Summer 2016 - Temple Hesed

Temple Hesed
“ T h e Te m p l e of L o v in g K in d n e s s ”
S c r a n t on , P e n n s y l v a n i a
Double
Menorah
Lighting
Summer
Edition
Messenger
Sivan, Tamuz,
AvTamuz,
5776Av/ July-August
2016
Sivan,
5776 / July-August
2016
Volume
Volume157
157 issue
issue11
11
Congregational Meeting Held
Also In the
Messenger:
Also In the
Messenger:

Reports from the annual meeting

Reports from meeting

Goodbye Barbara

1940 letter found
Finances were the
critical issue before
the congregation at
the annual meeting
June 22.
The membership
heard assistant
treasurer Harry
Adelman outline
the Temple’s financial picture. (See
page 13)
The bottom line is
that the congregation can no longer
support the current
space, which was
built more than 40
Inside this issue:
Donations
Rabbi’s Page
President’s Page
No decision was
reached but the
matter will be taken
up by the LongRange Planning Committee which will convene this summer.
Approved was a 20162017 budget of
$235,500, that has a
built-in deficit of nearly $10,000. Adelman
warned of a looming
cash flow problem
next year.
Members also OKed a
change in policy for
acknowledged donations.
In order to have a donation acknowledged
by mail and printed in
the Messenger, the
minimum donation
must be $10. This is
to ensure that the
costs of processing the
donation do not consume the donation
itself.
— Rich Mates
New Co-Presidents Elected for 2016-2017
2
3
4
Calendar & Torah
Portions
7-8
Yahrzeits
& Personal Notes
9-10
URJ & RAC News
11
Temple Information
years ago for a much
-larger congregation.
Back
Page
With the decision of Temple Hesed
President Barbara Parker-Bell to accept a new job, (see page 4) the congregation voted June 22, to elect Steve
Seitchik and Esther Adelman copresidents.
Three members have been elected to
serve new terms on the board:

Mark Davis
Ken Ganz
Dale Miller
elect. Jennifer Rosen Novak is assistant secretary-elect.
Ken Miller and Mark Davis are past
presidents.
Larry Milliken and Richard Goldenziel will remain first and second vice
presidents.
Seitchik and Adelman previously have
served as co-presidents. The new
terms begin Sept. 1.
Joan Davis has been elected as secre- Thanks to Joel Vener, Michael
tary. Ken Miller is the new treasurer. Karnoff and Harry Adelman for their
Jeff Leventhal is assistant treasurer- service on the board.
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ME ME
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ISSUE 11
Donations
BUILDING FUND
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
Get Well Wishes to Charlotte Milliken
In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Edna
M. Siegel
Lenny and Roberta Feinman
Claire Jacobson
In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Mother, RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Blanche Katz
Sharon and Saul Levy
In Memory of Ward Goodman
In Honor of the Confirmation of
Alana Swartz
Larry and Judie Golden
TORAH RESTORATION FUND
Sharon and Saul Levy
In Honor of the Confirmation of
Alex Waskovich
In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Mother,
Claire Ballot
Larry and Judie Golden
In Memory of Ward Goodman
Esther B. Adelman
Bob Ballot
A resounding welcome to our returning snowbirds, we missed you!
Audrey Harrell
In Honor of the Marriage of Barbara Parker-Bell to Richard Daniels
In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Brother, Ben Slawitsky
In Honor of Paula Wasser’s Special
Birthday
Esther B. Adelman
Janet Slawitsky
In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Sister,
Miriam Stern
In Honor of the Marriage of Barbara Parker-Bell to Richard Daniels
Janet Slawitsky
Esther B. Adelman
Sandy Cooperman
In Honor of the Yahrzeit of Father,
Max Lerner
Esther Adelman’s presentation was
a blessing to us
Janet Slawitsky
Charlotte and Larry Milliken
Thank you to Ed Snitko for touching my heart with your music
In Honor of the Marriage of Barbara Parker-Bell to Richard Daniels
Charlotte Milliken
Lenny and Roberta Feinman
Notice: As of September 1st the
minimum donation for acknowledgement in the Messenger and
by mail will be $10.
James Ellenbogen
Judy and Ken Livingston
Debbie and Marvin Hurwitz
MARK HAHN MEMORIAL MUSIC
FUND
Mazel Tov to Alana and Alex on
Temple Hesed
their most interesting and imagina- accepts these
tive Confirmation presentation
credit/debit cards for
Audrey Harrell
most payments or
contributions
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Rabbinical Reflections — Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz
Rabbi’s Report – Annual Meeting 2016
“Everything has a heart. Even the world After all, there are many different types
taken as a whole has a heart.” (Nachman of community. A synagogue is a commuof Bratzlav, “The Seven Beggars”)
nity with a Jewish purpose – and that
purpose has to be, in some shape or form,
making Jewishness and Judaism a living, active part of the community and the
“That people has approached Me with its
individual lives that make up that comlips, but has kept its heart far from
munity.
Me.” (Isaiah 29:13)
J
How that Jewishness is expressed can
vary greatly. There are some fabulous,
lively synagogues that don’t center on
ust what is the heart of any given prayer. Instead, their focus may be on
Tikkun Olam, or learning, or even social
synagogue? This question is
connections and a support network. Nomore difficult to answer than it
tice, however, that I didn’t say, “preserve
might first appear.
Jewish traditions” as a purpose that
could be at the heart of a synagogue.
Is the building the heart? Many congregations function without owning a buildNOT ENOUGH
ing – and, unfortunately, there are many
synagogue buildings still standing whose
Why not? Because that’s not enough.
congregations have long since vanished.
Preserving things is the role of a museA building can help or hinder a synaum. In a synagogue, Judaism shouldn’t
gogue, but it certainly isn’t its heart.
be “preserved,” it should be alive! It
needs to matter to members in the here
and now, or there’s really no point to the
Is it the rabbi? I am the 23rd rabbi to
serve Temple Hesed since its founding as exercise. Judaism isn’t meant to be a
Anshei Hesed in 1860. Some of our rab- spectator sport, or even something we
bis have not only enriched the lives of our “teach to children.” We need to participate. Ourselves. After all, children are
congregation, but also gone on to play
smart enough to realize what really matkey roles in the Reform Movement and
ters to their parents, and what is only, as
the broader world. At other times, however, it seems as if our congregation sur- Isaiah wrote, lip service without any
heart in it. When we watch our children
