Temple Beth Sholom
The Shofar Adar/Nisan/Iyar 5778
March/April 2018
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We Are Grateful to God By Susan Hendler, Temple Beth Orr, Coral Springs, FL
We are grateful to God who shows mercy when we face adversity, who has brought us the greatest gifts of faith, trust, and enlightenment through Torah. If we appreciate the grace, harmony, and artistry of nature—Dayeinu If we embrace the beauty of simplicity—Dayeinu If we envision the sacred with the ordinary—Dayeinu If we greet diversity with acceptance—Dayeinu If we cherish the insightful wisdom of our elders—Dayeinu If we perform acts of kindness anonymously—Dayeinu If we nurture the purity, creativity, and hope reflected in the eyes of our children—Dayeinu If we cultivate the positive forces that drive us to a peaceful existence—Dayeinu If we radiate the spirituality that we internalize from our relationship with God—Dayeinu If we are content to accept the serenity of God’s light—Dayeinu For all of this we are grateful. For all of this would be enough. Yet, there is never enough gratitude to encompass all of God’s wonders.
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YAHRZEITS May Their Memories Be a Blessing March 2-3/15-16 Adar 28 – Julius Kaufman 28 – Annie Newman 29 – Jacob Goodfriend 1 – Beatrice Newman Stoner
March 9-10/22-23 Adar 4 – George W. Brumfield, Jr. 4 – Robert Walter Norris 5 – Dorothy Greenspon 9 – Edward Novakoff 10 – Fannye Feibelman
March 16-17/29 Adar/1 Nisan 12 – Samuel Kabat 12 – Harry Elias Macht 14 – Harry Berman 17 – Lenamay Simon Moskowitz
March 23-24/7-8 Nisan 19 – Benjamin Vatz 20 – Louis Kaufman 20 – Dr. David S. Stoner 20 – Edna Wall 20 – Albert Steinberg 21 – Louis Berman 21 – Michael Plotkin 22 – Sylvia Baker Steinberg 24 – Zita Salamon 8 Nisan – Heather Silverman
March 30-31/7-8 Nisan 26 – Dr. Harry Jacobs 26 – Helen Elson 27 – Lillian Denny 29 – Rosa Berman 30 – Carree Hoffman 30 – Maurice Saperstein
April 6-7/21-22 Nisan 2 – William Margolin 2 – Arnold Manheim 3 – Stuart Harris 4– Fred Bermann 5 – Abraham Lewis Platt 6 – Sol Goodman 6 – Ida Nakdimen 7 – August Kahn
April 13-14/28-29 Nisan 11 – Frank Philip Heiner 11 – Adele Nakdimen 13 – David John Howard 13 – Alvin Silverman
April 20-21/5-6 Iyar 16 – Annie A. Rippe 18 – Norman Schriebfeder
April 27-28/12-13 Iyar 22 – Edwin Louis Rippe 26 – Clarice Sadie Simon 27 – Nat Becher
May 4-5/19-20 Iyar 2 – Edith M. Cornblatt 2 – Nathan Newman 2 – Wildred Santerre 3 – Margaret Heiner Kingoff 3 – Jeanne Gabriel Kaufman 5 – Herman J. Cornblatt
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Temple Beth Sholom Donations Lo Lehitalem (Building Fund) Faye and Sam Kushner Our dear friends Trudy Silverman, Michael Becher, Jane Carol Harris, Bessie Berman, Helene Navell, Sonia L. Rippe, and Albert Koplen Our dear grandparents Aaron and Rosa Bane Our dear friend and Volunteer of the Year, Jo Ann Howard Jo Ann and Peter Howard In Memory of Michael Becher Rick and Kristen Barker In Honor of Ben and Debbie Rippe on their marriage In Honor of Temple Beth Sholom Temple Beth Sholom, As a neighbor to the temple for thirty years now on Holbrook Avenue, I have always appreciated the care with which your congregation takes in maintaining your property. The temple, an outstanding piece of local architecture, along with many other houses of worship in the Historic District, integrates beautifully into our neighborhood. I was reminded of your synagogue recently while thinking of an appropriate way to acknowledge and celebrate the marriage of Ben and Deborah Rippe. Perhaps this donation can be used towards maintaining your facility, knowing that your congregation, like Ben and Debbie, will continue to make a meaningful contribution to our community. All the best to Ben, Deborah, and your congregation, Rick and Kristen Barker
Sisterhood Building Fund Contributions Susanne Singer, 822-1114 Please remember the Building Fund for Sympathy, Mazel Tov, Thank You, and Speedy Recovery. The list is endless. Your contributions are used to beautify our temple. Steve and Ronnie Mand To Barry Koplen “Keep up the good work, cuz� (concerning his heart surgery ) 3
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MARCH Friday, 2nd
No Service Scheduled
Saturday, 3rd
6:00 p.m.
