July/August 2015 Bulletin

Temple Beth El Bulletin
An Egalitarian Conservative Synagogue
www.tbe.org
Volume 41 Issue 4 (bi-monthly)
July/August 2015
Tammuz/Av/Elul 5775
A YEAR AT TBE 2014-2015
JULY
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Morning Minyan, Sisterhood Rosh
Chodesh Group, Honoring Our 12th Grade Graduates, BBQ and Barachu, Empty
Nesters Mixology, Board of Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, High
Holy Days Committee, Ritual Committee
AUGUST
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Morning Minyan, Tisha B’Av Service, TBE hosts JCC Retired
Men’s Club weekly meetings, Board of Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, Brainstorming
Session for TBE Families, Watermelon Wednesday, High Holy Days Committee, High Holiday Choir
Rehearsal
SEPTEMBER
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Jr. Congregation, Morning Minyan, Selichot
Service, High Holiday Bimah Construction, Sukkah Assembly, Rosh Hashanah Services,
Tashlich Service, Annual Beth El Cemetery Memorial Service, B’nai Mitzvah: Ethan
Moskowitz, Emma Rose Strom, Matthew Goodman, Zachary
Groz, B’nai Mitzvah Trope Class, Reyut Steering Committee
Meeting, Religious School resumes, A Taste of Rosh Chodesh,
Shevet Achim, Tot Shabbat, Annual Hyacinthe and Harold E.
Hoffman Memorial Lecture featuring Ari Shavit, Temple Rock Planning Meeting, Shal-Om
Yoga, TBE Discussion Group, K’tanim, Beth El Teens go to My Three Sons, Board of Trustees
Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, Sisterhood Board Meeting, Annual Sisterhood
High Holiday Food Sale, Annual Beth El Cares High Holiday Food Drive, High Holiday Choir
Rehearsal
OCTOBER
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Morning Minyan,
K’tanim, Tot Shabbat, Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Group, B’Nai
Mitzvah: Ethan Essenfeld, Sam Essenfeld, Andrew Goldberg,
Hannah Nekritz, Micayla Roth, 2015 B’nai Mitzvah Program, Jr.
Congregation, Kol Nidrei and Yom Kippur Services, Break-theFast, Religious School decorates the sukkah, Sukkot Services,
Sukkah Hop, Mitzvah Garden Committee Luncheon in the
Sukkah, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah Services, Empty Nesters Hike, Reyut Session,
Adult Education Classes, Pre-Planning Your Funeral Seminar, Shal-Om Yoga, A Taste of Rosh Chodesh, Shevet Achim,
Board of Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, Sisterhood Board Meeting, Board of Education Meeting
TEMPLE BETH EL - BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mia Weinstein, President
Sylvan D. Pomerantz, Immediate Past President
Carl Weinberg, First Vice President
Stan Friedman, Vice President
Steven Sosnick, Vice President
Daniel Young, Vice President
Robert Cohen, Treasurer
Susan Frieden, Assistant Treasurer
Lisa Manheim, Secretary
ADVISORS
Gary P. Lessen
Peter K. Kempner
Eileen H. Rosner
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
203-595-0528
203-968-0605
203-322-8675
203-322-0416
203-972-6993
203-975-1990
203-329-9622
203-869-4282
917-690-2712
203-322-7616
203-968-8079
203-461-0506
TRUSTEES
Edward M. Berman
Kenneth Broder
Aron Davidson
Stacey Essenfeld
Richard Heimler
Dana Horowitz
Devra Jaffe-Berkowitz
Carol Krim
Arthur Laichtman
Joshua Levine
Judy Schneiderman
Lael Shapiro
Barry Strom
Ken Temple
Adam Tronick
Beth Weinberg
Michael Wiederlight
203-329-7750
203-968-8080
203-274-6363
203-595-0368
203-998-7118
203-321-0018
203-978-1113
203-968-1075
203-461-8223
203-276-1395
203-569-4969
203-517-4835
203-329-2580
203-968-9550
203-569-9570
203-329-7573
203-322-4256
SISTERHOOD PRESIDENT
Beth Silver
203-249-7046
MEN’S CLUB
Matthew Miller, President
203-504-8664
PAST PRESIDENTS
Gordon Brown
Rosalea Fisher
Fred S. Golove
Ronald Gross
Herbert Kahan
Alan Kalter
Peter K. Kempner
Mark Lapine
Gary P. Lessen
Brian Rogol
Eileen H. Rosner
203-276-8688
203-323-1449
203-322-0295
203-325-3114
203-322-3249
203-322-8220
203-968-8079
203-329-9879
203-322-7616
212-531-8203
203-461-0506
Beth El Cares
Ken Temple
203-968-9550
B’nai Mitzvah Chairperson
Suzanne Olin
203-761-9213
Board of Education
Naomi Marks
203-323-8512
Facilities
James Benjamin
203-329-0369
Finance
Robert Cohen
Susan Frieden
203-329-9622
203-869-4282
Fund Raising
Scott Krowitz
David Wolff
203-348-8680
203-968-6361
High Holy Days
Seymour Weinstein
203-353-8873
Human Resources
Scott Krowitz
Carl Weinberg
Nicole Zussman
203-348-8680
203-322-8675
203-324-5383
Marketing and Communications
Stan Friedman
203-322-0416
Membership Committee
Elissa Hyman
Mia Weinstein
203-316-8228
203-595-0528
Mitzvah Garden
Harriet Weinstein
203-353-8873
Project Ezra
Joy Katz
203-329-3359
Ritual Committee
Denise Greenman
Eileen H. Rosner
203-329-8594
203-324-4096
2020 Planning Committee
Eric Kaplan
203-323-2383
OUR STAFF IS MOST EAGER TO ASSIST YOU
Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Phone: (203) 322-6901 Fax: (203) 322-0532
Joshua Hammerman, Rabbi (rabbi@tbe.org)
Magda Fishman, Cantor (cantorfishman@tbe.org)
Sidney G. Rabinowitz, Hazzan Emeritus (hazzan@tbe.org)
Steven Lander, Executive Director (execdir@tbe.org)
Lisa Gittelman Udi, Education and Youth Director
(eddir@tbe.org)
Lana Rappaport, Education Office (education@tbe.org)
Linda Rezak, Bookkeeper (bookkeeper@tbe.org)
Mindy Rogoff, Temple Secretary (office@tbe.org)
Ellen Gottfried, Secretary (adminassist@tbe.org)
Alberto Eyzaguirre, Facilities Manager (maint@tbe.org)
Sisterhood Gift Shop (giftshop@tbe.org)
WHERE TO FIND IT
Joshua Hammerman, Rabbi........................................................Page 3
Magda Fishman, Cantor .............................................................Page 3
Mia Weinstein, President ...........................................................Page 4
July/August Service Schedule .....................................................Page 4
Beth El Cares ..............................................................................Page 6
Men’s Club .................................................................................Page 6
Sisterhood ..................................................................................Page 7
Sylvan D. Pomerantz, Immediate Past President .......................Page 8
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ON ONE FOOT
CANTOR MAGDA FISHMAN
From Strength to Strength
Dear TBE Family,
The summer months bring us a moment to
pause and reflect on how grateful we are for the
blessings our lives. For me, those blessings include my family,
to be sure, especially as we recently celebrated Dan’s
graduation from college. I’ve also been blessed to grow with
this congregation now for many years. As of July 1, I arrived
here 28 years ago. In Hebrew, that number happens to
correspond to the letters Kaf and Het, which together spells
“Ko-ach,” or “strength.” It’s a blessing also to have the
strength to get through the many trials that we face every day.
The expression “May you go from strength to strength”
comes up often in invocations and other presentations. It
comes from Psalms 84:8 ,‫אֱ ֹלהִ ים ְבצִּיֹון‬-‫חָ י ִל; י ֵָראֶ ה אֶ ל‬-‫ מֵ חַ י ִל אֶ ל‬,‫י ֵלְ כּו‬
“They go from strength to strength, every one of them
appears before God in Zion.”
Where do I start? I can’t believe that I just
arrived here with my family in September. It was
an incredible year of transition - a new life, many
new people, great staff/team, lots of music and prayers,
events and learning. I am grateful to all of you for the warm
welcome and support. Transitions are not easy, and I thank
you for making my family and me feel at home. I am looking
forward to spending more time getting to know you.
The Annual Cantor’s Concert was a memorable evening
and my first concert at TBE. The joy and warmth in the room
were heartwarming. To everyone who attended, thank you!
Friday nights are a spiritual celebration at TBE. I am
proud and so happy for getting to know all the wonderful
B’nai/B’not Mitzvah this year! Each one was special and
unique, worked hard, and did such a beautiful job.
