Bulletin

December, 2014 9 Kislev – 9 Tevet 5775 Vol. 12 Published Monthly

BNAI ABRAHAM SYNAGOGUE

DANIEL STEIN, RABBI ROBERT WEINER, PhD, CANTOR MARK SHRAGER, RABBI EMERITUS, ZT”L MORRIS SIEGEL, CANTOR EMERITUS, ZT”L

1545 BUSHKILL STREET • EASTON, PA 18042-3118 (610) 258-5343 • Fax: (610) 330-9100

www.bnaiabraham.org • email: office@bnaiabraham.org

THE

UNITED

SYNAGOGUE OF

CONSERVATIVE

JUDAISM

DISTRIBUTION NOTICE If you would like family members or others to receive a copy of the bulletin, please send name, address and $15 payment to Bnai Abraham.

If you have not sent your email address to Bnai Abraham office staff, please do so as soon as possible. We will be notifying congregants of emergencies and special events through email.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS The deadline for submitting items is December 17th. Please have all items to BAS office no later than December 17th. Any items received after that date will be published in the next month’s bulletin.

C O N T A C T S

Gerald Weisberger President & Programming Committee Chair

Howard Nathanson Youth Chair Shelly Blumenthal Gift Shop Chair Howard Nathanson Kadima Advisor Irwin Lewis, M.D. Men’s Club President &

Ritual Committee Chair Elaine Morrow Sisterhood President Ellen Lifschutz Choir Director Aliette and Marc Abo, MD Theatre Club Gerald Weisberger House Chair Lothar Gumberich Memorials & Torah

Restoration Committee

O F F I C E H O U R S:

Closed on Mondays and Fridays. Hours open: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Services/Minyan Schedule

Thursday: 7:25 AM Friday Night Services – 8:00 PM First Friday of Each Month – Simcha Shabbat: 6:30 PM Saturday: 9:30 AM Kiddush follows

If you require a special minyan, please notify the office at 610-258-5343.

A MESSAGE FROM RABBI DANIEL STEIN…

By now, many of you have read about the Pew Research Forum’s study of Jewish Americans. It showed, among other things, tremendous decline in Conservative communities, and, to a lesser extent, growth in Orthodox Judaism. It also showed that most Jews leaving the Conservative movement ultimately affiliate with the Reform movement—if they choose to affiliate at all.

In the year since the publication of the Pew study, though, I’ve been drawn to a different hypothesis: perhaps the reason we are not attracting new families to Conservative communities is our pervasive failure to address and wholeheartedly welcome interfaith families into our communities.

Today—at least theoretically—Conservative Judaism is based on a particular approach to halakha (Jewish law). Our “official” belief is that to be a “good” Conservative Jew, one must follow Jewish law as interpreted by the United Synagogue and its affiliated organizations. Practically, though, Conservative Judaism in America means something else: to my mind, it means a serious appreciation of aspects of Jewish tradition, if not complete fidelity to Jewish law. We value Hebrew. We value Shabbat. We value Kashrut. I could think of more, but to my mind, these values are the essential tenets of Conservative Judaism. Over the years, we’ve added to them: Today, Conservative Judaism values gender egalitarianism—women and men are considered equals in our communities. Increasingly, we’ve added inclusion of LGBTQ Jews as a central value. If we are to survive the massive shifts in Jewish identity, I believe we have to add another central value: engaged openness to interfaith marriage.

To some extent, this change has been forced upon us: 60% of married Jews are in interfaith marriages. While we could bemoan this reality—as my Jewish thought leaders continue to do-—this only serves to alienate couples while validating the worst sentiments of the Jewish partner towards her faith. Instead, we must challenge ourselves to celebrate every family that has the potential to foster a Jewish home, and support them as they struggle to understand their identity. While this will necessarily change Judaism, it does not mean that Judaism will be harmed. As we explore Judaism’s transformation, perhaps we will discover a new path for its survival.

Scholars have focused on different causes for this trend: perhaps we have not sent our young people to camp or provided them with an adequate Jewish education. Perhaps we do not sufficiently fund USY, or perhaps we are too liberal generally to appreciate the value of religion.

