CONGREGATION BETH JACOB

THE NEWSLETTER OF CONGREGATION BETH JACOB "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!" November/December 2007 Happy Chanukah Cheshvan/Kislev/Tevet 5768 At Chanukah time I find myself thinking about gifts. No, not just presents, as most think about at Chanukah, but gifts. Real gifts. As many of you know, my husband Jeff and I welcomed our first child, Skyler, this September. That is a gift. Every moment with my daughter is a precious gift. It is amazing how one miraculous moment makes you realize the true meaning of the word gift. I find myself reflecting upon all of the special and irreplaceable gifts in my life. Tangible gifts like my wedding ring, given to me by my husband on the most important and one of the most special days of my life. Gifts of time, like the moments I spend reading letters from my 96 year old grandmother. Gifts of memories, like the one of me when I was about 4 raking leaves with my father one autumn. Gifts of love, like the unconditional and intense love for my daughter. Gifts come in so many shapes and sizes, physical and emotional, and we forget how lucky we are to have them come into our lives. Relish them, hold onto them, and most of all be thankful for these gifts. This Chanukah remember, it s not just the new toys, games and stuff, it s the time with your family and friends, the memories made, the special moments that are the true gifts. With that I wish you many many gifts this Chanukah. Happy Chanukah, Stefanie Zeitz Would you believe that there is a yard sale coming up later this month with all the proceeds going to CBJ??? Well. Believe it! Read all about this exciting and generous event on page 6. Check out page 5 for all of the exciting upcoming events planned for the CBJ Youth Group. Next up ROCK N BOWL Party! Hope to see you there on November 3rd! 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS Adult Education Page 4 Beit Sefer Page 5 CBJ News and Info Page 6 Calendar Page 14-15 Friends of CBJ Page 12-13 Fundraising Page 9 Holiday Page Page 11 President s Page Page 10 Rabbi s Report Page 3 Ritual Committee Page 9 Sisterhood Page 7-8 Social Action Committee Page 9 Youth Group Page 5 Submission Information: Stefanie Zeitz 98 Early Red Circle Plymouth, MA 02360 508-224-4786 stefaniezeitz@aol.com WHERE ARE YOU? Have you changed your telephone number or email address? Have you switched from Adelphia to Comcast? Please send an email to cbjpresident@yahoo.com to update your information in the new CBJ directory. YAHRZEIT Yahrzeit Observance begins the evening before the date shown "May the Memory of each one abide as a Blessing" [Some customs associated with Yahrzeit observance are: lighting a memorial candle at home in the evening at the beginning of the Yahrzeit period; saying Kaddish during a Shabbat service close to the Yahrzeit; donating to a charity or one of CBJ's special funds in memory of the one whose Yahrzeit is being observed.] November Nov. 1 - Marshall Meltzer Nov. 2 - Esther Carlson Sadye R. Meltzer Gloria Gene Rothstein Nov. 3 - Herman Roe Nov. 4 - Israel Pokross Nov. 5 - Lisl Alice Wise Nov. 6 - Edward F. Baler Nov. 7 - Gerald Wiseman Nov. 8 - Julius Meltzer Nov. 12 - Mildred Goldberg I. Richard Goldstein Nov. 14 - Harold Cohen Kebe Toabe Nov. 15 - Morris Russo Nov. 18 - Celia Starr Nov. 19 - Albert Shiff Nov. 21 - William Lashin Nov. 22 - Norman Green Nov. 23 - Albert Lesser Nov. 26 - Sara Sherman Nov. 27 - Theodore Greene Nov. 28 - Albert Sarke Nov. 30 - Julius Sepet Haim (Carlo) Shamir December Dec. 2 - Harlod Ross Dec. 3 - Ann Winkler Dec. 4 - Frances Kaufman Max Krenis Tina Liss Dec. 5 - Frieda Roe Dec. 7 - Aba Taub Dec. 8 - Marion Shuman Dec. 10 - Israel Edward Ginsburg Martin Herman Dec. 13 - Evelyn Abramson Irene Weinberger Silverman Dec. 14 - Marie Luise Katz Dec. 15 - Samuel Berger Anna B. Toabe Dec. 16 - Bernard Berman Ruth Dana Dec. 19 - Edwin Goldberg Dec. 24 - Martin Rubin Dec. 25 - Kay Sugerman Cohen Nettie Green Louis Sherman Dec. 26 - Lee Bloom Kay Hodesh Falstein Ruth Ross Dec. 27 - Samuel Gereboff Dec. 28 - Melvin Bloom Helen Evens Adeline Winokur 2 Dec. 31 - Paula Lesser Ronald Goldberg