After I return from Israel, preparations for the High
Holidays will begin and I am encouraging everyone who loves
singing to join me in song and donate their talent and spirit to
our High Holidays choir. It’s not only a singing experience, it’s
building community.
Looking ahead to next year...I would love to find more
kids and teens who love to sing. If you know of any, please
contact me at cantorfishman@tbe.org.
Exciting news: Next summer, the Cantors’ Convention will
take place in Spain from July 3-14, 2016. Many cantors will
lead their congregations in what is expected to be an
unforgettable trip. I invite you to join my family, myself and
hundreds of cantors and congregants in this special mission
that will include trips, concerts and much more. You will have
the opportunity to spend time with people from all over the
United States, travel in Spain and spend time with my family
and me. For information go to:
http://www.ayelet.com/CA_2016/
AT_CAflyer_SPAIN_2016_CANTORS_For%20ST.pdf
Please contact me if you are interested. I am very excited
about the possibility of all of us going together.
Have a wonderful summer!
Being a naturally curious bloke, and given that my Lunch
and Learn class on Wednesdays this fall will be an extended
conversation on the book of Psalms, I looked into how this
Biblical expression became part of modern English usage.
Evidently, we have the Brits to thank, in particular Myles
Coverdale’s 1535 translation of the Bible, which then was
picked up by the King James edition and subsequent sermons,
including Julian Hare, who said in an 1849 sermon: “Mounting
from strength to strength, from highth, to a higher highth!”
The website “Britishisms” tracked usage using a Google Ngram
chart. It peaked in the US in the mid-19th century, but Britain’s
usage now has far surpassed the number of times the
expression is used here.
And I’ll bet you thought it was invented at a Hadassah
meeting. I’ve heard it used most often at Jewish events, but I
suppose that’s because that’s where I find myself most of the
time. It’s nice to see the universal appeal of this expression.
One of the people who used this expression often was
Norma Mann. I can imagine her saying it as I write this. Sadly,
Norma’s passing a couple of years ago has been followed most
recently by the passing of her beloved husband Milton, a past
president of TBE.
At our recent Cantor’s Concert, I had the privilege of
announcing that the Mann family will be endowing this annual
concert, which will be named in memory of Norma and
Milton. This gift breaks new ground in its extent and duration
and will help to guarantee the excellence of our music
program, as well as our entire range of our programming, well
into the future. It is also an indication of the dramatic impact
TBE has made over the past several years, as we have placed
our strategic focus on creating powerful and meaningful
prayer experiences for all generations, emphasizing music. In
particular, it highlights the impact Cantor Fishman has made in
less than a year.
As the Manns’ children, Madeline and Pamela wrote in
announcing their donation: “As we reflect on the passing of
our parents and sister, music has been a significant source of
Many blessings.
Cantor Magda Fishman
TISHA B’AV
SATURDAY, JULY 25 at 9:15 pm
Congregation Beth El, 109 East Ave., Norwalk, CT
We will, once again, join with Congregation Beth El,
Norwalk, and the Conservative Synagogue of Westport
for Tisha B’Av services.
After a brief Ma’ariv (evening service), candles and
flashlights are traditionally lit as we begin the reading of
Eikhah (Lamentations) with meaningful readings and
discussions interspersed. We hope you will join us for
this powerful community experience.
Continued on page 16...
3
MIA WEINSTEIN, PRESIDENT
SHABBAT AND FESTIVAL SERVICES
JULY
Hillel says, “If I am not for myself, who will be for
me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not
now, when?”
Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14
Friday, July 3
Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
(outside, weather permitting)
Shabbat, July 4
My name is Mia Weinstein, and I am honored to be the
next president of Temple Beth El. I want to take this
opportunity to introduce myself to you, even though there are
many of you who know me already. I’m well aware that I have
some very big shoes to fill. Sylvan Pomerantz has worked
tirelessly as president over these past two years, and we are a
stronger, more vibrant congregation as a result of his efforts.
Please join me in thanking him for his dedication and
commitment.
My husband Lonny and I moved to Stamford nearly 18
years ago, and TBE has been our shul for the past 12 years. We
have two wonderful children, Eddie and Emily, both of whom
attended Bi-Cultural Day School (BCDS). Eddie will be a
sophomore at Westhill High School and Emily will begin her
freshman year at Syracuse University.
I love our Jewish community here in Stamford. Where
else can you find a synagogue for every observance level, an
excellent Jewish day school and high school, an active JCC, a
committed Federation and so much more? At Temple Beth El,
I managed the Sisterhood gift shop, worked on numerous
committees, and have been a member of the Board of
Trustees for eight years. I’ve also been active with the
Women’s Philanthropy division of UJF, Tzahal Shalom, the
Behrend Institute for Leadership and the board of BCDS. I am
truly thankful for all of the opportunities I’ve had to contribute
and enrich my life as a Jew.
Finally, I’m a frequent attendee at Saturday morning
services and, believe it or not, enjoy reading Torah — both a
result of my graduating from Solomon Schechter Day School in
New Jersey as a young girl.
So there you have it, a capsule overview of my life and
who I am.
Over the next two years as president, I hope to build on
Sylvan’s legacy, making TBE an even greater part of your life
and a place where you can join with friends and family to
celebrate holidays, learn about your faith, socialize and have
fun. I also hope to build a more engaged congregation by
creating a volunteer culture within TBE.
Volunteering provides the opportunity to offer your skills,
energy and enthusiasm in a way that benefits our Temple, builds
community and is also self-fulfilling. Whether it’s realizing a
fundraising goal, greeting congregants and guests on Friday
night, learning to participate in services or helping out at the
Purim carnival, I promise you that the spirituality of our services
and the many volunteer opportunities at TBE will engage you
and help you fulfill the meaning of Hillel’s challenge: look after
yourself, take care of others and do it now!
I look forward to getting to know all of you better in the
months ahead and joining together toward achieving our 2020
Vision.
Services 9:30 a.m.
Friday, July 10
Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
Shabbat, July 11
Services 9:30 a.m.
Friday, July 17
Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
Led by Judy Aronin
Shabbat, July 18
Services 9:30 a.m.
Led by Susan Schneiderman
Meryl Silverstein - D’var Torah
Friday, July 24
Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
Shabbat, July 25
Services 9:30 a.m.
Gerry Ginsburg - D’var Torah
Tisha B’Av Services 9:15 p.m.
at Congregation Beth El, Norwalk
Friday, July 31
Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
AUGUST
Shabbat, August 1
Services 9:30 a.m.
Rabbi Nicole Wilson-Spiro - D’var Torah
Friday, August 7
Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
Shabbat, August 8
Services 9:30 a.m.
Hank Silverstein - D’var Torah
Friday, August 14
BBQ and Barachu 5:30 p.m.
Installation of TBE Board of Trustees
Kabbalat Shabbat 6:30 p.m.
Shabbat, August 15
Services 9:30 a.m.
Friday, August 21
Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
Shabbat, August 22
Services 9:30 a.m.
Friday, August 28
Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 p.m.
Shabbat, August 29
Services 9:30 a.m.
Mia Weinstein, President
4
FRIDAY NIGHT SERVICES RETURN
to 7:30 pm
MAZAL TOV TO…
Carol and Will Brewer on the birth of a granddaughter,
Victoria Mary Celia, born to Laura and Keith Brewer.
In June, we sent a quick survey regarding Friday night
service times. Nearly 100 responded, an indicator of
great interest in our Friday night services. One clear signal
sent was that there is a far greater likelihood of getting more
people to a 7:30 pm service, while inconveniencing
fewer. Since the service has been building attendance even
at our experimental time of 7:00 pm, we see real possibilities
for a significant attendance bump with a switch. So, we’ve
decided to shift back to a 7:30 pm start time beginning on
July 3. (Weather permitting, that service will be held outside.)
Judith Dalgin-Suchin and Norman Suchin on the birth of a
grandson, Phineas Asher, born to Danielle and Jason Cohen.
Linda and Larry Rezak on the birth of a granddaughter,
Abigail Zoe, born to Emily and Jared Mudge.
Brian Kriftcher on receiving the Hyacinthe and Harold
Hoffman Humanitarian Award from the JCC.
Marni Amsellem on receiving the Center Woman of the Year
Award from the JCC.
One byproduct of the later start time is that it will enable us
to have more Shabbat dinners here before the service, some
of them potluck, to make it more convenient for different
demographic groups, including families with younger
children. Incidentally, some have asked about our potluck
policy, which is based on the successful “Two Tables” model
used in other Conservative shuls. Our current policy was
introduced in 2009 and may be found at:
http://
joshuahammerman.blogspot.com/2015/06/tbe-potluckpolicies.html.
