The Shofar - Beth Israel Synagogue

1 ELUL 5768—3 KISLEV 5769
BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE
!
!
SEPTEMBER—NOVEMBER 2008
WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT
The Shofar
Message from Bruce
Dear Friends:
I am excited to be
beginning my second
year here at Beth Israel.
My first year has
proved extraordinarily
meaningful to me, in
particular,
my
interactions with the
wonderful people who
give so much of their
time to make our
synagogue community
a vibrant place of
Torah. This past year
we
beg a n
so me
wonderful
new
p r o g r a m m i n g
including
Shabbat
morning Torah study
and musical Sabbath
Joy services. We have
joined together in
festive Friday night
meals and even busted
the seams of our social
hall with an amazing
Pesach Seder.
This coming year we
look forward to the
beginnings
of
a
Hebrew school which
will serve the needs of
our
c o m m u n it y ’ s
young families.
As
those families grow,
our commitment to
their education will
have to grow which
will require something
from all of us – no
matter how old our
children
are,
or
whether we even have
any. You see, I believe
that we teach our
children
most
particularly
by
example.
It
is
wonderful
and
necessary to have a
religious school in
which we can teach
our children Hebrew,
prayer, Jewish history
and culture.
But
ultimately, their ability
to
absorb
the
information
we
provide them will
depend
on
our
modeling
the
importance of Judaism
in our own lives.
(Continued on page 2)
Pot Luck Supper
in the Sukkah
Friday, Oct 17
at 6:45 pm
This will be a great event for the entire family. Please make plans
to attend! RSVP to Mimi Bloch at 203-949-0651 or
mimibloch@aol.com to indicate what dairy dish you will bring.
Upcoming Events
9/05: Tot Shabbat
6:45 pm
10/17: Pot luck dinner
in the Sukkah
6:45 pm ℡
11/7: Learner Shabbat
6:45 pm
12/26: Chanukah
Service 6:45 pm
1/9: Chanukah Service
6:45 pm
1/23: Learner Shabbat
6:45 pm
1/31: Havdalah Service
and movie 7:00 pm
℡ = RSVP
to Mimi Bloch
203-949-0651
mimibloch@aol.com
Page 2
(Message from Bruce—Continued from page 1)
Children understand what
their parents value, and reflect
that value in their attitude
toward and enthusiasm for
what we provide them.
It is in this context that I
would
link
all
the
programming we began this
past year – and all that we will
begin this year – with our
religious school efforts. To the
extent that we together make
Beth Israel a makom Torah – a
place of Torah – we model for
our children the importance
we place on our Judaism. To
that end, our coming year will
offer Shabbat services geared
particularly for people who are
new to Jewish prayer and
special programming that will
highlight Jewish and Israeli
culture. I also hope to offer
adult education programming
which will be topical and
engaging. Shabbat morning
Torah study is also now a
regular part of our calendar
and I encourage you to join in
these meaningful explorations
of our central text and the role
it plays in our lives.
A
synagogue should be a
spiritual resource for its
members – a place to engage in
and explore the big questions
of our lives. When we build
Beth Israel into that resource
for ourselves, we will
The Shofar—Fall 2008
inevitably build it for our
children as well.
At 100 years, Beth Israel has a
long and wonderful history. It
is indeed humbling to stand at
its bimah and think of all who
have come before and all that
they have done to build this
wonderful community. I thank
you all for the opportunity to
play a small part in its
continuation and its growth. I
wish you all a sweet, happy
and healthy new year and look
forward to seeing you all on
the upcoming holidays.
Sentiments
REFUAH SHLEIMAH
to
Fran Markowitz
Sonia Ruderman
Elsie Peretzman
to
Yetta Scoblow
Saul Freilich
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to
Betty Sandberg
Summer Picnic
On Friday evening August
22nd we held a picnic at Marcus
Cooke Park to celebrate the 100
year anniversary of the
inauguration of our synagogue
building.
How powerful of a feeling it
was to me to be a part of
continuation of Jewish Life in
the Wallingford community.
Not many houses of worship
have been around with
continuous membership for
over 100 years. The synagogue
has had many additions and
changes, making it more
functional as the years have
gone on.
We gathered at the park and
had our Friday night service
followed by a terrific barbeque
and pot luck dinner.
We
cooked kosher hot dogs,
veggie burgers and members
brought the rest of the food.
Our
members
outdid
themselves with the most
delicious food and the variety
was perfect. It was a wonderful
summer evening where
families and friends gathered
together for prayer, friendship
and food in the tradition of our
ancestors.
Mimi Bloch
3
Page Page
3
President’s Message
Shalom!
I hope that everyone has
enjoyed their summer and is
ready to get back into the
groove! Our Board has been
busy this summer, formulating
our direction for this year, the
100th Anniversary of our
Building. That’s right, while
the Men’s Hebrew Association
was founded in 1901, it wasn’t
until August 23rd, 1908 that our
building
was
officially
inaugurated. Happy Birthday
Beth Israel Synagogue! We
have some exciting things
planned!
First is our Sunday School. At
this moment in time we do not
have a permanent teacher, but
it certainly is exciting to know
that we have the students and
the interest! We will be having
one hour Sunday School
sessions twice a month at the
Synagogue from September
thru May for the age group 0-6.
We hope to introduce these
young ones, with some
involvement
from
their
parents, to some basic Jewish
building blocks and traditions
like Shabbat songs and the
Aleph-Bet,
along
with
activities for each holiday. This
program is being offered free
to members, and at a fee per
child to non-members for their
first year (after the first year
they must join!).
Second is our Annual Open
House on Friday, September
12th at 6:45 pm. We are happy
to welcome back musical guest
Richard Calvert for the event.
Richard Calvert is a published
songwriter, and has performed
at the Synagogue before for
Sabbath Joy, our musical
Friday night service. This is a
great opportunity for people to
come see what we are all
about, and for us to show
exactly what is so special about
our congregation. It promises
to be a memorable event.