Anonymous Welcome to our new members: Michelle Altman-Massie and son Richard Candace and Roy Stillman The Feingold Family In Memory of MICHAEL BAUM, Brother of our friend Dr. Alfred Baum By Nancy golden and David Cohen, Jackie and Steve Winokur, Adeline and Dr. Harry Keller In Honor of AARON STARR, on the occasion of his being called to the Bimah during the High Holidays By Marty and Marge Starr In Memory of Addie s Brother, LESTER KATZ By Mark and Addie Lelyveld In Honor of Our Granddaughter, SARAH LISKOV, on the occasion of her Special Mitzvah By Andrew and Marsha Liskov A Special Gift in Memory of JOHN DA SILVA RABBI S TELEPHONE CALLING INFORMATION Rabbi Silverman is generally reachable directly during the following hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 10 am 12 pm Additional hours: Thursday 7-9 pm The special number is 508-322-0514 The Rabbi s Mitzvah Fund supports special educational and charitable projects for the Congregation and in its name. Gifts in any amount are always welcome, and are acknowledged to the donor and/or to the honoree or to the family of one who has been remembered. Please direct gifts and instructions to Rabbi Silverman. (Checks payable to CBJ-Rabbi s Mitzvah Fund) Your support is always appreciated. 3

CBJ ADULT EDUCATION NEWS THE YIDDISH CONNECTION Did your grandparents speak Yiddish? Your parents? Do you? This colorful language with an international vocabulary and vast literature was on the shelf for a while, but it s back --- with vigah! Witness : Yiddish courses in colleges, Yiddish camps for kids, Yiddish magazines and the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst. Come and hear the story, maybe learn a few expressions, have fun and reclaim part of your heritage traditions and culture for your families. The presenter is CBJ member and native speaker Nancy Golden. Sunday Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Community Center. LET THERE BE MUSIC Let there be Jewish music! But which kind? There are so many. Sshh! It s a pre-holiday surprise. Come to the Community Center Sunday Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. to find out. Bring a favorite number or two (on CD) to share later. Adult Ed programs are scheduled for Nov 4 and Dec 2. Also dates have been set for A Taste of Judaism, the URJ community outreach course which Rabbi Silverman will offer early next year: Feb 28, March 6 and March 13 evenings WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU D LIKE TO LEARN!! CBJ Adult Ed is open for suggestions. Please tell us the topics with a Jewish context you want to learn about and if possible we ll use your ideas in future programs. For example, how do other parents teach Judaism in the home? was one member s suggestion. I d like to know more about kabbalah, was another. Drop a line to v.b.fitzgerald@comcast.net or call 781-585-3424, weekdays before 10 p.m. 4

BEIT SEFER UPDATE The Education Committee is happy to report that all is well with Beit Sefer. The music program is going exceptionally well. The Congregation was treated to the fruits of our children's labor with their debut at a Friday night Shabbat service. The children sang beautifully and their music added greatly to our Shabbat celebration. During a recent parents' meeting it seemed unanimous that both the children and parents are very happy with our program. We are so proud of our students who had the unique experience of seeing and meeting a Sofer. He was extremely interesting, informative and worked very well with the children. Our students were attentive (at least for most of the time) and asked very astute questions. We all learned a great deal and feel very fortunate (a big THANK YOU to Rabbi Silverman) to have been able to bring this program to Beit Sefer. Ronnie Hirschhorn and Pam Koplan CIRCLING THE SYNAGOGUE ON SIMCHAT TORAH The annual festival of Simchat Torah that marks the completion of the reading of the Torah and beginning it all over again is celebrated every year at CBJ with a Munch and March. This year we had the pleasure of returning to our little shul for the occasion. About 60 congregants enjoyed a yummy dairy dinner organized by Gary Brooks and the PTO. Followed by services upstairs. All the students of Beit Sefer sang the Shema on the bimah. Rabbi Silverman led the seven circlings with the Torah scrolls all around the synagogue.literally.out of the sanctuary side door, down and around the ramp, then back into our front door! Woo Hoo! What a night to remember. Saturday, November 3, 6-8:30 pm ROCK N BOWL PARTY invites all CBJ children to pizza and bowling drop off at Pizza Hut (exit 10) and pickup at Alley Kat Lanes (exit 10) $10 per person covers all the fun! REQUIRED RSVP to Robin Hunter 781-585-8937 This is a must! RSVP with name and age Saturday, November 10th 6-10 pm PTO sponsored KidsPARTY Sunday, December 2nd 12-4 pm Shopping day 5

