MONTHLYBULLETIN 20120607forWeb.indd

Two distinguished
speakers at SAGE
Gloria McAdam, (left)
CEO of Foodshare, and
Professor Don Ellis.
See page 12.
The State
of the
Congregation
Annual Meeting on
June 3.
See page 6.
MonthlyBulletin
What does it mean
to be Jewish?
Confirmand Nina
Kestenbaum has an
answer.
See page 3.
Congregation Beth Israel
West Hartford, CT
W
June/July 2012
Ju
Number 10/11
Nu
Our Friday Erev Shabbat
Services in July will be held
Serv
outdoors, weather permitting.
outd
See p
page 11.
Contact Us
MonthlyBulletin
Congregation Beth Israel
701 Farmington Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06119
860-233-8215
bethisrael@cbict.org
www.cbict.org
Congregation Beth Israel Monthly Bulletin is published ten times per year, monthly except
for combined issues in January/February and June/July, at Congregation Beth Israel, 701
Farmington Ave., West Hartford, CT 06119. Subscription is $36 per year, free to members
of Congregation Beth Israel. The material in this Bulletin may not be reproduced without
permission. On occasion, dates, times, and details of Services and events published in this
Bulletin may change. Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, Chai Lights, for the latest
information. Contact jzande@cbict.org.
Visit our website, www.cbict.org, for additional content and information.
CLERGY
Rabbi Michael Pincus, Senior Rabbi
rabbipincus@gmail.com, x228
Rabbi Dena Shaffer, Assistant Rabbi
rabbishaffer@gmail.com, x226
Cantor Pamela Siskin, Cantor;
Director, Lifelong Learning
prsiskin@aol.com, x234
Rabbi Harold S. Silver, D.D.,
Rabbi Emeritus
hrsilver@comcast.net, x231
Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, D. Min., D.D.,
Rabbi Emeritus, stephenLfuchs@gmail.com
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Executive Board
PRESIDENT: Jeffrey Winnick,
jwinnick@kkc-law.com
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT: Clare Feldman
VICE PRESIDENTS:
Jeff Kagan, Eric Lessne, Gail Mangs
SECRETARY: Scott Lewis
TREASURER: Chet Zaslow
ASSISTANT TREASURERS:
David Miller, Ruth Van Winkle
Come visit
i it us att C
Celebrate
l b t W
Westt H
Hartford!
tf d
Sunday, June 10
This year, Congregation Beth Israel will have a booth at Celebrate West Hartford. Come
visit us! The community fair presents businesses, civic and service organizations,
recreation groups, and charitable foundations with a way to increase public awareness
of their important work. We hope to spread the word about our community to the more
than 25,000 people from the Greater Hartford area who attend each year. Celebrate West
Hartford also provides festival attendees with a wide range of family activities—a highlyrated juried arts & crafts show, great food, entertainment, games, rides, and a certified 5K
road race. There is no admission charge for the fair and many of the activities are free.
WE MOURN THE LOSS OF
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY
William Blinderman, husband of Doreen; father of Eric Blinderman, Adam
Blinderman and his wife Marj, Marc Blinderman and his wife Patty, and Juliann Harris
and her husband, William; grandfather of Ryan and Tyler Blinderman, Maddy and
Katie Blinderman, Danielle, Joshua, Jake, Lily Blinderman, Elijah and Talia Harris
David Brewer, husband of Dr. Sybille Brewer, cousin of David Ward
TEMPLE STAFF
Sarah Beck, Office Administrator
sbeck@cbict.org, x223
Leah Bratton, Director, Noah’s Ark
lbratton@cbict.org, 860-232-5038
Aliha Fine, Accounting Manager
afine@cbict.org, x227
Cheryl Goldberg, Rabbinical Administrator
cgoldberg@cbict.org, x224
Sharon Lessne, Noah’s Ark
slessne@cbict.org, x239
Toni Robinson, Temple Administrator
trobinson@cbict.org, x225
Linda Schultz, Religious School Coordinator
cbiyep@cbict.org, x233
Danielle Stordy, Learning Center Assistant
dstordy@cbict.org, x230
Natasha Ulyanovsky, Musical Director
ulyanovsky@cox.net
Jane Zande, Associate Director of Lifelong
Learning, jzande@cbict.org, x230
and his wife Cindy
Susan Budenstein, friend of Roberta Tansman
Rhonda Dvorin, wife of Lawrence Dvorin, mother of Rebecca Dvorin and Maxwell
Dvorin; niece of Libby and Julian Adler
Charlotte Grant, mother of Dr. Jane Grant-Kels and her husband, Dr. Barry Kels, and
Jeff Grant; grandmother of Charlie Kels and Joanna Kels Albright, and Christopher and
Emily; great-grandmother of George Grant Kels
Joel Merkur, friend of Roberta Tansman
Marion Cohen Reisner, mother of Peter Cohen and his wife Ellie, and Dr. Jeffrey
Cohen; step-mother of Maxine Sisitsky, Harriet Kimball, and Rene Hittner and their
families; grandmother of Amy, Sandy, and Donna and Jonathan David; and greatgrandmother of Micah; sister of Irene Reisner
Philip Rosin, husband of Nathalie; father of Pamela, and Mitchell and his wife Nadine;
grandfather of Daniel, Matthew, and Benjamin
Betty Singer, mother of Helene Baker, and Neal Singer and his wife Sandie;
grandmother of Jessica Baker, Lindsey Baker and his wife Jessie, and Erica Singer
Matthews; great-grandmother of Miller
Stephanie Tehrani, sister of Sheri Ellis, sister-in-law of Don Ellis and his wife
Karen Beyard, aunt of David and Allie Ellis
2 MonthlyBulletin June/July 2012
KRAMER CONFIRMATION ESSAY
“What It Means To Be Jewish”
The Confirmands of the Class of 2012 were invited to write an essay for the annual “What It Means To Be Jewish” Essay
Contest, sponsored by Nancy A. Kramer and the late Dr. Robert A. Kramer. All the confirmands submitted thoughtful,
compelling statements. This year, the essay written by Nina Kestenbaum was chosen to receive the contest award.
J
udaism is like
a quilt. It consists of threads,
fabric squares, and the warm, cushiony
filling. The fabric can be whatever color
and pattern appeals to you. My fabrics
of choice revolve around God, friendship
and relationships, and a splash of prayer.
Other pieces of my quilt include memories and experiences. These fabric squares
are held together by the thread of faith.
The filling is all the people in my life.
Everyone from my family, to my friends,
to passersby on the street is thrown into
that warm, soft filling. My blanket is a
heated blanket, warmed by the electricity
of love, laughter, and belief in whatever
or whomever. Some of the elements of
my quilt are from my parents' quilts, but
most of it is mine. My children will use
pieces of my quilt and the pieces I have
taken and shared from past generations.
I was brought up Jewish in an interfaith
household. Judaism is where I feel closest to God. I recently read my mother's
conversion speech. She wrote: "I can honestly say that in the sanctuary I've never
felt closer to God." I can honestly say
that I have never agreed with my mother
more. I feel so close to God and everyone
around me when I express my Judaism.
That's really why I chose a Jewish summer camp. The friendships I have built
in three summers at Crane Lake Camp
are closer than some of those I have built
in my life at home. We're all connected
by this unbreakable strand of religion.
It's the same way with Confirmation
class. Every week, Wednesday is one of
my favorite days. Not because we get out
of school early or because the week is half
over. I love Wednesdays because I get
to spend an hour and a half with other
fantastic people who share my interest in
Judaism. We get together every week to
discuss topics that relate to us, our world,
Nina Kestenbaum
and our religion. It isn't easy for eleven for generations. We teach them to our
teenagers to all get along, but I can safely children. We speak of them when we
say that the bonds we've created through lie down and when we rise up. Judaism
this past year are unbreakable, and is tradition. We embrace ourselves, our
only are strengthened by our Judaism. families, our friends, and the stranger.
During our Confirmation Class trip Judaism is, and always will be, love.
to New York, we attended a service at
There are holes in my Judaism quilt.
