Rachel Covell Bat Mitzvah: August 29–30 (see page 3)

Friday Evening Services Resume with First Friday Shabbat in the Park (see page 5) Friday, September 5, 2014 at 6:00 pm (War Memorial Park)

Explaining the High Holy Day Machzor (see page 6)Sunday September 14 at 12:30 pm andWednesday September 17 at 7:30 pm

5775 High Holy Day Services (see page 4)

Rosh HashanahWednesday, September 24: Evening Service at 7:30 pmThursday, September 25: Morning Service at 9:30 am Kiddush Luncheon at 12:30 pm NOTE: There will not be a second day service on Friday, but please join us for Shabbat Shuva on Saturday.

Shabbat ShuvaSaturday, September 27: Morning Service at 10:00 am

Yom KippurFriday, October 3: Kol Nidre Service at 7:30 pmSaturday, October 4: Yom Kippur Services at 9:30 am Afternoon/Ne’ilah Services at 5:30 pm Break Fast at 7:30 pm (no charge)

2. The Grapevine

3. Covell Bat Mitzvah

4. High Holy Days Info

5. Shabbat in the Park

6. Rabbi’s Column

7. Focus on Finance,

Mitzvah Opportunity

8. Barb’s Blog, Lasagna Drive

9. Football Pool

10. Education Corner

11. Pittsburgh Area Events

12. Pittsburgh Area Events

13. Donations, Funds

14. Lou Zell Fund

15. Yahrzeit Notices

16. Member Advertisements

17. Giant Eagle

Beth Samuel Jewish Center810 Kennedy Drive

Ambridge, PA 15003724-266-5238

bethsamueloffice@comcast.net

Office Hours: Monday - Friday9 am to 2 pm

Stephanie Wolfe, Rabbi Lynn Klein, President SEPTEMBER 2014

In this issue...

Happy BirthdayAug 1 Marilyn CaplanAug 2 Alexandra Ross, Dot Wedeen and R.J. WilsonAug 9 Elaine HerskovitzAug 11 Margaret Farkas, Sally MoravitzAug 12 Pam SchnurerAug 19 Cyndi GrandAug 22 Dan KleinAug 23 Ira CohenAug 24 Betty Katz, Diane and Elizabeth NitzbergAug 28 Rachel CovellAug 29 David SlaterAug 31 Virginia Steinfeld, John Homich

Sep 1 Harold Reisz, Charlie MoravitzSep 2 Amy Snider, Sharon CamhiSep 4 Helen Berman, Ellen PomerantzSep 6 Amy CovellSep 8 Paul Freeman, Matthew CohenSep 12 Robin MusherSep 13 James NeftSep 14 Arielle Karp, Stephanie CohenSep 17 David Landay, Olivia McLeod Sep 19 Zachary KarpSep 20 Michael Dripps, Jr.Sep 27 Richard WilsonSep 28 Jeff MurraySep 29 Paige Landay

Jim and Esther Neft became proud grandparents on July 3 when their son Joel and his wife Leia welcomed son Noam Ariel. The name means friendship and strength, and we send our wishes that Noam will be blessed with an abundance of both!

Congratulations to Ben and Tracey Moravitz and their family on moving into their new home. They are now at 111 Grouse Lane in Sewickley.

Former congregant Burt Gusky of Boca Raton passed away last week. Burt attended Sunday School and became a Bar Mitzvah at Beth Samuel Jewish Center. He leaves behind his wife Marilyn and daughters Phyllis & Michelle.

Former congregant Miriam Kushner has passed away. She was a valued member and Sunday School teacher before moving to Morristown, PA with her husband Sy. 2

Happy AnniversaryAug 3 Jay & Ilene KleinAug 7 Jeremy & Robin MusherAug 12 Mitchell & Dawn AckermanAug 19 Allan & Marlyn Gastfriend

Sep 4 Paul Palevsky & Sharon RosemanSep 13 David & Caron LandaySep 13 Alex & Gerry WernerSep 22 Robert & Barbara Thaw

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High Holy Day TicketsYou will soon be receiving your tickets for the High Holy Days. This is a security measure to control who enters the building during these crowded times. There is no charge for the tickets. Each member’s household will be sent a number of tickets matching the number of adults living at that address (children under 18 do not need a ticket when accompanied by an adult).