Third, we are changing up our
regular Friday night services
this year, just a bit. Instead of
having our services weekly on
Friday, we will alternate every
other week with a Saturday
Torah Study. Some of our
Friday nights now will be a Tot
Shabbat (9/5), geared toward
our children, or a Learner
Shabbat (11/7) where Bruce
will be teaching (or just
reminding some of us!) the
whys of what we do during the
service. On the alternate
Saturdays,
the
lively
discussions during the Torah
Studies are engaging, thought
provoking, and fun. You do
not need to be “religious” or
have read the Torah in order to
join us, I promise! All
perspectives and level of
experience are welcome, and
we hope encouraged by
moving to this format.
And of course, that’s not all.
We have a Sukkot Pot Luck
planned for October 17th, a
Simchat Torah family Service
on October 21st, and our
Hanukah Service on December
26th. We are always looking for
and discussing new ideas, such
as participating in the Jewish
Film
Festival.
We
are
continually applying for grants
to help us maintain our
building or reduce our costs, or
to enable us to introduce new
programming while keeping
dues low. We’re looking
forward to a great 100th year!
Alida Cella
Page 4
The Shofar—Fall 2008
The Ryan C. Gordon
Memorial Kiddush Cup
Breaks all Records!
Thursday, June 5th. 6:30 a.m.
Traditions at Wallingford. A
calm, cloudy, cool morning.
Arlene O’Tell (volunteer chair
- did it all!), Mindy Schwartz
(registration, hole-in-one
watcher), Todd Schwartz
(tournament co-chair), Pat
Gettner (registration, picturetaker),
Nancy
Huber
(registration, hole-in-one
watcher), Lynne Rappoport
(raffles, picture-taker driver),
Barry Gordon (sign hanger),
Elise Schoolnik (registration),
Wynn Schoolnik (whatever’sneeded, raffle-prize getter),
Rae-ann Allen (will do
anything necessary, food
picker-upper),
Henni
Stolzman (registration, holein-one watcher) and Sandy
Balayan (silent auction chair,
registration, 50/50 raffle hole)
begin to set the stage and
registration and auction tables
for the field of golfers who will
begin arriving at 7:45 am.
Kent Billings (hot dog
griller extraordinaire) and
Miriam Fried (hole-in-one
watcher) arrive a little later
to round out the group of
amazing volunteers who
will work so tirelessly
throughout the day to make
the 2008 Kiddush Cup Beth
Israel’s most successful
tournament to date.
It’s been almost 3 months
since the date on which so
many records were set for Beth
Israel’s 9th annual fundraiser.
Our field of golfers grew from
85 last year to 121 this year.
The number of sponsors and
“special friends” increased
from 35 to 43...and last year’s
net income (after expenses) of
just over $15,000 was more
than doubled by this year’s net
income of over $33,500!
A special thanks goes to Rich
Coppola, Fox61 News sports
broadcaster, who was our
Master of Ceremonies and Live
Auctioneer.
Rich did a
phenomenal job, helping to
raise over $2,700 during our
live auction! (One of the live
auction items, a gourmet
dinner for 8 with an hour of
live music by Beryl Bloch, sold
for $950 - a new record for a
single auction item.)
Huge thanks also go to Dave
Solomon, who once again
designed our tournament
brochure; Gerri Nolan, who
has worked hard behind the
scenes, sending out thank
you’s to our many, many
contributors; Kathy Schacht,
who secured and brought
donations of donuts, bagels
and coffee from Duncan
Donuts; Saul Freilich, who
again, came through with
several terrific (and amusing!)
raffle prizes, and Barry
Schacht and Mimi Bloch, who
contributed much in their
capacity on the tournament
committee.
The phenomenal financial
success of this year’s Kiddush
Cup was enabled, in large part,
by our three incredibly
generous Benefactors: Dave
Roman, owner of Safe Home
Security, Inc in Cromwell,
(Continued on page 5)
Page 5
(Continued from page 4)
Ralph Giansanti, owner of
Harvest Capital, LLC in
Wethersfield and Kevin Wise,
owner of CPC Corporation in
Durham.
These three men
covered all tournament costs
which were not covered by our
Specialty Sponsors.
(These
included all costs of golf,
dinner, raffle prizes, signage,
printing, photos, prizes to
golfers, and all and any
additional
expenses.)
Effectively, these incredibly
kind individuals ensured that
100% of all income from our
participants went directly to
charitable organizations. We
cannot thank them enough.
The organizations which
benefited from the proceeds of
this year’s Kiddush Cup
include Beth Israel Synagogue,
The
Cystic
Fibrosis
Foundat io n, The Frank
Detterbeck Fund in memory of
Ryan Gordon, The Ryan
Gordon/Hartford Wolf Pack
Scholars Fund at Trinity
College, and the Ryan Gordon
Memorial Fund at The
Kingswood-Oxford School.
The Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
5
Congratulations to all of
our tournament winners!
MEN’S GROSS
1st Place:
Warren Gatcomb,
Chris Gatcomb,
George Dombroski,
Chris Nolan
2nd Place:
Ralph Giansanti,
Jeff Evans,
Walter Feliciano,
Jeff Davis
MEN’S NET
1st Place:
Mike Mastrianni,
Bill Newton,
Barry Gordon,
Steve Rue
2 Place:
Bob Bailey,
Kevin Buno,
Bob Hourigan,
Michael Bailey
nd
MIXED GROSS
1st Place:
Elaine Doherty,
John Doherty,
Dee Grazioso,
Cal Grazioso
2nd Place:
Howard Levine,
Deb Levine,
John Halovatch
MIXED NET
1st Place:
Arnold Lazaroff,
M.J. Lazaroff,
Carl Cella,
Mauriann Cella
2nd Place:
Daniel Rappoport,
Julie Rappoport,
Bob Namnoum,
Donald Namnoum
CLOSEST TO THE PIN
Men: John Doherty
Women: Lee Wise
LONGEST DRIVE
Men: Ralph Giansanti
Women: Elaine Doherty
CLOSEST TO THE LINE
Men: Mike Locorotundo
Women: Bonnie Monahan
PUTTING CONTEST
(with a hole in one!):
Norman Rodriguez
Page
Page66
Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
5
TheThe
Shofar—Fall
2008
More Kiddush Cup Thanks
There are so many individuals
and businesses to thank, for
contributing so much to the
success and FUN of the day.