vived in spite of, rather than because of,
do something but don’t do it ourselves –
its rabbi.
don’t learn, don’t pray, don’t serve our
A GATHERING
community and the broader world – our
inaction, speaking far louder than our
True, a synagogue is a collection of indiwords, teaches them that Judaism must
viduals. Its original meaning, after all, is not really matter.
“assembly” or “gathering.” But a bunch
of Jews in a room does not a synagogue
make. After all, “assemble” has two dis- What should be our purpose here at Temtinct meanings – not just “gather togeth- ple Hesed? How does, or at least how
er,” but also “fit together the separate
could, Judaism matter to us? If we can’t
parts to make something new.”
answer these questions, it really doesn’t
matter what building we meet in, what
our budget looks like, or what day our
So part of the heart of a synagogue is
religious school meets.
how it does – or does not – function as a
community. But, as those annoying late
night TV ads said, “wait, there’s more.”
BY-LAWS SAY
According to our by-laws,
this is the purpose of Temple Hesed: “ To
maintain a congregation of member for
Reform Jewish worship of Almighty God;
to promote and advance the practice of
the Jewish religion according to the doctrines and usages of Reform Judaism, as
recommended by the Reform Movement
and adopted by this congregation; to promote sociability and fellowship; to maintain a cemetery; and to cooperate in matters effecting Jewish communal interest.”
I think it’s time for an update. I have
some thoughts, and I’ll share more of
them over the High Holy Days this coming October, but this isn’t a job for one
person but rather something we need to
shape together. Here’s a start:
We are a place where everyone, Jew and
non-Jew, can find a spiritual home,
where questioning, doubt and faith, reason and belief, are partners rather than
enemies, where we are excited about
learning from our past not only out of a
thirst for knowledge but also to help create a better future; where we both stand
up on behalf of Jews here, in Israel and
around the world and pursue universal
justice; and where we help each other infuse Jewish tradition and worship into
our lives in fresh and meaningful ways.
YOUR ROLE
What am I missing? What would you
add or change or cross out? Most importantly, will you join with me in articulating our vision for the future of Temple
Hesed, and, in our own small way, of the
world?
Rabbi Daniel Swartz
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ISSUE 11
President’s Report — By Barbara Parker-Bell
A Wonderful Year Ends and Goodbye
Every year brings new adventures, challenges, and gifts. This year
is no exception. Within this year as
Temple Board president I have
learned a great deal about the ebb and
flow of Temple activities, the richness
of our traditions, and the challenges
that we face. We are fortunate to
have an inspirational Rabbi in Rabbi
Daniel Swartz. Rabbi Swartz consistently calls to our attention social action issues. For example, he alerts us
to issues regarding the care of our
earth, and hopefully we become more
mindful of how we can become active
in taking care of our delicate home.
He also reminds us of our responsibilities to advocate for equitable treatment of others regardless of sexual
orientation, race, religion, or economic
status. These issues are intertwined
with thoughtful explanations of each
week’s Torah Portion. Therefore, attending Shabbat Services become a
rich way to connect to our tradition of
Reform Judaism and our Temple community.
sponsored by Jane Oppenheim. We
had a great year for the Back to School
Project led by Larry Milliken. We
hope you will support the Back to
School Project again in the very near
future. Temple board members and
other members continue to contribute
their time and energy to tending our
community. We are also lucky to have
Temple staff, Jim, who recently returned to health and the Temple to
assist with our Onegs and special
events, Ed Snitko, our marvelous musical accompanist, and Marlene
Gianzanti, our Temple Administrator
that provides the glue that keeps everything together. What a blessing!
or needs. We may be better served by
a smaller building that is fiscally appropriate. Therefore, I anticipate that
this summer, and next year we will be
starting processes, such as obtaining
an appraisal, to help us better evaluate what will best serve Temple
Hesed. Esther Adelman and Steve
Seitchik will be co-presidents next
year, and I hope that you will support
them and the Board in their efforts to
do what is best for the Temple Hesed
community.
On a more personal note,
many of you know that I received a
Fulbright Scholarship that will facilitate my teaching and research in Siberia, Russian Federation, beginning
September. More recently, I have
confirmed another adventure that I’ll
