Read the ATC Bulletin online!
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Read the ATC Bulletin online!
ATC Bulletin Comedy Dinner Theater at ATC Saturday, March 7 Are you tired of this winter and snow that just keeps coming? Shake it off by treating yourself to an evening with a fabulous kosher dinner and comedy, on Saturday, March 7 at Ahavath Torah Congregation in Stoughton. A full buffet dinner starts at 6:30 PM, and a 90-minute show featuring comedians Chance Langton, Mike Donovan, and Patty Ross begins at 7:30. Cost for the dinner and show is $36 per person. Tables of eight are available for $250 paid in advance. A cash bar will be available. More on page 10 Trivia Fun-Raiser Back by popular demand, Ahavath Torah Congregation held its 2nd “Trivia Fun-Raiser” Night. It started with a delicious pasta dinner prepared by Lee Elmowitz and his dedicated & talented crew of volunteers, and ended with a coffee & dessert bar for all participants. A professional trivia-master hosted the event, ensuring a good time for all. The battle was The winning team More on page 23 Winter Blues Festival and Fundraiser Fans of blues music had the opportunity to listen to legends while raising money for wounded children. On January 17th, Ahavath Torah Congregation hosted a winter blues festival and fundraiser. The walls were rocking as some of the world’s most renowned harmonica players shared their music. They included James Montgomery, Jerry Portnoy, and More on page 13 March/April calendar appears on page 5 Ahavath Torah Congregation Affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism President’s Message 1179 Central St • Stoughton MA 02072 • www.atorah.org Office Hours Monday - Thursday 10 AM - 1:45 PM Telephone 781-344-8733 E-mail office@atorah.org Rabbi Jonathan Hausman E-mail RabbiJ@atorah.org Rabbi Gerson South Area Religious School 781-344-8755 Education Director Sue Rosman E-mail eddirector@atorah.org Executive Board President Alan Lader Executive Vice-President Lee Elmowitz Vice-President Stacy Andler Vice-President Arthur Mallock Interim Treasurer David Steinberg Financial Secretary Marty Shore Corresponding Secretary David Steinberg Recording Secretary Paula Gaffin Advisor David Schulze Board Of Directors Harvey Abramowitz Peter Asnes Jonathan Bloom Lesley Bornstein Jodi Cohen Jennifer Freshman Ron Gorin Madeleine Lewis Bob Powell Linda Rudman Debbie Springer Stu Weiner Maria Woolf Helayne Adelstein Sheryl Asnes Marcia Boland-Wells Leslie Boyle Bob Cohn Maxine Frutkoff Norm Gotshalk Tina Mallock Emily Prigot Michael Shain Fred Sussman Janet Weinstein Dale Appel Paul Barbell Bob Bornstein Adam Chale Marlene Elmowitz Shari Goldstein Everett Levenson Deb Notkin Leon Rudman Cindy Smith Cindy Weiner Nessa Wilensky Contact List Brotherhood Stu Weiner Bulletin David Steinberg Congregational Ed Maxine Frutkoff Michael Shain Event Coordination Maxine Frutkoff Financial Aid Marty Shore House Bob Bornstein Judaica Shop Lynne Rosenbloom Sandy Stogel Library Madeleine Lewis Membership Bob Cohn Linda Rudman Publicity Emily Prigot Ritual Paul Barbell Leon Rudman School Jennifer Freshman Social Action Jon Bloom Sisterhood Madeleine Lewis Cindy Smith Scrip Nessa Wilensky Rick Smith Helayne Magier Webmaster David Steinberg Youth Lesley Bornstein Lee Elmowitz It has been a tough winter so far. Hopefully the worst of the weather is behind us. However, the proverbial damage (and fortunately not too much tangible damage) has been done. First the good news. The new roof over the sanctuary and social hall was completed before the snow started. Also, the new HVAC systems are up and running. There are some fine adjustments that need to be made, but these can wait until the spring. Now the bad news. As you may have guessed, we have already exceeded our budget for snow removal. Unfortunately, we started the year operating on a tight budget. So even though the cost of the snow removal is just a small part of our budget, the excess cost really hurts. To make matters worse, we also had to have the roofers come back to remove the snow from the roof. Many of us have experienced ice dams and roof leaks in our homes. Many times over the past month, we have heard stories about roofs caving in under the weight of the snow. We have also heard of injuries and fatalities as a result of clearing snow from rooftops. Therefore, we made a decision to not take any chances and we had the roof cleared of the excess snow by professionals. Now we are faced with the reality of paying for this. We need your help. We have many fundraising events throughout the year as well as our ongoing SCRIP program that generate money to help support our operating expenses. We need your support for these events more than ever. If you can't attend, please buy a ticket or make a donation in the amount of the ticket anyway. And as always, please use SCRIP whenever you can to make your normal everyday purchases such as clothes, groceries or gas. Of course, you can make a donation directly to the synagogue for operating expenses, or you can earmark your donations directly towards snow removal. Most importantly, please make sure your account is paid up to date. When you fall behind on your dues, the synagogue cannot pay its bills. If we can't pay our bills then our vendors stop serving us. Please check your bill balances and if you have any questions about it, please contact either me, Lee Elmowitz, David Steinberg, or any Continued on page 12 Contact any of the above through the ATC office - 781-344-8733 Please! No Calls or E-mails regarding ATC on Shabbat or Holidays From the Rabbi’s Desk The peppy and spirited melody of Dayenu that we sing at the Seder is one that gives all of us a much needed lift. However, the Dayenu is more than a children’s song. Rather, it contains a point of view of life which is different from the way we usually look at life. Listen to the words: “If he took us out of Egypt and had not led us through the desert “Daneyu” (it would have been enough for us). He had given us the Shabbat and not brought us into the land of Israel, Daneyu, (it would have been enough for us). A colleague of mine, Rabbi Jack Riemer, once posed the question, would it have really been enough if G-d performed these wonderful acts and would not have completed the process of liberation? He said that would be comparable to a man who is stuck in the bottom of the well and someone comes and throws him a rope and lifts him halfway up and then says, “Okay, you are now on your own,” and lets go of the rope. Does that make sense? Yes, it does. What Dayenu is saying, if G-d gives you a half a favor, don’t knock it. If G-d does part of a good deed for you, that is no small thing. Dayenu teaches us to be grateful for partial favors, because partial favors are as much as any of us ever get in this life. Who do you know who gets everything he wants or needs in life? If we choose to ignore partial favors, we become unappreciative and unhappy people. If we think for a moment, all of us know someone who in a certain sense can teach us how to sing Dayenu. My colleague, Rabbi Sholom Stern, relates the story of a family friendship that he maintains with a former congregant of his at his Ahavath Torah Congregation previous shul in Chicago who is in his mid-fifties. This fellow has diabetes… has been going blind the last few years… has a heart condition…kidneys are deteriorating… will soon have to be on dialysis. He suffers from neuropathy… that is he feels constant pain in his feet. His whole nervous system has been affected. Yet, Rabbi Stern's family receives two phone calls a month from this man who is always chipper and upbeat. He is elated over the recordings that are sent to him