A MESSAGE FROM RABBI DANIEL STEIN…Continued

A few years ago, I heard a fascinating interview with Sarah Kay, a young poet who identifies as a Jewish–American–Japanese–Episcopalian. Here’s the quote that made my ears perk up:

My mother is Japanese-American, so the Japanese side is pretty far back. I'm third or fourth generation. So more than the Japanese culture, it's more the Japanese-American culture, which is definitely its own thing. But that was certainly present. My grandmother on my mom's side was interned during World War II, and my father's family is Jewish. I was bat mitzvahed. I was baptized in the Episcopal Church. I just got back from my family's Passover, Easter, Seder dinner, which was wonderful wherein we had matzo ball soup filled with Japanese noodles and all kinds of great Japanese additions.

I don’t know about you, but I find her life and story fascinating. It is so different from my own, and my Judaism is challenged and enriched by knowing it. I want people like her to feel welcome in our community; perhaps you do as well.

I know many of our families will explore the complexities as we approach the December holidays. Please know that I am always available to talk through these and any other issues you might be dealing with. I wish all of you a wonderful month, a Happy Hanukkah, and a festive (secular) New Year!

All the best, Rabbi Stein

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE …

As 2014 comes comes to a close and we head into 2015, Gail and I extend our best wishes to everyone for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Jerry Weisberger, President

Bnai Abraham Synagogue 1545 Bushkill Street, Easton, PA 18042

L E A G R A M S Dear Member:

Below you will find the Leagram list for the first quarter of 2015. Leagrams costs $2.00 each. Indicate those people to who you want card sent. We would also appreciate if you would complete the form below.

Please mail the entire sheet with your check payable to BNAI ABRAHAM SYNAGOGUE to the office

TOTAL NUMBER OF CARDS _______ AT $2.00 EACH = __________

TOTAL AMOUNT = ___________

YOUR NAME AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR ON THE CARDS:

___________________________________________________________________________

To bring the Leagram list up-to-date, please fill in the following with your anniversary, other anniversaries, you notice missing from the list, or scheduled Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and please return these changes/additions to us.

NAME:__________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ______________________________________________

PHONE: ________________________________________________

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY: ________________________________

If you would like to be added to the Leagram listing, please complete the form with your name and wedding anniversary date and return to Bnai Abraham office.

a n n i v e r s a r y C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

January 13 Mr. & Mrs. Aron Hochhauser 6491 Overlook Rd. Orefield, PA 18069 February 19 Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Hochhauser 3480 Manor Road Bethlehem, PA 18020 February 28 Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Kaplan 2040 Lehigh St. #307 Easton, PA 18042 March 25 Mr. & Mrs. Alan Abraham 91 Sutton Place Easton, PA 18045 March 25 Mr. & Mrs. Arno Cassel 715 S.W. St. Vincent Cove Port St. Lucie, FL 34986

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

BNAI ABRAHAM/TEMPLE COVENANT FAMILY KOSHER VEGETARIAN CHINESE DINNER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 – TIME: 5:30 P.M.

Please join us for a Family Dinner Kosher Vegetarian Chinese Dinner at Bnai Abraham Cost: $12 Per Adult Children are Free.

Please call the RSVP to Bnai Abraham by December 18th .

6:30 PM Family Service Sufagniyot (Jelly Donuts) to follow!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 24th and 25th, 2014

I want to thank all the volunteers who have helped in the past.

Once again volunteers from both Temple Covenant of Peace and Bnai Abraham Synagogue are requested at the Information Desk at St. Luke’s, Warren Hospital and Easton Hospital on Wednesday, December 24th, and Thursday, December 25th, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Shifts are generally for two hours, depending on the number of volunteers recruited.

If interested, please call Jay Neadle for more information at:

jneadle@rcn.com (email) 484-241-1742 (Cell)

This is a worthwhile community service, so that the Christian volunteers can be with their loved ones during this special time of year.

BRING YOUR FAMILY MENORAHS IN TO DISPLAY FOR HANAKKAH

Sheila Goldberg is planning a display of family menorahs for Hanukkah. If you have one you'd like to display this month, please bring it in along with a short description of its history and significance. They'll be on display throughout the month and available for pickup whenever you'd like.

SIMCHA SHABBAT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 - TIME: 6:30 P.M.

Please join us for our musical Simcha Shabbat on Friday, December 5th and stay for a special oneg to follow.

SPECIAL KIDDUSH IN HONOR OF DEXTER AND SALLY NEADLE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2015 FOLLOWING SERVICES

As you may have heard, our friends Dexter and Sally Neadle will be relocating later this year; join us on for Shabbat services December 6th, which will be followed by a

special kiddush in honor of their years of friendship at Bnai Abraham!