be embarking on in 2017. This past
week, I submitted my letter of resignation to Marywood University as I have
accepted a new position in Tallahassee, Florida at Florida State University. Upon return from Siberia in January, I will reside in Tallahassee where
I will thaw and begin my work as
FSU’s Director of Graduate Art Therapy Studies. Unfortunately, this means
that I must leave my spiritual home,
Temple Hesed, behind. I will miss all
of you and will think of you often. In
all of my thoughts I will wish the entire Temple Hesed community many
blessings and a fruitful future.
Unfortunately, all news is not
good news. In spite of the presence
and support of the Nativity Miguel
School renting out classroom space in
our lower level, we still have significant financial concerns. Several factors play into these concerns, such as
high costs of building maintenance,
lower returns from investments that
can be utilized to support the budget,
In terms of community, I have lower membership numbers and lower
found that we have a small but excel- rates of dues being paid. Additionallent group of very dedicated members ly, Temple Hesed URJ dues are schedthat are willing to coordinate worship uled to increase related to a new dues
activities, spearhead fundraisers, fasystem. We have nipped and tucked
cilitate social action efforts, and those the budget as much as can currently
who bake, cook and organize our food- be accomplished, yet we foresee a defioriented events. Most recently we
cit in next year’s budget that is signifihave had a very successful Passover
cant and worrisome. Therefore, it is
Seder, a Tu B’shvat community event, time to look realistically at our shortand some very lovely Onegs. (Thanks term and long-term plans. We do not In Hesed,
again to all who cooked, baked and
anticipate a great surge of membercontributed to the Oneg celebrating
ship, nor do we anticipate building
my recent marriage). We had a sucexpenses declining. We must also face
cessful Comedy Night fundraiser
that our current building, although
thanks to Jennifer Novak, and a well- beautiful and inspiring, does not
attended Deli Man film and food event match our current congregational size
Barbara Parker-Bell
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July 2016
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
Sat
SERVICES.
6 pm
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
18
20
21
22 SERVICES
class @ JCC, 1
pm
25
R
V
I
C
E
S
24
19 Rabbi’s
SERVICES
8 p.m.
SERVICES
8 p.m.
2
9
16
23
8 p.m.
26
27
28
29 SERVICES
8 p.m.
30
31
Holidays 5776
Y
iddish Saying Of the Month
Rosh Hashanah— Apr.23-30, 2016
Sept.14, 2015
Yom Kippur —
Sept.23, 2015
Yom HaShoah—
May. 5
Sukkot— Sept.28Yom HaZikaron
Oct.4, 2015
& Yom
Simchat Torah — HaAtzmaut —
Oct.6, 2015
May. 11-12
Hanukkah —
Dec.7-14, 2015
Lag BaOmer —
May 26, 2016
Tu B’Shvat —
Jan.25, 2016
Shavuot— June
12
Purim—Mar.24
Tisha B’Av—
Aug.14
Passover—
“Life is the biggest
bargain — we get it
for nothing,”
Yiddish Proverb from
a book by Fred Kogos
Torah Portions
Name
Civil Date
Hebrew Date
Sh’lach L’cha
July 2, 2016
26.Sivan.5776
Korach
July 9, 2016
3.Tamuz.5776
Chukat
July 16, 2016
10.Tamuz.5776
Balak
July 23, 2016
17.Tamuz.5776
Pinchas
July 30, 2016
24.Tamuz.5776
More Torah resources at www.urj.org
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August 2016
Sun
7
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12 SERVICES 13
Rabbi’s
class @ JCC. 1
p.m.
BBQ &
SERVICES.
6 pm
8 p.m.
14
15
16 Rabbi’s
class @ JCC. 1
P.M.
17
Board
Mtg. @ 5:30 pm
21
22
23
24
28
29
30
31
Rabbi’s
class @ JCC. 1
P.M.
Holidays 5776
Y
Hanukkah —
Dec.7-14, 2015
Lag BaOmer —
May 26, 2016
Tu B’Shvat —
Jan.25, 2016
Shavuot— June
12
Purim—Mar.24
Tisha B’Av—
Aug.14
Passover—
8 p.m.
26
SERVICES
8 p.m.
27
iddish Saying Of the Month
“Nobody is willing to
take away your troubles; nobody can take
away your good
deeds.”
Yom HaShoah—
May. 5
Sukkot— Sept.28Yom HaZikaron
Oct.4, 2015
& Yom
Simchat Torah — HaAtzmaut —
Oct.6, 2015
May. 11-12
19 SERVICES 20
25
Rosh Hashanah— Apr.23-30, 2016
Sept.14, 2015
Yom Kippur —
Sept.23, 2015
18
Yiddish Proverb from
a book by Fred Kogos
Torah Portions
Name
Civil Date
Hebrew Date
Matot/Masei
Aug. 6, 2016
2.Av.5776
D’varim
Aug. 13, 2016
9.Av.5776
Va-et’chanan
Aug. 20, 2016
16.Av.5776
Elkev
Aug. 27, 2016
23.Av.5776
More Torah resources at www.urj.org
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Yahrzeits and Personal Notes
Yahrzeits and Personal Notes
Week Ending July 2 (Service July 1)
*Irene B. Newman, *Sander Dembert, *Dr. Harry Goodfriend,
*Martha Noe, *Louis Jacobs, *Louis Kleeman, Marjorie Meyer,
*Constance Oppenheim, *Edward Gordon, *Harold Joseph,
*Eleanore F. Bashkoff, *Maud Carlyon, Morris Mendlowitz,
*Bertha Goodman, *Rema R. Siegel, *Maximillian S. Bresch.
Week Ending July 9 (Service July 8)
Get Well Wishes

