9 7 7 5 October 2018 5779 Sukkot Under the Stars BETH ISRAEL BOARD OF TRUSTEES Lori Beth Susman, President Amy Goldin, Vice President Leon Sootin, Treasurer Rayanne Weiss, Secretary Brad Kessie, Past President TRUSTEES Debbie Goldin Richard Balser Debbi McCallam Ryan Goldin Gary Taylor, Administrator O ice hours are usually Monday and Tuesday, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, and Friday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, or by appointment. The o ice schedule may vary due to holidays and other events. Please call 228.539.1655 to con irm. Cheryl Fishman, Newsletter Designer Friday, Sept. 28 6 p.m. Dairy appetizers and drinks in the sukkah before services. Please bring a dip, a snack or your favorite treat to share! Families are encouraged to attend; all are welcome. Shabbat Services follow at 7:30 p.m. Oneg in the sukkah.! t h r y e o l i f w h o m l e a f Fun Shemini Atzeret with Yizkor Monday, Oct. 1 6 p.m. With Rabbi Aaron A. Rozovsky of the Institute of Southern Jewish Life Hot dog and hamburger dinner to follow Simchat Torah celebration after dinner! If you can t come for everything, come for what you can! Congregation Beth Israel 12277 Three Rivers Road Gulfport MS 39503 228.539.1655 email: bethisrael1818@yahoo.com Visit us on Facebook! website: www.cbigulfcoast.org
President's Message Hello Friends, President Lori Beth's Message... I hope everyone had a wonderful new year and an easy fast. We had lovely services with Cantor Michael Horwitz, who was here with us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Many of you know Cantor Horwitz had to go to the emergency room in the middle of Yom Kippur day. Everything is now fine with him, and the cantor talks about his experiences in his column in this newsletter. There are so many to recognize for our wonderful High Holiday services so many that I am afraid if I start listing names, I will leave someone out. However, just to mention a few, kudos go to Brad Kessie for organizing so much of the services; Martin Goldin for his wonderful shofar blowing (it was his first time to do so, but definitely not his last!); Amy Goldin for serving with me as gabbai and then taking over as cantor at the last minute when we needed her; and our haftorah readers, Michael Goldin, Russell Goldin, Ryan Goldin and Milt Grishman, who each did a wonderful job with that important part of the service, (Milt also read a portion of the Torah reading). Plus, thank you to all who accepted honors and opened the Ark, read something in Hebrew or English, had an aliyah, held and/or carried a Torah, lifted and/or dressed a Torah or brought something for the break-the-fast. We couldn t have done it without you. We have more holiday activities coming up you can read all about them on the front of the newsletter. Sukkot Under the Stars is Friday night, and then Simchat Torah is Monday, Oct. 1. The food drive continues in October. And, Rabbi Norry returns at the end of the month (so does an old favorite bingo!). In other synagogue news, you should have received your dues statements by now. If you are able, please send in your dues in October. We really appreciate that prompt response it gets us off to a good financial year. If you want to set up payments or want to make financial arrangements, let me know and we will get that going. As our treasurer Leon Sootin explained in his Kol Nidre talk, we ve had increases in basic costs to running the synagogue, yet we have not increased our dues. If you can make an additional donation, that would be wonderful. As Leon said, Just like chicken soup it couldn t hurt. And, don t forget, there are several ways to contribute to the synagogue while paying tribute to someone special. We have our beautiful brick pathway in the Jack Goldin Memorial Garden. Bricks are still available for purchase. We have our Tree of Life recognition board, with leaves available to be etched with messages for all occasions. And, you can dedicate a prayer book in memory or in honor of a loved one. (I know I always look for the prayer book dedicated in memory of my father, it brings me comfort to read from that book.) If you have a question on any of this or just want to talk about synagogue life, please call or text or email me! I look forward to hearing from you. Shalom, Lori Beth 2