by the Jewish Braille Institute. He expresses deep appreciation for the material he receives from the Library of Congress that has a department for the partially sighted. His voice never betrays a bitter note of complaint over his cruel fate. He truly seems able to say Dayenu for the partial favors that he has received from G-d. We are not the only ones who need to live this way… G-d does too. For if G-d demanded perfection from us he would have had a breakdown long ago. Instead G-d had and has to live with our imperfections. When we were in the desert after being liberated from Egypt he put up with us when we threatened him by saying, “Let’s head back for Egypt.” He tolerated sarcasm when we cynically said, “Was it for lack of graves that you brought us to die in the wilderness” or when we distorted and romanticized the horrific experience of slavery and said, “We remember the fish that we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions and the garlic.” And despite all this, G-d says about the Jewish people, in the Book of Jeremiah, as he reflects in that period, “I remember the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the desert, in a land not sown.” In other words, G-d thanked us for our partial favor, for whatever loyalty and trust that we demonstrated. Of course that loyalty and trust is flawed, but the last thing in the world that G-d expects from us is perfection. And, do you know that last thing we say to G-d before Pesach begins? We clean up our homes, not perfectly, but as well as we can. We scrape and we scour and we search for chametz in all the corners. And then we gather up the last crumbs and burn them and as we do, we recite a prayer that is really a confessional. We say to G-d, please accept this preparation as we have done. We did our best and if we missed some piece of chametz that we are not aware of, let it hereby be nullified or considered ownerless as the dust of the earth. In essence the formula that is recited both during the search for the chametz and the burning of the chametz declares that we are not perfect. And we trust that will be good enough for G-d and that continued on page 11 3 Sisterhood an appointment. Sandy is also at ATC most Tuesday mornings. Shalom! We all hope the snow is over. We have a lot of exciting events planned and hopefully no more cancellations. Please contact Bev Barbell for Torah Fund Cards to support the Jewish Theological Seminary. There are cards available for almost any occasion Our Rosh Chodesh Group will meet on Wednesday, March 4th, at 11:00 AM. We will make Hamentachen and fill Sh'lach Manot bags. Come and join us, learn about Purim and have some fun. Our Challah Bake was held on January 18th. Thanks so much to Sue Rosman for planning and leading this event. Everyone had a great time and we plan to have more cooking events. Sisterhood Shabbat will be held on Saturday, March 14th. Everyone is asked to participate. There are both English and Hebrew parts available. Services will be followed by a special Kiddush prepared by Sisterhood. On March 18th, we will hold our first Women's Seder. We will use a special Hagaddah and feature a complete chicken dinner. All paid up members of Sisterhood are invited at no cost. This of course includes all new ATC members. Another Stitch and Schmooze Minyan will take place. Finger knitting will be featured but you are welcome to bring any projects you are working on. Watch for more details as the weather improves. Debbie Springer is the person to contact for information about joining Sisterhood. Please support our programs. Sisterhood is only as strong as its membership. Our spring Rummage Sale will be held on Sunday, May 31st. Drop off will be during the week before and the night before. Watch for details. The Judaica Shop is now open on Sundays during religious school and also by appointment. Remember to shop here for your Bar and Bat Mitzvah needs, as well as for the other beautiful items available. Check the display case and call Sandy Stogel for Hope to see you soon. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions. Sincerely, Madeleine Lewis Cindy Smith Co-Presidents SHARON MEMORIAL PARK is pleased to announce the opening of our NEW WELCOME CENTER & CHAPEL When you take a trip, use ATC scrip ... It’s a Mitzvah! 4 Chapel available for indoor funeral services Pre-need planning / Interfaith sections available 781-828-7216 www.sharonmemorial.com Ahavath Torah Congregation March/April Calendar Ta'anit Esther/Fast of Esther Wednesday March 4 Fast begins at 6:15 AM and ends at 6:12 PM Purim Wednesday March 4 Community Megillah Reading (at TBA).................................................6:30 PM Thursday March 5 Shacharit and Megillah Reading (at TBE)..8:15 AM Shabbat Ki Tissa Friday March 6 Candle lighting............................................5:22 PM Kabbalat Shabbat.........................................7:30 PM Saturday March 7 Tefillah.........................................................9:30 AM Comedy Dinner Theater - see ad page 7 Shabbat Parah Friday March 13 Candle lighting............................................6:30 PM Shabbat Across America (at TBA) (see page 24 ) Dinner.....................................................6:00 PM Kabbalat Shabbat....................................7:30 PM Saturday March 14 Tefillah (at ATC).........................................9:30 AM Shabbat HaHodesh Friday March 20 Candle lighting............................................6:38 PM Kabbalat Shabbat.........................................7:30 PM Saturday March 21 Shabbat Morning Live Coffee and Danish..................................9:30 AM Tefillah.................................................10:00 AM Shabbat HaGadol Rabbi in Residence Rabbi Richard Baroff, D.D. Friday March 27 Candle lighting............................................6:46 PM Dinner by paid RSVP..................................6:15 PM Kabbalat Shabbat.........................................7:30 PM Saturday March 28 Tefillah.........................................................9:30 AM Wednesday April 1 Chametz contracts due in the shul office no later than 2 PM Chametz contracts may be found on page 20 Friday April 3 Latest time to eat Chametz..............................10:16 AM Burn Chametz.................................................11:32 AM Shabbat Pesach Friday April 3 Candle lighting............................................6:54 PM First Seder traditional begins no earlier than candle lighting Saturday April 4 Tefillah.........................................................9:30 AM Pesach II Saturday April 4 Second Seder traditionally begins no earlier than 7:48 PM Sunday April 5 Tefillah.........................................................9:30 AM Pesach VII Thursday April 9 Candle lighting............................................7:00 PM Minyan.........................................................7:30 PM Friday April 10 Tefillah.........................................................9:30 AM Shabbat Pesach VIII Friday April 10 Candle lighting............................................7:01 PM Kabbalat Shabbat.........................................7:30 PM Saturday April 11 Tefillah.........................................................9:30 AM Yizkor will be recited If Rabbi J has served as your agent for the sale of your chametz, your chametz contracts will be in force until 8:33 PM Shabbat Shemini Friday April 17 Candle lighting............................................7:09 PM Kabbalat Shabbat.........................................7:30 PM Friday Night Unplugged Saturday April 18 Tefillah.........................................................9:30 AM Continued on