1836 Rohrerstown Road Lancaster, PA 17601 office@tbelancaster.org 717-581-7891 www.tbelancaster.org Volume 70, No. 5 JANUARY 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, Randi Jacobs, Bob Matlin, Stacy McCormick, Arne Ostroff, Debbie Rubin, Dolly Shuster & Marc Weiner Sisterhood Rep. - Joan Goldman Rabbi Daniela Szuster & Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky Principal - Larry Besnoff Men s Club - Steve Kleinman USY/Kadima - Alyssa Gottlieb Sisterhood - Sisterhood Board Membership - Sue Friedman Inside this issue: Rabbi Daniela s Message 2&4 President s Message 3 Principal s Message 4 LLLC Schedule 7 Beit Midrash Courses 2018 8 Hebrew Lessons 9 Calendar 11 Candle Lighting Times January 5 4:36 PM January 12 4:43 PM January 19 4:51 PM January 26 4:59 PM JANUARY EVENTS January 4 Sisterhood Board meeting @11:00 AM January 7,14 & 28 Hebrew lessons with Edna & Zvi Naveh 10:00-11:30 AM January 10 Executive Committee meeting @7:30 PM January 14 Men s Club January 15 Temple Board meeting @7:15 PM January 17 Hebrew school from 5:00-6:30 PM January 21 BPES program @9:45 AM January 27 Tot Shabbat & Junior Congregation January 30 Tu B Shevat event @6:30 PM Schedule of Shabbat Services January 5 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsor: Evy Epstein in memory of Shirley Bloom, her mother and Barney Epstein, her husband January 6 9:30 AM Torah Reading:Shemot January 12 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Religious School students to lead services Weekend sponsors needed January 13 9:30 AM Torah Reading:Vaera January 19 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors needed January 20 9:30 AM Torah Reading:Bo January 26 Shabbat Services 7:30 PM Weekend sponsors needed January 27 9:30 AM Torah Reading:Beshalah
Volume 70, No. 5 JANUARY 2018 Temple Beth El Page 2 MESSAGE FROM RABBI DANIELA B H Speaking out about sexual harassments, a historical milestone Rabbi Daniela Since October 2017, with the sexual misconduct allegations against film producer and executive Harvey Weinstein, a huge wave of sexual assault and harassment accusations started against many men who occupy positions of power in different areas, in the media, in the entertainment world, in the government, etc. Without a doubt, it is a phenomenon never seen before. What does this social phenomenon mean? I believe that we are witnessing a unique historical event. For hundreds of years, women were limited to roles in the domestic area, raising children and doing all the household chores. During modern times, we have witnessed big changes. Many jobs have become accessible to women in universities, government; the media; religious, educational, medical, and administrative institutions, etc., and they could attain respectable and empowered positions in these fields. But still women experience marginalization, discrimination and unequal rights. In addition, society supports the unequal division of power, allowing men to abuse their positions of power harassing and sexually assaulting women. What happens to women who suffer these kinds of abuses? Many institutions silence them, humiliate them and they are threatened with losing their jobs. For a long time, women have had to suffer and endure these kinds of harassments in silence. Few people listened to them. Society was endorsing and covering up these situations. Therefore, we may affirm that the accusations against Harvey Weinstein and the successive wave of accusations mark a historical milestone. The voices of women are now being heard, harassed women are now empowered, and they are able to see justice for the atrocious acts they have experienced. I believe that the media has played an important role in the success of this social phenomenon. Likewise, social networks have a prominent place too. The Me Too initiative enables women to support each other, to show solidarity and above all, to show that the sexual assaults and harassments against women comprise an epidemic social issue and are more than random personal stories. It is incredible to find out how large number of women have suffered harassment at all socio-economical levels. I believe that this phenomenon of speaking out without fear marks a real change in our society. Now, the brave voices of women who have suffered sexual assault and harassments are heard across the country. Even more important is that these voices are having the power to seek justice, to force many of these men to give up their positions of power. In addition, it has become a worldwide phenomenon. We