CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL “A Family of Families” May 2017 Friday, May 5 Shabbat Service @ 6:30 pm Saturday, May 6 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Friday, May 12 Shabbat Service @ 6:30 pm Saturday, May 13 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Friday, May 19 Shabbat Service @ 6:30 pm *with Dinner to follow Saturday, May 20 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Friday, May 26 Shabbat Service @ 6:30 pm Saturday, May 27 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am Friday, June 2 Shabbat Service @ 7:30 pm Saturday, June 3 Shabbat Service @ 10:00 am Bat Mitzvah of Mira Emanuel CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES >> Torah Study Saturdays @ 11:00am Please come and join us Bat Mitzvah of Mira Francesca Emanuel Mira will participate in the Friday evening services on June 2nd at 7:30 p.m. and will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, June 3rd at 10:00 a.m. Mira Francesca Emanuel is the daughter of Rabbi Ilan Emanuel and Randi Froug Emanuel. She is the granddaughter of Phyllis and Ronald Froug and Rabbi Charles and Peduth Emanuel. Also part of the family are Mira’s two Westhighland Terriers, Bandit and Indiana Jones. Mira is a 7 th grade student at Kaffie Middle School, where she has been on the A-B Honor Roll for the last two years. Mira has traveled extensively, visiting England, France, and Portugal, and she always attends Green Family Camp in the summer. She loves swimming and enjoys surfing on Texas’ wonderful beaches. In addition, she is passionate in her love of all dogs, especially those who need rescue. Mira is also an avid reader of fantasy, science fiction, and comic books. Because of her love of reading, Mira will be collecting children’s books to donate to needy children through Half Price Books’ donation program. Please help Mira share her love of reading with other children by placing your lightly- used children’s books into the designated bin in CBI’s lobby. Mira will participate in Shabbat services Friday night, June 2, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. She will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday June 3, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Please join the Emanuel family and share in the joy of this occasion with an Oneg Shabbat on Friday evening and a reception following Shabbat services on Saturday morning.
Transcript
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL
“A Family of Families”
May 2017
Friday, May 5 Shabbat Service @ 6:30 pm
Saturday, May 6 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am
Friday, May 12 Shabbat Service @ 6:30 pm
Saturday, May 13 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am
Friday, May 19 Shabbat Service @ 6:30 pm *with Dinner to follow Saturday, May 20 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am
Friday, May 26 Shabbat Service @ 6:30 pm
Saturday, May 27 Shabbat Service @ 9:00 am
Friday, June 2 Shabbat Service @ 7:30 pm Saturday, June 3 Shabbat Service @ 10:00 am Bat Mitzvah of Mira Emanuel
CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS SERVICES >>
Torah Study Saturdays @ 11:00am
Please come and join us
Bat Mitzvah of
Mira Francesca Emanuel Mira will participate in the Friday evening services
on June 2nd at 7:30 p.m.
and will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, June 3rd at 10:00 a.m.
Mira Francesca Emanuel is the daughter of Rabbi Ilan Emanuel and Randi Froug Emanuel. She is the granddaughter of Phyllis and Ronald Froug and Rabbi Charles and Peduth Emanuel. Also part of the family are Mira’s two Westhighland Terriers, Bandit and Indiana Jones. Mira is a 7th grade student at Kaffie Middle School, where she has been on the A-B Honor Roll for the last two years. Mira has traveled extensively, visiting
England, France, and Portugal, and she always attends Green Family Camp in the summer. She loves swimming and enjoys surfing on Texas’ wonderful beaches. In addition, she is passionate in her love of all dogs, especially those who need rescue. Mira is also an avid reader of fantasy, science fiction, and comic books. Because of her love of reading, Mira will be collecting children’s books to donate to needy children through Half Price Books’ donation program. Please help Mira share her love of reading with other children by placing your lightly-used children’s books into the designated bin in CBI’s lobby. Mira will participate in Shabbat services Friday night, June 2, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. She will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday June 3, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Please join the Emanuel family and share in the joy of this occasion with an Oneg Shabbat on Friday evening and a reception following Shabbat services on Saturday morning.