BJ (B'nai Jeshurun). This was not an or- My life is far from over. My mind and
dinary Shabbat service. It was primarily heart are still growing. I've left room for
song, and extremely active. We all got new experiences and relationships. I have
up and danced around the sanctuary for more thread to sew in more filling and
Lecha Dodi. I realized at that service that many more quilt squares. We all add anBJ's service is exactly what prayer feels other square today. We sew in a square
like for me. I feel very uplifted when I for this experience. Our Jewish learning
pray, often to the point where I want to is forever continuing. We add one more
sing and dance. It is not easy to get me square for our children and their children.
to want to dance. Jewish functions are Sew in this square with pride. Add a lot
one of the few places where I feel okay of stuffing to this square for the people
appearing over-energetic and somewhat sitting around you. Embrace your Judaridiculous. This goes for camp, servic- ism quilt, your faith, and feel the warmth
es, etc. If there were a video montage of the filling, the squares, the thread, and
of all the times I have happily made pass it on. L'Dor V'Dor. •
a fool of myself at a Jewish-oriented
Mazel Tov to the
event or experience, it would have to
148th
Confirmation Class
come in volumes like an encyclopedia.
I've had so many experiences in my life
Elana Colangelo Nina Kestenbaum
that incorporate my faith, that Judaism
Chase Fiedler
Sara Lebow
has become more than a religion. It has
Joshua Filler
Matthew Piccone
feeling, meaning. Judaism makes me feel
Jordan Gelber
Renee Powell
alive, invincible. The Jewish people have
Alek Glogowski
Elizabeth Tilden
survived the reign of Pharaoh, Haman's
Mika Glogowski
plan to wipe us out, the battle against
the Greeks on the
first Chanukah, and
the Holocaust. Judaism is strength. We've
stuck together as a
people for five thousand seven hundred
seventy two years
(5772) and have repeatedly landed on
our feet. Judaism is
community. We listen
to the lessons that our
parents have taught us
The 2012 Confirmation Class (with Rabbi Pincus and Sue Piccone)
It was a blessing and privilege to learn with this year’s Confirmation Class of 5772. Each of these eleven students is a special
individual with amazing passion and love. As our first graduates of the Journey Onward Program taught by Carrie Shaw, this group
has bonded over cooking meals for the hungry, lending a hand to those in need, and exploring their Jewish roots. As we mark the
end of a year of learning, debating, and questioning, we are proud of their journey and look forward to their continued learning in
the years ahead. Rabbi Pincus and Rabbi Shaffer
June/July 2012 MonthlyBulletin
3
Mazel TovB’nai Mitzvah
JOSHUA THOMAS
BOBRUFF
Saturday, June 2, 11am
Please Note
Shabbat Services
SPENCER ALTMAN
Details on our June and July Shabbat
services on listed on our calendars on
pages 10-11.
Saturday, June 9, 11am
Young Families in
June and July
Our Young Families and Friends
Group will hold its monthly dinner
and service on Friday, June 15, 6pm.
See page 10 for the details.
On Sunday, July 15, the Group will
have a special social justice event.
It will hold its monthly meeting on
Friday, July 20, 4pm at the JCC
Swim and Tennis Club.
Find all of the details on page 11.
Thank you!
The Ellovich Family donated our
bima flowers on April 27-28 in honor
of the Bar Mitzvah of their son
Benjamin.
Sandy Berinstein co-sponsored
our Oneg Shabbat on Friday, May 4,
in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of her
grandson Nathan Dworkin.
EMILY ELIZABETH
BURSTEIN
Saturday, June 16, 11am
SARAH ELIZABETH
HARINSTEIN
Saturday, June 30, 11am
The Religious School Committee
co-sponsored our Oneg Shabbat on
Friday, May 4 in honor of Cantor Siskin
and our teachers.
Lisa Namerow and Fred Tilden
sponsored our Oneg Shabbat on
Friday, May 11 and sponsored our bima
flowers May 11-12, in honor of the Bat
Mitzvah of their daughter Annie.
The Pidto Family sponsored our Oneg
Shabbat on Friday, May 18 in honor
of the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter
Maggie.
Mary Ellen and David Burstein will
sponsor our Oneg Shabbat on Friday,
June 15 and our bima flowers June 1516 in honor of the Bat Mitzvah of their
daughter Emily.
4 MonthlyBulletin June/July 2012
Parashot
Shabbat Thoughts
Joe Dix
WHAT DO YOU THINK:
Should a Reform Synagogue Engage In A
Community Social Action Program on Shabbat?
Parsha Naso (Take) Numbers 4:21-7:89
June 1-2, 12 Sivan
This portion details the duties of the Gershonite and
Merarite Clans in regard to the Tabernacle. The next two
chapters (5 and 6) contain laws regarding ritual impurity
and how to remove it. There are laws regarding a person
who has had a bodily discharge or has come in contact
with a corpse. The portion also specifies the laws for the
asham (guilt) offering for one who has made a false oath.
If a husband suspects his wife of adultery, she undergoes
the sotah ritual. In this ritual, the priest mixes dust from the
sanctuary with some water and a parchment with a curse
written on it containing God’s name. If her belly distends,
she is guilty, if not, she is innocent. The laws regarding
a nazirite vow are in this portion as well as the priestly
benediction. The portion concludes with the finishing
touches put on the Tabernacle to make it ready to use for a
space where God and humanity will meet.
Parsha Beha-alotecha (In your lighting)
Numbers 8:1-12:16 June 8-9, 19 Sivan
Moses receives instructions for the menorah. There are
laws regarding the purification of Levites and the age
limits for Levitical service (30-50). God authorizes a second
Passover offering for those who were ritually impure and
could not offer the Passover offering during the first one.
God’s presence comes to the Sanctuary in the form of a
cloud during the day and by fire at night. The Israelites
move camp when the cloud moves forward and rest
when the cloud stops. God instructs Moses about the
trumpets which are to be used for mobilizing the people
to march, for calling soldiers for defense, and to blow for
the new moons and festivals. The Israelites move on from
Sinai and Moses asks Jethro to join them, but Jethro goes
back to Midian instead. The people complain at Taberah,
where a fire breaks out and at Kibroth-Hattaavah where
they cry for meat. Moses cries out to God that the burden
of the people is too much for him. God divides Moses’s
responsibility among seventy elders. God also promises
meat for the people, so much that it will come out of their
nostrils. God’s spirit rests on the elders and they prophesy.
Even Eldad and Medad, who aren’t near the other elders
also prophesy. Joshua complains, but Moses replies “would
that all the Lord’s people were prophets!” The final story is
that of Miriam and Aaron speaking against Moses. Miriam
is stricken with white scales, Moses prays on her behalf
and after seven days, Miriam is restored to health and the
people move on.
I
n March of 1986, the Reform Responsa Committee (a
group of Reform Rabbis of the CCAR who provide persuasive Jewish answers based on Jewish teachings for today’s
contemporary problems in a Reform context) was asked the
following question: Should members of the Jewish community be involved in the rebuilding of homes in order to fight
poverty, if the project takes place on Shabbat? The question
challenged Reform Judaism’s commitment to tikkun olam,
the repair of our fractured world, and social justice with the
observance of Judaism’s most important holiday—Shabbat.
On the one hand, the Responsa outlined, our commitment
to the Prophetic mandate is to fight for justice. From our earliest sacred texts to the most recent statements of our religious
leaders we believe we are commanded to work towards tikkun olam, to fight hunger and poverty, pain and suffering.
On the other hand, Reform Judaism has never turned its back
on the fourth of the Ten Commandments, the observance of
Shabbat. This twenty-four hour oasis in time is intended to be
a period of renewal and rest. It is a time to stop and appreciate
life’s blessings. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel describes it,
“a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal
in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of
creation, from the world of creation to the creation of the world.”
We continually strive to observe the spirit of Shabbat in a
contemporary way. The work that is forbidden by Jewish law on
the Sabbath is not measured in the expenditure of energy. It takes
real effort to pray, to study. To quote Rabbi Arnold Wolf, “Forbidden ‘work’ is acquisition, aggrandizement, altering the world.