can find the repercussions of it in different countries around the world. And above all, these courageous voices that are speaking out help to build a more just society, one in which, we hope, our daughters and granddaughters won t suffer these horrible things. What does Judaism say about this issue? Obviously, Judaism does not accept any kind of disrespect or lack of dignity towards another person. As you know, it is written in the book of Bereshit that God created us in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). And then it is written: male and female He created them. It means that every human being is unique, special and sacred. We must respect and admire this uniqueness. Male and female were created in God s image. All of us are equal in God s eyes. All of us deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and equity. The Mishnah states: "Whoever destroys a soul is as if he destroyed the whole world" (Mishnah, Sanhedrin Tractate 4:5). Every time someone uses violence against another person, he is violently attacking everyone in the world. Every human being is unique. If someone is lost, injured or destroyed, he or she can never be replaced. V'ahavta L'reiacha Kamocha, You shall love your neighbor as yourself", it is written in the Torah (Leviticus 19:18). This is one of the pillars of our tradition. In order to love every human being, you must treat everyone with respect and dignity. (Continued on page 4)
Volume 70, No. 5 JANUARY 2018 Temple Beth El Page 3 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Dave Ehrlich Gary Kogon As this column is being written, we re in the middle of Chanukah and the warm glow of the candles burning in the menorah and the joyous nature of the holiday does a body good on these cold and snowy nights. We celebrated Chanukah at the synagogue on December 13 with a party replete with food, song, and games. Everyone who attended had a wonderful time. Your synagogue Board of Directors has approved a new contract with the Rabbis. Their current agreement ends July 2018 and the new 3-year agreement is through July 2021. Thank you to Steve Gordon and Linda Hutt and Gary Kogon for their efforts in negotiating the new agreement. Our fifteenth annual food festival will be held on Sunday, May 6 and this year will be headed up by Shellie Gordon. We thank her and other members of the food festival planning group for their commitment to this event. We hope that when you are asked to help out that you will give this important event your full support. There is a Beth Pomerantz Education Series program on Sunday, January 21 entitled Introduction to Islam that you ll want to attend. Finally, the holiday of Tu B Shevat, New Year of the Trees is the end of January. Please look for announcements of a Tu B Shevat Seder. Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2018. 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 *If there is a major snowstorm overnight and the office staff cannot make it into the office to make the necessary announcements, the services will probably be cancelled. RABBI S OFFICE HOURS Please call the Temple office 717-581-7891 to make sure the Rabbis are in the office. Mondays 5:00-7:00 PM Wednesdays 3:00-5:00 PM Thursdays 10:00 AM - 12 Noon 3:30-5:30 PM Fridays 10:00-11:30 AM HIGH HOLY DAYS NEWS I am pleased to let you know that Rabbi Chaim Galfand will be returning again this year as our High Holy Days Chazzan. Thank you to Rabbis Daniela and Rami, the members of the Religious Practices Committee and the Board of Directors for your input and support. Gary Kogon Chair Religious Practices Committee ONEG & KIDDUSH SPONSORS - JANUARY 2018 Monthly Sponsors Joan & Beryl Sherman In Honor of the devoted members of Temple Beth El Shellie & Steve Gordon In Honor of Shellie s birthday Deena & Alan Hertz In Honor of their children & grandchildren Lynn & Chris Brooks In Memory of Shirley Matluck Lynn s mother Weekend Sponsors January 5 & 6 Evy Epstein In Loving Memory of Shirley Bloom, Evy s mother & Barney Epstein, Evy s husband
