MARCH/APRIL 2016/ ADAR I-ADAR II-NISAN 5776 Community Purim Celebration: It’s Time to Jazz It Up! Wednesday, March 23 e French Quarter may have Bourbon Street, but our Purim Mardi Gras party is going to be hard to beat! Our evening service and Megillah reading will begin at 6:30 pm, and the party follows at approximately 7:30 pm. We will be joined by our friends from Congregation B’nai Torah and Sinai Temple following their Megillah readings, as well as families from Heritage Academy for a fun community-wide celebration, featuring Creole food, hamantaschen, Dixieland jazz, children’s activities, a mitzvah-making booth (including a donation box for Dress for Success—see article on page 7), and, of course, plenty of Mardi Gras-style bead necklaces! Our Community Purim Celebration is for all ages, not just children. We hope to see you there—with or without your costumes! INSIDE THIS ISSUE PAGE 2 Melton and Me PAGE 2 Home Hospitality for Seders PAGE 3 Solel Update PAGE 10 Passover Guide PAGE 13 Annual Meeting & Slate PAGE 15 Meet the Ross Family MMTemple Beth El Founded 1913. In 2008 merged with Congregation B’nai Jacob (founded 1891). Devoted to seeking God, doing Mitzvot, studying Torah, and creating Community. 1 Nechamen/ Chernick Breakfast Honors Dan Plotkin Sunday, March 6 Please join us on Sunday, March 6 for the 8th annual Nechamen/ Chernick Breakfast, sponsored by the Program Committee. is year’s honoree is Dan Plotkin. e breakfast begins at 9:15 am, following minyan at 8:30 am. is event raises funds for the Nechamen/ Chernick Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for member children to attend Jewish educational and summer programs. Everyone is welcome to stay for TBE’s Annual Meeting which follows at 10:30 am (see article on page 13). Dan Plotkin has served as Chair of our House Committee for the past several decades (see more details on Dan in the January/February issue of Tekiah), and we are delighted to recognize him for his many years of service to TBE. e Program Committee will prepare a delicious hot breakfast for this event. e cost is $10 per person if paid by March 1, or $15 if paid aſter that date or at the door. Please make your reservations by visiting www.tbespringfield.org, or call the temple office at 733-4149. Contributions in Dan’s honor can be made to the Nechamen/ Chernick Scholarship Fund. “fun” factor – it’s going to be the Best. Party. Ever! and we invite everyone to come and honor Caryn Resnick. Caryn was recruited in 1995 as a visionary educator who brought a new model of education to our community. She designed award-winning thematic curricula which dove-tailed with synagogue events. One CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Are You Ready for the Best. Party. Ever! Stuart Chipkin, Chairperson, Board of Education Come celebrate when the Sandi Kupperman Learning Center at Temple Beth El honors Caryn Resnick, our esteemed Director of Education, on Saturday, April 2 at 6:30 pm, starting with cocktails and a five-star dinner followed by lively, interactive musical entertainment and late-night dancing at TBE. e SKLC typically holds a significant fund-raising event every other year to help support the educational efforts for students of all ages throughout Temple Beth El. is year, in honor of the person who has directed those efforts tirelessly, professionally, creatively and always with a
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MARCH/APRIL 2016/ ADAR I-ADAR II-NISAN 5776
Community Purim Celebration: It’s Time to Jazz It Up!Wednesday, March 23
The French Quarter may have Bourbon Street, but our Purim Mardi Gras party is going to be hard to beat! Our evening service and Megillah reading will begin at 6:30 pm, and the party follows at approximately 7:30 pm. We will be joined by our
friends from Congregation B’nai Torah and Sinai Temple followingtheir Megillah readings, as well as families from Heritage Academy for a fun community-wide celebration, featuring Creole food, hamantaschen, Dixieland jazz, children’s activities, a mitzvah-making booth (including a donation box for Dress for Success—see article on page 7), and, of
course, plenty of Mardi Gras-style bead necklaces! Our Community Purim Celebration is for all ages, not just children. We hope to see you there—with or without your costumes!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE PAGE 2 Melton and MePAGE 2 Home Hospitality for SedersPAGE 3 Solel UpdatePAGE 10 Passover GuidePAGE 13 Annual Meeting & SlatePAGE 15 Meet the Ross Family
MMTemple Beth El Founded 1913. In 2008 merged with Congregation B’nai Jacob (founded 1891). Devoted to seeking God, doing Mitzvot, studying Torah, and creating Community. 1
Nechamen/Chernick Breakfast HonorsDan PlotkinSunday, March 6
Please join us on Sunday, March 6 for the 8th annual Nechamen/Chernick Breakfast, sponsored by the Program Committee. This year’s honoree is
Dan Plotkin. The breakfast begins at 9:15 am, following minyan at 8:30 am. This event raises funds for the Nechamen/Chernick Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for member children to attend Jewish educational and summer programs. Everyone is welcome to stay for TBE’s Annual Meeting which follows at 10:30 am (see article on page 13). Dan Plotkin has served as Chair of our House Committee for the past several decades (see more details on Dan in the January/February issue of Tekiah), and we are delighted to recognize him for his many years of service to TBE. The Program Committee will prepare a delicious hot breakfast for this event. The cost is $10 per person if paid by March 1, or $15 if paid after that date or at the door. Please make your reservations by visiting www.tbespringfield.org, or call the temple office at 733-4149. Contributions in Dan’s honor can be made to the Nechamen/Chernick Scholarship Fund.
“fun” factor – it’s going to be the Best. Party. Ever! and we invite everyone to come and honor Caryn Resnick. Caryn was recruited in 1995 as a visionary educator who brought a new model of education to our community. She designed award-winning thematic curricula which dove-tailed with synagogue events. OneCONTINUED ON PAGE 18
Are You Ready for the Best. Party. Ever! Stuart Chipkin, Chairperson, Board of Education
Come celebrate when the Sandi Kupperman Learning Center at Temple Beth El honors Caryn Resnick, our esteemed Director of Education, on Saturday, April 2 at 6:30 pm, starting with cocktails and a five-star dinner followed by lively, interactive musical entertainment and late-night dancing at TBE. The SKLC typically holds a significant fund-raising event every other year to help support the educational efforts for students of all ages throughout Temple Beth El. This year, in honor of the person who has directed those efforts tirelessly, professionally, creatively and always with a
Melton & MeHilary Suher For several years, I had toyed with the idea of enrolling in the Melton classes offered through Temple Beth El. Although I grew up in a Conservative temple and was a bat mitzvah, my family was not a particularly observant one. I would describe myself as a secular person rather than a spiritual one, and as a result, I often felt a disconnect with, and, quite frankly, an ignorance of Judaism and many of its traditions. While I am fairly certain that I learned these as a child in Hebrew school, I viewed enrolling in Melton as an opportunity to reacquaint myself with my religion through the lens of an adult. My Melton class has become a part of my week that I look forward to a lot. One hour of discussion is led by Rabbi Katz, and one is led by Dalia Davis. Both hours are usually characterized by reading specific passages in the Tanakh that relate to the evening’s topic, and then analyzing and discussing both ancient and contemporary rabbis’ interpretation of that text (full disclosure, before Melton, I didn’t really know what the Tanakh was!) The Melton classes have certainly given me a chance to learn, think about, and apply and share different ideas about Jewish
traditions with my family. I feel lucky to be in an environment where I am learning; how many of us can say that as adults? In what seems like a lifetime ago, I was a sixth grade teacher at one of the middle schools in Longmeadow. When anyone asked me if I liked teaching, one answer that I always gave was that I loved being in an environment where I was learning. As a teacher, there were always new areas of curriculum to learn, new units to research, etc. I am grateful that my experience with Melton has allowed me to tap into this love of learning.
While I was prepared to appreciate the educational side of Melton, one aspect of my class that has emerged as a true joy are my classmates. During our first meeting, Rabbi Katz began the class by asking each of us to share a time in our lives when we realized we were Jewish. While this was actually a difficult question for me to answer, I was amazed to hear some of the responses that my classmates shared. Several of them cried as they told their emotional stories, and I couldn’t help but think that it was pretty incredible that so many of them felt safe enough within the walls of that room to share such personal histories with relative strangers. While there were a couple of people that I recognized that first day, the majority of my classmates were new faces to me. I think it was because of this fact that I have felt comfortable sharing my thoughts with my class; had I enrolled with a friend, I somehow think I would have felt more guarded. Now that several weeks have passed, I appreciate the diversity that exists in my class. We are of different ages, different nationalities, and some of us were born Jewish, while others were not. This facet enables us to bring different perspectives and thoughts to whatever topics we are learning. We are still at the stage where we need to use our name cards to identify ourselves, but if you were a fly on the wall and listened to us, we’d sound like we were old friends.
Weekday MorningsMonday through Friday ....... 7:00 amSunday .................................. 8:30 am
Fast of Esther Wednesday, March 23Morning Service ..........................7:00 am
Purim Wednesday, March 23 Megillah Reading .......................6:30 pm
Community Purim Celebration at Temple Beth El ..................................... 7:30 pm
Thursday, March 24Purim Service & Megillah Reading........... 6:45 am
Rosh Hodesh NisanSaturday, April 9
Rosh Hodesh IyarWednesday, May 8 &Thursday, May 9Morning Service ..........................6:45 am
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Please note: Beginning Saturday, March 5, the Minhah service time for Saturdays will change to 6:00 pm.
See page 9 for our Pesah service schedule.
Home Hospitality for the Seders Many of us are fortunate to have friends or family with whom we celebrate Pesah. However, there are people in our community who are not so lucky. Perhaps their spouses have died or their children do not live locally and travel is not easy for them. Maybe they are new to the community and haven’t established many local connections. Whatever the reason, there are people who are alone on Pesah. If you are planning to have a seder and have room at your table for some additional guests, please call the temple office (733-4149) or email us at [email protected] by Friday, April 8. If you are someone who is looking for a seder to attend, please contact us as well. We will do our best to find a place for everyone who needs one, so we are counting on our warmand welcoming members to help us out.
