May 2014 Iyyar / Sivan 5774

Transcription

May 2014 Iyyar / Sivan 5774
May 2014
Iyyar / Sivan 5774
The newsletter of Beth El Synagogue
 Durham’s first synagogue 
FROM OUR RABBI:
Routines Are a Double-Edged Sword
Routines are a double edged sword. They help and hinder. Scales
help us play others’ music but can dampen the melody within.
Morning prayers can inspire to cherish each new day or blind us
to all that is not written on the page. In one of the few narratives
in the book of Leviticus, Aaron’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu, die
for bringing “strange fire that God had not commanded.” There
are many theories about the exact nature of their sin. Rashbam
(Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir, 1085-1158, from Troyes and Rashi’s
grandson) implies they erred through routine. He focuses on the
words “God had not commanded” and adds,
on that day. [Meaning], even though on all other
days [of the inauguration of the tabernacle] it is
written that, “the sons of Aaron the priest should
put fire on the altar” (Leviticus 1:7), today
Moses did not command [that they bring the
fire]. Moses did not want them to bring a
‘regular’ fire because they were expecting the
descent of divine fire…they should have waited
so that God’s name would be sanctified
when everyone would find out that a fire had
descended from heaven. Elijah said similarly,
“Apply no fire” (I Kings 18:25), because he
wanted to sanctify God’s name through the
descent of a fire from above.
Nadav and Avihu assumed the 8th day was like every other day,
that they should bring the fire as they had done 7 days before.
Their routine from yesterday blinded them to the uniqueness
of today. Abraham Joshua Heschel once wrote, “The greatest
hindrance to knowledge is our adjustment to conventional
notions, to mental cliches. Wonder, or radical amazement, the
state of maladjustment to words and notions, is therefore, a
prerequisite for an authentic awareness of that which is.” And
in his most recent book, Sacred Attunement, scholar Michael
Fishbane writes, “A task of theology is to attune the self to the
unfolding occurrence of things in all their particularities and
conjunctions, and help one remain steadfast at each new crossing
point where raw elementariness, radically given, becomes human
experience.”
Life without routine quickly disintegrates into chaos, but can
we remain steadfastly aware as each day unfolds? Can we create
routines that help us see and experience life more fully rather than
deafen our senses? Can we do our part in God’s service and, on
the very next day, have the patience to wait for a gift from above?
— Rabbi Daniel Greyber
May 18, 2014
10:15am
Annual Meeting
& honoring of our
Volunteers of the Year
Laura Flicker, Sheila Goldstein, Lois Price,
Rhoda Silver, and Randi Smith
followed by a
Lag B’Omer cook-out:
The Membership Committee invites everyone to
stay after the Annual Meeting and enjoy kosher
hamburgers and hotdogs in honor of our new
members who have joined over the past year.
There is no cost to attend,
but please RSVP to Sheri@betheldurham.og
by Thursday, May 1,
so we may plan accordingly.
Inside this issue:
Committee Contacts…………………………...….....2
Gabbaim Schedule…………….……………………...2
From our President…………………………………...3
From our Executive Director……………….………..3
Healing Yoga, Chavurah Service, Text Studies……..4
Sisterhood………………………………...…………...5
Naches………………………………………………....6
Nina Bryce - Update from Avodah……………..…..6
Social Action…………………………………………...7
Witness History, Art Display…………………………8
JFS Chaverim Seder…………………………………...8
Hosts/Sponsors……………..…….…...…….………..9
B’not Mitzvah...………………...……...…………10-11
Youth & Talmud Torah News…….………..…...12-13
Hasan Reporting from Israel…………………..…...14
Mitzvah Projects……………………………………..14
Contributions…...…….…...…....……....................15
Yahrzeit Reminders……………………………….….17
Letter from Valhalla………...………......…….........18
Community News………………………………..19-24
May & June Calendars…..……...…....…..........25-26
Community Connections……………………….…..27
1
The Beth El Bulletin is the newsletter
of Beth El Congregation. We appreciate
any feedback and input. Non-members may
request to join our mailing list for a $25 yearly
contribution to help cover printing & mailing
costs. Bulletins are also archived online three
months at a time. The online version has
some contact information omitted for the
privacy of our members.
“Like” Beth El Synagogue at
www.facebook.com/BethEl.Durham
Join our discussion group at
www.facebook.com/groups/BethElDurham
Rabbi
Rabbi Daniel Greyber
President
Barak Richman
First Vice President
Rachel Galanter
Second Vice President
Noah Pickus
Executive Director
Casey Baker
Education & Youth Director
Elisabeth Albert
Cong. Services Coordinator
Sheri Hoffman
Publicity Assistant
Krisha Miller
Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Steve Sager
Bulletin Advertising Manager
Gladys Siegel
and check out Rabbi Greyber’s page:
www.facebook.com/pages/
Rabbi-Daniel-Greyber/105866049455568
Gabbai Rotation
Please contact if you'd like to
request an aliyah or help lead services.
Please do not call on Shabbat or other holidays.
YAHRZEITS: To arrange a yahrzeit minyan, please call
the synagogue office (919-682-1238) at least one
month in advance. To receive notification of a yahrzeit
or to list a yahrzeit in the bulletin, call the synagogue
office (682-1238).
DO YOU HAVE AN ITEM FOR THE BETH EL BULLETIN?
All items for the bulletin MUST be submitted
by e-mail to Krisha Miller at krisha@betheldurham.org.
The FINAL DEADLINE for items for the upcoming
bulletin is the 1st workday of the preceding month.
THANK YOU.
5/3
Emor
Diane Markoff
5/10
Behar
Roger Perilstein
5/17
Behukkotai
Shula Bernard
5/24
Bamidbar
Anne Derby
5/31
Naso
James Tulsky
COMMITTEE CONTACTS:
Finance
Maxine Stern
6/4
1st day Shavuot
David Rubin
Lifelong Learning
Sheva Zucker
6/5
2nd day Shavuot
Diane Markoff
Membership
Andrea Ginsberg
6/7
Behaalotkha
Jon Wahl
Orthodox Kehillah
Sheldon Hayer
6/14
Shelah Lekha
Bernie Fischer
Ritual
Laura Lieber
Social Action
Debbie Goldstein
6/21
Korah
Sally Laliberte
Va’ad haChinuch
Eric Lipp
6/28
Hukkat-Rosh Chodesh Steve Schauder
Community of Caring
Rhoda Silver
CHEVRA KADISHA (BURIAL SOCIETY)
Contact David Klapper
2
The Gabbaim schedule is available online:
www.betheldurham.org/rituallife/gabbirotation.html
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
FROM OUR PRESIDENT:
Volunteers and Volunteerism
I don’t want to go all de Tocqueville on you, but our
Annual Meeting is what makes America great. OK, that’s an
overstatement, but bear with me.
I am constantly amazed at the degree of voluntarism we
see throughout Beth El. Yes, a healthy shul relies heavily on
volunteers, but Beth El exceeds any standard. Our very active
members play leading roles in our ritual life, social activities,
educational offerings, administrative mechanisms, and, of course,
governance. We cherish our lay leadership, take ownership of
our shul, and — I mean this in a good way — hold our leaders
accountable.
This voluntarism is quintessentially embodied in our
Annual Meeting, in two ways. First, we fulfill our governance
responsibilities: we approve a budget for the coming year and
elect our Board of Trustees. Yes, there is a certain pedantic and
mechanical feel to these duties, but (dare I draw the analogy?)
just like the past weeks’ parshiot describe in numbing detail
the ornamental and architectural features of the mishkan, the
parameters of our sacred mission sometimes take the form of
dull minutiae.
And second, we honor our Volunteers of the Year. This
year, we honor five remarkable women — Laura Flicker,
Sheila Goldstein, Lois Price, Rhoda Silver, and Randi Smith —
who stand out even among a congregation full of very active
volunteers.
Thus, I encourage you to attend our Annual Meeting.
Please come to gather as a community to discuss the state of our
congregation and to exercise our constitutional responsibility to
decide important matters that affect us all. And please come to
celebrate those among us who are being recognized for their
enormous contributions and represent the voluntaristic spirit that
is exhibited throughout the congregation.
If there are any larger lessons here—and there may not be,
but let’s give it a shot—they lie in the realities of running a
voluntary organization. It takes an enormous amount of work,
as you well know, and some moments are quite gratifying, like
capitalizing on the opportunity to honor those who deserve honor,
and some are, well, pedantic and mechanical. It is quite easy to
lose sight of the holiness and mission of our congregation when
the onerous details of governance consume our schedules. It
therefore is quite fitting that we combine procedural votes and
budget approval (call that the body) with honoring volunteers
and celebrating generosity (call that the spirit).
And perhaps another lesson is that our leaders and our
congregation alike, at the Annual Meeting, will be forced to
take notice of all the vibrant voluntarism around us. At this
year’s Meeting, we will hear from our Strategic Plan Task Forces,
our Finance Committee and their budget for the year ahead, our
incoming Board, and our remarkable Volunteers of the
Year. This collection represents an enormous amount of work
and charity that our congregation has generated just this past
year. It will be a very gratifying moment to share with Rachel
Galanter, to whom I will give the president’s gavel, as we both
marvel at how fortunate we are to be a part of Beth El. Yes, it’s
enough to make de Tocqueville proud.
— Barak Richman
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Coming from New York City where the idea of needing to
find a grocery store that still had matzah left in stock or needing
to worry about finding enough Kosher for Passover food seemed
like such a foreign concept, but such is the life of a new transplant
to the South. I grew up and then went to college in Los Angeles
and then spent the last seven years in New York City, the two
largest Jewish populations in the United States. I realize that
this will be an annual ritual that many of you have perfected
and I hope to learn the wisdom of your ways so we can be better
prepared for next year.
While it was a “struggle” to find the right foods to celebrate
our first Passover in Durham, I couldn’t help but think about
those who actually struggle for food on a daily basis. On a daily
basis we have members of the greater Durham community arrive
at our doors in need of food. Through the generosity of our Beth
El community we are able to help these folks with a shopping
bag of food that should feed them for at least a few days. The
beginning of the Hagaddah states, “All who are hungry, let
them come and eat.” It is a powerful call and one that we should
continue to heed throughout the entire year.
Beth El is leading many great initiatives to address the issue
of hunger in our community. Our combined efforts in the Durham
and Chapel Hill CROP Hunger Walks yielded over $7000 for
local and international hunger relief; our community responded
to the call for Kosher for Passover food that went to the JFS Food
Pantry for those who could not afford Passover foods and we
were able to provide them with a substantial amount of food for
the holiday; our ongoing collection efforts which Laura Quigley
spearheaded so many years ago continue to meet the needs of
those who come to our doors and others in the community and our
ongoing support of Urban Ministries & Chapel Hill's Inter-Faith
Council through volunteering and food donations.
Hunger is not the only community need that our Social
Action efforts are addressing. The Blood Drive was a success
with 33 units collected thanks to the efforts of Carla Fenson
and Laura Svetkey who organize this annual event.
