Welcoming New Members by Rabbi Jordan Goldson Shabbat

Eternal Light
Volume 72, Issue 2
October 2013
Shabbat Schedule
Fri., October 4, 6pm
Gates of Prayer
Story Telling & Potluck Dinner
Parasha - Noach
Fri., October 11, 6pm
Union Prayer Book
Parasha - Lech-Lecha
Fri., October 18, 6pm
Music Shabbat
with Jessica Yellen &
Michael Roth
Parasha - Vayera
Fri., October 25, 6pm
Union Prayer Book
Parasha - Chayei Sara
Fri., November 1, 6pm
Gates of Prayer
New Member Shabbat
followed by Pot Luck
Dinner
Parasha– Toldot
Shabbat Morning
Minyan
Shabbat Morning Services &
Torah Study are held every
Saturday morning from
10am — 12pm
WelcomingNewMembersbyRabbiJordanGoldson
On Friday, November 1st, we will welcome and bless new members of
Congregation B’nai Israel. Our new members, like new born children,
give us our strength, our purpose, our very mission; to build the best
Jewish community we can.
The ancient prophets, whose teachings have been an essential part of our
mission as Reform Jews, lived during the time right before and after the
destruction of the first Temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonians (586 BCE).
They emerged during perhaps the greatest threat to Jewish continuity and
survival in our history. That is because it fell to them to explain to the
Israelites why, after their land was conquered and their temple
destroyed, they should continue to exist as a people. This was an
unprecedented test of the Jewish people, for no other people had
previously survived such devastation. Before the Israelites, if you lost
your country and your place of worship, you simply ceased to exist.
But not the Jews. Because of the creative force ignited by those
tumultuous times, the prophets, the Pharisees (who emerged in the 2nd
century BCE), and later the rabbis, invented something that never existed
before: portable religion. They conceived of a religion that was not
dependent on a specific piece of land, a specific place of worship, nor an
inherited priesthood. Rather, they developed a religion that could be
practiced anywhere, based on a book (Torah), and whose leadership was
the learned class which was open to all. In other words, these geniuses
invented the very notion that saved Judaism and insured our survival: the
religious community.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the previous President of the Union for Reform Judaism, described the importance of the synagogue as follows: “The
synagogue is the heartland of the Jewish world. It is the foundation of our
communal existence and the center of our
collective life. It is a place where we
make room for God and the Jewish
spirit. It is where Jews find comfort and
refuge from the insecurities of their
existence. It is the home where Jews
build community, reinforce the bonds of
the Jewish family and keep alive the
three things on which our existence
depends: Torah (Jewish study), Avodah
(worship), and Gemilut Chasadim
(acts of loving- kindness).”
Page 2
Volume 72, Issue 2
President’sMessagebyMarcSager
I wasreadingtheNewYorkTimesa
coupleofweeksagoandcameacross
anarticleaboutBarandBat
Mitzvah’s.Hereisaninteresting
quotefromthearticle,“Familieshave
beentreatingthisriteofpassagenot
asanentrytoJewishlife,butasa
graduationceremony:turn13,read
fromtheTorah,haveapartyandits
over.Manyleavesynagogueuntil
theyhavechildrenoftheirown,and
manyneverreturnatall—acycle
thatJewishleaderssayhasbeenunderminingorganizedJudaismforgenerations.”
Thisthoughthitmelikeatonof
bricks.Withhavingjustgone
throughthiswithmyownsonin
February,Ire(lectonwhatmakes
someonebecomeengagedinour
Jewishcommunitybeyondthis
wonderfulevent?
AtCBIwedoagreatjobofengaging
ouryouth,withatopnotchreligious
school,JuniorYouthGroup,
BARFTYandofcourseHenryS
JacobsCamp.
Evenwithallwehavetoofferwe
can’tignorethenationaltrends.A
studybyJackWertheimer,a
professorofAmericanJewish
historyattheJewishTheological
SeminaryofAmerica,showedthat
morethanathirdofreligiousschool
studentsdroppedoutafterthe
seventhgrade,and85percentby
the12thgrade.Thesenumbersare
staggering.Ibelievewearebucking
thisnationaltrendfornow.Our
kidsfeelasenseofbelongingnot
onlyintheirJudaism,butalsoinour
congregationalfamily,servingas
helpersduringreligiousschooland
aselectedof(icersinlocal,regional
andnationalyouthgroups.