On Shabbat, we are obliged to be, to reflect, to love, and make
love, to eat, to enjoy…Shabbat is a taste of eternity. Without
Shabbat we may be lost. In its rediscovery we may yet be found.”
The Responsa Committee concluded that since there is not
a necessity that this work be done on the Sabbath, another day
should be found and we should not participate on Shabbat itself. We should participate in the project, but not on Shabbat.
May you and your family cherish the joy of Shabbat anyway you mark it. May it renew your soul and lift your spirits.
With blessing, Rabbi Michael Pincus •
Ninth Grade
Journey
Onward
recently took a
spritual nature
walk with
Rabbi Pincus.
Joe Dix is Chairman of the Adult Education Committee.
June/July 2012 MonthlyBulletin
5
President’s Report
Jeffrey Winnick
S
ection 1 of Article XIII of the
Bylaws of Congregation Beth
Israel states, “The Annual
Meeting of The Congregation shall
be held each calendar year at such
time and place as the Board shall
designate.” Traditionally, the Annual Meeting has been held
on the first Sunday in June and this year, in keeping with
tradition, it will be held at 10am on Sunday, June 3. The
Bylaws of the Congregation do not include a provision that
the President issue a report on the “State of the Congregation”
at the Annual Meeting (or at any other time of the year),
but it has become a custom that such a report be given.
Recognizing that many congregants do not attend the Annual
Meeting, I thought it would be fitting to touch on a just a
couple of the highlights of my “State of the Congregation.”
Past President April Haskell brought our Congregation
through a period of transition and established the foundation
from which our current officers, trustees, and many
dedicated volunteers have been able to serve the needs of
Beth Israel. While we still face fiscal challenges, April, along
with Temple Administrator, Toni Robinson, Treasurer,
Chet Zaslow, and Assistant Treasurer, Ruth Van Winkle,
established a responsible budget for fiscal year 2011-2012
(which ends on June 30, 2012) that has allowed us to meet
our obligations to operate the Temple from the revenues
generated by dues, activity fees, and donations. Difficult
decisions were made, but those decisions have left us in a
stronger financial position going into fiscal year 2012-2013.
From the Sanctuary to the Silberman Chapel to Haas Hall.
where services have been held during the past year, there is a
new feeling of excitement. Our split-session services on the first
Friday of the month have been a great success. Young families
leaving the early service mingle with older congregants arriving
for the later service at what I call the “half-time” oneg. The
organ concerts performed on the second Friday of the month
by our most accomplished organist, Natasha Ulyanovsky,
before the start of Shabbat services have provided musical
enjoyment at the highest level. Our adult choir has become
a regular presence on Friday nights and the Chapel is almost
at capacity seating for the last Friday of the month Kabbalat
Shabbat service. Our many thanks go out to our choir members,
Laura Deutsch, Natasha, and Cantor Siskin for all their hard
work in making music at Beth Israel something very special.
But most important of all there is what I sense a new “buzz”
at Beth Israel and this is the most significant element of the
State of the Congregation. This buzz mainly is due to the
energy, youthful spirit, and leadership of our new Senior Rabbi
and new Assistant Rabbi. Rabbi Pincus and Rabbi Shaffer
have shown an ability to connect with all constituencies of our
Congregation, from our youth, to our young families, to our
baby boomers, and to our seniors. They will lead Beth Israel
into its eighteenth decade as we celebrate our 170th anniversary
next year. And I see only a greater “buzz” as we go forward. •
Jeffrey Winnick is President of the Congregation.
SLATE OF OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
June 3, 2012 - June 2, 2013
OFFICE
OFFICER
TERM
President
*Jeffrey Winnick
2nd term
First Vice President
*Clare Feldman
2nd term
Vice President
*Gail Mangs
3rd term
Vice President
*Jeffrey Kagan
4th term
Vice President
*Eric Lessne
1st term
Treasurer
Chet Zaslow
2nd year of his first two year term
Secretary
*Scott Lewis
1st year of his first two year term
Trustees to 2015
*Beth Dworkin (2nd term)
*Scott Myers (2nd term)
*Jace Rosenbluth (1st term)
*Dan Schaefer (2nd term)
*Deena Sisitsky (1st term)
*Mathew Stordy (2nd term)
Trustees to 2014
Matt Hoberman
Susan Myers
Barbara Ricketts
Laura Schmelter
Jeff Schwartz
Reed Slatas
Trustees to 2013
Meg Aronow
Joe Dix
Phyllis Kornfeld
Gail Sack
Cindy Ward
Ben Wenograd
*Standing for election or re-election.
All others are still serving a term to which they were previously elected.
6 MonthlyBulletin June/July 2012
COME TO OUR ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, June 3, 10 AM
Wish our Leaders Well!
Hear the State of the Congregation!
ALWAYS GOOD FOOD!
PROJECT JOSHUA UPDATE:
HOW WILL CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL MEET THE CHALLENGES AHEAD?
T
his is the second in a series of articles about
Project Joshua and the future of our congregation.
Like synagogues across the country, Congregation
Beth Israel is facing significant challenges relating to membership. More than half of our membership is 65 years old
or older. Less than ten percent is between 18 and 34 years
old. The national trend is for fewer and fewer families to
remain members of their congregations once their children become Bar or Bat Mitzvah. And fewer of those children are affiliating with a congregation as they grow older.
Put simply, the traditional pattern of lifelong or continuous affiliation is the exception rather than the norm. This is
particularly true for congregations, like Congregation Beth
Israel, whose members tend to be assimilated and secular.
Economic pressures are also a factor affecting membership.
It is critical to the survival of this congregation that we look at
these challenges and ways to address them so that in ten, twenty,
and thirty years from now this place will be Congregation Beth Israel and not something else. How do we make Congregation Beth
Israel, as Board of Trustee member Matthew Hoberman says, the
“destination synagogue” for Reform Jews in Greater Hartford?
Project Joshua—the Long Range Planning Committee under the leadership of Steven Rothman and Clare Feldman—
has been tasked with looking at these issues and developing
information and recommendations that will help position
Congregation Beth Israel to face and resolve these challenges.
To prepare, the Project Joshua team has reviewed and is thinking about Synagogue 3000, a survey of 1,215 synagogues that has
recently been published. We urge you to take a look at this report at
www.synagogue3000.org. (A copy is also available in the Learning
Center). Team members have attended and will attend presentations, workshops, and seminars from leading experts in the field.
As part of its research, members of the Long Range Planning Committee also attended a recent talk given by Steven
M. Cohen, Ph.D., Research Professor of Jewish Social Policy
at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion and
Director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive at NYU Wagner.
Dr. Cohen believes there are many reasons for the challenges
Reform synagogues face and that it is important that we all
understand those reasons and how to meet those challenges.
The good news is that we have one of our biggest Confirmation classes ever this year, attendance at our Friday night services
has increased, every day we have many committed volunteers
who devote countless hours to CBI, and we have amazing and
wonderful clergy who are working with congregants to make CBI
an even better educational, spiritual, and supportive community.
We urge you to get involved by coming to our focus group
sessions. Learn what is happening in the Reform movement and
how you can help CBI become the “destination synagogue” for
Reform Jews in Greater Hartford. •
Legacy for Our Future
Is your name on this list?