The CBJ Library Team is looking for a volunteer. He or she would be doing data entry as we start to catalog our collection and bring CBJ into the 21st century! Please contact Pam Koplan (508-746-3181) or Carl Finer (508-224-6461). CBJ is seeking a few volunteers to join Harry Shamir in a committee to prepare a Yard Sale and Flea Market this coming spring 2008. The sale will take place on the lawn across the street from the Community Center. Participation would be extended to the entire Plymouth Community, individual families and local businesses. We plan to use the tables from Weishaupt Hall (about 20-25 of them) and all of the unsold items will be the responsibility of the owners. SIMCHA BLESSINGS The first Shabbat service of every month we will be bestowing a special blessing for your Simchas during the service. Birthdays, Anniversaries, get wells, great report cards, new job, retirement ~ whatever you wish to celebrate for that month. This is for adults and children. Be called to the Bimah with others celebrating that month and share with the congregation. INDOOR YARD SALE AT NANCY GOLDEN & DAVE COHEN'S HOME 52 Liberty Street, Unit B-1 Downsizing 40-50 years!! Make a reasonable offer, take it home! All proceeds to CBJ! Thank you to Nancy & Dave for their generous gesture and contribution! SATUDAY, NOVEMBER 17-4:00 TO 7:00 PM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18-1:00 TO 5:00 PM Our CBJ Sukkot Eve Celebration Sept 26 began with balmy breezes, not like last year when we had cold toes and tushies! We lost count as at least 50 adults and children showed up to decorate our little Sukkah and join in a joyful service. Afterwards pizza and juice were enjoyed inside our synagogue by a hungry, happy crowd. There were many new faces. It was a pleasure to welcome new and old members to CBJ for such a festive harvest holiday event. Nuts and raisin treats were handed out as everyone left. ONEG SHABBAT Please select a special Friday to host Oneg Shabbat! It is a joyous opportunity for CBJ members to get together after Friday night services. It minimal cost with a spiritual reward. Contact information: Harriet Weiner 508-746-0420 Harriet_Weiner@comcast.net 6

Sisterhood Provides Beth Jacob Sisterhood provides so much for our congregation with a cheerful and generous spirit. We meet the first Tuesday of each month, 7pm at the Synagogue. At present we have forty members. We were recently recognized on the WRJ Honor Roll for our support of its YES Fund. Sisterhood provided a holiday fruit basket to Rabbi and Meredith. Melissa Goldbach arranged the babysitters for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Sherri Sore arranged the Yom Kippur Break-Fast. At our September meeting we voted to provide up to $800 for the hotel expenses of our CBJ representative Sheila Finer, to the URJ Biennial Convention in San Diego December 12-16. During September both kitchens were restocked with paper and plastic ware. We continue to provide coffee, tea and wine for Oneg Shabbats. Oneg Shabbats are covered through the beginning of November. If you haven't signed up for one yet please contact our Sisterhood Oneg Shabbat Chair Harriet Weiner. 508-746 -0420. We provided treats for our children on Sukkot and Simchat Torah. We have made plans for our Paid-Up membership supper in November, and our own popular Chanukah Latke Dinner and Yankee Swap in December. See calendar pages 14-15 for dates. A committee has been formed for the annual Sisterhood sponsored Community Chanukah Party to be held on Sunday Dec 9, at 5pm at the BJCC (Lisa Forman, Roxy Simpson, Nancy Golden, Vicky Fitzgerald). Reservations are required. See form in this Tent edition. We certainly can't do all this without you, so come join us! We are the memory-makers for our families. We make it happen! Barbara Aharoni Shamir Sisterhood President Sisterhood Chanukah Celebration: The annual CBJ Sisterhood Latke Dinner and Yankee Swap will be Tuesday, Dec.4, at 6:30 at the Community Center. Gentlemen are invited as well. Please bring a wrapped gift ($10 or less) for the swap if you wish to participate. We are asking you to make reservations in advance, so that we will know how many latkes to make. Please contact Cindy Teles 508-746-5607 or iacorna@aol.com by Nov. 27 if you are planning to attend. Also, contact Cindy if you are willing to be part of her kitchen crew that evening. Gift Wrap Fundraising Once again, we will be joining with Plymouth Hadassah to raise funds for both organizations by gift wrapping at the Independence Mall. We will start December 6 and continue through to the 24th. Please contact Myra Glansberg (cell phone: 508-965-8810; home phone: 508-747-0372 ) to sign up. She is looking for 2-3 hour shifts. On the job training will be Dec 7-13. This is a valuable fundraiser, and is also fun, so please call. Men and teenagers can also help in this fundraiser. 7

