to make one, please make your check payable to the order of BETH EL THE HEIGHTS SYNAGOGUE and earmark it Maot Hittin. This is a fund for purchasing Passover food for needy Jews. Please mail your forms directly to Rabbi Moshe Adler 4083 Bushnell Road, University Heights, OH 44118