HORIZONS January 2019 Tevet, 5779 — Sh’vat,5779

January 2019 Tevet, 5779 — Sh’vat, 5779

UPCOMING EVENTS

Host an Oneg ……………………. 2

President’s Column …………….. 3

Rabbi’s Column ………………….. 4

January Yahrzeits ………….....… 5

November Contributions …….…. 6

Andy Levin’s 50th & Fundraiser.. 7

Sisterhood News …………………. 8

Social News ……………………….. 10

Kallah-Night of Jewish Learning . 11

Super Sunday ……………………… 14

Internship Program ………………. 15

Donations ………………………….. 16

Ben Shapiro Mitzvah Project ……. 17

Classes w/Rabbi Jacob ………….. 18

Donation Form………………………19

Calendar …………………………….. 20

Advertisers ………………………. …21

IN THIS ISSUE

2019 1/6 School Resume @OS

1/13 Jr. Cong & Tot Shabbat Service @OS 10:30 to 12

1/19 6:30 to 9:30 pm

Andy Levin Birthday &

Fundraiser

1/20 No School MLK Holiday

1/27 Religious School

returns to CBENT

2/2 Shabbat B’yachad at

CBENT

2/3 No Sunday Religious Class

2/8 6 PM 3rd & 4th Grade

Class Svc @ Or Shalom

2/13 7 PM February Book Club

At Janet Hurwitz

2/17 No School

2/18 Office Closed President’s

Day

2/23 Jr. Cong & Tot Shabbat Service @CBENT 10:30 am

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Horizons is published monthly. Material submitted for publication may be edited for style, length and content. Please contact the office to report any errors or omissions. Thank you. Editor: Lauren Porter Congregation Or Shalom 835 Darby-Paoli Road Berwyn, PA 19312 Phone: 610-644-9086 www.OrShalom.com E-mail: office@orshalom.com

Congregation Or Shalom Executive Committee

President: Andrew Levin Vice President: Treasurer: Alan Daroff Secretary: Larry Bilker Membership: Scott Markovitz Events/Fundraising: IPP: Alan Messing

Auxiliary & Community Groups

Sisterhood: Mindy Bernstein Men’s Club: Dan Bernick Social Action: Gina Arlen Education Chair: Heidi Lurie/Alice Presley Ritual Committee: Murray Klug

Advertising rates

Advertising contracts are arranged through the Temple office. All advertis-ing is due the first of the month for next month’s edition of Horizons. We accept ads with a check made out to Congrega-tion Or Shalom and the ad copy sent at the same time. Size 11 issues Per issue Full Page $1000 $110 1/2 page $750 $80 1/4 page $500 $60 1/8 page $250 $35

Or Shalom Sisterhood is delighted to announce that you can sponsor an Oneg for any celebration you wish! Friday night and/or Saturday morning. The Sisterhood will be happy to purchase it and set it up,

we only want you to join us and celebrate! Call Julie Miller at (267) 886-9171 or email

Julie at jlmphotomiller@gmail.com

Do you know Unaffiliated Jews in Chester County, Montgomery County

and Delaware County?

Celebrate with an Oneg

Do you have Jewish friends or acquaintances who live in Chester County, Montgomery County and Delaware County who are not already members of a synagogue? If you do, why not invite them to one of the upcoming events at Or Shalom, for example our next Friday night dinner? They may have a good time and decide to come back. They may have such a good time that they decide to become members themselves. According to a recent survey by the Jewish Federation, there are many, many unaffiliated Jews in Chester county. We’d love to contact them, but don’t know who they are. You can help. Todah rabah!

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The President’s Column

Ho Ho Ho Happy Hanukkah!