Rabbi’sMessagecontinued
Howeverwecan’trestthinkingthat
thiswillremainlikethisforever.
Sothatbringsmebacktotheinitial
question,whatdoweneedtodoto
engagenotonlythechildrenbutalso
theparentsthatcomealongwith
them?Howdowemanagethenew
complexliveswearealllivingand
transcendaneventthatcanbringthe
entirefamilybackintothefoldofour
belovedtempleandkeepthemhere?
Ibelieveitgoesbacktoavalue
proposition.Whatvaluedoyouplace
onthetemple?Whatareyoulooking
forwhenyouarehereatthetemple?
Wearetryingsomanydifferent
thingsatCBItokeepthingsfreshand
upbeat!Keepinmindwearen’t
perfect,andarealwayslookingfor
newsuggestionsofthingsthatwill
engageyoutoourcongregationfrom
generationtogeneration.
Marc
Congregation B’nai Israel is a direct descendant of this creative brilliance. You can see why we expend so much
of our energy in community building. And although we have a dynamic Religious School and we offer a good
variety of activities for a congregation our size, there is so much more that we need to do. We know that there are
many Jews who live in our area who are not affiliated with a synagogue. That fact offers us a challenge that we
should address.
What does it take to entice Jews to the synagogue? How do we get back those Jews who once affiliated who no
longer do so? There are no easy answers. But Rabbi Yoffie also urged us “to create a synagogue whose message
of Torah is inspiring, whose spiritual energy is transforming, and whose web of kinship and caring is so
embracing that no one who enters its gates will ever consider forsaking the holy community that it provides.”
We need to find new ways to contribute to the sacred task of welcoming and nurturing synagogue affiliation. In
an effort to do this, we are starting a number of committees that will look at the way we do things with new eyes.
And it will be important that many of us are part of this. If you were once involved in the Temple but have not
been for a while, we invite you to join one of these committees. If you have never before been involved in the
Temple, please consider getting involved now. In the coming weeks, you will hear more about these
opportunities to become more active in our community. For now, if you have an idea and want to get involved
please call me or Temple’s President, Marc Sager.
This is a new year. And it is going to be an exciting year to be a part of Congregation B’nai Israel.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Rabbi Jordan
Tishrei-Cheshvran
October
October 2
October 11
October 25
B’nai Mitzvah Prep, 4pm
Talmud Class, 7pm
Shabbat Evening Service, 6pm
Union Prayer Book
Shabbat Evening Service, 6pm
Union Prayer Book
October 12
October 26
Shabbat Service &
Torah Study, 10am
Shabbat Service &
Torah Study, 10am
October 18
October 30
Shabbat Evening Service, 6pm
Music Shabbat
B’nai Mitzvah Prep, 4pm
Talmud Class, 7pm
October 4
Shabbat Evening
Service, 6pm
Story Telling & Potluck
Dinner
October 5
Shabbat Service &
Torah Study, 10am
October 19
October 6
Confirmation, 11:30am
Shabbat Service &
Torah Study, 10am
October 8
October 20
Board Meeting, 6pm
Confirmation, 11:30am
October 9
October 23
B’nai Mitzvah Prep, 4pm
Talmud Class, 7pm
B’nai Mitzvah Prep, 4pm
Talmud Class, 7pm
November
November 1
November 9
November 20
Shabbat Evening
Service, 6pm
New Member Shabbat
Story Telling & Potluck
Dinner
Shabbat Service &
Torah Study, 10am
B’nai Mitzvah Prep, 4pm
Talmud Class, 7pm
November 10
November 22
Confirmation, 11:30am
November 2
November 12
Shabbat Evening Service, 6pm
Music Shabbat
Shabbat Service &
Torah Study, 10am
Board Meeting, 6pm
November 23
November 13
Shabbat Service &
Torah Study, 10am
November 3
Confirmation, 11:30am
Sam Glaser Concert, 4pm
Israeli Folk Dancing, 7pm
November 6
B’nai Mitzvah Prep, 4pm
Talmud Class, 7pm
November 8
B’nai Mitzvah Prep, 4pm
Talmud Class, 7pm
November 24
November 15
Confirmation, 11:30am
Shabbat Evening Service, 6pm
Gates of Prayer
November 27
November 16
Shabbat Service &
Torah Study, 10am
Shabbat Evening Service, 6pm November 17
Union Prayer Book
Turkey Train, 11:30am
Israeli Folk Dancing, 7pm
First Night of Chanukah
November 29
Shabbat Evening Service, 7pm
Gates of Prayer
November 30
Chanukah Party, 7pm
Page 4
Tishrei-Cheshvran
byJessicaYellen
WehavesharedmanybeginningsinReligiousSchooloverthelastmonth.
