Beth Israel Congregation s Jan. 2017/5777 BULLETIN Rabbi s Message + General Service Schedule Friday 7:00pm; Saturday 10:00am UN Resolution 2334 The State of Israel and her friends were shocked and furious with the abstention of the United States from Security Council Resolution 2334 of the United Nations. The resolution defines the terms of an alleged peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in clear violation of American policy. The United States and Israel, as well as Israel s friends, have always stated that direct peace negotiations, without any pre-conditions, must be the basis of reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Obviously, when peace is dictated by groups such as the United Nations, the Arab League, or the European Union, Israel s interests will never be fairly represented. The reality that the United Nations spends the majority of its time and energy condemning Israel in contrast to its silence on the most flagrant violations of human rights (including the murder of a half million civilians in the Syrian Civil War) throughout the world is proof positive that the United Nations is hostile to Israel. The only major world player that has ever stepped up to defend Israel s interests at the United Nations has been the United States. Sadly, this time, because of President Obama, the United States chose to remain silent. As it has been said, Indifference to Evil is worse than evil itself. This abstention was the first time in decades that the United States abstained from an anti-israel resolution in the United Nations. Analysts have pondered why the Obama Administration used its final month in office to stick to Israel at the United Nations. Some of have thought it was due to the poor chemistry of President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Others have felt it is because President Obama feels a personal bond to the Muslim world due to his early education and family ties. Others have felt that like others of the political left, President Obama regards Israel as a colonialist intrusion into the Middle East. --Continued on page 2 January Events January 15@10am Book discussion January 27@ 7pm Youth group from Community of Joy Church visits Shabbat Candle Lighting Times Jan. 6-4:39 Jan. 13-4:46 Jan. 20-4:54 Jan. 27-5:01 The light display at the OC inlet this year has a menorah and says In honor of Albert Berger and Harold Greenspan. This is a beautiful tribute to them.
Rabbi s Message, Continued The United Nations Security Council Resolution denies that there is any connection between the city of Jerusalem and the sacred Jewish sites of Judea and Samaria with Israel or the Jewish people. This denial is a flagrant attempt to erase the memory of thousands of years of Jewish history. It re-affirms the UNESCO resolution of the United Nations to refer to the holy sites of Jewish Jerusalem by their Muslim names, not their Jewish ones. Thus, in the United Nations eyes, the. Western Wall, the Kotel, the site of Jewish prayer and yearning for two thousand years, is the Buraq Wall of Mohammed s night vision. The Temple Mount, the location of the First and Second Temples, is re-named and only referred to as Haram al Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary of Islam. It should be pointed out that the State of Israel, ironically, prohibits Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, in order to maintain the status quo of the Muslim holy sites. Despite Israel s respect for Islam, the continued rumor is spread that Israel is attempting to destroy the mosques on the Temple Mount. The Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem is one of the four historic sections of the city. It was destroyed in the Jordanian conquest of the eastern section of Jerusalem in 1948 in Israel s War of Independence, but today the Jewish Quarter of the Old City has been restored to its former glory with many magnificent synagogues. The excavations in the Old City have produced a wealth of archeological finds that testify to the eternal bond between the Jewish people and Jerusalem. Other efforts to eradicate the bonds between the Jewish people and its homeland include the renaming of Rachel s Tomb in Bethlehem and the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. Hebron, which is considered to be one of the four holy cities of Israel, saw its Jewish population massacred in 1929. The denial of Jewish history ironically goes against earlier Muslim sources themselves which recognize the connection between the Jewish people and the city of Jerusalem. However, in its attempt to re-write history, the United Nations, has erased the Biblical and archeological record that affirms the bonds between the Jewish people and Jerusalem. The United States House of Representatives has passed a recent resolution to attempt to undermine the damage caused by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334. The House resolution received overwhelming bipartisan support as both Democrats and Republicans realize that peace will come through direct negotiations and not through a fiat of the United Nations. The Senate is poised to pass a similar resolution. Also, intelligent Americans realize that by undermining the tie between Jews and Israel, the United Nations is also challenging the bonds between Christianity and the Holy Land. The famous line first the Saturday people, then the Sunday people is ringing true in the Middle East. The persecution of Jews in the Middle East has now given way to the systematic torture and oppression of the remaining Christians in the area and again, the United Nations is silent. We hope and pray that the United States will continue to stand by its ally Israel in the quest for a genuine peace in the Middle East. --Rabbi Bienstock BIC Birthdays: Fred Kahn- Jan. 2 Susan Tilghman- Jan. 5 Bernard Polin- Jan.19 Brenna Pincus- Jan.29 BIC ANNIVERSARIES: Tom & Susan Paciga- Jan. 14 Member-to-member Beth Israel Congregation would like to welcome our new member Sara Sirman. Beth Israel Congregation extends its sincerest condolences to the Hansen family upon the death of Roy s brother. May G-d comfort you among your fellow mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. May G-d spare you from further sorrow and grant you healing. Thank you to the Raffish family for hosting the reception after the downtown Menorah lighting. Thank you to Todd, Jacob, and Gabe Berman, Shari Miller, and Mark Rudnick for your help with the Hanukkah dinner.
