CONGREGATION P’NAI TIKVAH

—

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

’

:

:

:

’

'

’

“ ’ ”

’

’ ’ —

$

2

Message from the Rabbi

Dear Chevreh:

Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur have come and gone. We have rebooted

our n’shamot /spirits, and, hopefully upgraded our n’fashot, souls. And we

have begun to rebuild, literally constructing our Sukkot, those fragile meta-

phors for the tenuous situation of the human condition…We begin again. We

even end the Torah reading and immediately begin again, hopefully bringing

to our studies growth and new insights.

We will have many endings and beginnings in this new year. Change is the only constant on

which we can count, yet, as the noted 20th century author and social philosopher, the late Eric

Hoffer said: “No one really likes the new. We are afraid of it. Even in slight things, the expe-

rience of the new is rarely without some stirring of foreboding. We have to adjust ourselves,

and every radical adjustment is a crisis in self-esteem…”

But I would suggest that we look at change, not as an enemy, as something to be feared, but as

a friend, something to be welcomed; for with change comes possibility.

We have much to anticipate…our fabulous Brunch with Brilliants series, our many educational

opportunities, our Women’s Rosh Chodesh Group, our Book Club, our Chanukah Bowl-a-thon,

our Roasting of Sam Lieberman, our Purim and Pesach celebrations, our Jewlicious Learners

presentations, our B’nei Mitzvah services, our Shabbat t’fillot, our Torah Study, and our much

anticipated Trip to Israel at the end of June.

And along with what has been scheduled, we know there will be the unscheduled. There will

be challenges that we must face, knowing that we cannot change them. But we must face them,

nonetheless, for, as the author James Baldwin said: “….nothing can be changed until it is

face.”

We continue to be in a state of rapid change on the world scene and this new year has already

seen the beginning of a massive change in the Mideast that has resulted in a massive change in

Europe. The ripple effect will undoubtedly bring change to the Western World, as well.

Inevitably, even within our congregation there will be change. We know that growth cannot

happen without change, and we must prepare ourselves for a year of both personal and commu-

nal growth. Our task this year is to design our congregation so that it is capable of continuous

change, continuous renewal, and continuous responsiveness to the needs of this holy communi-

ty. We must do so together, with civil discourse, and with respectful dialogue.

As we grow and change, we must hold in our hearts who we are: We are P’nai Tikvah….the

faces of hope.

May we see the opportunities within the challenges that accompany change; may we see the

blessings that accompany the challenges; and may work together for the growth and good of

our beloved Congregation P’nai Tikvah.

L’Shalom,

Rabbi Yocheved Mintz

3

Cantor’s Notes

A Note From the Cantor

Happy Cheshvan. Okay, that is not something people usually hear. The month of Cheshvan

has no extra holidays or days of remembrance. I have heard it called “Bitter Cheshvan (Mar

Cheshvan).” It is the month between Rosh HaShanah/Yom Kippur/Sukkot/Simchat Torah and

Chanukah. There are no ‘joyous’ days in this month, well except for Shabbat. How can we not

be joyous on Shabbat? It is a day of rest, prayer, song, and prayerful song.

Songs and melodies are so important for us when we pray. They can make us feel in-

spired, help us self reflect, make our souls dance, and bring us to another level of feeling. Mu-

sic has been a part of our prayers since we began praying. The Levites sang at the Temple.

King David and Solomon were poets and singers. Our psalms tell us to praise God with song.

For me, singing helps me pray with my whole body and soul, not just my words.

Think about how different it would feel to say the prayers we sing, or chant, during our

worship, or if we used a melody that changed the feel of the prayer. The Mi Chamocha for ex-

ample. Sometimes Rabbi Mintz recites part of it, very dramatically of course, prior to our join-

ing together in singing it in song. Then we begin singing a melody written by Debbie Friedman

z”l followed by her Miriam’s Song. (This is not the only melody to Mi Chamocha that she

wrote.) It is a song of rejoicing after crossing the Sea of Reeds when we praised God and

danced in joy. We clap, dance and play our “clangy thinges”. Sung that way it makes us want

to jump up and move. How does the spoken version of this prayer make you feel verses the

sung melody?

