CONGREGATION P’NAI TIKVAH

Kol Kiruv April 2015 Nisan-Iyar Vol. 21—No. 10

Clergy and Staff

Rabbi: Yocheved Mintz

Cantor: Marla Goldberg

Accompanist: Timothy Cooper

Newsletter: Nancey Eason

Educator: Rabbi Mintz , Cantor Marla

Goldberg

Bookkeeper: Lynn Pisetzner

Office Administrator: Nancey Eason

info@pnaitikvahlv.org

www.facebook.com/pnaitikvahlv

www.twitter.com/pnaitikvahlv

Because of Passover, there will be no Shabbat service April 3rd or

Torah Study April 4th. Congregation P’nai Tikvah will worship

on Shabbat, April 17th at Kraft-Sussman Chapel, in the Bank of

Nevada Business Park at 3975 S. Durango, Suite 104, in Las Ve-

gas. Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv services will begin at 7:30 PM.

Tot Shabbat will be held at 6:30 p.m. Torah Study will take place

at 10:00 AM on April 18h at Rabbi Mintz’s home. A bagels and

lox brunch is served. Please RSVP by emailing in-

fo@pnaitikvahlv.org.

Happenings 1

Rabbi's Message 2-4

Cantor’s Notes 5-6

Community Seder 7

Brunch with Brilliants 8

May 30, 2015 Gala 9

CPT Book Club 10

Sabrina Linker’s Bat Mitzvah 11

Jewlicious 12-13

Kidz Korner 14

Jewish Programming on PBS 15

CPT Outreach 16

Oneg Calendar 17

Birthdays and Anniversaries 18

Women’s Rosh Chodesh 19

Yom HaShoah at CNT 20

Yahrzeits 21

Community Happenings 22-25

Community Rewards Programs 26

Nid’vei Leiv—From the Heart 27

Contribution Form 28

Calendar at a Glance 29

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Rabbi’s Message to the Congregation

Dear Chevreh:

Once a Soviet citizen went to vote. He was given a sealed en-

velope and told to put it in the ballot box. "Could I possibly

see for whom I am voting?" he asked timidly.

"Of course not!" the official answered indignantly, “In the

Soviet Union, we respect the secrecy of the ballot!”

In Israel, elections are also secret, so, as I write this, a week before the Israeli

elections, I certainly have no idea as to who will be the next Prime Minister of Is-

rael; nor, frankly, could I tell you for whom I would vote, if I were an Israeli. Af-

terall, as I write this, it is still Adar, and everything is topsy-turvy...and we respect

the secrecy of the ballot!

So I’ve gotten away with one more joke, because this is Adar; but by the time you

read this, we will be in the month of Nisan, and looking forward to Passover. Will

the joy we were encouraged to increase in Adar remain in Nisan?

Let me share an old story that my mother used to tell me. (I was reminded of the

story this week by my colleague, Rabbi Michael Simon, a great storyteller.)

Here’s the tale: Once there was a king who was regarded by all --especially by

himself-- as being very wise. As a lark, he challenged his subjects to see if they

could come up with a question to which he would not know the answer.

But one man did step up and poised a question that, indeed, stumped the king.

His question was: “What could make happy people stop to reflect on their joy,

while also being able to make sad people happy?”

Think about it. Re-read the question…and don’t feel bad if you’re stumped as

well, after all, the wise king couldn’t answer it either.

So the king, not wanting to admit defeat, immediately sent out his most trusted

advisors to scour the kingdom to see if anyone could come up with an answer to

the query.

After traveling for several weeks to no avail, the advisors came to a small, remote

village, and, although the villagers felt they couldn’t possibly figure out the an-

swer, they directed the advisors that there was a very wise woman in that village

who very well might know the answer.

Sure enough, they found the woman working at a stall in the market place and

asked her the question. “What could make happy people stop to reflect on their

joy, while also being able to make sad people happy?”