Our Social Action Committee will also be sending information soon about future efforts to help local children in need,
plus more targeted efforts for our food collection. If you would
like to get involved with any of these ongoing programs, please
contact Jacki Resnick, Debbie Goldstein or Hope Hartman.
I am so privileged to be a part of a community that feels
so committed to being a great neighbor and an obligation to
help better the greater Durham community through all of these
initiatives. I hope you and your families had a wonderful
Passover and I look forward to celebrating many more holidays
and simchot with you.
If we have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, please feel
free to stop by Beth El Monday-Friday during our normal office
hours or drop me an email or phone call and we will find some
time to chat.
B’Shalom,
Casey Baker
3
Egalitarian Chavurah Service
May 3, 9:30am
Main Building, lower level, classroom #4
The service is traditional and egalitarian, using the
modern Orthodox Koren siddur, and all participants are able
to take active part in it. Families sit together and women
fully participate in leading the services. The Chavurah
welcomes all. Pre-bat/bar-mitzvah youth read the maftir
and chant. Post-bat/bar-mitzvah youth are especially invited
to take active roles.
Contact Susan Breitzer (breitzer@embarqmail.com) with
questions and to request honors, to read, and/or to lead a
service.
Lifelong Learning
www.betheldurham.org/adulted/courses.html
Monthly Torah Study
Do you sometimes wish there was more time to discuss
the Parasha/Torah Portion of the Week? Well, there is!
Approximately once a month we are offering Torah
discussions led by various congregants.
May 3 led by Susan Breitzer in the library
following Kiddush lunch (approx. 1:15pm)
Shabbat Mishnah Study
Saturday mornings at 8:45am in the Freedman Center
Healing Yoga
Gentle Movement, Meditation, Relaxation
May 10 & June 7
10:00–11:00am in the Beth El Freedman Center
This class is designed to help with the recovery process
from physical and mental stresses of illness (your own or
a loved one); addresses fatigue, soreness, stiffness, anxiety,
grief, and depression; deals with balance, bone loss,
immunity, and flexibility; brings peace of mind. No prior
yoga experience is needed.
Participants should wear comfortable clothing. After the
class, all are welcome to join the Beth El worship service
and /or Kiddush lunch in the main building.
With generous support, Beth El has raised the funds to
purchase yoga mats, straps, foam blocks, blankets, bolsters,
and eye bags. These props help participants feel comfortable
as they sit, move, and meditate. Please join us, or if you know
someone who might benefit from healing yoga, consider
coming as a buddy.
For additional information, contact Margie Satinsky, RYT,
919-383-5998 or msatinsky@nc.rr.com
The Community of Caring
We are here for YOU!
Need a meal due to
illness, surgery, grief or other special circumstances?
Need a ride to/from an appointment or to visit a friend?
Would you like a friendly visitor?
Anyone looking for help
or who would like to participate by
providing these community needs,
please call or email Rhoda Silver at:
919-688-0077 / Rhoda.Silver@gmail.com
4
Feel free to attend at any time! Join Rabbis Sager and
Greyber for coffee and discussions on text from the
Mishnah. People new to Mishnah study are especially
welcome.
Wednesday Morning Minyan & Text Study
Services start at 8:00am on most Wednesdays & usually last
about 45 minutes. Afterward, those who can stay gather in
the social hall for coffee, treats, & a weekly study led by
Rabbi Greyber or other members. All are welcome.
Interested in reading the Haftarah or Torah
during an upcoming Shabbat service?
Congregants who do this regularly/semi-regularly/
every-once-in-awhile are greatly appreciated! Even if
you've never chanted a Haftarah, if it's been a long
time, or you have thought it would be a meaningful
way to commemorate an occasion, you like the
sound of the trope, or you would just like to learn
this as a new skill, please contact Randi Smith,
rbsmith.521@gmail.com.
If you would like to read a Torah portion, please
contact Jeff Derby, jhderby@us.ibm.com .
Seeking Shabbat Greeters
Do you like getting a warm "Shabbat Shalom" as you enter
shul on Saturday morning? You're not alone. Our greeting
program has been extremely well received. To keep this
program going, we need volunteer greeters like you. Just
click on the link below to view available dates and pick one
(or two) in the coming months. Thanks for helping make
Beth El a warm and welcoming place to be! http://bit.ly/
BEGreet (please note this is a new link). If you've never
greeted before, its easy. We've put together some guidelines
to help: http://bit.ly/BEgreeter_guide
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Sisterhood
www.betheldurham.org/synagogue/sisterhood.html
Thank You & Mazel Tov!
A sampling of what we’re planning
for next year:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Last spring, Sisterhood decided that it was time to
improve our main kitchen, so began the Kitchen Initiative
which helped bring to light the importance of getting the
kitchen back on track with supplies, maintenance, and having
a dedicated staff person in charge. It gives me great pleasure
to say Kol HaKavod (great job) to Laura Flicker, Lois Price,
our new kitchen manager Sandy Fangmeier and the rest of
our dedicated kitchen volunteers who are responsible for
the great score and rave reviews our kitchen recently
received from the Health Department. Last summer our
kitchen received a score of 90.5, but thanks to this team’s
hard work, we now proudly display a grade of 97. We
envision a 99 or 100 for our next inspection! Beth El is
so lucky to have such a great facility. Thank you also to
everyone who has donated to this initiative. Sisterhood will
continue to collect funds through this fall.
I am so glad that we can provide a clean
and well-stocked kitchen for all of your
kosher cooking needs.
Family Fun Day assistance/kids' activity booth
Welcome Brunch
Beth El & JCC Chanukkah Bazaars
Potluck Dinner
Hamentaschen baking
Bingo & Bourbon night
High Tea
Hello-Farewell Luncheon
Please join us!
Please note that the Erev Shabbat services
originally scheduled for May been
postponed. Future date to be determined.
Casey Baker,
Executive Director
Sisterhood Gift Shop
Open during office hours, select special events, & by appointment.
If you are interested in shopping outside of office hours, helping staff the Gift Shop
or with shop related projects, please contact GiftShop@betheldurham.org.
Beth El Sisterhood Kitchen Initiative Pledge Form
Stocking and maintaining the kitchen is critical for weekly Kiddushim as well as other religious and social functions
held at Beth El. Please help improve the kitchen by making a financial contribution to Sisterhood. The funds we collect
will purchase professional quality knives, bowls, utensils, service ware, shelving, signage, minor servicing of equipment,
and more. We will continue collecting through this fall, 2014.
Please make checks payable to Beth El with “Sisterhood Kitchen Initiative” in the memo section.
Yes, I want to support kitchen improvements and can pledge…
$54___
$72 ___
$90___
______________________________
Your Name
$180____
$_____
________________________
E-mail
Telephone
Address (if not in Beth El Directory)
I am interested in volunteering in the kitchen to implement improvements.
5
Nina Bryce
Reporting from DC
Please welcome our newest members:
Libby Vaughn & Michelle Pesavento
 to David Dreifus & Jennifer Sosensky
on the birth of their granddaughter,
Sophie Jeanne Seizer, born on
March 21! The proud parents are
Sally Stark-Dreifus & Jeff Seizer.
 to Michaela Davidai on the wedding
of her daughter Na'ama to Jon Crisp
on March 23!
 to Steve & Shula Bernard on the birth
of their granddaughter Livia on March
30! The proud parents are Seth Bernard
& Alexa Greist.
 to Lew and Judy Siegel on the wedding
of their son Jonathan to Melissa Siegel
on April 6!
Please remember all
2013-2014 Annual Fund Campaign
contributions are due by May 31st.
Please help us reach our goals of
100% member participation &
$110,000 to help finance operations.
Donations at any level are
welcome, & appreciated!
6
Nina Bryce grew up at Beth El and is a proud Durham native.
She attended Duke School, DSA, and NCSSM and then graduated
from UNC Chapel Hill in 2013. After college, Nina applied to
Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps in order to pursue a career in
the non-profit sector, learn more about social justice and Judaism,
and live in intentional community with other young Jewish
leaders. She is now an Avodah Corps Member and works at Brainfood, a non-profit in Washington, DC that allows her to combine
her passion for increasing access to healthy, sustainable food with
her love of working with young people. Nina is able to participate
in Avodah partly due to generous donations from the Beth El
community and for this she is extremely grateful. What follows
are just a few brief excerpts of a much longer update she sent to
her sponsors as she pasted the halfway point of this experience:
Before working at Brainfood, I knew that I was interested in
connecting young people with the topic of food and cooking, but I
actually saw the work mostly in terms of my interest in the “food
movement”. I definitely still see Brainfood’s work as part of a
movement to transform the food system, but I have also come to
appreciate the youth development piece of it much more. Sometimes
when I tell people I teach cooking to high school students, they
think it’s a home economics class or a culinary arts certificate
program. I explain that food is the medium we use for working in
youth development, but the goal of the program is not to train
great chefs -- we’re more interested in positive youth development
outcomes. There are many great activities (sports, arts, etc.) that
build important skills (such as responsibility and accountability,
goal setting and sense of mastery, working well in groups, etc.)
which apply to life outside the given youth development activity.
I definitely see amazing youth development outcomes
happing at the individual level in each of my students. Brainfood
programming teaches students to trust their instincts and be
creative, communicate and delegate within their groups, try new
things and take healthy risks, manage time wisely, and so much
more. But perhaps even more meaningful to me is the way I
have witnessed community being built, which I see as a powerful
outcome unto itself . I very much believe in the power of food to
connect people deeply, and it’s pretty incredible to see the bonds
that are formed in my class. My students range from 14 to 19
years old, and they are from many different backgrounds. Some
of my students are from countries outside the U.S. (Sierra Leone,
Trinidad, El Salvador, and Vietnam, perhaps others) and some
have lived in D.C. their whole lives. Some are very academically
successful, some are struggling in school; some are very popular
at their schools, some are misfits; some are athletes, some are
artists. I think part of it is that we meet in a neutral space that’s
not an after-school program at any of their high schools, so they
are removed from their roles and social dynamics at school.
I’m finding the experience of living in an intentional
community to be really worthwhile and rewarding. It’s also an
experiment in Jewish pluralism ...We get together and grapple with
abstract ideas, which is an incredibly supportive “macro” view of
the “micro” of our daily work -- very often, including frustrating
details and logistics. We all want to connect our work to larger
themes of systemic oppression, injustice, and marginalization. We
all want to think critically about our own privilege and our place in
the world, and we all want to explore how being Jewish relates to
that. It’s a precious opportunity to do that with twenty-two other
young people, and I am extremely grateful for that.
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Social Action
www.betheldurham.org/socialaction/programs.html
Another successful Beth El Blood Drive !