Anonymous
Marc Abrahms
Helene and Norman Alisberg*
Meg and Michael Aronow
Lauren and Ross Benthien
Lisa and Robert Berman
Lenore Blank
Barbara and Jack Blechner
Cynthia Callis and Len Persky
Libbian and Jerry Cohen
Marge Cohen
Beatrice and Sidney Cramer*
Renee and Nathan* Dubin
Beth Dworkin
Lisa and David Ellovich
Clare and Barry Feldman
Susan and Stanley Fellman
Carol Gabrielson Fine
Debra and Bruce Fischman
Muriel and Karl Fleischmann
Dianne and James P. Friedman
Victoria and Stephen Fuchs
Rona and Barry Gelber
Sandra Gersten
Janice and Norton* Glass
Bette Glickman
Rosalind Gold and Louis H. Gold*
Harry Goldfarb*
Norma and John Green
Joan and Gary Greenberg
Margo Lynn Hablutzel
April Haskell and Jerry Passman
Eunice Hausman*
Barbara and Michael Honor
Rose Horowitz* and Anna Lublin*
Sunny and Jeffrey Kagan
Phyllis Kornfeld
Martin Koppell
Nancy and Robert* Kramer
Kay Krichavsky
Heidi and Scott Lewis
Elaine Title Lowengard
Jennifer and Todd Mailly
Selma Mandell
Gail and David Mangs
Frances and Jacob Mashkin*
Lauri and David Miller
Barbara and Robert* Mindell
Susan and Scott Myers
Frances and Nathan* Novar
Libby and Bennett Pearl
Viola Philips*
Sue and Scott Piccone
Patricia and Howard Pierce
Randi and Michael Pincus
Laura Rapport*
Sharon and Alan Reisner
Barbara Ricketts
Lea and Richard Rubenstein
Gail and Stephen* Sack
Daniel Schaefer
Judy and Gerry Selzer
Elaine Pearl Shapiro
Carrie and Steven Shaw
Pamela and Jerry Siskin
Ruth Solomkin
Edith Steinhauser*
Danielle and Mathew Stordy
Roberta Tansman
Ruth Tupper
Cythnia and David Ward
Frances and Milton Weinstein*
Genevieve and Joseph Weinstein*
Ben Wenograd
Marlene Wenograd
Mara Whitman and Marc Edrich
Ruth and Ronald Van Winkle
Marjorie and Jeffrey Winnick
Jane Zande and Jeffrey Smith
Gwen and Chester Zaslow
* of blessed memory
Please join us, we need you.
For more information about Legacy for Our Future, contact Bennett Pearl, Chair, 860-233-8215 x260.
June/July 2012 MonthlyBulletin
7
Lifelong Learning
Adult Learning Summer Programming Meetings
The Adult Education Committee has a number of exciting programs in development for the 2012-2013 year. Help us make them
happen! Our Committee is meeting on Wednesday, June 13, 6pm, and Wednesday, July 11, 6pm to discuss the programs.
It is fun and rewarding to help bring these programs to life!
The programs for next year include:
•
Prof. Laurie Baron, "Jews in Cinema" at the Mark Twain House, October 2012.
•
Scholar-in-Residence Weekend, kicking off our 170th anniversary year, November 2012.
•
Tu B'Shevat Weekend, January 2013, with the Social Justice Committee and others.
•
Israel and the Middle East, February-March 2013.
•
The Abrahamic Religions - A Discussion, April-May 2013.
•
Religious School Parents' Four Questions - Dates to be determined.
We meet in the Religious School wing. For more information, contact the Committee, adulted@cbict.org, 860-233-8215 x427.
CPR, First Aid and
Cardiac Defibrillation
Classes Offered
Pikuach Nefesh, “the saving of a life” is one of Judaism’s highest
values. It was considered by the Talmud (Yoma 85b) to be more
important even than Shabbat or other observances. Come
celebrate and live this value with us by learning the arts of CPR,
First Aid, and Cardiac Defibrillation.
Tuesday, July 24
10am-2pm
Adult CPR, First Aid and Cardiac Defibrillation
5pm-9pm
Pediatric CPR, First Aid and Cardiac Defibrillation
Cost: $90 per session (this includes instruction, certification and
all classroom materials, workbooks and DVDs)
**You MUST pre-register for this program! **
There are only 12 slots in each session and slots will be offered
on a first come, first serve basis. If there are more people than
slots we will add two more sessions on Wednesday, July 25.
RSVP Sarah Beck, sbeck@cbict.org, 860-233-8215, by
Monday, July 2 so that we order enough materials.
You must pay the $90 fee to reserve your spot!
Free Workshops for High
School Students
Led by Dr. Roberta Tansman
Confused about the College Search?
Wednesday, June 6, 7-9pm
This workshop for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will
answer questions about the process of searching for the right
college.
Parents are also welcome.
The Perplexed Parents Guide to College Admissions
Tuesday, June 12, 7-9pm
No need to be perplexed. Roberta is eager to share her
expertise with you and guide you through the admission
process. No worries! No stress!
Roberta Tansman has a Master’s Degree from Columbia
University and a Ph.D. from Cornell. Her academic career
includes teaching American History at George Mason
University and serving as a Dean at Bowdoin College and
Rutgers University. Since she joined Beth Israel about seven
years ago, she has become active in literary and social justice
activities and is a teacher in our Religious School.
Teacher Appreciation Shabbat! Friday, May 4
Thank you teachers! Our Religious School teachers and madrichim were honored.
8 MonthlyBulletin June/July 2012
Cantor Siskin was thanked for her more than
ten years of service as Director of the School.
Lauren Benthien, Religious School Co-Chair, is
shown here with Cantor.
In the Library
Rena Epstein
Rena is a volunteer at the Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Community
Learning Center and a teacher in Noah’s Ark.
T
emperatures climb, sunshine drenches the skies, June
rolls out its green carpet—time to think about weddings!
The planning for this life cycle event is a journey like no other.
Every choice you make reflects your evolving identity as a couple,
as well as changes in your relationships with relatives and longtime
friends. Besides being an important family and social event, weddings typically have religious and spiritual dimensions as well. Finally, there are the logistics of orchestrating such a complicated affair.
The Jewish wedding service is called Kiddushin from the Hebrew
word Kodesh, to make holy or special. When two people choose
to commit to share their lives together it is a holy and special occasion. As the seventh blessing said under the chuppah proclaims,
the rejoicing of bride and groom is a reason for rejoicing on the
streets of Zion. If you or someone you know is planning a simcha,
we invite you to get in contact with one of our clergy to be your
guide on this journey.
Then make a stop in the library. We have a nice selection of
books that can also help.
The first to check out is Meeting at the Well: A Jewish Spiritual
Guide to Being Engaged by Daniel Judson and Nancy Weiner. This
book encourages couples to focus less on party planning and more on
each other, using “the wisdom and traditions of Judaism in order to
strengthen their relationship and begin building their life together.”
In The New Jewish Wedding, Anita Diamant combines rich
historical background with current options and suggestions, so
you can create a meaningful event that is both traditionally Jewish and one-of-a-kind. In the same vein is The Creative Jewish
Wedding Book by Gabrielle Kaplan-Meyer. This book has many
helpful hints you won’t find elsewhere: for example, how to safely transport a chuppah, how to comfortably include divorced
parents, and even designing a ceremony for same-sex couples.
For inspiration, browse Jewish Weddings by Rita Brownstein
with Donna Koplowitz. An elegant volume filled with lavish photographs and real-life stories, this book will help you envision
every aspect of that special day. And when you need to get down
to the nitty-gritty and make it all happen, pick up The Everything
Jewish Wedding Book by Helen Latner. Chock-full of checklists
and practical advice, this comprehensive guide can be a lifesaver.
If you have questions about creating an interfaith ceremony, most
of these books are places to start seeking answers. We also recommend The Guide to Jewish Interfaith Family Life, edited by Ronnie
Friedland and Edmund Case, which has chapters on weddings and
marriage. A related resource is the website InterfaithFamily.com,
which has articles, discussion boards, and blogs posted by interfaith
couples planning their weddings. •
Did You Know? We warmly welcome interfaith couples into our
synagogue community. Under certain circumstances, interfaith
couples may be married in our synagogue by Judges or Justices of
the Peace. Contact Rabbi Michael Pincus for more information,
860-233-8215 x 228, rabbipincus@gmail.com.
CBI Book Group
Wednesday, June 6, 6:30pm
Potluck Book Selection night
We will hold our annual discussion of
Jewish books we have read and liked.
We will decide what we will read for the
coming year and enjoy a potluck dinner.
Men and women are welcome to join us.
Contact Jane Zande, 860-233-8215 x230,
jzande@cbict.org.
Context
The Adult Jewish Learning Program of
JTS (The Jewish Theological Seminary)
is now in our area!
