A Blessing - Temple Beth Israel
Transcription
A Blessing - Temple Beth Israel
October 2013 | Tishri / Cheshvan 5774Volume 80 No. 2 INSIDE: 77Our Sukkah on the Patio! 77A Blessing 77It Takes A Village 77Thank you! 77Our Little Ones 77PJ Library celebrates Sukkot! This issue of the TBI Tablet is sponsored by Carol Goldblatt & Donald Goldblatt in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Peri This issue of the TBI Tablet is sponsored by Rabbi’s Notes by Rabbi Michael Mishkin A Blessing My daughter Lily is a blessing machine. Every time I sneeze, which is at least three times a day, Lily says “Bless you.” While she doesn’t know what it means, Lily has learned that this is polite response to someone sneezing. This summer my brother was in town and after Lily sneezed, he said “Gesundheit.” Which threw Lily for a loop. Lily decided that she was not ready to start learning German, so she stuck with “bless you.” “Gesundheit” means “health” and it passed into the English language in the late 1800s. By 1910, the expression was widely used in certain parts of the United States, primarily in areas where large numbers of Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi Jews had settled. In most countries—including Israel—the response after one sneezes is “health” or “to your health.” In Hebrew, they say “la-bree-oot” (“to your health.”) Nevertheless, most Americans are committed to saying, “Bless you,” or “God bless you.” It’s interesting that this is the response in the United States, because outside of saying “God bless you,” most people in society today do not bless other people. In Judaism, however, people blessing other people is an important and holy continued on page 4 Sue Martin and children in the TBI Sukkah. Lisa Rynston-Lobel & Scott Lobel in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Eric This issue of the TBI Tablet is sponsored by Lisa Novick & Myles Nachamie in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of their son Adam Visit us online at www.tbiport.org Contact us at 516-767-1708 Thank You to Our Holiday Sponsors Temple Drive, Port Washington NY 11050-3915 T: 516-767-1708 F: 516-944-6461 www.tbiport.org Rabbi Michael Mishkin Hazzan Baruch Blum Bima & Outdoor Flowers������������������������������������������������������ Lynn and Barry Rubin Soaps & Diffusers������������������������������������������������������������������Karen and Gary Weiss Yom Kippur OJ �����������������������������������������������������������Beverly and Steve Hazelkorn Yom Kippur Challah ����������������������������������������������������������� Irene and Hilton Silver Simchat Torah Jelly Apples�������������������������������������������������� Sandy and Steve Garber Simchat Torah Kandy Kiddush����������������������Jessica Braginsky and Howard Berman (For information on sponsoring an event, contact Lisa Naiburg in the office.) President Gail Mancher It Takes a Village! Executive Vice President Andrew Abramowitz There is no question that our High Holidays would not happen without the help and support of so many in the community. Allow us to thank: • Ritual: David Volpe, Rosalie Silver, & Bob Gass • Finance: Suzanne Grabiner & Mitch Schuckman • House: Jack Genicoff • Custodial: Narvin Khan and Edwin Rivera • Administration: Nancy Cohen • Office volunteers: Nancy Feldman & Ilyse Wofse • Junior Congregation: Jaime Lewis • Junior Congregation Helpers: Dale Gindi and parent volunteers • Family Services: Jaime Lewis • Sisterhood: Leah Siskin & Deborah Brooks • Honey: Stephanie Berger • A special thank you to Jeremy Kasle for his great set of lungs! • Tallit checkers: Keren Blumenfeld, Josh Blumenfeld, Shayna Blumenfeld, Jay & Nancy Feldman, Bernie & Joan Hulkower, Arielle Kaufman, David Volpe, Michelle Witman. • Tallit repairers: Barbara and Bert Taffet • Silver Polishers: Jessica Braginsky, Bernie & Joan Hulkower, Susan Levin, Marilyn Oser, Ronnie Peshkin, Sherrie Pollack, Irene Silver, Barbara Taffet & Beverly Taubel. Vice Presidents Stephanie Berger Michelle Witman-Blumenfeld Dale Gindi Mindy Tashlik David Volpe Ilyse Wofse Treasurer Suzanne Grabiner Financial Secretary Mitchell Schuckman Recording Secretary Susan Levin Corresponding Secretary Jonathan Satovsky Trustees Jon Ain Alan Bergman Louise Cooper Adam Cotumaccio Marc Damsky Matt Engel Denise Faltischek Hersh Gottesman Stacey Gould Julie Greenblatt Joan Hulkower Dan Kamensky Edie Katz Scott Lobel Jayne Ritholz Robin Serinsky Louis Silfin Susan Stein Trustees Emeritus Elkan Abramowitz Joel Greenblatt Saul Muchnick Immediate Past President Jay Silverman Sisterhood President Leah Siskin Religious School Principal Alice Talmud Nursery School Director Susan Martin Synagogue Administrator Lisa Naiburg TBI Tablet is published monthly by TBI. Submissions must be received by the tenth of the month prior to the issue in which they will appear. Deep Gratitude… …to those who made the High Holidays meaningful with their wonderful talent by participating in our services by layning, leading services, & chanting Haftarah: Rosh Hashanah Day One Steven Garber Jeremy Kasle Victor Himel Letty Roberts Hilton Silver Barbara Taffet Rosh Hashanah Day Two Aaron Berman Jessica Braginsky Reuben Berman Bert Taffet Yom Kippur Howard Berman Gerri Blum Josh Blumenfeld David Cooper Helena Eilenberg Bob Gass Hersh Gottesman Annette Kasle Eden Kasle Jaime Lewis Bert Taffet Josh White Adam Wofse Donald Peshkin Hilton Silver Bert Taffet Jonathan White PAGE 2 | TBI TabletOctober 2013 President’s Notes by Gail Mancher Our Enriched Community L’shana Tovah. Today is “Rosh Hashanah” and this is the customary greeting. However, the words “Rosh Hashanah” are not even used in the Torah to discuss this holiday, a fact I did not know until I started to write this speech. The Torah refers to this day as “Yom Teruah”—A day when the shofar is sounded. As we know, the blowing of the shofar on this day is a very ancient tradition. How wonderful, that we are able to gather together, at Temple Beth Israel, in Port Washington, in the year 2013 (or 5774 on the Jewish calendar) to continue this tradition, and be inspired to try and live better and more meaningful lives in this upcoming year. Another name for this day is Yom Hazikaron ( or day of remembrance). Traditionally, we think of Rosh Hashanah as the time to think back, to remember our weaknesses, our regrets, ways we could have been kinder, in order to seek forgiveness and ask God for the strength