Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz-Lendner The Meaning of Hanukkah Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz-Lendner One of my favorite definitions of the real meaning of Hanukkah came from a cartoon my kids watched when they were little. In A Rugrats Chanukah the grandfather picks up a latke and declares, the real meaning of Hanukkah is that these things have been clogging our people s arteries for thousands of years, and yet we survive! Psalm 30 declares that is a Psalm for the dedication of David s Temple. The Hebrew word for dedication is Hanukkah. The holiday represents the dedication of the Temple. But, more specifically, it represents the RE-Dedication of the Temple back to God after it had been captured and defiled by the Greek army. The Temple was converted to a worship place for idols and the Maccabees, having recaptured the Temple, removed the idols and RE-dedicated it back to God. (As for the various spellings of the name of the holiday in English, that is a much longer story based on the interpretations of the Hebrew grammar. That would constitute another article to try to explain.) Why do we light candles and eat latkes? The story of Hanukkah from the historical books called I Maccabees and II Maccabees tells the story of the military and historical factors that led to reclaiming the Temple. These two books are biblical-like books that were not incorporated into the Bible. Often they are referred to as Apocrypha. These works refer to the military battle but discuss nothing about jars of oil. The story of the oil comes from the Talmud, tractate Shabbat, page 21b. The question is asked, why do we celebrate Hanukkah? And the answer is explained that when the Maccabees reconquered the Temple they found oil enough for only one night to light the Ner Tamid, the eternal Menorah in the Temple. A miracle occurred and the oil lasted long enough until more oil DECEMBER 2017 could be produced i.e. eight days, and for that reason we celebrate the eight nights of Hanukkah. The interesting thing to note is that the Talmud mentions nothing about the war. Traditionally the explanation is because the rabbis were emissaries of peace and that when they wrote the Talmud they wanted to focus on God s miracle of the oil and not on the focus of military power. The true reason is more likely because the Maccabees were part of the Hasmonean family, a family of priests. After the war ended the Hasmoneans declared themselves to be the new kings of the independent commonwealth of Judaea. However, the Torah forbids priests from also serving as kings. The religious leaders believed that once the war was over and a new government was set up that the Hasmoneans should have turned over the kingdom to the Davidic line and themselves return to their priestly duties. But they did not, and the Talmudic rabbis believed that the Hasmoneans usurped their power. Therefore when it came time to tell the story of Hanukkah in the Talmud the rabbis excised as much military emphasis as possible to return the focus of success from the Hasmoneans back to God. And because of the emphasis on the candles, which were originally lamps of oil, it became a tradition to eat fried foods to represent the miracle of the oil from Hanukkah. And that is why, as the grandfather from Rugrats declared, the true meaning of Hanukkah is that these things have been clogging our people s arteries for thousands of years, and yet we survive!
From Our President The Season of Giving During this time of year, we are inundated with promotions and ads to promote the season of giving. Giving gifts has become synonymous with the December holidays and yet, here at Beth Israel, I believe our season of giving is year round. Let me explain. Michele Schipper President Beth Israel members give of their time: Our Beth Israel community is consistently volunteering or gifting their time, year around. Our BITYites give their time week after week in our Sunday religious school. Members graciously volunteer to prepare and deliver Meals on Wheels. Sisterhood members organize and prepare