Learn more at a free information session
at the Jewish Federation of Greater
Hartford Board Room, 333 Bloomfield
Ave., West Hartford.
Wednesday, June 13, 7:30pm
RSVP Gail Mackey,
school@emanuelsynagogue.org,
860-233-2774.
Our website has more information about
this program. Go to www.cbict.org, click
on EVENTS, then click on COMMUNITY
EVENTS
IsraelMites!
A Jewish Story Hour
for preschool children and their
parents and siblings
Join Rabbi Michael Pincus and
Rabbi Dena Shaffer
for stories...crafts...snacks!
Sessions are
Wednesdays, July 11, 18, and 25,
starting at 10:30 AM.
Please contact Jane Zande,
jzande@cbict.org, 860-233-8215 x230,
if you would like to join us.
June/July 2012 MonthlyBulletin
9
June 2012
sivan • tammuz 5772
sun
mon
tues
wed
thurs
fri
1
sat
2
Early Service, 6:30pm
Perfect for families, with an early start hour
and more contemporary music with guitar
9:30am Torah Study
- Naso
10:30am Tot
Shabbat
7:15pm Oneg Shabbat
An engaging Jewish
experience for your
8pm Late Service
infant and preschool
Meditative, with emphasis on introspection children!
and reflection
11am Shabbat
Service and the Bar
On this Friday, an Oneg Shabbat for our
Mitzvah of Joshua
entire community will begin at 7:15pm.
Bobruff
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10am
Annual
Meeting
See page
6.
5:30pm
Minyan
10:15am SAGE
5:30pm Minyan
6:30pm
Brotherhood
(offsite)
See page 13.
7:15pm Sisterhood
5:30pm Minyan
7pm College
Workshop
See page 8.
6:30pm
CBI Book Group
See page 9.
5:30pm
Minyan
6pm Shabbat dinner event
7:30pm Sisterhood and Brotherhood
Shabbat See page 13.
9:30am Torah
Study—
Beha’alotecha
11am Shabbat
Service and the Bar
Mitzvah of Spencer
Altman
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Celebrate
West
Hartford!
(offsite)
See page
2.
5:30pm
Minyan
10:15am SAGE
5:30pm Minyan
7pm Executive
Committee
7pm College
Search Workshop
See page 8.
5:30pm Minyan
6pm Adult
Education
Committee
See page 8.
7pm Medical
Mission Work
See page 14.
7:30pm ConText
(offsite)
See page 9.
5:30pm
Minyan
1pm Foodshare Mobile Truck
9:30am Torah Study
- Shelach
11am Shabbat
Service and the Bat
Mitzvah of Emily
Burstein
6pm Young Families & Friends
A Kid-Friendly Dinner and Shabbat Service!
The evening includes a Young Children’s
Service with songs, stories, and prayers,
followed by a sit-down, age-appropriate
Shabbat dinner, complete with Shabbat
blessings. The cost for the dinner is $8 for
adults and $5 for children.
RSVP Sharon Mogel,
sharonmogel@sbcglobal.net.
7:30pm Simcha Shabbat Service
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
5:30pm
Minyan
10:15am SAGE
5:30pm Minyan
7pm Bd of Trustees
5:30pm Minyan
5:30pm
Minyan
7:30pm Shabbat Service
9:30am Torah Study
- Korach
11am Shabbat
Service
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
8am
CT Tour
de Shuls
(offsite)
See page
13.
10am Soup
kitchen
(offsite)
5:30pm
Minyan
10:15am SAGE
5:30pm Minyan
6:30pm Ritual
5:30pm Minyan
5:30pm
Minyan
6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat followed by a
community dinner
Share in an uplifting, spiritual Service and
then stay for dinner! Cost for each dinner
is $15/adult, $12/student & senior, and
there is a $54 cap for families. RSVP to
Sarah Beck, sbeck@cbict.org, 233-8215 by
Wednesday, June 27.
9:30am Torah Study
- Chukat
11am Shabbat
Service and the Bat
Mitzvah of Sarah
Harinstein
10 MonthlyBulletin June/July 2012
July 2012
tammuz • av 5772
It is nurturing and sustaining to interact with nature, for Judaism’s roots
are in nature. Our Summer Erev Shabbat Services on Friday evenings,
held in our beautiful Silver Courtyard, are perfect times to remind us of
our connection to the environment and to help us find a path for spiritual
growth. As one congregant has said, “Come get your ‘spiritual shot.’ “
Please dress casually.
sun
1
mon
tues
wed
thurs
fri
2
3
4
5
6
7
5:30pm
Minyan
5:30pm Minyan
Office
Closed
5:30pm
Minyan
6:30pm Shabbat service
(outdoors, weather
permitting) followed by
Bring-Your-Own-And-Let’sShare Picnic
9:30am Torah Study Balak
10:30am Tot Shabbat
An engaging Jewish
experience for your
infant and preschool
children!
11am Shabbat Service
NO Minyan
(There will not be an
8pm service).
8
15
sat
9
10
11
13
14
5:30pm
Minyan
10:15am SAGE
5:30pm Minyan
10:30am
5:30pm
Israelmites Minyan
See page 9.
5:30pm
Minyan
6pm Adult
Education
Committee
See page 8.
12
1pm Foodshare Mobile
Truck
7:30pm Shabbat Service
(outdoors, weather
permitting)
9:30am Torah Study—
Pinchas
11am Shabbat Service
16
20
21
17
18
5:30pm
Young Families and
Minyan
Friends
Special Social Justice
Event
Sunday, July 15
We will be helping in the
Foodshare garden by
picking fresh produce. This
will contribute to enabling
Foodshare to serve
128,000 hungry neighbors
living in Greater Hartford.
Rain date is July 29.
Contact Melissa Teitler,
Melissa.Teitler@cigna.com
5:30pm Minyan
10:30am
5:30pm
Israelmites Minyan
See page 9.
5:30pm
Minyan
19
4pm Young Families at
9:30am Torah Study JCC Swim & Tennis Club
Matot/Masei
$7 children $11 adults.
11am Shabbat Service
RSVP Lisa Book,
lisabook2@gmail.com
7:30pm Simcha Shabbat
Service (outdoors, weather
permitting)
22
23
24
25
27
10am Soup
kitchen
(offsite)
5:30pm
Minyan
10am
Adult CPR
See page 8.
10:15am SAGE
5pm Pediatric CPR
See page 8.
5:30pm Minyan
6:30pm Ritual
10:30am
5:30pm
Israelmites Minyan
See page 9.
5:30pm
Minyan
29
30
31
Rain date for YFF Social
Justice event
5:30pm
Minyan
5:30pm Minyan
26
28
6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat 9:30am Torah Study Service (outdoors, weather Devarim
permitting) followed by a 11am Shabbat Service
Bring-Your-Own-And-Let’sShare Picnic
June/July 2012 MonthlyBulletin
11
S.A.G.E. Schedule
Dr. Robert A. Kramer Fund / Beth Israel Seniors Group S.A.G.E.:
Seniors for Arts, Growth, and Education
JUNE/JULY PROGRAMS
JUNE 5
11:15am
1pm
Discussion with Steven Rothman from
Project Joshua
Program: Forum with Rabbi Michael Pincus
JUNE 12
11:15am
Discussion with Lenore Blank
1pm Program: Gloria McAdam,
President and CEO of Foodshare, will speak on
The Importance of Foodshare. Foodshare
distributes sixteen tons of food each day, the
equivalent of twelve million pounds last year
alone! The majority of this food is distributed
through our partnership with local food
pantries, community kitchens, and after-school programs. In fact,
proceeds from the Walk Against Hunger benefit Foodshare, as
well as our 300 partner programs. And many of these partners
offer much more than basic food assistance, working with
individuals and families to help them become self-sufficient so
they will no longer need to visit the local pantry.
Gloria has served as CEO of Foodshare since 1984. She has
been involved in the hunger issue and food banking on a regional
and national level. Gloria currently serves on the National
Council of Feeding America, the country’s largest charitable food
program. She is a founding member of End Hunger Connecticut!
and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.