and wisdom to do better in the future. But Yom HaZikaron—The Day of Remembrance—is not only a day to remember our misdeeds, but also to remember our good deeds and our positive contributions to our families, our community, and the world. This morning, we come together to pray as a kehillah kedoshah, a holy community. Within this larger community, there are many smaller, intertwined communities, which many of us pass in and out of, and then back into, for a variety of reasons. When our children are very young, we are in our Nursery school community. Often and hopefully, those families become our Religious school community. There is our davening community, including those who find peace and comfort in attending regular Shabbat and holiday services. Sometimes we return to that community for a specific reason, like a baby-naming, a bar-mitzvah, or unfortunately to say kaddish. There are communities within TBI dedicated to tikkun olam, repairing the world. We have havurah communities which are smaller groups of congregants who meet in one another’s homes or other places, to celebrate Shabbat, and enjoy each other’s cooking and company. Some of my fondest memories of the past year are the evenings Mark and I spent with our havurot. You should know that regardless of anyone’s involvement or need at any particular time, we are always here, and when the need arises, your community is here for you. On this Yom HaZikaron—this Day of Remembrance, I would like to share with you some of the meaningful and exciting accomplishments that took place this past year at TBI. Often tragedy brings out the best in people, and last year, following Superstorm Sandy, individuals, families, religious school classes, our Be A Mensch Group— known as BAM, and other groups at TBI stepped up and helped those who were hit hardest by the storm (including our own synagogue building). Families helped out and took in other families who were without electricity and utilities. People handed out food, blankets and water, collected basic necessities and dropped them off at collection centers; TBI stocked the homes of 9 families who were displaced by the storm through a Build-a-Bayit program, we made welcome back goody bags continued on page 11 tishRi / CheshvaN 5774 KuDos to Ruthie Gottesman, sarah Gottesman, Gideon berman, and aaron berman for being the Most fantastic assistants ever! the sukkot PJ library event could not have happened without their help! this month, the tablet is filled with thank you’s to all the wonderful congregants for their generosity, their talents, and their goodness. Check it out! Welcome to Our New Members Julie and scott Coren eden & Marley tamar and aryeh silbert Dana & Maya With Apologies As hard as we try, sometimes things go wrong. It is with regret that we omitted a name from the Sisterhood Greeting Card. Joan and Bernie Hulkower wish you all a Shana Tova! Roofing • Gutters Leaders 23 Blake Avenue Lynbrook, NY 11563 1-800-346-0913 www.abrahamroofing.com Lic # H18F9880000 tbi tablet | PaGe 3 MAZAL TOV! New grandbabies Beverly and Steve Hazelkorn welcome a new granddaughter, Charley Jane Lefton! Special October Anniversaries Debra & Marc Ausfresser 22 years! Lisa & Robert Levine 25 years! Stephanie Berber & Eytan Cotlowitz 28 years! Karen & Gary Weiss 30 years! Patricia & Stephen Latzman 34 years! Rochelle & Michael Block 39 years! Joan & Sandy Weintraub 41 years! Beverly & Gene Taubel 63 years! Special October Birthdays Eric Rynston-Lobel Lindsay Rubin 13! 21! Guess who is 5? Hunter Genicoff Ari Sawits Rabbi continued from page 1 activity. When we bless another person, what we are really doing is asking that God bless the other person. Part of the power of a blessing comes from the fact that one person is articulating good wishes for another person. One important category of blessings is blessings of healing. First, we can always use our own words in blessing other people who are in need of healing. In addition, in the weekday Amidah, there is a formal blessing of healing. Many people who pray will also add private and personal prayers of healing at that time. Lastly, there is the special Mi Shebeyrach prayer of healing that is said whenever the Torah is read. One of the nice features of this prayer is that individuals pray for specific people, while being part of—and surrounded by—the community. Another wonderful prayer is the Birkat Kohanim—the Priestly Blessing. A parchment fragment, containing this blessing, was discovered by archaeologists in Israel. This parchment, which dates back to the First Temple period, more than 2,500 years ago, is the oldest surviving fragment of a biblical text. The words of the Priestly Blessing are: “May the Lord bless and keep you. May the Lord show you favor and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you kindness and grant you peace.” It is traditional for parents to offer this blessing to their children before Shabbat dinner. For a son, the blessing begins with the words, “May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe,” the two sons of Joseph. For a daughter, the blessing begins with the words, “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.” After reciting the formal blessing, many parents add a special message for each child. We can understand blessing daughters to be like our Matriarchs, but why do we bless our sons to be like Ephraim and Menashe? The reason is because Ephraim and Mensahe got along peacefully and were kind to one another, which is in contrast to most of the brothers in the Book of Genesis. Regarding this ritual of blessing children, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin writes, “Many years ago, a woman told me that neighbors who had witnessed this ritual asked her husband what gift the father had just promised his daughters. They assumed a gift had been promised because they saw the little girl’s face light up and after her father whispered something to her,” (The Book of Jewish Values, p. 20). Rabbi Telushkin concludes, saying, “Though some important Jewish rituals are time-consuming or arduous to perform, blessing your children is pure pleasure for everyone.” Amen. Guess who is 10? Shira Freilich Joshua Rosen (Please note that our monthly Mazal Tovs include anniversaries of 20+ years. Special birthdays are those of milestone ages of children only. We make every effort to include everyone, but if we miss your anniversary or birthday, we apologize and ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can be sure to correct it.) Summer Service Leaders During the summer, our clergy are on vacation, and our lay leaders step up and volunteer. David Volpe, our magnificent Ritual Chair, organizes all of this, and does it with charm and grace. THANK YOU DAVID for always taking care of TBI. Josh Blumenfeld Victor Himel Jaime Lewis Hilton Silver Murray Singer Bert Taffet Dvar Torahs Donald Goldblatt Eden Kasle Jacob Malcom James Maloney Sandy Marcus Donald Peshkin PAGE 4 | TBI TabletOctober 2013 sisterhood spotlight With the holidays of 5774 underway, Sisterhood is looking forward to the Sukkot Dinner, Kick-Off Brunch, and Book Club! Thank you to all the families who contributed to and made our High Holiday Greeting Card fundraiser a huge success! It’s never too late to consider joining Sisterhood! Put our October 6th Sisterhood Brunch on your calendar. Make it your first visit and help plan the year! Feel free to contact me: 883-3361 or mlsiskin@optonline.net Leah Please save these Fall dates: • Sisterhood Kick-off Brunch • Sunday, October 6th @10am Come for brunch, join our committees, and share your great ideas and talents for this year’s Sisterhood events and fundraisers. • Sisterhood Book Club • Wednesday, November 20 @ 7:30pm Join us for a great discussion and dessert. Stay tuned for more details – emails coming soon announcing our fall selection. been behind a car with one of these? the Gift shop is now selling tbi Car Magnets! show your support around town. Get yours now for only $5. Contact the temple office. tbi’s Gift shop now stocks kosher Mezuzah Parchments for Only $25! Registration for usY summer Programs 2014 is NoW oPeN! USY Summer Programs include 4 cross-country North America trips, 3 trips to Israel, and 3 trips to Israel and Europe. Our Wheels programs allow our participants to experience the wonders of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, the excitement of Disney and Universal Studios, and the power of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Holocaust Museum. In Israel, the groups learn about the history of the Jewish people in Israel while taking in all that the modern State has to offer. Our Israel and Europe trips allow participants to see the sites and horrors of the Holocaust while learning about the extraordinary Jewish communities that existed beforehand and then traveling to Israel to see what has become of the Jewish people since. All of these trips allow Jewish teenagers from across North America to see some of the most magnificent places while meeting many people and making new friends. If you have further questions, please call us to discuss options. We are committed to helping anyone interested in participating have that opportunity. register nOW and save! • Register before December 31st and receive $100 off! • If you went on a USY Summer Program in 2012 or 2013 and you register before November 15th, you will receive the 2013 price. To find out more, please go to our website or email us at wheels@uscj.org or pilgrimage@uscj.org. tishRi / CheshvaN 5774 Please contact the temple office to purchase. and support tbi sisterhood! $18 for 1 tree $34 for 2 trees $48 for 3 trees $60 for 4 trees $72 for 5 trees Contact ilyse Wofse @ 944-3157 or ilyse.wofse@ barbri.com tbi tablet | PaGe 5 Bat Mitzvah of Peri Michal Goldblatt This will be short and sweet (just like Peri). On November 10th, thirteen years ago Peri Michal Goldblatt came into this world— for sure the greatest thing that either Carol or myself has ever done and will ever do. She put smiles on our faces the very second we saw her and has never stopped putting smiles on our faces. When Peri was small I said anyone who saw her and did not smile either had no soul, a heart several sizes too small or very poor eyesight. This is just as true today as it was then. On November 3rd Peri will celebrate being called to the Torah with the family she was born into, with her friends and just as importantly with her Temple Beth Israel family. She has grown from an infant in a car seat, to a toddler, through pre-school, Solomon Schechter elementary school and middle school and has now reached the first plateau on her journey to being an adult member of the TBI community. Peri loves to cook & root for the Yankees with her Dad, bake & sew with her mom, cuddle with her four legged brother & sister (G.G. & Sushi), & watch NCIS so she can become a forensic scientist like Abby. Her favorite subjects at school are Chemistry & Math. She enjoys listening to music and dancing, cheerleading, playing Subway Surfer, putting on make-up, reading Charles Dickens (well not so much), using her iPhone, swimming, shopping and laughing (did I mention shopping?). As part of her Bat Mitzvah she is collecting food for the North Shore Animal Clinic, and donating a portion of her gifts to help train service dogs in Israel & to Save the Chimps. Peri has a heart of gold, a smile that brightens any room she enters, an enthusiasm that is contagious and a sensitivity that belies her years. Carol & I are over joyed to be her parents but everyone at TBI has played a role in making her be who she is and who she will become. Thank you all for making this day possible. For the record, every time it says that Peri sponsors Kiddush lunch, she wants you to know that it is really her dad. Bar Mitzvah of Eric Matthew Rynston-Lobel Eric was born on October 6, 2000; four days past his due date. That was the first and the last time he was ever late for anything. It stands to reason that he waited; he entered this world as the Yankees won the Division Series over the Oakland A’s. Despite the fact that we tried in vain to expose Eric to the Mets at an early age, (Citifield is much closer than Yankee Stadium), he became a diehard Yankees fan. Eric is not a fan in the typical sense; yes, he and his sister, Alexa, rarely miss watching a game, but Eric takes it to a whole other level. He studies the stats, the trades, develops fantasy baseball teams with his Uncle Dan and his camp buddies and he emails former sportscaster, Len Berman on a regular basis. This has been going on since he was 10. Aside from baseball, Eric also follows the New York Giants, the Knicks and the Rangers. Eric will gladly play any of these sports as well. He has been known to organize football games with his friends during school holidays and is often seen in our front yard playing baseball with his