Donations: General Fund Harvey & Janice Berger IHO of Albert, Beatrice, and Barry Berger Peter & Marian Nason Yahrzeit of Lillian Steinberg Peter Nason Yahrzeit of Norman A. Cohen Dayle Lansman & Gerald Wolff IMO Harold L. Lansman and Ruth F. Sharp Michael & Doris Ehrlich Yahrzeit of Joseph Slavin James Hatley Leonard Jaffe has made a donation in memory of the following people: Louis C. Ross, Nora Kaye, Harriet Benjamin, Fannie Grundfast, Roslyn Jaffe, Sam Jaffe, Rose Jaffe, Lillian Ross, Martha Ross, Harriet Owrutsky, and Charles Ross. Yahrzeits Elliott & Dana Corn Yahrzeit of Leonard Scher Fred & Andrea Kahn Yahrzeit of Shirley Kahn Harvey Needleman Yahrzeit of Joseph Slavin Sharon Servadio Yahrzeit of Anita Margulis Beautification Fund Fran Lane IMO Estelle Levine & IMO Harriette Perlo Levine BETH ISRAEL S FIRST ANNUAL TRIVIA NIGHT SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017 AT 7:00 Please Save the Date of Saturday, March 18, 2017, as we will be holding Beth Israel s First Annual Trivia Night. Teams will be composed of up to four individuals. Prizes will be awarded for the 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd place teams. There will be 20 categories of questions, light refreshments including beer, wine, and soft drinks. We will have an intermission to enjoy some desserts. For those who prepay, the cost to compete will be $8.00 per player, or $10.00 at the door. Please ask your non-beth Israel friends to attend with you. The more the merrier someone once said! Your hosts for this fun evening for adults will be Andy and Karen Karten and Mark Rudnick. We may need a couple of volunteers to make the evening go more smoothly. If you would like to reserve your place for this fun evening, please mail your payment to the synagogue by March 13, 2017. (If you paid for last year, it has been applied to the new date.) Beth Israel Congregation 600 Camden Ave Salisbury, MD 21801
Please do not forget to make your financial pledge to Beth Israel. Our SOS appeal is an important way for you to help sustain Beth Israel Congregation. Be sure to make your pledge and follow up with your check. Your donation will make a BIG difference and is greatly appreciated. Thanks to each of those who have made a pledge. Beth Israel would like to thank the following who, as of 01/12/2017, have paid their SOS pledge. We appreciate your generosity. Mark Rudnick Neal Schloss The Schwalbs The Klegers The Hershtigs Ann Hancock SHK Marketing Inc The Mossmans The Toubouls The Kartens The Franklins Mel Snyder The Cohens Cyvia Marmer Don Lapinsohn Fran Lane The Golds The Whites The Stivelmans The Eisens The Friedmans The Scherrs The Sherrs The Albrights The Germans The Krasners The Folkoffs Bernard Polin The Bermans The Davis Shari Miller The Hansens Teri Quigley Susan Land The Browns The Sirmans Yahrzeits: January Ruth Polin Jan 6-7, 2017 Lois Davis Jan 6-7, 2017 Clara Kerpelman Jan 6-7, 2017 Hugo Haberman Jan 6-7, 2017 Norman A. Cohen Jan 6-7, 2017 P.F.C. Barry Berger Jan 6-7, 2017 David Lipkin Jan 6-7, 2017 Ida Dora Heilig Jan 6-7, 2017 Dr. Joseph A. White Jan 6-7, 2017 Leon Givarz Jan 6-7, 2017 Mary P. Friedman