On Sunday March
30th, we held our 8th
Annual Beth El Blood
Drive. Our total unit
donation this year was
33 units! While this
is a lower total than
in the past, it is
still significant and will make a big difference in
people’s lives. The success of this blood drive was
the result of the support, efforts and involvement of
many individuals. Thank you to everyone who
contributed to this mitzvah: to the volunteers - who
greeted and signed-in donors, served and hydrated
the donors, and made lunches for the fabulous
American Red Cross team, & a special thanks to
each individual who came out to donate blood. A big
thank you and our gratitude to Casey & Krisha for their help
ensuring this event went smoothly. See http://bit.ly/BEBD14 for
some photos & a note of thanks from the Red Cross.
Next year we will carry on this wonderful & meaningful
tradition of giving as a community. We will ask for your help
in achieving our goal for next year of collecting 45 units!
Submitted by your devoted blood drive coordinators:
Carla Fenson & Laura Svetkey
Food Drive
We now have a Chapel Hill drop-off location!
In addition to our collection bins in the Beth El
lobby & Talmud Torah, you are welcome to deliver food
donations to the home of Peter & Marilyn Ornstein. Just call
ahead to make arrangements (919-493-0819).
Examples of appreciated items:
Pasta
Canned soups (low sodium)
Canned vegetables (low sodium)
100% fruit juice (pouches or boxes)
Raisins or other dried fruit
Granola Bars
Pudding Cups
Animal/Graham Crackers
Trail Mix
Peanut butter (plastic jars)
Canned meats (tuna, chicken,
salmon, Spam)
Beans, peas & lentils (cans or dry)
Canned fruits ( in 100% juice)
Rice
Oatmeal or other hot & cold cereals
Macaroni and cheese
Popcorn
Dry & shelf milk
Food needs to be non-perishable and in non-glass containers.
"A double-mitzvah": Link your Harris Teeter VIC card
to our school (5883) and earn money for the Talmud
Torah while helping others. VIC cards need to be re-linked
each school year & can be linked to more than one school.
See online for instructions: http://bit.ly/BETTVIC
Mazel Tov & Todah Rabbah to
CROP Walk participants!
In addition to the success of our ongoing food drive and
raising around $900 (for Durham Urban Ministries & the
food pantry at Jewish Family Services) during last month's
megillah readings, we are happy to report that together our
Chapel Hill/Carrboro & Durham CROP Walk teams raised
over $7,000 for hunger relief! Both teams ranked as top
fundraisers on their respective online leader boards. Special
thanks to our team captains: Gladys Siegel, Richard
Cramer, & Rachel Galanter.
Kol HaKavod!
A note of appreciation from Rachel Galanter:
I am humbled by the commitment of Beth El to fulfill the
mitzvah of tzedakah. In Durham, a small group of walkers
represented the congregation's desire to feed the hungry locally
and around the world. Thank you to our Durham sponsors
who allowed us to raised over $4000: Adam & Mollie Flowe,
Pickus-Abel family, Alexis Poss, Greyber family, Lorri Gudeman,
Mike & Jacki Resnick, Evelina Moulder, Sheila & Sol Levine,
Alice Gold, Schonberg-Marcus family, Rohde family, Hart/Hicks
family, Kessler-Zucker family, Matt & Susan Springer, Michelle
Pas, Schrieber-Lebovich family, HaLev family, Lipp family, Amy
& David Gross, the Davidais, Elisabeth Albert, Kronmiller
family, Naomi & Ian Davis, Carol Place, Stacie White, Sheldon
Hayes, David & Sue Klapper, Elaine & Lee Marcus, David &
JoAnn Rubin, Margueritte Cox, Robert & Susan Hill, Mary
Joan & Alan Mandel, Diane Markoff, Sheila & Don Goldstein,
Saraf-Tulsky family, Meg Anderson, Kirsch family, Saper family,
Maxine & Alan Stern, Starr-Samuels family, Sydney & Krisha
Miller, Bob & Laura Gutman, Shapiro-Balleisen family, & the
Richmans.
7
Historical Burial at Durham Hebrew Cemetery
May 25, 11:00am
Read Samuel G. Freedman's full New York Times
article, Resolution at Last for a Father’s Unsettling Legacy,
at http://bit.ly/shoahburial
Witness history as this remarkable story beginning with
the Shoah concludes at the Durham Hebrew Cemetery on
May 25 at 11:00am. Special recognition goes to members
Sharon and Ed Halperin for their special roles in this unique
story.
Joseph Corsbie was haunted for
decades by ashes that his father
received from a survivor of the
Dachau concentration camp and
later passed on to him. Photo by
Travis Dove for The New York
Times .
Beth El Art Gallery
Enjoy the paintings of costumed figures, African figures
and Judaic paintings of Mizra by visiting artist
Maria Savitsky
Former Soviet Theater costume designer
On display through June 30, 2014
If you are interested in exhibiting your artwork at Beth El,
please contact Susan Rosefielde (srosefielde@nc.rr.com).
Professionals, students and hobby artists are welcome.
Jewish Family Services Chaverim Seder
On April 9th, Rabbi Greyber led a Community Seder
for the Jewish Family Services Chaverim program in the
Schechter Community Hall of the Levin JCC.
Participants enjoyed this seder full of song, stories and
memories of seders past along with a wonderful meal of
matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, charoset, egg salad, fruit
salad, and dessert served by the JFS staff and over a dozen
volunteers.
Included among the 80 guests were residents of Emerald
Pond, Atria Southpoint and other nearby senior housing
communities. For many, this was their only seder of the
season.
This program was made possible by many volunteers
and sponsors as well as the JFS staff & student interns.
JFS offers Chaverim programs monthly. Contact the
Durham-Chapel Hill Federation for information:
(919) 354-4923.
8
Dear Rab
bi Gre
Thank yo yber,
u so mu
schedule
to provid ch for taking tim
e out of y
e a Passo
Chaverim
ver
our
y
way you esterday. It was s Seder and talk fo busy
r the
led the S
uch a lov
ede
ely
As you m
ay know, r was beautiful, fu event and the
for many
only Pass
n, and in
fo
of
ov
so it mea er event that they the participants th rmative!
ns so mu
w
is is
il
l be able
ch
this. I can
to particip the
't tell you that you take the
ate in,
time and
how muc
grateful w
effort to
h we app
e are!
do
reciate it
We hav
and how
group, in e attached a pictu
re of y
case y
Thank yo ou would like to ou speaking to the
see
u again fo
and for a
r providin it.
ll that yo
g such a
u
d
o for this
lovely pro
Sincerely
commun
gram
,
ity.
Jenny an
d the rest
of the JF
S staff
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Shabbat & Holiday Hosts and Sponsors
May 3 kiddush hosted by:
Kevin & Andrea Ginsberg
Daniel & Caitlin Hirschman
David & Susan Kirsch
Eric & Sharon Lipp
Steven Prince & Deborah Goldstein
Howard & Marni Wizwer
Gary & Abby Zarkin in honor of Abby's mother, Esther
Lederman's 90th birthday
May 10 kiddush hosted by:
Miles & Miriam Berger
Sarah Denes
Eric Guajardo & Rachel McCarthy
Marc Moskovitz & Barb Carter
Noam & Sarah VanderWalde
Matt & Lisa Zerden
May 17 kiddush hosted by Jeff Spinner & Elyza Richmon Halev
in honor of their daughter, Shoshanah, becoming a Bat Mitzvah
The 2014-2015 Kiddush requests will go out soon.
It’s time to arrange your group
& start thinking about date preferences.
If you already know of a special date you’d like to
host in honor of a birthday, anniversary, aufruf, or
other simcha, please let the office know now so we
can try to accommodate requests as possible.
Please note that most summer kiddushim will be a
simple ritual Kiddush (as opposed to a full lunch).
Those with medical considerations
should plan accordingly.
The sponsors for these will be noted weekly
in the announcements. Thank you as always for this
special community mitzvah!
May 24 kiddush hosted by Michael & Susan Roth in honor of their
daughter, Stella, becoming a Bat Mitzvah
May 31 kiddush hosted by David & Amy Gross in honor of their
daughter, Elizabeth, becoming a Bat Mitzvah
June 3, 4, & 5 Erev Shavuot study oneg & morning kiddushim
sponsored by
Henry Greene & Marilyn Telen-Greene
Rob & Erica Rapport Gringle
Jimmie & Carol Haynes
John & Joy Kasson
Bruce Korn & Diane Meglin in memory of Frances & Arnold
Korn
Barry & Lois Ostrow
Shavuot 5774
Erev Shavuot,
Tuesday evening June 3
6:30pm Community pre-Shavuot Dinner
Please RSVP to Sheri by Wednesday, May 28, for the dinner.
Cost for the dinner is $18 per person 13 and older, $9 per child
7-12, and no charge for children under 7. Family maximum is
$45. Please mail payment to Beth El with "Shavuot dinner" in the
memo line. Any cancellations made after this deadline
still need to be paid in full. Thank you for understanding.
June 7 kiddush hosted by:
Andree Allen
Jonathan & Susan Breitzer
Lawrence Kodack
Alan & Mary Joan Mandel
William & Cheryl McCartney
Jennifer Parkhurst
Kiddush or kitchen questions?
Contact our kitchen manager, Sandy Fangmeier
at: kitchen@betheldurham.org
Erev Shavuot program, services,
& late night study details forthcoming….
Shavuot I, Wednesday morning June 4
Do you have good news to share
with your Beth El community?
Award received? Personal achievement?
Birth of a child or grandchild?
Send notices to krisha@betheldurham.org
and we’ll let everyone know
by posting naches in the bulletin.
9:00am Services in both the Main Sanctuary and
the Orthodox Kehillah Sanctuary
Shavuot II, Thursday morning June 5
9:00am Services in the Main Sanctuary (Yizkor)
Services in the Orthodox Kehillah Sanctuary TBD
9
Please share our joy as we celebrate
Stella Blue Roth
‫שריצ הרופיצ‬
being called to the Torah
as a Bat Mitzvah
Shabbat Bamidbar
May 23-24, 2014
24 Iyyar, 5774
Kiddush luncheon
following Saturday services
Mike, Susan, Chloe & Stella Roth
Please join us as our daughter
Elizabeth Jasmine
‫בלפמע רקריע‬
is called to the Torah
as a Bat Mitzvah
Friday, May 30, 2014 6:00 pm
Saturday, May 31, 2014 9:30am
Shabbat Nasso
Kiddush Luncheon
following services
Amy and David Gross
10
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Meet our B’not Mitzvah
Shoshana Sivan Spinner Halev
May 16-17, 2014
My name is Shoshana Sivan Spinner Halev, I’m 12 years old and turning 13 on June
2nd. My Bat Mitzva is on May 16th and 17th. I have a sister, Davida, she is 15 and my
brother, Avishai is 18 and will be graduating from East Chapel Hill High in June. I also
have a puppy, an aussie-doodle named Lola. I love to play sports especially basketball
and lacrosse. I’m on my school's lacrosse team and was on the basketball team during the
winter. I go to Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill and I’m a UNC fan.
