The Temple Am Shalom Mentor, Ohio October 2017 Tishri Cheshvan 5778 A Word From Renee L Shana Tova! What a wonderful Holy Day season. It was so great seeing you all at services these past two weeks. The holidays keep on coming this month, as well. On Sunday, October 1st, the Youth Group will be building the Sukkah next to the front of the temple. Youth Group members will be there at 9:00 to begin construction. All able bodies are invited to come and assist them in their efforts. Following, we could use some help to decorate, since we are minus Sunday school students again this year. The BBQ will begin at 11:00 a.m. and it s always a fun time. All proceeds go to the Youth Group. The next holiday is Simchat Torah, the celebration of the Torah. We are having a big celebration that evening, as well. We have invited past and present Am Shalom members, local community leaders, local newspapers and friends of our congregation to celebrate 30 years at our present location on Center Street. It will also be an avenue to show off our newly constructed basement and all of the hard work we have done to make our facility one we can be proud of. Please join us at 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 13th for this wonderful evening of prayer, I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E 1 Three vignettes from Rabbi David Wolpe 3 October Book Club 4 Celebrating and Remembering 5 The LEGO Sukkot Movie 8 Yom Kippur Service Information continued on page 2 Turn Your Head - For Rosh Hashana David Wolpe is the Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles From sinaitemple.org The Psalmist insists that God has removed our sins as far as east is from west. (Ps. 103:12). How far is east from west? The Kotzker Rebbe explains as far as a turn of your head. We think of changing as a remote, difficult task. But sometimes it requires only a small turn. Veer slightly on the road, and over time one s destination is quite different. Adding to one habit, or diminishing another, is a small turn that over time becomes a major change. We read in Deuteronomy that Israel will be Only high and not low (28:13). Rabbi Azriel Hildesheimer explains if you drop a stone it falls to earth because that is its origin. If you light a fire it leaps up because it is nourished by air above. Everything seeks its source. The soul longs to return to God, to soar, to rise. Teshuva means return to reconnect with our Source. All you need to do is turn your head and redirect your heart. May this be a year of repentance, health and joy. Your Inner Isaac My father once explained the character of the biblical Isaac by citing Abraham Mendelssohn. He was a successful banker whose father was the great philosopher Moses Mendelssohn and whose son was the great composer Felix Mendelssohn. Late in life he lamented, The first half of my life I was the son of my father; the second half of my life I was the father of my son. Isaac was the son of Abraham, founder of the Jewish faith, and father of Jacob, continued on page 3 Kibbitzer 1
continued from page 1 parading, and partying. Start finding your favorite chili recipe and join us in our first ever Chili Cook-off on Friday, November 3rd, at 6:00 p.m., Shabbat service will follow. If you plan on being a contestant, please call the office by October 20th to let Renee know that you will be participating. There is no cost to those who enter. All those planning to judge the chili entries, that s everyone else, the fee to taste and judge entries is $5 at the door. Come join us and enjoy the burn (heartburn that is!) No charge for the antacids or dessert! Sides, drinks and real desserts will be provided. Looking forward to a fun time! Thanks to all congregants that helped during the High Holy Days. Your efforts did not go unnoticed. Our board and committees are working very diligently to provide our membership with Religious education, fundraising events, and new and exciting activities to provide a well-rounded temple experience here at Am Shalom. If you think of something you d like to see happen here at temple, please let Renee know. If you have a