ig LIGHTS PUBLISHED MONTHLY NO. 3 MARCH 2013 46th Annual Sisterhood Bazaar! Wednesday, April 10, 2013 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Kugel Cooking Day: Sunday, March 17th Usually, the noodles are cooked ahead of time to help with preparation on that day. If you are able to pick up a bag or two of noodles and cook them on the Friday or Saturday before the main cooking day, please call Betsy Samuels at 601-212-1820. White Elephant Sale Start collecting & saving your items! (No clothing accepted. No broken items. All electronics must be in working order.) Items can be brought to the temple on Sunday, April 7th from 9am-3pm or Monday, April 8th from 9am-12pm. Silent Auction - Part of it will be online! Items must be in earlier than usual so they can be photographed and entered into the program for the online auction.tax forms for the merchants are available for everyone. Get busy soliciting for items! What you ll find at the Bazaar... TRADITIONAL JEWISH FOOD Deli Sandwiches & Salads Gourmet Desserts Cakes and Casseroles Silent Auction White Elephant Sale Raffle AND LOTS and LOTS OF SISTERHOOD PRIDE! JUST DAYS BEFORE THE BAZAAR - "VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES" Sunday, April 7th: Help the Men's Club set up tables and PVC pipes for booths Decorate Social Hall Set out Supplies Chicken Soup Cooking White Elephant Drop-Offs (9:00am-3:00pm) Used Book Drop-Offs (9:00am-3:00pm) Monday, April 8th: Salad Making Babaganoush Making (Lynda Balfour) Tabbouleh Making Cole Slaw Making Corned Beef Slicing White Elephant Drop-Offs (9:00am-12:00pm) Tuesday, April 9th: Salad Making Cole Slaw Making Corned Beef Slicing Chicken Salad Making Wednesday, April 10th: 46th Annual Sisterhood Bazaar! 5315 OLD CANTON ROAD JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39211 PHONE 601-956-6215 FAX 601-952-0895 WWW.BETHISRAELMS.ORG Founded 1860 A member of the Union for Reform Judaism, Serving Reform Congregations in North America
First Night Seder Matching Program First night Seder is on: March 25th If you are hosting your own Seder and have extra room at your table, OR if you are looking to share the first Seder at someone s home, please contact Michele Schipper at schippermichele@yahoo.com by March 22nd. Please let Michele know how many people you can accommodate, OR how many people would like to attend a Seder. Do You Enjoy Singing? Campaign for Kindness: Congregant Spotlight Many of us know Duncan McCullough from his beautiful voice projected over the back row of the choir. And we recently saw his spectacular performance as Astor Harris in A Greased Purim, our PurimSpiel. What you may not know is that he is one of the kindest people in our community. You may not know this because he doesn t talk about it. He doesn t make a big deal about it. He just goes about his acts of loving kindness (gemilut chasadim) quietly and without a fuss. This is Duncan s nature. A few months ago, I heard that Duncan picked up someone from the hospital early in the morning to get him to Shabbat Services and Torah Study on Saturday morning. Early. And I don t think Duncan is a morning person. Duncan offers to help others, whether it is as simple as opening a door or as complex as a homemade meal. He is always willing to show someone how to wear their cpap mask properly (this is his current work), and he will come to you instead of making you go to his office. *But don t feel like this comment is an invitation to call him for advice!* I know Duncan does even more than what I have mentioned above. But I can t tell you what that is. Because being kind is an essential part of what makes Duncan the kind of person he is: a Have you ever thought of helping lead services in a unique and fun way? Join the Shirim Choir Today! The Shirim Choir leads services once a month with rehearsals twice monthly. No previous vocal training is necessary. Contact Ben Russell today at ben@bethisraelms.org for more information. Mazel Tov Chad Eriksen, son of Shirley and Gary Eriksen, is engaged to Rachel Lazarus. Gino Giammarco was awarded the City of Flowood Public Servant of the Year Award. 2 BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