I was born in Lincoln, NE and we spent a year in Jerusalem when I was two years old. I have eight
first cousins and their families and other cousins in Israel. I love to travel. This winter break we went to
Mexico. In addition to Israel, I have been to Paris, France; Detroit, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska; New
York City; Chicago, California and Arizona. My favorite kind of food is Mexican and I like music and
going to the movies with my friends. I’m looking forward to finishing preparations for my Bat Mitzva and
to sharing the day with you.
Top 10 Facts about
Stella Blue Roth
May 23-24, 2014
Hi! My name is Stella Roth. I
love to dance, sing, and act. I’m
in 7th grade at McDougle Middle
School and my favorite subject
is Language Arts because I love
to write. I also take a creative
writing class where I am working
on writing my first novel! I love
to travel, due to the fact that I’ve
done it all my life. I’ve lived in 4 states: California,
New Jersey, Arizona, and here! I love taking long
trips with my family, like a few summers ago, when
we took a cross-country trip from Arizona on our
way to move here. It was amazing to see all of the
different cultures as we progressed through 15 (yes,
15!) states. In my free time I love to hang out with
my family as well as take dance lessons at Barriskill
Dance Studio. I have been dancing since I was 8
and am hoping to dance on Broadway when I grow
up. My sister Chloe is 15. My Mom is Susan and
my Dad is Mike. I would like to thank the Synagogue
for making this possible and helping me so much along
the way.
Elizabeth Jasmine Gross
May 30 – 31, 2014
10. I was named after my maternal aunt who had a
great sense of humor.
9. I love visiting my cousins in Maryland – my
grandparents are AWESOME!
8. I attend Orange Charter School in Hillsborough.
7. My family enjoys camping and boating together.
6. I have a dog named Misha. She rescued us when
we saw her at the shelter.
5. Chanukah is my favorite holiday…all 8 days.
4. I enjoy reading books from Rick
Riordan and Suzanne Collins.
3. My favorite (and only) brother,
Robert, is 3 years younger than me.
2. I was born in Frederick,
Maryland.
1. My birthday is May 31st which is
the same day as my Bat Mitzvah!
11
Talmud Torah
FROM OUR EDUCATION & YOUTH DIRECTOR
It is hard to believe that May has arrived and with that comes the end of our school year. Where has the
time gone? It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that the youth faculty was coming together for the first
time to meet each other and begin planning for the year ahead. Everyone is wide-eyed and full of wonder
as to what the year will bring. Who are my students? What are their likes and dislikes? Will I know my
teacher? Will we get along? What will they teach me? In the Talmud, R. Chanina remarked, "I have learned
much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and the most from my students" (Ta'anit 7a).
Now that we have survived arrived at this point in the year, it is clear how much we have accomplished
together. Our Kitah Aleph (1st grade) students know all the letters of the Aleph Bet and our Kitah Gimel (3rd
grade) students were introduced to T’fillin and got to put them on! Our entire school learned from a real
sofer (ritual scribe), and saw the inside of a Torah up close, learning how one fixes a Torah that needs
some updating. Kitah Zayin students (7th grade) took their place as Jewish adults who contributed to
making a minyan every Sunday morning. Kitah Gan (PreK/K) learned to beautifully sing the words of the
Shema and Kitah Bet (2nd grade) perfected various brachot (blessings). Kitah Vav took on the challenge of
digging deeper into Jewish texts and history by mapping out the actual size of Noah’s Ark on Duke’s East
Campus and comparing and contrasting ancient and modern maps of Israel. Kitah Dalet/Hay (4th/5th grade)
participated in their own Tu B’Shevat Seder and heard stories about some lesser known biblical characters.
This is just a sample of some of this year’s educational accomplishments. If I were to write out everything
we learned and every activity we participated in, this bulletin would be around 400 pages! We’re looking
forward to a wonderful end of year event on May 4th where the parents will be invited to join us as we
celebrate the year’s accomplishments, before we start planning for next year! (Registration forms coming
soon!)
Elisabeth Albert, Education and Youth Director
May IN TALMUD TORAH
MAY ‘14
S
M
T
W
Th
F
4
5
6
7
11
12
13
18
19
20
25
26
27
S
1
2
3
8
9
10
14
15
16
17
21
22
23
24
28
29
30
31
2 Kitah Aleph & Kitah Gimel Friday night service
3 JC/B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
4 TT (PreK-7)-LAST DAY, Family Celebration
7 TT (2-6)
10 B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
16 Kitah Zayin meets, Shoshana Halev’s Bat Mitzvah
17 TS/JrJr/JC/ B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
18 Annual Meeting & BBQ
23 Kitah Zayin meets, Stella Roth Bat Mitzvah
30 Kitah Zayin meets, Elizabeth Gross Bat Mitzvah
31 B’nai Mitzvah Peer Tutoring
12
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
May IN YOUTH & FAMILY PROGRAMMING
MAY ‘14
S
M
T
W
Th
F
4
5
6
7
11
12
13
18
19
20
25
26
27
S
1
2
3
8
9
10
14
15
16
17
21
22
23
24
28
29
30
31
3
4
16
17
3 AlephBet/Pre-Kadima
JC
8 Shabbat 25 Family service
Simchat
Tot Shabbat Family Picnic
9 JC
AlephBet
USY
th grade) Shabbat Dinner @Rabbi Greyber’s
17 Simchat
Teen
(9th-12Tot
Kadima
TS/JrJr/JC
23 TS/JrJr/JC
Teen Shabbat Dinner
@ Rabbi Greyber's home
Friday May 16th
(date changed from 5/2)
AlephBet
(K-2nd grade)
Magic Show!
Sunday, may 4th
(formally listed as "Older Teen Shabbat Dinner," this is
now open to all 9th-12th graders in our community).
RSVPs will be required. More info coming soon.
Stay tuned...
More info on end of year
programs coming soon!
12:30 PM-2:30 PM
@Beth El (lunch included)
Simchat Tot
(Under 5 & families)
Shabbat Picnic!
Saturday, May 3rd
3:30-5:30 PM
Front lawn @Beth El
Email our awesome youth advisor, Julie Halpert with any questions about upcoming events, program ideas or if
you are interested in volunteering in the future. Youth@betheldurham.org
13
Hasan Bhatti
Reporting From Israel
Mitzvah Projects
You can follow Hasan along on his current adventures at
http://jthegroundup.blogspot.co.il
Playworks
Creating an Inclusive Passover Table
Read the full story online at:
www.betheldurham.org/docs/Hasan_inclusive_seder-May14.pdf
“What if we want to put bread on the seder plate?”
“Eh, no. There’s reinterpreting tradition, and then there’s
slapping it in the face.”
The exchange came in the middle of Hebrew class while
talking about the upcoming Seder our group was to put together
for the following week. Many laughed at our Hebrew teacher’s
response to my program mate’s question (his response was a
little bit more explicit and extreme than “slapping”), but an
uneasy silence followed as the lesson continued. For me, this
uneasy silence was filled with the following thoughts: Man, that
question and the way it was asked was kind of offensive. No real
context or explanation attached, had an air of disrespect and it
seemed to intentionally ignore what I had grown to understand
a Passover Seder to be: a retelling of some of my ancestors’
liberation from Egypt, where the symbols, story, and traditions
connect you closer than any storytelling would.
To put a symbol that goes directly against a pivotal symbol
in the story, matzah, without much explanation of why seemed
completely offensive to anyone seeking to use this symbol.
I might also add to this stream that I myself don’t observe
the Passover Seder strictly in the traditional sense. As a Jewish
social justice/peace activist and educator, I tend to make a
concerted effort to take this tradition’s symbols and lessons-almost all of which center around slavery, oppression, and
liberation (in a phrase: social justice)--and connect them to
current social justice issues affecting everyone and everything in
the world around me: Jews, non-Jews, the environment, animals,
systems of oppression, racism etc. The traditions and symbols of
the Seder then are not just symbols. They are important for me to
remind myself of the struggles that still keep people oppressed in
our world, on the work that must be done, and on the spirit of this
ancient story of liberation and social justice, all in the name of
refocusing my own actions for the coming year.
Given my complex and somewhat deeply personal internal
process about traditions and symbols in this Jewish festival, I
could only imagine what this uneasy silence held for my program
mate, the six other people witnessing this conversation, and our
Hebrew teacher.
When the teacher left after the lesson, the rest of us sat
down to dinner and our uneasy silence turned into a conversation
about the exchange. Here are some snippets:
“Did anyone feel disturbed by his comment about the
bread? I felt like I was a little kid and he told us how to and how
not to run a Seder.”
“No; I felt he was saying that it’s a central tradition to this
Seder and that while it can be reinterpreted, there are a couple of
core traditions that, if violated or ignored, do take away from the
message of Seder itself.” Keep reading online…..
Eliana Davis (who celebrated becoming
a Bat Mitzvah in February) is collecting
donations for Playworks as part of her Bat
Mitzvah project. Playworks is an innovative
program that aims to create a safe and healthy
playing environment for children. It provides recreation
equipment and trained “coaches” to help children play and
resolve conflicts during recess. Playworks is a national
organization that serves 14 schools in Durham.
See www.playworks.org for more information!
Eliana is collecting lightly used and new playground
equipment. Playworks would appreciate donations of balls
for different sports (soccer, basketball, kickball) as well as
cones, hula hoops, jump ropes, tennis rackets, and more!
Green River Preserve
Craving a Treat? Need a dessert for Shabbat dinner or
some other special event? Zosia Carson DeWitt, 13 years
old, will make you delectable cookies, cupcakes, brownies,
or other treats. Buying these baked treats will help a child
in need go to summer camp at Green River
Preserve (Zosia’s mitzvah project).
Please contact her at
zosiacarsondewitt@gmail.com
with a cc to her mother at
rcarsondewitt@gmail.com. Thank you!
Need congregational support
for your mitzvah project?
Send project details to
Krisha at Krisha@BethElDurham.org
for inclusion in the monthly Bulletin.
Hasan’s full article is posted at: http://bit.ly/hasan5-14
Feel free to drop Hasan a line at hasan.bhatti327@gmail.com
14
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
March Contributions
Beth El Congregation gratefully acknowledges all contributions. Please send donations & dedications to Sandy Berman, our
corresponding secretary, at the Beth El address. Donations may be made via check, cash, stock transfer, or Paypal. A full
list of funds, donation forms & the direct Paypal link are available on our website’s development page & through the office.
When making a donation to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, please write a separate check payable directly to that fund.