Please bring a bagged lunch on that day. We ask that
you donate the money you would have paid for lunch to
Foodshare. Bring in your money and checks and give them
to Libby Adler, who will then make out a check to Gloria
for Foodshare. This will be a most meaningful contribution
from each of you and we thank you in advance for your
participation.
Schedule
10:15am: Exercise
11:15am to 12:15pm:
Discussion Group—Provocative and interesting conversation
on a new topic each week.
12:15pm: Light Lunch and Dessert
CBI members $5; Guests $7
Reservations required for lunch!
Call Libby and Julian Adler, co-chairs,
860-236-4452 by Sunday.
1pm: Guest speaker/program
12 MonthlyBulletin June/July 2012
JUNE 19
11:15am
1pm
Discussion with Merv Strauss
Program: Cinema Judaica. A great feature film,
carefully selected by Charlotte Berman.
JUNE 26
11:15am
Discussion with Karen Beyard
1pm Program: Dr. Donald G. Ellis will
speak on How To Save The Two State Solution.
Dr. Ellis is Professor of Communication and
teaches courses in communication theory,
intercultural communication, conflict,
political communication, and language and
communication. His Ph.D. is from the University of Utah, where
his doctoral dissertation on conflict interaction in groups won
the National Communication Association Golden Anniversary
Dissertation Award. He has been on the faculty of Purdue
University and Michigan State.
He is interested in communication issues related to
ethnopolitical conflict with particular emphasis on conflict
resolution, intractable conflicts, intercultural communication,
and democracy. Dr. Ellis is the past editor of the journal
Communication Theory and the author of numerous books
and articles including Crafting Society: Ethnicity, Class, and
Communication Theory, as well as the recent Transforming
Conflict: Communication Approaches to Ethnopolitical Conflict. In
1999, he received the James E. Bent Award for Scholarship and
Creativity. He was a fellow at the Asch Center for the Study of
Ethnopolitical Conflict at the University of Pennsylvania, and a
Fulbright Scholar in Israel in 2004-2005. He participates in various
national organizations and lectures and writes in the fields of
communication, conflict resolution, intercultural communication,
and related topics. Professor Ellis just returned from teaching for
two months at Ariel University Center in Israel.
JULY 10
11:15am
1pm
JULY 24
11:15am
Discussion with Jerry Siskin
Program: Forum with Rabbi Dena Shaffer
Discussion with Pamela Siskin
1pm Program: Bonnie Pepper will entertain us
with Songs For The Summer.
Bonnie Pepper is a wonderful soprano who has
performed opera, oratorio, and musical theater
around the country. Come and be delighted as she
sings music from Faust, La Boheme, Candide, Guys and Dolls, Porgy
and Bess, My Fair Lady, and more!
Sisterhood Update BrotherhoodBeat
Carmen Holzman
E
ven though CBI Sisterhood membership
has declined over the years due to an
array of factors, Sisterhood is still a
vibrant organization at CBI, largely because of the visions
of our Past Presidents who dedicated countless hours
building on the foundations of our organization. Some of
these tireless visionaries are still very active in Sisterhood or
play supporting roles in our community: Marcia Kagan,
Devida Botwick, Sandra Gersten, Alice Krall, Beverly
Jackowitz, Judy FitzGerald, Janice Glass, Cindy Ward,
Deena Sisitsky, Paula Schenck, Gail Mangs, and Kati
Berman, are a few who come to mind, but there are
many more. They are role models for future generations
in promoting Jewish values in all aspects of Sisterhood,
such as teaching us to be inclusive, listening with care,
kindness, understanding, and honesty. Sometimes I hear
them reminisce about the times when Sisterhood used to
have 200 members (right now, we are still a strong 104
members). Declining membership has not hampered the
Sisterhood Board from fulfilling our mission as a supporting
pillar of the CBI community and a link to Women of Reform
Judaism (WRJ). As my first year as President is ending and
I prepare to embark on a second year, I want to thank all
the Past Presidents who have created such a foundation of
core values for new leadership and for their actions as role
models of inspiration and commitment for maintaining
Sisterhood as a dynamic and supporting connection to
the Congregation, clergy, the community, and the WRJ. •
Brotherhood General Meeting For Annual
Election of New Board Members
On Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 pm we will hold our annual meeting
to install new officers and board members. This meeting will
take place at the Green Tea Restaurant in Farmington. All
Brotherhood Members are urged to attend.
Please contact Gary Jacobson, 860-236-3430 for reservations.
The Nominating Committee for Congregation Beth Israel
Brotherhood has submitted the following slate:
Officers for the 2012 to 2013 Term of Office:
President
Jeff Smith
First Vice-President
Gary Jacobson
Second Vice-President
Jeff Singer
Recording Secretary
Michael Honor
Treasurer
Michael Holzman
Corresponding Secretary
Michael Honor
Financial Secretary
Dave Ward
Directors for the 2012 to 2013 Term of Office:
Michael Berman
Rob Berman
Ed Cheffetz
Dr. Jeffrey Kagan
Dr. Peter Katz
Steve Maidman
David Miller
Dan Schaefer
Eric Schneider
Chet Zaslow
Michael Holzman, Michael Honor, and Gary Jacobson
Nominating Committee Co- Chairs
Our Sisterhood Board wishes you and your family a
happy, healthy and relaxing summer.
Our Next Sisterhood Board meetings will be Tuesday, June 5 and
Tuesday, August 7, 7:15 pm.
Carmen Holzman is President of Sisterhood.
Sisterhood/Brotherhood Shabbat
On Friday, June 8, 6pm, Sisterhood will hold its Annual
Shabbat dinner. Dinner is $15 per person (menu is grilled
chicken, grilled asparagus, green salad, and eggplant
lasagna without cheese). If you would like to attend, send
a check, made out to “Sisterhood CBI” to Sandra Gersten,
75 N. Main St., West Hartford, CT, 06107 by Monday,
June 4. The dinner will be followed by the Installation
of Officers and Directors at a combined Sisterhood/
Brotherhood Shabbat Service, 7:30pm. The Celebration
continues immediately after services with an Ice Cream
Social Oneg Shabbat.
To benefit special needs campers
Tikvah Programs at Camp Ramah, and
Camp Chazak at Eisner and Crane Lake
Sunday, June 24, 8am to 1pm
Program starts at the Emanuel Synagogue.
Join more than 20 area
synagogues and schools for the
3rd Annual CT Tour de Shuls.
Bike/run/walk 5k or 10k or
enjoy rides of 20-35-50 miles.
Register Now! www.tourdeshulsct.org
Early registration discount by June 10th also includes
free event T-shirt and water bottle.
June/July 2012 MonthlyBulletin
13
Social Justice Notes
True, we are often too weak to stop injustices; but the least we can do is
protest against them.
True, we are too poor to eliminate hunger; but in feeding one child,
we protest against hunger.
True, we are too timid and powerless to take on all the guards of all
the political prisons in the world; but in offering our solidarity to one
prisoner, we denounce all the tormentors.
True, we are powerless against death; but as long as we help one man,
one woman, one child live one hour longer in safety and dignity,
we affirm a human’s right to live —Elie Wiesel, Sages and Dreamers
CBI Walks Against Hunger
ENGAGE IN SOCIAL JUSTICE
There are so many wonderful opportunities at CBI to engage in Social Justice. Many
of us work on our own, some in small groups, and others through our Social Justice
Committee. With the help of so many of our congregants, the committee is able to
sustain a large number of social justice projects throughout the year.
Here are just a few of them.
•
We donate clothing, diapers, books, and toys to needy kids in Hartford through
Covenant to Care.
•
“Food of the month” donations are taken to Foodshare.
•
We promote free trade practices throughout our temple community.
•
Many of us are Reading Mentors through the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy.
•
We volunteer at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen and are a distribution point
for Foodshare’s mobile truck.
•
We offer a wide range of educational programs for our adult congregants as well as
our religious students to help each of us find our own way toward tikkun olam.