Divrei HaRav: Words from Rabbi Cohen A not so long time ago, Judaism went viral. I m not talking about chicken soup: I m referring to the massive amount of information we can find on the internet about Judaism. Like all other sources of knowledge, we have to be careful of what we read: how biased is it (or rather, what the bias is), is the information even true, and Often when we type a Jewish word into Google or another search engine, the first website that comes up is Chabad or another Orthodox site. These sites provide thorough and interesting content, but clearly from a Chasidic or traditional site. As Reform Jews, we need to also know what our own Movement has to teach about Judaism. Recently, ReformJudaism.org, a website dedicated to teaching from a Reform Jewish perspective, was launched. It includes articles on the upcoming holidays, basic and in-depth; spiritual blogs; howto s on topics from reading the Mourner s Kaddish to putting on T fillin; articles about Jewish food and recipes; family activities, podcasts, and an ask the rabbi interface; you can even subscribe to their twitter feed! I m very excited about this new website. I have enjoyed reading the articles and blogs posted, as I find them to be more meaningful than a simple explanation of our traditions. Their next project Erev Passover Shabbat Services Monday, March 25th 5:00 pm 5:30 pm Please join us in celebrating Passover! is to create short videos, 3-5 minutes each, by Reform Rabbis throughout the country. These videos will be on topics of high interest to our community. I was honored to be asked to be one of the 8 rabbis to begin this project. Soon, you will see my face (yikes!) on ReformJudaism.org - all you'll have to do is click on the play button. I have been asked to make suggestions on what topics I think would be most interesting: for Jews, prospective converts, and others who are just interested in learning about Judaism. So I wanted to invite all of you to offer topics to be addressed in these videos. You are the primary audience what are you interested in learning about? After a number of topics are compiled, the other rabbis and I will select our topics and the fun will begin. I love books, and I always will. Still, isn t it helpful that the Internet has made it so convenient to learn about Judaism in whatever way makes most sense to you? Turn it, turn it, for everything is in it. I know Hillel was talking about the Torah, but he could have just as easily been talking about the Internet. Join Us To Celebrate Bea Gotthelf at Shabbat services with the Shrim Choir & a special Oneg Friday, March 8, 2013 For 93 years Bea has been a loving, vital part of Beth Israel Congregation. She has led, participated, encouraged, facilitated, spoken, advocated, promoted, worshipped, represented and fought for our congregants and our congregation. Bea has made the difficult decision to move closer to family in Atlanta. We invite you to join us as we celebrate Bea and wish her Shalom on March 8th. WWW.BETHISRAELMS.ORG 3
Yizkor (as a part of services) March 30th @ 9:00 a.m. The names of those who have died since Yom Kippur will be read. Aufruf and Special Oneg Shabbat Services, March 15th, 6:15 p.m. FOR MEN ONLY! Save the Date Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Program) April 6, 2013 Join us for the Wedding Blessing of Ann Zivitz Kimball and Christian Frederick Kientz Sponsored by: Mr. and Mrs. Harrel A. Zivitz Upkeep Retreat Friday Sunday, April 19-21, 2013 URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp Utica, MS Stay the whole weekend OR just come for the day on Saturday! The work: From general repairs to special building products, inside and out! We ll supply the tools, supplies and directions - you supply the energy and enthisiasm! Don t forget your work gloves! The Upkeep Retreat is FREE!! The Schedule: Friday 8:00 PM Shabbat Dinner 9:00 PM Hang-out Saturday 7:30 AM Breakfast 8:15 AM Get to Work! 12:30 PM Lunch 1:30 PM Get Back to Work! 5:00 PM Nap Time! 7:00 PM Dinner 8:00 PM Male-bonding! Sunday 7:30 AM Breakfast 8:15 AM More Work! 12:00 PM Lunch & Departure The fun: We ll have a delicious dinner on Saturday evening with plenty of adult beverages! After dinner, we ll hang out, watch sports, play cards and do other male bonding activities. Male Adult members of the Jacobs Camp Family are invited to help us get ready for summer! For more information and an application, go to http://jacobs.urjcamps.org/yearround/, send an e-mail to jacobscamp@urj.org or contact J.C. Cohen (Director) or Gary Brandt (Assistant Director) at (601) 885-6042. 4 BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
Beth Israel Congregation Works with Other Reform Congregations to Reimagine Financial Support and Relational Engagement Beth Israel Congregation is one of 17 congregations that will be represented at a three-day conference held next week in Chicago, where the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) will officially launch its fourth community of practice - congregational networking group - focused on Reimagining Financial Support for Your 21st Century Congregation. Arty Finkelberg and Peter Sharp will be representing our congregation at the conference. The Chicago gathering will allow congregational staff and lay leadership from participating congregations that are concerned with the financial health and future of their communities to begin to examine the relational model of engagement and its impact on financial support. The participating congregations will work together formally for 24 months to push the boundaries of existing congregational efforts, experiment in their own communities, receive peer support and guidance along the way, create congregational changes, and garner skills that will benefit all areas of congregational life. There will also be monthly virtual gatherings and e-learning opportunities. Finally, results of these strategic experiments will be shared with congregations outside the communities of practice and with the Reform Movement at large. At the Chicago event, members of the URJ Faculty of Practitioners, Rabbi Dan Judson, Dr. Rob Weinberg and Jewish educator and storyteller Marilyn Price, will work with participants on understanding the history of financial support and the many ways to implement that support in congregations; to create a culture of change in their congregations; and, how to discuss the importance of financial support with individuals in the Jewish community. Rabbi Cohen is very excited about our congregation s involvement in this particular community of practice. We have already started looking at our financial contributions differently through our pledging system, so clearly we are open to being innovative. Investment in our congregation, through our actions, interests, and resources, is the only way to ensure the legacy of Beth Israel. Federation Shabbat Friday, April 26th Join us and welcome: Please join us for Federation Shabbat and learn about our organization and how you have helped your community and the world around you through your contributions. Jennifer Kraft Director of Community Relations At the American Joint Distribution Committee Jennifer has been with the JDC since 1994, when she was the recipient of the Ralph I. Goldman Fellowship in International Jewish Communal Service and conducted community development and Jewish educational projects for JDC in Bombay and Kiev. WWW.BETHISRAELMS.ORG 5