StartingthenewschoolyearandthenewJewishyearof5774coincidedat
thesametimethisyear.TheHolyDaysgaveustheopportunitytore(lect
onthepastandlookforwardtothefuture.Theblastsoftheshofarcallour
attentiontowhowehavebeen,whowearenowandwhowewanttobein
theyeartocome.Theshofarisblownfromthenarrowtothewideend,
teachingthatwebegintheworldwithourindividualandimmediateneedbasedconcerns(hunger,sleep,etc.)andgrowbeyondourownneeds,
feelings,andcomfortstoalsobeawareoftheneeds,feelings,andcomforts
ofothers.Kolyisraelarevimzehbazeh,allofIsraelisresponsibleforeach
other!
Mostparentscanattesttothefactthatchildrengrowfromthenarrowend
oftheshofar(theworldrevolvesaroundme)tothewideendoftheshofar
(attendingtotheneedsofothers)atvaryingdegreesandinconsistently.
Justwhenwethinktheyhavemadehugestridestobecompassionate
becausetheysharedatoyorcomfortedadistressedfriend,theyfollow-up
withaninappropriatecommentorgesture.Thisisthedanceofgrowth.
Thisisthetugofwarinestablishingboundariesandtheirplaceinthe
world.InReligiousSchool,wehavetheprivilegeofnotonlywitnessing
thechildren’sgrowthovertheyears,wehavetheopportunitytobe
parent’spartnersinfacilitatingspiritualandreligiousdirectionduring
thesedevelopmentalyears.
Thisyear,theReligiousSchoolthemeisV’ahavtal’rayachakamocha,Love
yourneighborasyourself.TheTorahcommandsusto“love”intwo
places:loveyourneighborasyourself(Leviticus19:18)andYoushalllove
theEternalyourG-d(Deuteronomy6:5).Therabbisbelievethatthetwo
areconnected;lovingG-dandlovingeachother.Howwepracticeone,affectsourrelationshipwiththeother.Throughouttheyear,wewillseekto
developcompassionandtakeactiontoshowresponsibilitytowardseach
other.Throughbuildingawarenessofhowtoloveourneighborwewill
alsohavetheopportunitytodevelopourrelationshipwithG-d.NextRosh
Hashanah,whenweheartheShofar,howdifferentwillourtemple,
community,andworldbewhenweallpracticethismitzvah?
TODAH RABAH
To Laurie Brandt, Maureen Corcoran,
Aileen Dampf, Cathy Labens &
Linda Levy for their help with
High Holy Day Setup
Page 5
Tishrei-Cheshvran
FallReligiousSchoolDates
October 2
4:00pm B’nai Mitzvah
Pet Blessing
October 6
9:30am Religious School
11:30am Confirmation
Sunday,October27
11:45am-12:30pm
October 9
4:00pm B’nai Mitzvah
CongregationB’naiIsrael
ParkingLot
October 13
9:30am Religious School
October 20
9:30am Religious School
Preschool Family Breakfast
with Rabbi Jordan
11:30am Confirmation
1:00pm B’nai Mitzvah Family
Seminar
October 23
4:00pm B’nai Mitzvah
Tza’arBa’alayChayim:
KindnesstoAnimals
October 27
9:30am Religious School
11:45am Pet Blessing
October 30
4:00pm B’nai Mitzvah
Bringoneofthefollowingitemstodonateand
engageinthemitzvahofbeingkindtoanimals:
Oldsheets,blankets,andtowels
Contactrelschool@bnaibr.orgformoreinformation.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
WISH LIST:
Automated external
defibrillator
(approx. $2,000)
Rem
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Con mber t
o ch
gre
Isra gation eck th
Cal el we B’na e
i
e
b
cur ndar fo site
r
e
r
n
a
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w.b t event ll
naib s!