President's Message Message from Cantor Michael Horwitz Shalom from Birmingham, Alabama I am saddened I mourn the passing of of the High Holidays for another year. I miss you all already and am grateful to each of you for inviting me to lead your High Holy Day services to usher in 5779. All that seems to remain are the memories of songs, warmth, compassion, concern, love and joy each of you shared in your vibrant synagogue where you welcomed me with gratitude and without hesitation to your Beth Israel family. What a blessing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were for me on a personal and spiritual level, and I owe it all to you, Congregation Beth Israel, for helping me feel right at home. So I really should not wallow in the loss of such times as I know there will be good times like these again. The Yamim Noraim will return again and again and I hope I can return and promise to fulfill ALL the services leading you next time around. You are a wonderful congregation, singing so beautifully and participating eagerly. You really know how to step up to the plate! I thoroughly enjoyed your caring, the delicious meals, and the conversation in formal and informal settings. Thank you to Lori Beth Susman and your entire board or directors. I appreciated how much you helped me when I became ill and needed to go get checked out at your local hospital. Baruch Hashem, I am doing well and was able to return home the following day after a visit to the ER and one overnight hospitalization. Thank you for your prayers and understanding. The phone calls, text messages and visits while I spent time in Memorial Hospital showed me the strength of your congregation and the mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim. I also experienced that in the social gatherings and conversations I had with you before and after the services learning about the history of your shul, some of the hard times you have endured and losses in the past and during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. There are too many of you to thank by name in this article but I trust you know who you are. In closing, I just want to remind you of what Mr. Rogers used to sing. It s you, I like. It s not the things you wear, or the way you do your hair, but it s you I like. I would add, Don t be afraid to close your book and pray what matters to you. Continue talking to God and to each other. Thank you and Shanah Tovah! 3
October 2018 Sunday School 9:30 a.m. to noon Sunday School 9:30 a.m. to noon Sunday School 9:30 a.m. to noon Shemini Atzeret/Yizkor and Simchat Torah, 6 p.m. Dance with the Torah with Rabbi Aaron Rozovsky of ISJL. Yizkor services, followed by a hot dog and hamburger dinner! Simchat Torah celebration after dinner! Come for all you can! Sunday School 9:30 a.m. to noon 4 Rabbi Hillel Norry's October visit Friday, Oct. 26 6:30 p.m. Dairy Potluck Dinner - bring a dish to share Services following Saturday, Oct. 27 Havdallah 6:45 p.m., Bingo 7 p.m. Bingo fun! Pay $10 to play 10 games of Bingo and have a chance to win prizes. Snacks and beverages will be available.
President's Message Message from Rabbi Aaron Rozovsky Rabbi Aaron A. Rozovsky, director of Rabbinical Services for the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, will be with us for Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Festivities take place Monday, Oct. 1, starting at 6 p.m. Read more about Rabbi Rozovsky in his own words. A little bit about myself. I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. My late father (z l) was Canadian and my mother is from Rhode Island. Although I grew up in Nova Scotia, Philadelphia, and Richmond, Virginia, the place I will always consider home is the family farm in Greenville, Rhode Island aptly named Shalom Acres. I graduated from Providence College in 2008 with a BA in History, 2012 from Central Connecticut State University with an MS in International Studies, 2017 from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion with an MA in Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Cincinnati and Rabbinical Ordination in June. For the past 12 years I have been an officer in the Rhode Island Army National Guard. I commissioned through ROTC while in school and then trained as a Military Police Officer. I have been deployed twice, each time for a year. The first (2009-2010) was to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where at the age of 23, I served as a platoon leader for a Quick Reaction Force. The second time (2011-2012) was to Afghanistan, where I was a battle captain in a Brigade Operations Section. Now I serve one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer as the chaplain for 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment, a famous unit based out of Providence. I owe the Army a great deal. It has given me a second family, the opportunity to serve our great country, the chance to see the world, and formative life lessons and experiences that ultimately led me to the rabbinate. When I m not traveling to meet you wonderful folks, you can usually find me on a long run, swimming, trying a new craft beer, learning new languages, and catching up on my favorite rugby, hockey, and