Come to Our Annual CBJ Chanukah Party! Sunday- December 9 th at 5:00 pm at the Cong. Beth Jacob Community Center Corner Brewster and Court Streets featuring Latkes, Latkes, Latkes! Beverages and Desserts Goodie Bags for the Kids Music and Dreidel Games Your Check is Your Reservation, No Exceptions. Deadline Sunday, November 25 rd Bring your friends and family, Everyone is Welcome!!! Bring your own menorah and candles too. Members: Children Age 3-12 yrs $5 Adults Age 13 and up....$8 Non-Members: Children, Age 3-12 yrs $5 Adults, Age 13 and up $10 Make your check payable to Cong. Beth Jacob. Send with form below by 11/25/07 to: Lisa Forman, 38 Lisa Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360 ************************************************************************************** Please reserve a place at the CBJ Chanukah Party by November 25 th for: Family Name # of Adults @ $8 ea = #of Adults @ $10 ea. = #of Children @ $5 ea. = Total 8

SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE Thank you to all who participated in the annual High Holiday food drive. On Tuesday, October 2, 45 full bags of food were delivered to the Plymouth Food Bank. They were extremely grateful. The number of families they are serving year round has increased, and our delivery fills a great void. Thank you to all who participated. FUNDRAISING GREAT LAKES SCRIP Check out the website www.glscrip.com and print out a work sheet of all the retailers who are part of this fantastic program! Call Carl at 508-224-6461 or email him at carlfiner@comcast.net to place an order. Reminder that the freight charge of $7.00 is equally divided by the number of subscribers Help meet the CBJ operating costs and not impact your budget! Super market cards (Stop & Shop and Shaw s) are available in $50.00 denominations and CBJ earns 5% commission. The Stop & Shop card can be used to purchase gasoline. Additionally, when you make a purchase of $100.00 or more at Stop & Shop, you receive an instant coupon good for ten cents a gallon discount. CHILI S: Now a $25 card, with a few $20 still remaining, so ACT NOW! 9

Where did this year go? RESIDENT S PAGE It s with great excitement that I look forward to attending the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial in San Diego in December. Bruce Schulman and I have an action packed few days planned and expect to return with new ideas to share with our board and membership. I will also be representing Sisterhood at the Women of Reform Judaism convention there at the same time. We thank Sisterhood and CBJ for their generous contributions to help cover our costs. November and December at CBJ are filled with programs and activities for members of all ages. Please take the time to peruse them in this newsletter and sign up now. Our Chanukah programs are always popular so make sure you meet the reservation deadlines. I was out of town during the recent visit when Rabbi Shimon Miara, a sofer, repaired one of our Torahs. I understand that our Beit Sefer students, parents and visitors thoroughly enjoyed seeing this done up close. I was pleased, even from afar, to have been able to read all the press coverage we gleaned from it. We recently welcomed some new babies to CBJ families and several new families to our membership as well. Please take the time to introduce yourself to all of these new people. We go forward into 2008, our 99 th year as a congregation, with a positive outlook and great appreciation for all those who came before us to work together to make CBJ the vibrant congregation it is today. I welcome your comments and ideas in person, by phone or email, and even during the open forum section of our monthly board meetings. All are encouraged to attend. This is your CBJ and I urge you to take an active role in its success. Good wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season. Sheila Finer Yiddish Translation Project CBJ is undergoing an exciting project right now. In anticipation of our 100 th anniversary coming up in 2009, we decided to have our original 1909 board meeting notes translated from Yiddish to English. Thanks to Susan Stone, a descendant of one of our founding families, we hired Coraid O Brien, a Yiddish scholar, to take on this task. Coraid has corresponded with me several times telling me about some funny things she is uncovering in these notes. As much as things change, the more they stay the same. The board meetings back then encountered many of the same challenges we still do to this day. I ve heard some funny anecdotes that I know many of you will appreciate. We have been offered an opportunity through a matching fund to underwrite this task. You will be receiving more details shortly as to how you can participate and even have a copy of your own to add to your CBJ memorabilia. 10 What a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the beginnings of CBJ ~ and what better way than through the founder s own words.

