1836 Rohrerstown Road Lancaster, PA 17601 office@tbelancaster.org 717-581-7891 www.tbelancaster.org Volume 71, No. 3 NOVEMBER 2018 Mission Statement The mission of Temple Beth El is to provide a house of Conservative Jewish worship which fosters spiritual fulfillment, Jewish theology, life-long Jewish education, and community support throughout the cycles of the seasons. Board of Directors Co-Pres. - David Ehrlich & Gary Kogon 2nd VP - Steve Gordon Secy - Harold Koplin Treasurer - Samantha Besnoff Financial Secy - Linda Hutt Lynn Brooks, Bob Brosbe, Abshalom Cooper, Sue Friedman, Yitzie Gans, Arne Ostroff, Dolly Shuster, Earl Stein & Marc Weiner Sisterhood Rep. - Joan Goldman Rabbi Daniela Szuster & Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky Principals - Rabbi Daniela & Rabbi Rami Men s Club - Steve Kleinman USY/Kadima - Alyssa Gottlieb Sisterhood - Sisterhood Board Membership - Sue Friedman Inside this issue: Rabbis Message 2&3 Principal s Message 4 President s Message 4 Flyers 5,6,7 JFS Flyers 10 Calendar 11 Insert: JCAL Chanukah dinner NOVEMBER EVENTS November 4 Rosh Chodesh Program @10:00 AM Daylight Saving Times Ends November 6 Executive Committee meeting @7:00 PM November 8 Sisterhood meeting & lunch @12:30 PM November 11 Men s Club meeting November 12 Temple Board meeting @7:15 PM November 17 Jr. Congregation & TOT Shabbat @11:00 AM November 22 Thanksgiving Day November 29 Ethical Life Course @7:15 PM Schedule of Shabbat Services Nov. 2 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors needed Nov. 3 9:30 AM Torah Reading:Hayei Sarah Nov. 9 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Religious School students to lead services Weekend sponsors needed Nov. 10 9:30 AM Torah Reading:Toldot Nov. 16 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors:michele & Bob Matlin in honor of Bob s Special Birthday Nov. 17 9:30 AM Torah Reading:Vayetze Nov. 23 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors:numa & Dick Lavy in memory of Sadie Kolman, Numa s mother Candle Lighting Times November 2 5:43 PM November 9 4:35 PM November 16 4:29 PM November 23 4:25 PM November 30 4:22 PM Nov. 24 Torah Reading:Vayishlah 9:30 AM Nov. 30 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors needed Dec. 1 Torah Reading: Vayeshev
Volume 71, No. 3 November 2018 Temple Beth El Page 2 MESSAGE FROM RABBI DANIELA Thinker who has influenced me: Judith Plaskow B H On Mon- day, October 15 th there was an Inter-Synagogue Adult Education Program at Congregation Shaarai Shomayim where the rabbis of the three Jewish congregations in Lancaster, Degel Israel, Shaarai Shomayim and Temple Beth El, each gave a talk about a thinker who has influenced them. Rabbi Abrohom Notis talked about Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, Rabbi Paskoff about Eugene Borowitz, Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky about Maimonides (Rambam) and I, about Judith Plaskow. The program was well attended, and it was a nice opportunity to meet with congregants from different congregations and study about important Jewish thinkers. In this note, I would like to share with you some points that I highlighted during my talk. I chose Judith Plaskow because her thoughts have influenced me. Why? First of all, if you don t know who Judith Plaskow is, I will share with you some biographical points. Judith Plaskow is the first Jewish feminist to identify herself as a theologian. Plaskow created a distinctively Jewish theology acutely conscious of its own structure and categories and in dialogue with the feminist theologies of other religions. Judith Plaskow was born in Brooklyn on March 14, 1947. Plaskow received her B.A. from Clark University, magna cum laude, in 1968, and did her graduate work at Yale Divinity School where in 1975 she produced a doctoral thesis later published as Sex, Sin, and Grace: Women s Experience and the Theologies of Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich. At Yale Plaskow became interested in feminism when she joined the Yale Women s Alliance. She quickly applied feminism, not only to her dissertation but to institution-building. She was co-chair of the fledgling Women and Religion Group of the American Academy of Religion from 1972 1974 and was a member of its steering committee once it became known as the Women and Religion Section. She was a co-founder of the pioneering Jewish feminist group B not Esh (1981). She was co-founder of the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion and served as co-editor from 1983 1994. Ultimately, she served