father and sister. Eric also earned his second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do this past June; a sport he has been involved with since he was four. So it is safe to say that sports is a big part of Eric’s life, but it is certainly not the only thing. When Eric was around 3, he became fascinated by the bass guitar. After consulting a few guitar teachers, we were told he was much too small to be able to hold, much less play a bass guitar. So he started taking guitar lessons in Kindergarten and worked his way up to the bass guitar at the age of 10. He still loves to play classic rock and he throws in some Ozzy and Guns N Roses, much to his mother’s chagrin. We could go on about Eric’s many accomplishments, but we won’t; we will simply say that we are incredibly proud of Eric, not simply because of his accomplishments, but because of who he is as a person. We never get tired of having teachers, parents and friends tell us what a pleasure it is to be around Eric. Though we’d love to take full credit for how Eric turned out, the truth is, he has been this way since he was born. He is just a good soul! How blessed we are to have him as our son. PAGE 6 | TBI TabletOctober 2013 Bar Mitzvah of Adam Nachamie Adam Nachamie was born on November 12, 2000. His sisters were very excited to meet him and donned their best party dresses, bought him gifts and went to visit him in the hospital. They have been (mostly) doting over him ever since. Having grown up with two older sisters who had a big head start with language, Adam became a good listener early on. As pre-teen/teen older sister drama unfolded around him, Adam became an observer and voice of reason. He is quiet until he gets comfortable to new situations, is sensitive to other people’s feelings and generally has a very insightful perspective. Although the youngest, he is the one person in the family everyone goes to when needing advice, a kind word a laugh or a hug. He is more than just a son or brother — he is a friend “he is a non-judgmental friend and confidant (good luck trying to get him to spill any gossip). In short he is a mensch. Adam’s hobbies are similar to those of most boys his age. He enjoys sports, playing video games, fantasy football, the remote and avoiding homework. We are proud of Adam’s accomplishments and look forward to sharing this simcha with family, friends and the community. Special thanks to Cantor Blum who warmly (and patiently) has been preparing him for his Bar Mitzvah as well as Rabbi Mishkin, Barbara Taffet, Lisa Naiburg and the rest of the TBI family. Tishri / Cheshvan 5774 Adult Education @ TBI with Rabbi Mishkin It’s a Mitzvah Selected Sundays, 10:45am-12noon There are 613 Mitzvot in the Torah. They can be seen as burdens—our tradition obligates us in so many different ways—or they can be seen as wonderful opportunities to connect with God, our tradition, and our community. When the meaning behind the mitzvoth are understood, they can help us strive to sense that which is holy within our everyday life experiences. In this class, we will read and study a book entitled, It’s a Mitzvah! Step-By-Step To Jewish Living. The book was written by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, a wonderful teacher and important leader in the Conservative Movement. The class will meet on October 20, 27; November 17; December 8 & 15 Jewish Moral Values Wednesdays, 8:00-9:00pm This class will be based on the book, Jewish Moral Values, by Eugene Borowitz and Frances Schwartz. Dr. Carol Ingall, one of the leading professors of Jewish Education, writes: “While most Americans agree that moral issues are personal matters, public discussion of those issues has never been more intense. Jews have begun to look to their own texts as repositories of moral wisdom in a world that seems bereft of moral mooring. . . An important resource in the moral education literature is Jewish Moral Values. Neither a self-help book nor a collection of moral maxims or stories, it is a compendium of sources – biblical, rabbinic, hasidic, and modern – that offer answers to the critical question: “What kind of person am I expected to be?” The class will meet on October 16*, 23, 30; November 6 & 13 * The initial publicity for this class listed the first class on October 9th. That class has been cancelled due to an event in the community. On October 9th, 8:00-9:30pm the Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) will speak about environmental issues and prospects for peace in the Middle East. The event will take place at the Reconstructionist Congregation of the North Shore. Don’t Miss Our Upcoming Speaker-Author Program Discussion and Book Signing with Marilyn Oser TBI’s Library Committee proudly presents a discussion and book signing by our very own Marilyn Oser on Thursday evening, October 10, at 7:30 PM in the TBI library. Marilyn has authored a thoughtful and inspiring novel entitled Rivka’s War, based on actual events in 1914 Russia to Palestine in 1918. The book is a comingof-age tale portraying the impact of World War One on Jewish life through the adventures of Rivka Lefkovits, boot maker’s daughter, soldier and spy. Rivka’s story is historical fiction that opens the reader up to the times during the Great War and that touches the heart. Please join us for an interesting and exciting evening. Refreshments will be served. TBI Tablet | PAGE 7 Nursery News Mahzor Donations Sylvia & Neil Blumstein The Cotumaccio Family Bob Epstein & Beth Hisler The Jackman Family The Lipman Family The Nachimson Family Lisa Naiburg & Dan Kisch Susan & Steven Rubin Estelle & Arnold Rynston Rebecca & Andy Schwartz The Shapiro Family Ilene & Steven Silberstein The Silfin Family Eileen Stone Reina & John Teeger (To donate a mahzor in memory or in honor of a loved one, please contact the office.) PJ Library Celebrates Sukkot! Top left: Firefighters at TBI! Top right: Our tots learn about the color red. Bottom left: Deciding where to hang his sukkah decoration. Bottom right: Rabbi Mike blows the shofar. Family Photo Day Fundraiser! Just in time for Chanukah gifts, Photography by Felicia will be at TBI on Sunday, October 13, from 9 am – 5 pm. If the weather cooperates, photos will be taken outdoors! Family Photo Day is a great opportunity to have professional photos taken of your family (at a discounted rate) while raising funds for TBI! (Proceeds to go TBI Sisterhood) On Sukkot, Thursday afternoon, September 