The Sisterhood Spotlight Second Seder Tuesday, March 26th 6:00 PM BIC Social Hall Used Book Sale at the Annual Bazaar! Please drop off any gently used books you would like to donate: Sunday, March 3rd from 9:30am to 12:00pm OR Sunday, April 7th from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Contact Erica Abeles with any questions ericaabeles@gmail.com or call/text 601-624-3671 $20 for Adults $10 for children 10 and under Children under 3 are free Let us know if you will need a veggie entree. RSVP to Charna by March 22nd charna515@aol.com (954) 629-1371 VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED for shopping, serving and clean up! (Contact Charna) Meals on Wheels Needs Volunteers to: cook or bring food prepare the plates deliver the meals Please contact Charna Schlakman 954-629-1371 all items Judaica Gift Shop Hours: Fridays right before service & Sundays during Religious School During the week by appointment. 6 BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
Letter from the Bazaar Co-Chairs This is some Information you need to know: Cake rounds in two sizes and metal pans are in the kitchen for you to pick up to begin making your contributions to both the Take Home booth and the Gourmet Dessert booth. If you don t find what you need, please ask Jimmy to find more for you in the storage room or call Carol to let her know that we are out of something (601-260-9589). Dana Larkin and Alice Friedman and their wonderful workers will be contacting soon to ask you to contribute if they haven t already gotten in touch with you. Let s make sure they have plenty of things to fill the freezers and the tables and to presell. Kelly Haber is working on a very exciting set of raffle items, and you will be hearing from her soon and getting your tickets in the mail to sell. The theme of the raffle this year is The Amazing Things the Jackson Community Has to Offer. The matzah balls and the cabbage rolls are made and in the freezer! Thankfully, both Paula Loeb and Lanny Greenberg were able to help us with the cabbage rolls for which we are very thankful. More volunteer salad makers and mixers and choppers are needed! Lynda Balfour has agreed to be the team leader for making the Babaganoush this year (thank you so much), and the position of team leader for making the slaw is still open for grabs. The Hummus team leader is not yet established but will be soon. Some of us are no longer able to chop and mix large quantities but are able to help and supervise so please call Carol at 601-260-9589 if you can spare some time on either one of the two days before the bazaar. I d like to take this time to thank unsung heroes of this bazaar whose work is somewhat behind the scenes. Mindy Humphrey orders the paper goods and most of the ingredients we need for making the food for the bazaar from Sysco. It took us years to get an account with them and having this food ordered by her and delivered to the temple takes a load off many people s backs in the shopping arena. Another person who is a little behind the scenes is Shirley Eriksen who has the lovely job of being volunteer coordinator. Some people work in the same area every year and know where they are going to be but there are other people who need to know where they are needed Shirley handles all of this for us. Two other areas of helpers who might be a little behind the scenes are the people who run the kitchen the day of bazaar for Take Out Hot Food (headed by Amy Printz) and our BIC office staff who man the phone lines for orders for Take Out the day of the bazaar. Stay tuned to the BIC Blast and any other emails from Sisterhood for important information! Sincerely, Jo Ann Gordon Carol Kossman Landscaping Work Day @ BIC Sunday, March 17th Beginning at 9:30 a.m. Contact Gino Giammarco 601-832-2148 WWW.BETHISRAELMS.ORG 7