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Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz For almost all of my life, my friends have been older. As a child, I was always the kid who loved being with the older kids. I was the youngest in my family and also the youngest in my grade. Still, I liked the company of older kids, or even adults. I always enjoyed being around people who were more experienced and who were capable of so much more. In rabbinical school, I spent much of my time with young professors and academics. My older friends had so much more life experience and were so much more interesting than my fellow classmates. My parents used to say I had an old soul. So it comes as no surprise that while I was born just after the boomer generation, I am very interested in their experiences of approaching old(er) age. And I am hoping that our community can support thoughtful conversations about aging. The Institute for Jewish Spirituality recently published a book by Rabbi Rachel Cowan and Dr. Linda Thal called Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience and Spirit.
The book is easy to read and challenges the reader to be deliberate about the aging process. It is a warm, wise and funny exploration of the gifts and challenges of growing older. The challenges are obvious, including a body that has more aches and pains, and tires more easily. Cowan and Thal argue that the gifts of aging are marvelous: consider the possibility of really thinking through what kind of legacy we wish to leave and the opportunity to finally bring our lives into greater alignment with how we have always wanted to live. In Wise Aging, Cowan and Thal suggest that aging, if approached wisely, is an opportunity to write a new chapter and to live life differently, integrating all the learning that we have done in our younger years. Wise Aging was designed so that it could be used in small groups. My hope is that we at TBE could create one or two groups of individuals who would like to think hard about what the next chapter in their lives might look like. If you would like to participate in these discussions, please email or call me.
Correction In the last issue of Tekiah, I described J Street for the congregation. It was brought to my attention that the language I used was biased, and perhaps even inflammatory. That was not my intent. I wanted to give readers a description of a relatively new voice on the Jewish scene. Founded in 2008, J Street works in American politics and in the Jewish community to advocate policies that it believes will advance the shared U.S. and Israeli interests as well as Jewish and democratic values, leading to a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.There are many organizations in our Jewish community that focus on Israel (AIPAC, J Street, CAMERA, The David Project, the New Israel Fund, to name a few). Each has its own approach and perspective. I encourage all members of the congregation to research and decide for yourself which of these organizations you would like to support.
Solel UpdateStuart Anfang, Chair
As we begin the new year, we want to give you a progress update on Solel, our exciting partnership with Sinai Temple to create an innovative joint educational program for our children. Solel means “pathbreaker.” The plan is to launch the new venture in fall 2017, spending the next 18 months preparing to hire an education director, create a new curriculum and train teachers, and expand our ongoing shared activities between the current two schools. The Boards of each synagogue have endorsed the plan and proposed budget, and we are moving forward to the next steps. This includes seeking broader feedback and input from our parents, families, students, and congregants. We are hosting special forums with our school families for information and feedback, first at our respective synagogues and then jointly bringing together members of both congregations. At the TBE Annual Meeting on Sunday morning March 6, we will also give a brief informational update about Solel, and will field questions and discussion immediately following the Annual Meeting. And mark your calendar for Wednesday evening, April 6 at 7:00 pm at Sinai Temple, when we are planning a joint discussion forum bringing together school parents and congregants from both synagogues--more details to follow in the weekly Shabbat-a-Gram email. Any questions or comments? Please contact Stuart Anfang, Rabbi Katz, or Paul Farkas.
Shabbat Zimrah Services Our popular series of Friday night services, called Shabbat Zimrah, features Cantor Elise Barber and guest musicians. Each service begins at 6:00 pm and is followed by an appetizer buffet. Enjoy beautiful music, singing, and a warm atmosphere in the chapel, and schmooze with friends afterwards. Shabbat Zimrah services will be held on the following dates:
• Friday, March 11 • Friday, April 8 • Friday, June 10
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
So much to be proud ofCaryn Resnick
As we reach the time of year when we celebrate our students’ accomplishments at the Sandi Kupperman Learning Center student-led Shabbat service, I
am grateful for almost a full year of achievements, blessings, and success in our new initiatives. I am so proud of the children’s accomplishments and our Shalom Learning online program, the new approaches we’ve tried in the religious school, the children’s ruach at Hanukkah, and the Shabbat experiences we’ve enjoyed. Our students have proven their commitment to Jewish learning despite having so many choices of how to spend their time, and I feel blessed to have such a special group this year. Their enthusiasm and creativity, even beyond the bar/bat mitzvah milestone, is astonishing. Looking around the SKLC hallways, you can see the exciting projects on which our students have embarked this year, but one less-visible element of our education program is parent support. Family involvement is one of the best parts of our SKLC programs. Whether it has been the 5th and 6th grade Family Havurah events, holiday celebrations, out-of-building gatherings to build community, or school events and fundraising efforts, the invisible fingerprints of parents and families are everywhere. Thank you for your endless support! We are also fortunate to have the Israeli emissaries working with us in grades 2-12. They teach our students about the Israeli culture in a hands-on way, and bring excitement and enthusiasm to an essential aspect of our curriculum. The teens at B’Yahad Hebrew High School have had a fun time being immersed in conversational Hebrew and culture in their class, “Ivrit on the Street.” In the younger grades, the emissaries have been successful in bringing language learning to life with an unsurpassed energy. Naama and Tal have truly made a difference in our community.
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CARYN RESNICK
I have also been privileged to work with an exceptionally ambitious and dedicated Adult Education Committee to plan events this year. Our trip to Brooklyn was enjoyable, the evening spent with Joyce Saltman was inspiring and humorous, and we have scheduled a Jewish walking tour of New York in the spring. If you have not come to Lunch & Learn at noon on Wednesdays or Cuppa Joe on Sunday mornings with Rabbi Katz, I encourage you to attend. We also have adult Hebrew reading classes and have begun an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah class. We have so much to be proud of in the realm of education at Temple Beth El from early childhood to adult education, and you, our congregation, are an essential part of it all! Remember to Just Show Up – I think you will be happy that you did!
This spring, Temple Beth El’s chapter of USY for grades 9-12 will be even more visible in our synagogue community. On Wednesday, March 23, SCUSY will be running an exciting booth that combines Purim spirit and the idea of mishloah manot with the important concepts of social action and feeding the hungry. On Saturday morning, April 2, SCUSY teens will lead Junior Congregation (grades 3-7) in an alternative Shabbat experience that will change the way you feel about prayer! If you are in grades 8-12, you can also join us on two adventures: March 12, when we attend a Springfield Falcons hockey game; and April 10, as we face life or death situations in the Adventure Room!
KADIMA YOUTH GROUPBecky Tucker, Advisor
Our Kadima youth group will join the USYers at the Springfield Facons hockey game on Saturday evening, March 12. On Sunday, April 3, join Kadima for a fun afternoon in Northampton! We’ll go bowling, explore the neighborhood, and enjoy tea and other unusual treats at Dobra Tea House. Watch your mail for more information on these events.
Student-Led Service Dear Congregants, On Saturday, March 5, the students of the Sandi Kupperman Learning Center Religious School will take a leadership role in the Shabbat morning service. We are proud that our students are able to lead us in prayer, Torah
and Haftarah. The rhythm of the service is the same, the prayer opportunities are the same and the schedule is the same. This is a morning to choose to attend and support the children and their families! The children and their families are the future of Temple Beth El! We talk about the importance of relational Judaism, we talk about the importance of building community, we worry about the future population of Jews in our community. “Just show up” March 5th and let’s all come together to kvell at our youth and dream about our future! Be sure to stay for our celebratory Kiddush lunch! I am looking forward to seeing you there!
NORA GORENSTEIN
JENN BELDEN
BECKY TUCKER
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SOCIAL ACTION EVENTS Loaves and Fishes, Christ Church Cathedral, 35 Chestnut Street, Springfield — We serve lunch on the third Wednesday of the month. Join us on Wednesday, March 16 and Wednesday, April 20 at 11:45 am. Please bring a gallon of whole milk with you.
Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church, 797 State Street, Springfield – Please note that we will not be serving dinner during March and April, due to holiday conflicts with Easter and Passover.
New England Dueling Pianos As part of the SKLC fundraiser honoring Caryn Resnick on April 2, we are pleased to have New England Dueling Pianos providing entertainment for the evening. Dueling Pianos is a fun, sing-along with two grand pianos and enormously talented pianists who seem to know every song ever written. These guys and gals can play it all, from the 40s to the 80s to today. Swing, Broadway, jazz, pop music, rock & roll, disco and even rap – and everything in between! That’s what makes this show unique... it’s your songs, the ones you grew up listening to, and the ones you and your friends know every single word to and just can’t help but sing along! Each show is different because it’s all via request. Who knows, you or your friends might even get called up on stage for a bit of good-humored fun and some unforgettable Youtube moments. Don’t miss the Best. Party. Ever!
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Our next Tot Shabbat services will be held on March 5 and April 2 at 11:00 am in the Katz Family Library. These special programs, led by Cantor Barber, are for children ages 4 and younger and their parents and/or grandparents. The interactive service features songs, stories and movement. At the end of the short service, children can join the adult service if they wish to help
Puppeteer Anna Sobel To Lead Tot Shabbatconclude with Adon Olam just before noon, and all are invited to stay for Kiddush lunch. On April 2, puppeteer extraordinaire Anna Sobel will lead Tot Shabbat. Her Talking Hands Theatre entertains children with puppets and storytelling throughout New England. Cultural awareness, environmentalism, and generosity are a few of the themes of her stories. You won’t want to miss this fabulous entertainer!
Our SKLC annual retreat was a great success! Pictured here are students displaying their creative ideas in cake for the design of a new flag for the State of Israel.
We will be offering a new Melton graduate class this spring entitled “About the Hebrew Prophets.” Please note that there are no prerequisites, and you do not need to have taken Melton Year I or Year II in order to take any graduate class. Partial funding for our Melton classes is provided by the Jewish Endowment Foundation, a division of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts.