page 7 Ahavath Torah Congregation 5 Rabbi Gerson South Area Religious School News From the Ed Director Our school continues to focus on MITZVOT and "Random Acts of Kindness!" Visit our School area and check out the many random acts of kindness our students performed on their vacation week! I am always so proud of our students’ efforts! We enjoy getting together as a school community to discuss the Parsha of the week, and we follow up with appropriate activities and work assignments. The springboard discussions have reached everyone on different levels and have become a shared time that we all look forward to spending together! Please mark your calendars and join us on Saturday, March 21st as we celebrate our ALL SCHOOL Service. Feel free to invite family members and friends to show support to our students and teachers! Our students will help Rabbi Hausman and Ms. Bailen lead March's Shabbat LIVE Service! You won't want to miss seeing our hard-working students shine as they lead and participate in this service! Our March elective will feature experiences centered on Passover, and our April elective will highlight ISRAEL! Special THANKS to our School Committee members that helped provide our own PURIM CARNIVAL experience on March 1st! Our classes created Shalach Manot assorted baskets for each other in honor of the Purim Holiday. Our School and Sisterhood joined forces to offer a CHALLAH MAKING WORKSHOP on January 18th. We had 37 people actively involved in creating their own Challahs, Challah covers and aprons. Extra special THANKS to Steve Niers for his generous donations of supplies. We so appreciate your continued support to our activities and efforts. We hope to plan more cooking experiences that will bring our congregational members and our students together for meaningful and fun experiences that can be shared with a variety of ages! Our Students are selling Miss Chocolates for Passover. Please contact the school office (781-344-8755) if you would like to participate in this Fundraiser for our school. All Kosher for Passover Candy orders are due by March 11th! Mrs. Rosman demonstrates challah-making to a rapt audience Junior Congregation Opportunities include the following dates: Wednesday, March 4: Reading the Megillah (TBA) Saturday, March 7 Friday, March 13 (Shabbat Across America) Saturday, March 21 (REQUIREMENT- All School Service - Shabbat Morning Live) Friday, April 17 (Friday Night Unplugged) Saturday, May 2 (Shabbat Morning Live) Friday, May 29 (Friday Night Unplugged) Please remember the importance of Junior Congregation...It is a requirement and an important portion of our school curriculum. This year we canceled classes on Sundays when Junior Congregations were offered on Saturdays with the understanding that students would be participating and attending Junior Congregations…we expect to see your children at these services-we encourage parents and families to stay for the services and make new memories of participating in services together! Stay warm and be careful of all the ice out there! B'Shalom, Sue Rosman Education director eddirector@atorah.org 781-344-8755 6 Please... Help your synagogue by paying your dues on a timely basis. Thanks! Ahavath Torah Congregation March/April Calendar (continued from page 5) Shabbat Tazria-Metzora Community Shabbat with TBE and TBA Friday April 24 Candle lighting............................................7:17 PM Kabbalat Shabbat.........................................7:30 PM (at TBA) Saturday April 25 Tefillah.........................................................9:15 AM (at TBA) Ahavath Torah Congregation Shabbat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim Friday May 1 Candle lighting............................................7:25 PM Kabbalat Shabbat.........................................7:30 PM Saturday May 2 Saturday Morning Live Coffee and Danish.......................................9:30 AM Tefillah.......................................................10:00 AM 7 Get Well Wishes Donations Al & Judy Litwack, in memory of beloved parents, Jack & Phyllis Shulman Michael Weinstein Sandy Stogel Alan & Ann Paskind, in memory of Harry Paskind Laurence Perlmutter, in memory of Marion Speyer Mention ATC and 10% of your wine purchase will be donated to ATC! Irene & Richard Goldman, in memory of Louis Sherman William & Paula Manburg, in memory of David Feinstein Bennette Shultz, in memory of beloved uncle, Abraham Joseph Liansky Bennette Shultz, in memory of beloved father, Morris Shultz Bennette Shultz, in memory of beloved mother, Mary B. Manevitch Shultz Warren & Linda Keller, in memory of Evelyn Figure Dedications received after February 20th will be acknowledged in the next issue. When you take a trip, use ATC scrip ... It’s a Mitzvah! SUPPORT YOUR ATC JUDAICA SHOP! New merchandise arriving for your ritual & holiday needs! Gifts for all occasions Open on Sundays, during religious school, and also by appointment. Remember to shop here for your Bar and Bat Mitzvah needs, as well as for the other beautiful items available. Call Sandy Stogel for an appointment. Sandy is also at ATC most Tuesday mornings. 8 Ahavath Torah Congregation Minyan Appeal---February 2015 Dear Friends, Paul Barbell and I are co-chairs of the Ritual Committee. We encourage you to attend minyans at least twice per month. This should not be too much for me to ask or for you to do. I was told by two close friends not to make people feel guilty about not attending minyan. I was also informed that I cannot make prayer mandatory even if it is for a good cause. So I said to myself what is the next option? I answered myself (This can be dangerous) with one word: ASK. ASK, ASK, AND ASK SOME MORE. I volunteered to be co-chair of the Ritual Committee because we did not have guaranteed daily minyans for new and existing members. Will you, our membership, also volunteer? Minyans must be supported by our total membership. A non-member is shopping for a new shul and arrives for minyan at 7:30 in the evening. Then they are informed that ATC cannot provide 10 people (men or women) to comprise a minyan for the only Conservative shul in Stoughton. How would you feel or what would you think? If you need a minyan for Kaddish or Yahrzeit, you would be mortified if the congregation could not provide a minyan; You, the shopper, require a minyan. If another member of the congregation requires a minyan, do we support this person? We need to be family for each other. As the only Conservative shul in Stoughton, it is our duty to the community to have a daily minyan. We took the pledge to guarantee a minyan once per day, seven days per week . Here is where we stand in this commitment to our membership. The ritual committee has 18 members. Each member has committed to attend 2 or more minyans per month, not per week. Forty congregants serve on the Board of Directors (BOD). 