voice The future of Jewish music Matzah Meal Oh, What a Night

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1 fore! ~page 6 Swing away at Brotherhood s Charity Golf Tournament if you build it... ~page 11 Temple Israel partners with Habitat for Humanity to provide a new home hidden treasure ~pages 8-9 Our Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center is growing by leaps & bounds Temple Israel / Memphis, Tennessee April 2016 / vol. 70; no. 8 / timemphis.org voice Matzah Meal A celebration of freedom and family is a story worth retelling at our Passover seder ~page 3 Oh, What a Night The Annual Meeting Shabbat and Dinner puts a bow on another wonderful year at Temple Israel and brings in a new president ~page 7 Feting a Foodie Sisterhood honors Sheryl Gorden, its Top Chef ~page 10 The future of Jewish music Noah Aronson brings his prodigious musical creativity and playful and soulful spirit to Temple Israel ~page 4

2 2 SHABBAT SHALOM! We hope you find these Shabbat celebrations to be soulful, thought-provoking, and uplifting. PRENEGS Fridays, 5:45-6:15 pm Enjoy these light receptions before Shabbat services. Thank you to the preneg hosts, including: Freddi & Joel Felt (March 18, in honor of their 60 th anniversary); the Scheidt family (April 1, in honor of Mason Gronauer becoming bar mitzvah); Sisterhood (April 8, in honor of the ECE-RJ Kallah); Sisterhood (April 15, in honor of Noah Aronson). Note: prenegs won t be held April 22 and April 29. TORAH STUDY Saturdays, 8:45-9:45 am Participate in these stimulating discussions! EVENING SERVICE Friday, April 1, 6:15 pm TOT SHABBAT SERVICE Friday, April 1, 6:15 pm See page 12 for details. MORNING SERVICE Saturday, April 2, 10 am Mason Gronauer, son of Helen Gronauer & Skip Gronauer, will become bar mitzvah. Mazal tov! Sarah Levingston, daughter of Jennifer & Jon Levingston, will become bat mitzvah in Cleveland, Mississippi. Mazal tov! L DOR VADOR SERVICE Friday, April 8, 6:15 pm See page 12 for details. MORNING SERVICE Saturday, April 9, 10 am Gordon Brode, son of Amy & Robert Brode, and Kass Jones, son of Blair & Dax Jones, will become b nai mitzvah. Mazal tov! EVENING SERVICE Friday, April 15, 6:15 pm With Noah Aronson timemphis.org instagram/templeisrael PANCAKES AND PRAYER Saturday, April 16, 10 am With Noah Aronson (See page 12 for details.) HAVDALAH Saturday, April 16, 5 pm The Havdalah follows a concert with Noah Aronson which begins at 5 pm. SHABBAT MINYAN WITH KADDISH Friday, April 22, 5 pm Note earlier time. SHABBAT PASSOVER SERVICE Saturday, April 23, 10 am ANNUAL MEETING SERVICE Friday, April 29, 6 pm Note earlier time. (See page 7 for details.) END OF PESACH YIZKOR SERVICE Saturday, April 30, 10 am Between You and Me Dear Temple Israel Family, As Passover approaches, here are four different questions for you to contemplate: 1) Are we just going through the motions retelling the same story of the Jewish people s journey from slavery to freedom or are we reclaiming it as OUR story? 2) What Jewish values have I inherited from a people who were once oppressed and what am I passing on? 3) How can I increase my empathy to the people of our time who are most desperate, vulnerable, and despised? 4) What memories from the past are worth preserving because they nurture me? Passover reminds us that once God freed us from slavery, we no longer have to be objects of history. We write the script. As subjects, we have the power to move ourselves and others to whatever light we can bring no matter what darkness we or others face. Passover is also a time for love. On Passover, we read from Song of Songs, the love book of the Hebrew Bible. Love and freedom are more related than we think. Both require a level of responsibility. Love without responsibility is selfishness; freedom without responsibility is chaos. Responsibility civilizes love and freedom, and elevates both to the moral stature they deserve. Passover, with its full moon, teaches an important lesson for those of us who have endured a cold and dark winter. Look up in the sky before your seder begins, and remember what Judaism teaches: If life starts over again each spring, so can each of us. Whenever Passover begins, even as a grown rabbi older than 50, I still can feel my father s hands on my shoulders blessing me. Life begins anew. Chag sameach make this the most meaningful Passover of your life! L Shalom, Rabbi Micah Greenstein