Beth Baer, Marlene Gatz and Jacob Herz on receiving the
JCC Volunteer of the Year 2015 Award.
Judy Schneiderman on receiving the Rose Rosner Award
from TBE Sisterhood.
Elayne Jassey on the birth of a granddaughter, Hazel Rose,
born to Hillary Jassey and Adam Eidelberg.
Claire and Donald Brenner on the birth of a granddaughter,
Samantha Jay, born to Jill and Alex Sax.
Sabrina and Dan Benjamin on the birth of a grandson, Jack
Benjamin, born to Lindsay and Peter Rosen, and to the
proud great-grandmother, Vicky Benjamin.
But for now the bottom line:
IN JULY, SERVICES RETURN TO 7:30 PM.
Sue Frieden on the marriage of Eric and Rachel Frieden.
WE THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS THIS MONTH
Leah and Eliot Bassin on the birth of a son, Bryce Jacob.
Beth Finchler, Roz Finchler, Sam Kravitz, Jerry Rose,
Carol Sander, Millie Sobel, Barbara Taksel
Sharon and Jeff Turshen on the birth of a granddaughter,
Olivia Jane, born to Elyse Turshen Panlilio and Alex Panlilio.
TODAH RABAH FOR SPONSORING KIDDUSH
STAMFORD CHEVRA KADISHA
A Tremendous Mitzvah
Mary and David Harrison
Beth and Seth Kaplan
Jill and Alejandro Knopoff
Angelique and Adam Wallace
The Stamford Hevra Kadisha is one of the most
important and least noticed Jewish organizations in
town. This group of volunteers helps to prepare Jews
for burial in the traditional manner, performing the
ritual of “Tahara,” or purification by washing the body.
It is considered one of the most meritorious of all
mitzvot, as it can never be thanked or repaid. It is a
loving, beautiful ritual. I always recommend this ritual
to families at the time a loved one has passed – and it
is typically arranged through participating local funeral
homes. Tahara is not just for Orthodox Jews – it is a
mitzvah for all Jews.
TODAH RABAH FOR SPONSORING
THE SHABBAT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mary and David Harrison
Beth and Seth Kaplan
Jill and Alejandro Knopoff
Lieba and Steven Lander
HONORABLE MENSCHEN
Todah Rabah to our Torah readers!
DEVRA JAFFE-BERKOWITZ
SARI BERKOWITZ
STEVE DANZER
ELANA EVERETT
CANTOR MAGDA FISHMAN
KAREN HAYWORTH HAINBACH
RABBI JOSHUA HAMMERMAN
JEWELS HARRISON
JUSTIN KAPLAN
JOY KATZ
RACHEL KATZ
We at TBE are full participants in the Hevra Kadisha
(Burial Society). We support it financially and through
volunteers. At all times we have had TBE members in
the Hevra, but typically the numbers have been low. I
would love to enhance that participation, as the Hevra
is now in need of fresh volunteers. If you would like to
learn more about this beautiful volunteering
opportunity from one of our participants, please
contact Jim Benjamin at 4bnjmn@optonline.net.
This opportunity is open to men and women.
5
MORGANA KNOPOFF
CAROL KRIM
BERT MADWED
CATHY SATZ
SUSAN SCHNEIDERMAN
GARY SCHULMAN
MARGE SHAMEER
MERYL SILVERSTEIN
CHARLIE WALLACE
MIA WEINSTEIN
GAIL WEIS
MEN’S CLUB
BAT MITZVAH
The Temple Beth El Men’s Club is newly
reinvigorated and excited to become a part of
activity at TBE. Our new board has already started
planning programs to engage, socialize, and serve
our synagogue. We are beginning with a focus on
gardening on Sunday, June 28 at 9:30 a.m. Join us for
breakfast and hear our guest speaker, Kyle Wells, founder of
Exquisite Environments, who will answer all of your questions.
Later in the summer, we will roll up our sleeves to liven and
spruce up the courtyard next to the sanctuary.
JORDANA RAICH
Daughter of Risa and Steven
Sister of Talia, Leah and Daniella
Attends Bi-Cultural Day School
Mitzvah Project: Read to Grow Book Drive
BETH EL CARES
We will continue to build onto the ways the Men’s Club serves
TBE including building the High Holidays bimah, constructing
the sukkah and granting the annual scholarship awards. The
board welcomes your ideas for programs, speakers,
fundraising opportunities, and other ways in which you would
like to be involved. Feel free to reach out to any one of us.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
This organization focuses on Tikkun Olam (“Repair of the
World”) through mitzvot, both in the synagogue and in the
community. We welcome volunteers! The following is a list of
the work we are engaged in:
Reyut (Friendship): Committed to serving the needs of those
in our TBE community, including friendly visits, assistance with
errands, and transportation. Contact Melanie Massell at
reyut@tbe.org or 203-324-7190.
Matthew Miller, President - mattmiller585@gmail.com
Matthew Klein, Vice President - frogman75@aol.com
Eliot Essenfeld, Treasurer - eessenfeld@aol.com
Stuart Nekritz, Secretary - ssnekritz@optonline.net
Project Ezra: Providing pre-shiva meals to the bereaved in the
congregation. Call Joy Katz at 203-329-3359 or joyakatz@yahoo.com.
Manna Meals: Providing meals to families in our community with
a new baby. Call Deidre Goldberg at DeidreGoldberg@gmail.com.
Matt Miller
Helping to serve lunches once-a-month at a local soup kitchen.
Call Norman Stone at 203-866-2273 or stonenorman15@yahoo.com.
High Holiday and Passover food drives: Call Ken Temple at
203-962-1491 or kbtemple@optonline.net.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
REGISTRATION
Preparing and serving Christmas dinners at local homeless
shelters. Contacts: Amy Temple at 203-496-1309 or
kbtemple@optonline.net.
K’tanim (3-4 year-olds)
through Grade 7!
If you have your own idea for a project or a group contact Ken
Temple at kbtemple@optonline.net or 203-962-1491.
Registration for the 2015-2016 school year is
now live online. To register your child(ren) for
Religious School, please go to the following link
and fill out an online form:
HOPE IN MOTION
tinyurl.com/tbeschoolreg2015
We wish to thank our 28 walkers and other friends
who so generously contributed to the Bennett Cancer
Center on behalf of Team Temple Beth El. We happily
report that we exceeded our goal in raising money for
this important cause, and were proud to be among the
over 5,000 people in our community sharing the same
concern.
PAY YOUR TEMPLE DUES ONLINE
Temple Beth El is now accepting ACH
payments ONLINE at http://www.tbe.org/donate/
ATTENTION PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS
Rabbi Hammerman would like to stay in touch with
your child while he/she is away at college. Please
send his/her e-mail address to Ellen in the Temple
office at adminassist@tbe.org. Thank you!
6
SISTERHOOD
Our 2014-2015 “year in motion” has come to a close and
what a year it was! Temple Beth El Sisterhood, in its 93rd year,
carried on its tradition of vibrancy and activity. This year, we had
record participation at events and strong volunteerism. Many
new friendships were made and others rekindled. How lucky we
are to have nearly 200 wonderful Sisterhood members!!
Sisterhood’s mission is to bring financial resources and
enrichment to the Temple. We were very successful in our
programming and fundraising efforts this year. As a result,
Sisterhood is pleased to donate $10,000 for Cantor Magda’s Friday
night Shabbat music programs for 2015-2016. The gift will be
presented to the TBE Board of Trustees at the July 2015 meeting.
Yasher Koach and thank you to our wonderful Sisterhood
members who gave so much love and energy to our success this
year. Thank you to our wonderful Sisterhood Board for making it
all possible and a truly memorable year: Barbara Berman, Stacey
Essenfeld, Cathy Satz and Judy Schneiderman. And huge thanks
to our Gift Shop Mavens: Maureen Leffand, Nancy Mayer, Fran
Ginsburg, Barbara Berman and Judy Schneiderman - ladies you
rock!!!
Yasher Koach and our deepest thanks to all of our
supporters who helped make this a great year: Rabbi
Hammerman, Cantor Magda, Hazzan Rabinowitz, Steve Lander,
Lisa Gittelman-Udi, Mindy Rogoff, Linda Rezak, Ellen Gottfried,
Lana Rappaport, Alberto Eyzaguirre, Antonio Avalos, the TBE
Board of Trustees, the Men’s Club, Temple members and friends.
A few more wonderful people deserve our thanks and
Yasher Koachs: Barbara Berman, the committee, volunteers,
Sisterhood models, and Chicos for the incredibly fun Spring
Fashion Show fundraiser with 100 (count em!) attending!
Carol Krim, participants, and volunteers for creating the
most beautiful Sisterhood Shabbat! Yasher Koach to Stuart
Nekritz and his team of volunteers for serving the luncheon!