Phil Friedman

Charlotte Milliken

Fran Olick

Charlene Ostro

Emily Trunzo

Joel Vener
*Walter Jacobson, *Dr. Eugene K. Weiss, *Hoda Friedmann,
*David Sugar, Maurice Friedman, *Amelia Gutman, *Charles
Siegel, *Nannie Ziegler, *Harold Phillips, *Leonard E. Newman,
*Joseph Roos, *Jerome Edward Giles, *Charles Lerner, *Irving
Rosen.
Week Ending July 16 (Service July 15)
*Rose Levy, *Irving Levy, *Mary Cohen, *Blanche W. Kleeman,
*Leone Frank Loebl, *Rose Sugar, *Frank Peck, *Gertrude L.
Freedman, *Doris Weisberg, *David A. Cohen, *Maurice D. Breschel, Robert Alston, Leonard Frieder, Alfred Heilbrunn.
Week Ending July 23 (Service July 22)
*Levi Hershfield, *Celia Kleeman, Samuel Lerner, *Eugenia C.
Milliken, *Abe Adelman, *Ralph Goldsmith, *Esther Basha
Adelman, F. Harry Anspacher, Bernard Lerner, *Beatrice Goodfriend, Sally Fine, *Ilse Michel, Pauline Malkan Kelly, *Goldie
Golden, Morris Gross, *Howard A. Jacobson, Melvin Weinberg.
Week Ending July 30 (Service July 29)
*Florence Pell Angert, Max Kravitz, *Albert A. Linder, *Alfred
G. Rice, Charles D. Sherer, *Florence Dembert, *B. J. Smith,
*Sarah Friedman, Paul Krafchin, Nettie Friedman, *Murray
Smith, *Gustave Jackson, *B. Leo Swartz.
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Yahrzeits and Personal Notes
Yahrzeits and Personal Notes
Week Ending August 3 (Service August 5)
*Rose Smith, *Ruth Whitman, *Norman H. Hollander, *Stanley
Dickstein, *Janet H. Rothenberg, *Bertha Gevanthor, *Simon
Rice, *Philip Swartz, Gerald Minkoff, *Fred Michel, *Yetta K.
Lauer.
Week Ending August 13 (Service August 12)
Sheloshim
JOANNE ARONSOHN MONAHAN
Scranton, PA
*Emma K. Frank, *Sara “Simi” Deutsch, *Harry Ehrlich,
*Myron Ball, M.D., *Samuel Diamond, *Morris Richman,
*Rabbi Jacob J. Ackerman, *Ida Aerenson, Emmy Fremes, Mary
Dolinger, *Rabbi Milton Richman, *Julia Ackerman, Goldie
Freund, *Jacob Hefter, *Clara Kleeman, Esther Seitchik,
*Shirley Alperin, *Anna Marks, Hattie Green.
March 6, 1932 ~ June 9, 2016
Joanne Aronsohn Monahan died peacefully
in her home on June 9, 2016. She was born
in Scranton on March 6, 1932, the only child
of Milton and Beatrice Braunstein Aronsohn.
Joanne was married for 22 years to Dr.
Fergus Thomas Monahan, the founding
dean of the School of Social Work, Marywood University.
Joanne was a graduate of Wyoming Seminary in Kingston. She attended Wellesley
College in Massachusetts and received her
degree in music from Hollins University in
Virginia. Joanne obtained her master's
degree at New York University in therapeutic recreation for the elderly and disabled.
Joanne was an ardent volunteer. Beginning
in the 1950s, volunteering at Friendship
House, teaching children arts and crafts,
and playing music for the elderly. She spent
time as a member and volunteer for the
Junior Century Club, the Junior League of
Scranton, the United Way and assisted the
local Jewish Federation United Jewish
Campaign, but her happiest times were
helping out at the Employment and Training
Opportunity Center which her husband cofounded..
She was a member and supporter of the
Jewish Community, and her efforts were
recognized throughout the years by the
JCC, Hebrew Day School, Jewish Family
Services and Jewish Federation of NEPA,
and she sponsored the annual Teen Symposium on the Holocaust.
,
Week Ending August 20 (Service August 19)
*Beatrice B. Aronsohn, Rose Hersh, Mildred G. Silberman,
*Fred Salomon Kugelman, *Evelyn Gill, *Rosa Morris, *Charles
F. Wormser, *Julian Brown, Milton Hersh, *Lucille Weinberg,
Max Green, *Golda P. Young, *Clifford Weinstock, *Bina Loebenstein.
Week Ending August 27 (Service August 26)
*Leon M. Levy, *Fannie Spiegel, *Milton M. Friedman, *Harry
Mauer, *Ben Fassler, *Erwin Schoenhof, *Gertrude Rice,
*Roseann Smith Alperin, Samuel B. Samter, *Ralph Cohen,
*Beatrice Davis.
Week Ending September 3 (Service September 2)
*Leon L. Kramer, *Rose Feinstein, *Elihu Friedmann, Paula
Albert, *Harry Weinberg, *Leo Swartz, *Minnie Brown,
*Edward Loebenstein, *Sidney Wasser, *Henrietta A. Phillips,
*Arnold Cembalest.