But, what if I used a different melody? A slower melody that doesn’t really make you

want to get up and do a hora? There are slower melodies written for Mi Chamocha that are like

that. Some I am not so fond of because they sound more like a funeral dirge to me than a re-

joicing song. But there are some slower melodies that give Mi Chamocha more of a feeling of

majestic holiness and awe, because we were in awe then as well.

Music can stir our souls, and bring us to a higher level in our prayers. It helps us pray

with complete body, soul and mind. Whether you join your voice in song, or just do active lis-

tening to the melodies, may your soul rise to greater heights each time we join in prayer.

L’Shalom

Cantor Marla Goldberg

“ We Are P’nai Tikvah”

The membership committee is interviewing all mem-

bers in order for the rest of Congregation P'nai Tik-

vah to get to know him/her. The following is an inter-

view with Annie Wolff, member of Board of Direc-

tors.:

1.What brought you to Congregation P'nai Tikvah?

I originally came because there was no charge for High

Holiday tickets. I never understood why temples required

pay to pray. I was interning at JFSA and had an occasion

to talk to Rabbi Mintz. I came in to speak with her and

shortly thereafter signed up for Jewish, Alive & Ameri-

can. I attended services but didn't join until right before

her 70th birthday party. I was drawn to reconstructionist

Judaism because of it's inclusiveness of everyone espe-

cially the LGBTQ community.

2. What keeps you involved in P'nai Tikvah? I enjoy all

the classes which I have attended with the Rabbi teach-

ing: Jewish Alive & American, Biblical Hebrew, B'nai

Simchat Chochmah, Talmud with Training Wheels, Torah study. I also graduated from Melton

earlier this year (which the Rabbi worked on getting that curriculum in Las Vegas). I would like

to take the liturgy class which hopefully people will be interested in for late fall. The member-

ship keeps me involved in P'nai Tikvah, as well respect/admiration for Cantor Marla Goldberg

and Rabbi Yocheved Mintz. When I had surgery a couple of years ago, the Rabbi was out of

town. Cantor Marla came to the hospital with me, prayed with me and stayed with me before I

went in to surgery so I was not alone.

3. What has P'nai Tikvah brought/added to your life? P'nai Tikvah has taught me how to live a

Jewish life with joy!!. I consider the other members my family. I feel especially close to the

women of Rosh Chodesh, and the other members from B'nai Simchat Chochmah because we

were studying together for 18 months. I have always wanted to learn Hebrew ever since I was a

child, and Roz Tessler taught me Hebrew! I was honored to chant from the Torah on Yom Kip-

pur. I also really enjoy listening to others points of view at Torah study. I always learn some-

thing and think in a different way those Saturday mornings. Ive enjoyed working with other

committee members and getting to know them.

4. What do you or would you like to bring to the congregation to help it grow and thrive? I try

to relay my enthusiasm and love for Judaism. I really enjoy working on the seder at Pesach It's

my favorite time of year and favorite holiday. I relate to the Passover story in my personal life. I

left my personal slavery, I was wandering a long time in my own desert before finding my

promise land. I enjoy being on the social action committee and being one of the delegates for

Nevadans for the Common Good. Meera Kamegai is the other delegate and I enjoy working

with her. Social action falls right into our mitzvah for tikkun olam (repairing the world). I take

that quite seriously for a personal goal as both a Jew and a social worker.