two terms as Associate Director of the American Academy of Religion (1992 1994 and 1998 1999), a term as Vice President (1995 1996), as President-Elect and as President (1996 1997 and l997 1998) of that august institution. From 1976 to 1979, Plaskow was an assistant professor of religion at Wichita State University in Kansas. From 1979 to the present she has taught at Manhattan College in New York, rising from assistant to associate (1984 1990) to full professor (1990). Plaskow s theology has had a profound effect on Jewish women s theological conversations in every decade since the 1970s. Both in the Jewish and the non-jewish worlds, she is the best known Jewish feminist theologian. (Extracts from Rachel Adler s article in Jewish Women s Archive) Now, why did I choose Judith Plaskow as the thinker who has influenced me? I will share with you some points from my history. I grew up in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in an egalitarian conservative synagogue where women have been counted for Mynian, they have used Tallit for services, have had Bat Mitzvahs, have read form the Torah, etc. I studied Rabbinical Studies in The Seminario (Conservative Seminary) in Buenos Aires. The first female rabbi was ordained in 1995. I was always very proud to have the same Jewish rights and access to Jewish rituals as men, knowing that this was not possible in earlier times. One of the requirements of the Seminario s Rabbinical Program is to study in Israel during your final year. When we were in Israel, studying at Machon Shechter (Conservative Institute), I discovered a new world that I had not known before. I discovered the world of Jewish Women s studies. So, I took many courses in that field. I took courses about Torah, Midrash, Halacha, theology and history from a Jewish feminist perspective. I was very excited to discover all the research, books and articles in that field. I read Judith Plaskow and other authors. While reading her book Standing again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective, I realized that Jewish Women have the privilege to have equal access to Jewish rituals, but that is not enough. It is necessary to be aware of the androcen- (Continued on page 3)
Volume 71, No. 3 November 2018 (Continued from page 2) trism, the focus on men, of the Jewish tradition and look for ways to rediscover Jewish Women s voices and experiences. So, Judith Plaskow and many other Jewish feminist authors have influenced my thinking. I did most of my final projects about Jewish feminism, and in my rabbinate, I usually include this perspective in my sermons, articles, courses, etc. It is a very important part of my life. Now, I would like to share with you some of Judith Plaskow s thoughts: In her famous book Standing again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective she tries to discuss important Jewish theological concepts like Torah, Israel, God and Sexuality, from a feminist perspective. She states that the first step is to be aware that Judaism is a patriarchal tradition and its sacred texts are androcentric (focus on man). Judith Plaskow affirms: The central Jewish categories of Torah, Israel, and God all are constructed from male perspectives. Torah is revelation as men perceived it, the story of Israel told from their stand point, the law unfolded according to their needs. Israel is the male collectivity, the children of a Jacob who had a daughter, but whose sons became the twelve tribes. God is named in the male image, a father and warrior much like his male offspring, who confirms and sanctifies the silence the parameters of women s silence. (Standing again at Sinai, page 3) In addition, she thinks that a Jewish Feminist perspective should begin with noting the absence of women s history and experiences as shaping forces in the Jewish tradition: Half of Jews have been women, but men have been defined as normative Jews, while women s voices and experiences are largely invisible in Temple Beth El the record of Jewish belief and experience that has come down to us. (Idem., page 1) Plaskow believes that only the deliberate recovery of women s hidden voices can give us Jewish teachings that are the product of the whole Jewish people and that reflect more fully their experiences with God. She proposes to have a dual and paradoxical relationship with the Jewish texts. On the one hand, she assumes that they are patriarchal. On the other hand, she tries to discover new understandings and tries to find women s hidden voices. Throughout her book she emphasizes the need