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PAGE 11
Reform Leader Reacts to Slayings of 49
Washington,
D.C., June 12,
2016 – In response to the
tragic violence in
Orlando, Rabbi
Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the
Religious Action Center of Reform
Judaism issued the following statement:
ers, and all those volunteers who are helping during this crisis.
The fact that such devastation targeted a club popular
with the gay community and
occurred during Gay Pride
The horrific violence in Or- month reminds us that delando shakes us to our very spite the strides made tocore. The staggering loss of ward equality, there is much
life, yet again facilitated by to be done to address ongoa military-style weapon that ing homophobia that was for
too long acceptable in this
has no place on the street,
nation. The attack is also
causes us deep pain. We
further proof, as if any were
pray for those who were
needed, of the imperative to
murdered, for healing of
end the culture of gun viobody and soul for the injured, and for comfort to the lence that grips the nation.
families of all who were preOn this holiday of Shavuot,
sent in Pulse nightclub.
we engage in all night study
and reflection of the words
We are grateful to law enand lessons of Torah. No lesforcement, the first respondson is more fundamental
than that which teaches
that the spark of the Divine
is present in every individual - gay and straight, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim.
In the face of tragedy, let us
come together in a spirit of
love and compassion for all
and work together to create
a nation that rejects violence and instead celebrates
the holiness of every human
being.
Rabbi Pesner
Jacobs Blasts Proposal Before Knesset
New York, NY; June 6, 2016 -Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Union for
Reform Judaism (URJ) President, commented today on a
new bill being promoted by the
Haredi parties in the Israeli
Knesset. The bill seeks to overturn a recent Israeli Supreme
Court decision to allow Reform
and Conservative conversions
in statecontrolled mikvaot (ritual
baths).
The goal of the new law, as
stated emphatically and on the
record by MK Moshe Gafni of
the United Torah Judaism party, is to block Reform and Conservative Jewish conversions.
faith on a compromise with the
Haredim on the Kotel while at
the very same time allowing
this bypass of the Supreme
Court by the very same Haredi
parties.
We expect Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu to veto
this bill and to speak out
against it as soon as possible.
It is simply unacceptable for
the Prime Minister to say he is
negotiating with us in good
The Haredim are holding the
Jewish people hostage to their
expression of Judaism, which
not only excludes the majority
of Jews in Israel and the world
but denigrates the authentic
Judaism we practice.
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ISSUE
Worship Committee Report
TEMPLE HESED WORSHIP COMMITTEE
ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
The Worship Committee, under the
expert guidance of Rabbi Daniel
Swartz, oversees all worship services, formulates relevant policies,
plans special events, and handles
all matters relating to the worship
practices at Temple Hesed.
We offer a variety of worship services: the celebration of Shabbat
using Mishkan T’Filah, with its
unique format, featuring interesting, unusual interpretations, lovely
poetry, and educational comments;
the “rocking” informal Shabbat services utilizing our in-house prayer
guides; family holiday and festival
services, with the beautiful, holiday
-specific Gates of Joy; and special
Shabbat services marking various
occasions. Rabbi Swartz uses many
different formats for teaching the
parashah of the week, including
thought-provoking interactive dialogue.
readers, Hebrew chanters,
Music in our services
ark openers, Torah dressers
plays a major role in takand carriers, ushers, and all
ing us from our mundane
others who made these serroutines to the world of
vices more meaningful. We