Melanie Massell for chairing/organizing TBE’s Walk Team
for the Bennett Cancer Walk! We had a large team of walkers
and exceeded the team’s fundraising goals! Yay!
Betty Baer for organizing the annual Mah Jongg
Tournament. Over 55 participants really enjoyed themselves.
The sound of tiles shuffling and clacking were heard
throughout the synagogue!
Suzanne Horn Stone for her love and organization of our
monthly Rosh Chodesh meetings that are always inspiring,
warm and inviting!
Over the summer, please join our beautiful monthly Rosh
Chodesh meetings when we welcome the new Jewish month
together through discussion and learning. All women are
welcome to share this special experience. Rosh Chodesh Av is on
Thursday, July 16th at 7:30 pm and Rosh Chodesh Elul is on Sunday,
August 16th at 7:30 pm. Please check the weekly Shabbat
Announcements for more information about where we will meet.
Looking forward to seeing you in 2015-2016 for
Sisterhood’s 94th year of success! Please consider joining,
volunteering and/or attending a program!
Have a wonderful summer!
TBE Judaica Gift Shop
Beautiful Shabbat, Holiday & B’nai Mitzvah Items
Wedding and B’nai Mitzvah invitations
Gifts for all occasions | Torah Fund Cards
Open Sundays 9 am - 12 noon
(when Religious School is in session)
Shop by Appointment at Your Convenience
●Barbara Berman: 203.329.7750, bfberman@optonline.net
●Judy Schneiderman: (h) 203.569.4969 or (c) 917.414.0621,
bjrs2125@optonline.net
●Steve Lander (in TBE office): 203.322.6901, x 304
●Bar/Bat Mitzvah needs, Nancy Mayer: 203.561.6157,
bnmayer@snet.net
●Torah Fund Cards, Suzanne Stone: 203.866.2273,
bsuzanneshorn@yahoo.com
Gift Shop managed by Sisterhood
Proceeds Support Religious School, Teen,
and Adult Programs; Annual Gift to TBE
All items in the Gift Shop are discounted at least 15%.
Torah Fund
Sisterhood is committed to supporting Torah Fund
sponsored by Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.
Proceeds are raised by selling lovely cards and pins to
support the Jewish Theological Seminary and other
seminaries in LA, Jerusalem and Buenos Aires. The Torah
Fund Campaign has raised more than $90 million since its
inception.
Card messages include Mazel Tov, New Baby, Get Well,
Sympathy, Friendship and Thank you. Cost is $3 per card or
$20 for seven cards. A new pin is created each year for a
donation of $180. Purchase from the TBE gift shop or
directly from Suzanne Stone, suzanneshorn@yahoo.com,
203-866-2273.
Please contact us at sisterhood@tbe.org or feel free to call/email a
Sisterhood board member:
Beth Silver, President, 203-249-7046, beth@silverconsulting.net
Judy Schneiderman, Treasurer, 203-569-4969, jrs2125@optonline.net
Cathy Satz, Recording Secretary, 203-968-9191, satzcs@yahoo.com
Ronnie Boriskin, Corresponding Secretary, 203-276-1576, ronnieboriskin2@juno.com
Barbara Berman, Gift Shop, 203-329-7750, bfberman@optonline.net
Stacey Essenfeld, Advisor and Immediate Past President, 203-5950368, saminskoff@aol.com
With love, friendship and appreciation on behalf of Sisterhood,
Beth Silver
7
dramatic
increase
in
congregant
attendance
and participation in all of
our services, particularly
on Friday night. Kabbalat
Shabbat services are being
attended by our members
as well as individuals and
families looking for their
new house of worship.
The partnership of Rabbi Hammerman and Cantor Fishman is
a dynamic one as our services come alive with the interlacing
of music, ritual, dialogue and personal reflection.
We continue to place Tikkun Olam at the center of our
daily lives. We welcome all to join in our inclusive community
as we aspire to fill the world with spirituality, learning, and
acts of kindness, social justice and repairing the world.
Speaking of which, Temple Beth El was recently awarded the
Congregational Earth Steward Award for our outstanding
leadership and commitment to the stewardship of the Earth
for the installation of our solar panel system by The
Interreligious Eco-Justice Network. All of this would not have
been possible without the commitment and efforts of so many
of you here tonight, our staff, and deep core of volunteers at
so many levels and, of course, Milton and Norman Mann, z’l.
And so, I say thank you…to our extremely committed
Executive Committee and Board of Trustees who, in addition
to meeting once and sometimes twice-a-month, are always
available to meet or consult with me and our staff on Temple
matters...to our 26 active and vibrant Temple Beth El
committees, we thank you for your ongoing work and
commitment to Temple Beth El...to the Sisterhood, Men’s
Club, Beth El Cares and Reyut Committee as well as all of our
committee chairs, committee members, special task force
chairs and members, your service to our congregation is
greatly appreciated. I want to thank past Presidents Peter
Kempner, Eileen H. Rosner and Gary Lessen for their tireless
commitment to this synagogue and their unending support as
my trusted advisors.
Lisa Gittelman Udi, our Education and Youth Director,
continues to do a tremendous job with our Religious School
students, youth programming and advising the Board of
Education. Thank you to our Religious School teachers and
madrichim for your tireless dedication to our students and
their families. A special thank you to Steve Lander, our
Executive Director, who every day oversees everything that
happens in this place.
Thank you to our office and custodial staff for providing all the
support services that keep Temple Beth El running on a daily basis.
One year ago, in my remarks, I announced that Cantor
Magda Fishman would be joining us as our Cantor in
September, 2014. If I had to choose the single most significant
event during my presidency, it would have to be the arrival of
Cantor Fishman.
Cantor, we thank you not only for the wonderful music you
bring to us from around the world, but also for inspiring in us a
new understanding of music and prayer. We are so happy that
Continued on page 16...
SYLVAN D. POMERANTZ, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
TBE Annual Meeting - May 27, 2015
Rabbi Hammerman, Cantor Fishman, professional staff,
fellow members of the Board of Trustees, members of this
remarkable Jewish institution and invited guests, I would like
to first thank you all for attending this Annual Meeting and for
the confidence and support you have all given me. For the last
23 months, there has been no greater honor than to serve this
dynamic congregation as your President. Thank you also to
Dana Horowitz for chairing this event and as always, thank
you, Steve, for everything you do to make sure this and all of
our events happen successfully and easily.
In the past year, we have had many successes, but our
challenges continue. Our clergy, staff and lay leaders meet
continuously on the many varied issues inherent in the task of
creating and maintaining an atmosphere here at TBE where our
congregation can find comfort, camaraderie and companionship
within our congregation, where both the novice and the learned
can come together to understand their Jewishness. What I truly
value about TBE is the potential for all of us to be different from
one another, yet, for each to be able to learn something new
about ourselves and our Conservative Jewish practices, to form
new relationships, to reach out to others, especially those in our
greater Stamford Jewish communities, to become involved in
Tikkun Olam and, above all, to sustain Judaism in this Temple
and beyond these walls.
We seek many different things from our Temple. Some of
us are here three to five times-a-week seeking to understand
our Jewish heritage and increase our knowledge of Judaism
and practice our religious observances. Others are here three
times-a-year. Our clergy and leadership have put out an all
inclusive welcome mat; our arms are wide open to greet you
to accommodate all who wish to join us and to be here. To
quote Rabbi Hammerman, “The beauty of the culture of TBE is
that we never stop growing, we never stop trying new things we never stop moving forward. We have cultivated a culture
of adaptation and innovation, which immunizes us against
institutional paralysis and fear. Adaptability isn’t merely the
story of TBE - it’s the story of the Jewish people. It is the
secret to our survival.” This, my friends, is our biggest
challenge, to keep Conservative Judaism alive and maintain
our place in the Greater Stamford Jewish community as a
vibrant, relative and inclusive house of worship. As you have
heard me say dozens of times in the past two years, this task
requires the ongoing commitment of our members to
financially support TBE through various levels of giving and to
participate in our religious services, programs educational
classes and fund raising events. I am so very happy to report
that this past year, we were successful in meeting these
challenges. Starting with the High Holiday Appeal, then
Temple Rock and the comedy nights, our members responded
positively with their many kind acts of giving. Additionally,
while the levels of individual giving were slightly higher, the
number of congregants making first time donations increased
significantly. It is gratifying to see our message is being heard
that our annual dues covers only 60% of our annual operating
budget and our membership is now responding accordingly.