BNAI ABRAHAM/TEMPLE COVENANT OF PEACE KNITTING GROUP WEDNESDAY MORNING – DECEMBER 17th – TIME: 10:30 A.M.

Please note the knitting group will be meeting at the home at the home of Diane Silverman

5 Lantern Place East, Easton, PA. Please RSVP Diane at 610-258-5389

BETHLEHEM/EASTON HADASSAH BOOK AND FILM CLUB THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 at 1:30 P.M.

BOOK: In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist by Ruchama King Feurman

At the home of Ann Goldberg 2351 Esquire Drive, Easton, PA Phone: 610-829-1221

BNAI ABRAHAM SUNDAY FILM/DINNER SERIES THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2014 – TIME 4:00 P.M.

Join us at Bnai Abraham on Thursday, December 25th at 4:00 pm to view

“Hunting Elephants”

Followed by dinner (and discussion) at the New Imperial Chinese and Sushi restaurant at the Weis shopping center on William Penn Highway.

Come to one or come to both! We look forward to seeing you there!

The film is free – Dinner is Dutch Treat

Yahrzeit List In the Bond of Life

December 2014

Contact Irwin Lewis, Ritual Chairman

December 2 Beatrice Mayer, beloved mother of Loretta Brickman December 2 Bessie Abo, beloved mother of Marc Abo December 2 John Schiavone, beloved brother of Carol Rabinowitz December 3 Jacob Altman, beloved father of Arthur Altman December 4 Frederick Zibulewsky, beloved husband of Lydia Zibulewsky December 5 Mollie Abeshaus, beloved aunt of Alan Abeshaus December 8 Abe Greenberg, beloved father of Sandy Weiner December 8 Marion Esther Gross, beloved sister of Faye Goldberg December 8 Jules Zarchin, beloved father of Gail Weisberger December 8 Arthur Kalb, beloved father of Sally Neadle December 10 Freida Cohen, beloved mother of Danny Cohen December 10 Abner William Hochhauser, beloved father of Les Hochhauser December 11 Elmer Lifland, beloved husband of Doris Lifland December 11 Shirley Ytkin, beloved sister of Doris Lifland and cousin of

Herman Ytkin December 11 Harry Weitzman, beloved father of Lydia Zibulewsky December 12 Robert Wise, beloved father of Margaret Kaplan December 13 Harold V. Abraham, beloved father of Alan Abraham

and Joan Crescenzi December 14 Joseph Falk, beloved father of Howard Falk December 14 Morry A. Mermelstein, beloved father of Helaine Sigal December 15 Frank Aufrecht, beloved father of Nancy Cohen December 15 Ida Altman, beloved mother of Arthur Altman December 18 Pearl Krasner, beloved stepmother of Shirley Falk December 19 Agnes Emma Zibulewsky, beloved mother-in-law of

Lydia Zibulewsky December 20 Madeline Cooper, beloved mother of Jill Reilly and beloved

grandmother of Tyler Mellert December 20 Pauline Cohen, beloved mother of Debby Ziev December 20 Shirley McCants, beloved mother of Debrosha McCants December 21 Louis Brickman, beloved father of Stephen Brickman December 25 Dorothy Kaplan, beloved sister of Sid Kaplan and

Leopold Kaplan December 27 Joan Kerbel, beloved niece of Roz Smolow December 30 Dorothy Mermelstein, beloved mother of Helaine Sigal December 30 Harriet Levine, beloved sister of Selma Jacowitz December 31 Gertrude Minsky, beloved mother of Lillian Krim

BNAI ABRAHAM SYNAGOGUE General operating expenses

Please consider a donation to Bnai Abraham Synagogue to cover “General Operating Expenses”. Your donations support our Congregation and strengthen our Jewish community here in Easton.