4

5

Jonathan Abrams, Laurie

Lytel, Sofia Abrams, and El-

len Royer glazing challot

Kristen Jaeger, Jane Kusel,

Danica Lockett, and Emma

Deal -- bakers all

Laurie Lytel, Ruth

Kaplow, and Cantor

M a r l a G o l d b e r g

kneading away

HiHo Challah Baking

continued on page 6

P’nai Tikvah in Action

P’nai Tikvah in Action continued

The beginning of

the group that

joined us at Desert

Shores

Daniel Pikarsky's first

Tashlich (and maybe

first ducks)

MayLee deLee knows

how to blow the Shofar

Tashlich at Desert Shores

continued from page 5

continued on page 7

6

P’nai Tikvah in Action continued

S’lichot spread for a

Sweet New Year

Photographer: Nicky

Watts

Steps of Teshuvah by

Congregation P’nai

Tikvah

Photographer: Nicky

Watts

Mystery of Havdallah

Light

Photographer: Nicky

Watts

Havdallah and S’lichot at the Home of Rabbi Mintz

continued from page 6

continued on page 8

7

P’nai Tikvah in Action continued

Jewlicious Learning

takes to the Sukkah

to shake the Lulav

and Etrog!

Gina Eason decorating

the Sukkah!

Michael DeLee making

bracha with Lulav and

Etrog in the Rabbi;s Suk-

kah.

Sukkah, Lulav, Etrog, Ushpizin...

continued from page 7

8

9

OCTOBER 4TH 2015

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

CONGREGATION P’NAI TIKVAH

ANNUAL SUKKOT BARBEQUE-Potluck

AT THE HOME of Meera and Minao Kamegai

KOSHER STYLE

10

11

12

13

Las Vegas Friends of the Tribe

Nevadans for the Common Good Assembly

By Meera Kamegai

Nevadans for the Common Good is planning a community assembly on October 27 from 6:30

to 8:30. The group will meet with legislators to discuss the issues on which NCG have been

focused, that is, Medicaid privatization, teacher shortage, and school segregation and inequality.

As you know, there is an appalling shortage of teachers in Clark County schools, perhaps as

many as 1000 teachers are needed. This shortage has resulted in some dire consequences, such

as, long term substitute teachers who are hired to teach subjects they do not know. High school

students who cannot take subjects they need for college because the subject is not offered. Also

this shortage does not hit all sections of Las Vegas equally with the poorer sections suffering

more. We cannot hope to make changes unless we give legislators clear demands and focus our

request on specific goals.

At this point they have five confirmed legislators to appear at the assembly. They also expect to

have more including Governor Sandoval. This meeting will have little impact if there isn’t a

healthy turnout. Nevadans for the Common Good would like to have 300 people or more at this

assembly, which will be held in Temple Sinai. Each member faith-based group is asked to send

a delegation. Member organizations are sending between 5 to 20 delegates each. There are

upcoming planning meetings on October 6, 20, 22 and 22 at 7 pm at Temple Sinai. The last two

are rehearsals of the event. Delegates do not have to go to all or any of the meetings but partici-

pation in the assembly on October 27 is vital.

If you can participate contact Meera Kamegai at 702-845-3177 or meerakamegai@cox.net.

Tikkun Olam

Congregation P’nai Tikvah has com-

mitted to having five delegates attend

the community assembly on

October 27, 2015 at Temple Sinai.

Call the office and pledge to attend!

702.436.4900

Tikkun Olam

14

KIDZ KORNER for October

15

16

The Language of Chelm (A Polish Tale)

continued on page 17

http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/2003/7/27/the-language-of-chelm-a-polish

17

continued from page 16

Women's Rosh Chodesh Group celebrates Cheshvan by attending the Kol Isha Concert with din-

ner afterwards. Each person will purchase their own meal.

King David Memorial Chapel and Cemetery to Host 2nd Annual ‘Kol Isha’ Women’s Voices a

Concert to Bene-

fit Susan G.

Komen of South-

ern Nevada, Oc-

tober 11, Las

Vegas female

cantors and vo-

cal soloists come

together to raise

funds for breast

cancer aware-

ness

Guests are invit-

ed to submit a

photo of anyone

they have lost to

breast cancer or

survivors of

breast cancer and

the faces and

names will be

honored in a vid-

eo slide show

during the con-

cert. The concert

will be followed

by a reception

with themed

food and drink.