Additional tickets can be purchased for a very reasonable cost for out of town family and friends who wish to attend services during this sacred time of the year. In addition, anyone who is a member of another congregation may attend our services at no charge. Children under age 18 are also welcome to attend at no charge. Local individuals who are not a member of the congregation may attend our services either through our First Year Family program or as a stand-alone ticket. Please contact the office for all additional ticket rates.

If you need additional tickets, please just contact the office with each adult’s name and address (via phone at 724-266-5238 or e-mail at bethsamueloffice@comcast.net) and the tickets will be mailed or they can be held at the door.

Please remember to bring your tickets with you for each service. A security guard and a staff person will be checking tickets before you enter the sanctuary. We appreciate your cooperation.

Saturday, October 4 Immediately Following Services

There is no charge this year for our festive Break Fast, although your donation to help us cover the cost of food is much appreciated.

Please RSVP to the office at 724-266-5238 or bethsamueloffice@comcast.net no later than

September 26 to ensure that we plan appropriately.

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Join us for

Shabbat

in the Park

Friday, September 5, 20146:00 - 9:00 pm

War Memorial Park - Shelter #1800 Blackburn Rd Sewickley, PA 15143

* Fun family activities & music* Pot Luck Dinner (dairy)

* Family Shabbat Services* Oneg

Please bring your favorite dish!!Main dish, salads, and side dishes are needed.

Please let the office know what you will be bringing.Desserts and beverages will be provided.

Please RSVP by Monday, September 2nd to:

bethsamueloffice@comcast.netor 724-266-5238

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The High Holy Days are a special time of year when we gather together to reconnect with traditions that we value. As we sit through the services, we hear the liturgy and we are reminded of years past when we have heard the same prayers, be them recent or back to our childhood. The traditions are part of what keeps us coming year after year.

Still, many members of our congregation have memories of something other than the complex Hebrew service that has been the tradition at Beth Samuel. Or, as they move ahead in their lives, they are looking for something that speaks to them in a more meaningful way.

This year, we will try something new at Beth Samuel that will hopefully combine many of those old traditions with the desire for more creativity.

We are going to use a new machzor Gates of Repentance which will allow us to stay within the book and adapt to these changes. This machzor has many beautiful readings to help stimulate our thoughts about the meaning of the holidays. It is designed to focus one’s mind on the meaning of t’shuvah (repentance).

With this focus, the Torah readings are slightly different. There are also other changes in some of the prayers, but the traditional High Holy Day prayers and melodies will be the same.

In order to help everyone understand the new machzor, I will be holding a workshop to explain the nuances of the services for this

year. I will also add explanations during the service for major changes.

The workshop will be held twice: • Sunday September 14 at 12:30 pm • Wednesday September 17 at 7:30 pm

As is our tradition, each family will receive at least one part in the service, so look for these assignments in your mail soon.

We look forward to seeing you on Rosh Hashanah.

Kol Tuv,Rabbi Stephanie

The Rabbi’s Columna message from Rabbi Stephanie

Combining Tradition and Creativity During the High Holy Days

Adult Education: Introduction to JudaismHave you ever thought of conversion? Just want to learn more about the basics ofJudaism so you can participate more fullyin your family’s religious practice? Now may be the time.

We are looking to start an “Introduction to Judaism” class this fall for interfaith couples, non-Jewish spouses looking to learn more, or those possibly considering converting to Judaism at some time in the future. If this might be you, contact Rabbi Stephanie at 724-266-5238 or rabbiwolfe@comcast.net.

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Mitzvah Opportunity

Members of Beth Samuel have been busy helping the local community.

Volunteers have been picking up bread from the Giant Eagle in Leetsdale and delivering it to the Center for Hope in Ambridge for distribution at their food pantry.

This is a weekly activity that doesn’t take long - just a car and a little time.

If you are able to help with this service project please contact Sue Ellen Ganz at 412-418-9704.

Shalom! Welcome to this month’s Focus on Finance.

Although the days are still long and the kids are still out of school, it’s hard to believe that summer is almost over. It’s also hard to believe that another fiscal year is almost over at Beth Samuel Jewish Center.

When the next fiscal year starts on September 1st, Beth Samuel will be implementing its first dues increase in many years. You may ask, “Why are dues increasing?”

Currently, for every $1 of expenses at BSJC (excluding Religious School), our current income only covers 75¢. The remaining 25¢ is covered by Lou Zell Fund. But this model is not sustainable. Without a change, at some point in the near future, the Lou Zell Fund will have a high enough balance to cover the deficit. Raising dues will allow us to reduce (and ultimately eliminate) deficit funding to pay for our expenses.