Chanukah is Here (to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell") Oh, Chanukah is here. Oh, Chanukah is here. Light the candles, one by one. Oh, Chanukah is here. Spin the dreidel, too. Oh, spin the dreidel, too. Spin the dreidel round and round, For Chanukah is here. Eat some latkes next. Eat some latkes next. Eat some latkes -- yum, yum, yum -- For Chanukah is here. Chanukah Word Scramble hnkaachu tekals dileedr eohanrm metpel ujahd telg ANSWERS: 1. Chanukah 2. Latkas 3. Dreidel 4. Menorah 5. Temple 6. Judah 7. Gelt 11

FRIENDS OF CBJ KUSMIN FAMILY NEW HOMES*RENOVATIONS*RESTORATION BUILDERS Plymouth, MA kusmine@hotmail.com 617-201-2714 12

FRIENDS OF CBJ ARE YOU A MASTER POTATO PEELER??? A PERFECT PATTY MAKER?? A FANTASTIC FRYER?? JOIN THE KITCHEN CREW TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE SISTERHOOD CHANNUKAH LATKE DINNER (MEN WELCOME TOO!!) SEE PAGE 7 FOR VOLUNTEERING DETAILS The Congregation mourns the recent death of MARK LELYVELD and extends heartfelt condolences to Addie Lelyveld, and to Susanne, Philip, and Steven, and their families. The Congregation wishes condolences to MELISSA GOLDBACH and her family on the sudden passing of her mother, Sherri. 13

November 2007 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 (SYN) - 7:30pm AdultEd -10am (pg 4 for details) Simcha Blessings Rock N Bowl 6 pm (see pg 5 for details) 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Confirmation Class (CC) Limud Torah (SYN) Sisterhood Paid Up Supper 6:30pm (SYN) - 7:30pm KidsPARTY 6-10pm 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rosh Chodesh Kislev VETERNS DAY (SYN) - 7:30pm (SYN) - 10 am NO HEBREW SCHOOL 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Confirmation Class (CC) Limud Torah (SYN) THANKSGIVING NO HEBREW SCHOOL (SYN) - 7:30pm 25 26 Limud Torah (SYN) 27 28 29 30 (SYN) - 7:30pm 14

December 2007 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 KidsPARTY Shopping Day 12-4pm CHANUKAH 1ST NIGHT CHANUKAH 2ND NIGHT CHANUKAH 3RD NIGHT (SYN) - 7:30pm CHANUKAH 5TH NIGHT Sisterhood Latke Dinner & Yankee Swap 6:30pm (See pg 7 for details) Simcha Blessings CHANUKAH 4TH NIGHT 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 CHANUKAH 6TH NIGHT Chanukah Party 5pm CHANUKAH 7TH NIGHT Limud Torah (SYN) CHANUKAH 8TH NIGHT (SYN) - 7:30pm Confirmation 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Confirmation Class (CC) Limud Torah (SYN) ASARA B TEVET NO HEBREW SCHOOL (SYN) - 7:30pm 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 NO HEBREW SCHOOL NO HEBREW SCHOOL NO HEBREW SCHOOL Shabbat Services (SYN) - 7:30pm 30 31 NO HEBREW SCHOOL 15

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Plymouth, MA Permit No. 176 Congregation Beth Jacob P.O. Box 3284, Plymouth, MA 02361 CBJ Web Page: www.cbjplymouth.org Community Center (CC): 508-747-3466 Court Street at the corner of Brewster Street (across Court Street from the Court House) CBJ would like to welcome the newest members of the CBJ Family: Giavanna Sophia Benedetto (naming Nov. 9th at 7:30 pm) and Skyler Elliot Zeitz (naming Dec. 7th at 7:30 pm) Congratulations to both families on the birth of their daughters. Congratulations to the following grandparents: David and Frimma Buckman on the birth of their granddaughter Isabelle Nan and Fred and Irene Sarke on the birth of their grandson Jacob Samuel Synagogue (Syn): 508-746-1575 Summer Street at the corner of Pleasant Street (Next door to Friendly s) Rabbi Lawrence Silverman: 508-746-1575 RabbiLawrence@gmail.com President: Sheila Finer cbjpresident@yahoo.com HAPPY HANNUKAH Sisterhood President: Barbara Aharoni ahaba@juno.com Brotherhood President: John Bridgewater jbridge450@aol.com Newsletter Editor: Stefanie Zeitz stefaniezeitz@aol.com Next Newsletter Deadline: December 10, 2007 The next newsletter will encompass January and February 2008. If you would like to contribute, please send your items to Stefanie Zeitz. 16