19, over 40 children and their special adult gathered at TBI to celebrate Sukkot, PJ Library style. Wonderful books were read, everyone made sukkah decorations, and each child got to make their very own edible mini sukkah. Rabbi Mike stopped by to show everyone a lulav and etrog! There was a lot of tumult and a lot of fun had by all! Thank you to Rosalie Silver and Eva Seegers for helping with the event. Special thanks to Sarah and Ruthie Gottesman and Gideon and Aaron Berman for lending a hand. We could not have run the program without them!! Don’t miss our next PJ Library event when we celebrate Chanukah! PAGE 8 | TBI TabletOctober 2013 The Port Washington Rosh Chodesh Group 5774 (2013-14) Once a Month Just For Yourself Just For Your Soul! The November 7th meeting will be held at: Community Synagogue 160 Middle Neck Road Port Washington, NY 9:30 – 11:00 AM ABOUT ROSH CHODESH: What is Rosh Chodesh? A special day that Jewish feminists have “reclaimed” for feminine spirituality. Tradition says that as a reward for our faithfulness, God gave women Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the new month, and even exempted us from our usual household duties. Take a morning just for yourself, and for Jewish study and renewal. The Port Washington Rosh Chodesh Group meets at the start of every new Jewish month. We are a warm, friendly inter-generational group of Jewish women (men welcome, too!) exploring new and timeless topics and texts. ISRAEL THROUGH SONG In no other country does the music reflect the national mood in quite the same way as it does in Israel. We will follow Israel’s story from the foundation of the State through some of the most important events by listening to the music which marked those moments. We will listen to a variety of songs, read their translations and gain a glimpse into the Israeli musical soul and learn about her history. RABBI DANNY BURKEMAN Rabbi Danny is a Rabbi at the Community Synagogue, prior to that he served at the West London Synagogue in Britain. He grew up through the British Reform Movement and spent his rabbinical training in London, Jerusalem and Los Angeles. He is married to Micol, a Jewish educator, and together they are the proud parents of Gabriella Liat. Kiddush Lunch Sponsors Thank you to the following for sponsoring Shabbat Kiddush Lunches: • Lori and David Volpe • Barbara and Bert Taffet in honor of Bert’s 80th Birthday • Jackie and Adam Popper in honor of Max becoming a Bar Mitzvah. Did You See Our Sukkah This Year? It was erected on the patio behind the social hall. It looked so beautiful, so right. Some time back Aren Tung had a vision. That vision was the patio that now graces our synagogue. As we all know, a vision is simply that unless there is a call to action. That call went out, and an incredible committee came together, to take the vision and bring it to life. Stacey Satovsky, Suzanne Grabiner and Gail Mancher joined with Aren, and together they helped to create this beautiful and ever lasting testament. It was a difficult job, frustrating and exhilarating. To each of them, we say thank you. Now the patio is home to our sukkah, and will be for years and years to come. Special thanks to Michael Plofker who helped design this sukkah some years back, and helped orchestrate the plan to have it erected on the patio. Take a walk out there. It is just amazing. NEXT MEETING: DECEMBER 5, 2013 Tishri / Cheshvan 5774 TBI Tablet | PAGE 9 ▪▪ ▪▪ ▪▪ ▪▪ ▪▪ Parenting Caregiving Marital Concerns Separation/Divorce Bereavement ▪▪ ▪▪ ▪▪ ▪▪ ▪▪ Geriatric Care Cancer Wellness Career Legal Financial A caring place to turn to find support and guidance during life changes and challenges. Contact Partners In Caring for counseling, support groups, general information or referral services. Our Warm Line is staffed by your caring, professional social workers. We hope you can join us for some of our fall programs, free to all synagogue members: Balancing Life as a Caregiver – You are Not Alone Explore the many stresses that one encounters as a caregiver. Share experiences and explore new ideas and resources to help you cope more successfully. Pre-registration required. Call 516-484-1545, ext. 196 Thursday, October 3, 10:00am. Free. Young Children Get Anxious Too An Evening for Parents and Educators with Keynote Speaker, Hedda Sharapan, Director of Early Childhood Initiatives, The Fred Rogers Company Anxiety is an all-too-common challenge facing children and families today. Everyone responds differently to stress depending on their age, individual personalities and coping skills. Young children may not be able to fully explain their feelings or say exactly what’s bothering them. Learn tools and strategies from experts that can be used in daily life with children. In collaboration with The Jewish Education Project. Pre-registration required. Call 516 484-1545, ext. 196 October 10, 7:30- 9:00pm. Free. An Evening with Letty Cottin Pogrebin, author of “How to be a Friend To A Friend Who’s Sick” Everyone knows someone who’s sick or suffering. Yet many of us feel uncertain about how to be helpful. Hear about collective stories and advice infused with sensitivity, warmth and humor on how to relate to and help our friends. Tuesday, October 15, 7:30pm $10/PIC synagogue members $5. At Sid Jacobson JCC Save The Date: A Morning with Slovie Wolff, author of Raising a Child with Soul. Discover how to build children’s character, how to impart values for life, and how to create a home filled with love and respect. In other words how to raise a child with soul. Light breakfast. November 20, 2013, 10-11:30 AM. Fee $15/JCC and PIC synagogue members $10. At Sid Jacobson JCC PARTNERS IN CARING STAFF Randy Hight, LMS Margy Ringelheim, LMSW Audrey J. Bernstein, LMSW CALL 516.484.1545, ext. 196 Phone calls are always free and confidential. Friends of the Earth Middle East to Speak about Environmental Issues and Prospects for Peace Wednesday, October 9 8:00-9:30pm Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) is a regional non-governmental organization founded 20 years ago by Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians to work on shared environmental issues. Over the years, the cooperation that FoEME has fostered on environmental issues has contributed to understanding and friendship between communities that might otherwise be in conflict. As a result, FoEME is a beacon of hope for peace in a region where conflict is an unfortunate