3 Torah worship loving deeds VOICE 3 Passover Pesach, Jewish spring festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder (meaning order ) and a festive meal; the prohibition of chametz (leaven); and the eating of matzah (an unleavened bread). On the fifteenth day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, Jews gather with family and friends in the evening to read from a book called the haggadah, meaning telling, which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings, and songs for the Passover seder. Today, the holiday is a celebration of freedom and family. ~from reformjudaism.org known as Passover in English, is a major Shabbat Minyan with Kaddish Friday, April 22, 5 pm Before we celebrate the first night of Passover at our homes, we come together at Temple Israel. Please note the early start time. Shabbat Passover Service Saturday, April 23, 10 am We celebrate Passover in the comfort of Shabbat s warm embrace. Congregational Seder Saturday, April 23, 7 pm Share the second night of Passover with your congregational family at this 34 th annual celebration hosted by WRJ-Temple Israel Sisterhood. Donations to MIFA and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger are included in your admission price Temple members & their families: $30/adult, $15/child (12 & under); non-members: $36/adult, $18/child (12 & under). To RSVP by April 18, scan this QR code, go to timemphis.org, or send a check to WRJ-Passover Seder (c/o Temple Israel) and provide the names of everyone attending (note number of children) and include any seating requests (maximum 8/table). Questions? Call Tot & Family Seder Sunday, April 24, 5 pm This lively and fun Passover celebration is designed for families with kids up to age 10. The evening includes music, games, activities, and of course dinner, all in a child-friendly time frame. Passover-themed crafts begin at 5 pm, and the seder begins at 5:45 pm. To RSVP by April 19 (Temple members: $8/adult, $4/child; non-members: $12/adult; $8/child), scan this QR code, go to timemphis.org, or contact Jackie Evans, jackiee@timemphis.org or Kosher meals are available upon request. Please contact Rabbi Katie Bauman, , with any questions. Tot Seder is made possible by the generosity and vision of the Mildred H. and Edgar C. Haas, Sr. Family Endowment for Education, WRJ-Temple Israel Sisterhood, and PJ Library. Passover Yizkor & Shabbat Service Saturday, April 30, 10 am We end Passover by remembering loved ones who died within the last year. 3

4 Noah Aronson A Music Man Now with two acclaimed albums of Jewish music to his credit, recording artist Noah Aronson didn t foresee himself taking a career path that would lead him to where he is today. When I was growing up, if you told me that I was going to be writing Jewish music professionally, I would have laughed out loud, Noah said. I had a clear conception of what I thought Jewish music was, and I knew I didn t want that. But when I finished college and I started spending more time working in synagogues, I decided that I could define how I wanted my Jewish music to sound. I asked myself what would happen if I started writing Jewish music that really spoke to me, moved me, and that I actually would want to listen to. continued on page 5

5 continued from page 4 Noah, a New Jersey native whose family is from Haiti, has been playing a musical instrument since the age of eight. He learned to play the piano from his father, who was a cantor for 50 years. I would sit next to him as he played and would memorize the songs he knew, he recalled. After a few years of this, I was playing relatively complex classical pieces, and my parents decided to send me to piano lessons when I was around twelve or thirteen years old. Although he did not really like playing what his piano teachers told him to play, he practiced every day for about three to four hours. Years later and with a degree in Jazz Composition and Piano from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Noah had harnessed his technical musical skills, but had yet to develop his singing voice. I don t think I sang one note while I was in college, he said. It was only after I left Berklee that I started to - quite literally - find my voice and decide that I wanted to sing my music and have music sing through me. Using the prayerbook, poetry, and words from Torah as his inspirational starting point, Noah s music is a product of having listened to - and been influenced by - a variety of different sounds and styles, and his peers have been very impressed. There are those rare musicians who sing and compose from the soul. Noah Aronson is one of those artists, lauded Cantor Rachelle Nelson from Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest, Florida. Cantor Anna West Ott from Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, New Jersey, took the praise to another level. Noah Aronson is the future of Jewish music, Anna said. Both spiritual and sensual at the same time, his music takes the prayers of our liturgy on a journey of motion and emotion. It celebrates what it means to be an American Jew in the 21 st century, with its stylistic mix of folk, rock, jazz, and Latin grooves. Abbie Strauss, Temple Israel s Cantorial Soloist who has worked with Noah, echoed those sentiments. Torah worship loving deeds Noah is a very talented musician and songwriter, said Abbie. His spirit is infused in every melody he writes. We enjoy singing many of his melodies here at Temple, including, Am I Awake, Adonai S fatai, Standing on the Parted Shores, Let There Be Love, and Zamru l Adonai. As his career as a Jewish recording artist is skyrocketing, Noah offered this sound advice based on his life experiences to those interested in pursuing a career as a musician. Be yourself. People want to hear YOU. Take time to find your own voice and use it often. mishpacha family VOICE Events & Services with Noah Aronson Music Sharing Session Thursday, April 14 7:30-8:30 pm Hear and learn new and old Jewish music favorites that are enhancing worship services across the country. RSVP at timemphis.org Shabbat Service Friday, April 15 6:15 pm Pancakes & Prayer Saturday, April am Outdoor Concert and Havdalah Saturday, April 16 5 pm RSVP at timemphis.org Tefillah and Concert Sunday, April am-12 pm Thank you to the Mildred H. and Edgar C. Haas, Sr. Family Endowment for Education for making Noah Aronson s time at Temple Israel possible. 5 temple israel