30 members have pledged to attend at least 1 night per month. A few board members have work commitments which hamper evening attendance. Now I am asking you, our members and ATC family, to pledge your time for once or twice per month. Please pledge your time; I am not asking you to pledge your money. All committee meetings will begin at 8:00 pm. Please attend minyan before you attend your committee meeting. You are not making an extra trip to your shul; you are taking 20 minutes to serve your congregation. Minyans are needed to attract new members and support current members; you are needed to guarantee a minyan. I have faith in you to make our guarantee come true, a minyan seven days per week. To our retired seniors, one or two times per month should not be asking too much. To parents of school children, come to minyan every other Sunday at 9:00 AM, when you bring your children to school. Minyan will take only 30 minutes of your time. To people who come for Kaddish or Yahrzeit, please join us on a regular basis. The minyan volunteers were here for you; will you be there for the next person who requires a minyan? To all of you, please help your shul. We need another 30 people to come Monday-Thursday nights and Sunday at 9:00 AM. Please sign up for one or two times per month. Your assistance is needed and appreciated. Please call me at 508-297-0479. Thank you, Leon Rudman Co-chair, Ritual committee From an old Jewish prophet: Seek to assert your devotion when a worthy situation arises. Ahavath Torah Congregation 9 Comedy Dinner Theater at ATC (continued from page 1) Your check is your reservation. There will be no walk-ins to ensure that there will be enough food for everybody! Reservations may be made by calling the synagogue office at 781-344-8733 or by emailing office@atorah.org. Chance Langton is a nationally known comedian, musician, actor, and writer. Over the past twenty years he has headlined at top comedy clubs across the country. In addition, he has appeared in concert with Rodney Dangerfield, Jay Leno, Eddie Murphy, and other wellknown acts. His numerous national television credits include appearances on ABC, NBC, Fox, Showtime, and A&E; on such shows as Comic Strip Live and Comedy on the Road. Mike has been a headlining stand-up comedian since 1978. Mike has appeared on SHOWTIME and has had his sports material featured on ESPN's SPORTSCENTER. He has toured 38 cities with Steven Wright and regularly appears in Las Vegas, NewYork, and Atlantic City. Mike's written work has been published in Sports Illustrated, The Patriot Ledger, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Boston Phoenix, and Sports Collectors Digest. Patty Ross is one of the most sought-after personalities on the national comedy scene. The American Comedy Awards nominated Patty for Best Female Guest-Star in a Sitcom for one of her appearances on Roseanne. She was also the featured female performer at the Gala of the 1997 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada. She performs regularly at the Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, and Improvisation in Los Angeles. Patty's resume includes opening for Andrew Dice Clay in a 10,000 seat venue, and from receiving a standing ovation from a convention of Montessori nuns, to opening for Jackie Mason and Pat Cooper. Bikkur Cholim/ Visiting the Sick WOMEN'S SEDER WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18th 6:30 PM Please call the office or have someone call on your behalf if you are ill, or know of a congregant who is ill, and would like a visit by Rabbi J. The only way Rabbi J will know if you are hospitalized or ill is if he is notified. Please join us for a special Seder with a Haggadah especially for women. Please rest assured that Rabbi J does his best to protect a person’s privacy. Complete chicken dinner will be served. There is no charge for paid-up members of Sisterhood, including our new members. Reservations are mandatory. Sorry, no walk-ins to keep costs down and ensure enough food for all. RSVP to Madeleine Lewis lewis.madeleine@gmail.com no later than Thursday, March 12th. We hope to see you there! 10 Please Help Our Food Pantry Collection! Your help is needed. Unemployment and underemployment have devastated the community. The need for Food Pantry assistance has increased by 50% this past year. Please remember the ongoing needs of our Food Pantry collection. ATC serves as a collection center for the Stoughton Food Pantry and Jewish Family Table. Ahavath Torah Congregation Israeli Elections: Bellwether or Bewilderment? How the process works and why America should care with Brandeis Professor Eric Fleisch The Hausman Memorial Speaker Series resumes on Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 PM as our guest will be Brandeis Professor of Israeli History and Politics, Dr. Eric Fleisch, whose topic will be Israeli Elections: Bellwether or Bewilderment? How the Process Works and Why America Should Care. Dr. Eric Fleisch will address the imminent national election in Israel, its possible outcomes and issue to be faced in the near and longterm future. Dr. Eric Fleisch is a Research Associate at CMJS and a lecturer in the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. He holds a PhD in Near-Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, as well as an MA in Jewish Communal Service from the Hornstein program at Brandeis. Dr. Fleisch is currently working on the manuscript for a book based on his dissertation, Israeli NGOs and American Jewish Donors: The Structures and Dynamics of Power Sharing in a New Philanthropic Era. Suggested donation is $10. Help ATC While You Get In Shape!! Would you like to try a 30 minute a day, at home exercise program? Dale Roseman is a Beachbody Coach. She provides free personal coaching for any of the Beachbody workouts and Shakeology nutrition programs! There are beginner/intermediate and advanced programs to choose from. Dale has generously agreed to donate $36-$54 to ATC for each program purchased. For ideas on programs, go to: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/DROSEMA N1, click on challenge packs, and options will appear to narrow down your choices. Email or call her with questions (droseman@comcast.net or 781-801-8183) and she will help determine which type of program is best for you. From the Rabbi’s Desk (continued from page 3) He will say Dayenu to our efforts. The nice thing of realizing that you are not perfect, is that you can begin to forgive others for not being perfect too. You can forgive your children for not being perfect. We need to forgive our children their imperfections, and grant them the right to be whatever they are. We need to be able to feel the spirit of the Dayenu in their individual successes as they travel the long road to maturity. May the Dayenu teach us that we must have a certain perspective on the cup of life. We must recognize that it may not always be filled to the brim. May we view that cup as being full even when it may be half empty. For in our appreciation of the half that is full, we will experience the wholeness and fullness of life. From my family to yours, Chag Kasher Sameach, an uplifting and meaningful Passover. Rabbi J Ahavath Torah Congregation 11 President’s Message (cont.) of the other Executive Board members. Keep in mind that your dues are your commitment to the synagogue and, therefore, your responsibility to pay. It is not our job to come find you. We also understand that the unexpected can happen. If you cannot meet your obligation, for any reason, it is your responsibility to let us know. We are happy to discuss issues with you in confidence and we can help. As we go through these times of struggle, please keep in mind that our focus has not wavered from revitalizing and growing ATC into an institution that will be here for many years. Please don't let all our hard work be in vain, because of one unprecedented bad winter. B'Shalom, Alan Lader president@atorah.org Don't Forget Your Pasta and Raisins!!! Our congregation has made a commitment to Jewish Family Table to provide 35 packages of raisins and 35 boxes of pasta each month. Please help out! SAT, ACT Preparation Individual subjects algebra I&II, geometry, ELA, biology, chemistry, French I&II, Latin I&II Organization/study skills 781-799-8420 dgthaler@comcast.net Reasonable rates 12 Ahavath Torah Congregation Winter Blues Festival (from page 1) Vinny Serino and The Boston Baked Blues. Danny Klein, the “Ace on the Bass”, from the J. Geils Band, and Ricky “King” Russell