for a Jewish Feminist Theology in order to have a new understanding of the categories of Torah, Israel, God and Sexuality. During my session, we had the opportunity to talk about current examples of new understandings of the tradition from a feminist perspective such as the Women s Seder where we have introduced Miriam s cup and the orange in the Seder, new approaches to the Mikveh, Jewish Women s Studies, Rosh Chodesh Meetings, Women s Torah Commentaries, Studies of Female characters in the Bible, etc. At the end of my class, I showed a video of an interesting talk Judith Plaskow gave in 2002 about the beginning of her inspiring career. If you are interested in watching it, go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=d1sk5sg0ons Religion and the Feminist Movement Conference - Panel II: Judith Plaskow, 2002. I hope through this note or through my class on October 15th (if you were able to attend it) that you had the chance to learn a little bit more about a very important and inspiring contemporary Jewish thinker. FOOD DRIVE A BIG SUCCESS Page 3 Thank you to everyone who donated bags of food to the High Holiday Food Drive. Thanks to your generosity, our donations were delivered and weighed in at 299 pounds of food!! Many people in Lancaster with food insecurity and hunger can now say they know where their next meal is coming from! Thank you again from the Lancaster County Council of Churches. Temple Beth El is signed up to serve a Community Meal at First Reformed Church on Orange Street in Lancaster City. These meals are part of Council of Churches effort to have a meal available for those in need of dinner and/or companionship everyday. This winter our second meal will be December 25th, yup, it happens to be Christmas. The sign Up Genius will be available for you to sign up later in November and the list of times and needed items will also be in the December bulletin. Thanks for thinking ahead and putting this on your calendar. On behalf of Social Action Sue Wolf BULLETIN DEADLINE The deadline for DECEMBER S bulletin is Thursday, November 15
Volume 71, No. 3 November 2018 Temple Beth El Page 4 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Ehrlich Gary Kogon Dave We are very fortunate to have a dedicated core group of people who volunteer their time and energy to serve on the Temple Beth El Board as well as on Temple committees. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, for us to offer the diversity of programs and activities that we do throughout the year were it not for our Board and committees, working both in conjunction with Rabbi Daniela and Rabbi Rami as well as independently. As we mentioned during the President s Address on Kol Nidre, a number of our volunteers have been very involved in Temple committee/board life for quite some time. We need new people to become committee members and Board members. We also need people who would be willing to serve in an officer position on the Board. The development of new leaders to guide Temple Beth El into the future is of critical importance. It is not practical to expect our current leadership to continue indefinitely. It s also well known that new members of boards and committees, no matter what the setting, bring fresh energy as well as new perspectives and thinking. The infusion of new thoughts, ideas, energy, etc. is imperative for any organization to survive and thrive. What are the qualifications to join the Board and/or committee? A willingness to devote some time and energy to serving as a leader or committee member of your Temple. A desire to see your Temple survive, grow and be a vibrant home for Conservative Judaism in Lancaster County. No special skills, training, knowledge, etc. is required. The key is the desire to become involved, whether for the first time, an encore performance or, if currently involved, to perhaps consider becoming a bit more involved in leading and guiding Temple Beth El in the months and years ahead. Getting started on this journey is very easy. Contact one of the Co- Presidents and we d be glad to speak with you and answer any questions you might have. Please strongly consider taking that first step NOW and contact either Dave, Gary or both of us NOW. PRINCIPALS MESSAGE After so much thinking and planning during last spring and summer, it is incredible to write that it has been more than a month since we started classes last September. The first month was full of learning time and friendship, and also good programs. During the month of October, we shared two field trips with the other