You may also ask, “How much are dues increasing?” Family dues will increase from $1,200 to $1,350 while individual dues will increase from $600 to $675. Increasing dues (at current membership levels) will bring in an additional $6,600 next fiscal year. As always, accommodations will be made to members unable to pay full dues.

By increasing dues, our current income will cover 80¢, reducing our deficit spending to 20¢ per $1. With additional cost cutting and increased fundraising in the new fiscal year, we will continue to close the gap between our income and our expenses.

If you have any questions or comments about any of Beth Samuel’s finances, please don’t hesitate to ask. My contact information in the membership directory or you can leave a message for me in the Beth Samuel office.

Kul Tov,Bill Snider

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I am thrilled to be the new Congregational Administrator at Beth Samuel Jewish Center. In this position, I will be responsible for many areas: • office work, programming and communications, • teaching at our religious school • looking for new ideas for social and educational programming to revitalize our congregation

I will also be looking for programs that will help sustain our synagogue financially.

Beth Samuel plays an important roll in my life. My family has been a member of BSJC for 13 years. My daughter, Mandi, and most recently my son, Reece, have become B’nai Mitzvah here. I have been a teacher at the religious school for 9 years. During that time I have taught Judaica from Preschool through 7th grade. I absolutely love working with our Sunday School kids!

While I wear many hats, my favorite is being a mom. I live in Ellwood City with my husband, Rich, who is a paramedic. Our youngest, RJ, just turned 11 and Reece is 13. Our older children are busy with their own lives: Mikey (21) works at Liberty Mutual in New Castle, Mandi (23) works at Sheffield Towers in Aliquippa and is in her senior year at Youngstown State University, and Robye (25) is living in Washington DC.

My background is in education. I hold PA teaching certifications in Elementary Education and as a Reading Specialist. I plan on using this background to help me plan educational events and programming. As much as I have enjoyed working in the schools, I am so excited and open to this career change.

When I am not at work you can find me spending time with my family. We take a family Tae Kwan Do class and have achieved the rank of brown double-stripe belt. We are preparing for our black belt test this winter. We can often be found at our local library helping with activities or working out at the gym together. I am a huge Zumba fan! I am also active in our school’s PTO and am the chair of the Family Fun Night committee, in which we plan activities for our elementary school children to do with their families.

If we do not know each other yet, please introduce yourself the next time you are in the building. I would like to know each member of BSJC personally. This will allow me to create programs and activities that will appeal to all of our members. If you have ideas for future programs or activities, please stop by and share them.

I truly appreciate your support and patience as I dive into the roll of Congregational Administrator. I am sure that together we can make positive changes at BSJC.

~ Barb Wilson

Barb’s Blog: A Message from the Congregational Administrator

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Lasagna Lunacy - Mitzvah ProjectThroughout the greater Pittsburgh area, families struggle with food security every day. But we can help! Lauren McLeod has organized a Lasagna Drive to benefit the Ambridge Center for Hope. Beth Samuel will be preparing lasagnas to donate, so that when families come to pick up their food, they will also get a home-made frozen lasagna.

The lasagnas will be donated in October. As soon as the date is set, we will call for volunteers to spend a day in our kitchen assembling, cooking and freezing lasagnas. It will be a fun day of kibitzing and noshing as we fulfill the important mitzvah of tzedakah.

You can help now! We need donations so we can get all the supplies we need. In particular, we need: Giant Eagle/Costco/Walmart gift cards, plastic gloves, aluminum foil pans and lids, lasagna noodles, tomato sauce, 9 oz paper cups and paper towels. If you would like to donate, please contact the office at 724-266-5238 or bethsamueloffice@comcast.net.

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This past year, we began implementing our new curriculum with a great deal of success. While we did not finish everything we set as our goals, we accomplished a significant amount of learning and began utilizing new and creative ways for imparting information.

This year we will be grouping the students into three levels: 1st/2nd grade; 3rd/4th grade; and 5th/6th/7th grade. All levels will have Hebrew and Judaic instruction as well as services at least once a month.

If you have not sent in your registration forms for the 5775 school year, please do so as soon as possible so that we can order the correct materials for the year. Please return one copy of the form for each child you have enrolled in the school.

We have kept tuition the same for this coming year, however any additional contributions that you are able to donate above and beyond your tuition will help us to do special programs and provide outside activities to the students.