Our Specialty Sponsors are
listed elsewhere in the Shofar, as
well as on our website. Below is
a listing of those whom we also
owe our deep thanks and
appreciation.
Cash Gifts (up to $100)
Rich & Lori Silkoff
Seth Lerner, M.D.
Naomi & Irving Rappoport
Toyota of Wallingford
Shortelle & Gaffey
Bruce Stendquist
John & Debbie D’Amico, M.D.
Martin Goldfield
Lorraine Bernheim
Barbara Gross
Saul & Naomi Freilich
Toby & Mary Ann O’Neill
Clint McDermott, Jr.
Al & Loni Cuccaro
Michael Neufeld
George Krivda
Raffle Donors
Michael’s Trattoria
Stop & Shop
Applebee’s Restaurant
Gaetano’s Tavern on Main
Home Depot
Chili’s Restaurant
Laskara Restaurant
Fratelli’s Restaurant
Ninety Nine Restaurant
CT Beverage Mart
Lowe’s Home Improvement
95 Gathering Place
Antonio’s Restaurant
The Clip Joint
Humphrey’s Restaurant
Half Moon Grille & Café
Panera Bread
Wallingford Tire & Auto
Lauren Esposito
Cold Stone Creamery
Shop Rite
Crown Market
Bruegger’s Bagels
Pat Gettner
Silent Auction Donors
Safe Home Security, Inc.
(Home Security System)
Claudia Mathison
(American Girl Basket)
Joy Pepe
(Tour of Yale Center of British Arts
Museum)
Donna Levine
(1 Hr. Attorney Consultation)
Bob Egan
(Photograph)
Beryl Bloch
(2 One Hour Each of Music)
Castle View, LLC
(Hot Air Balloon Ride Coupon)
Wynn Schoolnik
(One Hour Resume Writing)
Edward Brennan
(2 Original Watercolors)
Barbara Gross
(Dessert-a-Month for 1 Year)
Barry Gordon
(1 Hr Hypnotherapy/Energy
Healing)
Barbara Lynch
(Handmade Beaded Necklace)
Hope Mandel
(Hand-Beaded Evening Bag)
John Riley
(2 Quinnipiac U. Ice Hockey
Tickets)
Kevin Landesman
(2 Mets Tickets)
Diane Matakowski
(Original, Handmade Beaded
Necklace, Bracelet & Earrings)
Ron Victor at Portland Golf
Course
(Golf Lesson)
Seth Huber
(Car Detailing)
Starbucks
(Coffee)
Academy Di Capelli
(Massage for two)
Live Auction Donors
Stephen Sullivan
(Golf for 3 at Pt. Judith Country
Club, RI)
Anonymous
(2 Tickets to Preseason Giants v
Patriots Game)
Tom Watson
(Autographed Club w/Personal
Letter)
Stanton & Jill Lesser
(Plane Ride for 2 to Block Island,
Lunch Included)
Rich Petit
(1 Hr. of Skate Time at Trinity
College)
Anonymous
(2 Tickets to Yankees v San Diego
Game)
The Shofar—FallPage
20087
Page 7
Bat Mitzvah Project
My name is Chelsea Snyder
and for my Bat Mitzvah project
I am helping the Animal Shelters in Meriden and Wallingford. I am doing this project
because I love animals and I
would like them to either get
healthy or stay healthy.
You can help by making a
monetary donation or by
donating dog or cat (dry or
canned) food, dog collars,
leashes, used blankets or comforters, towels, bowls, toys,
small cat carriers, kitty litter
(Pine/Yesterday’s News or
Clay Cat Litter), and cleaning
supplies. Examples of cleaning
Catskills on Broadway…
Coming to the Shubert!
On Thursday October 30, 2008,
the Sixth Annual Community
One event will be held at New
Havenʹs Shubert Theater. This
yearʹs entertainment will feature Catskills on Broadway, starring three members of the
original cast.
Sponsored by the Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven,
t h is ev e n in g o f b e ll y
laughs benefits seven local
Jewish agencies that provide
day schools, camping, child
supplies include laundry detergent, bleach, dryer sheets,
hand soap, sponges, Lysol, and
Simple Green.
ple. If the checks and/or donated items need to be picked
up at your home, please call
me at 203-294-1773.
Checks (payable to: Meriden
Humane Society or the Wallingford Animal Shelter) can
be mailed to me.
I would like to thank the following who have already
made generous donations:
Rabbi Bruce Alpert, Alex
Shoag, Maxine & Joel Snyder,
and Henrietta Fried-Stolzman.
When you donate Pedigree
brand dog food, the Pedigree
Company will make a donation to the Pedigree Adoption
Drive. This becomes a double
gift for the dogs.
A collection box is located inside the front door of the Tem-
care and other recreational
and educational services for
youth and adults, as well as a
food pantry and affordable
housing and services for the
frail and elderly in Greater
New Haven.
Proceeds from Community
One also benefits the Perpetual
Annual Campaign Endowment
(PACE) of the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Greater
New Haven. Through a permanent endowment, PACE
funds securely provide assistance for current and future
generations.
Thanks to everyone who is
helping to make my project a
success.
Chelsea Snyder
132 West Dayton Hill Rd
Wallingford, CT
Single ticket prices range from,
$50-150. Or, as a C1 ANGEL, a
$100 purchase will go towards
TWO TICKETS, to be DONATED to seniors living in our
community.
For more information, including Corporate and Individual,
Sponsorship opportunities
and Advance Ticket Sales information, please contact
Community One at 203 3872 4 2 4
x 2 6 7
o r
egroves@jewishnewhaven.org
Page
Page88
Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
5
TheThe
Shofar—Fall
2008
From the Ritual Committee
As I start my second term as
Chairperson of the Ritual
committee, I first want to thank
the members of the committee
for their help, commitment and
untiring ability to pitch in
when necessary. Your strength
has been the foundation for
our success.
This year we again have some
new and some old events
planned. Elsewhere in this
Shofar you will find the list of
upcoming events, however, I
do want to talk about a few of
the newer events that we have
planned. You will notice on
that list that we will not be
having Friday night services
every week. On the weeks
where we are planning a Torah
Study there will not be a
Friday night service. In the
hopes of having more
members attend Services, we
are trying to only have Friday
night services on alternate
Fridays.
