The Shofar Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad Hear, O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One Monthly Newsletter Congregation Bayt Shalom 4351 E. 10t h Street Greenville, NC 1
Contents Rabbi's Message 3 Hurricane Florence Response 4 President's Message 5 Todah Rabah 6 Donations 7 Membership 7 Welcome to New Member 7 September Events Sukkot 8 Men s Club Dines Out at Winslow s 8 Upcoming Events CBS October Calendar 8 Sisterhood and Sushi 9 High Holidays Food Drive 10 Announcements Hospital Visitations 11 Birthdays 11 Anniversaries 11 Yahrzreits 11 Call For Oneg Hosts 11 CBS Board Members 12 2
Rabbi s Message My Passions: Holocaust Education and Domestic Violence While we struggle with relief and recovery for Hurricane Florence (please see my weekly emails), we also attend to longer-term demands. As many of you know, my two passions, beyond (and closely intertwined with) building the Jewish community of East Carolina (Bayt Shalom), are Holocaust Education and Domestic Violence. Holocaust Education brings more people together, Jews and non-jews, of all ages, than any other Jewish subject, and will play a pivotal role in building our Bayt Shalom community. If you want to work on Holocaust Education, please join us for a planning meeting of the new Holocaust Education Network of East Carolina, a group of teachers (many with decades of Holocaust education training and experience) and lay leaders around our region, on Wednesday, October 10, 5:00 pm, at Bayt Shalom (done by 6:15). Please let us know if you can attend. Al Schreier has generously offered to buy pizza. By the way, on Thursday, November 8, our state s Holocaust Commission (with whom our Network closely partners) will hold a Holocaust Education training for school teachers. The co-leader of our Network, Karen Klaich, runs this training. The next night, Friday, November 9, at 7:30 pm, the keynote speaker, survivor (and my friend) Alfred Schnog, from Wilmington, will speak at Bayt Shalom, as part of a Shabbat service to remember Kristalnacht (which Alfred witnessed) and honor Veterans. This year, we commemorate the 80 th year since Kristalnacht and the 100 th year of Veterans Day (previously Armistice Day). My second passion, domestic violence, may be the most costly disease in America, causing trillions of dollars of damage in crime and suffering. One statistic: studies show between 70% and nearly 100% of those convicted of violent crimes were abused as kids. I now serve as Secretary of the Board of the Center for Prevention of Family Violence, the main domestic violence group in our county (and Martin and Washington counties). We work with law enforcement and social service agencies. On Thursday, October 11, from 11:30 to 1:00 pm, at the Greenville Convention Center, we will hold a (first annual, we hope) Domestic Violence 3
Impact luncheon. Modeled on luncheons for the past few years in Charlotte and inspired by the Kimble Foundation (Ron Kimble was our long time City Manager, whose daughter was killed in a domestic violence tragedy), the lunch is free, but attendees will be solicited for donation to the Center. We already have nearly 400 signed up. This event is invitation only, and you, who read this, are invited. If you would like to attend, please let me know by October 5. We need names and emails to estimate food, for nametags, and for ongoing contact. I have other passions, related to building Bayt Shalom Israel advocacy; fighting anti-semitism and all forms of prejudice; cultural arts events; community service; and Jewish learning ( Torah ). As you have heard me say, often, we have the resources, with partners, to pursue all of them, to the degree that our members share those passions. Please get in touch. L shalom, Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman Hurricane Florence Response Ways we can make a compassionate response to provide relief for victims of the recent hurricane: American Red Cross, www.redcross.org Our local food bank, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, www.foodbankcenc.org Mitch Lewis, mitchlewissculpture@suddenlink.net, to assist with relief efforts by Temple B nai Sholem in New Bern, where several Jewish families lost their homes Disaster Recovery Partners of Pitt County, www.drp2016.org Carol Woodruff, woodruffc@ecu.edu for information about ECU donation collections Raleigh Jewish Federation, 919-676-2200, for financial and counseling assistance Carenet Counseling East, 252-355-2801, for free short-term counseling to victims of Hurricane Florence 4