6 Shalom! timemphis.org instagram/templeisrael FORE! 6 The MRJ-Temple Israel Brotherhood 13th Annual Charity Golf Tournament swings into action May 9. If enjoying great food and a day at the golf course with friends sound good to you, sign up now QR code or timemphis.org to play in this fantastic tournament! Even if you don t win the putting or long-drive contests or even the tournament itself, eating lunch from Corky s, playing a round of golf at the beautiful Ridgeway Country Club, and eating dinner from Ruth s Chris is always great. sign up for our weekly s at timemphis.org Questions? brotherhood@timemphis.org. Thank you to all the sponsors, especially Corky s, Diversified Trust, and Ruth s Chris Steak House. Voice April 2016

7 Torah worship loving deeds VOICE 7 Annual Meeting Shabbat & Dinner Founded in 1854, Temple Israel has a long and proud history filled with remarkable milestones and moments. On April 29, we will celebrate our rich history at our Annual Meeting Shabbat and Dinner. FRIDAY, APRIL 29 ANNUAL MEETING 5:15 PM SHABBAT SERVICE 6 PM DINNER 7:30 PM The celebration begins at 5:15 pm with Temple Israel s 162 nd annual meeting, which includes the election of trustees and officers and the presentation of the budget. Everyone is encouraged to attend the annual meeting as we take a look back at the past twelve months and look ahead to the next twelve. We will express gratitude to outgoing President Jonathan Frisch for a job well done and celebrate the start of Elkan Scheidt s tenure as Temple Israel s 50 th President. An additional highlight will be the presentation of the Jeffrey H. Manis Service Award to a Temple Trustee. As Executive Director, Jeff, of blessed memory, exemplified a selfless and ongoing commitment to raise the bar of excellence at Temple Israel and make it a better place. The meeting will be followed by a Shabbat service at 6 pm and a congregational dinner at 7:30 pm. We welcome new and returning Temple Israel Trustees: Amy Kirshbaum, Jay Lindy, and Ralph Yaffe (serving second year of term 2, ); Raymond Evans, Jeff Kerlan, Billie Pierce, Esther Saltzman, and Elissa Taub (serving first year of Term 2, ); Marisa Baggett, Ben Beatus, Lisa Barden, and Melanie Fine (serving second year of term 1, ), and Julie Boshwit, Bob Eiseman, Bruce Landau, Tony Lin, Leigh Royal, Liz Rudnick, Jason Salomon, and Patti Weiss (serving first year of term 1, ). The Officers include Elkan Scheidt, President; Mark Fogelman, Senior Vice President; Leigh Mansberg, Vice President; Wendy Rotter, Vice President; Alex Saharovich, Vice President; Laurie Meskin, Secretary; David Rosenthal, Treasurer; David Bearman, Counsel; Jonathan Frisch, Immediate Past President; Nancy Kline, WRJ-Sisterhood President, and Danny Mansberg, MRJ- Brotherhood President. Be part of this celebration! Make dinner reservations ($18/person by April 21; $25/person after that) at timememphis.org; by scanning this QR code; by check, or by calling Temple Israel, Break Passover with your congregational family at this Shabbat dinner, which will include pasta and bread, followed by desserts provided by WRJ-Sisterhood. Temple Israel ~ 1376 E. Massey Rd. ~ Memphis, TN ~ ~ timemphis.org Temple Israel is a sanctuary for prayer and inspiration, a vibrant center for Jewish learning, and a congregational home for living Torah. We are a source of strength and a force for good Micah D. Greenstein, Senior Rabbi Katie M. Bauman, Associate Rabbi Bess B. Wohlner, Assistant Rabbi Rabbi Feivel Strauss, Senior Educator Abbie Strauss, Cantorial Soloist Harry K. Danziger, Rabbi Emeritus John M. Kaplan, Cantor Emeritus Temple Israel is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. reformjudaism.org ~ urj.org for Reform Jews, the greater community, and the world. Jonathan Frisch, President E. Elkan Scheidt, Sr. Vice Pres. Laurie Meskin, Vice Pres. David Rosenthal, Vice Pres. Alex Saharovich, Vice Pres. Leigh Mansberg, Secretary Mark Fogelman, Treasurer David L. Bearman, Counsel Paula Jacobson, Immediate Past Pres. Debbie Jackson, WRJ-Sisterhood Pres. Jeff Rosenberg, MRJ-Brotherhood Pres. Andrew Rogers, MeFTY Pres. Stacy Canales, Executive Director mishpacha family temple israel

8 Shalom! 8 timemphis.org instagram/templeisrael TEACHABLE The Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center, Temple Israel s fully accredited and beloved preschool, sign up for our weekly s at timemphis.org Enroll your child summer camp pro templepreschoolmemphis Voice April 2016

9 Torah worship loving deeds MOMENTS VOICE 9 is teaching and nurturing a record number of children! A few spaces are available for Sign up now! d in our 9-week ogram. Call today! s.com mishpacha family temple israel