On September 5th we are going
to have our first Tot Shabbat.
This is going to be a Friday
night service that instead of a
regular “sermon”, Bruce will
tell more of a story that the
children will understand and
the service will be geared a
little more towards our
younger members. This service
is open to the entire
congregation and one that we
will all gain a different insight
into our services.
On September 12th we have
Richard Calvert coming back
to our synagogue for another
Musical Shabbat. This is our
annual Open House so please
spread the word, bring your
family and friends and any
potential members. It will be
another great evening and
fulfilling Shabbat experience.
On Oct. 17th we are going to
have our Pot Luck dinner in
the Sukkah. What a special
way to celebrate the holiday of
Sukkot and actually be able to
have a meal in a sukkah. I
personally have not been able
to do that since I was a child.
Simchat Torah is on Oct. 21st
and we have planned a family
service that is open to
everyone. Please come and
enjoy the fun of Simchat Torah
and enjoy the beauty and
celebration of starting to read
the Torah from the beginning
once again. It is something to
celebrate every year.
Nov. 7th is going to be a special
Learners’ Shabbat designed to
he lp m e m be r s o f o ur
congregation who are not
completely comfortable with a
Friday night service. Bruce
intends to explain the “why’s”.
Why we say a particular
prayer and Why we say it
when we do… Too many of us
say the prayers from rote,
(myself included) without any
knowledge of why we say the
prayer. I am looking forward
to this informative service.
I’m not sure when our Winter
Shofar will arrive in your
home, but I do want you to
mark your calendars and save
the night of December 26th.
That is the night of our annual
Chanukah service, when
everyone brings their own
menorah and we light them
together as a congregation.
What a wonderful night it is,
following so closely behind
Christmas and all it’s over
extended holiday spirit. It will
be awesome to gather as a
community and celebrate our
holiday and the miracle of
Chanukah. We will be serving
yummy latkes as well.
This year we are going to
continue to have our Torah
Study once a month, however,
since we do have a Sunday
(Continued on page 9)
Page 9
(Continued from page 8)
School starting in the fall, it is
going to be just Torah and
Bagels. I can’t stress enough
how wonderful these monthly
sessions have been. I think I
personally have learned more
this past year than in all the
years I had attending Hebrew
School. The discussions are
warm, non-int imidat ing,
f r ie n d l y a n d s o v e r y
interesting. Please come and
join us, you won’t be sorry you
did. You do not have to have
any knowledge of the Torah.
You will find that your own
personal life experiences will
make you an important
member of our group.
I hope I see everyone at all of
our services and at the High
Holiday Services as well. We
again are making the calls and
asking members to accept a
part in our service. If for any
reason we might have skipped
you and you would like to
have a part, PLEASE call me at
203-949-0561 and we will be
sure you have a part.
If you have any ideas or
suggestions for events, please
get in touch with me so we can
present the idea and work on
making it happen. I am open
to any and all ideas that you
The Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
9
might have., such as types of
services or events you may
have attended at other
synagogues that you found
enjoyable, etc. I am happy to
hear about it.
Also, I am
interested in any feedback
about events we have had or
have planned.
Mimi Bloch
High Holiday
Tickets
Beth Israel Synagogue is once
again pleased to welcome both
members and non-members to
our High Holiday services.
High Holiday Tickets are free
for Members; for Nonmembers they are $100 for
those living within the
Wallingford area, and $50 for
those out-of-town.
For more information, call 203269-5983.
Reminders
Stop & Shop Gift
Cards...
are
available
through
Bob
Gross (203-2691986). This is a
no-brainer fundraiser for the
synagogue, as we receive 5% of
all purchases that you’ll make
anyway! If you spend $400 a
month at Stop & Shop, that’s a
‘gift’ of $240 per year to the
synagogue. POST-DATED
CHECKS ARE ACCEPTED!!
Ink Cartridge Fundraiser
Beth Israel is collecting empty
ink jet cartridges. They can be
dropped off at the Synagogue
or to Alida Cella (949-8656).
We are reimbursed .50 to $4.00
depending on the brand. What
you may usually throw
away could be an easy donation!
Editor’s Note…
Please let me know if there are
any errors that need correcting,
or if I’ve missed any important
dates. I apologize in advance
for any oversights.
Phyllis Gordon,
Shofar content editor,
pgordon@snet.net
Page
Page10
10
Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
5
TheThe
Shofar—Fall
2008
Contributions
Donations:
June - August 11, 2008
Synagogue Fund
Donations
From Bernard Altschuler
From Robin & E. Richard
Wilson
From Naomi & Saul Freilich
In honor of Sidney Sheptoff
From Kathy & Barry Schacht
In memory of Esther
Kapsinow
From Ursula Finkel
In memory of Sydelle
Horowitz
From Cheryl & Ernest Mrazik
In honor of Passover Seder
From Marion Schwartz
In memory of Letizia Vitale
From Richard Vitale
In honor of the Marriage of
Rae-ann & Scott Allen
From Jere & James Sirkis
Yahrzeit Fund
In memory of Harry Horowitz
From Cheryl & Ernest Mrazik
In memory of Mollie Naviasky
From Fran Markowitz
In memory of Albert Lendler
From Richard Vitale
Kiddush Fund
In memory of Samuel Silverman
In memory of Bessie Silverman
In memory of Lenore Winkleman
In memory of Abraham
Winkleman
From Linda Winkleman:
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
In memory of Aaron Stolzman
In memory of Lillian Licht
In memory of Elsa Fried
From Henni Stolzman
Education Fund
In memory of Isadore Caplan
From Debra Fallon
Donations can be made to the
following Beth Israel funds:
Endowment Fund
Cemetery Fund
Synagogue Fund
Tree of Life
Prayer Book Fund
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Book of Remembrance
Walter Fried Memorial Fund
Yahrzeit Fund
Kol Nidre Fund
Youth Fund
Library Fund
Education Fund
Keer Family Fund
Torah Account
Please send all donations to:
Beth Israel Synagogue,
P.O Box 536,
Wallingford, CT 06492
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah, "Rejoicing in the Torah," focuses on the Torah as the beloved
companion of our lives. The celebrations of Simchat Torah are reminiscent of a
wedding. As a bride and groom dancing with each other on their big night,
so - on Simchat Torah - we desire to hold the Sefer Torah in our arms and
dance the night away. Simchat Torah is the time we complete the annual
cycle of weekly Torah Parsha readings. We read the last Torah portion, and
then proceed immediately to the first Parsha of Bereishit, reminding us that
the Torah is a circle, which never ends.