Capital Maintenance Fund
 Sheila and Sol Levine, in memory of Lena Goldberg
Chevra Kadisha
 Joel and Adele Abramowitz, in memory of Eleanor
Bienstock, mother of Rachelle Bienstock
 Lynne Grossman, in memory of her beloved husband, Will
 Rachelle Bienstock, Scott Snyder, Julia and Shira, in
memory of their beloved mother and grandmother, Eleanor
Gurland Bienstock
 Rachelle Bienstock, Scott Snyder, Julie and Shira, in
honor of Rabbi Greyber, David Rubin, Gladys Siegel and
the Chevra Kadisha for all their support during this difficult
time
Education and Youth Director's Discretionary Fund
 Tobin Fried and Scott Schwartz
 Shari and Bernie Fischer
Earl and Gladys Siegel Endowment Fund
 Jaclyn Cohen and Nathan Nussbaum, in honor of
Dr. Arthur Axelbank performing the Brit Milah of their son,
Benjamin
 Leah Bergman, in honor of the Brit Milah of her son, Aryeh
 Susan Cohen and Peter Goldberg, in memory of Beth
Berman’s mother, Ann Jackson
 Irwin and Deborah Kahn, in memory of Eleanor Bienstock
 Alan and Maxine Stern, in memory of Herb Shatzman
 Gladys Siegel in memory of Eleanor Bienstock, beloved
mother of Rachelle Beinstock
 Gladys Siegel in memory of Murray Brandt
Eric Pas Jewish Camp Scholarship Fund
 Donald and Sheila Goldstein, in memory of Steve
Kirschner’s mother
 Donald and Sheila Goldstein, in memory of Rachelle
Bienstock’s mother
 The Lifelong Learning Committee in honor of Shula
Bernard’s service to Lifelong Learning at Beth El and for
teaching a Haftorah trope class
 The Lifelong Learning Committee in honor of Shalom
Goldman’s service to Lifelong Learning at Beth El and for
teaching the Book of Job class
 The Lifelong Learning Committee in honor of Sandy
Kessler’s service to Lifelong Learning at Beth El and for
leading the book discussion on Ari Shavit’s My Promised
Land
 The Lifelong Learning Committee in honor of Bob
Gutman’s service to Lifelong Learning at Beth El and for
leading the book discussion on Ari Shavit’s My Promised
Land
 Martin Poleski, in memory of his beloved parents, Marion
and Teresa Poleski
 Barbara Poleski, in memory of her beloved mother,
Eleanor Winfield
General Fund
 Roslyn Mannon, in memory of Yetta Brandt
 Esther Lederman, in memory of her beloved husband,
Ezjel Lederman
 John and Ruth Philpott, in memory of Murray and Yetta
Brandt
 Rachel Galanter, in memory of Rachelle Bienstock’s
mother
 Miriam K. Slifkin in memory of her beloved mother, Emma
Cohen Kresses
 Stanley Ramati, in memory of his beloved mother, Tilly
Hyman
Landscape Fund
 Susan Cohen and Peter Goldberg, in honor of Ani Lia
Bryce’s Bat Mitvah
Lifelong Learning Fund
 Joan Johnson-Bradsher
Mitzvah Fund
 Murray Stollwerk, in memory of his beloved father,
Abraham Stollwerk
 Jeanne S. Levy, in loving memory of a woman who made
a difference, Yetta S. Brandt
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund
 Mike and Jacki Resnick, in honor of Jennifer Greyber’s
birthday
 Ruth Riddle, in appreciation of Rabbi Greyber
 Howard and Marion Diamond, in memory of Eleanor
Bienstock
 Neil Berman, in honor of his 25th Bar Mitzvah anniversary
 Howard and Claire Rockman, in memory of Howard’s
beloved dad, Israel Rockman
 Gail Freeman
15
Eric Pas Jewish Camp Scholarship
Please be reminded that applications are now available
for partial scholarship funding for any Beth El family who
needs financial assistance in sending a child to a Jewish
camp. Funding will be made available on a need basis
and information will be kept confidential. In the past 15
years the scholarship fund has distributed almost $31,400
and been able to sponsor 49 Beth El children. Our children
have participated in our local Federation camp as well as
Ramah Darom in Georgia, Young Judea, and two overseas
programs. If you would like further information or an
application please call Michele Pas at 919-493-3175, or
email to mjbpas@aol.com.
Also, please consider making a contribution into this
fund, Beth El members’ continued financial support of
this fund will allow more of our Beth El children to have
a Jewish camp experience. Thanks, Michele Pas
You can celebrate a simcha, honor a loved one,
or send “get well” wishes by contributing to Beth El.
You may donate via our secure PayPal link
or by check using the printable form online or below.
www.betheldurham.org/development
Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Todah Rabah! Thank You!
Beth El Talmud Torah- 5883
“Tzedaka is equal in importance to all other commandments combined” — Talmud
I am pleased to make a contribution to Beth El Synagogue
My name
Address
City/State/Zip
In Memory of
In Honor of
phone
Please send acknowledgement to:
Name
Address
City/State/Zip
Your gift is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

 Speedy Recovery
 Best Wishes
 Happy Birthday
 Happy Anniversary
Mail To: Sandy Berman, Corresponding Secretary 1004 Watts Street
Please apply my contribution to:
_____ Capital Maintenance Fund
_____ Cemetery Fund
_____ Chevra Kadisha (burial society)
_____ Education & Youth Director's
Discretionary Fund
_____ Sam & Jeannette Fink Programming Fund
16
 Bar/Bat Mitzvah
 Other
Durham NC 27701
_____ General Fund
_____ Gilbert Katz Scholarship Fund
_____ Landscape Fund
_____ Sandra Lazarus Youth Activity Fund
_____ Library Fund
_____ LifeLong Learning Fund
_____ Mitzvah Fund
_____ Orthodox Kehillah
_____ Eric Pas Jewish Camp Scholarship Fund
_____ Elaine Perilstein Memorial Fund
_____ Prayer Book Fund
_____ Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (please write a
separate check for this fund)
_____ Earl and Gladys Siegel Endowment Fund
_____ Synagogue Art Fund
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Yahrzeit Reminders
Iyyar
May
1 Zelda Goldstein
1
1 Melvin Mack Margolese
1
4 Arthur Brody
4
4 Estelle Henner Rose
4
4 Sigmund Segal
4
4 Johannes Van Der Horst
4
5 Frank Schwartz
5
7 Ida Behar
7
7 Joseph Libman
7
7 Albert Markoff
7
7 Annie Saltz
7
7 Leon Arthur Zeiger
7
8 Sadie Goodman
8
8 John J. Johnson III
8
8 Abraham Leiss
8
8 Maude Mordant
8
10 Esther Cassell
10
10 Augusta Korkin
10
14 Marion Bobroff
14
14 Jack Winfield
14
15 Herbert Flicker
15
15 Michael Goodrich
15
16 Rachel bat Avraham v'Devorah 16
20 Miriam Gingold
20
20 Jim Guild
20
20 Sylvia Levy
20
20 Arnold Lind
20
20 Thelma Margolis
20
21 Alexander Koplowitz
21
22 Ricka Hart
22
22 Charles Kaplan
22
22 Alfred Veis
22
23 Marcia Lynn August
23
23 Morris Snyderman
23
25 Joseph Behar
25
25 Frank Greenberg
25
26 Abraham Rosenstein
26
26 Milton Siegel
26
27 Leo Slachter
27
28 Harry Bergman
28
28 Hanoch ben Levi
28
29 Toba Man
29
29 Mary Rosenstein
29
29 Rose Sawilosky Roemer
29
Sivan
May
1 Nathan Henry Brandt
30
1 Howard Jaffe
30
2 Julia Schlanger
31
Traditionally, we light a
memorial candle on the
evening before the anniversary of
a loved one's death.
Memorial Board Plaques
If you are interested in
purchasing/reserving a
Beth El Memorial Plaque,
please contact Gladys Siegel.
gladys5@earthlink.net
or 919-942-5369
Barukh Dayan Ha-emet
“Blessed is the Judge of Truth”
Beth El congregation extends condolences to
Matthew Rascoff on the death of his father, Joel Rascoff
May the Ever Present One comfort them among
the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Sivan
June
3 Ann Feldman
1
3 Daniel Parker
1
3 Morton Pizer
1
4 Benjamin Pudolsky
2
4 Sarah Sody
2
5 Eva Rosenstein Dave
3
5 Bertram Lubar
3
5 Bruno Strauss
3
6 Aron Pas
4
6 Earl Weaver
4
7 Norma Greenberg
5
8 Gerald Reed
6
9 Jeremy Bland
7
10 Bella Goldstein
8
10 Esther Silverman
8
12 Marilyn Lubar
10
12 Molly Zauder
10
14 Lotte Herzfeld
12
15 Lily Feiler
13
15 Willard Gidwitz
13
15 Pearl Morrison
13
16 Norman Evenson
14
16 Bertha Freifeld
14
16 Stuart Garr
14
16 Irene Markoff
14
16 Herbert Sharp
14
17 Carrie Hayer
15
17 Jonathan Shimm
15
18 Samuel Levine
16
18 Lionel Shapiro
16
19 Gregory Barry
17
20 Theodore Gradin
18
20 Annie Levy
18
20 Earl Siegel
18
21 Margot Sandick
19
21 Sidney Shapiro
19
22 Hyman Kresses
20
22 Fannie Promisel Freedman 20
23 Milton Goldstein
21
23 Tirtza Leiss
21
23 Eunice Loewinsohn
21
23 Daniel Miller
21
23 Amanda Stang
21
24 Leonard Becker
22
24 Mollie Fridovich
22
24 Phyllis Lehon
22
25 Theodore Brody
23
27 Dennis Hart
25
27 Herman Wagner
25
28 Lottie Frohman
26
29 Julius Concors
27
29 Isaac Evans
27
29 Reba Levine
27
Tammuz
June
1 Zevel Berman
29
1 Eva Gadlli
29
1 Herman Scherr
29
1 Akiba Sitron
29
2 Samuel Cooper
30
2 Mollie Gabin
30
2 Rivka Rachel Ginton
30
2 Dalia Weinisman
30
17
Letter from Valhalla
Edward's Adventures in Frummieland - III
At the end of last month's column I left you, dear reader,
emerging with me from my car in Monsey, New York, and
heading into one of the Hasidic yeshivot to discuss one of my
patients with the yeshiva's leadership. I was admitted to the
building by a young man in his early twenties who told me I
was expected and indicated that I was to follow him. The
building was awash with Hasidic boys bustling about. There
was an industrial wash sink near the front door - a stainless
steel affair running for about three to four yards with the
Hebrew blessing for hand-washing posted above the sink.
This was, I assume, for the children to do the required handwashing and blessing before meals. I was taken downstairs
and the remains of breakfast were on long tables. There was
no evidence of anything being cleaned. Upon my arrival in
the designated room a dispute broke out between my guide
and another young Hasid in which my guide seemed to be at
the losing end and I was taken back up the stairs to the first
floor of the building. Eventually I was shown to an empty
room and told to await the arrival of the Rosh Yeshivah (the
head of the yeshivah aka the principal).