The first day of school will be on Sunday, September 7, 2014, during which a parent meeting will take place.

We look forward to seeing you at our fall Shabbat in the Park on September 5th at War Memorial Park in Sewickley.

Please remember that Rachel Covell will become a Bat Mitzvah the last weekend in August (Labor Day weekend). We would love to see all of our school friends in attendance.

And mark your calendars for Jacob Beaudway’s Bar Mitzvah, as well. He will be called to the Torah the weekend of May 15, 2015.

Education Corner

Keep US InformedDo you have good news to share about yourself or a loved one? Have you become ill or entered the hospital? Let us know.

As members of a community, it’s important that we keep in touch and share our news. Whether it’s getting a visit, card or meal when you are ill or a congratulatory hug when a child is pregnant or engaged, we all want to be here for each other.

We appreciate knowing about situations even when you don’t want them known by the whole community. If you’d rather not share news of an illness with everyone, just let us know that. Rabbi Wolfe still likes to stay informed so she can pay you a visit or just say a private prayer for your recovery.

Please note that hospitals and physicians are not permitted to contact the synagogue about your health condition, unless you specifically give them permission and request that they contact us.

Contact the office at724-266-5238 oroffice@bethsamuel.orgto let us know about the significant events in your life!

This event is FREE, but please REGISTER if you plan to attend at http://www.jfedpgh.org/IraFormanSept2014.aspx.

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Thank you for your supportDonation acknowledgements will be mailed as soon as possible after receiving your donation. Please remember that we are short-staffed at this time and only have the office covered a few days a week.

General/Memorial Fund

Leona Bell, in memory of husband Herbert BellEdward Sondheimer, in memory of grandfather Nathan SoodikManny & Betty Katz, in memory of grandfather Mendel KatzDon & Helen Berman, in memory of father Joseph BermanLynn & Milt Klein, in memory of mother Flora SacksMarlyn & Allan Gastfriend, in memory of grandmother Sivia SussmanClaire Mervis, in memory of father Frank (Ephraim) ZeiglerDavid & Lynetta Neft, in memory of mother Betty NeftPaul Palevsky & Sharon Roseman, in memory of grandmother Sarah MooreManny & Betty Katz, in memory of brother Louis KatzHarold & Delores Reisz, in honor of John & Hermina SchwartzMarilyn & Bernard Caplan, for a speedy recovery to Rabbi StaphanieClaire Mervis, for a speedy recovery to Rabbi Staphanie Lou Zell Fund

Ilene & Jay Klein

Donation Acknowledgements

We need your supportPlease consider making a donation to these funds when your family celebrates good news or in memory of a loved one.

Hannah Wedeen Fund:The monies from this fund are used for the sole purpose of the Rabbi’s educational needs.

JoAnn Shina Fund:This monies from this fund are used to plan and execute social events that encourage connections and camaraderie among the members of Beth Samuel and the community.

Lou Zell Fund:The monies from this fund are used to sustain BSJC in the event of cash shortages.

General/Memorial Fund:The monies from this fund are used to pay the general operating costs of BSJC.

Endowment Fund:The monies from this fund are used for building improvements.

Caring Fund:As a caring community, we help members with support such as dinners for those who are in mourning and desserts for the service. In addition, it can also be used to help meet one-time emergency needs of our members. The Rabbi will administer this fund.

Cantorial Fund:This fund has been established to ensure that we have sufficient funding to bring in talented cantors for our High Holy Days services.

The Lou Zell Sustaining Fund was created to ensure the continuous operation and promote the growth of Beth Samuel Jewish Center

Suggested Giving Levels

n Malach $10,000 $2,000/year over five years (Angel)

n Tzadik $5,000-$9,999 $1,000/year over five years (Righteous)

n Tikvah $2,500-$4,999 $500/year over five years (Hope)

n Chesed $500-$2,499 $100/year over five years (Kindness)

n Chaver $1-$499 <$100/year over five years (Friend)