2008 Kiddush Cup Sponsors
Our Benefactors
Golfer Gift Sponsor
Safe Home Security - Dave Roman
Nelson’s Automotive Services - Pete Nelson
Wallingford, CT
www.saabspecialists.com
Cromwell, CT
www.safehomesecurityinc.com
Special Friend Sponsor
Pentron Corporation - Bruce Alpert
Wallingford. CT
www.pentron.com
Mohegan Sun - Chuck Bunnell
Uncasville, CT
www.mohegansun.com
Harvest Capital, LLC - Ralph Giansanti
Wethersfield, CT
www.harvestcapitalllc.com
CPC Corporation - Kevin Wise
Wallingford, CT
www.cpc-corp.com
Gold Sponsor
Christo’s Pizza & Restaurant - Chris
Wallingford, CT
www.christopizzarestaurant.com
Presidential Sponsor (19th Hole)
Donald Sullivan & Sons, LLC - Artie Sullivan
Plumbing, Heating, Cooling
Plantsville, CT
Hole-in-One Sponsors
Toyota of Wallingford - Eric Levine
Wallingford, CT
www.wow-toyota.com
Healey Ford of Ansonia - Mike Healey
Ansonia, CT
www.healeyford.com
Fore Starters Sponsors (Continental Breakfast)
Individual - Lynne Rappoport
Wallace Realty, LLC - Dick Caplan
Wallingford, CT
Oasis Sponsor (Mobil Snack Cart)
Putting Contest Sponsor
B.C. Bailey Funeral Home - Bob Bailey
Wallingford, CT
www.bcbailey.com
Quinnipiac Physical Therapy - Keith Steigbigel
Wallingford, North Haven, Hamden
www.qptsm.com
Tee Sponsors
Arakelian Rugs
Sandy & John Balayan
Westville, CT
www.arakelianrugs.com
Archie Moore’s Restaurant
Wallingford, CT
www.archiemoore’s.com
Arnold’s Jewelers
Arnold Lazaroff
North Haven, CT
www.arnoldsjewelersct.com
Cella, Flanagan & Weber, Attys
Carl Cella
North Haven, CT
www.cfwlawfirm.com
C.M. Smith Agency
John O’Connell
Glastonbury, CT
www.cmsmith.com
Coachman Square at Woodbridge
Woodbridge, CT
www.benchmarkqualtity.com
Roman Oil, Inc - Ed Roman
Meriden, CT
ww.romanoil.com
David Fried, DMD - David Fried
Wallingford, CT
www.frieddentistry.com
Security First Insurance Group Bob O’Tell
Waterbury, CT
www.securityfirst.net
Julius Gold, DMD
Wallingford, Ct
Mastrianni & Seguljik, Attys Mike Mastrianni
Plainville, CT
www.mastrianni@masteglaw.com
Merit Insurance
Jim Benson
Bridgeport, CT
ww.meritinsurance.com
R.A. Levine Company
Howard Levine
West Haven, CT
www.ralevine.com
Sensor Switch, Inc
Beverly Platner
Wallingford, CT
www.sensorswitch.com
Stephen Sullivan, Inc
Stephen Sullivan
Peacedale, RI
www.stephensullivaninc.com
The Tire Store - Don Stevens
Wallingford, CT
- Individuals Arlene O’Tell
Bill, Sharon & Brent Speed
Page
Page12
12
Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
5
TheThe
Shofar—Fall
2008
Simchas!
BIRTHDAYS
August
(sorry we missed you!)
Rebecca Wilson – 7th
Barry Gordon – 11th
Joel Snyder – 12th
Dawna Synder – 13th
David Elmkies – 20th
George Ginsberg – 20th
Betty Sandberg – 23rd
Ben Fried – 30th
November
Hannah Murphy - 7th
Rae-ann Allen - 12th
Sue Wilson - 17th
Karen Caplan - 21st
Tommy Caplan - 26th
Barry Schacht - 26th
Elaine Margolis - 29th
September
Jerry Kahn – 2nd
Henni Stolzman – 2nd
Mollie Robbins – 7th
Barbara Gross – 10th
Zev Cella – 13th
Todd Schwartz – 14th
Mimi Bloch – 18th
August (sorry we missed you!)