were also the performers. For donations of $100 or more per person, people got to meet the musicians, who shared stories about their musical careers, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. before the event. It was an amazing night. Thank you to the performers, and to the volunteers who made this night a big success. Photos courtesy of Eric Kahn & Myron Smith Ahavath Torah Congregation 13 "Benghazi Truth Tour" with Kris "Tanto" Paranto and Lisa Benson On March 17th, at 7:30 PM, the Hausman Memorial Speaker Series presents former Army Ranger (2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment) and motivational speaker Kris Paronto ("Tanto" as he is affectionately known in security contracting circles), along with special guest, Lisa Benson. As a Ranger and private security contractor, Kris has deployed throughout South America, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa. He also worked with the US Government's Global Response Staff conducting low profile security in high threat environment throughout the world. Mr. Paronto was part the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, September 11th, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. Mr. Paronto's story is told in the book "13 Hours" written by Mitchell Zuckoff and his five surviving annex security team members. Mr. Paronto has been involved in security operations in hostile environments for over 10 years and his and team's involvement with the September 11th, 2012 attack on the US special mission in Benghazi, Libya was paramount in the saving of US lives and assets. Lisa Benson is a national security and foreign policy analyst, public speaker, radio broadcaster, President of The Queen Esther Project, a nonprofit organization, and Founder of the "National Security Task Force" which facilitates activists in more than 30 cities, and three countries, monitoring community terrorist threats. The hallmark of all her efforts are the collaborations she has created with 25 esteemed national security leaders working together - they are military experts, former CIA, former FBI, and researchers and analysts from Policy Centers and Think Tanks in Washington, D.C. Currently, Lisa has the ears of a national and international audience each week on Salem Communications, 960 The Patriot each Sunday afternoon as the voice of the Lisa Benson Radio Show for National Security Matters - 1pm Arizona time. It can be heard in the South West on AM radio frequency, or on a smarthone with iHeartRAdio or on computer. Her website is: www.LisaBensonRadioShow.com Suggested donation is $20 Finishing the basement? Use ATC scrip ... It’s a Mitzvah! 14 Please... Help your synagogue by paying your dues on a timely basis. Thanks! Ahavath Torah Congregation You are cordially invited to attend TBA’s Fifth Annual Community Saturday, April 4th at 6:15 2nd night of Passover Must RSVP with Payment by March 16th. Save $$$ Adults $30 until March 16; $40 after Children (under 13) $15 until March 16; $25 after RSVP with payment to Temple Beth Am Any questions, call Temple Beth Am at 781-963-0440 or Email Faye at fruma51@gmail.com Name: _________________________________ # Adults @ $30 ________ # Children (13 and under) @ $15 ________ Phone: ___________________________ Seating request: ______________________________________________ Ahavath Torah Congregation 15 PASSOVER PREPARATIONS A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED I. What is Chametz? The basic rule which underlies the dietary laws of Passover is that during this holiday a Jew must not eat, own or derive benefit from Chametz. Chametz refers to the five species of grain - wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oats - which have been subjected to a leavening process. In their unleavened states, these same five grains can be used to make Matzoh. The word "Chametz" itself refers to fermenting or souring. Dough (flour and moisture) can rise by just sifting (sour dough) or by a leavening agent being added. Chametz includes not only bread, crackers and macaroni, but Items formed of fermented grain used in other ways - such as beer, whiskey and grain vinegar. The elaborate cleaning ("Kashering") process, involving putting away "regular" foods and dishes, renouncing ownership of leaven, and buying special foods, are all steps to ensure that no Chametz is found in places where it might be used. Any presence of Chametz, however minute, is forbidden on Passover. The rabbis made an exception to this very strict rule: If an accidental mixture took place before Pesach began, it can be considered negated if Chametz is less than 1/60 of the whole mixture. This is why it is safer to purchase various foods (for example, milk) before the holiday begins. If you buy milk before Passover, no special "Hechsher" (certification of Kashrut) is necessary, but if such items are bought during the holiday, they do require a "Hechsher." (Shopping for most things before Pesach will also increase the number of items you can economize on). II. What about legumes? In our definition of Chametz, rice, millet, corn, peas and beans weren't mentioned ("Kitniyot," in Hebrew). All agree that these are not Chametz. Sephardic Jews generally follow the practices of the Talmud and Shulchan Arukh (16th century law code) permitting these Items on Passover. Ashkenazim (European Jews) followed the custom of prohibiting these Items, either because of fear of "contamination" (e.g., rice might have grain mixed in) or confusion (e.g., because beans can be ground into a flour-like substance, it might be confused with grain flour). Custom plays an important role In Jewish life, but one should be aware that there is a significant difference between eating soda crackers (100% Chametz) and soy beans. Many Ashkenazic Jews eat string beans because the kernel has not been formed, and there are differences of opinion regarding peanuts and a variety of seeds (sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, etc.). Chocolate used to be a problem for Ashkenazim, because lecithin, used as an emulsifier, comes from soybeans. Today, most Israeli chocolate factories use a substitute emulsifier, from rapeseed, for Passover, and can label their chocolate l’lo hashash kitniyot (without suspicion of Kitniyot) III. How do you get Rid of Chametz? A. Eat it up before Passover. B. Give it away to a non-Jew. C. Renounce ownership by selling it - this is usually done by making a rabbi your agent, signing a document, allowing him to sell it to a non-Jew for a token down payment. After the holiday, when the purchaser discovers that he really doesn't want all the leftover graham crackers in your closet, he normally sells it back and the down payment is returned. This is legal fiction, but it solves the problem of what to do when you have too much Chametz to merely give away. ALL CHAMETZ SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY 11:26 AM ON APRIL 14, AT WHICH TIME CHAMETZ IS BURNED AND THE CONTRACTS WILL BE SOLD. Baking Matsot, Mantua, 1560 Matsah making, Utrecht. 