problem with something we did or did not do, please let us know. It was definitely not an intentional slight and we will do everything in our power to correct our mistakes. We are human and things can get overlooked. Our congregation is flourishing again and we want to continue our uphill climb. If you have the hankering to get involved, please do. The more the merrier, I say! Looking forward to a very busy year here at Temple Am Shalom. B ahava, (with love) Renee We Have Wi-Fi The rotary phone is gone! Temple Am Shalom has a new digital phone system with Wi-Fi. Our provider said they hadn t heard from us in at least 20 years -- maybe it was time for an upgrade. We watched as they hooked up a new fiber optic line and set us up with state-of-the-art phones and high-speed Internet. It includes free long distance calls to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. All of this, plus the Internet costs less than our old phone system. Next time you re at temple, we ll show you how to log on, but no tweeting in the sanctuary. 30 Years on Center Street Invitations have been sent and the excitement is growing. Join us Friday, October 13th as Temple Am Shalom celebrates thirty years in our building on Center Street. It is also Simchat Torah so a special service is being planned to rededicate our temple and honor our Torah scrolls. Everyone who attends gets a commemorative Am Shalom swag bag filled with goodies that would make a rock star kvell. The party begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by desserts. Am Shalom Goes South of the Border Please join us Friday, November 3rd for the first Am Shalom Chili Cook-off. If you wish to compete call the temple office (440) 255-1544 and let Renee know that you make the best chili in the temple. Dinner will be $5 for those who don t contribute chili and includes Janet s world-famous corn bread, salad, chips, and dessert. Following the feast will be our Friday Shabbat service. So, please join us with your appetites and sombreros. Sisterhood 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 14th, Manhattan Deli, Mentor location. Contact Rita Rose at (440) 867-2268 or email: rrose@oh.rr.com Men s Fellowship Group 8:00 a.m., Sunday, October 15th, Mentor Family Restaurant. Contact Lee Hawthorne at (440) 725-6852 or email: hawkeye1@ameritech.net Adult Sunday School 10:00 a.m., October 8th and 22nd. Beginner Hebrew and text study classes are currently being offered. Kibbitzer 2
With Appreciation We thank the following for their generous contributions to Am Shalom Peter and Kathy Alscher Karl Benz Tina Green Jane Rosenberg Ava Stewart Book Club Join us at Am Shalom on October 17th, at 7:30 p.m., as we talk over: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance Contact: Sharon Whitney at (440) 364-9263 for more information. source of the twelve tribes. But Isaac had his own special virtues. He re-dug the wells of his father, solidifying Abraham s legacy. And he is the only one of the patriarchs who never left the land of Israel. As the high holidays approach, we often think of the heroic virtues and the dramatic gesture. But a good life can be an Isaac-life. Isaac made sure the preciousness of the past was not lost and the values of the present were preserved. In his most dramatic moment, he went willingly to the altar with Abraham, full of the trust of someone who knows that faith and life often require calm, trust and steadiness. May this year help us recover our inner Isaac. Who Made That? Two hundred years from now, on a fine spring afternoon, scientists look up at the heavens and tell God that it is all over humans can stand on their own. The scientist says, Look, God. You were good in your day but we can do everything ourselves now. Really? says God. You can make a human being from dust? Absolutely say the scientists. Let me see answers God. The scientist reaches down to scoop up some soil, but is interrupted. Oh no says God. You get your own dust. continued from page 1 Human beings have learned a remarkable amount about manipulating the world. But the risk of hubris remains. Too often we treat the world not as a gift but as a birthright. It is easy to imagine we know how to stretch the world to our whims and wishes without consequence. The Rabbis explain that God told the first inhabitants of the garden If you destroy My world, there will be no one to repair it after you. Our weaponry and our technology are powerful beyond what our ancestors dreamed. We would be wise to remember we are still playing with God s dust. Kibbitzer 3