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Meredith Ryan, Religious School Director Leslie Green, Shabbat Dinner Coordinator
CBI Executive Board President Chris Adler
First Vice President George Kopf
Second Vice President Richard Hausman
Secretary Leslie Levy
Treasurer Greg Marks
Past President Suzy Hilliard
Sisterhood Representative Jerri Osberg
Adult Education Chair David Jacobs
Cemetery Chairs Robert Adler
Carl Kuehn,
Gary Blum
Ritual Committee Chairs Andrew Sheinberg Jim Gold
Membership Committee Chair Suzy Hilliard
Social Action Committee Chair Linda Snider
Dues Committee Chairs Ann Engel
Jim Gold
Building Chair Bill Adams
Grounds Chair Rikki Schmitchel
Fine Arts Chair Laurie Mintz
Committee Chairs
I am a Jew Because…... There is a beautiful poem in the Reform prayerbook that states beautifully what it means to be a Jew. The poem, written by Edmond Fleg in 1927, called “Why I am a Jew” declares: “I am a Jew because the faith of Israel demands no abdication of my mind. I am a Jew because the faith of Israel asks every possible sacrifice
of my soul. I am a Jew because in all places where there are tears and suffering the Jew weeps. I am a Jew because in every age when the cry of despair is heard the Jew hopes. I am a Jew because the message of Israel is the most ancient and the most modern. I am a Jew because Israel's promise is a universal promise. I am a Jew because for Israel the world is not finished; humanity will complete it. I am a Jew because for Israel humanity is not yet fully created; humanity is creating it. I am a Jew because Israel places humanity and its unity above nations and above Israel itself. I am a Jew because above humanity, image of the divine unity, Israel places the unity which is divine.” These statements weave together both ancient and modern aspects of Jewish tradition to paint a picture of Jewish meaning and purpose that resonates on many levels and is still as relevant today as it was when it was written. A few ideas stand out in particular: I am a Jew because the message of Israel is the most ancient and the most modern - Judaism is, I would argue, the deepest and most comprehensive body of spiritual and ethical wisdom ever devised. Over the course of more than three thousand years our ancestors struggled with the intricacies of human existence and the mysteries of the divine through prayer, study and ritual. It is an incomparable source of wisdom and guidance on how to live a life of meaning and purpose that is grounded in millennia of tradition and yet continues to be creative and dynamic in adapting to the realities of our modern world. I am a Jew because in every age when the cry of despair is heard the Jew hopes - Despite so much tragedy in our history we have always maintained a sense of hope, a commitment not just to be hopeful for ourselves but to be a light unto the nations. As a people we are an example to all people and individuals of how to keep hope alive in dark times, to maintain hope despite all that may be arrayed against us and thus inspire all to maintain a sense of purpose no matter the challenges we face. I am a Jew because above humanity, image of the divine unity, Israel places the unity which is divine. I am a Jew because for Israel the world is not finished; humanity will complete it – Our modern world can often be bereft of a sense of purpose and meaning. That is what so many yearn for, so many continue to search for, and so few find. Judaism reminds us that our existence is not selfish or bereft of meaning. There is meaning all around us, in every act we take, every blade of grass, every smile, and the more we learn of our tradition the more we will be open to that reality and that purpose. And for so many, searching for meaning, Judaism clearly and unequivocally gives an ultimate purpose for us all – to recognize the brokenness of the world and to be partners with G-d in the task of fixing it one act at a time. Rabbi Ilan Emanuel
RABBI’S MESSAGE
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Friends, what a busy end of year we face. Busy, but full of interesting things for us to think about, participate in, and look forward to doing. Our calendar is full of activities and I hope each of you will participate in as many activities as you can.
Looking backward and forward….this past month we cleaned up Hebrew Rest with a lot of help from 45 of you. Just this week, the new fence is being installed. It is a beautiful cemetery and looks fresh, clean, neat, and a place we can be proud to call ours. Thanks to each of you who turned out to offer your time, your donations, and give some “sweat equity” to this project. Our Second Seder was very well attended and greatly enjoyed by 110 congregants and guests. Rabbi Emanuel did an excellent job and had participation from all the attendees, especially the large number of children that attended. Food was delicious, and many thanks to so many of you who prepared our dinner.
We have a NEW MEMBER SHABBAT AND FAMILY DINNER coming up on Friday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. I look forward to welcoming 20+ new member families to our Congregation from the past months. We are so happy to welcome all our new members and hope you will plan to join us for dinner and Shabbat Services, so we can meet and formally welcome new members to Congregation Beth Israel.