our holiday meals. Men s Club assists with set up and EVERYONE volunteers for cooking, working, clean up, etc.., for the annual BIC Bazaar. There are individuals who bring a program idea to the Board and then follow through from start to finish with every detail. These programs enrich the lives of BIC members and the greater community. Beth Israel members contribute money: We ask all members to make a pledge to help ensure that we can support our staff, who make sure that the needs of the membership are addressed and to maintain the building which provides a place to educate children and adults and worship together. Please return your 2018 pledge form if you have not already done so. We need your support. We also ask for additional contributions to sponsor special programs like Jewish Cinema Mississippi, events such as the 50 th anniversary celebrations this year, as well as other guest speakers and performers,which enhance our experiences here in Jackson. Beth Israel members give of themselves: Most importantly, in my opinion, is the gift of self that all our congregants grant. It s the gift of caring and becoming a member of the community. Of our ability to come together week after week, or even month after month, and share the gifts we all possess as members of Beth Israel. It has been an honor to serve as the president of Beth Israel Congregation. Thank you for all that you do to make Beth Israel a thriving community. Let s all continue to work to ensure that our Season of Giving continues for generations to come. An Annual Beth Israel Event Serving Christmas lunch at Stewpot Volunteers Needed More information to Follow Beth Israel Congregation Annual Meeting Sunday December 10, 2017 4:30 p.m. Page 2
Sisterhood Spotlight Collaborate with people you can learn from." ~Anonymous This quote means so much to me as Sisterhood President. I feel extremely fortunate to collaborate with so many wonderful, strong, hard-working & caring individuals -- our Sisterhood membership! I truly have learned a lot throughout this process! Thank you to our ever-increasing membership for helping to make our events so wonderful! I d love to hear from you, so please share your ideas! As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Best regards, Suzanne Freedman Sisterhood President 601-454-2148 Suzfreedman@aol.com Please join us in December: CHANUKKAH DINNER December 15 at 5:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Services will follow the Dinner. This is a joyous & fun-filled event for everyone, so please join us! ***RSVP by December 1, 2017 to Esther Roberts at: travelwithesther@yahoo.com or 901-230-8963. COST: $12.00 for Adult $5.00 (ages 3-13) Free for children under 3 ***Kosher Option available IF advised by deadline of December 1, 2017: $15.00 for Adult $8.00 for child ages 3-13 *** Vegetarian Option available IF advised by deadline of December 1, 2017 Still more: Our special Sisterhood Shabbat has been changed to February 9, 2018. We will have a wonderful guest speaker from the WRJ, so please plan to attend. More details will be sent out as everything gets finalized. Also, please be sure to visit our Judaica Shop filled with so many new and wonderful items! Thank you to Jan Doctor and Cheryl Katz for overseeing the Gift Shop! They have done a fabulous job adding new merchandise we think you will enjoy! Hours are Friday nights before services, and on Sunday mornings during Religious School. Chai Lights, Bic Blasts, Emails, FB Sisterhood Closed Group: If you are a Sisterhood member, you should be receiving emails, as needed. If you haven t been, please let me know so I can correct the situation. Please also join our Beth Israel Sisterhood Closed Facebook Page. If you re not already a part of this, please request to join, and I will provide access. I post updates here often. We may call or text on a case by case basis, as well. And be sure to look for Sisterhood updates and important information to be sent via Chai Lights and Bic Blasts, with special thanks to Rita for coordinating! Calendar Events for 2017-2018 Please plan to join