About the Hebrew Prophets – In these 5 sessions, we will consider some of the questions often asked about the Biblical prophets:
• Who were they and why did prophecy arise in ancient Israel?
• What was their role and what were some of their messages?
• Were there female prophets? • Are there contemporary prophets?
Passages from the longer books, e.g. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel as well as from some of the shorter books, e.g. Micah, Hosea and Amos, will be discussed. The instructor will be Rabbi Devorah Jacobson. A minimum of 12 students is required to hold the class.
Dates: May 2, 9, 16, 23, June 6Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm Place: JGS Lifecare, 770 Converse Street, Longmeadow Tuition: $150 (purchase a JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh on your own) Financial subsidies are available upon request–please contact Rabbi Katz at 733-4149 or [email protected].
Registration forms are on our website, www.tbespringfield.org. For more information or to register for this class, contact Lisa in the temple office at 733-4149 or [email protected].
Sundays, March 13, 20, 27 & April 3, 10, 17 at 9:00 am When Cuppa Joe meets in March and April, we will begin to explore the Haggadah, as we prepare for Passover. There are many ways you can enrich your Passover seder with meaning and significance. We’ll be using the book entitled Leading the Passover Journey: The Seder’s Meaning Revealed, the Haggadah’s Story Retold by Rabbi Nathan Laufer. You do not need a strong background to participate, just a desire to learn. Minyan is at 8:30 am, and breakfast and the class begin around 9:00 am. Just Show Up whenever it’s convenient. Please note: Due to the Nechamen/Chernick Breakfast, Cuppa Joe will not meet on March 6.
Book Discussion Group NewsLiz Marinelli, Librarian
The book group will meet on March 16 to discuss The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant. Eighty-five-year-old Addie Baum recounts the story of her life to her granddaughter: from growing up in the North End of Boston, the child of immigrant parents, to places and events her parents could not have imagined. This novel is a moving portrait of one woman’s complicated life in 20th century America, and a fascinating look at a generation of women finding their places in a changing world. We will meet at 10:30 am in the library; everyone is welcome to join us. April is Movie Month for the book group–on April 13 we will watch Deli Man. This highly-praised documentary follows third-generation deli man Ziggy Gruber of Houston, TX, who has built one of the finest delicatessen restaurants in the U.S. His story is augmented by accounts of other iconic delis that embody a tradition linked to savory, nostalgic foods. We will meet earlier than usual at 10:00 am to allow enough time to watch the film. And keep in mind, the library has about 130 DVDs available to borrow, for all ages and comprising feature films, documentaries, and foreign films. Stop in to check out an evening’s entertainment!
Wednesdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6 & 13 at noon
WWe will continue our discussion of Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices:
War and National Security by Elliot Dorff and Danya Ruttenberg. Among the questions we will debate are the use of surveillance and profiling to protect national security, the use of torture, etc. Contributors present hypothetical cases, followed by traditional and contemporary sources. Brief essays included provoke lively discussion. On April 6, we will view the new film, Streit’s: Matzo and the American Dream. A 75-minute film, it tells the story of the factory, the family, its workers, and its place in the rich history of the Lower East Side. It is a story of tradition, resilience and the perseverance of the Jewish people. When founder Aron Streit opened its doors opened in 1925, it sat at the heart of the nation’s largest Jewish immigrant community. Today, in its 5th generation of family ownership, it remains as the last family-owned matzo business in the U.S., producing about 40% of the nation’s matzo. Please bring a dairy lunch and join us whenever you can.
Jewish Poetry of Faith and DoubtWednesday, March 2, 9 & 16 from 7:30 – 9:00 pm From biblical times to the present, Hebrew poetry has expressed both belief in God’s protection and struggled with that belief, expressing anguish and anger over God’s absence. We will engage in a close reading of biblical, medieval and modern poems that wrestle with faith. Rabbi Ed Feld will teach this 3-session class, which is co-sponsored by Sinai Temple and Temple Beth El. This class will be held at the Springfield JCC. The cost is $25 for members of TBE, Sinai Temple, and Congregation B’nai Torah, or $50 for non-members. To register, please contact the temple office at 733-4149.
LIZ MARINELLI
RABBI ED FELD
Trip to New York City The Adult Education Committee is once again organizing a NYC trip with Beth El’s popular tour guide, Mike Henderson. Join us on Sunday, May 15 for a walking tour of the Wall Street area that includes Jewish history, including the site of the first NYC synagogue and Jewish cemetery, Castle Clinton (port of entry for many Jews), Fraunces Tavern (Jewish-owned), and many others. We will visit the WTC Memorial, City Hall, the NY Stock Exchange, and many more major historic sites. We will enjoy a kosher lunch and a kosher deli dinner (Ben’s Deli), both a la carte. Please note: This trip requires good walking shoes because we will walk up to 5 miles over the course of the day (with breaks).
The cost of the trip is $65 which includes guided tour, bus, driver gratuities (cost of meals is not included). To reserve your space and pay for the trip, please contact Marie at the SKLC at 737-0170. The TBE member priority deadline is March 14. The trip will be open to the public after that date, if space is available. The deadline to R.S.V.P. for the trip is April 21. If you have any questions, please contact Phyllis Levenson at (413) 222-6015 or Caryn Resnick at 737-0170 ext. 109.
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FROM THE PRESIDENTPaul Farkas As I sit down to write, there is much talk about the upcoming election. Yes, we will be voting on our next president. I don’t want to make assumptions at this early point, but my pollsters tell me that David Ratner is the hands-down favorite.First I would like to thank all of you for the opportunity of having been president of our temple for the past three years. While challenging and time-consuming, this has been an overwhelmingly rewarding experience for me and Esta. I am especially thankful to all of you who have helped me fill this role, whether through your volunteering, your advice, your contributions, or just your handshake and warm smile. It is now up to all of us to help David in his role as president. Please continue to show up at that extra service, to volunteer to help peel the garlic, to treat a friend to a temple dinner, to find time for that evening meeting. It’s all of us, sharing those handshakes and warm smiles with each other, that makes our community the sort of place where we happily want to keep giving of ourselves. In that spirit, Bluma Bier has begun leading us in the Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service, even as she prepared a Torah reading for the next morning. In that same spirit, so many families showed up that morning that their teen and pre-teen daughters were sharing chairs as they grouped around tables at the Kiddush lunch that followed. (One of those teens, Gabby Zeller, chanted her own beautifully flowing Torah section!) It’s hard to imagine the frenetic joy of Hanukkah without our celebrations together! We light the menorah every night at evening services, adding our favorite Hanukkah songs . . . Midweek was the raucous SKLC Hanukkah party, complete with latkes and chocolate, traditional melodies and an all-
DR. PAUL FARKAS
school rap hit! What a wonderful way to re-visit second grade and all that Hanukkah should be! Friday night brought another magnificent Shabbat Zimrah, with Cantor Barber and instrumentalists and a uniquely Hanukkah flavor. Hanukkah Friday night dinner (yes, a second chance for latkes!) was huge, with our younger celebrants again forming concentric rings around their tables! Our community meets for many reasons. Thanks to our hard-working and fun-loving program committee, many of us gathered for Italian specialties and a spellbinding movie, made even funnier by all of us laughing together. Be sure to watch for future movie nights! Our Program Committee plans a great breakfast on March 6, with a tribute to Dan Plotkin, our master of floods and boilers and other engineering feats. Please come and help support our young campers and travelers. In terms of recent developments, Sinai’s board endorsed Solel, our combined religious school project, and so our planning is moving along. We have agreed to AIC’s buy-out of their lease. Our Governance Task Force has discussed best board practices. And we are creating a security task force to help us enhance our temple’s security. Please consider dedicating some copies of our new siddurs. Beyond a special personal remembrance, you will be making it much easier for each of us to join in, with transliterations of the Hebrew and with explanations and extra readings. Another way to remember special people in your life right now is with Purim bags in March, and Rosh HaShanah and Hanukkah bags later on. Purim! My costume involves a Mardi Gras hat that actually fits me! I’ll have it on for the colorful Megillah reading in front of the big screen and the boisterous party to follow, where our friends from B’nai Torah, Sinai, and Heritage are joining us! Just weeks before the end of my three years as President was the third-year yahrzeit of Esta’s mother. How grateful we are to have our Beth El family surrounding us as we
stand for the Kaddish prayer. I remember how sadly different it was to go through such losses before having the support of our Beth El community. At the end of the final service of this day, the front of the chapel was filled with all of us swaying to the melodies of Havdallah, as we turned our thoughts to the coming week. It is indeed an honor and a labor of love to serve this community. Esta and I hope to be able to do so, in many ways, for many years, with all of you. As I have often said, one of my main “dreams” for our temple is for us to continue to develop into a more and more welcoming, accepting, warm, and supporting community. While the president can influence this to a degree, it is up to each of us to make this more and more of a reality. Please join with me and Esta in welcoming David to his new position, and in working to make the dream a reality. Thank you!
Sanctuary Renovation NewsMichelle Anfang The Sanctuary Renovation Committee, Art and Architecture Committee and the Campaign Committee have been busy meeting over the winter. Campaign goals and plans have been established, and the committee has been meeting with individuals throughout the community. Local architects have been interviewed, and preliminary building estimates are being evaluated. While it may seem quiet now, we anticipate an exciting launch for our public phase of our “BE the Future” campaign later this spring. Watch your mail and emails for upcoming details.