Southwest Schmooze A woman's retreat filled with yoga, canoeing, bonding time, great food, great drinks, and special liturgy. April 12-14, 2013 Henry S. Jacobs Camp 3863 Morrison Road, Utica, MS Name: Congregation: City: Phone number: Email: I'd like to room with: I have these dietary concerns: Open to ALL Jewish women. You do not have to be a member of Sisterhood or Beth Israel Congregation. Registration covers all meals and lodging. $150 early registration by March 1st $175 regular registration by March 20th $200 late registration after March 20th Make checks payable to WRJ Southwest District Send to Nicole Villalpando 9608 Tea Rose Trail, Austin, TX 78748 nicole.villalpando@gmail.com If you have any questions, contact Jan Docter 601-842-1550 or jan_4200@yahoo.com 8 BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
Upcoming Shabbats: March 1st : Jacobs Camp Shabbat, 6:15pm March 8th: Shabbat Services with Shirim Choir, 6:15pm Special Oneg honoring Bea Gotthelf March 15th: Shabbat Services, 6:15pm Aufruf & Special Oneg for the Wedding Blessing of Ann Zivitz Kimball & Christian Frederick Kientz March 22nd: Shabbat Services, 6:15pm March 29th: Shabbat Services during Passover, 6:15pm April 5th: Tot Shabbat Services, 5:00pm Shabbat Services with Shirim Choir, 6:15pm April 12th: Shabbat Services, 6:15pm April 19th: Family Shabbat Services, 6:15pm April 26th: Federation Shabbat Services, 6:15pm Saturday, March 9, 2013 Two Times Offered For Your Convenience Tour Time Aleph 11:00 AM Camp Tour 12:30 PM Lunch (on us!) Tour Time Bet 12:30 PM Lunch (on us!) 1:30 PM Camp Tour For Prospective Families, Open House is a great opportunity for you and your child/children to check out Jacobs Camp. The tour will include a typical Camper Cabin, and all of our Recreational Facilities. Plus, you'll get to have any and all of your questions answered by the Camp Director and Assistant Director. Reservations are requested. Please call (601-885-6042) or email (jacobscamp@urj.org) and let us know which tour time you are choosing and how many will be in your party. We look forward to sharing Jacobs Camp with you! www.jacobs.urjcamps.org Thirteen Principles and Straight on till NFTY Find your way to NFTY a magical place, your Reform High School Never Never Land! NFTY Southern Junior Youth Group Kallah for 6th-8th graders March 8-10, 2013 at Jacobs Camp Registration is open! Www.nfty.org/so/events/jyg Username: nftyso Password:southern18 For more information, talk to Traci! (traci@bethisraelms.org) WWW.BETHISRAELMS.ORG 9
Announcements Birthdays & Anniversaries Announcements Birthdays & Anniversaries From The Office Contributions processed after March 10th will be included in the May issue of ChaiLights. To protect your privacy and ensure checks are handled in a timely manner, please put all checks in the black lock box by the BIC Office door. The box is conveniently located on the wall to the left of the door. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE CHECKS ANYWHERE ELSE. Thank you! Reports and articles for the April issue of ChaiLights are due Monday, March 11 th. Submissions can be e-mailed* to support@bethisraelms.org. Submissions received after the 11 th will be included on a spaceavailable basis. *Please note in the subject line (April 2012) ChaiLights submission. Happy Anniversary to... 3/2 Michelle and Sidney Mack 3/5 Kimberly and Gary Schneider 3/11 Lisa and Michael Palmer 3/14 Erica and Tedd Abeles IV 3/22 Mindy and Clay Humphrey 3/22 Donna and Dave Kaminsky 3/25 Joyce and Art Salomon 3/26 Alice and Gary Friedman 3/26 Laurie and James Neidorf 3/26 Lynne and Roger Rosenfield Dates to Remember 3/1 Jacobs Camp Shabbat, 6:15pm 3/3 Cabbage Roll Cooking Day 3/8-3/10 Junior Youth Group Retreat @ Henry S. Jacobs Camp 3/8 Special Oneg for Bea Gotthelf 3/12 EHIA @ Wells Methodist Church, 6:00pm 3/17 Sisterhood Book Club, 11:00am 3/17 Kugel Cooking Day 3/19 EHIA @ Raindrop Turkist House, 6:00pm 3/20 Federation Board Meeting, 6:00pm 3/21 Monthly Board Meeting, 6:00pm 3/25 Erev Passover Shabbat Services, 5:00pm 3/26 Office Closed 3/26 Second Seder Dinner, 6:00pm Happy Birthday to... 3/1 Maxwell Erlich 3/2 Jay Davidson 3/2 Michael Ivshin 3/2 Andrew Paul 3/3 Marisa Cohen 3/3 James Freedman 3/6 Bea Gotthelf 3/6 Richard Miller 3/8 Howard Katz 3/8 Elizabeth McGregor 3/8 Kathryn Wiener 3/10 Stephen Briggs 3/10 Lauren Rosenbaum Brown 3/10 Paula Loeb 3/12 Alexandra Schneider 3/15 Kay Pollack 3/16 Amy Burleson 3/17 Richard Stamm 3/18 Avery Cohen 3/19 Gary Eriksen 3/19 Morgan Pollack 3/20 Myer Mack 3/20 Laurie Neidorf 3/21 Joshua Wiener 3/22 Ralph Daniel, III 3/22 Michael Lehman 3/23 Tovah Rubinsky 3/24 Annie Jacobson 3/25 Jonathan Cohen 3/26 William Brannan 3/27 Gavin Brannan 3/28 Jacob Fijman 3/30 Michele Schipper 10 BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