Equally as wonderful, is our increase in membership at all
levels. But what is most rewarding and exciting is the
8
NOVEMBER
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Tot
Shabbat, Morning Minyan, Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh
Group, Shabbat School, Or Berger, Guest Speaker, 7th
Grade Shabbat Sleepover, B’nai Mitzvah:
Tyler
Pomerance, Ashley Shapiro, Molly Herckis, Charlotte
Freund, Joshua Pickel, Sara Gatz, Men’s Club Poker
Tournament, Wine & Cheese for Young Couples &
Singles, Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Hammerman, TBE Discussion Group, K’tanim, A
Taste of Rosh Chodesh, Shevet Achim, 7th Grade Mock Brit Milah, Board of Rabbis
Meeting, Learning & Latte, Sisterhood Paid-Up Membership Brunch, Shal-Om Yoga, Adult Education, Confirmation
Class from First Congregational Church of Darien visits TBE, Reyut Steering Committee Meeting, 2020 Vision Committee
Meeting, Board of Education Meeting, Adult Education Committee Meeting, Beth El Cemetery Association Meeting,
Board of Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting
DECEMBER
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Morning Minyan,
This American Jewish Life, Jr. Congregation, Family Shabbat
Hanukkah Dinner, Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Group, K’tanim,
B’nai Mitzvah: Max Trell, Jessica Olin, Sydney Eben, A Taste of
Rosh Chodesh, Shevet Achim, Beth El Cares Serves Christmas
Dinner at Local Shelters, Lunch and Learn with Rabbi
Hammerman, Board of Rabbis Meeting, Adult Education,
Learning & Latte, Tradition in the Kitchen, Shal-Om Yoga,
Comedy Night, Religious School performs Hanukkah Songs at Government Center, BethElders Hanukkah Lunch, Board
of Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, Board of Education Meeting
JANUARY
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Morning Minyan,
Grades 5-6 Shabbat Dinner and Service, Oneg Shabbat at the
Hammerman’s, K’tanim,
Shabbat School, Tot Shabbat,
Shabbat School, Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Group, Lunch and
Learn with Rabbi Hammerman, B’nai Mitzvah Trope Class, A
Taste of Rosh Chodesh, Shevet Achim, Hot Topics for Cold
Months, LGBTQ Meeting, Men’s Club Poker and Football,
Temple Rock, Ritual Committee Meeting, Youth Group Meeting, Adult Education, Board of
Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, Board of Education Meeting, TBE Discussion Group
FEBRUARY
Kabbalat Shabbat Services with Avram Pengas and Eitan Zehav,
Shabbat Services, Jr. Congregation, Morning Minyan, Tot Shabbat, Shul
-In Grades 4-6, Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, Scholar-in-Residence, B’nai
Mitzvah: Emily Marrinan, Emma Ostrovsky, Benjamin Goodman,
K’tanim, Grades 7 Shabbat Dinner and Service, Tu B’Shevat
Celebration, Tu B’Shevat Top Chef Competition, A Taste of Rosh
Chodesh, Shevet Achim, Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Hammerman,
World-Wide Wrap, Reyut - Palliative Care, Learning & Latte, Hot Topics for Cold Months, B’nai Mitzvah Trope Class, Israel
Task Force Meeting, Reyut Steering Committee Meeting, TBE Discussion Group, Tradition in the Kitchen, Sisterhood Rosh
Chodesh Group, Board of Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, Board of Education Meeting, Sisterhood Board
Meeting
9
MARCH
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Morning Minyan,
B’nai Mitzvah: Samuel Teich, Sarah Broder, Hannah Bushell,
K’tanim, Empty Nesters Havdalah, LGBTQIA Havdalah, Shabbat
Across Stamford, Purim for Adults, Purim Family Service, Purim
Carnival, PJ Library, A Taste of Rosh Chodesh, Shevet Achim,
Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Hammerman, Social Security
Seminar, Hot Topics for Cold Months, Shabbat School,
Folksbeine Concert, Comedy Night, Reyut: Emotional Illness, Interfaith Seder, Chocolate Seder, B’nai Mitzvah Trope
Class, Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Group, Tradition in the Kitchen, Board of Education Meeting, Ritual Committee
Meeting, Board of Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, TBE Board of Trustees Retreat, Israel Awareness/
Action Committee Meeting
APRIL
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Tot Shabbat,
Passover Services, Teen-led Passover Service, Morning
Minyan, B’nai Mitzvah: Noah Weinberg, Rebecca Friedlander,
Shayna Finkel, Men’s Club Dinner Meeting, TBE Discussion
Group, Sisterhood’s Passover Food Sale, Lunch and Learn with
Rabbi Hammerman, Learning & Latte, A Taste of Rosh
Chodesh, Shevet Achim, 7th Grade Mock Wedding, 8th Grade
Sleepover, Yom HaShoah Community Memorial, Sisterhood
Fashion Show, Board of Trustees Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting, Nominating Committee Meeting, Sisterhood
Rosh Chodesh Group, Tradition in the Kitchen, Board of Education Meeting, Mitzvah Garden Committee Meeting
MAY
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, Sisterhood
Shabbat, Tot Shabbat, Morning Minyan, Family Shabbat Dinner
and Service Led by Grades K-2, K’tanim, Tikkun Leil Shavuot,
Shavuot Services, A Taste of Rosh Chodesh, Shevet Achim, 7th
Grade Aliyah Service, Lunch and Learn with Rabbi
Hammerman, B’nai Mitzvah Trope Class, B’Nai Mitzvah:
Morgana Knopoff, Justin Kaplan, Charlie Wallace, Board of
Rabbis Meeting, TBE Annual Membership Meeting, Religious
School Teachers’ Breakfast, TBE Past-Presidents’ Breakfast, Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Group, Ritual Committee
Meeting, TBE Discussion Group, Board of Education Meeting, Finance Committee Meeting, Board of Trustees Meeting,
Executive Committee Meeting
JUNE
Kabbalat Shabbat Services, Shabbat Services, This American Jewish Life featuring Cantor
Marcia Lane, Kabbalat Shabbat Service Celebrating Gay Pride Month, Kabbalat Shabbat
Service Honoring Our High School Graduates, Morning Minyan, B’nai Mitzvah Trope Class,
Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Hammerman, Learning & Latte, Men’s Club Breakfast and
Gardening Program, Sisterhood Mah Jongg Tournament, Annual Cantor’s Concert welcoming
Cantor Magda Fishman and her Family, Bar Mitzvah: Jewels Harrison, Men’s Club Scholarship
Awards, Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh Group, Sisterhood Meeting, Board of Trustees Meeting,
Executive Committee Meeting
10
About now, you must
be wondering whether he
had 48 hours in each day,
required no sleep or had
super human powers. We
won’t ever know, but
maybe
wearing
his
Superman or Mickey Mouse
shirts really did work. In
spite of being a cancer survivor for 20 years and told he had
only six months to live on at least two occasions, he was
always happy. He would often exclaim that the reason he did
for others was because he was the luckiest man alive and,
because of his good fortune, wanted to share with others. He
truly felt that he was given extra years because he hadn’t yet
done enough to save the world.
I recently found the words Fred spoke just last year as he
was honored by the Pacific House Homeless Shelter in
Stamford with the Rays of Hope Award. “It has been
extremely gratifying to return to Stamford after a 20 year
absence to find Beth El continuing what Joan and I had started
at Beth El Cares. We thank you all for giving meaning to the
old adage that “Those who can, must do. There are many
needy throughout the world but we must not forget the needs
of those in our own backyard.”
I think the most important question that we can ask
ourselves, as we think about The Fred Weisman Memorial
Tikkun Olam Award, is what each of us can do to repair the
world, how we can pay it forward in even a very small way.
How each of us can find and follow our own moral compass as
Fred followed his. How we can pass on the value of tzedakah
to our children and grandchildren. I hope that all I have
shared with you about my dear Fred will not be perceived as
bragging, but as an opportunity to see how possible it is for
anyone to make the world a better place.
We will all miss Fred’s energy, his love of life and his good
deeds but, hopefully, his spirit will inspire all of us to perform
deeds of kindness and there will always be worthy recipients
of this award. Fred would say about now, “It’s time for less
talking and more doing.”
So it is my pleasure to invite Amy and Ken Temple to
come up so that I may present them with the first Annual Fred
Weisman Tikkun Olam Memorial Award.
Amy and Ken, you have lead Beth El Cares far beyond
what we could have hoped for when we founded it over 30
years ago. For the past four years, you have been the
stewards behind the Homeless Shelter Dinners, High Holiday
and Passover Food Drives and many other caring activities.
Ken, you also serve on the Board of Directors of the Temple
and Amy you have chaired the Temple Annual Purim Carnivals.
You are a couple that embodies the spirit of Tikkun Olam and
Fred would be proud to know that you are being honored. I
wish you many more years of joy in serving the community
and carrying out the values that this award conveys.