reality of everyday life. More information about FoEME can be found at www.foeme.org. FoEME’s co-directors will speak about (1) FoEME’s activities, including efforts to rehabilitate the tragically polluted Jordan River, and (2) the prospects for peace and cooperation among Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians. This event, including time for questions and discussion, will run from 8 pm to 9:30 pm and will be followed by refreshments. Supportive partners for this multi-faith program include clergy and members from more than 15 Jewish, Christian, Muslim and interfaith congregations, parishes and organizations on Long Island. All members of the Temple Beth Israel congregation and the public are invited to attend. There is no cost or donation required. PAGE 10 | TBI TabletOctober 2013 President continued from page 3 and collected books for kids at the JCC in Long Beach, and the list goes on and on. A special yashar koach—job well done—to Rob and Gail Seiden—who coordinated the relief efforts for the Port Washington community. Our BAM Group, with support from many in the TBI community, successfully helped our first adopt-a-family back on their feet, and is now working to help a second family (a Hurricane Sandy displaced family with a child with special needs.) But our Tikkun Olam efforts are not just in response to major tragedies. We have started a “friendly visitor” program. Through this program, congregants are trained and will make weekly visits to other members of our community who are homebound or in need of a visit. TBI is a member of TANS—The Tikkun Alliance of the North Shore—a group of synagogues and JCC which collaborate on mitzvah projects, touching the lives of thousands of Long Island residents. Some of the TANS projects included collecting dressy dresses to donate to a program for underprivileged girls, we provided food for a soup kitchen, supported Mama’s House, an organization dedicated to helping single mothers who are trying to start careers, and collected food to help restock a food pantry. And then, our Mostly Mitzvahs program continued to hum along—with our 7th Grade students making over 80 meals in the TBI kitchen and then delivering them to people in need. Last year, TBI became an official PJ Library site. The PJ library (PJ stands for Pajamas) is a philanthropic program that distributes free Jewish books to families who have children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years old. The family need only sign up, either on line or through the temple. PJ Library’s aim is to bring families together and create Jewish conversations through reading, and to ensure that Jewish children have high-quality Jewish books in their libraries. Each month, close to 300,000 free books are sent to families Tishri / Cheshvan 5774 in communities throughout the United States, Canada, and Israel. Last month, here at TBI, we held a wonderful PJ Library event that was enjoyed by 24 children. The children heard a story about a challah, then braided their own challahs—and by the end of the program, they were able to bring home their own baked challahs with their own personally designed challah covers. We hope that our families with young children will take advantage of this very special program, and attend our future PJ Library events. And we have so many other “communities” within the larger TBI community that seek to enrich the lives of our members. From the nursery school parents, who raised money which will now enable the Nursery School to install an Outdoor Classroom, to the College Outreach program, which twice a year, for the past 20+ years, has sent packages to our college students for Hanukkah and Purim, to the TBI Sisterhood that supports the synagogue and coordinates many fun and enriching programs throughout the year, including a wonderful Friday Night Shabbat dinner in the Sukkah, to our Kehillah Patio committee that envisioned a beautiful outdoor space for worship and social events, and then made it happen with the incredible support of our community. And who could forget the enlightening and important presentation by Shahar Azani, the Israeli Consul for Media Affairs, which was arranged by our Israel Action Committee. In addition, we touched our 50 and older community with engaging Hazak programs, including a special Hazak Shabbat and lunch, and we celebrated the NYC origins of some of our congregants at our annual ethnic dinner. Last year, our lives were enriched and our community was brought closer through the very amusing comedy of Joel Chasnoff. It was a delightful night of fun and good feelings, which we hope to have more of in the future. And if you haven’t had a chance to read Joel’s book, The 188th Cry-Baby Brigade, you can find it in our TBI Library. Speaking of the library, we have a thriving library committee that brings in fascinating authors throughout the year. This is your synagogue. This is your community. There is no better way to integrate yourself into your community than by getting involved. We have so many opportunities to become enriched and inspired, and to enrich each others’ lives. If you have interests or ideas, let us know, stop into the office or send me an email, and get involved. Temple Beth Israel is a dynamic place, where energized people want to make things happen. I encourage all of you to find that niche, that community within the larger community, that feels right to you. With your involvement, we will be able to not only carry on the fine traditions that have been established by those who came before us, but we will also be able to create new traditions, new programs, and new moments of connection and celebration. Next year, when we gather here to usher in another new year, we can again look back and remember how we strengthened our community, and how our community did the same for us. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, and on behalf of my family, may 5774 be a year of peace and security in Israel and the world over; and for all of us, our families, for Israel and the Jewish people everywhere, a very happy, healthy and sweet new year. L’shanah Tovah! Haylee S. Donovan, LCSW, CEAP Psychotherapist 212-252-3769 hayleedonovan@gmail.com 280 Madison Ave., Ste 1108 New York, NY 10016 1 Barstow Rd. Ste P24 Great Neck, NY 11021 TBI Tablet | PAGE 11 Support Our Advertisers Donations CANTOR’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Caryn and Adam Sandman in loving memory of Bryan Elon Sandman. Robin Serinsky and Jay Silverman. Roy Schoen in loving memory of Herbert Schoen. Gail and Ed Schwartz. Ellen Doft and Alex Katz. Doris and Bob Kleinman in loving memory of George Kleinman Gloria Lack and Nathan Offen in loving memory of Trudy Cohen. Linda and Barry Seidel in memory of Richard Sencer. CULTURAL ARTS FUND Susan Isaacs and Elkan Abramowitz in loving memory of Gloria Safier– BAM Judy and Daniel Golub in loving memory of Dorothy Vatsky – Chesed Linda and Adam Sandman in loving memory of their beloved son, Bryan Elon Sandman – Chesed Joan and Bernie Hulkower in loving memory of Charles Edwards. – Chesed Ellen Doft and Alex Katz – Bikkur Cholim and Mostly Mitzvahs. BUILDING FUND Joan and Bernie Hulkower in loving memory of Gertrude Dworetzky. Marilyn Oser in honor of Susan and Richard Levin, Bride and Groom of the Torah. GENERAL FUND Ellen Doft and Alex Katz in loving memory of Sylvia Doft. LIBRARY FUND Fern and Hersh Cohen in loving memory of Edna and Harry Davis. Susan and Richard Levin in honor of Bert Taffet’s big birthday. Naomi and Rob Jackman in honor of Susan and Richard Levin, Bride and Groom of Simchat Torah. Bob Epstein and Beth Hisler in honor of Susan and Richard Levin. MEN’S CLUB Bob Epstein and Beth Hisler, with refuah shlma for Michael Levine’s father. RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND In honor of the birth of Benjamin Eli Mishkin: • Fern and Hersh Cohen • Nancy and Stuart Braman • Robin Serinsky & Jay Silverman • Betty and Barry Gimbel The Satovsky Family: • in loving memory of Toby Satovksy • in loving memory of Aaron Har-Zvi • In loving memory of Abraham Satovsky Gail and Ed Schwartz TBI Office Hours Monday–Thursday: 9 am–4 pm, Friday: 9 am–3 pm Appointments with the Synagogue Administrator are available before and after office hours. PAGE 12 | TBI TabletOctober 2013 sisterhood Contributions Would you like to honor someone’s simcha, express sympathy, or wish someone well? Make a contribution to a Sisterhood fund of your choosing and a card will be sent on your behalf. Choose from the Building Beautification Fund (BBF), the Flower Fund (FF), the School Equipment Fund (SEF), the Torah Repair Fund (TRF), and/or the Women’s League Torah Fund (WLTF). Minimum contribution per listing is $10.00. JNF Tree certificates are also available and require a minimum contribution of $18.00. Please send your listings and contributions (payable to TBI Sisterhood) to Deborah Brooks, 48 Summit Road, PW, 11050; or email deborahnaomi@aol.com. If I don’t know about it, I can’t include it! Mazal tov to Beverly and Steve Hazelkorn on the birth of their granddaughter Charley Jane Lefton Board and Officers WLTF Sisterhood WLTF Yasher koach to David Volpe for his tremendous effort, dedication, and ruach over the high holy days Board and Officers WLTF Annette and Dan Kasle TRF Sisterhood WLTF Mazal tov to Carol Goldblatt and Donald Goldblatt on Peri becoming a Bat Mitzvah Board and Officers WLTF Eleanor and Victor Himel BBF Joan and Bernie Hulkower BBF Annette and Dan Kasle TRF Sisterhood WLTF Yasher koach to Jeremy and Eden Kasle for their superb shofar blowing skills Board and Officers WLTF Annette and Dan Kasle TRF Sisterhood WLTF suPPoRt ouR aDveRtiseRs Mazal tov to Richard and Susan Levin on being honored as Chatan Torah and Kallah Bereshit Board and Officers WLTF Annette and Dan Kasle TRF Sisterhood WLTF Mazal tov to Lisa Rynston-Lobel and Scott Lobel on Eric becoming a Bar Mitzvah Board and Officers WLTF Eleanor and Victor Himel BBF Joan and Bernie Hulkower BBF Sisterhood WLTF Mazal tov to Lisa Novick and Myles Nachamie on Adam becoming a Bar Mitzvah Board and Officers WLTF Eleanor and Victor Himel BBF Joan and Bernie Hulkower BBF Sisterhood WLTF Happy Tails and Trails Alex Himel Certified Dog Trainer/Sitter Veterinarian recommended All training aspects covered Will come to your residence Walking, feeding and play time Excellent references www.happytailsntrails.com Phone: 516-767-0747 516-633-3384 Sincere condolences to Carole Rabin on the loss of her beloved husband Larry Board and Officers WLTF Joan Hulkower FF Sisterhood WLTF Todah Rabah a sincere thaNK You on behalf of the entire tbi community to everyone who made a Kol Nidrei pledge. it is because of your generosity that tbi is able to do so much for so many. Your contribution is deeply appreciated and will allow our synagogue to continue to provide the services we have all grown to expect and enjoy. tishRi / CheshvaN 5774 tbi tablet | PaGe 13 Overweight Sensation: How Allen Sherman Created Jewish Ethnic Humor One Song Parody at a Time. By Mark A. Schneider It was a letter from camp—a camp song that introduced the world to a parodist extraordinaire. “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, Here I am at Camp Granada, Camp is very entertaining, And they say we’ll have some fun when it stops raining...” If you know the song’s lyrics and you can sing it in its entirety, then you know a tiny bit of the Jewish parody success of Allen Sherman. But until you read an impressive new biography by Mark Cohen titled “Overweight Sensation: The Life and Comedy of Allen Sherman” you may not know the powerfully star-studded yet confusingly sad, rest of the story. Over the past few decades, there have been a number of Jewish comedy legendary names: Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, Woody Allen, Alan King, Robert Klein, Adam Sandler, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Jackie Mason to name a few. But only one took his Jewish upbringing and put the formula together to, in the words of author Cohen, “turn ethnic Jewish comedy into musical mainstream entertainment.” “Sarah Jackman, Sarah Jackman, How’s by you? How’s by you? How’s by you the family? How’s your sister Emily? She’s nice too. She’s nice, too...” I didn’t own every Allen Sherman record album—just a few— but I did follow and enjoy his contributions to ethnic humor from the beginning. Forty appearances on CBS TV’s Ed Sullivan (during and around The Beatles American takeover) helped deliver his style of song parody to the country (“Every time I fly away, People cry and they say, Bye, Bye Bloomberg...Once I took a trip with Irving Cohen, No one even noticed he was goin’...”). Over a decade ago, I also saw the non successful off-Broadway musical revue based on his song parodies, agreeing with The New York Times review that said “He was an extraordinarily