Within the next five minutes three ramrod straight men
filed in dressed in long black frock coats and streimmels
(massive circular fur hats). This constituted, I was advised,
the relevant members of the faculty. A few moments later we
all rose as the Rosh Yeshiva was rolled in in a wheelchair
accompanied by his assistant. My hosts emphatically insisted
that I was to be seated in a leather seat at the head of the table
and was to face the Rosh Yeshiva across the table. The Rosh
Yeshiva, to my clinical eye, was the victim of a major stroke
at some time in the past with a marked facial droop, tilted off
to one side, and contracted upper limb muscles.
I had come equipped with a hand out I had prepared
which detailed my suggestions for the classroom management
of a brain tumor patient. I distributed my handout and the
Rosh Yeshiva spoke to the assembled group.
"All right doctah. Ve are here to listen to vat you have to
tell us."
I spoke for about twenty minutes, working through
my handout, as these five men stared at me with a fierce
intensity the likes of which I have rarely seen. When I
finished I invited questions. The questions were of
exceptional detail in insight: When will the chemotherapy
begin? What will be the duration of the chemotherapy cycles?
How are we to understand the influence of surgery and radiotherapy on our student's cognitive ability to understand the
concepts he must master in his Talmudic studies? How are
we to manage treatment-associated fatigue?
18
I explained to my hosts that their student, my patient, was
mystified when my nurse introduced me as the Chancellor of
New York Medical College.
"Vuss ay Chancellor?" (What is a Chancellor?) he had
asked.
I explained to the five Rabbis, as I had explained to my
patient/their student, that a "Chancellor" meant that I was
the Rosh Yeshiva of the New York Medical College. At this
remark the assembled Rabbis burst into gales of laughter. I
feel confident that later that evening, around the dining room
tables of five Monsey Hasidim, the story was told of "the
joke the American made" today at the office.
When we finished I was invited for a tour of the Beit
Midrash - the house of study. This was a room the size of
a gymnasium with vast amounts of natural light and a
ceiling decorated with blue painted decorative stripes.
There were about 70 to 100 pupils ranging in age from grade
school to late high school. The students were arrayed around
rectangular tables flanked by benches. The little children
were four to a table and the older students two to a table.
The tables were covered with Bibles, Commentaries, and
Talmud volumes. There were no visible teachers in site.
My hosts insisted I take a few fresh rugelach "for the
road" and I happily obliged.
On the drive back to the College I spotted a massive
kosher supermarket on my left and "Shaindy's Bakery".
I couldn't resist and parked. I found that I was the only
non-Hasidic customer although the employees all seemed
to be native Spanish-speakers. The babkas were laid out on
the counter, each about two yards long. How, I asked the
men behind the counter, is it sold? By this I meant: By the
pound? By the slice? By the what?
My inquiry produced a debate in Spanish behind the
counter until we seemed to reach a consensus that it was
going to be by the pound. I asked for a pound and this
seemed to require three men arguing about how to slice
the babka including two abortive cuts and one definitive
one resulted in an about 10" piece that felt like a brick. I
don't know what they put in these things but it's very dense
and very tasty.
The babka, the rugelach, and I all arrived at the College
safe and sound.
Until next month,
Regards from Valhalla,
Edward Halperin
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Community Midrasha
Midrasha Open House
Twice as Nice!
Our open house last month was so successful we decided to do it again! Join Community Midrasha on
Sunday, May 4, for your choice of class and community dinner!
All participants will enjoy pizza dinner with our dynamic
community! Come explore the new Midrasha, and enjoy
dinner while doing it!
RSVP to 919-695-3868 or director@communitymidrasha.org
so we can get the proper count for dinner.
Sunday, May 4, 5:30-7:30pm
Kehillah Synagogue (1200 Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill)
We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary!
Sunday, May 18 (note new date)
Join us on the last night of the Midrasha school year - MAY 18 to celebrate Midrasha's 25 years of inspiring teens in the Durham
and Chapel Hill community! We will celebrate the end of the
2013-2014 school year with presentations from each of our spring
classes, enjoy dinner together, and have the opportunity for some
fun(d)-raising with a raffle and prizes! More details to follow, but
prizes will include 50% off Midrasha tuition for next year and
Shabbat dinner with me and my family! Stay tuned...more details
soon!!
Sicha, Hebrew for "conversation," is an organization that
promotes the vital ongoing dialogue between classical Jewish
texts and modern life. Essays engaging modern and classical
texts in conversations can be found on our website:
www.sichaconversation.org.
Beyond Belief. Join Rabbi Sager and Sicha for the next in a series
that explores Jewish identity. The poet, Amichai, asks: Who
will remember the rememberers? Is a sense of belonging to a
people that remembers sufficient to preserve the institution of
memory? Or does memory require a commitment that can only
come from belief? The Ethics of Remembering will take
place on Sunday, May 4 at 3:30-5:00 @ Levin JCC. More
details are available on the Sicha website.
B’almah. The last in the series of B’almah programs will be May
20: Eulogy: Beautiful Truth at 7:30pm at Levin JCC. An
ancient Jewish eulogy begins, Weep for the mourners, not for
the soul that is gone...This is the beginning of a beautiful truth.
Eulogies speak about departing, but also about lasting and enduring. Join Sicha in a conversation about beautiful truths that
deserve to be spoken.
Resources for each B’almah topic can be found here:
http://bit.ly/sicha-balmah-res
Sicha Shabbaton in the Mountains 2014 will take place August 710. This year’s theme will be AMEN: The Final Word In
Faith. Amen comes from the Hebrew meaning faith. It is the
final word of declaration and celebration in Jewish religious
language. What does it mean to declare faith? Is faith the same
as belief? Do we say amen too freely--or not often enough?
High in the Blue Ridge Mountains, during a peaceful weekend
of Shabbat rest and mountain beauty, join the conversation with
ancient teachings and modern poetry that explore faith and its
final word, amen. Register now at http://tinyurl.com/
SichaShabbatonRegistration2014.
Raleigh Cary JCC Events
12804 Norwood Road, Raleigh 27613
5/5: Book Club, And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
5/18: Jewish Film Series, Avalon
5/21: Brown Bag Speaker Lunch, Topic TBD
Details at
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/announcements.html#rcjcc
19
Lerner School Events
Open to all!
Shabbat Together ~ Celebrate Shabbat with songs, movement
and homemade challah at the Lerner School! For parents and
their children, ages 18 months – 4 years old. 9am in the library.
Most Fridays when school is in session. Free! RSVP at
rsvp@lernerschool.org. May 2, 9
Shmooze n'Play ~ A Jewish Play Group for families of
pre-schoolers and kindergarteners! Schmooze with other parents
while your children play on Lerner School’s beautiful playground!
10:30am – 11:30am at the Lerner School in Durham. RSVP at
rsvp@lernerschool.org. May 11
Check the Lerner website for information on these & more!
www.lernerschool.org
32nd annual state of North Carolina's
Holocaust Commemoration
Sunday May 4, 3:00-5:00pm
"Resistance and Heroism in the Holocaust" is the theme of
North Carolina's annual Holocaust Commemoration, Sunday,
May 4th, 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, at Meredith College - Jones
Auditorium, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh. Featured speaker
Barbara Rodbell, formerly from Amsterdam and a courier in
Amsterdam's Jewish underground, was a friend of Anne Frank
and her family. Mrs. Rodbell has appeared on TV and on National
Public Radio to tell her extraordinary story. She will be available
after the program for an informal Q&A. "Resistance and Heroism
in the Holocaust" features dramatic vignettes, choral pieces and
videos depicting ways in which Nazi persecution was resisted.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome. More information is
available at www.ncpublicschools.org/holocaust_council
Was your family's property taken during the Holocaust?
If you or your family owned movable, immovable or tangible
property that was confiscated, looted, or forcibly sold in countries
governed or occupied by the Nazi forces or Axis powers during
the Holocaust era and you or your relatives received no restitution
for that property, you may be eligible to participate in the
Holocaust Era Asset Restitution Taskforce project (Project Heart).
Call 800-584-1559 for more information
or visit www.heartwebsite.org.
Ellen Singer
“In Tune With Your Real Estate Needs”
Over 32 years
as a full-time
real estate broker
serving the Triangle Area,
including Chapel Hill,
Carrboro, Durham,
Orange and Chatham County
▪ Resident of Chapel Hill/Durham since 1973
▪ Graduate Realtors Institute
▪ Member of Beth El Congregation
▪ Member of the Chapel Hill Kehillah
▪ Life Member of Hadassah
▪ NC Hillel Board of Directors
▪ Board of Directors Durham/Chapel Hill Federation
Please patronize our sponsors
and let them know
you saw their ads here.
20
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Inter-Faith Council for Social Service
invites you to attend the
Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Community House
Monday, May 5, 2014 8:00am
1315 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Continental Breakfast immediately following the ceremony.
Please RSVP by April 28th at www.ifcweb.org/rsvp or
919.929.6380 x15
Parking available at United Church,
Orange United Methodist Church (rear lot only)
and the UNC parking lot adjacent to the site off Homestead Road
THE MAGNOLIA KLEZMER BAND!
Dance, shake, or listen. All shows are free.
May 11, Combined concert w/ Triangle Jewish Chorale and
Magnolia Klezmer, 3pm - Levin JCC, Durham
June 1, Southern Village on the Green, 7-9pm, Chapel Hill
Giving Voice to the Mother Tongues:
Yiddish and Ladino Songs and Music
from the Triangle Jewish Chorale
and the Magnolia Klezmer Band
The Perfect Musical Recipe:
Yiddish and Ladino with a Generous Touch of Klezmer
The Magnolia Klezmer Band and the Triangle Jewish Chorale
will join together for a performance of music from the wide
worlds of Yiddish and Ladino on Sunday, May 11 at 3:00pm
in the Community Hall of the Levin Jewish Community Center
in Durham. The Yiddish songs reflect a cultural connection
running from central and eastern Europe to the New York theater
scene. The sound of Ladino reflects roots in Spain even though
the language is widely dispersed around the Mediterranean. The
music chosen for May 11 captures moments of faith, love and
loss while adding the ebullience of klezmer.
The performance is open to all without charge, but donations will
be welcome. The Jewish Community Center is located at 1937 W.
Cornwallis Road in Durham NC.
June 8, Weaver St. Market Jazz Brunch, 11am-1pm, Carrboro
www.magnoliaklezmerband.com
For further information, please contact Bernie Most by email at
bmost@nc.rr.com or by phone at 919-493-1288.
Michael Aaron Cohen, CPA, CFE
 1981 Duke Graduate
 Over 30 Years Experience
 Taxation & Small Business
Accounting
 New Business Startups
 Entrepreneurs, Executives,
Professionals
Contact Michael for an Initial Consultation.
Very Reasonable Rates!
Toll Free 1.855.385.3272
(1-855-DUKE-CPA)
michaelacohencpa@alumni.duke.edu
21
Women’s Voices Chorus Performs
“The Long Bright” in partnership
with UNC and Duke Cancer Centers
As part of their 20th anniversary celebration, Women’s
Voices Chorus proudly presents “The Long Bright.” The
concert will take place on Friday, May 16 at 8 p.m. at Hill Hall
Auditorium on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill and is produced
in partnership with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer
Center and the Duke Cancer Institute.