King David’s

‘Kol Isha’ Con-

cert is open to

the public and

guests are en-

couraged to wear

pink in support

of breast cancer

awareness. Tickets will be available for purchase in September and proceeds will benefit Susan

G. Komen of Southern Nevada.

For more information about the ‘Kol Isha’ Concert or King David Memorial Chapel and Ceme-

tery, visit www.kingdavidlv.com or call (702) 464-8570.

18

Women’s Rosh Chodesh to Attend Kol Isha II

19

Congregation P’nai Tikvah Women’s Rosh Chodesh Group

If you are interested in hosting, please contact the office 702.436.4900

October 11, 2015 Cheshvan Attending Kol Isha II Concert at 3:00 PM with dinner afterwards

November 15, 2015 Kislev Interfaith Council-Judaism and Peace-Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, panelist , dinner before panel

December 13, 2015 Tevet Home of Laurie Lytel

January 10, 2016 Shevat Home of Ellen Royer

February 7, 2016 Adar I Home of Annie Wolff

March 13, 2016 Adar II Home of Ann Mandell

April 10, 2016 Nisan Home of Jennifer Cohen

May 15, 2016 Iyyar Home of Eileen Ancman

June 5, 2016 Sivan Home of Rabbi Yocheved Mintz

20

Oct 2 Sponsored by Cantor Marla and Nancy Goldberg in celebration of Cantor’s Birthday and

Catered by Nicky Watts in celebration of her birthday

Oct 16 Sponsored by Kristen and Tim Lockett and/or Catered by

Nov 6 Sponsored by and/or Catered by

Nov 20 Sponsored and Catered by Barbara Holland in honor of her birthday

Dec 4 Sponsored by and/or Catered by

Dec 18 Sponsored and Catered by Wil Wilreker and Debbie Eidelman in honor of their Aufruf

Jan 1 Sponsored by Meyer DeLee and Catered by

Jan 15 Sponsored by Marian Baum in memory of mother, Betty Baum and/or Catered by

Feb 5 Sponsored by Nancey Eason in blessed memory of her father, William Eason & Catered by Nancey Eason bench-

marking 5 years of a healing journey.

Feb 19 Sponsored by Ellen Royer in honor of her father’s memory and Catered by

March 4 Sponsored by and/or Catered by

March 18 Sponsored by and/or Catered by

April 1 Sponsored by and/or Catered by

April 15 Sponsored by Harriet Bernstein for Roz Tessler’s Birthday and Catered by

May 6 Sponsored by Roz Tessler in memory of Jerry Bernstein and Catered by

May 20 Sponsored by MayLee DeLee and Catered by Nancey Eason in celebration of their birthdays

June 3 Sponsored by and/or Catered by

June 17 Sponsored by Marian Baum in memory of father, Isidore Baum and/or Catered by

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

the ideas Rabbi Mintz has shared in her sermon, and to meet one another. Sponsoring and/

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

Any reason is a good reason to sponsor and/or cater 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 reason.

SIGN UP TO SPONSOR AND/OR CATER AN ONEG

21

CLASS OFFERINGS

IVDU ET HASHEM B’SIMCHA Jewish Liturgy as a Spiritual System

Come on a journey of joy as we discover what Jewish Liturgy has to offer us

today as a Spiritual System. This first 10-week session is

planned for Monday evenings starting in Winter 2015

165.00 for members

215.00 for non members

minimum of six students to begin

Contact 702.436.4900 for more information

Talmud…

with Training Wheels:

Intro to Talmud

Ten weeks starting in the Winter 2015

Cost: $165.00 for members

$215.00 for non-members

6 participants to start a session

Call the office: 702-436-4900

22

Chai Mitzvah participants make a commitment to "Grow their Judaism" in three aspects: Ritual, Social Action and Learning. Chai Mitzvah meets monthly to facilitate continuing Adult Education experience that lets the students ex-

plore what they are interested in learning as a group and individually.

