Temple Israel of Highlands County 1305 Temple Israel Drive Sebring, Florida 33870 863-382-7744 NOVEMBER 2018 / 5779 Temple Israel s Web Page www.templeisraelofhcfl.org Temple Israel is a Reform Temple that promotes the enduring and fundamental principles of Judaism. Through prayer, study and friendship we strive to enrich our lives and insure Jewish continuity in Highlands County. We Remember Congregational Board Officers: President: Julia Ruden jruden@embarqmail.com Vice President: Howard Salles chocknuts@aol.com Secretary: Bernice Snoll bsnoll@gmail.com Treasurer: Cathy Blumenthal cbdolly@htn.net Past President: Herman Pintzow pintzow@aol.com Trustees: Phyllis Behrens behrensphyllis@gmail.com Karen del Valle kdelvalle@msn.com Elsa Kahn mkahn@kahngrove.com Pamela Jay Paralikis paralipa1@yahoo.com Narola Rosenberg narola@aol.com Sara Rosenbaum sara.e.rosenbaum@gmail.com Dora Tarabori datstara@yahoo.com Alan Wildstein alan.wildstein@alanjay.com Officiating Cantor: Cantor Riselle Bain voiceofgladness@aol.com Rabbi Emerita: Lorraine Rudenberg rabbilr@gmail.com Newsletter Staff: Julia Ruden jruden@embarqmail.com Bulletin Board: Howard Salles chocknuts@aol.com
NOVEMBER 2018 / 5779 Like many, our minds are consumed today by Pittsburgh. By now, we all know the extent of the tragedy. And if we are honest with ourselves, we also know it s not the last time we ll gather in collective grief over something so pointless and inexplicable. There are no words to describe my feelings about this devastating hate crime that resulted in loss of precious life. On Friday at Shabbat Services we will recall the names of those whose lives were taken because they were Jews and went to Synagogue to pray. Anti-Semitism is Western civilization s oldest story. From imperial persecution in ancient Rome to industrial genocide in 20 th century Europe, the latest chapter was written in a peaceful Pittsburgh neighborhood. A married couple, two brothers, a Holocaust survivor and six more innocent souls gunned down in prayer. A juxtaposition of good and evil, and of our world s two possible futures. We, at Temple Israel, follow the news of our fellow Jews in Pittsburgh not because we know someone involved, but because this tragedy hurts us at the most fundamental level. Jewish love transcends geography, as does pain, and the dread we feel when the world becomes a little darker. It must be faced: Our world is becoming darker. Robert Bowers might have acted out in hatred of Jewish values and derangement against Jewish conspiracies, but his evil must not be explained away. The only chance we have to combat anti- Semitism and all forms of hatred is when we take a strong stance against it in every corner. Semi-automatic weapons are weapons of war that are being used for domestic terrorism. We need to do something about gun control. The United States has seen an increase in anti-semitic acts in recent years up 57% -- according to the Anti-Defamation League. We have become a lawless society. Politicians, certain news outlets, and social media has given license to fanatics to act out their prejudice and intolerance. Many times, the victims are blamed for not being pro-active in protecting themselves. There are still fewer anti-semitic acts in America than in most of the rest of the world. The sources of anti-semitism range across the political spectrum. Some are on the right like Robert Bower but there are also those from the pro-palestinian left, especially on university campuses. The structures of freedom in our country must not be repurposed for the eternal hatred of the stranger. Humanity is being tested again. Unfortunately, Jews have always been the scapegoat for the acting out of hatred and intolerance.
Cantor Riselle Bain NOVEMBER 2018 / 5779 The outpouring of support and grief from all faiths for the victims of the Pittsburgh massacre is a reminder of America s unique role as a refuge for all religions. May that goodness continue to prevail over evil. There is more work to be done Tikkun Olam repairing the broken parts of God s beautiful world. HOUSE WARMING INVITATION ** DONNA & MIKE WASSON 11/16 5:00 PM 6:00 PM Cantor Bain will place a Mezuzzah on the doorpost of our new house. We invite any member who would like to come help us warm the house to our home on November 16 from 5 to 6 before Shabbat services to help us celebrate this happy moment. Please call Donna to RSVP 863-991-0494 and get directions in Harder Hall 2 in Sebring. By the way, in around 2006 I learned the procedure and protocol to follow in case we had an active shooter at the high school where I was a teacher. For someone who had dedicated the last three decades of my life to nurturing a safe classroom for maximizing learning opportunities for children, this change was disconcerting. After all, we were a school! But quite soon after my training, I found myself alone in my classroom during a lesson preparation period when the school alarm signaled a lockdown for an active shooter. I followed the procedure I d been taught. I stacked all the desks against the classroom door, shut the blinds, and crouched in a corner under desks. I listened for shots. My heart was racing in fear. Fifty minutes went by before the police and the principal opened my door