Volume 70, No. 5 JANUARY (Continued from page 2) Rabbi Eliezer says in Pirkei Avot, Let your neighbor s dignity be precious to you as your own. (Pirkei Avot 2:10). I can quote many Jewish sources that highlight the value of respect, dignity and equality among human beings. Recently, on November 2017, the Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement made a statement that, among other things, states: The Conservative Jewish movement condemns the behavior of those who use their positions of power to take advantage of others. We must be better attuned to these incidents, develop procedures and policies to prevent them, and condemn and when appropriate prosecute the perpetrators. Jewish tradition prohibits physical or sexual abuse and teaches that kvod habriyot, the dignity of each person, is to be honored and maintained, and that onaat dvarim, verbal, and by extension other nonphysical abuse, is strictly forbidden, and cannot be tolerated at any level. I want to believe that this phenomenon we are witnessing is the beginning of a real and significant social change in our society and that it helps to prevent more acts like these. I want to believe that the tears, suffering, pain and courageous acts of these women were not in vain, and that their coming forth is not only breaking news. Their cause is the foundation of a society where respect, dignity and equality are the values that should prevail. 2018 Temple Beth El PRINCIPAL S MESSAGE With the Winter break behind us, we come to the halfway point of the school year. The first half we have seen a lot of individual development in each of our students. Our younger students who started the year only knowing little or no Hebrew or prayers are now able to read simple words and chant a few basic prayers. I am always amazed by how much they are able to learn, retain, and recall the information they are taught. The students took part in many different holiday/festival related events as well as community mitzvah projects. They took two field trips this first half. One to the Ephrata Library to see the Forbidden Art Exhibit and the other was a tour of the three local synagogues. These were both great opportunities for the students to experience. In the second half of the year, the students will continue in their studies of Hebrew, prayer, Torah, history, Israel, holidays and more. We will likely participate in a couple more community events and the older students are scheduled to take a trip to Washington, DC to visit the Holocaust Museum along with the students from the other local temples thanks to JCAL. This has been a wonderful year so far and I look forward to what the second half has in store for us all. Larry Besnoff Religious School Principal principal@tbelancaster.org Tu B Shevat Wednesday, January 31st. Page 4 BULLETIN DEADLINE The deadline for FEBRUARY S bulletin is Monday, January 15 OUR TEMPLE FAMILY Get Well Judy Anthony Condolences Temple Beth El notes with sorrow the death of Rose David, mother of Barry David. We send our prayers of consolation and strength to the bereaved family members. Congregational Thanks Thanks so very much to the many Temple friends who congratulated us on our recent 60th Anniversary. We are honored to be remembered. Eve & Walter Kamlot Birthdays & Anniversaries January Anniversary 30th Paya & Boris Palchuk Birthdays 2nd Sam Taub 3rd Chris Brooks 3rd Rebecca Rubin 5th Elizabeth Gans 6th Tyler Besnoff 9th Gary Kogon 9th Beverly Rubin 14th Debra Armstrong 16th Allan Geller 18th Lam Wong 19th Shellie Gordon 26th Joel Samitt
Volume 70, No. 5 JANUARY 2018 Temple Beth El Page 5 MONTHLY YAHRZEIT LISTING 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. Saturday, January 6 Marilyn Reichenthal Monday, January 8 Beryl Sherman Tuesday, January 9 Bob Brosbe Grandfather Brother Grandfather Wednesday, January 10 Sherry Ostroff Aunt Fran Rayner Stepmother Thursday, January 11 Evy Epstein Evy Epstein Saturday, January 13 Marjorie Ruder Sunday, January 14 Sue Friedman Tuesday, January 23 Joan Goldman Scott Fix Lloyd Goldfarb Marcie Natan Husband Sister Wednesday, January 24 Caryl Buffa Uncle Allan Geller Thursday, January 25 Steve Kadushin Grandmother Miriam Triman Husband Friday, January 26 Joan Sherman Saturday, January 27 Ira Grushow Sister Sunday, January 28 Joanne Goldfarb Eileen Lewis Tuesday, January 30 Joan Goldman Michele Matlin Grandmother Wednesday, January 31 Ken Firestone Martha Welzant Grandmother Thursday, February 1 Nadine Abowitz Friday, February 2 Scott Fix 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 GET WELL Judy Anthony Dolly Shuster & Jeff Edelson IN MEMORY OF Lance Lobel - son of Rosette Lobel Sue & John Wolf Linda & Gary Kogon Donna & Bob Brosbe Rose David - mother of Barry David Robin Adler Carol & Michael Gleiberman Sue & John Wolf Beverly Rubin Dolly Shuster & Jeff Edelson RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Contact Shellie Gordon RelSchoolFund@tbelancaster.org IN MEMORY OF Rose David - mother of Barry David Shellie & Steve Gordon Michele & Bob