This years topics will be: October 25, 2015-Mikvah in Modern World facilitated by Dr. Ellen Royer

November 22, 2015-“ Path of Blessings” facilitated by Jennifer Cohen based on the book by Reb Marcia Prager December 20, 2015-Do Jews Believe in the Afterlife facilitated by Jennifer Cohen January 17, 2016-Angels, Demons and Dybukks facilitated by Iris Katz February 14, 2016-Compassion facilitated by Nancey Eason March 6, 2016-Joy of Judaism facilitated by Iris Katz April 3, 2016-Many Faces of Judaism facilitated by Jennifer Cohen May 1, 2016-The Love of Kindness or Loving Kindness facilitated by Nancey Eason June 12, 2016-Field Trip to Lake Mead for mikvah facilitated by the Chai Mitzvah class of 2015-2016

Fee for the Year is $25.00

Call 702.436.4900 for more information

"Grow Your Judaism Your Way: Ritual, Social Action,

23

COMMUNITY TRIP TO ISRAEL

June 27 to July 7th, 2016

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE INFORMATION

AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE

INFO@PNAITIKVAHLV.ORG

24

VOLUNTEERISM ABOUNDS AT CPT

Homes are always needed for the various 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.

Jewlicious Learners

Classes continue in October of 2015,

Monday afternoons at the Rabbi’s home,

from 4:15 to 6:00, October to June.

Fall Registration is open.

For $40.00 a prayer book can either be purchased

for personal use or be dedicated to the congrega-

tion “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.

David Pisetzner 1-Oct

Annie Wolff 2-Oct

Cantor Marla Goldberg 3-Oct

Nicky Watts 4-Oct

Elliot Bender 6-Oct

Jonathan Abrams 7-Oct

Danica Lockett 14-Oct

Leah Nussbaum 15-Oct

Stanley Rose 19-Oct

Laurie Lytel & Joanne Goodwin Oct 31

25

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

For the Month of October

Irvin Fox -Remembered by Barbara & Andy Holland

Richard Kauffman -Remembered by Linda & Donald Kauffman

Eli Kraft -Remembered by Wendy Kraft

Allen Loeb -Remembered by Marty Loeb

Evelyn Malerman

-Remembered by Cindy Fox

Ida Kenigsberg Mintz

-Remembered by Rabbi Mintz

Morton Paykel

-Remembered by Gary Paykel

Ada & Abraham Rosenstein

-Remembered by Sondra Rose

Rebbetzin Barbara Schachet

-Remembered by CPT congregation

Helen Schwartz

-Remembered by Zelda Goldwater

26

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

ish 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 Jewish Federation at 702-732-0556.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Find us on the second floor of Center for Social Justice in Houssels House, across from the Ar-chitecture Library. Matthew Kramer-Morning | Director, The Hillel Jewish Student Center at UNLV Sigesmund Center | 2317 Renaissance Drive | Las Vegas, NV 89119 Email: Matthew@jewishlasvegas.com

27

28

OUR SMITH’S NPO NUMBER IS 61229.

COMMUNITY REWARDS

61229

29

Nid’vei Lev- Donations from the Heart

Rabbi Discretionary Fund

David Aris

Zelda Goldwater

Anita Lewy

Adrianne Rubin Shaw

Annie Wolff

Phyllis and Stan Zuckerman “Thank you C.P.T. for your appreciated cards, phone

calls on Stan Zuckerman’s speedy recovery.”