The Social Justice Committee thanks you for your ongoing acts of compassion and
generosity. Please contact one of our co-chairs if you would like to help with a project
or join our committee. This is a wonderful opportunity to network with an inspiring
and engaging group of like-minded individuals.
Co-chairs—Susan Levine, sflevine@comcast.net and Andy Packer AJPacker@aol.com.
MEDICAL MISSION WORK
On Wednesday, June 13, 7-9 pm, Drs. Adam Silverman and Susan Levine will
speak on “Medical Mission Work- Unique Perspectives from Haiti and Libya.” This
is a rare opportunity to hear from two of our own congregants and several other
healthcare professionals in the Greater Hartford area about some of their ongoing
work throughout the globe.
BECOME A READING MENTOR
Please consider giving just thirty minutes of your time each week to help a child learn
to read. Leave your home or your office and become a “Reading Mentor” through the
Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy.
In the fall, help children in elementary schools, grades kindergarten through third, in
Bloomfield, West Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, East Hartford, and Manchester.
If a child gets to the fourth grade and cannot read, her/his future is seriously
compromised. Just as you help(ed) your child or grandchild learn to read, please help
children in these school districts. Why? Because all these children are our children.
If you save a life, it’s as if you have saved the world.
Please call the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy: 860-236-READ
or contact Jim Friedman 860-236-0580, jpf7332@comcast.net.
THANK YOU!
14 MonthlyBulletin June/July 2012
Foodshare Truck
Distributions This
Summer
Every fourth Friday, a Foodshare truck
comes to CBI loaded with produce,
bread, and other food. CBI members
distribute the food to individuals who
line up in our driveway with carts to
carry home the items they receive.
If the weather is fine, our volunteers
sometimes arrive to find card games
well in progress as friends meet and
catch up with each other.
Congregation Beth Israel is very proud
of the fact that we have never had
to skip a month. Last October, when
the power was out and the building
closed, the truck arrived and we
distributed food to over 100 people.
If your children are home this
summer, and are aged twelve and
over, they are welcome to come assist
with the distribution—as are you!
Some children come anytime their
school is closed, including holiday
breaks or if there is a weather-related
or teacher inservice closing. All we ask
is that you call Marlene Wenograd,
860-231-1423 several days in advance
to confirm and to help us ensure
there will be enough volunteers. The
summer distribution dates are Friday,
June 15, Friday, July 13, and Friday,
August 10. Volunteers should arrive
by 12:30pm and be prepared to stay
until 2pm.
Noah’s ArkNews
Leah Bratton
A
t Noah’s Ark we are planning, discussing, and cultivating a school garden. Each classroom will have its own
small plot, so gardening can be part of the curriculum.
Gardening offers children many possibilities for learning
and enjoyment. It allows them to plan and work together on
a project they believe is important, and it allows teachers to
integrate multiple curriculum areas including literacy, math,
science, arts, and social studies.
A garden for children is different from a typical adult
garden. Plants may not grow in orderly rows but might pop
up on the path next to the garden plot, where someone
spilled some seeds. Toy trucks might appear in the flower beds. Our garden is a place to explore, play, plant, and
harvest, and to make a connection with the natural world.
As part of a class gardening project, children can do research to learn what plants grow best in our climate. They
may investigate what plants need in order to grow and how
to take care of our garden. Some children may be interested
in learning about the different parts of a plant or others may
study the different varieties of vegetables and flowers. Children
represent what they know and what they are learning through
art, music, movement, and writing. At home, you can visit
the library or local garden centers to find out what to plant
and how to take care of the
garden. If you are a gardener yourself, talk with your
child about your gardening
experiences, or your child
can ask family friends or neighbors about gardening.
Math learning is apparent throughout a gardening project—
counting and sorting seeds, measuring the correct distance between plants, marking the calendar for the projected date plants
will sprout, or measuring and charting the height of plants as
they grow. Science lessons emerge as plants grow and insects
appear. Children gain reading and writing skills when we read
books about gardening with them, and as they draw pictures
and write stories about their own gardening experiences.
Through gardening together, children also learn important
social skills such as working cooperatively with others, taking
turns, and developing friendships.
Another benefit is that children gain a sense of responsibility
for their garden. The garden project provides children with
opportunities to do meaningful work and experience success.
They feel a sense of pride and accomplishment as their plants
thrive and they share the fruits and vegetables of their labor.
We invite you to take a look at our gardening venture. •
Leah Bratton is the Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool and Early Care and Education program.
Around Beth Israel
Children in Noah’s Ark cover their eyes to say the
candle blessing at an outdoor Shabbat service. The service preceded the
“Wonder Walk,” which raised money for the March of Dimes. Through
WonderWalk, Noah’s Ark children learned the importance of tzedakah—
helping others in need and contributing and reaching out to the
community. Read
more in the Noah’s
Ark Newsletter,
www.cbict.org,
go to MEDIA than
NOAH’S ARK
NEWSLETTER.
Sisterhood
organized a mahjongg program for
both beginning
and advanced
players.
Brotherhood
held an intense
but eye-opening
session on human
trafficking in the
Hartford area. (Left
to right) President
Dan Schaefer, Ed
Cheffetz, Steve
Ferraro, Co-Director
of Not for Sale CT,
Hartford Police Officer
Deborah Scates, Dr.
Jeffrey Kagan.
We read names of the
victims of the Holocaust
on Yom HaShoah.
June/July 2012 MonthlyBulletin
15
Thoughtful Donations
CANTOR SISKIN DISC
In memory of Rosalind Gold
By Kenneth and Lauren Kaufman
CEMETERY BEAUTIFICATION
In memory of my husband,
Milton Krevolin
By Judi K. Krevolin
DR. ELLIOT SICKLICK AMERICAN
JEWISH HISTORY
In loving memory of Elliot Sicklick
By Wilma Sicklick and family
DR. FRANK E. ROTH
NOAH’S ARK
In memory of Babara Roth’s
mother
By Stephen & Carla Schwartz
DR. ROBERT A. KRAMER S.A.G.E.
In memory of
Herman Rosenberg
By Jewel Abrams
In honor of Harriet Kei on her
85th birthday
By Estelle Apatow
By Jane Zande & Jeff Smith
By Irma Schoen
By Harriet Deutsch
By Marion and Manfred Adler
In loving memory of
my husband Abe
By Phyllis Reiter
In honor of Lenore Blank on her
birthday and reading
from the Torah
By Jane Zande & Jeff Smith
In memory of Rhonda Dvorin,
wife of Larry Dvorin, mother
of Rebecca & Maxwell Dvorin,
daughter of Irma Landerman,
niece of Julian & Libby Adler
By Devida Botwick
By Libby & Julian Adler
By Jean & Ed Hotez
By Jane Zande & Jeff Smith
In memory of Adeline Donner
In memory of Lillian Gordon
By Frances Kaufman
In memory of my beloved
husband, Mark Solomkin
By Ruth Solomkin
GENERAL CHARITABLE
In memory of father,
Moses Stashevsky
In memory of mother,
Fanay Stashevsky
By Raisa Stashevsky
In memory of Boris Komissar
By Gregory Komissar
In memory of my father,
Gedali Glasman
By Joseph Glasman
In memory of Semen Kirshon
By Nadezhda Kirshon
In memory of my mother,
Fania Zlatkovsky
By Maria Rokhman
In memory of my brother,
Yefem Latushevski
By Mikhail Rokhman
In memory of Liza Kogan,
Gersh Kogan, and
Masya Nadgorny
By Leonid Nadgornyy &
Rukhlya Nadgornaya
In memory of Alvin Rosenbluth
By Florence Rosenbluth
In memory of Edith Goldschmidt
By Paul Goldschmidt
In memory of my mother,
Miriam Y. Cohn
By Henry Cohn and Family
In memory of Joseph Okon
By Ezra Okon
In memory of my husband,
Isaak Kagan
By Tatyana Kagan
In memory of beloved son,
David
By Shirley & Henry Seltzer
GENERATIONS
In memory of Audrey Berman
By Robert & Lisa Berman
JUDITH AND HARVEY
GOLDSTEIN MUSIC
In loving memory of
Judith Goldstein
By Vivian & Jerry Marks
LEGACY FOR OUR FUTURE
In memory of Fran Michaelson
In memory of Larry and Marge
Sokail
In honor of Harriet Kei
By Bette Glickman
In celebration of the Bar Mitzvah
of Benjamin Matthew Ellovich,
son of Lisa and David Ellovich
By Barbara Mindell
LIBRARY
In memory of Florence “Bunny”
Goldfarb
By Barbara, Norman, & Julie Kurtz
In thankfulness for Jim Tierney’s
recovery from surgery
By Patricia Davidson
In honor of the special birthday of
Dianne Friedman
By Harriet Deutsch
In memory of Richard A. Gellman
By Rona & Barry Gelber
In memory of Nathan Levy, Jr.