At first, the woman was stone silent. She didn’t respond. But just as the advisors

were getting up to leave, giving up all hopes of ever finding the answer to the co-

nundrum, the woman turned away and disappeared behind the blankets and cur-

tains of the market stall. Within moments she returned, holding a small box, no

larger than the palm of her hand. The advisors gathered ‘round the woman and

looked at the box. Each one, one by one, lifted the lid, looked inside, and nodded

that this was exactly what they had been seeking---the answer to the question.

They rushed back to the palace with the box and announced to the king that they

had found the answer to the question, and that the answer was right there in the

box!

The king looked quizzically at the box and laughed, saying: “How could the an-

swer be in that small box?!”

His advisors insisted that, indeed, the answer was in the box, so he took the box,

and opened the lid. He looked inside, smiled, closed the box, and thanked his ad-

visors for finding the answer to the question.

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Have you guessed what was inside the box? Any ideas?

O.K., I’ll tell you. It was a simple bracelet….not one of diamonds or rubies, not

one particularly worth much money. But it did have an inscription around the out-

side that had three Hebrew words, saying: “Gam zeh ya-avor,” which means

“this, too, shall pass.”

Think about it. It really does answer the question, and it also has to do with the

hub-bub about the Israeli elections (and, I dare say, about our pending elections),

and with what it really means to be joyful . It also has to do with our moments of

sadness and depression. “This, too, shall pass.”

As much as we want to savor our moments of joy, we know, realistically, that they

a fleeting; and as much as we abhor the inevitable moments of pain and sadness in

our lives, we need to remember that they, too, will pass.

My mother (may her memory be for a blessing) was always quoting aphorisms,

and, one of her favorites was: “Gam zeh ya-avor,” this, too shall pass. I must ad-

mit that that saying has been with me all my life, and, like so much of what my

mother taught me, has proved to be true.

May this new month of Nisan be one of peace and happiness for us here, in Israel,

and throughout the world. “L’shanah ha-baah bi-Yerushalayim.” Next year in Je-

rusalem.*

L’Shalom,

Rabbi Yocheved Mintz

*Stay tuned for a very exciting announcement regarding a Community Trip to Is-

rael in 2016!

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Cantor’s Notes

A Note From the Cantor.

In this month, the month of Nisan, we celebrate Passover and commemo-

rate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day. In Las Vegas we observe Yom

HaShoah in prayer and song and we honor those survivors who are still with us.

Two songs that are often sung come from the poems of a great woman, Hanah

Szenes (Hanah Senesh). Composers have taken her words and created the songs

Eli, Eli and Ashrei Hagafrur. Both are beautiful, both have great meaning.

Hanah was born in 1921 in Hungary to assimilated Jewish parents. Her fa-

ther, who died when she was 6, was a journalist. After his death she lived with

her mother and brother. Hanah attended a private Protestant School for girls that

also accepted Jews. The tuition for Jews at the school was triple the regular tui-

tion, but Hanah’s mother was able to pay only double because Hanah was consid-

ered “gifted”.

While not particularly religious, Hanah’s family became Zionists as they saw the

situation for Jews in Europe was becoming strained. Hanah joined Maccabea, the

Hungarian Zionist Youth organization.

After graduating in 1939 she emigrated to what was then the British Mandate of

Palestine and began studying at the Girls' Agricultural School at Nahalal. In the

early 1940’s, she joined the Haganah, the paramilitary group that became the

foundation of the Israel Defense Forces. Not long after, she became a paratrooper

for the British Special Operations Executive (SOE).

On March 14, 1944, she and colleagues parachuted into Yugoslavia and joined a

partisan group. At the Hungarian border, she and her companions were arrested by

Hungarian soldiers who found her British military transmitter, used to communi-

cate with the SOE and other partisans. Hannah was taken to a prison where the

guards wanted to know the code for her transmitter so they could find out who the

parachutists were and trap others. Transferred to a Budapest prison, Hanah was

interrogated and cruelly tortured, but she only revealed her name and refused to

provide the transmitter code, even when her mother was also arrested.

While in prison, Hanah would sing to keep the spirits up of herself and fel-

low prisoners. Even though she was tortured, she never gave up her mission, and

never gave the guard the ‘code’.