10 Shalom! sign up for our weekly s at timemphis.org 10 timemphis.org instagram/templeisrael Sisterhood honors its Top Chef, Sheryl Gorden The Women of Reform Judaism-Temple Israel Sisterhood, fondly referred to as Sisterhood, have planned, prepared, and served hundreds of meals at Temple over the years. For nearly the last quarter century, they have counted on their top chef, Sheryl Gorden, to lead the way. At the request of Temple s now retired but then longtime jack-of-all-trades, Erma Cohen, Sheryl first became involved in meal preparations here in I was put in charge of cooking meals for seniors, Sheryl recalled. My involvement soon grew to include a wide range of events, including Purim carnivals, and MeFTY conclaves, but Shabbat dinners were really the first big things I did. For Sheryl, variety was an important spice of life, as she liked to make the menu different each time. I m all about trying something new every time I cook. I like to try out new flavors and see how they work together. I like to experiment. And while Sheryl is the top chef, she doesn t do it alone. I always have loved working with the kitchen staff at Temple Israel, she gushed. It was, and is, just so easy to work with them. I love how kind everybody is to each other. It s a wonderful feeling. Sisterhood President Debbie Jackson reflected on Sheryl s impact. Sheryl makes every Sisterhood volunteer feel at ease Sheryl (left, with ladle), Temple Israel staff, and Sisterhood volunteers prepare food Temple s Passover Seder in in the kitchen, even if it s their first time to be there. Her presence is always a comfort, said Debbie. I have loved all the times that I have gotten to spend with Sheryl in the Temple kitchen, said Sisterhood s Julie Boshwit. Every time I work with her, I learn something new and usually go home with a new recipe. Sheryl watches cooking shows on TV, with Top Chef being her favorite. She thinks it s the most real, but especially likes to observe their cooking techniques and learn about ingredients with which she is not familiar. She wouldn t want to be a participant on the show, but she would love to be a judge. While they are not necessarily judging her food, she invites a group to her home a few times a year to try different things she s prepared. The meals are themed; for example, she hosted a salad sampling supper that featured about a dozen different types of salads. Sheryl, who has no formal training but has read over 700 cookbooks, offers this advice to those budding chefs. Don t sweat the small stuff; be willing to experiment; taste new things, and try new ways of putting it together. Don t get tied down to the super picky parts of it. Just enjoy it, and make it fun! In the nearly 25 years of her involvement with Sisterhood and Temple Israel, it s been more than fun for Sheryl. It s been life-changing. The friendships and connections with Sisterhood and Temple Israel simply have been invaluable. With brunch, music by Cantorial Soloist Abbie Strauss, a cooking demonstration by Marisa Baggett, and toasts to our guest of honor, this celebration honors Sheryl Gorden, Sisterhood s Top Chef. Sunday, April 3, 10 am-12 pm RSVP ($18/person; by March 30): QR code, timemphis.org, details: Julie Boshwit boshwit@comcast.net Jan Klein janiam007@gmail.com Lorraine Steinberg lorraine29@aol.com Voice April 2016

11 During High Holy Days last year, Benjamin Orgel and I were talking about all the different ways we could get our youth Torah worship loving deeds engaged while also building leadership opportunities. I mentioned interest in doing a Habitat for Humanity build, but told him I wasn t sure what steps needed to be taken to make it happen. Since this conversation, Ben (who is on the Board of Habitat for Humanity) has connected us with the organization and opened the door. VOICE Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit philanthropy that provides homes for families who would not be able to purchase one through traditional channels. Habitat charges the family for the home at a very low cost and with no interest. The partner family not only is expected to then pay off the loan, but also provide sweat equity in which they help build the home. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more homes. It costs $70,000 to fund an entire home, and organizations may opt to either fund a full house ($70,000) or half of a house ($35,000.) Temple Israel is excited to announce that our teens have committed themselves to raising enough money to fund half of a home. The home will be built over the week of Sukkot (October 16 23, 2016) and will provide a family with a safe, clean, home. Our goal is to foster leadership among our teens. Our teens are expected to take on many responsibilities and we want to teach them how to handle these responsibilities; how to delegate these responsibilities, and how to ask for help when they need it. hammering it home Julie Fortune and Emma Mansberg outline Temple s partnership with Habitat for Humanity High School Junior Emma Mansberg (below, left) spoke at Temple s Shabbat service on February 19. Her remarks follow. (To view that video, go to timemphis.org/worship-services/sermons or scan the QR code.) Shabbat Shalom everyone! My name is Emma Mansberg, and I m so happy to be able to talk to y all tonight on behalf of the Temple Israel High school. As Memphis teens we recognize that we live in a city that needs our help, but I think that as Jewish Memphis teens we identify with those needs. We come from a people who have struggled immensely, whether that is wandering in the desert thousands of years ago or being displaced after the Holocaust. As Jews, we identify with the foreigner in search of a home. But what we often forget is that while many of us now have a place that we can call home, we live in a city in which so many people cannot say the same thing. Impermanent housing and shelters are far different from what we view as home. When we think about it, a home is a place in which memories and laughter and family can be cultivated. It is a basic characteristic of our humanity. As Jews, we re taught to give in a way that restores dignity. Restoring dignity and humanity might seem like a big topic for us as high schoolers to be taking on, but we see this problem in our city, and we can no longer stand by and watch. Kathy Wexler (left) and Alison Blen point out the siding they installed on a home they and a group from Temple helped build last year. Their biggest responsibility is raising the money ($35,000) to fund the build. Our teens sent a letter to all High School families asking for donations. MeFTY is donating all the proceeds from the Purim Carnival to the build. Tzedakah gathered throughout the year in religious school all will be put towards the build as well. We are partnering with local restaurants and shops and asking that they donate a certain percentage of their profits towards the build as well. Teaching teens how to ask for donations and how to manage that money are essential skills they will use in life. Over the next few months, fundraisers will be held throughout the city. Please check the weekly s for updates. We could not be more proud of our teens! Please support us in our venture to provide a home for a deserving family. ~Julie Fortune, Director of Teen Engagement Judaism commands us to act and as Jewish teens that is exactly what we plan on doing. Temple Israel s high schoolers have committed themselves to fundraising and building a house for Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is a non-profit organization that works with communities to build homes at a low cost that are affordable for families with low incomes. What s different about Habitat from other non-profits is that we will be working alongside the family whose house this will be, because making our world a better place is a collaborative effort. In the coming months, we will be planning a series of fundraisers to be able to build this house and help this family. As teens in Temple Israel, we are so lucky to live in a community that supports both us and the city we live in, and we hope to have your continued support in our efforts to make our city and world a better place. We have heard our call to action, and we are ready to make change. She-natan lanu hizdamnut l takein et ha-olam. Thank you God for granting us the opportunity and giving us awareness of our responsibility to fix the world. ~Emma Mansberg 11 Eve Cooper (left) and Rabbi Katie Bauman helped build a Habitat for Humanity home. mishpacha family temple israel