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Who’s in Charge of this Service Anyway (Part II)?Cantor Elise Barber For our last Tekiah, I wrote an article called “Who is in Charge of This Service Anyway?” And now I’d like to ask a similar question, who is leading this service anyway? Back when I was in college, my family lived in Paducah, KY. Once when I went to visit, my mother thought we should have some girl time by going to see a play. The show at the local community theatre was an autobiographical one-man piece written by the performer. My mother and I were the ONLY people in the whole audience. It was quite uncomfortable. While I can’t say I loved the play, I’ll never forget that night, and I have tremendous respect for the playwright/ actor. Even though there were only two people in the audience, that man gave it his all. He went full out in his performance. Some of you might know that before I became a cantor, I was an actor. I performed since I was a child, and I cannot even begin to describe how much the audience would affect my and my co-workers’ performances. An audience could make us feel frustrated, elated, inspired, excited, bored, sad, or incredibly moved. An audience could teach us completely new ways to understand a line, a scene, a character, or some deep life truth. Some may think the actors are the stars of the show, but really I think it is the audience – or at least a serious back-and-forth between performers and audience. That is what makes theater magical – that exchange of energy.
Now you might find it blasphemous to equate theater with synagogue, but I think there are some similarities. For instance, it is not really the rabbi, cantor, ritual director, or other service leader who is in charge. It’s you. The energy you bring to the room is what really makes the service meaningful and worthwhile. And you affect the service leader. When I lived in Israel, my best friend Kate, who is not Jewish, came to visit me. On Shabbat evening we attended Shira Hadasha, a feminist, liberal Modern Orthodox community in Jerusalem. During the services my friend (once again, not Jewish) kept crying. Was it the beautiful voices of the service leaders? Not at all. The leaders were not great singers. Was it the words? No, the prayer books were in Hebrew and my friend does not know Hebrew. We talked about it afterwards and Kate told me it was the energy in the room. She was moved by the dedication of everyone there fully participating, whether they were great singers or not. She was moved by their spiritual and emotional devotion. She was moved by how the community treated each other. She was moved by how everyone seemed to be excited it was Shabbat, and they got to spend that special day in an incredible place together. You have that power to move someone as Kate was moved. And to affect your clergy. It’s a big responsibility, but it’s also a gift. Just by smiling at those around you, by trying to sing along even if you are afraid to, by perhaps not sitting in the back (I do know the chairs in the last row of the small chapel are more comfortable and from B’nai Jacob, so please keep sitting there if that is your practice), and by giving it your all, you can have a spiritual and emotional effect on your community. Who is leading this service anyway? You.
Israel Film Club The Federation’s Israel Desk is making available your choice of a film about contemporary Israel. You tell the Israel Desk when you want to view the film, and the DVD is delivered to you. You return it after viewing so that others can enjoy it. There’s only one requirement—the Israel Desk is asking that when you view the film, you do so as a host for a group of approximately 10 friends. The goal is to broaden the conversation about Israel by having groups of people around the community viewing the various films. Choose from:
Night Shift - contemporary film about the Ethiopians in Israel
Silicon Wadi - about young Israelis creating start-ups
Welcome and Condolences - about the many Russians coming from the former Soviet Union to live in Israel
Partner with the Enemy - an Israeli woman and Palestinian woman go into business together
Each film is about an hour long. To sign up, or for more information, contact Ronda Jackowitz at the Israel Desk at [email protected] or (413) 374-3729. These films are sponsored by: The Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts, the Springfield JCC (The Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival), Temple Beth El, Sinai Temple, and Congregation B’nai Torah.
Melton Trip to ItalyRabbi Amy Wallk Katz Please consider joining me on the Melton Study Seminar to Italy on April 24-May 5, 2017. I have worked with the tour educator Haim Aronovitz for many years. We have led more than a dozen trips to Israel, and have also traveled with groups to Poland and Spain. Haim is a gifted educator and I am thrilled to be working with him on a seminar to Italy. Together we will examine Italian history and the history of the Jews in Italy. Besides learning about the past, we will be exposed to Jewish life in Italy today.
In a Melton study seminar, we travel the country, using Jewish texts to understand the Jewish story and the story of the place we are visiting. Participants will understand the story of Italian Jewry and they will see some of Italy’s most significant sites. The seminar allows for an engagement with Jewish and Italian history and culture in ways that only Melton can offer! There will be 25 people on this trip, and 10 spots have been reserved for members of our community. Sign up fast; the Melton seminars have waiting lists. If you would like information about the trip, contact Lisa in the temple office, 733-4149.
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Searching for the HametzThursday evening, April 21 One of my most favorite Passover moments comes before the Seder! On the night before Seder I have completed by cooking and cleaning. I am absolutely exhausted. Every muscle in my body aches. My children are excited for the company, the food, and yes, even the Seder. My table is set and it looks beautiful with my mother’s china and my grandmother’s silver. Everyone is planning what hametz (leavened foods) they will eat after the holiday has ended. Sometime after sundown, I take about 10 pieces of hametz and hide them throughout our house. Before we begin the search for the hametz, we say the following blessing, “Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who sanctified us by commanding us to remove all the hametz.” We dim the lights and walk around with a flashlight and paper bag (traditionalists might prefer a candle and feather), looking for hametz. As my children search, I give hints as to whether they are looking in the right places.
The search for hametz takes about 10 minutes. I sometimes have to re-hide some, as I want all of our children to find some hametz. Once all the hametz is gathered, we recite the following formula. “All hametz in my possession, which I have not seen and have not removed, shall be nullified and be ownerless as the dust of the earth.” Then we go for ice cream.
Burning the HametzFriday morning, April 22 In the morning, Gabriel builds a fire in our fire pit and burns the hametz. After the hametz has burned, Gabriel and I recite the following formula. “All leaven or anything leavened which is in my possession, whether I have seen it or not, whether I have observed it or not, whether I have removed it or not, shall be considered nullified and ownerless as the dust of the earth.”
Selling of the Hametz Jewish tradition tells us that before Pesah we are to sell all of our leaven. We are to avoid owning or deriving benefit from wheat, barley, oats, spelt, or rye if they have been involved at all in the fermenting process. We do this to recall the hasty departure from Egypt. Traditionally upon selling hametz before Pesah, Jews donate to Maot Hittin (money for wheat). These funds are used to help Jews in need of money for celebrating the holiday. Rabbi Katz will be administering the fund this year. Mark contributions “Passover Fund” and return the form below to TBE.
HametzRabbi Amy Wallk Katz
PESAH SCHEDULE 2016Fast of the first born Friday, April 22 ....................................... 7:00 am Dispose of hametz by 10:00 am
Erev Pesah (First Seder) Friday, April 22 (No Minha Service) Candlelighting .......................................7:22 pm
1st Day/2nd Evening Pesah (Second Seder) Saturday, April 23 Morning Service ..................................... 9:30 am (No Minha Service) Candlelighting .......................................8:22 pm
2nd Day Pesah Sunday, April 24 Morning Service ..................................... 9:30 am Minha ......................................................5:45 pm Havdalah ................................................ 8:22 pm
Hol HaMoed Pesah Monday, April 25-Thursday, April 28 Monday-Wednesday Morning Service . 7:00 am Thursday & Friday Morning Services ..... 6:45 am
7th Evening Pesah Thursday, April 28 Evening Service ..................................... 6:00 pm Candlelighting .......................................7:29 pm
7th Day/8th Evening Pesah Friday, April 29 Morning Service ..................................... 9:30 am Kabbalat Shabbat Service/Yizkor ...........6:00 pm Candlelighting .......................................7:29 pm
8th Day Pesah Saturday, April 30 Morning Service/Yizkor .......................... 9:30 am Minha ......................................................6:00 pm Havdalah .................................................8:29 pm
Selling of the Hametz Form I, _______________________________________________ ,hereby authorize Reverend David Aminia or Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz to act as my agent in 2016 to sell any hametz that may be in my possession, wherever it may be (at home, place of business, car or elsewhere) in accordance with Jewish law.
Contribution to Maot Hittin $ ____________________________
PassoverGuide 5776 The following is based on the Guide that was prepared for the Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards by Rabbi Barry Starr.
Of all the festivals, Pesah requires the most preparation. It takes me weeks to clean my kitchen and be ready to cook for the seders. Here are guidelines prepared by the Rabbinical Assembly. One section is devoted to foods and the second section describes how to kasher your kitchen. I realize this includes many more rules than you may follow in your home. I am distributing the Pesah guide for two reasons. First, I want you to understand what it means to kasher a kitchen for Passover. Second, I imagine many of you do clean your homes and prepare for the holiday. Perhaps this year you will clean differently. Or you will decide to kasher something that in years past you did not. Please do not feel that preparing your kitchen for Pesah is all or nothing. You may not own separate dishes, or extra pots and pans. But you can still clean your kitchen and prepare your home for the holiday. In a strange way I find that cleaning for Passover is really an enjoyable and spiritual experience. I do admit it is also very tiring. Please know, no question is foolish and I hope you will call me, as you prepare for the holiday. Wishing you and your family a zissen Pesah (a sweet Pesah).
—Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz
FOODS AND FOOD STUFFThe Torah prohibits the ownership of hametz (leavened grains) during Pesah. Therefore, we arrange for the sale of the hametz to a non-Jew. The transfer, mekhirat hametz, is accomplished by appointing an agent, usually one’s rabbi, to handle the sale. It is a valid and legal transfer of ownership. At the end of the holiday, the agent arranges to repurchase the items on behalf of the owner, since the hametz is again permitted. If ownership of the hametz was not transferred before the holiday, the use of any such hametz remains prohibited after the holiday (hametz sheavar ha-Pesah).
Since the Torah prohibits the eating of hametz during Pesah, and since many common foods contain some hametz, guidance is necessary when shopping and preparing for Pesah. An item that is kosher all year round, and that is made with no hametz, and is processed on machines used only for that item and nothing else, may be used with no special Pesah supervision. White milk would be an example of such a product. In most cases however, since we do not know enough about the processing of products or the sources of ingredients products ought to have Pesah supervision. Those who wish to follow other opinions should check with their Rabbi.
What follows is a general guideline. All kosher for Pesah items must have a label indicating the name of a recognizable living supervising Rabbi or kosher supervision agency. Items that have a label that is not integral to the package and does not indicate the product and current Pesah year, should not be used without consulting your Rabbi.