She was tried for treason on October 28, 1944, and executed on November 7,

1944 by a German firing squad. Her diary was found in her cell filled with her

thoughts and poems. It included these lines:

One - two - three... eight feet long

Two strides across, the rest is dark...

Life is a fleeting question mark

One - two - three... maybe another week.

Or the next month may still find me here,

But death, I feel is very near.

I could have been 23 next July

I gambled on what mattered most,

The dice were cast. I lost.

Eli, Eli, music by David Zahavi comes from a longer poem Hanah wrote

called Halikha LeKesariya (A Walk to Caesarea). Lawrence Avery composed the

music to Ashrei Hagafrur (Blessed is the Match).

Hanah was a brave young woman, who gave a legacy of beautiful words

that will continue to give us hope, light and peace.

L’Shalom,

Cantor Marla Goldberg

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May 30, 2015

10 year

Celebration

Honoring

Rabbi

Yocheved

Mintz

Spiritual Leader

of

Congregation

P’nai Tikvah

Buy Your Tickets

Today!

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WHO: P’nai Tikvah Book Group 5775 is any CPT member

WHEN: April 30 @ 6:45 PM, The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

WHERE: Home of Jane Kusel 702-407-5077 kuseld@yahoo.com

WHAT: An evening translated into a journeys of the senses through shared dissections of the readings below. *Limited to 12 voices-please RSVP in a timely fashion

Sage Singer is a baker. She works through the

night, preparing the day’s breads and pastries,

trying to escape a reality of loneliness, bad mem-

ories, and the shadow of her mother’s death.

When Josef Weber, an elderly man in Sage’s

grief support group, begins stopping by the bak-

ery, they strike up an unlikely friendship. De-

spite their differences, they see in each other the

hidden scars that others can’t.

Everything changes on the day that Josef con-

fesses a long-buried and shame-ful secret and

asks Sage for an extraordinary favor. If she says

yes, she faces not only moral repercussions, but

potentially legal ones as well. With the integrity

of the closest friend she’s ever had clouded,

Sage begins to question the assumptions and ex-

pectations she’s made about her life and her fam-

ily. In this searingly honest novel, Jodi Picoult

gracefully explores the lengths to which we will

go in order to keep the past from dictating the

future.

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Jewlicious Learners

Well, all year long, we have been studying a wonderful Hebrew story,

Dirah L’Haskir, a story about an “apartment” to rent. The cast of

characters include a very fat hen, a flighty cuckoo bird, a shiny black

cat, a nut-cracking squirrel, and Mr. Mouse, as residents of the apart-

ment house. When Mr. Mouse leaves the apartment, his neighbors put

the apartment up for rent. The story then retells how one after an-

other, an ant, a bunny, a pig, and a nightingale come, check out the

flat, and find something wrong---not with the apartment, but with the

other residents of the building. When a dove finally comes, we find

someone who finds goodness in all the neighbors and brings peace to

the building.

continued on page 13

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Our older children have spent months translating the story (and get-

ting skilled at learning how to use the dictionary). Our younger chil-

dren have become familiar with the characters and what they ask the

visitors. All our students understand the moral of the story, to look

for goodness in one another and not be mean to one another.

This month, along with getting ready for Passover, continuing to jour-

ney through the siddur, and adding to our reading skills, we will begin

preparing the story for video-filming, so we can present it as our cul-

minating presentation at services, June 5th. Please be sure to be with

us that Shabbat; it’ll be such a treat!

continued from page 12

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KIDZ KORNER for April

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JEWISH PROGRAMS OF INTEREST ON PBS

Through the generous support of an anonymous donor our Jewish Federation will

once again sponsor several Jewish interest programs on Vegas PBS throughout the

month of April. The program schedule includes:

· The Story of the Jews with Simon Schama

· Celebration of Pesach Through Music

· Death Camp Treblinka

· Escape from a Nazi Death Camp

· Great Performances: Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy

· Independent Lens: Little White Lie

· Jewish Journey: America

· Making Light in Terezin

· NOVA: The Bible’s Buried Secrets

· Shalom Sesame: It’s Passover, Grover!