12 Shalom! sign up for our weekly s at timemphis.org 12 timemphis.org instagram/templeisrael TOT SHABBAT SERVICE & DINNER Friday, April 1, 6:15 pm Bring your young children or grandchildren to this kid-friendly Shabbat celebration! RSVP: QR code or timemphis.org Jackie Evans, CAREER TRANSITION GROUP Sunday, April 3 and Sunday, April 17, 9:30 am Receive help finding a job through resume writing tips, interview techniques, and other methods. Barbara Hermann, barbhermann@aol.com Rob Mann, robertdmann@gmail.com LIFELONG LEARNING Sundays, April 10, 17, 24, 11 am Engage in Judaism through a meaningful course with Dr. Joe Levy. The topic is: David: Warrior, Lover, Fugitive, Father, Hero, and Poet. ROSH CHODESH Tuesday, April 5, 7 pm April s Rosh Chodesh observance with WRJ-Sisterhood, which will feature a discussion on Passover, will be off-site. Linda Bedrin, , lindabedrin@gmail.com MITZVAH OPPORTUNITY Wednesday, April 6, 5:30 pm Prepare snacks for the students, plus casseroles for them to take home to their families, in the Temple kitchen at this Sisterhood sponsored effort for MIFA s COOL initiative. Children ages 12 and older are welcome to participate. Elise Meyer, imaginethatem@aol.com JEWISH VALUES RABBINIC PANEL Thursday, April 7, 7:30 pm Jewish Community Center The topic for this panel discussion with local rabbis, including Rabbi Feivel Strauss, is Ruach Hasport (sportsmanship/teamwork). Heather Kufert, hkufert@mjccmemphis.org, coming up... Rabbi Strauss L DOR VADOR SHABBAT SERVICE & DINNER Friday, April 8, 6:15 pm This lively, musicfilled, Shabbat service is for children to grandparents and everyone in between. After the service, enjoy dinner together. RSVP (by April 6): QR code or timemphis.org Jackie Evans, , jackiee@timemphis.org WOMEN S RETREAT April 8-10 Jacobs Camp; Utica, Mississippi Rabbi Alexis Pinsky, from Congregation Gates of Prayer in Metairie, Louisiana, will be the spiritual leader for this relaxing weekend retreat which will include meditation, arts and crafts, yoga, games, and more for ladies in the Women of Reform Judaism s Southwest District. Debbie Jackson, , djack327@bellsouth.net BOOK CLUB Wednesday, April 13, 1:30 pm The group will discuss Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. (The book for May s meeting is Peony by Pearl Buck.) Rabbi Pinsky LAST FLOUR BEFORE PASSOVER Thursday, April 14, 7 pm Donut Hutt, 1016 West Poplar, Collierville Get hands-on and learn about donut making as you play in the last flour before Passover. Pizza, donut noshes, and drinks are included! Note: this event is limited to the first 20 people with paid RSVPs ($15/person). RSVP: Lisa Frisch, lsfrisch@aol.com PANCAKES & PRAYER with NOAH ARONSON Saturday, April 16, 10 am Pancakes and Prayer provides opportunities to celebrate Shabbat morning with our youngest children. Bring your family and enjoy the sweetness of Shabbat followed by breakfast. RSVP (by April 14): QR code or timemphis.org Jackie Evans, THE PASSOVER QUESTION: WHAT DOES THE WORD PESACH MEAN? Wednesday, April pm Join Rabbi Strauss for this month s session of the Living Wisely series, which explores how Jewish holidays enrich our lives. Please bring your brown bag lunch; cookies and drinks will be supplied. RSVP (April 19): QR code, , or timemphis.org Voice April 2016