Best belated wishes for a happy Hanukkah to you and your families. Hanukkah is an interesting holiday. On the surface it is for the kids, but the deeper meaning is about assimilation. I would like to include that this deeper meaning came from the teachings by Rabbi Jacob. I believe we are currently experiencing another period of Jewish assimilation. I find it interesting when you can study Torah and directly relate it what is going on in your life and the time we are alive. I know that during my grandparent’s lifetime Jewish people were not as welcome into the greater American society as we are today. I remember going to meetings with my grandparents for the Alliance of Lithuanian Jews. These meeting were held once a month in Northeast Philadelphia. The purpose of this organization was for Jewish people to support other Jewish people. The organization would help members with loans, support businesses, and welcome new Lithuanian Jews to the area. Today to the best of my knowledge this organization no longer exists. The organization has been replaced with ac-cess to banks, government agencies, and a decrease in migration. I think we will all agree that it is great that we are welcomed into society, but what are we giving up when we accept this honor? I also know I am preaching to the choir when it comes to the people who read my articles. I think we all understand the deeper meaning of Judaism and strive to continue a path of lifelong learning. Although I am not “SuperJew”. I value the knowledge that wisdom that has been passed down from our forefathers. Like most children my kids love Hanukkah. They look forward to it and still write letters to Hanukkah Harry. I know they have been taught the deeper meaning of Hanukkah, but even they would admit that they are in it for the presents. My recommendation is there should be an NGO (non government organization) created to govern gift giving on Hanukkah. The goal of this organization will be simple. The amount of money a family is allowed to spend during the holidays is directly related to the number of times a family goes to services in a year. We could also add a bump for tzedakah. The driver for this idea is the Goldbergs. I have never seen the Goldbergs at a service, but they identify as Jewish. On the 3rd night of Hanukkah this year my son got socks and my daughter got a sweater. My son was not very happy with his socks. I was confused because there were “6 pairs”. What I found out later is that the Goldberg kids got box seats to the Sixers game and new Cell Phones the night before. I know this will never happen and should not happen, but the Goldbergs should be limited in their Hanukkah spending. I they do not go to service in the year they should be able to spend $50 per child. If they go to services once in a year they should be about to spend $150 per child. If they go 2 times (high holidays) they can spend $250 per child. Over 2 times they can spend an additional $25 per child for each visit. Families that go to services regularly know the true meaning of Hanukkah and do not need a cap on their spending. If you agree with the concept of this new organization give me a polished 1968 penny the next time you see me at services. Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year G*d Bless America! Andy

HORIZONS 4 January 2019 Tevet, 5779 — Sh’vat,5779

Mitzvah of the Month Rabbi Jacob Rosner

 I greet my Christian neighbors and friends with the word, “merry Christmas” I wasn’t raised that way. In “frum world” the word

Jesus would never pass our lips. (we would call him yushka). The Mishna(the first strata of the oral law/halakha) actually forbids us to do business with idolaters three days before their festivals, lest the transaction would cause them to praise their gods.

We were meant to be a kingdom of priests and a holy people, yet at the same time we no longer aggressively seek converts.

One can argue that despite our small numbers, we have fulfilled our mission of teaching the world about a compassionate God who loves each of us and hears our prayers. It is through Christianity and Islam that those values were transmitted.

We do not seek converts because we believe that olam haba (the world to come) will not be an all Jewish neighborhood. The notion that God would punish good, charitable, compassionate people for following the faith of their fathers and mothers is a defamation of God’s character. I believe that Christians and Muslims following their traditions opens up a spiritual pathway to the same God we worship.

As Jews we have a special covenant, and we are obligated to travel our very own path. But at the same time I can say to others “merry Christmas or happy festivus”

Happy Hannukkah/festivus/Christmas

HORIZONS 5 January 2019 Tevet, 5779 — Sh’vat,5779

JANUARY YAHRZEITS January2,Tevet25,5779Irving Rubin, father of Harriet Krant January3,Tevet26,5779Leon Messing, father of Florence Messing January7,Shevat1,5779Betty Fox, mother of Stephen Fox Leonard Roy Lurie, brother of Howard Lurie January13,Shevat7,5779Louis Greenberg, stepfather of Don Strumpf Tola Messing, mother of Florence Messing January14,Shevat8,5779Frances Miller, mother of Harris Miller January16,Shevat10,5779Pauline Shwartzman, grandmother of Ellen Gross January17,Shevat11,5779Adele Daroff, mother of Alan Daroff Gertrude Slavin, mother of Susan Goldberg January18,Shevat12,5779Milton Schuman, father of Binnie Donald January20,Shevat14,5779