us! December 15, 2017 February 9, 2018 February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2018 March 21, 2018 March 31, 2018 April 22, 2018 May 4, 2018 Our next Sisterhood Book Club meeting will be held at the Temple on Sunday, December 3, at 11:00 a.m. Our December selection is Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. Please plan to join us. See edited Goodreads summary below. New York socialite Caroline Ferriday, is posted at the French consulate, but her world is forever changed, when Hitler s army invades Poland in September,1939, and then sets its sights on France. An ocean away from Caroline is Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, who senses her carefree youth disappearing, as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped by Nazi secrets and power. The lives of these three women are set on a collision course, when Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross contients, as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those, whom history has forgotten. Chanukah Dinner Sisterhood Shabbat Bazaar Cooking Dates 51st Bazaar Passover 2nd Seder General Meeting, Slate of New Officers Sisterhood Installation Page 3
4th Annual Singing Together Jackson Tuesday, December 5 th 6:30 p.m. Beth Israel Congregation 5315 Old Canton Road $10 in Advance Tickets $15 at the Door www.eventbrite.com/e/singing-together-jackson-tickets-38806028877 *Free for children 10 and under Tickets may also be purchased at the Temple office. This is an annual celebration and fundraising event held to support Working Together Jackson s mission to strengthen institutions by developing new leaders and solutions to the issues facing our community. For more information contact: Heather Ivery: (601) 503-3753 or heather.ivery@yahoo.com Khalid Hudson: (601) 460-1174 or khudson.wtj@gmail.com Chevon Chatman: (601) 460-0255 or cchatman.wtj@gmail.com Page 4
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 2 David Blumenthal 13 Erik Hearon 24 Sheila Hailey and Bear Atwood 3 Jacob Schipper 15 Justin Gould 28 Honorine and Allen Weiss 5 Elizabeth Emmich 16 Larry Goldstein 30 Betsy and Joey Samuels 7 Sheila Rubin 16 Marcelo Ruvinsky 7 Kovi Katz 16 Esther Roberts 7 Maya Freedman 17 Albert Leveck 7 Mindy Humphrey 19 Alice Friedman 8 Sandor Feldman 20 Eli Lazarus 8 Bruce Schlakman 20 Kate Samuels 8 Jonathan Wiener 23 Lynn Crystal 9 Daniel Snyder 24 Anna Lazarus 10 Macy Hart 25 Sheila Hailey 11 Phillip Pollack 25 Jack Blumenthal 11 Steven Dobel 26 Nathan Docter 11 Jan Docter 27 Bea Gavant 12 Gerry Printz 27 Gene Crunk 13 Bert Rubinsky 29 Alyssa Silberman 13 Jacob Smith 30 Tara Blumenthal 13 Helene Rotwein 31 Joe Harris ENHANCED ONEG Many thanks to the following congregants who have volunteered to host an enhanced Oneg Shabbat: September 8, 2017 Debra and Joel Jacobs, Tamar and Peter Sharp October 20, 2017 Susan and Mark Fijman December 22, 2017 Paula and Edward Erlich January 26, 2018 Rebecca Laskin February 23, 2018 Melanie Dobel Paula and Edward Erlich March 9, 2018 Danielle Wahba April 27, 2018 Marla Harbor and Erik Hearon Sisterhood provides the wine and challah. The enhanced Oneg host only needs to bring fruit, and/or cookies or brownies, hummus and pita chips, and/or veggies, or cheese and crackers to add to the wine and challah. Your name (s) will be included in the Friday night leaflet. Page 5
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE CELEBRATING VETERANS SHABBAT BIC ANNUAL TIKKUN OLAM BLANKET DRIVE! Last year we delivered over 50 blankets donated by you to Stewpot Community Services to distribute to the homeless. Our annual drive this year will include both blankets and socks. Before Chanukah, please bring NEW socks for men, women, and children and/or NEW blankets to the box which is in the hallway outside the Temple office. If you need more information, please contact Dana Larkin at danaflarkin@gmail.com. Page 6