Dave & Miriam Fried – 16th
October
Jennifer Huber – 2nd
David Fried – 5th
Nancy Huber – 9th
Mindy Schwartz – 15th
October
Joel & Maxine Snyder – 5th
Barry & Sue Wilson – 13th
Bruce & Dawna Snyder – 27th
ANNIVERSARIES
September
Barry & Phyllis Gordon – 2nd
Jerry & Tammy Kahn – 3rd
Dave & Alida Cella – 22nd
Wynn & Elise Schoolnik – 27th
November
Larry & Charlotte Hyatt - 11th
Beryl & Mimi Bloch - 24th
Page 13
Beth Israel Events September 2008 – January 2009
Date
Time
Led by
Special Occasion
6:45 PM
6:45 PM
No Services
9:30 AM
11:00 AM
6:45 PM
Bruce
Bruce & Nancy
Tot Shabbat
Musical Shabbat/Open House
Bruce
Bruce & Nancy
Alida
Torah Study
Cemetery Service
HIGH HOLIDAYS
Sept 29
Monday
Sept 30
Tuesday
Sept 30
Tuesday
Oct. 1
Wednesday
Oct. 3
Friday
Oct. 8
Wednesday
Oct. 9
Thursday
Oct. 9
Thursday
Oct. 10
Friday
Oct. 17
Friday
Oct. 21
Tuesday
6:45 PM
9:30 AM
1:30 PM
9:30 AM
6:45 PM
6:45 PM
9:30 AM
4:00 PM
No Services
6:45 PM
6:45 PM
Bruce & Nancy
Bruce & Nancy
Bruce
Bruce & Nancy
Bruce
Bruce & Nancy
Bruce & Nancy
Bruce & Nancy
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah day 1
Tashlich – Community Lake
Rosh Hashanah day 2
Bruce
Bruce
Pot Luck in Sukkah
Simchat Torah/Family Service
Oct. 24
Oct. 25
Oct. 31
Nov. 7
Nov. 14
Nov. 15
Nov. 21
Nov. 28
Dec. 5
Dec. 12
Dec. 13
Dec. 19
Dec. 26
Jan 2
Jan 9
Jan 16
Jan 17
Jan 23
Jan 30
Jan 31
No Services
9:30 AM
No Services
6:45 PM
No Services
9:30 AM
6:45 PM
No Services
6:45 PM
No Services
9:30 AM
No Services
6:45 PM
No Services
6:45 PM
No Services
9:30 AM
6:45 PM
No Services
7:00 PM
Bruce
Torah Study
Bruce
Learner’s Shabbat
Bruce
Bruce & Nancy
Torah Study
Sept. 5
Sept. 12
Sept. 19
Sept 20
Sept. 21
Sept 26
Day
Friday
Friday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Friday
Friday
Saturday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Saturday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Saturday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Saturday
Friday
Friday
Saturday
Erev Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Mincha, Nei’lah, “Break-Fast”
Bruce & Nancy
Bruce
Torah Study
Bruce
Chanukah Service
Bruce
Tot Shabbat & Pot Luck
Bruce
Bruce
Torah Study
Learner’s Shabbat
Bruce
Havadalah Service & Movie
Page
Page14
14
Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
5
TheThe
Shofar—Fall
2008
Upcoming Yahrzeits Honoring Our Beloved Relatives
Date
Name
Hebrew Date
Relationship to Congregant
Sept. 3
Sept. 4
Sept. 5
Lillian Gold
Rose Goldfarb
Annie Rubin
Elsa Shapiro
Max Rosen
Bluma Bubis
Nathan Finsmith
Norman Rappoport
3 Elul
4 Elul
5 Elul
Sister: Mildred Goldfarb
Sept. 6
Sept. 7
Sept. 8
Sept. 10
Sept. 11
Sept. 13
Sept. 14
Sept. 16
Sept. 17
Sept. 19
Sept. 21
Sept. 24
Sept. 27
Sept. 28
Sept. 29
Oct. 1
Oct. 3
Oct. 6
Oct. 7
Oct. 11
Oct. 13
Oct. 15
Oct. 16
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Oct. 23
Oct. 24
Oct. 27
Oct. 29
Oct. 30
Oct. 31
Hannah Hodos
Joseph Kummer
Isaac Meltzer
Meyer Sussman
James Vitale
Max Monchick
Harry Markowitz
Michael Grudberg
Samuel Fredericks
Frances Rubin
Irving Peretzman
Bertha Michel
Bessie Finkelstein
Ruth Garret
Harold Sitnitksy
Ady Zuckerman
Eva Katzman
Herman Gross
Harry Semack
Tillie Tanger
Joseph Gershberg
6 Elul
7 Elul
8 Elul
Wife: Lynne Rappoport
Daughter: Phyllis Gordon
8 Elul
10 Elul
11 Elul
13 Elul
14 Elul
16 Elul
17 Elul
19 Elul
21 Elul
Son: Simon Monchick
Wife: Elsie Peretzman
24 Elul
27 Elul
Sister: Mildred Groobert
Daughter-in-law: Barbara Gross
28 Elul
29 Elul
Bese Markowitz
Iris Goldstein
Ethel Lee Lindembert
Oscar Spiegel
Tillie Elmowitz
Evelyn Bever
Samuel Radin
Samuel Markowitz
Morris Boyarski
Louis Caplan
Anna Freeman
2 Tishri
Joseph Jacobs
Kurt Spaeth
Herman Markowitz
Mollie Yaffie
Gertrude Speigel
Abraham Subkowski
Max Cohen
Mamie Monchick
Eugene Lendler
Edith Cobden
Sadie Mezebish
19 Tishri
4 Tishri
7 Tishri
8 Tishri
12 Tishri
14 Tishri
16 Tishri
17 Tishri
18 Tishri
Daughter: Lisa Radin
Sister: Bertha Hoag
Daughter-in-law: Lisa Radin
Daughter-in-law: Frances Markowitz
Daughter: Elaine Margolis
Daughter: Iris Papale
24 Tishri
Wife: Frances Markowitz
25 Tishri
Daughter: Lisa Radin
28 Tishri
30 Tishri
1 Cheshvan
2 Cheshvan
Page 15
Nov. 1
Dorothy Snyder
3 Cheshvan
Nov. 8
Raymond Sherman
Kaspar Caplan
Benjamin Markowitz
Martin Zuckerman
Louis Hodos
Leon Gross
10 Cheshvan
Nov. 9
Walter Fried
11 Cheshvan
Nov. 3
Nov. 4
Nov. 11
Nov. 12
Nov. 13
Nov. 14
Nov. 15
Nov. 16
Nov. 17
Nov. 18
Nov. 19
Nov. 20
Nov. 21
Nov. 22
Nov. 23
Nov. 25
Nov. 26
Nov. 27
Nov. 28
Nov. 29
Joseph Schwartz
Pauline Wolfowitz
Saul Jacobson
Joanna Lendler
Anna Bush
Eugenie Schoolnik
Max Miller
David Brussel
Perry Bloch
Betty Winkler
Solomon Kasher
Elia Giacomo Vitale
Nathan Hodos
Harry Mark
Hannah Meltzer
Samuel Philip Kay
Philip Factor
Murray Weiss
Ida Caplan
Samuel Margolis
Irene Spaeth
David Fredericks
Ruth Papoosha
Philip Freilich
Milton Kaletsky
Sherman Hubelbank
Samuel Keer
Harry Goldberg
Freda S emack
Anna Keer
5 Chesvan
6 Chesvan
Son: Joel Snyder
Grandson: Bruce Snyder
Sister-in-law: Frances Markowitz
Wife: Barbara Gross
Son: Bob Gross
Daughter: Leslie LeClair
Wife: Henni Stolzman
Son: David Fried
13 Cheshvan
14 Cheshvan
15 Cheshvan
16 Cheshvan
17 Cheshvan
Son: Wynn Schoolnik
18 Cheshvan
19 Chesvan
Father: Beryl Bloch
20 Cheshvan
21 Cheshvan
22 Cheshvan
23 Cheshvan
Nephew: Beryl Bloch
24 Cheshvan
25 Cheshvan
27 Cheshvan
28 Cheshvan
29 Cheshvan
Son: Jack Margolis
Son: Saul Freilich
Daughter: Barbara Rubin
Sister: Miriam Bloch
1 Kislev
2 Kislev
A Note on Yahrzeits
If we do not show your name
and your relationship with
your loved one in our yahrzeit
listing, please notify Arlene
O’Tell (203-294-1244) to update
the information for future
editions.