two congregations in town. These field trips were fully funded by JCAL (Jewish Community Alliance of Lancaster), and we are really grateful to them for their support. On October 21, Tzedek class (Kindergarten to 4 th grade) went to Zoo America in Hershey and learned about the animals and their Hebrew names. On October 28 th, Mitzvah and the Hebrew High class (5 th grade to High School) visited Ellis Island in New York and learned about the Jewish immigration to America. These were great programs for our children! We also continued with our monthly Shabbat programs, Tot Shabbat and Jr. Congregation. Both programs run from 11 am to 12 pm, usually at the end of each month. Tot Shabbat is for children up to 7 years old and is led by Rabbi Daniela Szuster; Jr. Congregation is for children from 3 rd grade to Bar/Bat Mitzvah and is led by Samara Sofian. In November we will have these two programs early in the month, on Saturday the 17 th, because of Thanksgiving. We want to thank all of those who donated to the Religious School during the HaKaFoT-A-Thon this year. We greatly appreciate your help and support for Jewish Education. Todah Rabah! As a preview of what is coming up during November, we would like to highlight the Shabbat dinner for Religious School students and families on Friday, November 9 th. We are looking forward to enjoying a Shabbat meal with all the families. Also, after the dinner the students will lead the Kabbalat Shabbat service. Looking forward to another month of great learning and good moments together, Rabbis Daniela & Rami Principals of TBE Religious School KIDDUSH & ONEG SPONSORS NOVEMBER Monthly Sponsors Needed Weekend Sponsors Nov. 16 & 17 Michele & Bob Matlin In Honor of Bob s special birthday Nov. 23 & 24 Numa & Dick Lavy In Memory of Sadie Kolman of Numa Lavy
Volume 71, No. 3 November 2018 Temple Beth El Page 5 ***** ***** NOVEMBER 30TH, 7:30 PM TEMPLE BETH EL - RUACH KABBALAT SHABBAT We will have a different Friday night service filled with energy, singing and a bit of dance too!
Volume 71, No. 3 November 2018 Temple Beth El Page 6 Led by Rabbis Daniela Szuster and Rami Pavolotzky and Invited Temple Beth El Congregants From political and financial scandals to rapid progress in biomedical science and technology, the complex issues of modern society are, at their core, of ethical and moral concern. Now, more than ever, we require a solid understanding of how Jewish ethics can inform our discussions and decisions about critical questions. Each session of The Ethical Life includes a short video lecture featuring Jewish Theological Seminary faculty members and other expert scholars, along with text study and guided group discussion. Join us for this unique opportunity to study the original sources of Jewish ethics and to learn how we can apply them today. Course Schedule (2018 2019) 1. Thursday, October 25 th, 7:15 pm, The Centrality of Ethics to Jewish Life / Does Ethics Need God?, led by Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky 2. Thursday, November 8 th, 7:15 pm, Ethics and Halakhah (Jewish Law) / Ethics and Aggadah (Narrative) / Ethics and the Lived Experience A Feminist Approach, led by Rabbi Daniela Szuster 3. Thursday, November 29 th, 7:15 pm, The Ethical Dimensions of Food Production, led by Lydia Pease 4. Sunday, December 16 th, 10 am, Fracking: A Case Study in the Ethics of Neighborly Relations, led by Dolly Shuster, Esq. 5. Thursday, January 17 th, 7:15 pm, Is Teshuvah Possible? Rethinking Mass Incarceration, led by Dr. Ken Firestone 6. Thursday, February 7 th, 7:15 pm, Modern-Day Slavery and Our Ethical Responsibility, led by Rabbi Daniela Szuster 7. Sunday, February 24 th, 10 am, The Ethics of Torture and Just War, led by Dr Lee Franklin 8. Thursday, March 7 th, 7:15 pm, Advance Directives and the Ethics of End-of-Life Care, led by Dr. Robert Matlin 9. Thursday, March 28 th, 7:15 pm, Disabilities and the Ethics of Inclusion, led by Diane Penchansky 10. Thursday, April 11 th, 7:15 pm, Is Lying Ever Ethical?, led by Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky 11. Thursday, May 23 rd, 7:15 pm, Surrogacy and the Ethics of Relationships, led by Rabbi Daniela Szuster 12. Sunday, June 2 nd, 10 am, Better than Normal? The Ethics of Enhancement, led by Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky Please register with the TBE office (office@tbelancaster.org, or 717-581-7891) by October 5, 2018. Cost: $5 (to cover cost of the official JTS binder). Please provide your email address so JTS can pre-approve you for access to the online platform.