1663. Cooling hands in cold water before handling dough, Venice, 1609. PASSOVER PREPARATIONS A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED IV. Why go through all this bother? Ultimately, as with all rituals, the meaning you derive from it is a very personal matter and often it cannot be explained rationally. Here are some possibilities: • The cleaning out of Chametz symbolize the cleaning out of the old ways of slavery as our ancestors had to do to leave Egypt. It can symbolize our desire to cleanse ourselves of our "evil inclinations," the "Chametz of the heart." • It is a "spring cleaning," a chance to air out our houses, and ourselves, after the long winter's hibernation. In the spring, we are spiritually and physically reborn. In this sense, the themes of Passover and Easter are very similar. • The more effort we put into preparing for a holiday, the more intense are our feelings and memories associated with it. This is why Passover has maintained such a powerful hold on even the most assimilated of Jews, while other celebrations have fallen from favor. We all have vivid memories of childhood Passovers, and they are so vivid because of all the work that went into the preparation. On Passover, we simultaneously recall the infancy of our people and of ourselves. We are transformed both to Egypt and to wherever we grew up. But such a moving experience does not come for free: we must earn it the old fashioned way — by removing leaven. V. When do we start eating Matzah? Matzah can be eaten all year round. But we should avoid it for 24 hours before the first Seder so that its taste is fresh. It probably is a good idea not to eat much of anything during the afternoon before the first Seder. Some don't eat Matzah for two weeks prior to the holiday. VI. How do I clean my house for Passover? Areas where eating takes place should be cleaned thoroughly. Also, check places like briefcases, purses, desks and coat pockets, if you occasionally put food there. Offices, lockers in school, and automobiles should also be cleaned. There is no need to go overboard with this, however. The house can still be Kosher for Passover, even, if every window isn't washed and the bathtub isn't scrubbed. VII. What about (oy, gevalt) the kitchen? Shelves, counters, tables and drawers should be well cleaned. They can be Kashered by pouring boiling water over them. An easier solution (and less messy) is to cover them with shelf paper or just tape them shut if you don't need them. The refrigerator should be defrosted and cleaned (no shelf paper is necessary here). To "Kasher" a stove - clean it well with a commercial cleanser, do not use it for 24 hours, then heat it to maximum temperature for one hour. If you plan to use the broiling pan, cover it with heavy foil. For a self-cleaning oven, run it through one self-clean cycle. Electric burners should be treated in a similar manner: clean, don't use for 24 hours and then heat until they are red hot for at least five minutes. For gas burners, either heat them to the hottest possible temperature for 15 minutes or immerse the burners in a pot of boiling water. For a microwave oven, place a utensil with boiling water inside until thick steam fills it. KITCHEN UTENSILS: Launder dishtowels and cloth tablecloths. In general, items are "Kashered" according to how they are used: Ovens and oven racks require high heat, pots and silverware require immersion in boiling water. Items used only for cold may be "Kashered" by rinsing. Dishwashers should be run through one cycle with soap after laying idle for 24 hours. PASSOVER PREPARATIONS A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED ITEMS WHICH CANNOT BE MADE KOSHER (IN ANY PRACTICAL WAY): • Meat spits • Metal baking pans • Earthen ware • Toaster ovens • Porcelain • Items that will be damaged by hot water • Items which cannot cleaned (for example, graters, pots and pans with burned on food) • Silverware and cooking utensils of more than one piece (for example, knives with wooden handles; Chametz can be stuck in the crack) ITEMS WHICH CAN BE KASHERED: • Metal pots, frying pans, (including those glazed or enameled, Teflon is questionable). • One piece wooden utensils (in theory) • One piece silverware • Glass (no boiling necessary, for dishes and glasses, just a thorough scouring) • Pyrex, Duralex and Corelle ware • China: if it hasn't been used in a year, it is Kosher if scoured and cleansed with hot water • Hard plastic • Nylon • Bakelite • Rubber that can be immersed in boiling water briefly POINTERS: 1. Don't forget to also immerse the lids of jars and containers. 2. Use a big pot for boiling, dip items with tongs or tied to a string, while the water is actually boiling. 3. For the largest pot (too big to be dipped) boil water in it, then fill it to the brim with more water. Later, pour boiling water on the outsides and handles. 4. Remove handles of pots and pans before boiling (if possible) and boil separately. Of course, it is, in many ways, easier to use a separate set of kitchenware and dishes for Passover. But this is not necessary. For questions on specific items, feel free to call. VIII. What foods can I buy? Please beware. Many foods are marked up for profit to take advantage of the consumer who is unaware that not all items need rabbinic supervision. If you buy the following before Passover and leave it unopened, no rabbinic supervision is needed: • Coffee • Tea • Sugar • Pepper (Pure herbs & spices, not garlic salt) • Dried fruit (with no preservatives) • Honey • Hard cheese (preferably sealed in the factory) • Butter • Fruit Juice (no additives, sweeteners or preservatives) • Kosher meat, chicken, fresh or frozen (not breaded or in sauce) • Detergents (may also be bought on Passover) • Fresh milk • Eggs • Vegetables, fresh or frozen • Nuts in their shells PASSOVER PREPARATIONS A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED • Pure olive oil (no additives): also safflower & peanut oils • Tuna and other types of fish, frozen or fresh, (kosher types of fish and unbreaded, of course) • Paper and plastic goods • Aluminum products • All prescribed medicines in cases of medical necessity ITEMS WHICH MUST HAVE PASSOVER SUPERVISION: • Matzah and Matzah products • Cake/Cake Mixes • Soups • Pudding • Candy/Chewing Gum • Chocolate • Cocoa • Gefilte Fish • Prepared Horse radish • Processed Meats • Baking Powder • Cider Vinegar • Margarine • Liquors • Ice Cream • Pickles • Gelatin • Canned Foods • Mayonnaise • Ketchup • Mustard • Soft Drinks • Seasoned Salt • Wine This list does not claim to be exhaustive. IX. Above all, what does all this come down to? Common sense. When you heat an oven or boil a pot, strict safety measures should be employed. Remove all soft plastics from the area. X. Miscellaneous issues The situation regarding cheese requires a fuller explanation. The Conservative Movement allows for the consumption of hard cheese that is not supervised, while Orthodox practice is to require supervision, whether on Passover or not. This has to do with the dispute over the nature of rennet, an animal by-product used in the formation of cheese. Vodka may or may not be kosher for Passover; you must check the label. Usually, vodka is made from potatoes. Most Israeli wines and brandies are produced kosher for Passover the year around, for simplicity's sake. But some liqueurs may not be Pesach friendly, so, again, label reading is a must. A perennial question is whether one can use ordinary alcohol based perfumes, aftershaves and other scents, which might contain grain alcohol. There are two distinct schools of thought on this subject. The stricter school says that only approved for Passover cosmetics of any type may be used. The more lenient school holds that since these products are inedible, the source of the alcohol does not matter. Anything "not fit for a dog to eat" is classed as an inedible. Both views are valid ones. XI. Conclusion In the end, Passover is purely a personal experience. For some it is a game, as exemplified by the Search for Leaven, a favorite of children, which takes place the evening before the Seder. For others, it is a dreaded chore. And others have long since given up preparing for it so elaborately. What I've presented here are, for the most part, the strictest requirements of Jewish law. Many people go way beyond these requirements, others are more