If you would like to ensure a
minyan to say kaddish, please
contact ritual committee chair
Mimi Bloch (call 203-949-0651
or email to mimibloch@aol.com),
so the committee can make
arrangements.
Page
Page16
16
Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
5
TheThe
Shofar—Fall
2008
High Holidays at a Glance
Selichot
(Elul variable/September 20)
Yom Kippur
(10 Tishri/October 9)
Recitation of penitential prayers
prior to Rosh Hashanah and
between Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur.
The Day of Atonement. Yom
Kippur is the holiest day of the
Jewish calendar. Marked by
fasting and prayer, it is the day
to ask forgiveness from man and
from G-d and to offer restitution
for any wrongdoing. According
to tradition, one's fate for the
coming year is sealed on this
day.
Rosh Hashanah
(1 Tishri/September 30)
The Jewish New Year, observed
for two days in Israel as well as
the Diaspora, marks the
commencement of the Ten Days
of Penitence which reach their
climax on Yom Kippur.
An
important observance of Rosh
Hashanah is the sounding of the
shofar (ram's horn).
Fast of Gedaliah
(3 Tishri/October 2)
Sukkot
(15 Tishri/October 14 - 19)
Observed in memory of Gedaliah
ben Ahikam, the Jewish governor
o f J u d e a a p p o i nt e d b y
Nebuchadnezzar (Sixth Century
B.C.E.) to govern the conquered
Judean territory.
Gedaliah
achieved much for those of his
people who had remained in the
country.
When he was
assassinated (on Tishri 2, but
observed on Tishri 3 due to Rosh
Hashanah observance),
Nebuchadnezzar exiled more of
the surviving population to
Babylonia.
These calamitous
events shattered the last Jewish
hopes for a peaceful restoration.
The Festival of Tabernacles or
Booths (Hebrew 'sukkot'). One
of the three pilgrim festivals (the
others being Passover and
Shavuot) when, in ancient times,
Jews made pilgrimages to the
Temple in Jerusalem. It derives
its name from the 'sukkah' or
booth, a temporary structure in
which time is spent during the
holiday to commemorate G-d's
protection of the Children of
Israel during their 40 years in
the wilderness.
The first two days (in Israel the
first day) are full holidays. The
following five intermediate
days,'Hol Hamoed,' (six in Israel)
are partial holidays.
Sukkot is also a harvest festival
since it is the time of the
ingathering of crops in Israel.
During the entire Sukkot festival,
the Four Species (citron, myrtle,
palm, and willow) are waved
during portions of the service.
Hoshanah Rabbah
(21 Tishri/October 20)
The seventh day of Sukkot, a
half holiday, is marked by the
recitation of many 'hoshana' ("help us, we pray") prayers
recited by worshippers carrying
bundles of twigs from willow
trees (which usually grow along
river banks) as they make seven
circuits of the synagogue. This
practice is related to the
tradition that on Hoshana
Rabbah, final Heavenly
judgment on the amount of
rainfall to insure bountiful
harvests is rendered.
Shemini Atzeret
(22 Tishri/October 21)
The "Eighth Day of Solemn
Assembly", the festival observed
the day after Sukkot. In Israel,
Shemini Atzeret also marks the
completion of the annual cycle
of Torah reading.
Simchat Torah
(23 Tishri/October 22)
The holiday of 'Rejoicing in the
Torah' on which the year-long
cycle of Torah (the Pentateuch)
reading is completed and restarted.
Page 17
The Days of
Awe
THE NAMES
The “Days of Awe” (Yamim
Nora’im) is the general term
designating the holidays of Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Kippur. We
call the period from the first to
the tenth day of the month of
Tishrei the Ten Days of Return
(Aseret Yemei Teshuvah). Rosh
Hashanah is also called Yom
Teruah, a day for blowing the
shofar. The ten days that begin
with Rosh Hashanah and end
with Yom Kippur, the Day of
Atonement, mark a concentrated
period of introspection.
No
matter how morally lax we may
have been in the past, we are
given another chance to improve
ourselves through acts of
repentance, prayer, and good
works.
THE SOURCES
The Torah does not prescribe a
New Year’s celebration. It does
say that on the first day of the
seventh month there shall be a
day of rest, a great convocation,
sacrificial offerings, and the
blowing of the shofar. At the
time of Ezra the Scribe, Rosh
Hashanah was celebrated with a
public reading of the Torah.
When the people began to weep
at the solemnity of the holy day,
they were told to desist from
crying. “Go your way, eat the fat,
drink the sweet.”
THE SWEET LIFE
Though this is the season of
repentance, Jews observe Ezra’s
injunction by tasting sweet
foods. The traditional custom is
to dip a piece of apple in honey
and to recite:
confidence.
Yehi ratzon milfanekha
shetehadeish aleinu shanah
tovah umetukah.
“May it be Your will to renew the
year as a good and sweet year.”
TASHLIKH
The ritual Tashlikh ceremony,
performed in the late afternoon
on the first day of the New Year,
symbolizes the “casting of sins
into the depths of the
sea” (Micah 7:19). The brief
ceremony is held by the bank of
a river or a spring, preferably
one with fish in it. After reciting
special penitential prayers, the
custom is to empty one’s
pockets and toss bread crumbs
into the water as a symbol of
casting off sins and starting the
New Year afresh. Although its
origin remains a mystery,
observant Jews the world over
participate in the Tashlikh
ceremony in order to arouse
God’s “mercy that we may be
cleansed from all forms of
impurity.”
GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS
As the New Year approaches, it
is appropriate to wish one’s
friends and acquaintances that
they be inscribed for a good
year, leshanah tovah tikateivu.
The verb for “writing” or
“inscribing” is used in this
phrase because this is the
season of judgment, and the
verdict will be written down.
THE SHOFAR
The most distinctive feature of
the Yamim Nora’im is the
sounding of the ram’s horn, the
shofar. On Rosh Hashanah, the
ram’s horn is blown one hundred
times, using a variety of “sets.”
These sets are made up of three
types of sounds: TEKIAH,
SHEVARIM, TERUAH. One of the
names by which Rosh Hashanah
is known is Yom Teruah, which
has been translated, in Aramaic,
as a “day of weeping.” A teruah
is made up of nine very brief
staccato blasts, which might be
said to approximate the sound of
a child whimpering. A shevarim
(literally, a “breaking”) consists
of three short blasts, lasting as
long as the nine blasts of the
teruah.
The sound it makes
may be said to approximate that
of an adult sobbing. The tekiah,
which is also the general term
for shofar blowing, is one long
blast. This is the note that
begins and ends every set of
shofar blowing. The tekiah is
definitely not a weeping sound,
but a clarion call of triumph and
YOM KIPPUR
Yom Kippur, the Day of
Atonement, which falls on the
tenth of Tishrei, is the most
awesome day of the Hebrew
calendar.
From sunset to
sunset, Jews pray and abstain
from food and drink until the
blast of the shofar announces
that our fates have been
inscribed and our records have
been sealed shut for another
year. By then it will have been
decided who will live and who
will die, who will wax rich and
who will grow poor, who will rise
in the world and who will be
brought low, who will live in
peace and who in strife.
The tekiah gedolah, a sustained
blast, is the sound of hope and
triumph that concludes the final
prayer service of Yom Kippur.
Page
Page18
18
Shofar—Fall
Page
2008
5
TheThe
Shofar—Fall
2008
Sukkot
THE DAYS
There are so many holidays
packed into this festival, which is
celebrated from the 15th to the
23rd of Tishrei, that Sukkot
should be called a holy
“season,” not just a holy “day.”
The four holidays that take place
during this time are: SUKKOT,
HOSHANAH RABBAH, SHEMINI
ATZERET, and SIMHAT TORAH.
THE COMMANDMENTS
There are three important
commandments related to
Sukkot. The first is to rejoice.
The second is to “dwell” in a
sukkah, a temporary structure
with fragile walls and a
makeshift roof of leaves that lets
in a great deal of light. Today,
“dwelling” is accomplished by
A Few Words About Yizkor
In the Prayers of “Yizkor,” “May
He Remember,” we ask Hashem
to “remember” the souls of our
loved ones who have passed
away.....Yizkor is really an
opportunity for us to bring to
mind intensely, to re-create, if
only for a few brief moments,
connections that once existed
between ourselves and loved
ones who have passed away.
It is also an opportunity to
secure additional merit for those
beloved ones by performing the
act of “Tzedakah,” Charity....This
is especially significant in
connection with the Yizkor of
Yom Kippur, when the living and
the dead are visited by the
eating in the sukkah. The third
commandment is the “taking
up” of the four species, which
are the fruit of a decorative tree
(a citron or etrog), a palm branch
(l ul a v ), my rt le b r anc he s
(hadassim), and willow branches
(avarot).
CIRCLES AND CYCLES
The Sukkot season includes a
number of circling ceremonies.
On the first six days of Sukkot,
Jews attending synagogue
services hold aloft their lulav
and etrog and walk in a circle,
reciting hymns. On the seventh
day of Sukkot, Hoshanah
Rabbah (great Hosannah),
congregants circle the
synagogue seven times. At the
end of the seven processions,
congregants beat the willow
twigs against the floor.
Judge of All Worlds, and
Atonement is sought by the
living for themselves as well as
for departed generations.
Yizkor is also recited on three
major festivals,
Pesach
(Passover), Shavuot (The Feast
of Weeks) and Shemini Atzeret,
holidays on which the Jewish
People were obligated to appear
“not empty-handed” at the
Temple in Jerusalem. We fulfill
the “non-empty-handed” part of
the obligation by generous
pledges to Tzedakah, and by
redeeming them after the
holiday.
Light your Yizkor candle
before sunset on
October 8 and 20
The other circling ceremony
takes place on Simchat Torah,
celebrated on the ninth day. The
relevant term here is Hakafot
(circlings), as each congregant is
given the opportunity to hold a
Torah scroll and to rejoice by
promenading and dancing
around the synagogue in a circle.
Simchat Torah celebrates a cycle
as well as a circle. On that day,
Jews complete the annual cycle
of reading the Torah, and then
begin it again. We read aloud the
last and first chapters of the
Torah.
SHEMINI ATZERET:
COMMUNITY AND COMMUNION
The meaning of Shemini Atzeret,
celebrated on the eighth day
(shemonah=eight), has always
been shrouded in mystery. One
of the meanings of the word
atzeret is “assembly” and that
after seven days of dwelling in a
private booth, we are enjoined to
gather together as a community.
The synagogue services on
Shemini Atzeret include the
prayer for rain and prayers to
honor those who have died.
Courtesy of the Jewish
Education Department. of
Hadassah
Page 19
http://www.jewishagency.org/NR/rdonlyres/3512D645-4A49-4E1F-80BE-60F69E2CB044/57422/1.JPG
Beth Israel Synagogue
22 N. Orchard St
P.O. Box 536
Wallingford, CT 06492
Office: (203) 269-5983
www.bethisraelwallingford.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Financial Secretary
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Membership
Ritual
House
Cemetery
Alida Cella
Beryl Bloch
Todd Schwartz
Mindy Schwartz
Nancy Huber
Gerri Nolan
Barbara Gross
Mimi Bloch
Debbie Gross
Dick Caplan
Bob Gross