Volume 71, No. 3 November 2018 Temple Beth El Page 7 SAVE THE DATE November 26th @7:00 PM Congregation Degel Israel Professor Jack Fischel will speak on US, Great Britain, Israel & the Holocaust Details forthcoming ***** CONGREGATIONAL THANKS Thank you to all for wishes, cards, and encouragement while my ankle healed. You made me feel cared for. By the time this gets into the bulletin, I should be back on my feet. Sue Wolf Birthdays & Anniversaries November ***** Birthdays 1st Numa Lavy 2nd Rodney Gleiberman 3rd Stewart Abowitz 4th Linda Kogon 4th Sue Liss 4th Elliot Weinstein 5th Cassidy Gleiberman 6th Carolyn Kleinman 8th Richard Braunstein 9th Phyllis Baronfeld 11th Eli Natan 13th Michelle Patashna 17th Bob Matlin 17th Chuck Paul 18th Nadine Abowitz 18th Aaron Besnoff 18th Debra Naudain 20th Scarlett Allwein 20th Evy Epstein 21st Matthew McCormick 26th Samantha Besnoff
Volume 71, No. 3 November 2018 Temple Beth El Page 8 Anniversaries 10th Elise & Matt Allwein 13th 22nd Debra & Thomas Armstrong 24th Julie Kerich & Dan Rosenberg MONTHLY YAHRZEIT LISTING Friday, Nov. 23 Deanna Cohen Sunday, Nov. 25 Bob Brosbe Michele Matlin Dave Ehrlich Monday, Nov. 26 Numa Lavy Grandmother Sister Sue & Rich Friedman - birth of grandson Liam Mordecai Fogel Helene & Len Kallman Andi & Herb Shiroff Joan & Gary Goldman Lauren & Ken Firestone Sonia & Bob Holbrook Nina Shapiro & Barry David Yahrzeit begins the evening before the day listed. The names of departed loved ones are memorialized at Shabbat services the week prior to the yahrzeit observance. Monday, Nov. 5 Carolyn Kleinman Joan Samitt Saturday, Nov. 10 Diane Wilikofsky Francine Koplin Paul Gottlieb Sandy Frey Monday, Nov. 12 Gary Kogon Thursday, Nov. 15 Diane Wilikofsky Deena Hertz Deena Hertz Friday, Nov. 16 Carol Gleiberman Ira Grushow Herb Shiroff Saturday, Nov. 17 Walter Kamlot Tuesday, Nov. 20 Evy Epstein Wednesday, Nov. 21 Edna Naveh Dolly Shuster Grandmother Brother Sister Step- Sister-In-Law Tuesday, Nov. 27 Steve Kadushin Bob Matlin Saturday, Dec. 1 Evy Epstein Elizabeth Hausner Marilyn Reichenthal Bob Zuckerman Steven Zuckerman Sunday, Dec. 2 Arnie Harris Boris Palchuk Boris Palchuk Monday, Dec. 3 Michael Gleiberman Wednesday, Dec. 5 Jay Reichenthal Friday, Dec. 7 Marilyn Reichenthal Aunt Brother-In-Law Sister Grandmother SISTERHOOD FUND *Sisterhood Fund cards are now $3.50 If your last name begins with A-M, please contact DEENA HERTZ at SisterhoodFundA-M@tbelancaster.org If your last name begins with N-Z, please contact BEV RUBIN at SisterhoodFundN-Z@tbelancaster.org IN HONOR OF Robin Adler - being named Kallet Ha Torah at Simchat Torah Nina Shapiro & Barry David - birth of granddaughter, Daphne Simone Sonia & Bob Holbrook Becky & Les Rhoads - birth of grandson, Jaxon Martz Eichelberger Lauren & Ken Firestone - birth of grandson, Ezra Levi Molberger Andi & Herb Shiroff GET WELL Herb Shiroff Beverly Rubin Sue Wolf Gordon Hutt IN MEMORY OF Hyman Jacobs - father of Steve Jacobs Lori & Ralph Taber Dolly Shuster & Jeff Edelson Beverly Rubin Marjorie & Bob Ruder Sandy & Greg Weekes Joan & Beryl Sherman Marcie & Eli Natan Sue & John Wolf (Continued on page 9)