These programs will be broadcast multiple times on Vegas PBS Channel 10; Vegas

PBS Cox Cable 110 and Vegas PBS Jackpot! Cox Cable 111. Please consult your

TV guide for broadcast dates and times of these programs.

The Membership/Outreach Committee is embarking on an effort to

let us get to know one another better. Each month they will be ask-

ing questions of a member and sharing their responses n the news-

letter.

This month they interviewed

Jacqueline Ackerman

Why Do You Love This Community?

I joined CPT nine years ago after getting tired of feeling anonymous

and left out in a large temple. I was drawn to the warmth and car-

ing of its members and Rabbi, its down to earth vibe and the ease

of getting involved. I love our twice a month Torah study and our

monthly Rosh Chodesh get-together, along with our Holiday cele-

brations. This is my extended family!

How Are You Involved in Congregation P’nai Tikvah?

I have served on the Board of Directors of CPT for many years and

have had the privilege of serving as Vice President for the last two

years. Most recently, I chaired the Barbara Holland Roast, which

provided much needed funds to support our programming and op-

erations.

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Our first and third Friday evening services create space for people to socialize, to talk over the ide-

as Rabbi Mintz has shared in her sermon, and to meet one another. Sponsoring the Oneg Shabbat

is a lovely way to share joy of Shabbat with the community.

Any reason is a good reason to sponsor an Oneg! Perhaps you are marking a special event (a

birth, baby-naming, engagement, wedding, anniversary, graduation, bar/bat mitzvah) or you want

to remember a loved one in a special way, or celebrate a return to health, a new job…or any rea-

son.

We welcome you to sign up to provide a simple buffet to be enjoyed by all. Feeding others is a

nourishing experience in so many ways!

Foods to consider: Easily served finger foods such as: cheese/crackers, hummus/pita, nuts, raw

veggies, cookies, wasabi peas, pretzels, chips, spreads/crackers, dried fruits, fresh fruit (cut up).

Judging quantities: Remember, the Oneg is just a nosh, not a

meal! We tend to average about 65 people at services.

Set up: We have access to the space at Kraft-Sussman starting at

about 1/2 hour before services. Two 6-foot tables will be set up for

the oneg.

April 17

Sponsored by Ken and Evelyn Clark

in honor of Carly’s Birthday

Catered by

May 1

Sponsored by Roz Tessler and Harriet Bernstein

in memory of Jerry Bernstein

Catered by

May 15

Sponsored and Catered by Sam Lieberman &

also by Phyllistan’s in honor of Stan’s 68th Birthday and their 43rd

Wedding Anniversary

June 5 Sponsored by Marian Baum in honor of 75th Birthday

Catered by

June 19 Sponsored by

Catered by Hariet Miller

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VOLUNTEERISM ABOUNDS

AT CPT

Homes are always needed for the var-

ious activities and meetings of our

congregation.

Offer a Personal prayer – If you’d like

to write your own, please do so. If you

would like to see it published in the

newsletter.

To have a “Chai Contributions”…to life!

sent out, please contact the office at 436-

4900, or so indicate on your Mitzvah enve-

lope. Mitzvah Funds and Tribute Card

funds are used to help maintain and grow

the vital programs and services of Congre-

gation P’nai Tikvah.

Jewlicious Learners

Classes continue on Monday after-

noons at the Rabbi’s home, from 4:15

to 6:00, January– June.

Registration continues to be open.

For $40.00 a prayer book can either be

purchased for personal use or be dedicated

to the congregation “In Memory” or “In

Honor of” and a card from CPT will be

sent to the family. The prayer book plate

will be placed on the inside cover of our

new Kol HaNeshamah siddur.

Happiness is a choice, a habit, a desire...

You are as young and successful,

as you think you are. Enjoy yourself.

Have fun. Omit things you will regret.

Imagine what you want to do next...