r.or
g
Tishrei-Cheshvran
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Tishrei-Cheshvran
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7 77
Page
Page
Tishrei-Cheshvran
Page 8
ADULT EDUCATION CLASS
UnmaskingtheHiddenBeautyoftheTalmud
Wednesdays7:00pm-8:30pm
October2,9,23,30November6,13,20
Fee:ForCBIMembers$18
This course, consisting of 7 classes, will explore
Talmudic stories as literary constructions, the obvious meanings of which often hide deeper subversive messages. We will learn to identify literary
patterns, motifs, symbols, language, and structure,
the presence of which point to an artful process of
creative editing. This class is for beginners as well
as those who have had some experience studying
Talmud.
TOREGISTER,CALLOREMAILTHETEMPLEOFFICE
225-343-0111
ORrabbijg@bnaibr.org
It is a Tree of Life . . . . .
And there is no better way to memorialize those monumental
events in our lives than with a leaf or a stone.
Tree of Life Leaf:
Leaf $250
Tree of Life Stone:
Stone $1,000
To purchase an honor, please contact the office at 343.0111
Tishrei-Cheshvran
Page 9
Tishrei-Cheshvran
Page 10
October4
MiriamSchwartz,motherofSandyBertman
MurielNemiroff,grandmotherofJessicaYellen
SelmaMayer,motherofJamesMayer
LowellHeisey,fatherofMayleeSamuels
LeonBinder,fatherofDoreBinder
MayWolffWeill,grandmotherofLee,Byron&MikeKantrow
AlexWatsky,fatherofMathileAbramson
VioletFalkLoeb,grandmotherofStevenLoeb
RoseMarionBerg,motherofLeeMichaelBerg
JoshKantrow,grandfatherofLee,Byron&MikeKantrow
October11
JosephSamuelCicero,fatherofNickCicero&MimiWeinstein
AaronLevine,fatherofBetteLevine
IrvingRedler,husbandofBettieRedler
AdolphElgutter,grandfatherofBertRosenbaum
LawrenceMann,fatherofDr.LarryMannandgrandfatherofChipMann
JimPickholtz,sonofLarry&AletaPickholtz
HenriWolbrette,fatherofBettyAkchin
EdnaFriedman,sister-in-lawofDorisChesler
LouiseBergeron,motherofElaineSimon
October18
HarryRazafsky,grandfatherofDoreBinder
Dr.AlbertAbramson,fatherofDr.StevenAbramson
&brotherofTonetDardenne
BebeFrey,cousinofRichardLipsey
MoyseKahn,fatherofJackKahn
JoeBrooks,UncleofRickBrooks
PatriciaSchneider,wifeofDickSchneider
HenryJacobs,fatherofBettySchwartzberg
LenaKanter,grandmotherofEllenFolks
RechaElgutter,grandmotherofBertRosenbaum
DanBolner,fatherofAnneBolnerMeltzer
JettyPressburg,motherinlawofGretchenPressburg
October28
SarahRazafsky,grandmotherofDoreBinder
JohnDardenne,husbandofTonetDardenne,
fatherofJayDardenne
ElayneBressler,sister-in-lawofSylviaWashauer
Robert“Bobby”Bressler,brotherofSylviaWashauer
FreddieMiller,fatherofRobbieRubin.
May their memory be a blessing
Tishrei-Cheshvran
Yarzheits
YarzheitsaretraditionallyreadduringtheFridaynightserviceprior
tothedateoftheyarzheitsunlessotherarrangementshavebeen
made.