and gave the all clear signal. As I grieve about the tragic shooting in Pittsburgh, I remain so thankful that I had active shooter training. Previous training about procedures and a plan of action means that I won t freeze (the worst thing you can do) and may be able to assist others. I will know what to expect and what not to expect from the first responders. Preparation gives me peace of mind. https://www.ready.gov/active-shooter a FEMA website for you to read over. I am comforted that armed security will be vigilant during services now. Exodus 31:16, The people of Israel shall keep Shabbat, observing Shabbat throughout the ages as a covenant for all time. We will continue to rest, we ll reflect, and we will greet each other on Shabbat at Temple Israel with great joy. Enter our sanctuary in peace, enter in joy. Boi Chalah! Dr. Donna S. Wasson
NOVEMBER 2018 / 5779 Julia Ruden Dear Friends and Family; Starting with our next Shabbat service 11/2/2018, we will have armed security. Shawn Owens did our Yom Kippur security so most of you have already met him. Shawn is a retired Vet, 20 years of military service, and he will be vigilant in keeping us safe from the mishugas of the world today, while we pray for the innocent victims daily it seems DAMMIT!!! FOR WHAT???? If your name is not in the directory you must know the password to get past security. Every Board member knows the password, please ask for the password if you invite someone to attend services. Shawn has an excellent memory and this will be an easy process as we move forward. Our faith and vigilance is the only way to make the fear go away, and as Jews we have had this for 5779 years! Thank you so much to several of our congregants who have donated the expenses of security! Your continued support is so appreciated! I know I will see you at services, fear will never stop us from Shabbat - we are open and protected as we pray at Temple Israel! Thank you Mary Ann Romer and Sara Rosenbaum for making our Temple Directory this year, it will be out soon. Wishing everyone a Safe, Peaceful, and Happy Thanksgiving! Be thankful for everything, everyone, everyday I am! Thank you ALL for your continued support of OUR Temple!!! Prayers for all the sick speedy & full recovery! We are Jews We remember We are vigilant We continue on Lets eat!! Thankxoxox you ALL for ALL you Dooooooo!! Love Julie
NOVEMBER 2018/5779 Announcements NEXT BOARD MEETING Thursday, November 15 th at 11A.M. NOVEMBER Onegs are sponsored by: NOV 2 ND Lois Lewis LUNCH BUNCH The next Ladies Lunch Bunch Group Monday, Dec. 10 th at 12:15 at The Thai House, Fairmount Cinema Center, Sebring NOV 16 th Bob & Bobbie Goodman Challah, wine, decaf coffee & fruit are the basics for our onegs. If you would like to sponsor an Oneg contact Elsa Kahn 863-385-7322 Contact Renee Tepper 863-414-8811 or reneetepper@gmail.com and let her know you ll be there. Happy Anniversary Michael & Donna Wasson - Thank You תודה רבה Alan Wildstein for your continued and generous support for Alan Jay Automotive for our transportation to and from Services! And for ALL YOU Dooo! Please Contact Cantor Riselle Bain 813-600-8013 if you need assistance to get to services.
WE REMEMBER November Yahrzeits ** Memorial Plaque in our Schul Murray Brenner ** Dr. Harold Kirshner ** Jeno Greenstein ** Frank Roth Elsie Gross ** Eva Stoller Dora Hurwitz Ruth Witler Meyer Hurwitz Martin Wohl ** Sadie Kahn ** YAHRZEIT DONATIONS GIVEN BY: BRUCE KIRSHNER TOM & MARJORIE WOHL MARVIN & ELSA KAHN HOWARD SALLES HERMAN & BECKY PINTZOW IN MEMORY OF: DR. HAROLD KIRSHNER MARTIN WOHL SADIE KAHN AND MILDRED WOLF SAMUEL LEVY ISRAEL PINTZOW To plant a tree, email your information of who you re honoring/remembering to jruden@embarqmail.com. Mail check ($18.00/tree) to the temple. Write Tree in the memo line on check. 11 Trees were planted by our Temple Israel Congregation in memory of the 11 victims of Squirrel Hill, PA
NOVEMBER 2018 DONATION CARDS (All donations go to our Temple.) To send a birthday, anniversary, get well, sympathy or mazel tov card contact Mary Ann Romer at matromer@aol.com. Write Temple card in the email subject box. Send your minimum $5.00 donation to temple. Anniversary Donations for October By: Congregation, Julie Ruden, Howard Salles, Cathy Blumenthal, Becky & Herman Pintzow To: Rolph & Narola Rosenberg By: Congregation To: Dawn & Neil Schechtman The Annual Sebring Thanksgiving Interfaith Service will be held on Sunday, November 18 th, 2016 at 4 pm. It will be held at the Sebring Church of the Brethren 700 S. Pine St. Temple Israel's Cathy Blumenthal, will represent the Jewish Community. Cans or boxes of food for the Highland County Food will be collected at the entrance that night.
Cantor Bain s Schedule: Future Erev Shabbat Services (subject to change) 6:30 P.M. * NOTE TIME CHANGE * November 2 Torah Chayei Sarah November 16 Torah Vayetzei December 7 Chanukah Service (Chanukah begins eve of Sunday Dec. 2 nd and ends eve of Monday Dec. 10 th ) December 21 - Torah Vayechi January 4 Torah Vaera January 18 Torah Beshalach February 1 Torah Mishpatim February 15 Torah Tetzaveh March 2 Torah Vayakheil March 22 Purim March 29 Torah Shmini April 19 Passover May 3 Yom Ha atzmaut (begins eve of Wed May 8 th ) May 17 Torah Emor