PROHIBITED FOODS Prohibited foods include the following: leavened bread, cakes, biscuits, crackers or coffees containing cereal derivatives, i.e. anything made with wheat, barley, oats, spelt or rye. Any food containing these grains or derivatives of these grains (the five prohibited species for Pesah) are forbidden. Foods containing flavorings, which may be derived from alcohol produced from one of these grains that would be hametz, need Pesah supervision.
Ashkenazi Rabbinical authorities have added the following foods (kitniyot) to the above list: e.g. rice, corn, millet, beans and peas. These and other plant foods (e.g. mustard, buckwheat and sesame seeds) are not permitted on Pesah. Although many rabbinic authorities have prohibited the use of peanuts and peanut oil, our Movement’s Committee on Laws and Standards has permitted their use and consumption on Pesah provided said items have proper kosher certification and no obvious hametz.
Most Sephardic authorities permit the use of all the kitniyot foods other than those that might have come in contact with the prohibited grains. The further processed products, whether liquid or solid from kitniyot, are also forbidden by most rabbinical authorities. These might include but not be limited to: corn sweetener, corn oil, soy oil and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Israeli products are often marked “contains kitniyot” and, thus, Ashkenazi Jews who do not use kitniyot need to be vigilant when purchasing Israeli products.
PERMITTED FOODSThe following foods require no kosher l’ Pesah label when purchased before or during Pesah: fresh fruits and vegetables that have not been coated (the supermarket is required by the FDA to have a list of such products), eggs, fresh fish from a kosher source and fresh kosher meat or frozen, raw hekhshered meat other than ground products as ground products with prohibited materials could be made on the same equipment.
The following products require reliable kosher l’Pesah certification (regular kosher supervision being not sufficient) whether bought before or during Pesah: all baked goods (matzah, Pesah cakes, matzah flour, farfel, matzah meal and any other products containing matzah, canned or bottled fruit juices, canned tuna, wine, vinegar, liquor, decaf coffee, dried fruits, oils, frozen uncooked vegetables, candy, chocolate flavored milk, ice cream, yogurt, all cheeses and soda. (These restrictions hold for Ashkenazic Jews; for Sephardic Jews, the presence in some of these products of kitniyot but not hametz may not present a problem.
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The following foods require no kosher l’Pesah label but do require Kashrut supervision if purchased new and unopened before Pesah: natural coffee without cereal additives, non-confectioners sugar, pure tea (not flavored herbal or decaf tea), salt with no iodine, milk (in the absence of a kosher Pesah alternative), frozen uncooked fruit with no additives, and baking soda.
Any processed food bought during Pesah must have a kosher l’Pesah label.
Any detergent, because it is not a food and it is not eaten, may be used for Pesah.
KASHERING OF KITCHEN APPLIANCES & UTENSILSIt is customary (and easiest) to remove the utensils and dishes that are used during the year, replacing them with either new utensils or ones used year to year only for Pesah. This is clearly not possible for major appliances and may not even be possible for dishes and utensils. There is a process for kashering many, but not all, kitchen items thus making them kosher for Pesah. The general principle used in kashering is that the way the utensil absorbs food is the way it can be purged of that food (Ke-volo kakh pol-to). Thus utensils used directly on a fire need to be kashered by fire (libbun), utensils used in cooking require boiling (hag’alah) and utensils used only for cold food are kashered by rinsing. Specific items are covered below.
Earthenware (china, pottery etc) cannot be kashered. However, fine translucent chinaware that was put away clean and that has not been used for over one year, may be used after washing. The china is then pareve and may be designated for dairy or meat use.
Plastic items may not be kashered.
Metal utensils used in a fire must first be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned and then must be subjected to direct fire. A blow-torch and a self-cleaning oven are two ways to accomplish this purging (libbun). This is a complicated and potentially dangerous procedure and may result in discoloration of the metal being purged. Exercise caution when performing libbun. Metal baking utensils cannot be kashered because they require direct fire and this will warp them.
To kasher metal pots used for cooking and eating and silverware and utensils wholly of metal not used for baking, thoroughly clean the item, then following a strict 24 hour waiting period where they are not used, then immerse the item (hag’alah) in boiling water. For pots and pans, clean handles thoroughly. Each item must be completely exposed to the boiling water. Pots and pans are either immersed in a larger pot of boiling water (may be done one section at a time) or filled with water brought to a rolling boil and then a heated stone is dropped into the pot such that the boiling water overflows to cover the sides of the pot. In the case of silverware every part of each piece must be exposed to the water at a rolling boil. Following this process, each utensil is rinsed in cold water.
Ovens and Ranges – every part that comes in contact with food must be thoroughly cleaned. This includes the walls and top and bottom of the oven. Then the oven or range should be heated as hot as possible. The oven should be heated at maximum heat for an hour; the range top until the elements turn red and glow. Then parts of the range top around the elements that can be covered should be covered, usually with aluminum foil. Self-cleaning ovens are put through the full cleaning cycle while empty. Following this process, the oven should be again cleaned to remove any ash. If the oven was very dirty to start, two cycles may be needed to assume a thorough cleaning.
Smooth top electric ranges present a challenge. We recommend cleaning the top thoroughly and then turning on the burners to maximum so that it heats as hot as possible, and then carefully pour boiling water on the surface area around the burners.
Microwave ovens that have no convection option should be thoroughly cleaned. Then an 8-ounce cup of water is placed inside, the oven is turned on until the water almost disappears (at least 6 of the 8 ounces is gone). Heating to complete dryness may damage the oven. A microwave oven that has a browning element cannot be kashered.
Convection ovens are kashered like regular ovens. Make sure to clean thoroughly around the fan.
Glassware is a subject about which the authorities disagree. One opinion requires that glasses be soaked in water for three days, changing the water every 24 hours. Another opinion requires only that the glasses be scrubbed and cleaned thoroughly or run through a dishwasher. Glass cookware is treated like a metal pot. See above for procedure.
Glass bakeware like metal bakeware cannot be kashered.
A dishwasher needs to be thoroughly clean including the inside area around the drainage. Then a full cycle while empty should be run with detergent. After 24 hours of not being used, the dishwasher is again run empty for the purpose of kashering. The dishwasher and the racks are pareve following this process. For enamel coated dishwashers, consult a rabbinic authority.
Other electrical appliances can be kashered if the parts that come in contact with hametz are metal and are removable, in which case they may be kashered like all other metal cooking utensils. If the parts are not removable, the appliances cannot be kashered.
Tables, closets, and counters should be thoroughly cleaned and covered for Pesah. The coverings can be contact paper, regular paper, foil or cloth that does not contain hametz (e.g. been starched with hametz starch). Alternatively, boiling water may be poured over the counters after they have been thoroughly cleaned.
A metal kitchen sink can be kashered by thoroughly cleaning and scrubbing the sink (especially the garbage catch), letting it sit for 24 hours and then carefully pouring boiling water over all the surfaces of the sink including the lip. A porcelain sink cannot be kashered, so Pesah dish basins and dish racks must be used, one each for dairy and meat.
Non-Passover dishes, pots, utensils and hametz food that have been sold as part of the selling of one’s hametz should be separated, covered or locked away to prevent accidental use.
This Passover Guide is also available online at www.tbespringfield.org.
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Join a TBE Committee! There are many ways to become involved at Temple Beth El, from joining a committee which meets regularly, to volunteering for a single event or project. Below is a list of the current committees at Temple Beth El, with their chairs/co-chairs. If you are interested in the work of any of these committees, please call Rhoda Peskin in the temple office (733-4149) and she will put you in touch with the appropriate person/s.
Board of EducationSandi Kupperman Learning CenterChair: Stuart Chipkin The Board of Education has overall responsibility for directing and overseeing educational activities throughout Temple Beth El, from preschool through adulthood. The Board is charged to discuss and review:
• decisions on major educational themes and curriculum;
• approaches to and evaluation of educational programs across the range of ages;
• policies for educational activities (predominantly regarding the religious school); and
• funding issues, including budget planning.
The Board is composed of volunteers who meet on a monthly basis to discuss past, current, and future educational efforts broadly categorized according to the religious school, teen education, family education, and adult education. Sub-committees exist for each of these areas, with an additional sub-committee focused on fundraising. Sub-committees focus on specific activities and functions within their domains.
Sub-Committees:• Adult Education (Chair: Phyllis
Levenson) – Responds to congregants’ interests in learning experiences by coordinating, planning, and implementing class and activities.
• Family Programming (Chair: Marja Barr) – Helps to plan and implement activities and programming that brings families together for education and fun.
• Fundraising (Chair: Larry Rubin) – Organizes projects and events to raise funds to support all education at the Sandi Kupperman Learning Center.
• PTO (Chair: Jill Cayen) - Organizes fundraising opportunities that directly support the religious school, particularly for teacher professional development.
• Religious School (Co-Chairs: Phyllis Katz & Shari Schein) – Researches schools that have been identified as schools with best practices to learn about innovative curriculum. Works closely with the Education Director to review curriculum.
• Youth (Chair: Marianne Kornblum) – Supports the work of youth advisor and serves as a liaison to other parents to help improve communication.
CemeteryChair: Allen Mackler Oversees the maintenance of the cemetery and coordinates burials.
FinanceChair: Rick Ratner Manages the finances of the congregation, including investments, and prepares annual budget.
HesedChair: Ellen Ratner Coordinates outreach to our congregants who are ill, are new parents or who have suffered a loss, through calls, notes or meals.
HouseChair: Danny Plotkin Oversees maintenance and repair of building operational systems, such as HVAC, sound, plumbing, landscaping, kitchen equipment and roofing.
Sub-Committees:• Architecture and Design (Co-Chairs: Susan
Firestone & Howard Smithline) – Advises the temple on renovation and repair projects in public areas.