The program includes Andrea Clearfield’s “The Long
Bright,” a cantata tracing one couple’s journey through cancer
diagnosis and treatment. The piece showcases poetry by David
Wolman, whose wife, the soprano Anni Baker, succumbed to
breast cancer. Wolman commissioned this piece, which premiered
in Philadelphia in 2004. This performance will feature a chamber
orchestra and soprano soloist Susan Hellman.
Additionally, the chorus will perform Lana Walter’s “I
Am Not Here,” commissioned by the chorus in 2010, Abbie
Betinis’s canon “Be Like the Bird,” and other works exploring
themes of illness and mourning, joy and triumph.
WVC is committed to performing high quality women’s
choral music for Triangle audiences. To learn more or purchase
tickets, please visit http://womensvoiceschorus.org.
The Rosenzweig Gallery Presents
“Celebrations of the Jewish Spirit”
on display through May!
In conjunction with the celebration of AGJA’s “Jewish Arts
Month”, see www.jewishart.org Official Opening of the American
Guild of Judaic Art (AGJA) exhibit, “Celebrations of the Jewish
Spirit.” AGJA Artists in the Exhibit includes Beth El members
Galia Goodman & Sol Levine The Gallery is at Judea Reform
Congregation – 1933 W. Cornwallis Road – Durham, NC 27705
Jewish Meditation at the Levin JCC
1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. 10:45am-12:00pm
No charge & no experience needed to attend. Always open to new
participants. Sometimes a participant leads a guided meditation;
other times it is a silent practice. Levin JCC, 1937 W. Cornwallis
Road, Durham. Phone: 919-354-4936, info@levinjcc.org
If you are not receiving Beth El’s weekly e-mail
announcements and would like to,
please contact Krisha@betheldurham.org
and ask her to add you to our listserve.
Nazo Landscaping, Inc.
COMMERCIAL and RESIDENTIAL
Agricultural Engineering Since 1983
Landscape Design & Installation • Landscape Lighting
Water Features • Sprinkler Systems • Sodding
Patios, Walkways & Stepping Stones • Retaining Walls
Drainage & Ditches • Snow Removal
Providing services to Durham, Wake & Orange Counties
Wide variety of plants, bushes, trees,
perennials and fruit trees
Retail and wholesale
Landscape supplies and natural stone
For professional service you can trust,
call Philip Nazo, owner.
Mobile: 919-524-8878 • Office: 919-309-2620
Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm • Sat. 8am-4pm • Sun.10am-4pm
www.NazoLandscaping.com
22
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Join Ramah Darom
for fun and inspiring programs
and retreats year-round for all ages!
Seeking Pre-K and Plays Pals
Students for 2014-15!
Beth El Preschool is now accepting
applications for 2014-15 academic year.
Our child-centered Jewish preschool
encourages wonder, joyful individuality
and personal achievement. Our low teacher
-student ratios allow close friendships, sharing and caring, and
joyful group participation. We have a loving, peaceful learning
environment and a lot of fun! Financial aid is available. We offer
half-day programs for children 18 mo. through Pre-K. We still
have openings in our Play Pals (18-24 months) and Pre-K classes
for 2014-15. Contact Lorri at bethelonwatts@gmail.com , 919-688
-8704 or check us out at www.bethelpreschooldurham.org
Visit www.ramahdarom.org/programs
Chapel Hill-Durham Hadassah
See link below for information on
helping families in need of financial
assistance with their water bills.
This program is through OWASA &
the IFC, but you do not need to be an Orange Co. resident to
participate. If you are not an OWASA customer, scroll to the
bottom of the linked page for instructions on sending direct
donations.
Not a member? Why not?
Everyone is welcome (yes, men too).
For information, contact please contact
Karen Betman at KBetman@aol.co
or you may join online at
www.hadassah.org (Chapel Hill/Durham branch).
www.owasa.org/customerService/taste-of-hope.aspx
Howerton Bryan
Funeral Home
Serving the Hebrew Community
Since 1874
919-682-5464
1005 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701
23
Beth El Events:
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/index.html
Community Events:
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/announcements.html
Free lectures open to the public at local universities:
UNC-CH Carolina Center for Jewish Studies
&
Duke Center for Jewish Studies
Visit Israel this summer with North Carolina Hillel
North Carolina Hillel has brought over 300 students from 19 NC
campuses on free, 10-day Birthright Israel trips in the last three
years. Would you like to be one of the 80 students joining us this
summer for this incredible experience? If you're age 18-26 and
Jewish, you may be eligible! (New eligibility rules now allow
those who've visited Israel on an organized trip before age 18 to
apply.) Our trip is open to both students at NC schools and native
North Carolinians studying out-of-state. Online registration is
now open. For more info, visit http://www.nchillel.org/birthright.
More questions? Please contact NC Hillel Israel Fellow Liat Srur
at lsrur@nchillel.org or (919) 942-4057.
Event information & and updates can be found at:
http://jewishstudies.duke.edu & www.jewishstudies.unc.edu
Libi Eir Mikveh Art Gallery
One of Libi Eir's seven founding principles is Hiddur Mitzvah /
Beautifying the Mitzvah. Exhibiting the work of local artists is
one of the ways they take this mandate seriously - and joyfully.
Exhibits change every three to four months.
Artists: If you'd like to feature your work at Libi Eir, please
contact Rabbi Jenny Solomon at battorah@bethmeyer.org.
Beth El is a partnering synagogue of our community mikveh,
Libi Eir, which opened in September of 2011.
Jewish Sparks is a public access television program which is
broadcast in Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham, NC. This program
presents videos of major Jewish educational and artistic events
together with interviews and recordings of Jewish scholars and
important Jewish leaders. Our goal is to promote a better understanding of key Jewish concepts and issues within both the Jewish
and non-Jewish communities.
The Jewish Sparks 30 minute weekly broadcast schedule:
Chapel Hill (CH) - Peoples Channel, Time Warner Cable Channel
8* (channel 4* in Carrboro): Tuesdays 9:00 PM
Durham (DR) - Durham Community Media, Time Warner Cable
Channel 18*: Tuesdays 7:30 PM
Raleigh (RTN) - RTN, Cable Channel 10: Wednesdays 7:00 PM
and Thursdays 8:00 PM
* Set Top Box is required which can be obtained FREE from Time
Warner;
no box necessary with digital TV set: CH is at 97.5, DR at 97.3
The latest program schedule is on the Jewish Sparks Website:
www.jewishsparks.net.
Jewish Sparks maintains a large archive of program material.
If you miss a live broadcast, or do not have Cable, you can watch
the programs on the internet site (www.jewishsparks.net.)
Additional information is available from the website, or email the
producer, Sheldon Becker, at jewishsparks@yahoo.com.
Included in the Jewish Sparks archives:
Triangle Jewish Chorale, Down Home: The Cantata
In April & May of 2013, the Triangle Jewish Chorale presented
three performances of a newly composed piece, “Down Home:
The Cantata”, exploring the Jewish immigrant experience in North
Carolina. There is a link to "Down Home - The Cantata" on the
main Jewish Sparks webpage - www.jewishsparks.net - at the top
center of the page.
24
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
BETH EL SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Friday night services:
Held only in conjunction with other programming or special events.
Talmud Torah 7th grade meets 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. when services are held.
Saturday morning services:
Services in the Orthodox Kehillah begin at 9:00 a.m.
Services in the main sanctuary begin at 9:30 a.m.
Mon
Tue
Weekday minyanim in the main sanctuary:
Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. followed by text study (7:45 a.m.-Rosh Chodesh)
Sundays 9:30 a.m.
Sun
Beth El members cook and serve lunch at the IFC shelter in Chapel Hill
the First Wednesday of every month. Contact Gladys Siegel to help.
Beth El members cook and serve dinner at the IFC shelter in Chapel Hill
the second Tuesday of every month. Contact Meyer Liberman to help.
26/26th of Iyyar, 5774
41st day of the Omer
Office Closed
19/19th of Iyyar, 5774
34th day of the Omer
12/12th of Iyyar, 5774
27th day of the Omer
5/5th of Iyyar, 5774
Yom HaZikaron
20th day of the Omer
27/27th of Iyyar, 5774
42nd day of the Omer
20/20th of Iyyar, 5774
35th day of the Omer
13/13th of Iyyar, 5774
28th day of the Omer
6/6th of Iyyar, 5774
Yom HaAtzma'ut
21st day of the Omer
Beth El members serve Tuna Casserole Dinner at the Durham Community Kitchen
the fourth Sunday of each month. Contact Erica Gringle to help prepare and/or serve.
4/4th of Iyyar, 5774
19th day of the Omer
-Talmud Torah Siyyum/last
day
-Bogrim
-Aleph Bet
11/11th of Iyyar, 5774
26th day of the Omer
18/18th of Iyyar, 5774
Lag B'Omer
33rd day of the Omer
-Annual Meeting , honoring
of Volunteers of the Year,
& Lag B’Omer Cook-Out
honoring new members
25/25th of Iyyar, 5774
40th day of the Omer
11:00am Historic Burial
Service (Durham Hebrew
Cemetery)
cal
May
2014
Listed Havdalah Times are 42 minutes after sunset
Beth El event calendar online:
29/29th of Iyyar, 5774
44th day of the Omer
22/22nd of Iyyar, 5774
37th day of the Omer
15/15th of Iyyar, 5774
30th day of the Omer
8/8th of Iyyar, 5774
23rd day of the Omer
1/1st of Iyyar, 5774
Rosh Chodesh Iyyar
16th day of the Omer
Thu
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/index.html
Wed
7/7th of Iyyar, 5774
22nd day of the Omer
14/14th of Iyyar, 5774
Pesach Sheni
29th day of the Omer
21/21st of Iyyar, 5774
36th day of the Omer
28/28th of Iyyar, 5774
Yom Yerushalayim
43rd day of the Omer
Office Hours:
Mon. through Thurs.: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fri.: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Talmud Torah:
Sun.: 9:30a.m.-12:30p.m. preK-7th grades
Wed.: 4:15p.m.-6:00p.m. 2nd-6th grades
Sat.: 9:00a.m.-9:45a.m. & select Fri. 5:00-7:00p.m. 7th grade
Fri
Sat
Mishnah Study: Sat. 8:45 a.m.