Volume 71, No. 3 November 2018 Temple Beth El Page 9 (Continued from page 8) Andi & Herb Shiroff Carol & Michael Gleiberman Deena & Alan Hertz Carolyn & Steve Kleinman Nina Shapiro & Barry David Carol Kapell Marjorie & Bob Ruder USY FUND IN HONOR OF Allyson Rhoads - Kallat B reshit on Simchat Torah TORAH FUND IN MEMORY OF Hyman Jacobs - father of Steve Jacobs Lauren & Ken Firestone RABBI S DISC. FUND office@tbelancaster.org In Appreciation for all you do - Marvin Margolis Carolyn Kleinman Robin Adler Diane Penchansky Judy Anthony GENERAL FUND office@tbelancaster.org IN HONOR OF Sue & Rich Friedman - birth of grandson Liam Mordecai Fogel Norma Rosenfeld Bob Matlin - special birthday Sharyn & Dennis Bellafiore GET WELL Herb Shiroff Marilyn & Jay Reichenthal IN MEMORY OF Hyman Jacobs - father of Steve Jacobs Tana Dardik YAHRZEIT FUND office@tbelancaster.org IN MEMORY OF Irving Koplin Charlotte Koplin David & Mollie Gottlieb Francine & Hal Koplin Lance Lobel Rosette Lobel Susan Morris Marilyn & Jay Reichenthal Matthew Margolis Marvin Margolis Emma Shapiro Morris Abowitz Ruth Buzgon Beatrice Buzgon Ida Pincus Nadine & Stewart Abowitz KLEHR CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE READING GROUP - 2018-2019 645 College Avenue @7:00 PM All readers welcome! Feel free to invite new readers! December 13, 2018 The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel, By David Hazony February 28, 2019 American Pastoral, by Philip Roth May 16, 2019 Pumpkin Flowers, by Matti Friedman CANCELLATION OF SERVICES OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL DUE TO BAD WEATHER *Please note a change this year. WGAL will only be posting our closing on their Website WGAL.COM & mobile app NOT on TV Call the Temple number 717-581-7891 and listen to the message left on the answering service Check out the website at www.tbelancaster.org Check your email WGAL website & mobile app Mark your calendars! For the weekend of March 8, 9, and 10, 2019, Scholar-in-Residence, R. Daniel Nevins, of the Jewish Theological Seminary, will be our guest for conversations, lectures, and programming at Temple Beth El. The preliminary programming is as follows: Friday night, March 8 Congregational dinner with R. Nevins and he gives a talk at the Friday evening service, followed by an Oneg Shabbat and informal conversation with our guest scholar. Saturday morning, March 9 R. Nevins speaks at our morning service, followed by Kiddush lunch and informal conversation with him. Saturday evening, 7:00 PM R. Nevins will lead Havdalah and offer a lecture, focusing on a selected theme in Judaism and ethics, tbd), with dessert reception. More news on this program will follow!
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