LegacyCo-Chairs: Stuart Anfang & Jeff Mandell Solicits requests for members to remember TBE in their estate plans and stewards those who have made such a commitment.
MembershipChair: Esta Farkas Responsible for recruitment, welcoming and engagement of new members.
ProgramCo-Chairs: Beth Danforth & Paul Farkas Plans the Nechamen/Chernick Breakfast as well as other social programming.
Ritual LifeChair: Ellen Ratner Sets policy, with the clergy, on ritual matters, such as B’nei Mitzvah, Shabbat and holiday services, and kashrut.
SisterhoodCo-Chairs: Nancy Cole & Charlotte Meyer Plans activities and fundraisers which benefit the Torah Fund and the Sandi Kupperman Learning Center.
Social ActionChair: Suzanne Rosenberg Coordinates tikkun olam (repairing the world) activities for the greater community, such as serving lunches and dinners at shelters.
NAVA TEHILAFRIDAY, MAY 13Nava Tehila comes to our community for a joint service for Temple Beth El and Sinai Temple.
This musical Jewish Renewal group from Israel will lead Kabbalat Shabbat services at 7:30 pm at TBE, with a festive Oneg Shabbat to follow.
SISTERHOOD TORAH FUND LUNCHEONWEDNESDAY, MAY 18SPEAKER DAVID HARRIS, PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEEWEDNESDAY, MAY 25First become a blessing to yourself, so that you may become a blessing to others.
–Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
Membership Directory We are finalizing details for our TBE Membership Directory. It will include names (including children through age 22), addresses, primary phone numbers, and email addresses for all members, except for those who indicated on their surveys that they wanted specific information excluded. If you do NOT wish to include this information and did not already indicate it on the survey form you returned to us, please notify us in writing no later than March 15. If you are not sure whether or not you returned your completed survey, please contact Debbie Peskin in the temple office at 733-4149 or email her at [email protected]. Please note that the Membership Directory will be available upon request via email, in PDF format, so that it can be updated on an ongoing basis. If you do not have email, you may call the office and request a printed copy.
Dress For Success: An Opportunity to Perform a Purim Mitzvah One of the mitzvot of Purim is to give gifts to the poor (matanot l’evyonim). TBE’s Sisterhood is partnering with Dress for Success to help our members fulfill this mitzvah by collecting new and gently-used business-appropriate apparel and accessories for women in need. During the week of Monday, March 21, we will have a clothing rack and collection box in the lobby where you can drop off your donations. Items that are needed include: suits, skirts, blouses, shoes, and accessories including handbags, jewelry and unused cosmetics. If possible, please bring clothing on hangers. Dress for Success is an international non-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Your support can make a difference in the lives of countless women in our community. Visit westernmass.dressforsuccess.orgfor more information.
Dress For Success: An Opportunity to Perform a Purim Mitzvah One of the mitzvot of Purim is to give gifts to the poor (matanot l’evyonim). TBE’s Sisterhood is partnering with Dress for Success to help our members fulfill this mitzvah by collecting new and gently-used business-appropriate apparel and accessories for women in need. During the week of Monday, March 21, we will have a clothing rack and collection box in the lobby where you can drop off your donations. Items that are needed include: suits, skirts, blouses, shoes, and accessories including handbags, jewelry and unused cosmetics. If possible, please bring clothing on hangers. Dress for Success is an international non-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Your support can make a difference in the lives of countless women in our community. Visit westernmass.dressforsuccess.orgfor more information.
TBE Annual Meeting Sunday, March 6 at 10:30 am The 102nd Annual Meeting of Temple Beth El will be held on Sunday, March 6 at 10:30 am, following the Nechamen/Chernick Breakfast. All members will have the opportunity to vote on the slate of new President, Officers and Trustees. We will also hear updates and reports on the temple’s activities during the past year, as well as plans for the future (including Solel, our innovative joint educational program with Sinai Temple). Pursuant to the requirements of TBE’s by-laws, the Nominating Committee presents the following slate, as approved by our Board. This slate reflects nominees as of February 1. Other nominees may be added prior to the Annual Meeting.
Officers President David Ratner Vice Presidents Maxine Bernstein Daniel Plotkin Susan Weiss Firestone Elina DeAngelis Treasurer Eric Ratner Financial Secretary Jeremy Powers Recording Secretary Rhonda Goldberg Immediate Past President Paul Farkas
Trustees For terms expiring 2019 Esta Farkas, Ed Kline, Marianne Kornblum
For term expiring 2018 Howard Hausman
For term expiring 2017 Joshua Weiss
Nominating Committee Stuart Anfang, Chair; Michelle Anfang, Fred Brownstein, Jonathan Goldsmith, Marianne Kornblum, Jeffrey Mandell, Suzanne Rosenberg
Kosher for Passover Wine Tasting & Sale Tuesday, March 226:00 – 8:00 pm, JCC’s Goldstein Auditorium. There will also be informal wine tastings in the JCC lobby on Wednesday & Thursday, March 23 & 24 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm. For more information, contact Bev Nadler at 739-4715.
Yom HaShoah Community Commemoration Thursday, May 57:00 pm at Sinai Temple Making Meaning, Finding Hope – Join the Jewish community of Springfield as we gather together to remember those who died in the Shoah.
Camp Shushan Purim @ The JCCSunday, March 2012:30-3:00 pm (sensory safe and preschool-friendly option beginning at 12:00pm). For more info, please contact Rabbi James Greene at [email protected] or (413) 739-4715.
Pioneer Valley Jewish Film FestivalMarch 31 - April 14, 2016 Visit PVJFF.org for details.
Israel Bonds DinnerThursday, June 95:00 pm at Chez Josef in Agawam
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Sisterhood Notes Saturday, March 19 Please join us for Sisterhood Shabbat on March 19. We will have two speakers from Dress for Success who will speak about the organization and the help it provides people in need in our community (please see the information below about our clothing drive.) Following services, Nancy Cole will be sponsoring kiddush lunch in honor of her birthday. The Sisterhood will also be sponsoring the Torah Fund Luncheon on May 18, featuring a guest speaker TBA. Stay tuned for more details!
Everyone enjoyed a fun evening at Dinner & A Movie night.
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IN DECEMBER & JANUARY
To our Torah Readers: Jacob Freedman, Laura Broad, Gillian Barker, Ray Possick, Nina Katz, Ellen Ratner, Mark Sherman, Gabby Zeller, Bluma Bier
To our Haftarah Readers: Jacob Freedman, Harlan Wahrman, Mark Jackowitz, Fred Brownstein, Max Chorowski, Mark Sherman, Dennis Gordan, Michelle Anfang
To our Service Leaders: Steve Weiner, Dennis Gordan, Harlan Wahrman, Emily Robinson, Steve Weiner, Ilana Rapaport, Howard Hausman, Aylee Elfant Weiss
BREAKFAST SPONSORS: In honor of Paul’s birthday
Esta FarkasIn memory of his mother, Pearl
Allen MacklerIn honor of our 65th anniversary
Bernie & Selma Milstein
Please call Reverend Aminia at 733-4149 to sponsor a breakfast.
KIDDUSH SPONSORS:In honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their son, Jacob Freedman
Michael & Joanne FreedmanIn honor of the Walter Gordenstein’s 85th birthday
June GordensteinIn gratitude for the recovery of Rick Ratner
David and Ellen RatnerIn honor of Paul’s birthday
Paul and Esta FarkasIn honor of Mason’s birthday
Amy Rapaport
If you are interested in sponsoring a Kiddush lunch to commemorate a special event, please contact Rhoda Peskin at the temple office at 733-4149.
Aaron GoldbergMARCH 26PARASHAT SH’MINI (MINHA)
Aaron Goldberg is the son of Lisa Mainville and Andy Goldberg. He is the grandson of Roberta & Ellis Goldberg, Vicki Cannell and Waldeck Mainville. Aaron has an older brother, Jesse, and a dog, Buzz. Aaron is a 7th grader at Williams Middle School in Longmeadow. Aaron enjoys playing basketball and lacrosse with his friends in town. After watching his brother win championships in lacrosse, Aaron now has one of his own. He was an integral part playing defense on our championship team this past June. Aaron is an avid Red Sox fan. His dream job is to be the general manager and negotiate all contracts for the Red Sox by 2038! If that doesn’t work out, he will become a pilot and fly his family around the world. For Aaron’s mitzvah project, he will be working with Rachel’s Table to help those in need.
Olivia SmithMARCH 12PARASHAT VAYIKRA (MINHA)
Olivia Smith is the daughter of Rachel Soumakis and Christian Smith. She is the step-daughter of Christopher Soumakis and Jade Smith and sister to Esme Smith. She is the granddaughter of Jinny West from Long Island, New York and the late Stanley Borke of Cheshire, Massachusetts. Olivia is in 8th grade at Birchland Middle School in East Longmeadow. Olivia enjoys many activities including soccer, cheerleading and theater productions. Her favorite season is the summer when she loves her annual time at Cape Cod, Canada, and Encampment at Camp Ramah. To honor the memory of her Papa Stan, who frequently volunteered to feed the hungry at all holidays, Olivia has decided, as her mitzvah project, to serve the hungry once a month at the Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Church with other volunteers from Temple Beth El.
Ilana is the daughter of Mason and Amy Rapaport, and older sister to Talia. She is the granddaughter of Joel and Marilyn Davidson of Tolland, CT, Myron Rapaport of Lake George, NY and Therese Rapaport (of blessed memory). Ilana attended Heritage Academy in Longmeadow from kindergarten through 6th grade and is currently a seventh grader at Williston Northampton School in Easthampton. She enjoys swimming and competed on the Springfield JCC swim team for 5 years before joining the Williston swim team this winter. Ilana’s other passions include snow skiing in the winter and water skiing in the summer on Lake Winnipesaukee. She has enjoyed the last five summers at Camp Tevya and is looking forward to going back to camp again this year. Becoming a Bat Mitzvah is very important to Ilana. For her Bat Mitzvah project, she chose to promote literacy by collecting children’s books and then donating the books to underprivileged youth at the Springfield Public Library. Ilana plans to continue to promote literacy by volunteering as a reading tutor.