football teams. I d also like you to know why a kid who is used to shoveling 4 feet of snow chose to begin his rabbinate in the Deep South. When it came time for the rabbinical placement process this past December, I decided immediately to pursue a position at the ISJL. It had to do with my father. As a child, he and my grandparents were the only Jews out of the 10,500 people that lived in the mining town of Asbestos, Quebec. However, my grandparents were so devoted to his Jewish upbringing that they would drive him the hour and a half plus (in each direction) to Montreal every weekend so that he was able to go to synagogue and attend Hebrew school. This had a profound impact on me. The lesson I took from this is that you can be a Jew anywhere as long as you are willing to put in the time and effort. And just as there were caring, loving people who supported my father and grandparents, I now seek to pay that forward. 5
Rabbi Hillel Norry's October visit Friday, Oct. 26 6:30 p.m. Dairy Potluck Dinner - bring a dish to share Services following Saturday, Oct. 27 Havdallah 6:45 p.m., Bingo 7 p.m. Bingo fun! Pay $10 to play 10 games of Bingo and have a chance to win prizes. Snacks and beverages will be available. Watch for more details on Rabbi Norry s first visit back to CBI! A Time for Prayer May God who blessed our ancestors, bless and heal our chaverim. May the Holy One in mercy strengthen them and heal them soon, body and soul, together with others who suffer illness. Amen Jimmy McIntyre Jackie Lippman Jamie Herman Phyllis Fishman Jen Jenkins Taylor Hopwood Vickie Rubenstein David Grishman Muriel Schwartz Shelia Racz Diane Becker David Martin Mike Loebenberg Terry Loebenberg Pat Boyle Randy Brewer Jerry Mathews Susan Zukowski Muriel Laverson Lehwmon Skrmetti Leeann Rasmussen Wanda Bradshaw Valerie Schreck Susan Shoenberger White Is there someone you know who needs to be kept in our thoughts and prayers? Please send their name to bethisrael1818@yahoo.com. 6 And we continue to pray for Israel and for peace for all people.
SEPTEMBER 2018 YAHRZEITS October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26 Charles Gottesman Sarah Davis Kate Baitchman Walter Kates Lenard Fishman Mark Tebor Samuel Spector Shep Davidson Frances Peck Fannie Silver Sidney Glass Esther Greenberg Dr. Henry Sacadorf Joseph Kario Mississippi s Gulf Coast Jewish community is represented in a new project by Disability Connection, which released a film celebrating the cultures and people who have made the Gulf Coast what it is today. The film, narrated by Walt Grayson, host of Mississippi Roads and Look Around Mississippi, tells the stories of people: their cultural and ethnic heritages, their industries, houses of worship, traditions, foods, festivals and events. The Gulf Coast Culture Tour features the story of the Native American, French, Irish, Spanish, Danish, Croatian, Greek, Italian, African-American, Indian, Jewish, Vietnamese, German, Lebanese, and more. To see the short film, go to disabilityconnection.org and click on the Gulf Coast Heritage & Culture Tours tab at the top of the page. The first movie, Gulf Coast Culture Tour, features longtime Congregation Beth Israel member Milt Grishman talking about Jewish history on the Gulf Coast. Additionally, by going to disabilityconnection.org/jewish, you can see a larger interview with Milt. The site also lets people click to connect to the synagogue s Facebook page. (If you have not yet liked us on Facebook, please do.) CBI FOOD DRIVE We know the hunger we feel when fasting at Yom Kippur, and we know there are those in our community who feel this hunger on a more permanent basis. Please bring canned or non-perishable goods to the synagogue any time during the High Holiday season. 7
Rabbi Hillel Norry will return this fall 2018-2019/5779 He will be with us the following weekends. PLEASE SAVE THE DATES! Nov. 30-Dec. 2 Chanukah Party is Sunday, Dec. 2 Jan. 25-27 March 15-17 Purim Carnival is Sunday, March 17 April 5-7 Yahrzeit Memorial Plaques Remember your loved one with a plaque on the memorial boards inside the sanctuary. Plaques are now $180 Call 228.539.1655 or email the office today at bethisrael1818@yahoo.com. Southern Memorial Park Cemetery Plots in the Jewish section are $1,800! the only Jewish cemetery on the Gulf Coast Plot purchases include opening and closing costs.still plenty of spaces left in the cemetery. Call 228.539.1655 or email bethisrael1818@yahoo.com Share your Simcha Mark a birthday, a wedding or any simcha with an engraved leaf on a custom made Tree of Life. Call 228.539.1655 or email the office today at bethisrael1818@yahoo.com. 8 Happy 80 th Birthday, Grandma We love you, Sara and Jacob Leaves are now only $72 Illustration purposes only.