Mark your calendars for the Musical Program and reception honoring the memory of Andy Moore on Sunday, May 21, at 3:30 p.m. This will be a beautiful tribute to our great friend and High Holiday choir member. Our Temple has completed our new Board for the coming year. We have all positions filled with very capable people who step forward to lead our Temple. Our congregational meeting and election of officers will be held soon, so watch for the date and make plans to attend.
Sisterhood has a full board. They have plans for the entire year, plus leadership in place for a successful FOOD FEST, and other designated programs for our Temple. We are so lucky to have dedicated people who are willing to volunteer and work in ALL areas. We’re looking forward to summer camp for our students. If you’re interested in a scholarship for your child (children), please get an application in to Michael Hiatt and committee asap….
Rabbi Roseman is presenting an Adult Lecture Series….entitled ISSUES FROM OUR PRAYERS. All too often we repeat the words of the prayer book without really thinking about or understanding the meaning. The Sessions are on Sunday mornings, April 23, April 30, and May 7 at 10:30 a.m. at the Temple. I promise you will find these sessions informative and enjoyable. Please come and bring guests. Oh yes, coffee and social time begins at 10 a.m.
Hope to see you all soon. Make it a point to COME TO SHABBAT SERVICES. We need you and your participation in our events. Sincerely, Chris Adler, President Congregation Beth Israel
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
ONE LAST CHANCE…….. RABBI ROSEMAN’S ADULT LECTURE SERIES
SUNDAY, MAY 7, 10:30 AM On Sunday morning at 10:30, May 7, Rabbi Roseman will conclude his Spring adult educa on series. This week, he will focus his remarks on the history and meaning of four familiar songs: L’cha Dodi, Shalom Aleichem, Ein Keloheinu and Adon Olam. Through the magic of Youtube and a lot of coaching from his grandsons, he and the computer will be able to share a variety of versions of these synagogual melodies. If you think you know how to sing any one of them, you’ll be surprised to learn that not every Jew in the world agrees with you. (But then, being Jewish, what would we be without a slight disagreement?) Rabbi Roseman will transport you from seventeenth‐century Venice to nineteenth‐century Berlin, and then to modern café society in Israel and the beaches of southern California. Music and a travelogue! What more could you ask for?
So join us on the 7th of May and drum your fingers to some fascina ng rhythms. Guests are, as always, welcome.
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April has been a very busy month! The Hebrew Rest Cemetery clean-up was a great success and we are grateful to all the volunteers who chose to participate. We hope that you all enjoyed your Passover Seders at home and we are sure the kids had a great time at our Annual Sunday School Chocolate Seder.
May will be our last month for Religious School for this school year. Please take a moment to thank your teachers as without their help, it would not be possible to offer our children a regular religious education.
We have many activities planned this month, so pay close attention to the dates and times below. Our last event for the school year will be a pool party at the JCC. Please consider bringing fruit, drinks or dessert to share. We will provide pizza.
Shalom, Meredith & Manuela
Corpus Christi Community Religious School Meredith Ryan & Manuela Sela, Directors
Religious School Dates:
May 7: No Regular Religious School Field Trip to Holocaust Museum in Houston -Leaving CBI at 9:00am May 14: No Religious School – Mother’s Day May 19: Student Led Shabbat – 6:30pm May 20: No Religious School Pool Party Saturday, May 20 at 2.30 pm at the JCC
Dear parents, On Sunday, May 7th we are going on a field trip to the Holocaust museum in Houston. We are leaving by bus (CBI) at 9:00 am and we are back approximately at 8:00 pm
A $15.00 donation will be appreciated to cover the gas cost and the bus we will arrange. Please RSVP and let us know if your child is using the bus or if you use your own transportation Please provide lunch for your child, we are making arrangements for dinner for the students. The Holocaust Museum states that there exhibition is designed for the age 11 and up. It might be emotional for younger children. If your child (10yrs or younger) is coming to our field trip we require the parent to join the child. Please RSVP by Sunday April 30th to Greg Marks or Manuela Sela We are looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday, May 7th. Greg Marks: 954–263-0848 [email protected] Manuela Sela: 361- 446-4321 [email protected]
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SPRING FEST at URJ Greene Family Camp
What be er way to spend a beau ful spring weekend that by a ending SPRING FEST at URJ Greene Family Camp! This year, Spring Fest was expanded to include par cipants from 6‐12 grade, and seven of our kids had a wonderful me playing, praying and hanging out with other Jewish kids from all over Tex‐as and Oklahoma! Next year, even more of our kids can par cipate because Fall Camp will include 2‐5 graders as well as 6‐8 and 9‐12. Each group will have its own programming but the whole camp will gather for meals and Shabbat.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot - Revealing Revelation
Tuesday, May 30th 2017 7:15 pm - Shavuot Service with Yizkor 8 pm - Study on Revelation
Can we know what G-d wants of us? If so how do we know what that is and how to make this real in our lives? At the heart of most religions is the idea that the divine will is revealed to humanity through the texts and traditions of the faith and Judaism is no exception. On Shavuot, when we traditionally celebrate the revelation at Sinai, join Rabbi Ilan and Rabbi Charles Emanuel to explore how Jewish thought treats the idea of revelation and what we can learn from these ideas for our lives today.