Healing
MiShebeirach,theprayerforphysicalandemotionalhealing,isrecitedat
theFridayeveningShabbatservice.Ifyouareillandwouldlikeami
shebeirachrecitedonyourbehalf,pleasecalltheTempleof(iceat
343-0111beforenoononThursdays,sothecongregationmayofferits
prayersforyou.Ifyouknowanotherpersonwhoneedsthesame,please
asktheindividualforpermissiontoreadhis/hernamebeforecallingthe
of(ice.
Visiting Those Who Are Ill
CongregationB’naiIsraelwantstomakesurewecareforourmembers
andtheirfamilies.Ifyouhaveafamilymemberorknowofsomeonein
ourcongregationwhoisinthehospital,hasbeeninanaccident,orisill
andrecuperatingathome,pleasecalltheTempleof(iceat343-0111so
RabbiJordancancontactthemandarrangeforavisit.
Page 12
Page 12
BuildingFund
RichardLeibowitz
David&RobbieRubin,inmemory
ofEdwardPeal
Sidney&AnnDreyfus,inhonorof
RayWeil’s90thbirthday
CemeterySecurity
An off-duty officer will provide
security at the cemetery every
2nd Sunday of the month from
10:00am until 2:00pm.
GeneralFund
NancyRounsefell,inhonorofthe
beautifulHighHolyDaymusic
DavidSafer,inmemoryofMikeSafer
Marvin&JoAnnBender,inmemory
ofLenaBrookner
Camille&JoelForrest,inhonorof
theNewYear
You may donate to the Temple in many ways.
The designated Temple funds are listed below
with a brief description of each. When making your donations, please designate your
fund of choice.
Building Fund: for Temple maintenance,
repairs & improvements.
Camp Scholarship Fund: for student
scholarships to Jacobs Camp, Kutz Camp or
Reznikoff Day Camp.
Cemetery Fund: for cemetery repair,
improvement & maintenance.
Endowment Fund: for temple operating
expenses (interest income).
General Fund: for current expenses.
Judge Alvin Rubin Ner Tamid Fund: for
post Confirmation class student classes to
further their Jewish education.
Sandy Sager Beautification and Garden
Fund: for outdoor Temple beautification.
Library Fund: to purchase Temple library
books and supplies.
Memorial Fund: to be used at Temple board
discretion.
Prayer Book Fund: to purchase prayer
books.
Sisters in the Sukkah
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund: used to support
worthy charitable organizations, pay for special religious, educational and cultural temple
programs, and to assist members in need.
Sylvia Steiner Religious School Fund: to
help defray Religious School tuition for needy
students and to purchase
supplies.
Gary Weill Youth Room Fund: for Youth
Room improvement and maintenance.
Peggy L. Blumberg Fund: to be used to
support WCBI in its endeavors.
The following memorials or dedications
are also available:
Tree of Life Leaf: $250
Yahrzeit Memorial Plaque: $250
Tree of Life Stone: $1000
Sanctuary Pew (1/2 side): $1500
Tishrei-Cheshvran
Women of Congregation B’nai Israel byLindaLevy
Calling all cooks!! All the home-prepared dips, cookies, cheese
balls, etc., that were donated for the Rosh Hashana oneg and for our
Sisters in the Sukkah potluck meal were outstanding, and I’d like to
collect all the recipes. If you made something special for either of
these events, or if you have something in mind for the upcoming
Shabbat potluck on October 4, please send me a copy of the recipe.
I will compile them all and pass them out at our next WCBI meeting. No date has been set yet for our fall meeting, but we will try to
schedule something in October or November.
Thanks again for your overwhelming response to our requests for
food and help during the High Holy Days. Thanks also for your
support of WCBI through your payment of dues and participation in
our events.
BaRFTY byErinDean
Happy New Year! BaRFTY enjoyed hosting children's services for
Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur, and we appreciate all those that
came out. This past month, BaRFTY kicked off the year with our
annual freshman initiation. The freshman reluctantly got out of bed
as BaRFTY board members came unexpectedly to pick them, and
even though they were tired, we all had a good time. Later all of
BaRFTY came together for breakfast and some icebreakers.