PRESENTATION OF THE FIRST ANNUAL
FRED WEISMAN MEMORIAL TIKKUN OLAM AWARD
TBE Annual Membership Meeting - May 27, 2015
I am overwhelmingly honored that an annual award
recognizing outstanding volunteerism has been established in
memory of my beloved Fred. He would be so happy to know
that others will pick up the ball and run with it now that he
can no longer do it himself. He would also want you to know
that he totally enjoyed the game, the good people he worked
with and the goals he attained.
Needless to say, the past couple of months since Fred
passed away have been a sad and reflective time for me.
Learning that others recognize the mark he left in the world is
helping me in the healing process, and I thank you for giving
me this opportunity to speak about him.
Shortly after Fred’s passing there was an article in The
New York Times that called out to me. It was entitled: The
Moral Bucket List. David Brooks wrote about two sets of
virtues, the résumé virtues and the eulogy virtues. The
résumé virtues are the skills you bring to the marketplace.
The eulogy virtues are the ones that are talked about at your
funeral — whether you were kind, brave, honest, and really
cared about making the world a better place.
At about that time, a dear friend referred to Fred as
having possessed “a moral compass.” It got me to thinking
about how much one man, my Fred, tried to make a difference
in this crazy world without an iota of cynicism. He truly
believed the Star Fish Story…You may not be able to save the
world but you can save one person at a time. Similar words I
believe that Hillel spoke: “If you save one person, it is as if you
saved the world.” His moral compass drove him in so many
different directions: Humanitarian services, health care, the
arts, community service, philanthropy, youth activities,
education and, of course, family love and responsibility were
never sacrificed. I was asked to share Fred’s most notable
accomplishments with you to enable you to understand the
spirit of the award and the man for which it is named. So here
goes.
He served on the AmeriCares Board for 13 years to relieve
suffering throughout the world, served on Temple Boards,
presided over the Science Education Center and The Pacific
House Men’s Homeless Shelter, made homes safe, warm and
dry with HomeFront, helped feed and house the poor, read to
young children every week for years in the Reading Partners’
Program, mentored kids on science and ecology, lead Odyssey
of the Mind youngsters to winning State Championships, lead
a Scout Troop for 13 years, coached Little League and Junior
Achievement, traveled with Healing the Children and
AmeriCares on missions throughout the world, spent a week
with AmeriCares in Freshkill after 9/11, bought a mobile
medical clinic for AmeriCares’ Free Clinic and provided funds
for the Weisman Free Clinic in Bridgeport. He established a
college scholarship for minority students studying to be
teachers of science, technology, engineering or math,
sponsored annual symphony concerts and built sets in a local
theater. In addition, he served as an elected official on the
land use commission in Brookfield, CT for many years.
Joan Weisman
11
TREE OF LIFE
CELEBRATING A SPECIAL EVENT?
COMMEMORATING A YAHRTZEIT?
A beautiful way to commemorate a
special occasion is to purchase a “leaf” on
our beautiful “Tree of Life” sculpture
adorning our Temple lobby. There are many more
leaves available for your own personal inscriptions.
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush, following
Shabbat Services, or an Oneg Shabbat, following
our Friday evening services.
Contact Steven Lander for all of the new,
reasonably priced Kiddush options at 322-6901,
ext. 304 or execdir@tbe.org.
The following categories are still available:
Triple Chai
Guardians of the Temple
Silver Leaves - Gold Border
Silver Leaves
$5,400
$1,000
$750
$250
MEMORIAL PLAQUES
Check out the new website
for our event space
at Temple Beth El
Inscribe the names of your loved ones on a
plaque for our Chapel wall along with a
light to commemorate their yahrtzeit and
yizkor observances throughout the year.
www.thebigeventspace.com
Please pass this exciting
new website on to your friends and
business associates!
INFORMATION FOR YOU…
When making a donation in honor of or
memory of someone, an acknowledgement will
mailed to the designee for donations of $10
more.
Donations of less than $10 will
acknowledged only in the Bulletin.
in
be
or
be
All donations will be published in the Bulletin
unless you state that you wish to be anonymous.
CONTRIBUTING SHARES OF STOCK
TO TEMPLE BETH EL
SEEKING SHABBAT GREETERS
One way to boost your charitable contributions to
Temple Beth El is to give shares of appreciated
stock instead of cash. You do not pay any tax on
your capital gain, and your charitable deduction is
the shares’ entire fair market value.
Do you like getting a warm “Shabbat Shalom” as
you enter shul on Saturday morning?
Our greeting program has been extremely well
received. To keep this program going, we need
volunteer greeters like you.
Several Beth El members contribute shares of stock
to satisfy their dues pledge, their annual fund
pledge, and other contributions to the Temple.
Interested?
Contact
execdir@tbe.org.
Steven
Lander
at
Thanks for helping make Temple Beth El a warm
and welcoming place to be.
After consulting your tax advisor, please contact
the TBE office at 203-322-6901.
VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE!
www.tbe.org
Read Rabbi Hammerman’s Shabbat-O-Grams…
View our photo albums…Learn about our upcoming events…
Find contact information...And much, much more!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A GABBAI?
Training available!
NEW!!! NEW!!! NEW!!!
MAKE RESERVATIONS AND DONATIONS ONLINE!
Go to www.tbe.org/donate/
Please contact Rabbi Hammerman
at rabbi@tbe.org.
12
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
RABBI JOSHUA HAMMERMAN MITZVAH FUND
In honor of…
Daniel Hammerman’s graduation from college by Carol & Wil Brewer
Ruth Kapchan, z’l, by Eileen H. Rosner
Leonard Estrin, z’l, by Eileen H. Rosner
Nancy Stone, z’l, by Eileen H. Rosner
Israel Rubinovitz, z’l, by Eileen H. Rosner
Milton Mann, z’l, by Eileen H. Rosner
Hersh Libo, z’l, by Eileen H. Rosner
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman in appreciation of his leadership,
teaching and guidance by Ellie Mirne
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman in appreciation for his participation in
our grandson’s brit milah by Judy Dalgin Suchin & Norman Suchin
MITZVAH GARDEN
In memory of…
Jeanette Fishkow, z’l, by Amy Fishkow & Jim Benjamin
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman by Susan Frieden, Michael Horowitz,
Betsy & Peter Kempner
HOSPITAL PACKAGE FUND
In memory of…
Nancy Stone, z’l, by Beth, Pete & Jake Silver
Harvey Novick, z’l, by Meryl & Hank Silverstein
In memory of…
Nancy Stone, z’l by Judy Dalgin Suchin & Norman Suchin
CANTOR MAGDA FISHMAN MITZVAH FUND
In honor of…
Cantor Magda Fishman by Michael Horowitz, Joan Weisman
IN HONOR OF:
KIDDUSH FUND
In honor of…
In appreciation by Fran & Gerry Ginsburg
THE BIRTH OF VICTORIA MARY CELIA BREWER
Barbara & Stan Friedman, Marsha Colten & Robert Cohen
IN APPRECIATION
Stacye & Stuart Nekritz
DAN YOUNG FOR HIS KINDNESS
Janice Steinberg & Stephen Davidson
THE BIRTH OF ABIGAIL ZOE MUDGE
Marsha Colten & Robert Cohen, Judy Schneiderman
THE BIRTH OF PHINEAS ASHER COHEN
Marsha Colten & Robert Cohen
THE BIRTH OF SIDNEY LEWIS BROMLEY
Marsha Colten & Robert Cohen
SPEEDY RECOVERY FOR LINDA BATWIN O’DONOVAN
Hedda & Calvin Batwin
DANIEL HAMMERMAN ON HIS GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE
Richard Heimler & Chris Maroc, Judy Schneiderman, Marsha
Colten & Rob Cohen, Sheila Romanowitz
AMY & KEN TEMPLE RECEIVING THE FRED WEISMAN TIKKUN
OLAM AWARD
Miriam & Michael Schechter
GERRY GINSBURG FOR OFFICIATING AT THE UNVEILING OF
MY FATHER, SIDNEY EPSTEIN, z’l
Ellen Bromley
THE MARRIAGE OF ERIC AND RACHEL FRIEDEN
Marsha Colten & Rob Cohen, Sheila Romanowitz
OLGA GOLDSTEIN AND STEVEN LANDER FOR THEIR KINDNESS
TOWARDS MY MOTHER, MARY WEBER
Roberta Greene
JEWELS HARRISON BECOMING A BAR MITZVAH
Cathleen McClure, Alyson Schroeder, Linda Wolfgruber,
Meghan Habansky, Bettye & Allen Glen