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The CBI Men's Group is planning a family night of food and baseball on
Saturday evening, May 13 @ 6 p.m.
This year we are stepping up to the plate at Brewster Street Ice House at 6 p.m. for a no‐host dinner followed by the Hook's game against the Midland
Rockhounds (Oakland A's affiliate) at 7 p.m.
This has been a fun, well a ended event for the past two years and this year we thought we would give everyone the chance to choose their dinners and sit
down with one another in the fun atmosphere at Brewsters.
Tickets are $12 each
Make reserva ons with Debbie Bus llo in the CBI office or by e‐mailing George Kopf at [email protected].
Tickets will be distributed at dinner.
You can park by Brewsters or in the Hooks lot across the street. Brewsters does not want you to bring your own food or beverages, but you are welcome to bring
deserts into Brewsters if you care for a sweet.
Finally, we'll try to begin by 6:00 but feel free to gather earlier if you want to relax and socialize.
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What a fabulous Second Night Passover Seder! The fabulous duo of Linda Snider and Sue Williams provided a delicious meal for 106 (91 adults and 15 children) congregants and friends! We can’t thank Linda and Sue enough for their hard work and preparations. We also must thank the 20 volunteers that helped with food preparation and table setting. Also, a special thank you to Bill and Robin Adams for the excellent chicken soup and Phyllis Roseman for the amazing Matzoh Ball’s. The Seder, hosted by Rabbi Emanuel, was wonderful and engaging. He also made it so much fun for the great group of children that attended, with a reading from the Hogwarts Haggadah and all the fun Passover and Judaism Trivia questions. Thank you Rabbi!! Next month you will be hearing from our new Sisterhood President’s, Manuela Sela and Odelia Rios! Thank you to the CBI Sisterhood for providing me the opportunity to serve you as your President the last two years. It has truly been a Mitzvah!! Jerri Osberg CBI Sisterhood President
CBI Sisterhood News
BREAKING NEWS - ELIJAH WAS A NO-SHOW
Now that I have your a en on, I wish to thank all volunteers involved with the Seder, who made this year another success. I’m talking: soup and matzoh‐ball makers, chicken de‐boners, meatball, charoses , and horseradish makers, table se ers, and a registrar. I’m naming names and apologizing in advance if I accidentally omit someone‐‐‐‐Robin and Bill, Lisa, Venita, Dan, Eva, Carla, Odelia, Frank, Manulela, Mike T, Mike H, Phyllis, Rabbi R, and Rabbi E. Phyllis con nues to be a resource as a cook and finds necessary ingredients we need, and Debbie and Linda worked on reserva ons, announcements room set‐up and everything else. I also appreciate the exper se of our Caterer Tommie and her crew. Two names deserve extra recogni on this year. Sue because she was co‐coordinator for every aspect of this Seder and Lynn because she took off work and made herself available whenever needed. By the way‐ I did not make up the headline. This was an actual statement made by one of our younger a endees, as he returned from the door to see if Elijah was there. One hundred and five a ended the Seder this year and I know it will con nue to grow. You are encouraged to come and be a part of it next year. Linda Snider‐Seder Coordinator
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Shalom Everyone!!! For all who attended our April Family Shabbat Dinner and welcomed the newcomers to our “family of families,” thank you so much! Of course, no dinner is complete without thanking everyone who helped me in the kitchen as well!