C ELEBRATING AND R E M E M B E R I N G Birthdays Beth Helene Long October 5 (17) Rachel Ann Abbey October 13 Sidney Rosen October 14 Maxwell Douglas Aitken October 18 (12) Steven Sobol October 24 Jennifer Magid October 27 Anniversaries Alan and Nadine Sherman October 2 (41) Brian and Michele Zinner October 8 (22) Yahrzeits May their memory always be a blessing to your family and all Israel. Light Yahrzeit candle the evening before the date. These names will be read during services in the month of October: Name Civil calendar date Jewish date Yizkor date observed Michael Kades October 1, 2008 2 Tishrei 5769 September 22 Sam Rosen October 2, 1978 1 Tishrei 5739 September 21 Anne Wolfson October 3, 1988 22 Tishrei 5749 October 12 Sam Sisler October 5, 1993 20 Tishrei 5754 October 10 Zlahta Miller October 6, 1956 1 Cheshvan 5717 October 21 Sarah R. Schwartz October 6, 2005 3 Tishrei 5766 September 23 Edward Wolfson October 8, 2002 2 Cheshvan 5763 October 22 Rose Abrams October 9, 2000 10 Tishrei 5761 September 30 Mort Negin October 9, 2014 15 Tishrei 5775 October 5 Millie Russert October 10, 2006 18 Tishrei 5767 October 8 Abraham Kaplan October 11, 1959 9 Tishrei 5720 September 29 Sam Louis Fisher October 12, 1981 14 Tishrei 5742 October 16 Sadie Sobol October 15, 2003 19 Tishrei 5764 October 21 Deanna Wylen October 15, 2002 9 Cheshvan 5763 October 29 Benjamin Sachs October 16, 1964 10 Cheshvan 5725 October 30 Jean Fisher October 19, 1989 12 Cheshvan 5744 November 1 Ron Chapnick October 20, 2015 7 Cheshvan 5776 October 27 Leo Bilsky October 22, 1998 2 Cheshvan 5759 October 22 Lauren K. Weinberg October 23, 1993 8 Cheshvan 5754 October 28 Edward Abbey October 26, 1987 3 Cheshvan 5748 October 23 Jeanette Sachs October 26, 2007 14 Cheshvan 5768 November 3 Christy Calvert October 30, 2012 14 Cheshvan 5773 November 3 Lillian Levin October 30, 1999 20 Cheshvan 5760 November 9 Leonard Cohen October 31, 2015 18 Cheshvan 5776 November 7 Kibbitzer 4
Weekly Torah and Haftarah Reading October 7 Chol Hamoed Exodus 33:12-34:26 Ezekiel 38:18-39:7 Ecclesiastes October 14 B reishit Genesis 1:1-6:8 Isaiah 42:5-43:10 October 21 Noach Genesis 6:9-11:32 Isaiah 54:1-55:5 October 28 Lech L cha Genesis 12:1-17:27 Isaiah 40:27-41:16 In Parshah Lech L cha, Avram and Sarai s names are changed. This God-imposed name change is reminiscent of the old joke about Finkelstein, the poor tailor, who prayed that God give a lift to his dwindling business. God whispered in his ear, Make wide lapels. Finkelstein took the advice, and his business saw a huge surge. Eventually, the trend went out of fashion, and Finkelstein beseeched God again. This time God whispered, Make narrow ties. Soon this became the hottest trend. The next week in synagogue, Finkelstein the tailor thanked God and announced that he would rename his store Finkelstein and God to honor Him. God whispered in his ear, No, we need a catchier name. Call it Lord and Taylor. (Dershowitz, 2015, p. 7) From BimBam.com The LEGO Sukkot Movie All about the Jewish holiday and how to celebrate it It s a Lego Sukkot stop motion animation and we couldn t be more geeked out about it! Learn the basics of the Jewish holiday called Sukkot, including festival huts, lulavs, etrogs, foods, prayers and the spiritual meaning of all the unique rituals. This stop motion animation is a great intro to the holiday for Jews and non Jews alike make it part of your holiday emails and party invitations, or show it to your kids to get them inspired about building their own sukkahs this year! https://www.bimbam.com/lego-sukkot/ Kibbitzer 5