A warm welcome to our new member:
Judith Kent
The deadline for the May/June issue is Friday, March 18. Please email all articles or photos [email protected].
“The opposite of love is not hate but indifference.The opposite of life is not death but insensitivity.”
– Elie Wiesel
The Officers and Board of Trustees of Temple Beth El wish
you and your family a happy Pesah.
Craig & Norah Kazin on the engagement of their daughter, Lindsay, to John McGrath. A wedding is planned for 2017.
Mark & Ronda Jackowitz on the engagement of their daughter, Leah Rose, to Pedro Alejandro Rangel. They will be getting married in Florida in January 2017.
Curt Freedman, who has been accepted to the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.
Ruth Auerbach, who has become a great-grandmother. Jordan Melnick was born on December 23, 2015 to Jennie & Jared Melnick of Denver, CO. Allan Kantrowitz is the baby’s grandfather.
Estelle & Jacob Shammash, who will celebrate their 60th anniversary on March 18.
Eric & Melinda Elman on the engagement of their son, Aaron, to Kelsey Richards. A wedding is being planned for the spring of 2017.
We mourn the loss of the following from December 1 through January 31.
Sylvia Allen
Irma GoldsmithMother of Jonathan Goldsmith,
Maxine Goldsmith and Heidi Goldsmith Sister of Ethelyn Bessel
Douglas Winniman
Lillian Levine
Jeanette Ascher
Richard KinslerBrother of Claire Rubin
Morris (Mace) ShapiroLoving companion of Carol Haase
Milton LieberFather of Andrea Brinnel and David Lieber
Meet the Ross Family Betty Ross My husband Steven and I have recently moved to western Massachusetts and purchased a home in Chicopee. Our daughters were the reason for our move. Our daughter, Ilyse, has been a residential student at the Berkshire Hills Music Academy in South Hadley for the last 2 years. Berkshire Hills is a school for young adults with special needs. Our daughter was born with Down Syndrome. Ilyse loves Judaism and Israel, which she visited 2 years ago through a Camp Ramah program. She has been attending Camp Ramah in Palmer for many years. She loves to go to synagogue and is a regular on Saturday mornings, helping to lead Ein Keloheinu, Aleinu and Adon Olom. These are just a few of the many prayers in her repertoire. Ilyse does not read Hebrew or much English for that matter but she had a full Saturday morning Bat Mitzvah when she was almost 13. She led most of the prayers, chanted the Maftir portion of the Torah and her Haftarah all by memory. Literally everyone in the sanctuary clapped or cried tears of happiness. Needless to say, we missed Ilyse terribly and decided that 2 1/2 hours was too far to be away from her. We had decided that she was entitled to her own town without her parents breathing down her neck, so we made the decision to move to Chicopee and let her have South Hadley all to herself. This move also brought us closer to our oldest daughter, Becky, who lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn with her husband, Michael, and our two beautiful granddaughters: Miriam who is 4, and Pearl who is 6 months old. Our son-in-law, who is from Australia, is a civil engineer. Our daughter is the Director of the Bronfman Youth Fellowships. They met in Australia where Becky was studying abroad with a program
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Members of the Program Committee prepared a delicious dinner for our Dinner & A Movie.
[email protected] We encourage you to share your news with us, so that we can rejoice together. Or if you have suffered a hardship or loss, please know our Temple Beth El community is always here for you.
This list includes all donations of at least $10 received between November 21, 2015 – January 15, 2016.
TEMPLE FUNDIn memory of Irma Goldsmith
Hortense StoneRhoda MandellElaine Shapiro & Jim CornblattThe Plotkin FamilyBernice ThalerJoy & Michael LeavittDonna GreenbergLesly & Charles ReiterShera CohenIra KaplanLila KatzSusie RosenbergCharlotte MeyerSusan KatzCarol ResnickElliot & Anne BloomThe Shortsleeve FamilyAlan & Bette GersteinJeff & Sherry MandellShelley Pleet
In memory of Douglas WinnimanHortense StoneRoslyn LeiterFreda PosnickJanet KaplanBeverly & Stephen MarcusGiovani & Helena CamerlenghiSandra LipsonDonna DreyerJudge Edward PeckCarol ResnickAnne ShapiroRuth CorbertRae & Howie DavisBetty Herman
In memory of Mortimer StoneShirley Ackerman
In honor of Ruth Auerbach’s new great-grandson
Shirley AckermanIn memory of Janet Aronson Weiss
Barbara Wagner & David SternAndrew & Nancy Leader-CramerGladys SnowSusan CohenJon Aronson
In honor of Rick Ratner’s speedy recovery
Susie RosenbergIn honor of Paul & Esta Farkas
Patti & Steve SilverMazel tov to Craig & Norah Kazin on the engagement of their daughter, Lindsay
Bill Caplin & Mary Jenewin-CaplinSharon AminiaPaul & Esta Farkas
In honor of Melanie Farkas’ engagement
Sharon AminiaBea & Jay LoevyBill Caplin & Mary Jenewin-CaplinJudy & Ted IngisEdward Gerstein
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Mazel tov on Walter Gordenstein’s 85th birthday
Merna & Sam D’AgostinoEllen & Maurice FieldsteinMarcia & Howard Albert
In memory of Joyce BursteinSheila Blum
In memory of Dorothy SnapperMiriam OdentzPhyllis Levenson
In honor of the birth of Zoli Benjamin Weissman
Elizabeth & Philip IrvingIn memory of Marcie Mackler
Sheila BlumEthelyn Bessel – You’ll always be in my heart
Phyllis GoldblattMazel tov to Carol Wernick on son Andrew’s engagement
Paul & Esta FarkasMazel tov to Helene & Claudio Orefice on their new grandson
Paul & Esta FarkasMazel tov to Beth & Gary Danforth on Lindsay’s PhD thesis acceptance
Paul & Esta FarkasMazel tov to Iris & Marc Linson on naming of Zara Rose
Paul & Esta FarkasMazel tov to Phyllis & Elliot Altman on marriage of Jason & Danielle
Paul & Esta FarkasMazel tov to Carl Karolinski on marriage of Ariel & Bryan
Paul & Esta FarkasIn memory of the uncle of Dorita Henderson
Paul & Esta FarkasMazel tov to Mark & Ronda Jackowitz on engagement of their daughter Leah
Edward GersteinIn memory of Sylvia Allen
Rae & Howie David & familyIn memory of Helen Lapidus
Phyllis Levenson
KIDDUSH FUNDWishing Sharon Aminia a speedy recovery
Susan & Bill FirestoneIn memory of Irma Goldsmith
Susan & Bill FirestoneIn honor of the engagement of Melanie Farkas
Alan & Bette GersteinMichael & Dorita Henderson
In honor of Suzanne Chorowski’s special birthday
Michael & Dorita HendersonLucille Halberstadt
In memory of Joyce BursteinAlan & Betti Gerstein
In memory of Helen LapidusPhyllis Levenson
In memory of Dorothy Berger Snapper
Phyllis Levenson
MINYAN FUNDIn honor of the engagement of Esta & Paul Farkas’ daughter
Sheila BlumCarole MagidsonCarol Wernick & family
In appreciation of Rev. AminiaJocelyn Tobin & Stu Weissman
In memory of Irma GoldsmithMyra & Jerry GoldGary & Abby Goodman
Yahrzeit of Morris Gerstein, beloved father
Edward GersteinIn memory of Joyce Burstein
Edward Gerstein
SANDI KUPPERMAN LEARNING CENTER FUNDIn memory of Irma Goldsmith
Caryn ResnickIn honor of Rose Gevanthor’s Bat Mitzvah
Caryn ResnickIn honor of Charlie Blumberg’s Bar Mitzvah
Caryn ResnickIn honor of Melanie Farkas’ engagement
Suzanne & Max ChorowskiIn honor of Lindsay Kazin’s engagement
ISRAEL & RAMAH SCHOLARSHIP FUNDCongratulations to Ruth Auerbach on her first great-grandchild
Miriam & Dennis GordanIn honor of Melanie Farkas’ engagement
Miriam & Dennis Gordan
NECHAMEN CHERNICK SCHOLARSHIP FUNDIn memory of Douglas Winniman
Susan & Jonathan GoldsmithIn memory of Irma Goldsmith
Ellen & David RatnerAlison & Glen Mayer
KATZ FAMILY LIBRARY FUNDIn memory of Irma Goldsmith
Ellen Alpert
SIDDUR LEV SHALEM FUNDIn honor of Mason Rapaport’s 50th birthday
Susan & Bill Firestone
ALAN GOLDBERG YOUTH FUNDIn memory of Douglas Winniman
Dianne Goldberg & daughtersSora Torff & Jack GoldbergSusan Goldberg Percy & family
In memory of Joyce BursteinSora Torff & Jack Goldberg
Wishing Jack Goldberg good health
Carol Haase & Mace ShapiroIn memory of Douglas Winniman
Carol Haase & Mace Shapiro
WEINBAUM CHAPEL FUNDYahrzeit of Burton J. Weinbaum, beloved father
Lynn W. CartwrightYahrzeit of Burton J. Weinbaum, beloved father
Neil WeinbaumYahrzeit of Burton J. Weinbaum, beloved husband
Joyce WeinbaumIn memory of Irma Goldsmith
Joyce Weinbaum
PHILIP & MIRIAM ZELLER CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL FUNDIn memory of Naomi Spivak
Charlotte & Allen Zeller
NETTIE & MORRIS GOLDSTEIN FUNDIn honor of Melanie Farkas’ engagement
Phyllis & Elliot AltmanIn memory of Irma Goldsmith
Phyllis & Elliot Altman
BERNARD & SARAH ALTMAN ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIP MEMORIAL FUNDIn memory of Irma Goldsmith
Melvyn Altman
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUNDIn appreciation of Rabbi Katz
The Berkenwald FamilyJocelyn Tobin & Stu WeissmanMarcy MeklerNancy & Jay FalikDale Rosenberg &
Amy LoewenthalMazel tov to Craig & Norah Kazin on their daughter Lindsay’s engagement
Bill Caplin & Mary Jenewin-CaplinMazel tov to Mark & Ronda Jackowitz on engagement of Leah & Pedro
Bill Caplin & Mary Jenewin-CaplinIn memory of Janet Aronson Weiss
Robyn & Norm StavisIn memory of Jay Albert Goldby
Penny & Don ShukanBarbara Perman & James Ballard
TREE OF LIFE
Leaves for the Tree of Life may be purchased for $250 to honor a friend or family member. Please contact Rhoda Peskin at 733-4149 if you would like to order a leaf.