It's hard to believe school will be ending in 6 weeks and our last Family Shabbat Dinner of the season will be Friday, May 19th at 6:30 pm.
I have thoroughly enjoyed cooking for all of you during this programming year and glad y'all welcomed some of my new recipes too! Like most Jewish women, it warms my heart that you enjoy my food and keep coming back for more! A special thank you to Linda Bustillo, Susie, Sue, Venita, Odelia, Love, and Linda Snyder for helping me in and out of the kitchen! You have made my job a little easier and lots of fun! I hope you will all continue to attend our Family Shabbat Dinners when they resume again in August/September.
Until we break bread together again, wishing everyone the best summer ever! Be safe, relax, and make new memories! Leslie Green Family Shabbat Dinner Coordinator Phone: 804.334.5662 Email: [email protected]
Family Shabbat Dinner
SAVE THE DATE
Congregational Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 28th
Sabbath of May 26th *Elaine Baum *Martell Benjamin *Zingel Birnberg *Edna Brodkey *Elaine Buam *Riwka Feld *Martha Gold *Ben Greenberg
*Isaac Greenberg Carolyn Henton *Ethel Holtzman *Gertrude Hurwitz Sadie Korn Albert Lehrman *Esther Mendlowitz *Himan Pelofsky *Sanders Posner *Jeanette Reiter *Isadore Schaffer Harry Solomon *Sylvan Weil
Sabbath of June 2nd *Morris Bein Abraham Feldbrand Bayla Feldbrand *Alice Frohlinger *Elje Frohlinger Edward Goldsmith *William Greenberg Frances Heller *Shirley Korn *Elizabeth Kuehn Reva Lipovitch *Ben Pashkoff *Ruth Shapiro *Harry Sheinberg Harold Sussman *Marcel Zebaida *Sidney Zeidman
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The Congregation thanks you for the following contributions
Don’t forget . You can remember a friend or relative with a mini-mum contribution of $5.00 to one of our many funds. These funds support camp scholarships, education, cemeteries, fine arts, library, & building improvements, to name a few. An acknowl-edgement card will be sent to the honored person or family. Please make checks payable to CBI and specify the fund. Call the CBI office with any questions.
Yahrzeit Donations
In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
Harry Samuels Barbara Samuels
Dr. Bernard Grossman Jill Grossman
Sarah Goldstein Florence Levinson
Reba Prinsky
Dennis Haas Barbara & David May
Arthur Haas
Cemetery Endowment Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
Malvina Newman Edith Mason
Otto Heffler Rochelle Adelstein
Hebrew Rest Cemetery Fund
Donation----------------------------------------------------- From
Ann & David Engel
Susser Family Foundation
General Fund Recovery of-------------------------------------------------- From
Jan Rubin Barbara Samuels Horner
Iris Lehrman Rosalyn & Maury Wolfson
Pam Zane
Donation----------------------------------------------------- From
Jackie Adelmann
Susie & Myron Grossman
Offenberg Library Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
Abe Blum Lois & Gary Blum
Pearl Blum
JoAnn White
Mitzvah Fund In Honor of-------------------------------------------------- From
Mitzvah Committee for all you do. Ruth & Hank Josephs
In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
JoAnn White Robin & Bill Adams
Pearlie Leshin Florence Levinson
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund In Memory of------------------------------------------------ From
Edy Laser Daniel Laser
Family Shabbat Dinner Friday, May 19th.
Services begin at 6:30 pm with dinner to follow.
Please don't forget to bring a dessert to share too!
Tikkun Leil Shavuot with Yizkor- Revealing Revelation
Tuesday, May 30th 2017 7:15 pm - Shavuot Service with Yizkor 8 pm - Study on Revelation
Can we know what G-d wants of us? If so how do we know what that is and how to make this real in our lives? At the heart of most religions is the idea that the divine will is revealed to humanity through the texts and traditions of the faith and Judaism is no exception. On Shavuot, when we traditionally celebrate the revelation at Sinai, join Rabbi Ilan and Rabbi Charles Emanuel to explore how Jewish thought treats the idea of revelation and what we can learn from these ideas for our lives today.
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL 4402 SARATOGA CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78413
CBI Sisterhood Gift Shop
announces its new
*Judaica Exchange *
Donate your previously loved and gently used Judaica, get a tax donation receipt, then come to the Gift Shop to browse and buy!
To schedule alternate appointment times, please call the