BaRFTY also celebrated Sukkot with the LSU Hillel. We are also
looking forward to the BaRFTY trip to the 13th Gate, which is always a fun one!
Israeli Folk Dancing withDavidKirshner
Sundays,7pmto8:30pm
Dancers,experiencedornovice,singles,couplesorfamilies,youngoryoung
-at-heart,areinvitedtoattendfreeofcharge.Or,ifyoupreferto,justcome
andlistentothelovelymusicofIsrael.
Classesare:October6,20;November3,17;December1,15
Toregister,callDavidat756-5291
Page 14
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Tishrei-Cheshvran
Advertiser Spotlight: Haspel, LLC.
DatingbacktoNewOrleans1909,haberdasherJosephHaspel,Sr.beganmakingsuits
inlightweightfabrics,allowingmentoremaindressedtothenineseveninoppressive
climates.Knownastheinventoroftheseersuckersuit,JosephHaspelremainedinnovativeincreatinglightweightgarmentsforyearstocome.JosephHaspel,Jr.(fatherof
SusanHaspelLipsey)alsoremainedveryactiveinthecompanyuntilhesolditin1977.
TheLipsey/Haspelfamily(Richard,Susan,Laurie,Wendy)repurchasedtheHaspel
brandinthemid-1990's.Forseveralyearsfollowing,thefamilybroughtthepopular
garmentsbacktothemarketplace.FastforwardtotodayandthebrandisbeingrevivedbyJosephSr.'sgreat-granddaughterLaurieAronson.Sheisgivingthelabelnew
energybybringingallaspectsofthebrandin-house:design,sales,anddistribution.EvenallofthemanufacturingwillbedoneintheUS!Thegarmentswillremain
truetoherancestor'svaluesofmaintaininganelegantappearance,butthedesignwill
beupdatedandfresh.
ItwasthosevaluesmarriedtoqualityworkmanshipandclassicstylethatledtoHaspel
beingfavoredbythelikesofpresidentsCalvinCoolidge,HarryTrumanandFranklinD.
Roosevelt,aswellasdappermoviestarslikeHumphreyBogart,GregoryPeck,who
woreHaspelseersuckerinToKillAMockingbird(1962),andCaryGrant,whosported
HaspelsuitsinCharade(1963).
HaspelwilllaunchitsbrandinSpring2014.HaspelDaysareHereAgain!
Laurie is a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge and is currently President of both Haspel, LLC
and Lipsey’s, LLC . She also serves as CEO of Lipsey’s, LLC. Laurie is married to Mark and
they have two children, Anna and Marla. Laurie, named one of Baton Rouge’s Most Influential
Business Women and Top 15 Rising Stars is active in the local community serving on boards for
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Baton Rouge Physical Therapy, along with several other
local and national civic and business organizations.
CongregationB’naiIsrael
3354KleinertAvenue·BatonRouge,LA70806
AddressServiceRequested
Eternal Light
The official publication of Congregation
B'nai Israel
Rabbi
Jordan E.Goldson
Rabbi Emeritus
Barry L. Weinstein
Religious School Director
Jessica Yellen
Asst. Rel. School Director
Julie Tepper
Office Administrator
Cathy Duplechin
President
Marc Sager
Past-President
Diana Mann
Vice-President
Deborah Sternberg
Treasurer
Lisa Binder
Secretary
Jay Jalenak
Sisterhood President
Linda Levy
Men's Club President
David Spivak
Inquiries and submissions may be directed to
Congregation B’nai Israel
3354 Kleinert Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Tel: 225/343-0111
Fax: 225/343-0653
Religious School: 225/383-6810
http://www.bnaibr.org
office@bnaibr.org
rabbijg@bnaibr.org
relschool@bnaibr.org
Distribution of the Eternal Light is free to members and
friends of the Congregation.
Jewish Singles
If you are a Jewish Single (over 45), you are cordially
invited to join our casual group for monthly coffee and
conversation, synagogue and community service projects,
and cultural activities.
Please contact Heidi Shapiro at (225) 924-2597
or Nancy Rounsefell at (225) 927-3161
or at nancysrhapsody@yahoo.com.
Please put J"ewish Singles"in the subject line of your e-mail.