Matlin RABBI S DISC. FUND office@tbelancaster.org IN APPRECIATION to Rabbi Daniela & Rabbi Rami Rosette Lobel DONATION Shayna & Alan Manheim GENERAL FUND office@tbelancaster.org IN MEMORY OF Lance Lobel - son of Rosette Lobel Diane Penchansky PRAYER BOOK FUND office@tbelancaster.org IN MEMORY OF Lance Lobel - son of Rosette Lobel Tana Dardik YAHRZEIT FUND office@tbelancaster.org IN MEMORY OF Owen Schulman Shellie & Steve Gordon Sidney M. Shuster Dolly Shuster & Jeff Edelson Elsa Kamlot Eve & Walter Kamlot Elizeh Natan Marcie & Eli Natan Dora Sherman Joan & Beryl Sherman Ida Solodky, Vera Solodky, & Abe Reichenthal Marilyn & Jay Reichenthal Rowena Lupi Dave Ehrlich Motl Palchuk & Maria Roshal Paya & Boris Palchuk Harry Bloom & Morris Epstein Evy Epstein
Volume 70, No. 5 JANUARY 2018 Temple Beth El Page 6 The Beth Pomerantz Education Series Program is happy to present An introduction to Islamic Faith, Practices and Local Community Activities This program features guest speaker Mr. Mukaram Syed, one of the founding members and a Trustee on the board of the Islamic Community Center of Lancaster. He is very involved with community outreach, inter-faith activities, teaches several Islamic courses, and is Principal of the Sunday Islamic School. Mr. Syed actively holds several educational seminars at various local schools and colleges, covering topics of Islamic faith and practices. He is a chemical engineer by profession. The program will take place on Sunday, January 21st at Temple Beth El from 9:45 a.m to noon. The talk will be preceded by breakfast. It is FREE and open to the public. Reservations are required if you plan to attend the breakfast. Please RSVP to the synagogue office by email (office@tbelancaster.org) or phone (717-581-7891) by January 17 th if you would like to join us for the free breakfast. In addition, walk-ins are welcome to come for coffee/tea and the presentation. In the event of snow, please tune into WGAL TV for announcement of cancellation. Snow date will be January 28 th.
Volume 70, No. 5 JANUARY 2018 Temple Beth El Page 7 The Life Long Learning Committee brings together Temple Beth El learners of all ages for a variety of programs. Please contact Janet at the TBE office (717-581-7891; office@tbelancaster.org) with your RSVPs. See the Rabbis listing of upcoming Beit Midrash classes for January and February theme-focused study groups. Mark your calendars for these upcoming programs: 21 Jan. (Sunday), 9:45 a.m. Beth Pomerantz Education Series, "An Introduction to Islam", including the religion, life cycle events, and the daily life of a typical Muslim will be presented as part of the. A trustee from the Islamic Center of Lancaster will be the featured speaker. Breakfast is included. Further details will follow. 11 Feb. (Sunday), 10:00 a.m. Women s Rosh Chodesh group with R. Daniela, topic tbd. 11 Mar. (Sunday), 3:00 p.m. Women's Seder 25 Mar. (Sunday), 10:30 a.m. Bob Matlin lecture, Post-Holocaust Jewish Philosophical Trends. 8 Apr. (Sunday), 2:00 p.m. - Beth Pomerantz Education Series, featuring Rabbi Geoffrey Goldberg, Congregational Singing in the Twentieth Century, followed by dessert reception. 15 Apr. (Sunday), 10:00 a.m. Women s Rosh Chodesh group, with Lynn Brooks speaking on Jewish women in American Modern Dance. 10 June (Sunday), 10:00 a.m. - Women s Rosh Chodesh group, R. Daniela, topic tbd.
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Volume 70, No. 5 JANUARY 2018 Temple Beth El Page 9 We'd love to see you day or night! Do you need a ride to services or evening programs? As a caring community, we need to be there for each other. Many people have difficulty seeing well enough to drive at night or may be recovering from surgery. Upon request, the Chesed Committee will make every effort to find you a ride to Temple Beth El. In order for this to be feasible, we need people to volunteer to occasionally drive when asked. Robin Adler will make calls to people who live near to the person needing a ride. It would be helpful to also have a list of names of willing drivers. Please contact Janet at the office or Robin Adler. Although it is understood that emergencies occur, please make every effort to make this request in advance. TEMPLE OFFICE HOURS Monday - 9 am 2:30 pm Tuesday - office closed Wednesday - 9 am 2:30 pm Thursday - 9 am 4:00 pm Friday - 9 am 4:00 pm If you need access to the building, please call/email ahead at least one day to make sure Janet or someone will be there to let you in.
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