13 Torah worship loving deeds VOICE 13 coming up... Saving Lives Temple Israel was recognized by Lifeblood as their Faith-Based Group of the Year for Also, congratulations to Betsy and Steve Libby for being nominated in the Volunteer of the Year category. Thank you to all those who donate blood! Rabbi Greenstein, Julie and Jerry Klein, and Stacy Canales were on hand at a luncheon in February where Temple Israel was recognized by Lifeblood as their Faith-Based Group of the Year for Blood Drive Sunday, April 3 8:30 am-1:30 pm Historic Tales Great Voices, Civil Rights, and American Reform Judaism presented by Rabbi Dr. Gary Zola Wednesday, April 6, 7 pm Have you ever wondered how some of the leading American rabbis handled pivotal world events from the pulpit? What did American rabbis tell their congregants about topics such as the rise of Adolph Hitler, the outbreak of World War II, and the struggle for Civil Rights in the 1950s and 1960s? Rabbi Dr. Gary Zola, the Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) and Edward M. Ackerman Family Distinguished Professor of the American Jewish Experience and Reform Jewish History at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Rabbi Dr. Gary Zola Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati, will introduce us to some of Reform Judaism s most notable orators. This will be a rare opportunity to hear a series of remarkable vocal recordings (digitized with visuals added) of several towering rabbinic voices that you may know by reputation but have never actually heard all of which come from the AJA s extraordinary collection. The AJA is the world s largest free-standing research center dedicated solely to the study of the American Jewish experience. Dr. Zola received both his rabbinic ordination and his PhD in American Jewish History from HUC-JIR. He serves as editor of The Marcus Center s award-winning biannual publication, The American Jewish Archives Journal. RSVP by April 5 at timemphis.org mishpacha family temple israel

14 14 timemphis.org instagram/templeisrael THE CONNECTION POINT A look into the ConnecTI Professional Mentoring Program by ConnecTI Board Member Jami Lazarov connectimemphis.org Over the past few years, Memphis has seen a surge in young professionals drawn to the attractiveness of the city, both new talent moving to the area and native Memphians choosing to stay or move back home. This has been a positive development for the city in general but also, specifically, for the Temple Israel community. ConnecTI was formed in part to help continue this momentum by connecting the Jewish young professionals in Memphis. A mentorship program was a natural extension of this mission. A true advantage of Memphis is the tight-knit sense of community that allows up-andcomers to meet and get to know some of the best and brightest in their chosen fields. This is especially true at Temple Israel. Through the ConnecTI mentorship program, we are able to help facilitate such relationships by making mutually beneficial mentor-mentee connections. Roughly 20 ConnecTI members signed up for our pilot program, and a corresponding number of established members of the TI community generously agreed to provide their time and advice in a mentor role. On January 27 th, the program kicked off with a meet and greet event at Interim Restaurant. It was exciting for all to see the immediate connections as mentors and mentees had the opportunity to meet and discuss the parameters for their ongoing relationships, with each pair deciding how to proceed in whatever manner made sense to them. As the stories of successful pairings begin to roll in, the program itself will continue to make matches on a rolling basis. If any ConnecTI members would like a mentor, or any Temple members would like to be a mentor, please reach out to me, Jami Lazarov, at jami.lazarov@gmail.com, or Cara Greenstein at cara.greenstein@gmail.com. COOKING FOR PASSOVER Sisterhood is hosting this year s seder at Temple on April 23 rd. Help is needed to prepare food before and then to set tables and serve on the night of the seder. For details, contact Nancy Kline, nancyskline@comcast.net or SHOPPING FOR PASSOVER Seder plates, hostess gifts, and many more Passover items are available in our Judaica Shop! / sisterhoodgiftshop@timemphis.org HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY On May 6, the Shabbat concluding Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day the names of loved ones lost in the Holocaust for whom there is no known yahrzeit date will be read. Call Carol Geller in the Rabbi s office by May 4, if you have names to be recited during that Shabbat service. HOLLAND BULB MAILING Be on the lookout in the mail for your 2016 Holland Bulb order form from Sisterhood! Voice April 2016 of note NEW EXHIBIT Visit the Temple Israel Museum to see the fascinating and moving Holocaust exhibit Fabric of Survival: The Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz. VISITS FROM TEMPLE If people you know are hospitalized or at the Memphis Jewish Home and Rehab and would like our clergy to visit them, call Carol Geller, SCHOLARSHIPS Applications for need-based scholarships from the Memphis Jewish Federation for religious school for are available in the Rabbis office. Completed applications are due in mid-april and are required to receive financial assistance for religious school. Call Carol Geller, , for details. MANY THANKS Thank you to Sisterhood and all of our preneg sponsors. Your support is appreciated greatly. Call Sharon Nickol, , if you would like to sponsor a preneg before a Friday night Shabbat service.