YAHRZEIT PLAQUES
Yahrzeit plaques were recently purchased in memory of:
Judith FieldsteinBruce L. WilsonRose Stockser WilsonSandra Weinberg Wilson
Yahrzeit plaques are fitting way to remember a loved one’s yahrzeit in perpetuity. They are displayed in the temple lobby each year during the week of the yahrzeit. The cost is $375. If you would like to purchase a plaque, please contact Reverend David Aminia at 733-4149.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15WMEET THE ROSS FAMILY
from Barnard College, from where she graduated a year later. We are so proud of all of them. It did not take us long to find Temple Beth El, and even less time to join. We found the temple to be a very warm, loving, down-to-earth community. We have always been members of a synagogue, but this is the synagogue that we have felt most at home. We moved from Swampscott, MA. We both have a sort of connection to this our new area. I graduated from UMass Amherst as an out-of-state student coming from Saddle Brook, NJ. I majored in Child/Human Development and then went on to get my MSW at UConn School of Social Work in West Hartford, CT. I was born in Haifa, Israel, and emigrated to America when I was 2 1/2 years old. My parents lived there for 20 years from 1933-1953. My father was a brick layer, literally building up the country. My husband, Steven, was brought up in Long Beach, NY. He has lived in many places including California and Charleston, WV, where he graduated from Morris Harvey College with a degree in Biology. He went on to pursue a dental degree in Guadalajara, Mexico, with internships in Texas and Vermont. His claim to fame is that he was on the dental team that removed the wisdom teeth from Ben Cohen, the ice cream mogul of Ben and Jerry’s. Fortunately he realized very soon after graduating and passing his U.S. National Boards that this was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Fast forward years later, and Steven is now in sales and is a part-time motor coach driver out of Boston. Our other connection to the area is that we got married in Agawam at Chez Josef 26 years ago. At the time, I lived in New Haven and Steven lived in Norwalk. None of our relatives then or now even live in Massachusetts, but when we saw the venue we knew that was the place we wanted to get married. Currently Steven has joined a local ham radio club and is a volunteer in communications with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, Civil Air Patrol. I have become more active in the synagogue, participating in the book group as I am an avid reader. I attend Lunch and Learn and plan to be part of the Sisterhood. I am a life member of Hadassah and have joined that book group as well. Steven and I just joined the Program Committee and had fun working on the dinner and movie night recently. We would like to thank everyone for embracing the three of us. We would especially like to thank Esta Farkas for reaching out to us and making us feel so welcome and wanted. She and Paul have been great role models for us. Also, we’d like to give a big thank you to Rabbi Katz, David Aminia and Cantor Barber for sharing the pulpit with Ilyse. Emily Robinson, Jonathan Travers & Rachel
Smithline helped with Dinner & A Movie.
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PREVIOUSLY @ TBESee the photos on back cover
A Wonderful Social Evening Over fifty of our members and friends enjoyed a lively evening of delicious food, great conversation, and a hilarious movie on January 11. The Program Committee once again presented a warm and wonderful social event. They prepared and served a lovely pasta bar, salad bar and sundae bar. Keeping the Faith, which many of the audience saw for the first time, was a huge hit. People are already talking about what movie we should show next. We are truly grateful to Marge Robinson and her wonderful committee, which keeps growing with new members, for all of their shopping, schlepping, cooking, serving and cleaning. She was ably assisted by Maxine Bernstein, Bluma Bier, Andrea Brinnel, Beth Danforth, Paul and Esta Farkas, Michelle Greston, Emily Robinson, Betty and Steve Ross, Jody and Tina Smith, and Ellen and Rachel Smithline and Jonathan Travers. Next on their agenda is the 8th annual Nechamen/Chernick Breakfast on March 6. See the article on page 1 for more details.
TBE Musicians Perform at Beit Café Approximately 45 members of all ages enjoyed an evening of music at our 4th annual Beit Café, held on Saturday evening, January 30. The musicians who performed included Carol Resnick, Mary and Hannah Adler, Cantor Elise Barber, Sydney and Madison Goodman, Curt Freedman, Vickie Phillips, Dennis Gordan, and the trio of Charlie Blumberg, Rose Gevanthor and Tess Scolari. From Bach to Rogers & Hammerstein to Lady Gaga, the music spanned the centuries. Thanks to all of the musicians who took time out of their busy lives to prepare for this event. Thanks also to Amy and Mason Rapaport for opening up their beautiful home and being gracious hosts for this event.
field trips outside the synagogue? Caryn coordinated that. Did your teenagers learn Jewish perspectives at Hebrew High School (B’Yahad) or meet other Jewish teens through USY? Caryn directed that. Did your family come to a Purim celebration, Hanukkah show or a music program and have a ball? Caryn did that, too. Caryn’s enthusiasm and energy are palpable to anyone who talks with her. She fosters an environment in which children, teens, adults and families learn about Torah, prayer, holidays, history, Jewish values and ethics, Hebrew and Israel. She has made adults into students and student into adults. She has helped TBE become a place for life-long learning and she has been a major force in creating the next generation of knowledgeable and inquisitive Jewish adults. Now, after more than 20 years of creating, innovating, directing, supporting and mentoring, Caryn will continue to support The SKLC as it transitions to the new joint educational enterprise with Sinai Temple. Come to the SKLC fundraiser on April 2nd and let’s celebrate Caryn with an evening worthy of her spirit! We hope you will join us for a delicious dinner, then party the night away singing along with New England Dueling Pianos, a high-energy, interactive, unique show of musical entertainment, and kick up your heels for some late-night dancing! See article on page 13 for more information on our entertainment. The cost to attend is $75 per person. Visit www.tbespringfield.org to R.S.V.P. no later than March 18. There is also an opportunity to show your support for the SKLC by placing an ad or message for Caryn in an electronic ad book to be shown throughout the evening. Please show your generous support to help the SKLC continue Caryn’s vision of Jewish education for years to come and celebrate this outstanding educator and organizational treasure.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ARE YOU READY FOR THE BEST. PARTY. EVER!of the many modules she created was in 2003, when the religious school studied Israel. This was during Intifada, the period of intensified Palestinian violence when people were not traveling to Israel. Caryn personally contacted 20 shop owners in Israel and invited them to our community. She organized travel, home hospitality, and a “Shuk” where the shop owners could sell their products. The social hall looked like the streets of Israel, and over 900 people from throughout the community attended this special event. The shop owners returned to Israel having sold almost all of their merchandise. Caryn hired a group of Israeli musicians to conclude the day with a spirited concert. For a different module called “Coming to America,” the social hall was set up as an immigration checkpoint and the adults learned Yiddish language and music. She tirelessly worked to raise money for many years to offset the expenses and enable our teenagers to travel to Israel with her for an outstanding Israel experience. Caryn has looked continuously for ways to help support the SKLC by identifying and writing grants that bring youth, family and adult education, music and art to Temple Beth El. As educational philosophies and technology evolved, Caryn has remained in the forefront to bring change to our 21st century learners. We now have two grades which participate in real-time online learning. She has dedicated her time with Jewish educational professionals throughout the region to identify the best practices, tools and resources for educating our community. Caryn has been responsible for the educational programming throughout our synagogue for everyone, from toddlers to great-grandparents. Did you come and enjoy the Shabbaton with multiple “tracks” and ways to experience Shabbat? Caryn did that. Did your children benefit from the curriculum at the synagogue or the
Thank You to Our Office Volunteers Have you called or stopped by the office to make a payment or a reservation or for an appointment with a member of our staff? Chances are you have been greeted by one of the three women who graciously give of their time, so that the staff has more time for other tasks. Temple Beth El is very grateful to Vickie Donovan, Rae Davis and Yelena Litvinov. They receive no compensation for their time other than our enduring gratitude. So, next time you stop by or call, think about adding your thanks as well. We can’t thank them enough. If you have a few hours to spare every week and would like to find out more about how you can help in the office, please call Rhoda at 733-4149 or email her at [email protected].
What’s happening at Temple Beth ElAdult Education ProgramsCuppa Joe – Sundays, March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10, 17 at 9:00 am
Lunch & Learn – Wednesdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13 at 12:00 pm
Katz Family Library Book Club – Wednesdays, March 16 & April 13 at 10:30 am
Adult Social EventsNechamen Chernick Breakfast – Sunday, March 6 at 9:15 am
SKLC Bi-Annual Fundraising Event – Saturday, April 2 at 7:00 pm
MeetingsAnnual Meeting – Sunday, March 6 at 10:30 am
Solel Discussion Forum with TBE & Sinai Temple Members – Wednesday, April 6 at 7:00 pm at Sinai Temple
Board of Trustees – Wednesday, April 20 at 7:00 pm
OFFICERSDr. Paul Farkas, President Maxine Bernstein, Vice President Susan Firestone, Vice PresidentDan Plotkin, Vice PresidentDavid Ratner, Vice PresidentRick Ratner, TreasurerJeremy Powers, Financial SecretaryRhonda Goldberg, Recording SecretaryStuart Anfang, Immediate Past President