RABBI JOSHUA HAMMERMAN FOR HIS PIRKE AVOT LUNCH
AND LEARN CLASS
Susan Krieger, Audrey Schechter
GARY FREILICH ON HIS GRADUATION FROM WHARTON
BUSINESS SCHOOL
Loralee & Phil Granowitz
CAROL KRIM FOR ORGANIZING SISTERHOOD SHABBAT
Sue Frieden
In memory of…
Gerald Rich, z’l, by Sonya & Alan Rich
BETH EL CARES
In honor of…
Amy & Ken Temple for receiving the Fred Weisman Tikkun
Olam Award by Beth, Pete & Jake Silver
In memory of…
Fred Weisman, z’l, by Ann & Julius Lasnick
YOUTH PROGRAMS
In honor of…
Barbara & Stan Friedman’s grandson, Evan, becoming a Bar
Mitzvah by Carol & Wil Brewer
Jenna Plotzky for receiving the TBE Teen Leadership Award by
Beth, Pete & Jake Silver
In memory of…
Samuel Kweskin, z’l, by Ilene & Jim Locker & Family
ADULT EDUCATION
In honor of…
Isabella’s and Bailee Esposito’s graduations by Hedda & Calvin
Batwin
SISTERHOOD
In recognition of the work performed by Sisterhood…
Fran Ginsburg by Irene Savransky
FRANK AND ROSE ROSNER MEMORIAL FUND
In honor of…
Steven Lander for all his help in making our grandson’s brit
milah special by Judy Dalgin Suchin & Norman Suchin
In appreciation by Phyllis & Harvey Walzer
In memory of…
Rose & Frank Rosner, z’l, by Eileen H. Rosner
Irene Locker, z’l, by Eileen H. Rosner
13
REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES
Sandy & David Moreinis .................................FORTUNA ABADI
Robin & Joel Evans & Family ................... BEATRICE ABRAHAM
Stuart Abrams & Family..................................... ROSE ABRAMS
Mindy & Jeff Hausman & Family .............................. JEAN ANIS
Binnie & Gerard Ditesheim..................................... SOL ATKINS
Seymour Baum ................................................... ISIDOR BAUM
Sari & Alan Jaffe ........................................ EDWARD BLONDER
Susan & Edward Bralower ............................LOUIS BRALOWER
Susan & Mark Plotzky ...................................... IRVING COOPER
Stacy & Don Cooper ........................................ JUDITH COOPER
Francine & Robert Plansky .......................... MILDRED COOPER
Rhoda Dember ................................................ DAVID DEMBER
Barbara Shapiro & Bruce Dennis ....................... JONAS DENNIS
Barbara & Edward Drotman ............................. LEO DROTMAN
Samuil Fayman ...................................... JHUDA LAYB FAYMAN
Andrea & Jack Scherban .................................. PHILIP FIGHTLIN
Nancy & Brad Benjamin ...................................... HAROLD FINK
Barbara & Philip Finn & Rachael Levitt .................. SYLVIA FINN
Maxine & Jay Freilich & Family .......................... RUTH FREILICH
Sally & Jim Rothkopf ............................... EMANUEL FRIEDMAN
Barbara & Stan Friedman ............................... JACK FRIEDMAN
Bella Galynskaya ...........................................PAVEL GALYNSKIY
Barbara & Marvin Gold .......................................... TILLIE GOLD
David Goldrich ........................... HELEN & NATHAN GOLDRICH
Loralee & Phil Granowitz .......................... IRVING GRANOWITZ
Myra & John Graubard ................................DAVID GRAUBARD
Susan & Edward Bralower ..................... STEPHEN GREENBERG
Denise & David Greenman ...................... MARTIN GREENMAN
Josephine Grushkin ................................... MERVIN GRUSHKIN
Steven Grushkin & Family ......................... MERVIN GRUSHKIN
Joan & Lawrence Wexler .........................................LIL HAUSER
Karen, Rich & Geoff Hainbach .................... GERTY HAYWORTH
Harriet & Fred Dulaney .......................................... LEWIS HELD
Rose Hendizadeh & Family ...................... RAHIM HENDIZADEH
Lori & Bruce Tobin ....................................SAUL HERSHKOWITZ
Susan & Larry Holzman .................................. JOHN HOLZMAN
Darlene & Larry Hornstein ............................. JACK HORNSTEIN
Dana Horowitz & Peter Wolly ..................... BRUCE HOROWITZ
Michael Jablon .................................................. BARRY JABLON
Gerald Jacobs .................................................. MINNIE JACOBS
Rita & Mort Johnson...................................... JENNIE JOHNSON
Evelyn & Bruce Kahn ......................................... GEORGE KAHN
Susan & Richard Blomberg ................................ SELMA KALISKI
Vivien White ................................................... MORRIS KARATZ
Linda Hempel Braun .............................................. BLIMA KATZ
Kobliner Family ............................................ ALBERT KOBLINER
Suzanne & Robert Kahn......................................... TILLIE KOHN
Susan & Richard Blomberg ................... LOUIS KONIGSBACHER
Seymour Baum ............................................... ESTHER KURZON
Myra & John Graubard .....................................REUBEN LUBITZ
Magida Family ................................................... ALAN MAGIDA
Stephanie & Larrry Sherman ...............................JACOB MALIN
Laura Markowitz .................................... ROSALIE MARKOWITZ
Patricia & Simon Epstein ................................LEON MARLOWE
Lois & Dick Martin ........................................... SIDNEY MARTIN
Melanie Massell ......................................... MICHAEL MASSELL
Herb Kahan ............................................. GERTRUDE MATZNER
Evelyn & Bruce Kahn ............................ MARGOT NEU-EPSTEIN
Francine & Robert Plansky ................................ PAUL PLANSKY
Rhonna & Brian Rogol.......................................... ALICE ROGOL
Lisa & Michael Rome ...................................... HOWARD ROME
Jerry Rose ........................................................ BARBARA ROSE
Judy Schneiderman ................ RUTH & EMANUEL ROSENBERG
Joyce & Lewis Slayton ......................................... ROSE ROSNER
Andrea & Jack Scherban .................................. ANN SCHERBAN
Barbara & Ed Drotman .............. MOLLY & MICHAEL SCHMALL
Jeffrey, Joanna & Lee Shapes .......................... FANNIE SHAPES
Sheila & Gordon Brown ................................. FANNIE SHEVRIN
Beth & Peter Silver ...................................... ELIZABETH SILVER
Cindy & Steven Warren .................................. MURIEL SISKIND
Susan & Larry Holzman .........................................RAY SNIPPER
Gail Solomon Hecht & Harvey Hecht . ESTELLE & SAMUEL SOLOMON
Magida Family .................................................... CELIA SOLOVE
Cindy & Steven Warren ................................... MOLLY TENNEN
Bruce Dennis & Shirley Dennis ........................... SADIE TEPPER
Debra & John Tomsky &Family ................... BARBARA TOMSKY
Ronnie & Edward Fein ................................................ LILY VAIL
Phyllis & Harvey Walzer ............. SOPHIE & RUDOLPH WALZER
Roselyn Finchler ........................................ MORRIS ZAGELMAN
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
IN MEMORY OF:
NANCY STONE, z’l
Marsha Colten & Robert Cohen, Sharon & Jeff Turshen, Carol
& Allen Krim, Roni & Allan Lang, Judy Schneiderman, Nancy &
Brad Benjamin, Sheila Romanowitz, Sue Frieden
PENNY HOROWITZ, z’l
Shelley & Michael Barker, Kathy & Howard Kraus
MILTON MANN, z’l
Marsha Colten & Rob Cohen, Sheila Romanowitz, Grecia &
Ron Gross, Paula Epstein, Joan Bryson, Barbara Cohen Aronica
-Buck, Gail & Jack Abrams, Rona & Burt Peck, Fran & Gerry
Ginsburg
HERSH LIBO, z’l
Lawrence Barron, Fran & Gerry Ginsburg
STEFFI MAURER, z’l
Kathy & Howard Kraus
WE MOURN THE PASSING OF…
NANCY STONE, mother of Peter Kempner
MILTON MANN
HERSH LIBO, husband of Libby Libo
BERNARD TAUB
THANK YOU FOR DEDICATING
ETZ HAYIM CHUMASH
In memory of…
Daniel Cassel, z’l, by Bobbe & Ben Evans
MAHZOR LEV SHALEM
In memory of…
Nancy Stone, z’l, by Peggy & Alan Kalter
14
DONATE ONLINE or DEDICATE A PRAYER BOOK ON-LINE
Go to: www.tbe.org/donate/
DEDICATE A PRAYER BOOK
HIGH HOLIDAY mahzor
CHUMASH (BIBLE)
People love our Mahzors, but many of
them remain undedicated. Why not
consider dedicating one or more of
these beautiful prayer books? What
better way to memorialize or honor loved ones
than through this very intimate act of having a
personal tribute inscribed right into our prayer
books in their name.