Temple Am Shalom P.O. Box 1507 Mentor, Ohio 44061-1507 Fair Share Dues Schedule 2017-2018 Annual Net Family Income Fair Share Dues Commitment Youth Temple Membership through High School $100 All High Holiday Services Memberships Up to $30,000 or Single Membership $450 $30,001 $40,000 {Yiskor books $550 $40,001 - $50,000 are included $650 $50,001 - $60,000 with all Memberships) $750 $60,001 - $70,000 $850 $80,001- $90,000 $950 $90,001 up $1050 $250 Per Person Am Shalom must meet projected Temple Projected Expenditures of $34,000, for the payment of its staff, taxes, utilities, insurance, building improvements, etc. Since we presently have less than 40 member families, each family would at a minimum be asked to pay at least $850 per family consisting of $800 dues and $50 Building fund in order to meet our Budget Naturally any additional donation to either the Fair Share Dues Commitment or our Building Fund, based on the above suggested income chart will be needed to support Am Shalom. Fair Share Dues Commitment means every member is informed of the true cost of maintaining the temple and then is asked to pledge a voluntary amount of what their family could afford. Please return signed form to Am Shalom with dues deposit (and make a copy for your records) prior to High Holy days, as this renews your membership for the 2017-2018 year. $ Pledge $ Building Restoration Fund Method of Payment: (1) Full Payment by 9/18/17. (2) Pay 1/3 due now (Sept 18), 1/3 by 1/18/18 and Final Payment due 5/12/18 (3) Monthly Payments or (Paypal=Dues Payment + 3% surcharge) Name(s) Street Address City Zip Code: Phone: Cell: E-Mail Signature: Date: Kibbitzer 6
1 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sukkah Decorating and Youth Group BBQ 10am Erev Sukkot Board Meeting 7pm Sukkot Sukkot Chol Hamoed 8 9 10 11 12 Candle Lighting 6:41 13 14 Adult Hebrew Class 10am Chol Hamoed Chol Hamoed Chol Hamoed Hoshanah Rabbah Activities & Fundraising Meeting 7:30pm Yizkor Shemini Atzeret 30th Anniversary Celebration 7:30pm Simchat Torah and Shabbat Service Sisterhood 10am Manhattan Deli Mentor location 15 16 17 18 19 20 Candle Lighting 6:29 21 Men s Fellowship 8am Mentor Family Restaurant Book Club 7:30pm Hillbilly Elegy Rosh Chodesh Chili Cook-off registration due Rosh Chodesh 22 Adult Hebrew Class 10am 23 24 25 26 27 Candle Lighting 6:19 Shabbat Service 7:30pm 28 Candle Lighting 6:09 29 30 31 Nov. 1 2 3 Chili Cook-off Shabbat 6pm 4 Candle Lighting 6:00 Kibbitzer 7
Yom Kippur Service Information Friday, September 29th Kol Nidre 8:00 p.m. (Age appropriate for children eight-years-old and up) Saturday, September 30th Yom Kippur Morning 10:00 a.m. (Age appropriate for children eight-years-old and up) o o o Children s Service 2:00 p.m. Afternoon/Yizkor/Concluding 4:00 p.m. Break-fast after service Am Shalom Gains Momentum Rosh Hashanah services saw great crowds as Rene and Elise inspired the congregation. Old memories are evoked and new ones made in this special holiday season. The morning service s highlight was Elise s sermon which left us reflecting on the world around us and our roles as Jews. Kibbitzer 8
Renee Blau, Spiritual Director & Cantorial Soloist Elise Aitken, Asst. Spiritual Director & Cantorial Soloist Am Shalom Board President Immediate Past President Vice President Secretary Acting Treasurer Youth Group Education Director Facilities Maintenance Steven Blau Lee Hawthorne Andrew Kenen Pene Obenour Ronald Rose Elise Aitken Renee Blau Members at Large: Erik Nehamkin, Jonathan Sweet, Bob Sobol Please kibbitz with us by contributing to our newsletter! Address your news, articles, suggestions or corrections to Jonathan Sweet at jonsweet@outlook.com (be sure to include an identifying Subject line in your email); or send mail to him at Am Shalom (by the 22nd of the month prior to the issue you want your information to appear): P.O. Box 1507, Mentor, Ohio 44061-1507 If you are receiving the Kibbitzer via email or from Temple Am Shalom s website: amshalom.org, and you would not like a paper copy, contact the temple so we can save on materials and postage. Thank you Kibbitzer 9
Temple Am Shalom P.O. Box 1507 Mentor, OH 44061-1507 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Kibbitzer 10