Robert Bruce, brother of Stella Pabon Jean Noble, mother of David Noble Edith Margaret Roth Sachs, mother of Scott Sachs Evelyn Zatuchni, mother of Beth Zatuchni

January23,Shevat17,5779Blanche Wahl, mother of Jo Ann Weiss January25,Shevat19,5779Lena Mand, mother of Jeffrey Mand January26,Shevat20,5779Sidney Seidenberg, father of Paula Blaustein January27,Shevat21,5779Vera Klein, grandmother of Samantha Klein January29,Shevat23,5779Miriam Greehvt, mother of Boaz Cohen January31,Shevat25,5779Meyer Messing, father of Alan Messing

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CONTRIBUTIONS Congregation Or Shalom gratefully acknowledges the following

generous contributions in the month of November 2018

Hanukkah Dinner Charles G. & Joan N. Brown: Hanukkah Dinner Cards and misc contr James Patton & Ellen Gross: Memory of Arlene Markind Yahrzeit Donations Bernard & Paula Blaustein: Memory of May Seidenberg Bernard & Paula Blaustein: Memory of Moe Blaustein Jeffrey & Eileen Kosterich: Memory of Siegbert Kosterich & Rachel Adler Mrs. Lane Liebman: memory of my sister Diane Jenkins Cooper Scott & Mindy Markovitz: Memory of Alan G. Routman Leight & Ivy S Ronald S: Memory of Lester & Adolfine Leight by Ronald S. Leight Beth Zatuchni & Gerald Satlow: Memory of Stephen Zatuchni High Holidays Brenda Belkin & Lawrence Rosen: HH Donation 2018 General Fund Gad & Diane Hazum: Donation Waynesborough Woods: Reservations 12/10/18 Social Hall for Annual Meeting of Homeowners

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SISTERHOOD NEWS Hi, Those of us who attended our Meet the Author event in December enjoyed meeting and speaking with Janet Benton, author of Lilli De Jong. Thank you Vivian Morrow and Laurie Katz for helping set up the breakfast. Thank you, Julie Miller, for schlepping our Hanukkah Chinese Food from Philadelphia for our Hanukkah party. February 13, 2019 February Book Club at Janet Hurwitz home. All the de-tails next page. Start reading the new book! RSVP by 2/8/19 Please start thinking about what prayers you would like to lead during out Sisterhood Shabbat in the spring.  

Thank you, Mindy Bernstein

Sisterhood President  

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SOCIAL NEWS

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SUPER SUNDAY

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Dona ons  

We would like to thank those who have donated books and other items to the synagogue. Unfortunately, just like you, we have no space to accept most of the books and other items that have been donated unsolicited. Please contact the synagogue office before you drive over to drop off items. If we can use the items, we will welcome them and provide a tax letter receipt but if we just have no room for the items you want to donate, please consider another worthy cause for your donation.

Membership Directory The new simplified membership directory and class list is now posted on

our web site. It is password protected and will be updated regularly as members notify the office of changes

to their information. Please review it today to make sure information about your

family is correct. If not, contact the office with changes

HORIZONS 17 January 2019 Tevet, 5779 — Sh’vat,5779

Please Consider Donating

My name is Ben Shapiro and my Bar Mitzvah is March 2, 2019. For my Mitzvah Project, I am

volunteering my time with the Mitzvah Circle Foundation, a local non-profit organization that

provides clothing and supplies to families in need, regardless of their religious beliefs.