High Holiday

Ruohan An

Rona and Alon Atlas

Carole and Mike Bernstein

Susan Dubin

Lynda French

Aubrey Goldberg

Nancy Goldberg

Joel and Linda Goldberg

JD and Marti Jenkins

Meera and Minao Kamegai

Patsy Kart

Soni Kaur

Marla Lieberman

Sam Lieberman

Marge Present

Richard Robinov

Arleah Rush

Evan Savar

Sharon Schoenwald

David Silverman

Michael and Lynn Spencer

Lesley Wagmeister

Zelda Weingard

Stan and Phyllis Zuckerman

In Honor of

In honor of the birth of Jackson Fairbanks, Great Grandson of Ann Brandt

continued on page 30

Nid’vei Lev- Donations from the Heart (continued)

In memory of

In memory of Jeffrey Bernstein from Harriet Bernstein

In memory of Gabriel Eugene Blechman from Maxine Blechman

In memory of Bell Berland Mogliner from Maxine Blechman

In memory of my beloved father: Dr. Leonard Rome from Phyllis Zuckerman

MiSheBeriach

Marie Ackerman from Nancey Eason

Alyssa Bernstein from Harriet Bernstein

Julianne Bernstein from Harriet Bernstein

Robert Blechman from Maxine Blechman

Scott Dykstra from Harriet Bernstein

Tiffany Freud from Nancey Eason

Jamie Grainsky from Ann Brandt

Andy Holland from Nancey Eason

Andy Lambo from Maxine Blechman

Rabbi Yisrael Yitzhak ben Chanah from Nancey Eason

Stan Zuckerman from Phyllis Zuckerman

Nid’vei Lev

Harriet Bernstein

Rick and Susan Bindhamer

Stanley and Sondra Rose

Roz Tessler

Pamela Winger

In gratitude for a full recovery from Phyllis Zuckerman

Torah Study

David Aris

Stella Bialac

Ann Brandt

Ann Castro

Jennifer Cohen

Nancey Eason

Zelda Goldwater

Carolyn Stewart

30

continued from page 29

31

32

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:

Sept 28-Oct 4 Sukkot

October 2 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat, Kabbalat and Ma’ariv at the Kraft Sussman Chapel

October 3 10:00 AM Torah Study-Haftarah for Hol Ha Mo’ed Sukkot at the Home of Rabbi Mintz

October 4 1:00 PM Sukkot Potluck BBQ at the home of Meera and Minao Kamegai

October 5 Shmini Atzeret

October 6 Simchat Torah

October 6 6:30 PM Jewish, Alive and American

October 7 7:00PM Biblical Hebrew III

October 8 6:45 PM CPT Book Club at the home of Jane Kusel

October 11 3:00 PM Kol Isha II-Women’s Rosh Chodesh-King David Memorial Chapel

October 16 7:30 PM Kabbalat and Ma’ariv at the Kraft Sussman Chapel

October 17 10:00 AM Torah Study-Par’shat No’ah at the Home of Rabbi Mintz

October 18 11:00 AM Brunch with Brilliants featuring Uri Ram

October 19 4:15 PM Jewlicious Learning

October 20 6:30 PM Jewish, Alive and American

October 21 7:00PM Biblical Hebrew III

October 25 12:00 PM JCC BBQ at Temple Beth Sholom

October 25 3:30 PM Chai Mitzvah at the home of Iris Katz

October 26 4:15 PM Jewlicious Learning

October 26 7:00PM Biblical Hebrew III

October 28 7:00 PM Biblical Hebrew I

October 29 7:00 PM CPT Board Meeting

November 2 4:15 PM Jewlicious Learning

November 2 7:00PM Biblical Hebrew III

November 3 6:30 PM Jewish, Alive and American

November 4 7:00 PM Biblical Hebrew I

November 6 6:30 PM Tot Shabbat, Kabbalat and Ma’ariv at the Kraft Sussman Chapel

November 7 10:00 AM Torah Study-Par’shat Hayyei Sarah at the Home of Rabbi Mintz

November 9 4:15 PM Jewlicious Learning

November 9 7:00PM Biblical Hebrew III

November 10 6:30 PM Jewish, Alive and American

Blessings for the Months of Tishri/Cheshvan

As we go from a month filled with holy days to a month bereft of

them, let us be grateful for the holiness that surrounds us, even when

we do not have a special holy day marking them. Let us cherish our

weekly Shabbat and be grateful for all the blessings in our life. Amen.