BEATRICE & LEON FRIEDMAN FUND 1.  Support organizations that benefit minor children whose parents are unable to

provide for their health, maintenance, support and education 2.  Needy, elderly 3.  Shelter for the homeless

BUILDING FUND Extraordinary maintenance and repair of the buildings and property of the synagogue and parsonage

SISTERHOOD CAMP RAMAH SCHOLARSHIP FUND

GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND Interest only used to subsidize Bnai Abraham’s operating expenses

GOLDMAN/MERBAUM TORAH FUND

HERB SNYDER GARDEN FUND

JESSE & TAYLOR COOPER FUND

DR. JOEL LEWIS SCHOLARSHIP FUND Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring stipends

JULIUS COHEN MEMORIAL FUND 1.  Religious School Scholarships 2.  Assisting needy congregational youth in Jewish-oriented education,

programming and activities (e.g. Yeshiva or Jewish Day School, trips, USY)

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND

ROBERT KUTNER LIBRARY FUND

SHEILA GOLDBERG FUND To pay High Holiday fees for anyone who cannot afford to attend

SILVERMAN RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND Religious School Scholarships, Shofars

SISTERHOOD BUILDING FUND

SUE SEIGEL SHABBAT FUND 1.  Shabbat programming, including kiddush lunches 2.  Bagels and Books

SY JACOWITZ TOT SHABBAT FUND Boker Tov Scholarships

THEATER FUND Supports a wide variety of synagogue projects and functions

Bnai Abraham Synagogue Howard and Shirley Falk in honor of the marriage of the son of Anne and Dan Kaye. Howard and Shirley Falk in honor of Phil Hof being selected as one of the 100 top lawyers in Pennsylvania. John and Joan Hobart in memory of Robert Lyons. Sid and Helene Kaplan in memory of Mary Stein, wife of Jack Stein. The Sunday Brunch Bunch has made a donation to the Bnai Abraham General Fund.

Herb Gardner Foundation Robert J. Potter in memory of Robert Lyons. Robert J. Potter in honor of Herb Gardner who was his scout leader, first boss and later his best friend.

Sue Seigel Shabbat Fund Sid and Helene Kaplan – Mazel Tov to Paul Strikwerder on the occasion of his conversion, a joyous welcome to the family of Judaism.

Theater Fund Marc and Aliette Abo in memory of Robert Lyons. Marc and Aliette Abo in memory of Mary Stein.

Yahrzeit Arthur Altman in memory of his father-in-law, Eliyahu Meriowitz. Faye Goldberg in memory of her husband, William Goldberg. Sid Kaplan in memory of his brother, Joseph Kaplan and his father, Morris Kaplan. Herbert Litvin in memory of his wife, Sharon E. Litvin. David Phillips in memory of his wife, Vivian Phillips. Ruth Reiter in memory of her father, Joseph Koplin, her brother Irving Koplin and Stanley Levitt. Robert Silberman in memory of his mother, Sally Silberman.

Refuah Sh’lma (A Full and Complete Healing) To all who were sick or hospitalized, we wish a return to good health.

In memoriam May God in His Kindness Grant Comfort and Solace to the Mourners

Phoebe Altman David Denenberg

Joe Grollman Norm Seidel

Andrew Shaw Jack Stein

Todah Rabah

Thank you to Pam Taylor and Paul Strikwerda for sponsoring the Kiddush on November 8th.

Mazel Tov to Lisa Blumenthal, daughter of Neil and Shelley Blumenthal for passing her New York State and New Jersey Bar Exam.

Join us for a special Kiddush on Saturday, December 6th for Sally and Dexter Neadle from their friends at Bnai Abraham. Sally and Dexter will be relocating and

we want to wish them all the best.

Kiddush is a perfect way to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary, and it allows you the opportunity to celebrate with our community. To sponsor a Kiddush for $36, please contact the synagogue office.

Do you have a celebration we should know about? Email office@bnaiabraham.org

Arnold Goldberg – Brother of Miriam Cassel Mary Stein – Wife of Jack Stein

Sisterhood News

It’s a New Year -- Be Part of Sisterhood

Join an extraordinary group of women to support the synagogue and have fun while doing it.

It’s the New Year – Send in your annual dues -- just $20

(Make check payable to Bnai Abraham Sisterhood and send to the office.)

Sisterhood members will be calling all the women in our congregation with the goal of making every

member feel part of our Jewish community.

Mitzvah Committee Let’s reach out to our members in times of

consolation or illness, celebrate happy events, and welcome new members. Let’s especially reach

out to Jewish residents (in and out of our congregation) at local facilities.

We can make a difference.

Contact Elaine Morrow with any questions or to get involved.

Call 484-515-3475 or email emorrow2542@gmail.com

The Ritual Corner For December Submitted by Irwin Lewis

No Ritual Corner this month.