Jan 6-7, 2017 Howard Polin Jan 6-7, 2017 Samuel Fromme Jan 6-7, 2017 Frances Abrams Lewis Jan 6-7, 2017 Michael Guerrieri Jan 13-14, 2017 Sol Liebman Jan 13-14, 2017 Jacob Coan Jan 13-14, 2017 Morris Gershenfeld Jan 13-14, 2017 Barbara B. Balter Jan 13-14, 2017 Elias M. Brent Jan 13-14, 2017 Shirley Jaslow Jan 13-14, 2017 Sophie Brooks Lamberg Jan 13-14, 2017 Abe N. Graham Jan 13-14, 2017 Harold Greenspan Jan 13-14, 2017 Harry Caplan Jan 13-14, 2017 Mary (Mirral) Lustig Jan 13-14, 2017 Samuel Greenfeld Jan 13-14, 2017 Rose Fried Jan 20-21, 2017 Sybil Kerman Jan 20-21, 2017 Jacob Miller Jan 20-21, 2017 Brenda K. Poulakis Jan 20-21, 2017 Irving Aaron Posman Jan 20-21, 2017 Blima Schwalb Jan 20-21, 2017 Caryn Kunie Jan 20-21, 2017 Esther Grace Sadick Jan 20-21, 2017 Barnett Rudoff Jan 27-28, 2017 Morris Schwalb Jan 27-28, 2017 Louis Needleman Jan 27-28, 2017 Sarah G. Kravitz Jan 27-28, 2017 David H. Polin Jan 27-28, 2017 Esther Haberman Jan 27-28, 2017 Harold L Haberman Jan 27-28, 2017 Paula Kaufman Raffish Jan 27-28, 2017 Ben Cales (Benzion) Jan 27-28, 2017
The Beth Israel Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 15 at 10:00am. We will continue discussing The Biography of Jabotinsky. Everyone is welcome to attend. Would you like to honor a loved one? There are many ways to acknowledge your loved ones at Beth Israel. Consider a leaf on our Tree of Life, displayed in the lobby. This is a wonderful way to commemorate a special event or to honor or remember a special person. The cost of a leaf is $500. Beth Israel Cards Appropriate for every occasion and affordable, BIC Cards can be purchased in the Office. You may also wish to consider purchasing a Yahrzeit Memorial Plaque for your loved one. The cost is $360 and will be displayed in our Sanctuary. Beth Israel Staff Rabbi: Arnold Bienstock Office Manager: Julie Thompsen Board of Governors President: Todd Berman Vice President: Susan Tilghman Secretary: Arlene Miller Treasurer: Shari Miller Youth Education: Sara Stivelman USY: Ella Davis Religious: Teri Quigley Membership: Ella Davis Ways & Means: Jaimi Hall House: Joe Beatus Contact Us 600 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21801 Phone 410-742-2564 Fax 410-742-2697 www.bethisraelsalisbury.org General Information: bicsecretary@verizon.net Summer Office Hours: Wed. - Friday 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Shabbat Services: Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism The mission of this Congregation shall be to establish and maintain a Synagogue and such educational, religious, social and recreational activities as will help further the cause and objectives of the Synagogue and Conservative Judaism. Established 1926 Or maybe you'd like to purchase a chair for the social hall in the honor/memory of a loved one. The cost for a chair is $50. Please contact Julie at the Synagogue Office and she'll be happy to assist you with your tribute. Do you love ONEG? Who doesn t? So come celebrate a simcha, remember a yahrzeit or just make it a great end to a long week by hosting one! It s easy and quick. Call Julie in the BIC office for details. 410-742-2564.