selective. On this festival of freedom, we are free to question tradition, but just as powerful, is our freedom to enrich our lives by turning just another spring evening into a night different from all other nights. THE SALE OF CHAMETZ Halacha requests no Jew own any Chametz after 11:26 AM on April 14. Rabbi Hausman is authorized to prepare a bill of sale, and arrange for the transfer of ownership of your Chametz to a non-Jew. Members of ATC may arrange to appoint Rabbi Hausman as their agent to sell their Chametz after daily Minyan or at any other mutually arranged time. You may mail the following contract making sure that it reaches the synagogue office no later than 10 AM on Sunday, April 13. Please detach and return to Rabbi Jonathan Hausman Ahavath Torah Congregation, 1179 Central Street, Stoughton, MA 02072 " Contract for Authorization to Sell Chametz I/we understand that Rabbi Hausman is willing to act as my agent for the sale of any Chametz which I shall still have in my possession by Monday, April 14. Rabbi Hausman is authorized to sell such Chametz to a non-Jew of his choosing, and the buyer has free access to the "Chametz" acquired by him. I/we hereby authorize Rabbi Hausman to sell my/our Chametz which is in my/our possession, knowingly or unknowingly, or at my address (please print clearly): Name _______________________________________________________ Signature ____________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________ Rabbi Hausman is fully authorized to sell, lease, dispose of and conduct all transactions that he deems fit and proper in accordance with Torah and Rabbinic regulations and in conformity with the laws of the State of Massachusetts. I/we undertake to store these items under lock and key and NOT to make use of them, or the places in which they are stored, during the Pesach period. I/we understand it is customary to make a donation to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund at this time. I/we understand that this donation is not obligatory. Donations are used for the local Maot Chittim Fund. If possible, please itemize your chametz possessions. Please include the contents of your liquor cabinet. You may list the closets in which your chametz has been placed. You may make this listing on the back of this contract. 20 Ahavath Torah Congregation ATC can earn a donation every time you search the Internet and shop online!!! Search the web with Yahoo-powered GoodSearch.com and they’ll donate about a penny to ATC each time you search! Shop at more than 2,400 GoodShop.com merchants including Best Buy, Toys R Us, and others, and a percentage of each purchase will go to ATC! All you have to do is sign up at either site and choose ATC as your cause! Just make sure you are logged in when you search or shop. Ahavath Torah Congregation 21 JF&CS Family Table Mazel Tov Helping families in need celebrate Passover More than 400 families in Greater Boston and on the North Shore rely on JF&CS Family Table to provide them with kosher food and personal items every month. Our community is a key part of this effort. As you prepare for your Passover celebration, please consider a donation to JF&CS Family Table - a wonderful way to observe and celebrate Passover and the beloved tradition of tzedakah. Karl and Marcia Flanzer, on the birth of their new grandson, Remy, to daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Michael Weinstein You can make a gift to Family Table in one of the following ways: ● Mail a check to JF&CS Family Table Passover Appeal, 1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02451 ● Visit jfcsboston.org to make your donation online ● Call 781-647-JFCS (5327) to donate by credit card over the phone. Your entire donation is tax deductible. Thank you for your support! Bikkur Cholim/ Visiting the Sick Please call the office or have someone call on your behalf if you are ill, or know of a congregant who is ill, and would like a visit by Rabbi J. The only way Rabbi J will know if you are hospitalized or ill is if he is notified. Please rest assured that Rabbi J does his best to protect a person’s privacy. Sisterhood Shabbat Saturday, March 14th 9:30 AM Everyone is invited. We hope to have as much of this Service as possible led by women participants. Daughters & granddaughters are encouraged to be part of this event. A special Kiddush prepared by Sisterhood Members will be served. Please let us know if you would like to help us cook! Please contact Paula Gaffin at chippa475@aol.com or office@atorah.org to RSVP and choose an English or Hebrew part to lead. Condolences Debbie and Mark Levine and family, on the loss of beloved father and grandfather, Irving Pransky Dan and Hillery Bauman and family, on the loss of beloved father and grandfather, William Bauman Harvey Abramowitz, on the loss of his parents, Morton and Roselyn Abramowitz Marcia and George Kostick, on the loss of her beloved brother, David Band Save the Date for a Special Kabbalat Shabbat May 29 22 Ahavath Torah Congregation Trivia Fun-Raiser (from page 1) fierce, but one team claimed victory; they call themselves “50 Shades of Grey”. (Don’t ask, we didn’t!) There was lots of thinking and searching the recesses of our minds for meaningless information, and lots of laughter. Special thanks to Stacy Andler for chairing this event, and to all of the volunteers who greatly contributed to its success. I also have it on good authority that there will be a rematch next year, so start reading everything you can find that could be a trivia question, and be prepared for the next “Trivia Fun-Raiser” Night!! Last year’s winners attempt to repeat. Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Richard Boroff, DD Rabbi Richard Baroff, D.D. (Doctor of Divinity, not Dunkin Donuts!) will be our Scholar in Residence March 27-29. Rabbi Baroff was born and raised in Bridgeport CT and raised in Connecticut. He earned a BA in History from The George Washington University and received Rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College in 1987 in New York City. His rabbinical thesis was Paul and Rabbinic Judaism. Rabbi Baroff served as rabbi of Temple Beth David in Snellville GA, Congregation Shaarey Zedek in East Lansing MI, and as associate rabbi of Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta GA. He currently serves as visiting rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel in Panama City FL. Beginning in 2007, Rabbi Baroff has been the rabbi and president of Guardians of the Torah in Atlanta, a congregation/organization which makes a special effort to help Public Safety Officers and their families. Rabbi Baroff has served as a chaplain in the naval reserve and is currently chaplain of Shomrim Atlanta. He was president of the Gwinnett County GA Community Housing Resource Board and of the Atlanta Rabbinic Association. Rabbi Richard and his wife Raina have two children, Paula and Samuel. Rabbi Baroff’s will speak Friday evening, Shabbat morning and at a Rebbe’s tisch during Kiddush. Dinner in honor of Rabbi Baroff will take place Friday evening at 6:15 PM. Your check is yoru reservation; cost is $20 per adult, $12 per children ages 5 – 12, under age 5 is free. Festive Kiddush luncheon will follow Shabbat services. There is no charge, but please RSVP so that the kitchen will be able prepare accordingly. RSVP to the ATC office at office@atorah.org or phone 781-344-8733 When you take a trip, Refilling your prescriptions? use ATC scrip ... use ATC scrip ... It’s a Mitzvah! It’s a Mitzvah! Ahavath Torah Congregation 23 Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Ann-Carol Lipshires in memory of beloved husband, Arnie Lipshires Donna and Rick Sandler, in loving