Reform Jewish worship.
are grateful to Ed Snitko,
We have continued our
whose moving interpretaregular Shabbat music
tions of the High Holy Day
schedule. On the first
melodies added beautifully
Shabbat of the month,
Esther Adelman
to the worship experience.
Rabbi Swartz has led us
musically down new paths, teaching
We invite all members and their
us new melodies for old favorites
families and friends to join us at
and introducing us to some other
weekly services, where we experioptions as well. Ed Snitko most
ence the beauty and uniqueness of
capably leads us in song on the secMishkan T’Filah, the timely, oftenond and fourth Fridays, incorporatbrilliant Torah commentaries of
ing those new melodies that we
Rabbi Swartz, the ever-evolving
have enjoyed. Harry Adelman
spiritual music, and the warm cademonstrates his expert musicality
maraderie of our Temple Hesed
on the third Shabbat of each month,
family.
when we hold our informal services.
We do encourage input from the
We have continued with scheduling
Congregation, since it is crucial to
the 6:00 service on the first Friday
the work of this committee. Our
of every month, and the 8:00 service
goal is to be a part of making Temon the remaining Friday evenings.
ple Hesed an integral part of the
lives of the congregation--Many Temple members graciously
spiritually, socially, and educationparticipated in all phases of the five
ally.
services held during the High Holy
Days. We thank all of the English
Esther Adelman, Chair
Property Committee Report Submitted by Harry Adelman
In addition to the usual maintenance of the building, the following major projects were completed during 2015-2016:
Area
Interior
Exterior
Project
Cost
Date Completed
*Sanctuary painting
$2214.00
7/22/2015
*Alarm system upgrades
$3822.00
7/24/2015
*Organ speaker repairs
$1500.00
8/31/2015
*Sanctuary roof repairs
$2140.00
6/2/2015
*Rear wall painting
$1192.00
8/31/2015
Kitchen / Auditorium roof repairs
$8400.00
12/8/2015
To date, we have spent $19,268.00 of the $17410.00 available from the building fund on the above projects this year.
*Cost carried over from 2014-2015.
V O LU M E 1 5 7
ISSUE
ME S S E NG E R
Temple Financial Report & Budget
PAGE 13
ME S S E NG E R
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V O LU M E 1 5 7
ISSUE 11
Investment Committee Report
Jeff Leventhal Chairperson
The Temple Hesed Investment Committee continues to
split the Temple’s various endowment and building funds
between Stifel Nicolaus and
Merrill Lynch for investments
and advice.
An interest payment schedule has been set up and timely
payments have been made
from these funds to insure that
the Temple’s expenses and financial obligations are met in
prompt fashion. This schedule
can be modified and adjusted
going into this new fiscal year
as per recommendations from
Dr. Kenneth Miller, Treasurer,
the acting President(s), and
Marlene.
The encouraging news is
that although the American
Join us August 5th for
Temple Hesed’s
Annual BBQ &
Family Service
and global economies and markets have fluctuated over this
past year, most of Temple
Hesed’s investments have done
well enough to experience a
small increase in their values.
In order to avoid any possibility of having to invade the
corpus of any of the funds, the
annual amounts of interest
payments available will be
closely monitored and adjusted
as needed in order to help pay
the Temple’s daily and routine
operating expenses and bills.
The Temple Hesed Investment committee will continue to meet with our funds’
financial advisors and account
managers, act on their recommendations, and continue to
monitor the funds’ status and
progress on an ongoing basis.
Our investment committee
plans to meet with our financial advisors again this coming
July.
My thanks to the following
investment committee members who continue to offer their
time, wisdom, advice, and support to insure that these Temple’s assets are protected and
invested wisely in accordance
with direction from the Temple
Hesed Board. Members of this
committee are:

David Dickstein

Richard Fine

Jeffrey Jacobson
Sincerely,
Jeff Leventhal, Chairman
BBQ – 6 p.m.

$10/person
$5/child under 11
$20/family
Service — 7 p.m. – open to all
Dessert — 8 p.m.
To RSVP (and to let us know if you're vegetarian!) Call (570-3447201) or email (templehesed@comcast.net) by August 3rd
Free for new and prospective members!
Temple Hesed – 1 Knox Rd., Scranton
https://www.facebook.com/TempleHesed/ www.templehesed.org
V O LU M E 1 5 7
ISSUE
ME S S E NG E R
PAGE 15
High Holy Day Sermons: Our Responsibility to…
As the High Holy
Days approach this
year (Rosh Hashanah
begins on the evening
of October 2), our
world is in turmoil.
Across the globe – including
in the United States – we
have witnessed a resurgence
in anti-Semitism, as well as
a disturbing variety of other
hate rhetoric and violence:
Islamophobia, homophobia,
xenophobia, misogyny and
more.
At the same time,
many of the ties that
have bound us together, both in the
Jewish and the
broader community, seem to
be fraying badly.
Our ancient Jewish texts
and values have much to say
about these modern crises –
so Rabbi Daniel is planning
a series of four sermons over
the High Holy Days to address some aspects of this
situation.
He plans to speak about
“our responsibility to…”.
Between now and October,
he’d love to hear from you
about what you’d like to see
included in those ellipses, as
well as what you’d rather
was left out.
Rabbi to Lead Class at JCC
At 1 p.m. on July 19, August 2, August 16 and August 30th, Rabbi
Daniel will lead a class/discussion
group on “Sacred Aging: Navigating
Senior Years and the End of Life.”
This class, designed both for those
in their senior years and those caring for elderly family or friends, will
be held at the Scranton JCC and is
free and open to the public.
The class will explore both ancient
and modern Jewish
wisdom on how to
make decisions
JCC
about where and
how to live, how to make difficult
decisions about care and interventions, the role of children and
grandchildren and more.
We’ll also look at “Ethical
Wills,” how we hand down our
values to future generations.
The course will utilize materials on SacredAging.com, developed by Rabbi Richard Address
of the Union for Reform Judaism,
and it is co-sponsored by the JCC
and Jewish Family Service of
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Sunday the Rabbi(s) Went on Retreat
Many of you probably remember the
mystery series by Harry Kemelman,
which began with Friday the Rabbi
Slept Late. Beginning on Sunday,
July 25th, Rabbi Daniel and Rabbi
Marjorie will most definitely not be
sleeping late – they’ll be rising early
for the start of an intensive two
year program, Kol Zimra, led by
Rabbi Shefa Gold, the same rabbi
who led their Amazon retreat
last year.
learning sessions in between,
they’ll be learning about
“sacred chant.”
The core of the two year program is a series of four reRabbi Daniel hopes to bring
treats, the first one running
Rabbi Shefa Gold back both the particular lessons
from July 25 to August 1. The
he’ll be learning as well as the
other retreats will be in January
sense of ongoing commitment to spir2017, July 2017, and January 2018.
itual renewal and growth.
During these retreats and at other
PAGE 16
ME S S E NG E R
V O LU M E 1 5 7
ISSUE 11
Send Needy Kids Back to School with Filled Backpacks
Shabbat Under The Stars
June 24, 2016
Photos courtesy Harry Adelman
PAGE 17
ME S S E NG E R
V O LU M E 1 5 7
ISSUE 11
How we used to remind people to come
to services. Does this sound like you?
(Found by Harry
Adelman in a
Temple storeroom.)
TEMPLE HESED
“SCRANTON’S FIRST SYNAGOGUE”
1 Knox Road
Scranton, PA 18505
Email for Temple:
TempleHesed@comcast .net
Phone: 570-344-7201
Fax: 570-344-4514
Published 11 times a year
Like us on Facebook; Follow us on Twitter
Web Pages: www,TempleHesed.org
Submit articles, letters, etc. to: HesedNews@gmail.com
SPIRITUAL LEADER
Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz
570-877-3454 (cell)
570-344-7201 (office)
(rabbidaniel@comcast.net)
———————OFFICERS
President - Barbara ParkerBell
1st Vice Pres. -Larry Milliken
2nd Vice. Pres. - Richard Goldenziel
Treasurer—Steven
Seitchik
Asst. Treasurer - Harry
Adelman
Secretary - Judith Golden
Asst. Secretary— Jennifer
Rosen Novak
__________________
BOARD
Joan Davis, Paula Kane,
Michael Karnoff, Joel
Vener, Ted Birnkrant,
Cheryl Friedman, Michael
Krakow and Frances
Olick
Life Directors
Myer A l p e r i n and Jane
Oppenheim
ABOUT TEMPLE HESED:
Temple Hesed, a Reform Synagogue founded Aug. 20, 1860, is Scranton’s first and oldest Jewish
congregation. It is one of the earliest congregations to join the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now the Union for Reform Judaism. It has been a member since Dec. 12, 1874.
The synagogue serves the needs of individuals and families in Lackawanna County and surrounding
areas. Situated on Knox Road, off Lake Scranton Road in the East Mountain section of Scranton, the
current building opened in 1973. Temple Hesed operates a cemetery on West Warren Street in
Dunmore.
The office is open Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m.. to 4 p.m.; and Friday 9 a.m.. to 2 p.m.
Rabbi Swartz is happy to set appointments at any convenient time. Contact him to set a time. The
rabbi also has "drop-in" hours every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. to 3
p.m. The Rabbi holds these times open for visits or calls for which an appointment was not or could
not be made.
The Temple Hesed Cemetery is open for visitation six days a week. Visitation hours are: MondayFriday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. till dusk and it is closed for Shabbat on Saturday. For more
information, call the office.
STAFF
Marlene Gianzanti—Office
Manager
(MarleneCMG1@comcast.net)
Edward Snitko-Director of
Music
Rich Mates-Messenger
Editor
(hesednews@gmail.com)
Jennifer Rosen Novak
Social Media Maven
Jeffrey Heilbrunn
Webmaster
( Jeff.Heilbrunn@gmail.com)
Eco-Tip:
Energy: The United Nations estimates that by 2050 there will
be more refugees from climate change than from war. To fight
climate change and reduce your carbon footprint (and your energy bills), complete a home energy audit:
http://hes.lbl.gov/
Eco-tip provided by GreenFaith: www.greenfaith.org