We are collecting:

New

Toiletries Diapers

School supplies Socks & underwear

Car Seats Warm hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves

Packaged Food Baby accessories, formula

Gently Used and New

Clothing, coats, shoes, purses Housewares, linens, towels Toys (clean with all pieces)

Small kitchen & personal appliances (i.e. Microwave, toaster oven, fan)

Cell: (215) 208-8603

BenShapiro2006@gmail.com

Drop off in Or Shalom lobby

HORIZONS 18 January 2019 Tevet, 5779 — Sh’vat,5779

(Not So) Basic Judaism Rabbi Jacob offers a Basic Judaism class for adults each Monday evening, from 7:30 to 8:30. The focus will be on learning about the holidays, life cycle events, great Jewish books and more. The Rabbi promises that even the most knowledgeable will find something new and intriguing in this class. Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class Rabbi Jacob invites any adult seeking to have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, to schedule private lessons with him. Other One-on-One Classes with Rabbi Jacob Rabbi is offering one-on-one classes at your convenience on many Jewish topics such as: Learning to read or speak Hebrew, synagogue skills, bible, Mishna, etc. You can even name your own class! Please email the office at office@orshalom.com to schedule your class with the Rabbi now.

Classes with Rabbi Jacob

HORIZONS 19 January 2019 Tevet, 5779 — Sh’vat,5779

Or Shalom Donation Form

I would like to help support Or Shalom. I have specified each donation and I have included one check for the total amount payable to Or Shalom. Please send all donations to: Congregation Or Shalom, 835 Darby Paoli Road, Berwyn PA 19312

Name____________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________ Fund #________Amount $________ Phone #___________________ Made in memory of________________________________________ Made in honor of__________________________________________ Speedy Recovery__________________________________________ Send acknowledgment to (include address)

Name____________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________ Fund #________Amount $________ Phone #___________________ Made in memory of________________________________________ Made in honor of__________________________________________ Speedy Recovery__________________________________________ Send acknowledgment to (include address)

Definition of Funds 1. Building Fund: Donations are used for the continuous upkeep of our building. These funds help offset unexpected expenses such as A/C, Heater, roof repair and any emergency repairs to our facility. 2. Beautification Fund: Donations are used for the upkeep of our grounds. Trees, plants, mulch, etc. 3. Biblical Garden Fund: Donations are used to maintain and support our biblical garden. 4. Paul Seres Education Endowment Fund: This fund is maintained to provide interest income for restricted use by the synagogue for Education. 5. General Fund: All monies donated to this fund will supplement the current year’s budget. 6. Hebrew School: Funds are used for the needs of the Religious School. Examples: Bulletin boards, books and school supplies, etc. 7. Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund: The Rabbi uses these funds for charitable purpose. Donations to this fund can be made directly to the synagogue office. 8. Social Action: Donations will be used for all social action events and programs. Any questions to this fund should be addressed to Gina Arlen at migi4@verizon.net. 9. Tree of Life: A leaf can be purchased to honor or commemorate any important life event. The cost of a leaf is $180.00 which will be displayed in our foyer. For more information please contact office at 610-644-9086 10. Yahrzeit Plaque: Two plaques can be purchased for $360.00. The first would be a permanent plaque on the back wall of the sanctuary. The second plaque would be placed during the week of the Yahrzeit on the memorial wall in the front of the sanctuary. Additional information will be requested when purchasing a plaque. Please contact Ellen Gross at Ellenagross@gmail.com for more information. 11. Oneg: Sponsor an Oneg for Friday night and /or Saturday morning for any celebration you with. The cost is $45.00 and the Sisterhood will purchase and set it up. Checks should be made payable to Or Shalom Sisterhood

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ADVERTISEMENTS

OFFICE HOURS

(effective 9/25/18)

Monday: 10 to 3:30

Tuesday: 11:30 to 5:30 (when school in session)

Wednesday: 10 to 1

Thursday: 10 to 3:30

Friday: 10 to 3

HORIZONS 22 January 2019 Tevet, 5779 — Sh’vat,5779