The Etz Hayim Chumashim (Bibles) are available
for dedication. Having a simcha or observing a
yahrtzeit? Why not dedicate a Chumash to honor
the occasion? This dedication costs $72.
SIM SHALOM SIDDUR for SHABBAT
Our Sim Shalom siddurim for Shabbat are available
for dedication for $36.
See below for details…
OR HADASH
“May you be inscribed in the Book of Life…”
This very special book was intended to educate and
enlighten; indeed, Or Hadash translates as A New
Light. This dedication costs $54.
Temple Beth El proudly introduced the newly
published High Holiday Prayer Book, “Mahzor Lev
Shalem,” that we now use on the High Holidays.
SHIVA MINYAN BOOKS AVAILABLE
FOR DEDICATION
Dedications in honor of a special simcha or in
memory of a loved one or a special friend are
available! Each book will be inscribed with your
dedication on a colorful bookplate on the inside
front cover.
Prayer Books for Shiva Minyans are available for
dedication for $36.
A lovely, personalized book plate will be placed
inside the front cover.
For $50:
One prayer book for your personal use or
donate one to the Temple
For $250:
Six prayer books will be donated to the Temple
For $500:
Twelve prayer books will be donated to the Temple
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIVING
For $1,000:
Twenty-one prayer books will be donated to the
Temple. Four books will be given to your family
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For $2,500:
Sixty prayer books will be donated to the Temple
Four prayer books will be given to your family
For $5,000:
One hundred twenty-five prayers books will be
donated to the Temple
Six prayer books will be given to your family
For amounts over $5,000, please contact Steven
Lander at 203-322-6901, ext. 304 or by e-mail
execdir@tbe.org for details.
All prayer books donated to the Temple will be
inscribed with “In Memory of” or “In Honor Of” (at
the donor’s selection) inside the front cover.
Donors will also be gratefully acknowledged by the
Temple.
Adult Education Fund
Beth El Cares
Beth Elders
Debra Wald Goldberg Kindergarten Scholarship Fund
Frank & Rose Rosner Memorial Fund (maintenance)
General Fund
Kiddush Fund
Mitzvah Garden Fund
Music Fund
Prayer Book Fund
Religious School Fund
Solar Fund in memory of Norma Mann, z’l
Youth Fund
DISCRETIONARY FUNDS
 Rabbi Joshua Hammerman’s Mitzvah Fund
 Cantor Magda Fishman’s Mitzvah Fund
 Hazzan Sidney Rabinowitz’ Mitzvah Fund
15
On One Foot continued from page 3...
Sylvan D. Pomerantz continued from page 8…
strength and comfort. Most recently, we were able to witness
the power of Cantor Magda’s music. It is our hope to create a
legacy where music continues to inspire both the congregation
and the community. We celebrate the joy found through
music in honor of our parents, Norma and Milton Mann.”
I can almost hear Norma now, saying, “May we go from
strength to strength.”
Best wishes for a relaxing summer!
you, Zarin and Yair have become an integral part of our Temple
family. From our youngest children, to our Bar and Bat Mitzvah
kids to our elders, your energetic and spiritual soul has touched
each of us in a unique and profound way. I pray your home will
always be full of life and blessed with love, and may all the
wonderful joys of Jewish music dance forever in your heart.
Rabbi Hammerman, you have been our guide and leader in
so many ways over the years, and you have brought us to where
we are today; where our synagogue is a highly respected home
of Conservative Judaism while also being forward thinking,
dynamic and relevant. Our success as a synagogue in so many
ways reflects your vision and we thank you for leading us
towards 2020. We truly have been blessed to have your
spiritual leadership and dedication for all these years, and I
want to personally thank you for your friendship and support.
And of course, I want to publicly thank my best friend,
partner and wife Honni, for your unending support through
my term as president. I love you dearly.
My term as President expires at the Board of Directors
meeting on July 1, 2015. At that time, and with the unanimous
vote of the Board of Trustees, I will transfer my presidential
responsibilities to Mia Weinstein, our First Vice President. I am
absolutely confident Mia will be a great President and I know that
we will all give her our complete support, as we all move together
into a very bright future as a Temple community.
Thank you.
Sylvan D. Pomerantz
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman
SAVE THE DATE
BBQ and Barachu
Friday, August 14 at 5:30 pm
Watch for further details...
16
NOW YOU MAY PURCHASE SCRIP ONLINE!
Special Occasion?
Go to www.tbe.org and click on “donations”
in the upper right-hand corner.
Sponsor The Shabbat E-nnouncements
(sent every week via e-mail)
The Shabbat Announcements
(distributed each Shabbat at the Temple)
and the Shabbat-O-Gram
(e-mailed every Thursday night)
All three publications for $72
All sponsors will be acknowledged at the
beginning of each of these announcements
and also listed in our bi-monthly Bulletin.
Call Mindy in the office at 322-6901 ext. 301.
PLACE YOUR AD HERE
CALL MINDY at 203-322-6901,
ext. 301 or office@tbe.org
ATTENTION TEMPLE BETH EL CONGREGANT and CL&P CUSTOMER:
How would you like to donate $75.00 to TBE and be part of Connecticut’s best value: The Home Energy Solutions
(HES) Program?
Did you know that through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, because you are a CL&P customer, you can receive
all the following services?
A HES assessment is a complete energy service performed by HE-Energy Solutions LLC, certified professionals. It
includes the following:
·The installation of up to 25 compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs - specialty and standard.
·Sealing of wasteful drafts and air leaks.
·Windows and Doors will be assessed - v-seal and weather stripping provided where necessary.
·Water saving strategies - replacement to low flow showerheads and faucet aerators.
·Pipe Insulation - provided if necessary.
·Inspection of attic, floor and wall insulation.
·Hundreds of dollars of additional rebates that you may qualify for.
This service is valued at over $700 and is available to you as a CL&P customer for the low cost of $75, which we will
donate, in your name, to Temple Beth El.
The Home Energy Solutions is one of the innovative programs supported by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund
and administered by CL&P and UI.
Please call Renee at 203.307.5395 and use reference code Tzedakah to start saving today.
HE-Energy Solutions LLC
144 Barnum Avenue, Stratford, CT 06614
203.307.5395
17
The deadline
for the September/October 2015
issue of the Temple Bulletin will be
We Capture Your
Precious Memories
on Video…
Weddings  Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
Monday, August 3, 2015
Proud to be the official TBE videographer
Tom was able to capture the spirit and joy of
our B’nai Mitzvah service and party in a video
we will always treasure. He was also a
pleasure to work with from start to finish.
Jared Finkelstein
If you are looking for a videographer, look no
further! Tom was a delight to work with and
the finished product was incredible. He
created separate videos of my daughter’s Bat
Mitzvah service and celebration and captured
all aspects of the joy of the day.
Jill Teich
Thomas Pace, Jr.  203.335.0168
T & J Video Service
We also transfer home movies/video to DVD.
18
STUDIO A
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO
203-661-3393
cell: 914-629-2204
fethic@me.com
wwwstudioadigital.com
Experience working with TBE for over 20 years.
Ask your friends!
19
ART GREENWALD
President
INTEGRATED PROTECTION SERVICES, LLC
76 PROGRESS DRIVE
STAMFORD, CT 06902
Tel: 203.322.0772
WWW.INTEGRATEDPROTECTIONSERVICES.COM
SYSTEMS AND SERVICES FOR SECURITY
AND FIRE PROTECTION
SERVING CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
BETH TORAH KOSHER CATERERS
Glatt Kosher Custom Catering
Catering for all occasions, on-premises
or off-premises at location of your choice.
American, Middle Eastern & International foods.
China, Silver, Linens, Waiters & Bartenders
106-06 Queens Blvd.
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Phone: (718) 261-4775
Fax: (718) 261-4607
(FORMERLY SUPERSOL)
FRESH GLATT KOSHER MEAT & POULTRY
DELICIOUS PREPARED FOODS,
KOSHER GROCERIES, DAIRY & FROZEN
AND OF COURSE OUR EXQUISITE CATERING
SEASONS MARKET
1066 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale, New York 10583
TEL: 914-472-2240 FAX: 914-472-2215
UNDER THE KASHRUTH SUPERVISION OF THE
VAAD HARABONIM OF QUEENS
20
21
Non-Profit
TEMPLE BETH EL
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
350 Roxbury Road
Stamford, CT 06902
STAMFORD, CT
PERMIT NO. 42
CHECK US OUT ON
July-August 2015
ANNUAL CANTOR’S CONCERT
Welcoming Cantor Magda Fishman and her Family
June 14, 2015
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