memory of our parents, Robert Gold, Harold and Rosalyn Sandler Steven Kostick, with thanks Larry Perlmutter, with thanks Norm and Susan Gotshalk, in memory of Celia Gotshalk Melissa Crane, in memory of beloved grandparents Izzy and Rose Crane, aunt Annette Feldman and close family friends Rabbi Henry and Ada Gerson Barry Levy and family, in memory of beloved wife and mother, Lois Barbara Moskowitz Joyce and Mark Goldstein, in memory of beloved father, Arthur Karp Hinda and Ron Gorin, in honor of the birth of Remy Weinstein, grandson of Marcia and Karl Flanzer Marcia and Karl Flanzer, in memory of our beloved fathers, Louis Silverman and Nathan Flanzer Ben Lofchie, with thanks Margie and Warren Freshman, in memory of beloved sister, Alane Freshman Margie and Warren Freshman, in memory of beloved father, Samuel Freshman Sarah and Tom Damson, in memory of June Carvitt Vera Burtman, in memory of beloved father, Isadore Crane Milton Crane, in memory of beloved father, Isadore Crane Betty Wolfe, in memory of beloved father, Donald Nesmith Virginia Gianelly, in memory of beloved husband, Eugene Gianelly Howard Swerdlick, in memory of beloved father, David Swerdlick Roz Nadler, in memory of beloved father, Sidney Nadler Richard Nadler, in memory of beloved father, Sidney Nadler Toby and Paul Barbell, in memory of our beloved fathers, Samuel Barbell and Arthur Lifsitz Brigitte and Joerg Kemnade, in memory of June Carvitt Evelyn Hoffstein, in memory of beloved husband, George Barry Levy, in memory of beloved mother-in-law, Eva Schneiderman Eli Kaminsky, in memory of beloved father, Hyman Kaminsky Donations received after February 20th will be acknowledged in the next issue. Shabbat Across America at Temple Beth Am, Randolph ATC has been invited to join TBA for Shabbat Across America, on Friday evening, March 13.. Dinner will begin at 6 PM. Cost is $10 per person. Shabbat services will begin at 7:30 PM. RSVP for dinner directly to the TBA office at templebetham@verizon.net or phone 781-963-0440. For all your grocery shopping use ATC scrip ... It’s a Mitzvah! 24 Please... Help your synagogue by paying your dues on a timely basis. Thanks! Ahavath Torah Congregation Honor a birth, birthday, anniversary, graduation, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, wedding or any other special event in someone’s life with a leaf or a stone on our beautiful Tree of Life, located in the foyer of our synagogue. It is never too late to honor a special event or loved one. The price of each leaf is $54 (triple Chai) plus a $6.00 handling charge per order. Each leaf permits up to four lines of engraving. The first and fourth lines hold up to 18 characters and the second and third lines up to 26. The cost of engraving is $.35 per character. You may reserve a leaf for only $60 and pay for the engraving at the time of your simcha in the future. Tree of Life Order Form (Please Save) I wish to permanently inscribe my simcha as follows: (please print) Line 1 Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Name ________________________________________ Tel No. ___________________________ Total number of characters ___ x $.35 = $______ Plus Current cost of leaf 60.00 Total amount enclosed $ _____ PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO Ahavath Torah Congregation and mail to: Ann-Carol Lipshires, 51 Godfrey Dr, Norton, MA 02766 (508-285-3766). Don't Forget Your Pasta and Raisins!!! Our congregation has made a commitment to Jewish Family Table to provide 35 packages of raisins and 35 boxes of pasta each month. Please help out! Ahavath Torah Congregation SAMUEL M. HAUSMAN Attorney at Law Auto Accident, Slip and Fall, and Other Personal Injury Criminal Defense Business and Employment Law Medical Malpractice Social Security Disability General Practice Law Office of Esther C.S. Dezube 33 Kingston St., 4th Floor Boston, MA 02111 Phone: 617-451-0531 Fax: 617-451-5462 Mansfield (By Appointment) 508-261-8872 e:Samh9@msn.com 25 March/April Yahrzeit Calendar March 2 Arnold Warshauer March 3 Raymond Gootzit Ruth Gootzit Lina Nogin March 4 Bonnie Goldowsky March 5 Fay Goldstein March 6 Helen Altman March 7 Joseph Meltzer March 8 William Goldstein March 9 Eleanor Azerrad Mary Halpern Irving Spivack March 12 Jacob Goldstein Jeffrey Levitz March 14 Louis Rosenberg March 15 Martha Fogel Nathan Kramer March 17 Lt. Bernard Wilensky March 18 Louis Rostoff 26 March 19 Sally Lemkin Jacob Lipsky William Lipson Martin Stroll April 4 Tina Katz March 20 Deborah Gould Alex Kostick Martin Lerner April 6 Elyse Enman Alexander Reinstein Ruby Soloway March 21 Bessie Olstein David Weiner April 8 Rose Levine March 22 Mary Zeidman March 27 Mildred Goldstein Ester Green Alvin Kostick Philip Musman March 28 Louis Kellner March 29 Abraham Fruit March 30 Leonard Leppo March 31 Bernice Bauman Alan Goldstein Annette Silverstein April 18 Norma Marron Arlene Triber April 5 Abraham Silverman April 9 Diana Cooper Rose Sibulkin Sarah Tattlebaum April 10 Harry Gotshalk April 11 Gertrude Schwalbe Hyman Worobey April 12 Israel Zelbow April 13 Tillie Grubert Mildred Lipshires Mildred Lipshires Morris Tofsky April 14 Leona Worobey April 1 Jacob Schwalbe April 16 Milton Wish April 3 Stanley Blumenthal April 17 Joseph Shaw April 19 Martin Cohen Morris Sarner April 20 Miriam Raizal Zlobinskaya April 21 Ruth Fox Ida Levy April 22 Lillian Kaplan April 23 Donald Baker Jacob Egel April 24 Edward Fogel Edith Geller Benjamin Gerofsky April 25 Frances Nager April 26 Percy Carpman April 28 Ida Sharrow April 29 Julie Cooper Ruth Kuritz Gertrude Max Melvin Savage Ahavath Torah Congregation Scrip is a term that means “substitute money”. When you purchase scrip, you’re purchasing negotiable gift certificates and prepaid cards that are used just like cash. You can use scrip to purchase everyday expenses like food, clothing, and other essentials, and with every purchase, you earn revenue for ATC. Our supplier acts on behalf of churches, schools and other non profit organizations to purchase large amounts of scrip from grocery stores, department stores, and other retailers. Because the scrip is purchased with cash up front, the participating retailers offer a substantial discount. ATC buys the scrip at a discount, and re-sells the certificates to families like yours for full face value. The discount from two to fifteen percent or more – is our revenue. Scrip is a popular fundraiser because families don’t have to sell anything. Our congregants produce revenue by making regular household purchases they would make anyway. Groceries, clothing, toys, gifts, even gasoline can be purchased with scrip. Scrip is available at most major ATC functions. We stock scrip in various denominations for Shaw's, Stop & Shop, Roche Brothers, Butcherie, Barnes & Noble, Home Depot, Best Buy, Outback, and more. Go to www.atorah.org for a complete list of available vendors. Nessa Wilensky Rick Smith (Tanglewood) Rabbi J at the synagogue Helayne (Religious School & Greenbrook) Wendy Schulze 781-341-1846 or Ahavath Torah Congregation 781-344-8823 781-341-0882 781-344-8733 781-344-7566 781-856-1409 27 Ahavath Torah Congregation 1179 Central Street Stoughton, MA 02072 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #2 STOUGHTON, MA 02072 TIME VALUE 3/4 3/5 3/7 3/13 3/14 3/17 3/18 3/21 3/27-29 4/17 Purim Celebration/Megillah Reading Speaker: Prof. Eric Fleisch Comedy Dinner Theatre SAA Dinner (at Temple Beth Am) Sisterhood Shabbat Speaker: Kris “Tanto” Paronto Women’s Seder Shabbat Morning Live/All School Service Scholar in Residence Friday Night Unplugged Board of Directors Meetings: Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 7:30 PM Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 7:30 PM