Eleni Rush-Giannopoulos 6-Apr

Gail Hansen 9-Apr

Kristen Jaeger 10-Apr

Myra Berknovits 10-Apr

Roz Tessler 13-Apr

Laurie Lytel 15-Apr

Sam Lieberman 16-Apr

Fern Kosh 23-Apr

Sabrina Linker 28-Apr

Kristen Jaeger & Tim Lockett 2-Apr

Dale & Vince Gardner 24-Apr

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Were you at the Women’s Spirituality Day? Did you see the

Mikveh Monologues? Was that amazing. How blessed are we

to belong to such an enriching and delightful Jewish commu-

nity. Please join us on April 19 at the home of Dale Gardner.

RSVP to Dale at cabinutsky@aol.com

Upcoming Rosh Chodesh Dates for 5775

Iyar April 19th Host: Dale Gardner

Sivan May 17th Host: Jennifer Cohen

Tammuz June 14th Host: Rabbi Yocheved Mintz

Keep a lookout for our Women’s Rosh Chodesh Retreat

In August 2015

Pictures from “The Real Women of the Bible”, 2014 Women's Rosh Chodesh Retreat

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Sorrow comes to all… Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You can not now realize that you will ever feel better...and yet… You are sure to be happy again

Abraham Lincoln Submitted by Phyllis Zuckerman

Memorial plaques are available; to honor the departed,

to inspire the living. to be remembered in the hearts of those we leave behind is, in a sense, to

live forever.

For further information, call the Synagogue office

at 702-436-4900

Irwin Berger -Remembered by Laura & Wendy Kraft Sussman

David Bernstein -Remembered by Harriet Bernstein

Sheldon Elliot -Remembered by Rachel Piekarsky

Edward Fox -Remembered by Marc Fox

Pearl Hewel -Remembered by Jackie Ackerman & Family

Don Kusel -Remembered by Jane Kusel

Jerry Lytel -Remembered by Laurie Lytel

Abraham Platt -Remembered by Zandra Bender

Gertrude Rose -Remembered by Stanley Rose

Lee Burger Shilepsky -Remembered by Ann Brandt

Helene Sussman -Remembered by Laura Sussman

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There are two important programs designed to help individuals and families in

need that are supported by the Jewish Federation and Jewish Family Service

Agency.

Jewish Free Loan Program The Jewish Free Loan Program (JFL) was established by the Jewish Federation

and administered by the Jewish Family Service Agency to assist members of our

Jewish community with short-term, no-interest loans of up to $2,500.

For more information about the Jewish Free Loan Program please contact Renea

Parr at the Jewish Family Service Agency (rparr@jfsalv.org) or 702-732-0304.

United Way Fund for Families Our Jewish Federation has a close working partnership with United Way and the

Marilyn & Tom Spiegel Fund for Families. The fund was established by the

Spiegel's to specifically address financial needs for families with children who

are struggling to make "ends meets" and who are committed to providing a

wholesome family environment for their children in spite of short-term financial

insecurity. To learn more about this program please contact Elliot Karp at El-

liot@jewishlasvegas.com or 702-732-0556.

You’ll start earning rewards for Congregation P’Nai Tikvah

right away on qualifying purchas-

es made using your Smith’s and

Vons rewards Card!

Smith's and Von's are committed to helping our communities

grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches

and other nonprofit organizations will earn millions of dollars

through these kinds of programs.

There is no cost to enroll, and enrollment will not affect your

fuel points or coupon discounts.

Here are the instructions for getting started. We will also

have a place for your to sign up at the Community Passover

Seder at the Blasco Event Wing of UNLV Foundation

Bldg. Bring your Smith's and Von's card numbers and we

will do the signing up for you.

OUR SMITH"S NPO NUMBER IS 61229.

TO USE THE SMITH’S COMMUNITY

REWARDS PROGRAM:

Register online at www.smithscommunityrewards.com

· Customers must have a registered Smith’s rewards card account to link to your organization.

· If you does not yet have a Smith’s rewards card, they are available at the customer service desk at any

Smith’s.

· Click on 'Create and Account' box

· Sign up for a Smith’s Rewards Account entering your email address and creating a password, by en-

tering zip code, clicking on favorite store, agreeing to the terms and conditions.