General Announcements

Please notify Bnai Abraham Office in

writing if you move, if there is a marriage, children, family member entering a nursing home, or change in membership status. We do need to keep your records up to date.

Thank you.

MEN'S CLUB TOPICS FOR 2014

WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SPEAKERS! TOPIC NEED NOT BE JEWISH-RELATED AND CAN BE VERY

INFORMAL. PROFESSIONALS ARE WELCOME WITH EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION. PLEASE NO SOLICITATIONS.

CAMPAIGN FOR NEW MEMBERS - HELP WANTED!

We are asking every member of our congregation to help us locate prospective new members. They may be your neighbors, friends, vet, or whoever. Please relay the name and any pertinent information to Elaine Morrow, or the office staff at Bnai Abraham Synagogue.

AL’S CLEANERS - FUNDRAISER FOR BAS!

Bnai Abraham has been signed up at Al’s Cleaners, 1132 Northampton Street, to enable the synagogue to collect 10% of all sales of dry cleaning and laundry services that our congregants spend there. It’s easy. Just mention that you are a member of Bnai Abraham Synagogue, and they will credit the synagogue and send the proceeds periodically. Al’s is only about seven blocks from the synagogue, has very convenient hours, and does excellent work.

MOVING

Please notify the Bnai Abraham Synagogue office of any address changes to enable us to avoid charges for returned and undeliverable mail and to insure that you receive all mail being sent to you from the synagogue.

General announcements continued.......

SHOPPING AT AMAZON…A FUNDRAISER FOR BNAI ABRAHAM!

Click on the Amazon search link on the “Donations” page on the BAS website, and for any purchases made during your visit on Amazon.com, Amazon will contribute 4% to 15% of the purchase price to Bnai Abraham!

How it works:

Navigate to the BAS Donations webpage at http://www.bnaiabraham.org/donations.html and type any item keyword in the Amazon search box, and you will be transferred to Amazon.com. (You must use this link or purchases will not be traced to BAS). If you place items in your shopping cart and complete a purchase during your visit, Amazon will pay us a portion of the purchase price (not including shipping), that portion to range from 4% to 15% depending on the item category.

Rates for categories are posted on our website.

We encourage all of our members to shop on Amazon.com – but remember to only access Amazon.com through the BAS link at the below url or we will not get the purchase credit:

http://www.bnaiabraham.org/donations.html

Thank you for your continued support of BAS and HAPPY SHOPPING!

DECEMBER WISH 2014

General announcements continued.......

DECEMBER WISH LIST, PAGE 2

General announcements continued.......

Tree of Life

Permanently commemorate your simcha or celebrate a person!

The “Tree of Life” sculpture is on display in the BAS Main lobby known as Founders Hall.

It is used to honor and remember special events such as:

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs

Birthdays

Anniversaries

Memorials

Engagements

Namings

Weddings

and any other special milestone or celebration!

Leaf: $140 Apple: $800

Or memorialize your loved one:

Stone at base of tree: $1,100

Dedicate a memorial plaque to be located on the

walls of the Sanctuary: $300

To honor your friends on the Walk of Life: $350

Lothar Gumberich, Chairman: 610-253-5263 BAS office: 610-258-5343

Jewish Family Service is committed to alleviating hunger in our community. Please join us in our efforts to accomplish this.

Thank you to everyone who has so generously contributed to our food pantry with non-perishable items or financial support. We are supported in the Lehigh Valley by Second Harvest, as well as by the contributions of food drives and individuals. We are looking to expand into the entire Lehigh Valley to our Jewish community, and we ask for your support.

If you have non-perishable items to donate, please either drop them at JFS or call and we will pick them up. Financial donations can be sent directly to JFS.

In our outreach, we need everyone to spread the word. If you know someone, either affiliated or not, who could benefit from any JFS service, tell them about us and have them call. JFS maintains confidentiality and professionalism. We will deliver emergency food packages or supplemental food boxes anywhere in the Lehigh Valley. In addition to providing food, our Benefits Checkup Program (BCU) is designed to assist low-income persons of retirement age and younger adults with disabilities to find and apply for federal, state and local benefits. JFS seeks to help individuals and families live healthier, more stable lives by providing professional counseling, education and community programs.

JFS would love to assist you in scheduling a food drive or creating a project that can help benefit persons in need. Please call JFS at (610) 821-8722 or go on our website for further information.

Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley

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