2/2nd of Iyyar, 5774
17th day of the Omer
6:00pm services in MS with
Kitot Aleph & Gimel
participating
9:08pm Havdalah
31/2nd of Sivan, 5774
Parashat Nasso
46th day of the Omer
Elizabeth Gross Bat Mitzvah
9:03pm Havdalah
24/24th of Iyyar, 5774
Parashat Bamidbar
39th day of the Omer
Stella Roth Bat Mitzvah
-Shoshana Halev Bat Mitzvah
-Children’s Services
(JC,JrJr,TS)
8:57pm Havdalah
-Kadima
17/17th of Iyyar, 5774
Parashat Bechukotai
32nd day of the Omer
8:52pm Havdalah
-USY event
10/10th of Iyyar, 5774
Parashat Behar
25th day of the Omer
-10:00am Healing Yoga
3/3rd of Iyyar, 5774
Parashat Emor
18th day of the Omer
-Chavurah Minyan
-Monthly Torah Discussion
-Jr. Congregation
-Young Family Picnic
8:46pm Havdalah
7:45pm
9/9th of Iyyar, 5774
24th day of the Omer
7:51pm
16/16th of Iyyar, 5774
31st day of the Omer
Shoshana Halev Bat Mitzvah
6:00pm services in the main
sanctuary
-teen Shabbat dinner
(Greyber home)
7:57pm
23/23rd of Iyyar, 5774
38th day of the Omer
Stella Roth Bat Mitzvah
6:00pm services in the main
sanctuary
8:02pm
30/1st of Sivan, 5774
Rosh Chodesh Sivan
45th day of the Omer
Elizabeth Gross Bat Mitzvah
6:00pm services in the main
sanctuary
8:07pm
25
26
BETH EL SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
16/18th of Sivan, 5774
23/25th of Sivan, 5774
15/17th of Sivan, 5774
22/24th of Sivan, 5774
30/2nd of Tammuz, 5774
9/11th of Sivan, 5774
8/10th of Sivan, 5774
USY/Kadima Year End Bash
29/1st of Tamuz, 5774
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz
2/4th of Sivan, 5774
48th day of the Omer
Mon
1/3rd of Sivan, 5774
47th day of the Omer
Pre-kadima Year End
Program
Sun
Tue
24/26th of Sivan, 5774
17/19th of Sivan, 5774
25/27th of Sivan, 5774
18/20th of Sivan, 5774
8:18pm
27/29th of Sivan, 5774
8:17pm
20/22nd of Sivan, 5774
8:15pm
13/15th of Sivan, 5774
8:11pm
6/8th of Sivan, 5774
Fri
Mishnah Study: Sat. 8:45 a.m.
Sat
9:18pm Havdalah
28/30th of Sivan, 5774
Parashat Chukat
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz
9:17pm Havdalah
21/23rd of Sivan, 5774
Parashat Korach
9:15pm Havdalah
14/16th of Sivan, 5774
Parashat Sh'lach
9:12pm Havdalah
7/9th of Sivan, 5774
Parashat Beha'alotcha
-10:00am Healing Yoga
Mon. through Thurs.: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fri.: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Office Hours:
Beth El members serve Tuna Casserole Dinner at the Durham Community Kitchen
the fourth Sunday of each month. Contact Erica Gringle to help prepare and/or serve.
Beth El members cook and serve dinner at the IFC shelter in Chapel Hill
the second Tuesday of every month. Contact Meyer Liberman to help.
Beth El members cook and serve lunch at the IFC shelter in Chapel Hill
the First Wednesday of every month. Contact Gladys Siegel to help.
26/28th of Sivan, 5774
19/21st of Sivan, 5774
12/14th of Sivan, 5774
11/13th of Sivan, 5774
10/12th of Sivan, 5774
5/7th of Sivan, 5774
Shavuot II
Office Closed
Thu
9:11pm Havdalah
4/6th of Sivan, 5774
Shavuot I
Office Closed
Wed
www.betheldurham.org/calendar/index.html
Listed Havdalah Times are 42 minutes after sunset
Beth El event calendar online:
2014
June
Community Dinner
Erev Shavuot
Late Night Studies
8:10pm Candle lighting
3/5th of Sivan, 5774
49th day of the Omer
Weekday minyanim in the main sanctuary: *summer suspension TBD
*Wednesdays 8:00 a.m. followed by text study (7:45 a.m.-RC)
*Sundays 9:30 a.m.
Saturday morning services:
Services in the Orthodox Kehillah begin at 9:00 a.m.
Services in the main sanctuary begin at 9:30 a.m.
Friday night services:
Held only in conjunction with other programming or special events.
Talmud Torah 7th grade meets 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. when services are held.
Cal.
May 2014 / Beth El Bulletin
Community
JFS volunteers needed:
Shabbat Outreach volunteers are needed to lead a short
Shabbat service on Fridays for Jewish residents of an assisted
living facility in Chapel Hill.
Friendly Visitors are needed for isolated older adults living
in the community. Not appropriate for volunteers who want
to visit someone with their child. Friendly visitors will
spend time with the person as friends do- talking, exploring
common interests, or going for a walk. Minimum time
commitment: 2-4 hours per month.
For more information on these volunteer opportunities,
please contact JFS Social Worker Jenny Schwartz at
919-354-4923 or jschwartz@shalomdch.org
JFS Gift Card Program: JFS seeks gift cards to shops,
movies, restaurants, shows, hair salons. Your gift will be
apreciated by those in need. To make a donation or for more
information, contact Jenny Schwartz at 919-354-4923 or
jschwartz@shalomdch.org
Tzedakah in Bloom
Tzedakah in Bloom is a project started by the
Jewish Family Service to raise money for local
community members in need and food banks.
JFS offers 13 different silk flower arrangements
for use at your simcha.
(on the bimah, at a reception or as a centerpiece).
New arrangements are added periodically.
Each arrangement rents for $150.00.
Please call the Federation office at
919-489-5335 if you have questions about the project.
Photos of the arrangements
as well as a reservation form is online at:
www.shalomdch.org/blooms.htm.
To reserve an arrangement,
contact Sandy Fangmeier, Project Coordinator:
919-489-0433 or sandyfang@frontier.com
Jewish Family Services at the Levin JCC
1937 Cornwallis Road, Durham
919-354-4936
info@levinjcc.org
www.levinjcc.org
Contact Jenny Schwartz
at 919-354-4923 or jschwartz@shalomdch.org
for information on these & other JFS programs.
Visti the JCC website for dates & details
on these ongoing events & more:
JFS Mitzvah Corps Bubbes and Zaydes
Job & Networking Group  Caregiver Support Group
Chronic Connections  Memory Café
Chaverim  JFS Clinical Connections
Women’s & Men’s Groups  BRIDGES Sensational Sundays
Connections
We need Beth El volunteers at the Chapel Hill
Community Kitchen to cook lunch on the first Wednesday
of each month from 9:30-12:30. Anyone able to help please
contact Gladys Siegel (gladys5@earthlink.net)
Servers & Tuna Casseroles Needed for Durham
Community Café Dinner the fourth Sunday of each
month! Several casseroles are needed for the Community
Café dinner that is served on the fourth Sunday of each
month. For your convenience, the recipe is printed below.
Please deliver the casseroles to Judea Reform before the
fourth Sunday of each month during their regular office
hours. If you are unable to deliver the casserole, please
contact Erica Gringle to make alternate arrangements.
This mitzvah is an easy one in which to involve children.
Besides making casseroles, Beth El's commitment is to
provide servers for the community meal on the fourth
Sunday of each month (5:30 PM - 7:00 PM). If you are
interested in participating in this community service project,
please contact Erica Rapport Gringle. Pre-teens through
adult can serve so this too is great mitzvah to do with your
older kids.
TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
(use a very large rectangular or oval disposable tin)
Please note changes for pasta & vegetables
—2 lbs. of rotini (other pastas get mushy after being frozen,
thawed and baked)
—about 42 ounces of water packed tuna, drained
—7 cans of cream of mushroom soup (about 70 ounces and
low sodium, if possible)
—8 carrots and 8 stalks of celery, diced
—Boil the noodles in a large pot of water until al dente or
almost done. Drain and place in casserole.
—Add all other ingredients and mix well.
—No need to cook. Just cover tightly with lots of foil and
transport it to the Judea Reform freezer.
Help our Jewish Elderly: Jewish Family Services
provides a program and lunch for seniors in our community
(Chaverim). This is a wonderful opportunity for our elderly
seniors to get together on a regular basis, spending time
together chatting over a good lunch. We are looking for
small groups of friends, such as a family or two, a Hebrew
school class or a B’nei Mitzvah student to consider preparing
or sponsoring ($100 donation) a lunch in honor or memory
of someone or just for the fun of it, for between 15 - 20
seniors. This is an easy and wonderfully rewarding mitzvah
opportunity. For more information please contact Michele
Pas at mjbpas@aol.com or 919-493-3175.
Volunteer as a Guardian ad Litem: Help change the
lives of Durham's abused and neglected children. For more
information or to volunteer, contact Stephanie Kelly at
564-7289 or stephanie.l.Kelly@nccourts.org. Sandy Kessler
can also give you information on what it is like to be a
Guardian ad Litem.
Duke Hospice Volunteers Needed: If you or anyone
you know is interested in becoming a hospice volunteer for
Duke Hospice, please contact Carolyn Colsher at 919-6203859, ext. 235 or Carolyn.colsher@duke.edu. For more
information on programs visit www.dhch.duhs.duke.edu.
27
BETH EL SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Friday evening services:
Services are held on Friday evenings only in conjunction with other programming or special occasions.
See monthly calendars for noted dates and times.
Saturday morning services:
Services in the Orthodox Kehillah begin at 9:00 a.m.
Services in the Main Sanctuary begin at 9:30 a.m.
Weekday minyanim in the Main Sanctuary*:
Sunday mornings at 9:30am (summer suspension TBD*)
Wednesday mornings at 8:00am (summer suspension TBD*)
*Please let the office know in advance if you need to say Kaddish, even if a minyan has already been scheduled.
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. / Fridays: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Office
Rabbi Daniel Greyber, Rabbi
Casey Baker, Executive Director
Elisabeth Albert, Education & Youth Director
Sheri Hoffman, Congregational Services Coordinator
Sandy Fangmeier, Kitchen Manager
Krisha Miller, Publicity Assistant
Rabbi Steve Sager, Rabbi Emeritus
Bulletin Advertising Sales Manager
(voice) 919-682-1238 (fax) 919-682-7898
919-682-1238
RabbiGreyber@betheldurham.org
919-682-1238 ext. 110
Casey@betheldurham.org
919-682-1238 ext. 170
Elisabeth@betheldurham.org
919-682-1238 ext. 100
Sheri@betheldurham.org
919-489-0433
Kitchen@betheldurham.org
919-416-1397
Krisha@betheldurham.org
919-682-1238 ext. 195
Ssager18@gmail.com
919-942-5369
Gladys5@earthlink.net
If the office phone is in use or no one is in the office, please leave a message on the voice mail.
BETH EL WEBSITE:
Barak Richman
Rachel Galanter
Noah Pickus
Roy Schonberg
President
1st Vice-President
2nd Vice-President
Financial Secretary
www.betheldurham.org
The deadline to submit items for the Beth El Bulletin is the first workday of the preceding month.
Send bulletin items and calendar dates via e-mail to krisha@betheldurham.org.
Dated Material
Beth El Synagogue
1004 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701