· A message will show up for you to check your email inbox and then click on the link within the body

of the email.

· Click on “My Account” and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.

· Click on Edit Smith’s Community Rewards information and input your Smith’s rewards card number.

· Update or confirm your information.

· Enter NPO number or name of organization, select organization from list and click on confirm.

· To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your

information page.

· Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your

Smith’s rewards card number.

· Members must swipe their registered Smith’s rewards card or use the phone number that is related to

their registered Smith’s rewards card when shopping

for each purchase to count.

TO USE THE VON'S ESCRIP

PROGRAM Click on this link: https://secure.escrip.com/supporter/

registration/index.jsp

Fill out the questionnaire.

If you do not know your Von's Reward Card Number

call: 1.877.723.3929 and they can assist you in retrieving that information.

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Nid’vei Leiv - Donations from the Heart

Rabbi Discretionary Fund

David Aris

Stanley & Sondra Rose

Adrianne Shaw Rubin

In blessed memory

In honor of Fred Halperin from Ellen Royer

In memory of Ethel Kuklin by Charlotte Kuklin

In memory of Louis Tessler from Harriet Bernstein

In memory of Louis Tessler from Roz Tessler

In honor of the engagement of Debbie Eidelman and Benjamin Wilreker

Nancey Eason

In honor of Rabbi Mintz’s Decade of Service to Congregation P’nai Tikvah

Rachel Brachfeld

Mark Novak

In honor of Torah Study

Eileen Ancman

David Aris

Ann Castro

Annie Wolff

Nid’vei Lev

Rick and Susan Bindhamer

Shirley Davidson

1/2 Shekel-Nancey Eason

Linda Kauffman

Cary and Lance

Carolyn Stewart

Refuah Shleimah

Lucia Naschel from Nancey Eason

Rav Yisrael Yitzhak ben Chanah from Naftalah Chavah Ariel

We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious

plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cup-

board or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've

got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it

and nurture it.

John Lennon

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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:

April 1 6:30 PM Biblical Hebrew

April 3 Pesach - No Tot Shabbat or service. Enjoy your 1st Night Seder

April 4 Congregation P'nai Tikvah Community 2nd Night Seder at UNLV

Blasco Wing of the Foundation Building

April 6 LBGTQI Seder at The Center

April 7 6:30 PM Jewish, Alive and American

April 9 7:00 PM CPT Board Meeting

April 12 4:30 PM Yom Hashoah / Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration and

Memorial Program at Congregation Ner Tamid

April 13 4:15 PM Jewlicious Learning

April 17 7:30 PM- Kabbalat Shabbat/Maariv service at Kraft-Sussman Chapel

April 18 Torah Study: Par'shat Shmini at the Rabbi's home

April 19 5:00 PM Yom Hazikaron Community Observance

April 19 7:00 PM Women’s Rosh Chodesh at the home of Dale Gardner

April 20 4:15 PM Jewlicious Learning

April 21 6:30 PM Jewish, Alive and American

April 26 11:30 PM Brunch with Brilliants featuring Roberta Sabbath

April 26 3:30 PM Chai Mitzvah at the home of Iris Katz

April 27 4:15 PM Jewlicious Learning

April 29 8:00 AM JNF Love of Israel Breakfast at Adelson Educational Campus

April 30 7:00 PM CPT Book Club discusses “The Storyteller” at the home of

Jane Kusel

May 1 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat, Kabbalat and Ma’ariv Service-Kraft Sussman

Chapel

May 2 10:00 AM Torah Study-Par’shat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim at the Home of

Rabbi Mintz

May 3 11:00 AM King David—Genizah

May 3 3:30 PM Chai Mitzvah with Nancey-location TBD

May 4 4:15 PM Jewlicious Learning

May 5 6:30 PM Jewish, Alive and American

May 5 7:00 PM CUFI Night to Honor Israel at Word of Life Christian Center

Blessing for the month of Nisan:

May we be blessed with the ability to clean the chametz from

our homes and from our hearts, to fully experience this season of

our liberation, and to begin again the step-by-step ascent to-

wards our personal ability to receive Torah.