skillful parodist that deserved to be remembered.” Sadly, Allen Sherman died suddenly ten days before his forty-ninth birthday. The short but challenging life of Sherman was filled with a multitude of attempts to raise the level of Jewish comedy entertainment. The Cohen book goes into great detail—textbookstyle, one might say, including delving quite deeply into the historical generational past of Allen Sherman’s (born Allen Copelon) family. All of which seems quite appropriate coming from a book publisher (Brandeis University Press) that has in the past heavily focused on an extensive series of American Jewish history, culture and life. The story of Allen Sherman fits right into this publisher’s collection. Going into detail of the influences that led to Sherman’s song parodies, it was interesting to note that his inspiration for songs and lyrics often came from his maternal immigrant grandparents, the Yiddish speaking Esther and Leon Sherman. “We got herring, sweet and sour, We got pickles, old and young, We got corned beef and salami, and a lot of tasty tongue We’ve got Philadelphia Cream Cheese in little wooden box, What ain’t we got? We ain’t got lox.” To a nation of immigrants, it was remarkable how Sherman’s musical parodies translated so well into mass market acceptance. One of the best examples of America’s embracing of Jewish ethnic identity cited in the biography is a story of how President John F. Kennedy was overheard singing Sherman’s “Sarah Jackman” to himself. JFK and Sherman met during a Washington D.C. event with the President telling him “I have your record and I like it very much.” What Sherman also seemed to accomplish was making a general audience more accepting of Jewish material. The bio remarks how two years after a new Sherman Jewish parody album with universal appeal was successfully released, the Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof ” opened. Cohen writes that critics attacked Fiddler. “Instead of being “too Jewish” as its creators feared, “Fiddler was Jewish material with universal appeal,” Cohen adds, just like the acceptance of Sherman’s album. One thing that came from devouring this Cohen biography was finding myself again singing some of the familiar and not-so familiar Allen Sherman parodies that even today maintain their Jewish humor so beautifully, as well as listening to his songs. Want to join in on a few of his greatest? “Summertime, Everybody is shvitzing, Schmaltz is melting And the Catskills is high...” That was to the tune of “Summertime.” This is to the tune of “Seventy-six Trombones:” Seventy-six Sol Cohens in the country club And a hundred and ten nice men named Levine, And there’s more than a thousand Fines Who parade around the links It’s a sight that really must be seen. And to the tune of “You’ll Never Walk Alone:” When you walk through the Bronx, Hold your head up high, PAGE 14 | TBI TabletOctober 2013 And look for a sign, Fordham Road...” To the tune of “How are Things in Glocca Morra:” How are things with Uncle Morris? Does he still work in the candy store...” It’s difficult to now sing the Hebrew song “Hava Nagila” without remembering the popular Sherman version: “Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Harvey and Sheila, Moved to West L.A. They bought a house one day, Financed by FHA...” Nor can I think of the tune “Moon River” without singing this version: Chopped liver, Rolled up in a ball, Too much cholesterol they say...” “You heart breaker, you fat maker, From now on I’m going the safflower way...” As I began putting this article together, I enjoyed listening to Allan Sherman’s tunes in the background. Fact is, as I read Mark Cohen’s bio, I found myself singing my way through many pages of the book, while also admiring the persistence, struggles and ongoing challenges faced by a talent who never wanted to stop proving to the world that he could successfully make his mark. He found success difficult to deal with, and often kept his family out of reach. Overcoming the challenges, Allen Sherman single-handedly took Jewish October 2013 SUNDAY Tishri / Cheshvan 5774 MONDAY TUESDAY 1 6 2 Cheshvan 7 Minyan 9 a.m. Sisterhood Brunch 13 9 Cheshvan 16 Cheshvan 8 23 Cheshvan 4 Cheshvan 14 10 Cheshvan 15 No NS COLUMBUS DAY 21 17 Cheshvan WEDNESDAY 2 28 Tishri 9 5 Cheshvan 11 Cheshvan 16 Board meeting Minyan 9 a.m. Adult Ed. Tishri / Cheshvan 5774 24 Cheshvan 3 10 22 18 Cheshvan 29 25 Cheshvan 12 Cheshvan 29 Tishri 6 Cheshvan FRIDAY 4 13 Cheshvan 23 19 Cheshvan 18 26 Cheshvan Adult Ed. Sisterhood meeting 14 Cheshvan 24 20 Cheshvan 25 21 Cheshvan 12 27 Cheshvan 1 28 Cheshvan 8 Cheshvan 9:30 a.m. services Family service 19 15 Cheshvan 9:30 a.m. JC/MM Bar Mitzvah of Eric Rynston-Lobel 26 6:45 p.m. services C.L. 5:44 p.m. Bar Mitzvah of Adam Nachamie 31 1 Cheshvan 9:30 a.m. services Bar Mitzvah of Max Popper ROSH CHODESH 6:45 p.m. services C.L. 5:54 p.m. Bar Mitzvah of Eric Rynston-Lobel Adult Ed. 30 7 Cheshvan 5 6:45 p.m. services C.L. 6:05 p.m. Library program 17 SATURDAY 30 Tishri 6:45 p.m. services C.L. 6:16 p.m. Bar Mitzvah of Max Popper ROSH CHODESH 11 Adult Ed. Ed. Meeting 28 THURSDAY Fundraising meeting Minyan 9 a.m. Adult Ed. 27 27 Tishri Exec. Bd. Meeting Minyan 9 a.m. No RS 20 3 Cheshvan humor to a parodical level. And that’s a wonderfully witty way, and entertaining place to be. By the way, the author has been making typical book signing appearances around our area. He lives in Los Angeles but will be making a New York area visit soon including appearing at both the Great Neck and New York Public Libraries in December. I’d love to invite Mark Cohen to speak at TBI while he’s is in the neighborhood. Let me know if you’d like to hear his take on Alan Sherman by emailing me at either copymark@gmail.com or MarkASchn@ optonline.net. 22 Cheshvan 9:30 a.m. services Bar Mitzvah of Adam Nachamie 2 29 Cheshvan 6:45 p.m. C.L. 5:35 p.m. TBI Tablet | PAGE 15 Non-Profit org. us Postage PAID temple Drive Port Washington, NY 11050-3915 RetuRN seRviCe ReQuesteD Hear Marilyn Oser, author of Rivka’s War, Thursday, October 10 Save the date for. . . Latkes & Vodkas Adult Hanukkah Cocktail Party Latkes, Vodkas, Nosh, Schmoozing and a Chinese Auction! Saturday, November 23, 2013 @ 7:30pm TBI Social Hall $25 per person TBI Reserved Parking Spaces and other GREAT auction items. Watch your mail for more information! To join our planning committee, contact ilyse.wofse@gmail.com Flushing, NY Permit No. 1812