President s Message Dear Congregation Bayt Shalom, I was thrilled to see so many of you during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. For those of you that mostly just come to visit Bayt Shalom during the High Holy Days, I would urge you to attend a Shabbat service, Sisterhood and/or Men s Club event, or one of our many adult education opportunities. If you are currently not a member, please contact myself, Carol Rados, our membership chair, and/or Rabbi Harley. We appreciate your donations, but we also really need you as part of our community. Please do not allow financial hardship to prevent you from membership. We honor your commitment and are willing to accept what is within your means. I spoke about the importance of Shabbat during Rosh Hashanah. Prayer and Shabbat traditions stop the noise in our heads, bring us back to the present, and connect us to our Jewish community and to God. Shabbat is a celebration of rest, reflection, and about connecting to family and friends. As Jane Eisner, editor in chief of Forward magazine states, American Jews, as a religion and a people are uniquely positioned to experiment with new forms of religious identity... Human beings will always crave meaning and community. It s up to those of us who find both in Judaism to prove its worth to others. Getting to know one another in our Jewish community and reinventing our Judaism so that fits our lifestyles, but does not lose our age old traditions, is Congregation Bayt Shalom. We are the beacon of Judaism for Eastern North Carolina. Rocky Mount is sadly closing its synagogue and many of our surrounding communities have suffered from flooding and destruction of their homes. We need to come together as a Jewish community and welcome our Jewish neighbors. Let s inspire our Jewish friends with our resilience and love. If you have not already given to our Yom Kippur appeal, please do so. We only had 40 percent participation last year. Our goal this year is 100 percent participation so that we can stay open, maintain our Rabbi, our programs, our Talmud Torah classes, our building, and our commitment to helping others in our 5
community. There is no better way to support your local Jewish community than through your continued membership and Yom Kippur appeal pledge. I want to thank each and every one of you for your dedication to Judaism and your Jewish community. I feel very proud to be serving as your President of Congregation Bayt Shalom, and I hope to see each of you in the near future. To the Kabbalist, correction means changing the intention with which we use a desire from for me to for the whole. Kabbalah.info The blessing comes from the interaction of ourselves doing good for others, we are created in the image of God. Our image of our greatest self is only through our passions for our community, following our spiritual connections, and moving away from our ego. One way to do this is to strengthen our connection to our Jewish faith, and our fellow Jewish neighbors thus creating a sacred space to pray, celebrate, and support one another. Shana Tovah! Suzanne Clark Todah Rabah Thank you for the following recent donations to Congregation Bayt Shalom: Ø From Joe Gantz, in memory of Stanley Zicherman Ø From Russ Needell, in memory of Larry Wagman, Rabbi Harley s brother Ø From Russ Needell, in memory of Joel Vogel, Russ Needell s cousin Ø From Abbie Brown, in memory of Larry Wagman Ø From Peter and Diane Stein, in memory of Larry Wagman Ø From John and Rosalie Hutchens, in memory of Larry Wagman Thank you for these contributions, which honor the memory of our congregation s loved ones, and which enable us to continue building a strong and vibrant community. 6