15 Torah worship loving deeds VOICE 15 According to the Talmud, giving is as important as all of the other commandments combined. Thank you to those listed below who made donations to these Temple Israel funds in the month of February: Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center, Cemetery, Clergy s Discretionary, General, Grounds & Beautification, MeFTY, MRJ-Brotherhood, Museum, Service to the Blind, Beulah R. Vosse Library, Rabbi Wax Memorial, WRJ-Sisterhood, and the Wendy & Avron Fogelman Religious School. In memory of Lybie Corem Adler Bert Adler Wolff Esther Alabaster Miriam Alabaster Dr. Blanche Aldea Leslie & Dr. Mark Gillenson Natalie Loeb Alexander Louis Julian Alexander Phyllis & Edward Kaplan Sylvia Reiser Baras Margie Snetman Benjamin Beck Sylvia Beck Sharon & Lou Gadless Adele Bedrin Linda Bedrin & Don Klotwog Lynn Belz Marsha & Mike Underberg & family Shirley Schneider & the Girls Danny Bozof Lewis Binder Irma Binder Bert Bernheim Mary & David Bernheim Allen E. Cohen Jennifer & Jon Levingston Sara Natalie Cooper Margaret W. Lichterman Renelle & Leslie Ballin Ellen & Herbert Lebovits Lorraine & Bert, Jonathan & Aaron Wolf Justin & Ben Katz Karen & Stephen Moss Nancy & Richard Robinson Golden & Steve Bearman Evie & Alvin Greenberg & family Jan & Dr. Lee Stein & family Joyce & Fred Graflund Palmer & Robert Gardner Anna, Josh, Terri & Brad Young Leigh Bondurant & Jay Jensen Goldie & Lee Richman Sherri Richman & Gordon Chanen Rochelle & Dr. Avron Slutsky Debbie & Ron Lazarov Shirley Schneider & family Rochelle & Frank Perlman Sonya Krivcher Roselle Lazarov Bernie Maeroff Katie Kornberg & Scott Harnell Robin & Billy Orgel Friedman family Sarah & Philip Reed Mary Shainberg Karla & Bill Shopoff Debbie & Ron Jackson Barby Perlberg Brandon Hollie & Amber Altomare Hollie Sam Dattel Janice & Jimmy Ringel Isabel Davis Nicole & Jack Lewis Issy Paul Engelberg Leonard, Ida, Alec & Paul Engelberg Mannie Ettingoff Marianne & Ronald Walter & family William Bill Felt Mildred Schwartz Ralph Mickey Finn Inez Strauss Pure Sarah Finn Diane Gallant Don Gallant Ruth Glass Myrna & Dr. Alan Salomon Fred Goldsmith, Sr. Aimee G. Ginsburg Dr. Margaret Halle Anise & Ron Belz Ina & Dick Eiseman Mr. & Mrs. Sam Jacobs Hermine Davidson Saul Kaplan Harris Nagelberg Nina Katz Marilyn & Alan Magnus Elaina & Mike Sexton Richard Kisber Janet Kisber Steve Kisber Isabel & Lou Klitzner Jim & Judy Lindy Norman Kochman Jan & Dr. Lee Stein & Family Lorrainne & Bert, Jonathan & Aaron Wolf Marsha & Mike Underberg & family Carole & Bob Pinstein Barbara & Dr. Norman Towbin & family Edward Wise Hermine Davidson Jean & Buddy Ballin Karen & Adam Hamburger Dessie Sewel Carole & Dr. Charles Plesofsky Sidney E. Kaplan Leslie Burson Robin & Billy Orgel Evelyn Maxey Abe Herman Kriger Drs. Lisa Usdan & David Portnoy Jill Eileen Krivcher Sonya Krivcher Rebecca Labens Barbara & George Lapides Jane & Jerome Kaplan Carol Cohen Slutsky Lynn & Vic Butcher Edwin Laitman Aimee Ginsburg Sidney Lazarov Roselle Lazarov Dorothy Wurzberg Lerner Linda Bernstein Elise & Henry Lewis Ruth Toff Susie Lowenthal Kathleen Scharff Lowenthal Joseph Grosman J.G. Lowenthal Abe Scharff Beverly Hutkin Rauch & Joe Lowenthal Dr. Charles Mansbach Janice & Jimmy Ringel Bea Miller Edye Reiter Ina & Dick Eiseman Yvonne & Glenn Kiersky Fannie Zuckerman Padawer Diana & Ron Padawer Raphael Paul Deanna & Dr. Albert Burson & Brian Shainberg Louis Roman Barbara & George Lapides Mildred Schwartz Shirley Schneider & family Nicole & Jack Lewis Debbie & Stephen Newman Milton F. Rubel, Jr. Arlene Rubel Diana Sater Mary & Charles Wurtzburger Aimee Gronauer Ginsburg Ramsey A. Ryan Jeanette Silberberg Patsy & Gene Lerner Vicki & Ed Park Dr. Alan Schwartz Bonnie Schwartz Dr. & Mrs. Brian Schwartz Barbara Seligstein Ina & Dick Eiseman Leslie Burson Temple Israel Brotherhood Dr. Norris McGehee Stan & Dot Bilsky Leigh McLean Myrna & Dr. Alan Salomon Sara Beth & George Silverman Bob Silver Deanna & Dr. Albert Burson & Brian Shainberg Leo Slavney Ruth Slavney Polly Underberg Marsha, Mike, Barry & Alex Underberg Helen Goldstrom Wax Jonathan & James Wax Alfred Wexler Shirley Wexner Patty Evans Wurzburg Debbie, Bucky, Erin & Nora Parker Marshall Zuckerman Mavis Zuckerman For the recovery of Bob Bernstein Sam Alabaster Paul Burson Dee & Stewart Cannell & family Dr. Albert Burson Charlotte & Morris Straitman Bari Eiseman Gina Jolly Raymond Evans Lisa & Jonathan Frisch L. R. Jalenak May Lynn Mansbach Inky & Phil Aronoff Faye Marks Marilyn & Harvey Cook Herb Notowich Charlotte & Morris Straitman Jan Reisman Sara Beth & George Silverman Ina & Dick Eiseman Leslie & Dr. Mark Gillenson Michael Weiss Jean & Buddy Ballin Charles Wexler Racelle Mednikow Sam Alabaster In honor of Sylvia Appleton Barbara & George Lapides Judy Royal Judy Kaplan McCown Ina & Dick Eiseman Marsha, Mike, Barry & Alex Underberg Leslie & Nat Landau Hermine Davidson Marilyn Haas Deanna & Dr. Albert Burson & Brian Shainberg Debbie & Ron Lazarov Pfeffer Family Carole & Dr. Charles Plesofsky Berta & Robert Stevens Gina Jolly Marilyn & Bernie Weinman Ronni & Joe Kirsch Bess Calderon Sharon Berman Ari Cohen Teri & Jeff Peacock Erma Cohen Debbie & Ron Lazarov Inez Fried Sara Beth & George Silverman Rabbi Micah Greenstein Judy & Jerry Shore Marsha & Mike Underberg Bess Calderon Jay Kahn Mosely Family Paige & Adam Kaplan Raymond Buring Frankie & Sadie Selzer Beverly & Dr. Bob Buchalter Mary Shainberg Brenda Hapner Berta & Robert Stevens Rabbi Bess Wohlner Judy Royal Additional donations Ronni & Joe Kirsch Rabbi Denise Eger Deborah Kaplan Andy Robins Harry & Flora Samuels We extend our sympathy and condolences to the families of these loved ones of blessed memory: Joseph Jay Balkin Bert Bornblum Ruth Glass Dr. Margaret Halle Saul Kaplan Diana Sater Mazal tov to: Monica & Eric Paddock on the birth of a son; Linda & Claude Paddock and Kristi & Tony Lafata on the birth of a grandson. mishpacha family temple israel