By Billie M. Levy
16 MonthlyBulletin June/July 2012
In memory of Nathaniel Kagan,
my husband
In memory of Annette Pessin
Gold, my sister
In memory of Dora Kagan,
my mother-in-law
By Marcia Kagan
In memory of Senta B. Brown
By Barbara, Norman, & Julie Kurtz
With deep gratitude to
Margaret Salzer
By Phyllis & Robert Cherlin
In memory of my mother,
Theodora Joseph Tager
By Richard N. Tager
In memory of Abram Giddon,
beloved father of my husband,
Arthur Giddon
In memory of my mother,
Lina Belle Cohen
By Harriet Giddon
In memory of Polina Melamud
By Abram Melamud
In memory of my mother,
Eunice S. Postol
By Barbara Rifkin
In memory of Jerry’s cousin,
Arthur “Bushy” Epstein
In memory of Joseph Cole
In memory of
Lorna Drago Diamond
By Jerry & Flo Diamond
In honor of the birthday of
my wife, Florence
By Jerry Diamond
In memory of Laura Max Rapport
By Riki & James Brodey
MUSIC
In memory of Edith Davis,
mother of Anne Gingold
By Anne & George Gingold
In honor of birth of Ayli, Natasha
Ulyanovsky’s granddaughter
By Jane Zande & Jeff Smith
NEW AMERICANS
In memory of my mother,
Dora Fortel
By Leonid Fortel
In memory of my aunt,
Faina Krivinsky
By Mariya Fortel
In memory of my father,
Meir Tandeitnik
By Yeva Berlinsky
In memory of my husband,
Boris Treyster
In memory of my father,
Maer Tandeytnin
By Milya Treyster
In memory of Gersh Shekhter and
Manya Chernomzav
By Arkadiy & Faina Chernomzav
In memory of my mother,
Sarra Lifshits
By Yakov Lifshits
In memory of my mother,
Geny Ruditser
By Raisa Fridkin
In memory of my mother,
Bronia Tuninskaya
By Mariya Fortel
In memory of my mother-in-law,
Tanya Strongin
By Bella Strongin
In memory of my mother,
Roza Mirochnik
In memory of my father,
Haim Mirochnik
By Anna Virkerman
In memory of my mother,
Maria Molodchik
In memory of my father,
Bar Virkerman
In memory of my brother,
Arik Virkerman
By Radiy Virkerman
NOAH’S ARK
In memory of Leah Bratton’s
mother
By Jane Zande & Jeff Smith
RABBI FUCHS/CBI FOODSHARE
TRANSPORTATION
In memory of Jacob Linoff,
father of Willa
By Elliott & Willa Rosenworcel
In memory of Eva Silverman
By Leslie & Sam Silverman
RABBI PINCUS DISCRETIONARY
In memory of Alexandra Bulavina,
our nanny
In memory of Raisa Berger,
my grandmother
By Vera Karchov
In memory of Eric Strauss
By Emily Strauss
In memory of Ita-Basia Frenkel,
my mother
By Lev Frenkel
In memory of David Cybul,
brother of Edith Whitman
By Edith & Bob Whitman
With thanks
By Evelyn Schwartz
With appreciation for officiating
at the unveiling ceremony of
Cynthia Dolinger, my wife
By Sheldon Dolinger
In memory of Joseph Finkelstein
By Ellen & Bob Lerman
In memory of David Swede
By Harriet Deutsch
In memory of Edith Goldschmidt
By Miriam & Stephen Miller
In memory of Joan Kaufman
By Sara Lapuk
RABBI SHAFFER DISCRETIONARY
In memory of David Swede
By Carmen Holzman
To celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of
Joshua Traubert
By Norman Zeldis
In memory of David Haymond
By Kimberly & John Haymond
To celebrate the birthday of
Aiden Strong, our son
By Jolene & Matt Strong
In memory of Max Siegel
By Ed Siegel
REBECCA K. AND WILLIAM H. ROSENFELD
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
In memory of R. Leonard Kemler, MD
By Jacqueline R. Werner
ROBERT ALAN FALK MEMORIAL
SCHOLARSHIP
In memory of Walter V. Singer
By Beverly Singer
SISTERHOOD
In memory of David Swede
By Lenore Blank
SOCIAL JUSTICE
In memory of Jim’s father, Leo S. Friedman
By Dianne & Jim Friedman
In memory of my father, Harry Druckman
By Judith E. Gruskay
THANK YOU TO MORE
OF OUR FRIENDS OF THE
LIBRARY!
Myra and Joe Panitch
Patrons
Barbara and Jack Blechner
Patricia Davidson
SIMCHA SHABBAT
Happy Birthday
Lenore Blank
Maya Dobrynin
Judi Krevolin
Billie M. Levy
Peter Messes
Joseph Panitch
Myra Panitch
Henry Seltzer
Happy Anniversary
Oscar and Miryam Birman
Leonard and Rita Katz
Barbara and Norman Kurtz
Happy Anniversary Patron
Saul and Marianne Spector
Mazel TovYasher Koach
Congratulations to Ed Siegel! He was honored as a member of the President's Circle for
Foodshare for his volunteer service.
It's a boy! John Quentin Ellis was born on March 31. His is the son of David and Alison
Ellis, and the first grandchild of Don Ellis and Karen Beyard. His other grandparents are
Sheri Ellis and Jean and Jack Bucholz of New Jersey. Mazel tov to the family!
Matthew DeMartino, son of Sue and Bob DeMartino, will be attending George
Washington University.
Ben Spar, son of Dr. Ira Spar, will be attending Princeton University.
Abby Schneider, daughter of Bonnie & Eric Schneider, will be attending Boston
University.
Josh Rosenfield, son of Amy & Michael Rosenfield, will be attending the University of
Rhode Island.
Mariah Jacobson, daughter of Linda and Gary Jacobson, will be attending Hofstra
University.
Bradley Schwartz, son of Laurel and Jeffrey Schwartz, will be attending RPI (Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute).
Bob and Jacque Kirschbaum are participating in a group exhibition that is a survey of
Connecticut sculptors at A-Space Gallery in West Haven.
Good work, Benjamin Coady! During a September visit to New York's Metropolitan
Museum of Art, he noticed an error in one of its maps of the Justinian conquests. Because
of his speaking up, the map will be updated.
Steven Rothman was in a featured article in the May 11 issue of the Jewish Ledger on
his role as a “work coach.” A copy is available in the Learning Center.
Brotherhood recently sponsored a Clergy Institute. Rabbi Richard Freund was the guest speaker.
Thank you to our sponsor, Margot Merin.
June/July 2012 MonthlyBulletin
17
Congregation Beth Israel
701 Farmington Avenue
860-233-8215
bethisrael@cbict.org
West Hartford, CT 06119
FAX: 860-523-0223
www.cbict.org
Our mission is to serve the lifelong spiritual and educational needs of our congregants, within a welcoming
and caring contemporary Reform Jewish community.
A Reform Congregation founded in 1843 and affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism since 1877. The
Temple Bulletin is published with the kind cooperation of the Solomon and Katie Wohl Foundation.
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Sisterhood and Brotherhood Shabbat Service
Friday, June 8, 7:30pm
The Celebration continues immediately after services with an
Ice Cream Social Oneg. See page 13.