Donations Donations help to sustain the synagogue. All gifts, regardless of size, are important! To donate, visit the Congregation Bayt Shalom website, new.baytshalom.org and use the Donor button at the top right of the screen. Use PayPal or a credit card. Or send your check made out to Congregation Bayt Shalom to: Treasurer, Congregation Bayt Shalom, PO Box 2713, Greenville, 27836 Other donation opportunities: Yahrzeit Memorial Plaques ($300) Plaques remain on permanent display in the sanctuary, with a bulb lit next to your loved one s name on the yahrzeit date and during Yom Kippur. Contact Rabbi Harley with name, birth date, death date. Simcha Tree Leaf ($100 large leaf, $75 small leaf) The simcha tree is on display in the lobby. Leaves commemorate milestone events. Contact Carol Woodruff at woodruffc@ecu.edu to provide the information desired for the leaf imprint. Membership Congregation Bayt Shalom wishes a warm welcome to our newest member, David Taffet. David is originally from Philadelphia, PA where he went to public schools and college. He moved to Alexandria, VA in 1980 and then lived in Estero, Florida and Smyrna, Delaware. He and his wife Gail moved to Greenville in 2010. David chose to join CBS to reconnect with his roots. He loved attending the Passover Seder this year, and he is thrilled with Rabbi Harley. He is interested in cooking and baking. We are so glad he joined us. I want to express a big THANK YOU to all the members who sent in their renewals on time. We really appreciate it. Thank you also to Rabbi Harley and other members who introduced me to several people who recently moved to our area. I appreciate everyone s help in welcoming them. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact me. For members who have not yet returned their renewal forms, it is great when you send in your payment, but we also need you to complete and send in the CBS Annual Commitment Statement. If you have any questions, please contact me. Carol Rados, Membership, membership@baytshalom.org, 252-375-5107 7
September Events Sukkot Celebration Our congregation joined in celebration of the holiday of Sukkot on Sunday, September 23. Thanks to those who came out to assemble the sukkah. Yasher koach, (May your strength be enriched)! Thanks to the religious school students, who did a fine job of decorating the sukkah, and to those who provided Pizza in the Hut. Please email Jeremy Tuchmayer, jtuchmayer@gmail.com, if you can help with disassembling the sukkah on Sunday morning, October 7, at 8:30 a.m. Men s Club Dinner On Wednesday, September 26, the Men s Club met at Winslow s in uptown Greenville. Thank you to Jeremy Tuchmayer for organizing this event. CBS Simcha v Torah - Celebration & Learning All events, unless noted, held at Bayt Shalom Daily Schedule for October Thursday, Oct 4 2:00 pm Adult B nai Mitzvah Class Students are studying towards May 2019 ceremony. New students may join anytime, and may set their own ceremony. Friday, Oct 5 Sunday, Oct 7 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:30 pm Tot/Family Shabbat Led By Our Students Pot Luck Dinner for everyone Community Shabbat Service Talmud Torah Fall Break Wednesday, Oct 10 5:00 pm Holocaust Education Network of East Carolina Planning Meeting Pizza provided Please RSVP Friday, Oct 12 7:30 pm Community Shabbat Service & Oneg Tom Kane will lead services 8
Sunday, Oct 14 8:30 am 9:30 am Talmud Torah (Religious School) Maskilim (4 th 6 th Grades) Talmud Torah all ages Friday, Oct 19 7:30 pm Community Shabbat Service & Oneg Rosalie Hutchens will lead services Sunday, Oct 21 Wednesday, Oct 24 8:30 am 9:30 am 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm Talmud Torah Maskilim (4 th 6 th Grades) Talmud Torah all ages ECU Lifelong Learning Jewish Rituals Three week class at Bayt Shalom Register through ECU Wednesday, Oct 24 6:30 pm Board Meeting Contact Suzanne Clark with agenda items Friday, Oct 26 2:00 pm Community Shabbat Service & Oneg Saturday, Oct 27 Sunday, Oct 28 9:00 am 10:00 am 8:30 am 9:30 am Torah Study Shabbat Morning Service Date changed from third to fourth Saturday since Rabbi Harley away on Oct. 20 Talmud Torah Maskilim (4 th 6 th Grades) Talmud Torah all ages Wednesday, Oct 31 1:00 pm ECU Lifelong Learning Jewish Rituals Friday, November 2 6:00-6:30 6:30-7:30 7:30-8:30 Family Tot Shabbat Service Led by our students Community Pot Luck Dinner All are welcome Shabbat Service And memorial for Dan Brown, Abbie Brown s brother, and Ron Brown, Abbie s father Oneg to follow service, hosted by Abbie Brown Thursday, Oct 4 2:00 pm Adult B nai Mitzvah Class Sisterhood and Sushi Join Sisterhood on Tuesday, October 16, 6:30 pm, at Shogun Japanese Restaurant, 420 E. Arlington Blvd. RSVP by Oct 13 to Karen Barondes, kbarondes@gmail.com, 252-327-9728. 9