16 1376 East Massey Road, Memphis, Tennessee PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT MEMPHIS, TN The Voice is published monthly (combined June/July issue) by Temple Israel. Periodicals postage paid (USPS ). Return service requested. Temple Israel is second home for Frisch family Ask Jonathan Frisch why he and his family support Temple Israel and Chazak: A Campaign to Solidify our Future, and he answers with another question. What s more important than protecting the legacy that is Temple Israel? he says. Of course we re going to give generously to sustain its future. It s our number one philanthropic priority. For Lisa Frisch, that commitment comes from being a fourth-generation Temple member. Temple Israel is home, she said. It s what I know and what I love. I guess when you grow up with something, that s what you feel comfortable with. It was different for Jonathan. He and Lisa were high school sweethearts at Ridgeway High School, but he grew up in the Orthodox Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth Congregation. We felt that a contribution to the Chazak campaign was a commitment to our Jewish future, today. ~Lisa and Jonathan Frisch I married into the Temple family, Jonathan says. It didn t feel comfortable for me at first. But it didn t take long. The welcoming nature, the warmth, men and women sitting together, being able to sit with your family during services and pray it all created a sense of home. Temple is a second home for the couple, as well as their two daughters, Caroline and Dena, whose upbringing revolved around Temple Israel. Lisa retired from teaching at Bornblum Jewish Community School last year but keeps her hand in education as a volunteer with Team Read, tutoring second graders at Wells Station Elementary alongside other Temple members. By supporting Chazak, we are giving to Temple as an institution, but we know that the work that Temple does goes into the community as well, Lisa said. Jonathan now serves as board president and says his various leadership roles over the years have pulled him in even closer to Temple. He and Lisa, like so many other Chazak supporters, want to make sure Temple has a bright future and that its legacy will live on. Lisa and I also participated in the Create Your Jewish Legacy program, Jonathan said. We felt that a contribution to the Chazak campaign was a commitment to our Jewish future, today. Jonathan and Lisa agree that Temple s future is important for Mid-South Jews and for the broader community. The social conscience of this region is reflected in this congregation. A strong Temple Israel is a strong Mid-South. Supporting Temple is our most important philanthropic endeavor, and we hope it would be considered as important as one s university or whatever one s preferred charity happens to be, Jonathan said. We see supporting Temple not as an obligation but also something that is important on many levels. Join the Frisches in helping to solidify Temple s future. Gifts of all sizes to the Chazak campaign are needed. Learn more at timemphis.org.