In Memory of Beth Sollek By Sheila and Ira Rubin to the Cemetery Fund By Robyn and Greg Pollack to the Cemetery Fund In Memory of Melvin Korelitz By Sheila and Ira Rubin to the Cemetery Fund By Carol Kossman to the Capitol Fund In Memory of Elaine Crystal By Beverly and Malcolm Bonnheim to the General Fund By Judy and Albert Wahba to the Jewish Cinema MS Fund By Flolynn and Howard Stover to the Cemetery Fund By Diane Rossler to the Cemetery Fund By Kay and David Grishman to the Rabbi s Discretionary Fund By the Haber Family to the Endowment Fund By Sylvia Carraway to the Cemetery Fund In Memory of Helen Petersen By Shirley and Mel Safer to the Rabbi s Discretionary Fund By Bea Gavant to the Cemetery Fund By Amy and Arty Finkelberg to the General Fund Pay Online! In Memory of Leah Kantor By Bea Gavant to the General Fund By Janice and Buddy Blumenthal to the Caring Community Fund By Amy and Arty Finkelberg to the Endowment Fund By Bea Gotthelf to the Caring Committee Fund In Memory of Burton Friedman By Janice and Buddy Blumenthal to the Caring Community Fund In Honor of Tovah Rubinsky s Bat Mitzvah By Robyn and Greg Pollack to the BITY Fund By the Haber Family to the Endowment Fund In Honor of Ian Rost s Bar Mitzvah By Carol Kossman to the Capitol Fund In Memory of Andrew Orkin By The Orkin Family to the Rabbi s Discretionary Fund Shabbat Service Honors You can now make secure online payments at www.bethisraelms.org Types of payments: Contributions Dues/Commitments Religious School Fees Contact the Temple Office if you would like to volunteer. meg@bethisraelms.org 601-956-6215 WWW.BETHISRAELMS.ORG 11
5315 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39211 Phone: 601.956.6215 Fax: 601.952.0895 We Remember Yahrzeits for March 2013 March 1-2 Irwin Ross Fannie Schwartz Julius Priebatsch Sheli Hoffberg Alvin Hoffberg Bessie Shornick* Max Millstein Marilyn Kisner Schur Hanna Levine Schussheim Madeleine Bluestein Jean Rosen Edward Schur Max Sebulsky* Sadie Shapero Adeline Fish H. Harry Fish Stanley Hart* Lois Krock John Hart Lewis Bea Pepper Ann Silberman March 8-9 Isidore Dreyfus Giglio Giammarco Isaac Mykoff Doris Rubin Rose Fox Eugene Hesdorffer, Sr.* Ella Sollek Lester Bear Lolita Cohen* Norma Lee Greenberg* Betty Jaffee Shelda K. Binder* Ellis Engel* Georgia Lawson Henrietta Luxenberg Jeanette Oppenheim* Moses A. Berman* H. Van Eaton Hart Sue Hailey Rose Greenberg Kline March 15-16 Graber Dave Anna Foster Caroline Lill Kander Rosenberg Tillie Schwarz* Marvin Marx Zivitz Bessie Hart Asher* Normarine Barron Martha Dennis Rose Eisenstatt Evelyn Goodman* Mose Goodman Sol Hoffman Helen Kline Claire B Spielman Pearl W. Davidson Dorothy Lasky Florence Millstein* Rebecca Salomon Adolph S. Asher* Hyman Duke Finger Rae Weltman* Laura Bregman Fannie Crystal* Leah M. Davis* Dave Graber Isabella Greenberg Julius Greenberg Aaron Jaffee Oscar Larkin* March 22-23 Marion Fleischman Theresa Galea Mac McClain Lillian Ostrov Alfred Rosenbaum Marian Cohen* Seth Morris Goldberg Celia Oppenheim* Lorrayne Gavant* Elizabeth C. Grishman* Jack Jacobson Richard Leavitt Joe Rubin Sidney Hart* Hannah G. Schwartz* Hattie L. Edelston Rose Friedman Helen Jill Gavant* Samuil Gorelik O. G. Hailey Harry S. Herman* Libby Sollek* March 29-30 Jesse Dobel Isaac Elfassy Derald Rosen Selma Friedman Gene Hesdorffer* Rose Sasan* Alvin Binder* Herman Kreisman Ida Rosen Ann Gilbert Louis Weiss* David Harris Ida Ratner Beverly Daniel* Rabbi Perry E. Nussbaum* Gerda Stessman