Successful High Holidays Food Drive Thank you, Congregation Bayt Shalom! Together we collected and distributed 494 lbs. of food (for people and pets) and much-needed personal items during the High Holiday Food Drive to assist the victims of Hurricane Florence. Special thanks to Judi Duffy for starting the High Holiday Food Drive tradition, to Dindy Reich and Laura Mazow for loading the vehicles, and to Karen Barondes, Arah Katz, and Carol Woodruff for schlepping it all to the Food Bank. 10
Announcements Hospital Visitations Due to HIPAA hospital privacy restrictions, Rabbi Harley does not receive a list of Jewish patients in the hospital. If you or a loved one is in the hospital and would like a visit, please let Rabbi Harley know. We Celebrate Birthdays Oct 5 Alissa Kalinowski Oct 9 Elizabeth Myers Oct 15 Arrington Adler Oct 18 Jeff Sterling Oct 21 Melissa Sterling Oct 24 Lynne Jaffe Oct 24 Karen Gallin Anniversaries Sep 4 Donna & Stephen Brody We Remember - Yarhrzeits Oct 9 Israel Silber, father of Marline Balot Oct 12 William Sachs, grandfather of Lynne Jaffe (Chesvan 3) Oct 14 Morris Hoffman, grandfather of Ellen Angus Oct 14 Betty Berry, grandmother of Megan Silver Oct 15 Sarah Libowsky, grandmother of Lynne Jaffe (Chesvan 6) Oct 16 Robert Oxman, father of Barbara Kalinowski Oct 16 Arnold Savitt, father of Todd Savitt Oct 18 Elias Kushnick, father of Ted Kushnick Oct 17 Ida Soontup, Memorial Plaque Oct 27 Florence Schultzberger, aunt of Marc Miller Oct 27 Bernard Rose, father of Jack Rose Oct 30 Jack Starr, uncle of Millie Plotkin (Chesvan 21) Oct 30 Golda Gordon, mother of Svetlana Valdman Call For Oneg Hosts If you would like to host an oneg on a Friday night in October, November, December, or any other date after that, please email Rosalie at rosaliejhutchens@gmail.com or call (252) 717-0012. Thanks to those who have already volunteered or plan to do so! 11
Congregation Bayt Shalom Board 2018-2019 Please send corrections to CBS secretary, Alan Schreier, alan.schreier@gmail.com First Name Last Name Position Email Address Phone Harley Karz-Wagman Rabbi rabbi_harley@baytshalom.org 318-416-3491 C Suzanne Clark President suzannepclark@hotmail.com 252-752-7677 Position Available Vice President Russell Needell Past President rneedell@suddenlink.net 252-321-5551 H; 252-916-6996 C Jeffrey Sterling Treasurer treasurer.cbs@gmail.com 252-367-2312 Alan Schreier Secretary alan.schreier@gmail.com 252-412-6863 C; 252-355-3667 H Committees & Auxiliaries Leona Weissman Finance Chair lgweissman@gmail.com Jodi Adler Co-Chair Education jodilynn13@yahoo.com 252-347-6083 Marc Miller Co-Chair Education millermarcs@yahoo.com 413-626-4589 C Elizabeth Myers Co-Chair Education elizjmyers@gmail.com 252-902-4825 C Carol Rados Membership Chair vrcrados@yahoo.com 252-375-5107 C Position Available Position Available Programs Religious Activities Rosalie and John Hutchens Shofar rjhutchens1@gmail.com 252-717-0012 Bill Angus House Chair angusc@ecu.edu 252-975-2009 Karen Barondes Youth Group Chair kbarondes@gmail.com 252-327-9798 Amy Blumenthal Youth Group co-advisor ablumenthal68@gmail.com 252-756-4977 Position Available Young JewishProfessionals Jeremy Tuchmayer Men s Club jtuchmayer@gmail.com 919-807-9270 Carol Woodruff Sisterhood Pres. woodruffc@ecu.edu 252-531-9426 C Rosalie and John Hutchens Shofar rjhutchens1@gmail.com 252-717-0012 Position Available Chesed Caring Committee Trustees Position Available Trustee Rich Rados Trustee richrados@hotmail.com 252-917-1186 C Carol Woodruff Trustee woodruffc@ecu.edu 252-531-9426 C 12