New Donations in June:The Louis and Sylvia Zelekovitz Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Member Donors:Karen and Scott BeaudwayDonald and Helen BermanHelen BlairKris (Braslawsce) MilbauerBernard and Marilyn CaplanDennis and Nancy CicconeIra and Judy CohenStanley and Margee DenverBob and Sylvia (Zell) FranklinPaul and Kathy FreemanRussell and Nancy FuhrerLeonard and Sue Ellen GanzAllan and Marlyn GastfriendDan GellerDavid and Ellen GellerGeorge GoodmanBarbara HeymanSusan HazenGil and Maxine IsaacsMike Karp and Kelly FennellJay and Ilene KleinMilton and Lynn KleinDavid and Caron LandayJeff Lape and Sharon CamhiRobert and Sarah ManticaRoger and Caroline MarkfieldThom and Lauren McLeodMuriel MoidelJeff and Gail MurrayJim and Esther NeftRobert and Susan NitzbergHarold and Dolores ReiszPaul Palevsky and Sharon Roseman Marc and Amy RosenbergJeff and Sylvia RossMarc and Melissa SchneidermanRoger and Claudia SegeleonIsaac and Jo Ann ShinaCecyl ThawRobert and Barbara ThawMelanie WernerMarvin and Dot WedeenRabbi Stephanie WolfeAllen Wolfert and Adrienne Young

Non-Member Donors:Ellis Arjmand, Anita Block, Nancy Goldfarb and Cooper Klinges, J Lehman, Bill and Patty Snyder, Susan Turner, Sandy Zelkovitz, M. Zelekovitz and Jeff Zell.

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August 29/30

Annabelle Nadler, grandmother of Dan NadlerAdele Klein, mother of Ilene Klein

Sylvia Mallinger, mother of Betty KatzSarah Snyder, mother of Harry Snyder

Lena Thomashefsky, grandmother of Marlyn GastfriendRuth Levine, Max Eger and Joseph Fingaret

September 5/6

Ned Friedman, grandfather of Mike KarpHarry Cohen, father of Morton CohenHelen Reisz, mother of Harold Reisz

Shirley Sussman, sister of Marlyn GastfriendEva Schulman Goodman, Mort Kaye,

Bella Recht and Samuel Press

September 12/13

Joseph Roseman, grandfather of Sharon RosemanKeith Hazen, father of Susan Hazen

Rebecca Eger, Herman Eger and Irvin Iwler

September 19/20

Klara Haas, mother-in-law of Marvin WedeenJ. Edgar Rosenberg, father of Marc RosenbergLouis Zell, husband of Sylvia (Zell) FranklinRebecca Green, Gizella Berger, Rae Eisner,

Sarah Schwartz and David Goldman

September 27

H. Beryl Klein, husband of Milly KleinMarilyn Manela, mother of Ester Neft

Jennie Cohen, mother of Morton CohenHyman Sperling, husband of Sandra Sperling

Joseph Goltz, father of Gerald GoltzSelma Levin Musher-Goldberg, mother of Jeremy Musher

Max Sussman, grandfather of Marlyn GastfriendJoseph Krauss and Alex Cohen

October 3/4

Harry Levin, father of Stanford LevinRudolph Dobsch, father of Amy Rosenberg

Gertrude Soodek, mother of Naomi SondheimerLouis Herskovitz, husband of Elaine Herskovitz

Nathaniel Steinberg, father of Gail SteinbergSadie Eger, Louis Chotiner, Samuel Goodman,

Mayer Martin, Jack Shuklansky, Samuel Itzkovitz, Ruth Rigrotsky, Fanny Klein, Morris Terner,

Anna Levinson Goldstein and Harry T. Weiner

October 10/11

Efram (Fred) Snyder, father of Claudia SegeleonSamuel Weinstein, Joel Brown and Ben Lehman

We divide our list from Thursday (Yom Chamishi) to Wednesday (Yom Rivi’i). Using the Hebrew date of death, we read the name on the closest Shabbat. You will receive a notice when your loved one’s name will be read.

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Upcoming Yahrzeits

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Please Patronize our Advertisers

Do you have a business or service that you would like to advertise? Contact the office to learn more.

Order extra cards for your High Holy Day celebrations or to pay for gas at GetGo. You can also use Giant Eagle cards to purchase gift cards for other stores or restaurants, and you still earn Fuel Perks!

Buying Giant Eagle gift cards at face value means you won’t payanything extra while the congregation earns needed funds. Orderby the last Sunday in each month and pick up a week later duringSunday school or weekdays during regular office hours.

Friends and family are welcome to participate. Place a standing monthly order or a one-time order. Contact the office with questions about the program.

Your participation matters. The congregation makes up to5% of all purchases ... and it really adds up.

Beth Samuel Jewish Center810 Kennedy DriveAmbridge, PA 15003

See the Shofar in full color online at www.bethsamuel.org

Giant Eagle Gift Cards