WE APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF THOSE WHO SUPPORT BETH ISRAEL BY REMEMBERING AND HONORING THEIR FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES THROUGH THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS Donations may be applied to the following funds, per your request: GENERAL FUND MEMBERSHIP & ENGAGEMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND TIKKUN OLAM FUND ENDOWMENT FUND ONEG FUND LIBRARY/PRAYER BOOK FUND WEBSITE FUND RABBI S DISCRETIONARY FUND SATURDAY MORNING FUND MUSIC FUND CEMETERY FUND CARING FUND (SISTERHOOD) ART FUND PROGRAM FUND JEWISH CINEMA MISSISSIPPI BITY MITZVAH FUND (SISTERHOOD) RELIGIOUS SCHOOL HOLOCAUST FUND CEMETERY FUND In Memory of T. Stanley Orkin Donna & Ted Orkin Donation Morgan & Aaron Samuels In Memory of Guierl Lee Smith Carol Thompson In Memory of Helen Leighton Shirley Tipton In Memory of Morris Trubman Aaron Trubman In Memory of Elaine Crystal Deborah & Clay Crystal In Memory of Helen Leighton Patty Combest In Memory of Mark Hearon Marla Harbor & Erik Hearon In Memory of Judy & Albert Wahba Marla Harbor & Erik Hearon In Memory of Lou Shornick Marla Harbor & Erik Hearon Donation Amy & Arty Finkelberg In Honor of Margit Zapletal The Zapletal Family In Memory of Simon Sharp Tamar & Peter Sharp In Memory of Rosemary Sharp Tamar & Peter Sharp In Memory of Mollie & Henry Spitzburg Lynne & Roger Rosenfield In Memory of Lucile & Albert Rosenfield Lynne & Roger Rosenfield In Memory of Elaine Crystal Lynn Crystal In Memory of George Mitchell Lynn Crystal In Memory of Morris Falk Lynn Crystal In Memory of Harold Gotthelf, Jr. Lynn Crystal In Memory of Helen Leighton Pamela Denise Smith In Memory of Beulah Geiger Mindy and Clay Humphrey In Memory of Mary Harris Joe Harris In Memory of Julie Waxman Sammy Waxman In Memory of Helen Leighton Lynn Crystal In Memory of David Britt Rivlin Michel Rivlin In Memory of Rose Feldman Deborah & Sandor Feldman In Memory of Ira Rubin Sheila Rubin In Memory of Helen Leighton Patsy & Van Riley Kathy & Larry Riley Paula & David Manaco Wayne Riley Lisa & Ray Harris CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND Donation Morgan & Aaron Samuels In Memory of A. J. Orkin, Sr. Donna & Ted Orkin GENERAL FUND In Memory of Chaim Blitzer & Bertha Blitzer Steve Kaufman In Memory of Ellis Hart Cookie & Marcelo Ruvinsky Donation Amy & Arty Finkelberg JACKSON JEWISH FEDERATION Donation Amy & Arty Finkelberg JEWISH CINEMA MISSISSIPPI Donation Amy & Arty Finkelberg RABBI S DISCRETIONARY FUND In Memory of Dr. Firth Samuel Spiegel Judy & Richard Stamm Page 7
Non-Profit Org U. S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #123 JACKSON, MS P.O. Box 13249 Jackson, MS 39236 Phone: (601) 956-6215 Fax: (601) 952-0895 bethisraelms.org We Remember Yahrzeits for DECEMBER 2017 12/3-12/9/2018 *Maurice Sollek Miriam Kolodney *Jack Freedman Meyer Levy Deborah Blumenthal Anne Trubman Lois Canfiled S. Cyril Hart *Rebecca Jacobs Burton Friedman *Pauline Cohen Barry Draft Fannie Abrams Martha Weatherall Ethel Geoghegan Cleveland Branson 12/10-12/16/2017 *Norman Stamm Lillie Hart *Gus Herrman Sam Korelitz Leonard Winer *Samuel Joseph Selma Geiger Brown *Frances Larkin Isaac Epstein Rosalie Lasky *Joseph Ascher Esther Docter Ira Rubin 12/17-12/23/2017 Max Fratkin Goldie Cecila Sokolsky Jack Harris J Lawrence Levy *Victoria Finkelberg Gilbert Metz *Phyllis Lehman Herman Naomi Rubin Jack Laboda *John Fischer Jacques Wahba Louise Metz Israel Abrams John Fischer Jacob Kulman *Harry Glass Leonard Smith Joe Gerache 12/24-12/30/2017 Andrew Orkin Wesley Daniels Jacob Nechamkin *Millie Stamm *Manny Crystal Joshua Goldberg Samuel Steeg *Lucille Rosenfield Simon Rubinsky Molly Belanoff Libbie Rotwein Joseph Lasky Molly Harbor Linda Denmark Morris Mermelstein Ewen Crunk Daniel Hendrix Helen Praver Morris Danzinger Louis Jacob Buchman Kitty Steckel Adolph Orkin III Roy Hanf 12/31/2017-1/6/2018 Arnold Draft Izzy Stone Fradie Bear Melvin Korelitz Samuel Friedman Phillip Needle Jacobo Fijman Rose Kirby *Leo Phillip Gradinger Anna Kuerschner *Pearl Hesdorffer *Shirley Klateman Pauline Samuels *Greer Beth Pollack Toby Grossman *Adolph Orkin, Sr Betty Shapero Rose Bennett *Bertha Helen Geiger Margaret Guenther *Rosa Schwartz Max Turteltaub *Memorial Alcove