Havdalah/Purim Celebration Jo Ann Howard/Carol Caplan & Ronnie Mand
Friday, 9th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Friday, 16th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Michael Caplan
Monday, 19th
5:00 p.m.
Sisterhood Meeting/Book Review
Friday, 23rd
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Friday, 30th
6:00 p.m.
Congregational Seder Jo Ann Howard, Ronnie Mand, & Melanie Vaughan, Chrm.
APRIL Friday, 6th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Bernard Baker
Friday, 13th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service –Jo Ann Howard
Friday, 20th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Friday, 27th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Sam Kushner
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WITH OUR CONGREGATION Shalom to all from Asher Caplan who is participating in UVA in India as he spends this semester abroad studying the "Bollywood Film Industry" and media productions in New Delhi. Besides studying Hindi and his regular classes, he is interning at a local media startup company and so far has scripted videos, written news articles and advertisement campaigns and worked on his first commercial shoot. He looks forward to sharing his adventures when he comes home. Welcome home to Barry Koplen! We are so glad all went well with your emergency cardiac surgery. We will all be mother hens to keep you on track!!! Welcome home to Gordon Lyles after his successful surgery. We look forward to having you back at temple when you are feeling up to it to continue your journey in Judaism. We will be thinking of Faye Kushner when she goes for her long awaited surgery on March 19th. Please know you will be in our prayers. Our wishes for good health are extended to Mildred Barth, Carol Caplan, Patrice Kramer, Faye Kushner, Esther Rippe, Charles Silverman, John Wills, and Gordon Lyles. We know that some of our congregants become ill, have surgery, or suffer an injury between The Shofar publications, so please know that we extend a prayer of comfort and continued recovery to those who are not specifically named.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES March Birthdays: 4 – Sadie Wills; 5 – Michelle Fryman; 9 – Kevin Vaughan; 15 – Eddy Fraifeld We do not have any birthdays in April or anniversaries in March and April.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MARCH AND APRIL
Our Purim celebration was so much fun…thank you to Carol Caplan and Ronnie Mand for the delicious food and our annual Megillah in rhyme and humor celebration. Watch this space in the next issue for pictures and comments from those in attendance. 5
Wonderful Memories—Our 2017 Congregational Seder
Be Part of the Memories for our 2018 Seder
Friday, March 30, 2018 The Haggadah Story will begin at 6:00 p.m. $15.00/person Reservation checks must be received by March 18 th No reservations will be accepted after this date Each family needs to bring: Passover wine or grape juice and a covered dish We will call to confirm what dish you will bring 6
You will receive a flyer with an R.S.V.P. form WHAT WE DID IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
We welcomed Shabbat together five times during the months of January and February. We also had a Havdalah Service and dinner at the Howards. Thank you to Michael for leading the January 26th service, the five women who conducted the Sisterhood Sabbath on February 16th, Bonnie Brumfield for leading the February 23rd service, and I lead January 12th and February 9th. Thank you to Eric Steckler for sharing some meaningful readings during several of the services. And yes, we had to cancel two services in January, so hopefully we will be back on schedule for March and April!
Our annual Tu B’Shevat Seder was held on Tuesday, January 30th. We had the opportunity to recognize each of the four seasons, to learn about and taste foods from various categories of fruits, read and listen to meaningful selections, and engage in some joyful singing. We concluded with a delicious meal and lots of schmoozing. It was a delightful event! Ronnie and I hope even more of you will participate next year.
Message from Ronnie Mand, Sisterhood President Sisterhood recently held its annual Shabbat service with Bonnie, Carol, Jo Ann, and Melanie joining me in leading the congregation in prayer, song, and thoughtful commentary. The other members in attendance joined us on the bema for the concluding song, and those unable to be with us were there in sisterly spirit. We appreciate all who came to support us and hope everyone enjoyed the service and the oneg which followed. Following the business portion of our March meeting, we will have a light supper and fellowship, followed by a discussion of the book Daring to Drive, “a fiercely intimate memoir about the making of an accidental activist”. Manal al-Sharif has written a vivid story of her journey in Saudi Arabia standing up to men, and ultimately winning, becoming a strong activist. Bonnie Brumfield will be our facilitator for what should be a thought-provoking and lively discussion. I am so proud of our “small but mighty” Sisterhood as we continue to carry on traditions set by those who paved the way for us, and as we forge ahead with our own innovative ideas 7
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Bonnie’s Book Beat
The VOW, by Felicity Goodrich, is a dark study of life in a small Polish town beginning with the Nazis’ invasion of Poland in September of 1939, and jumping five years later to September of 1944. The Red Army has liberated’ the village, but brought with this liberation its own brutality and violence. The townspeople survive as they must, with lack of food and fuel. Within this framework, young Anna has fallen in love with the village Priest, but is betrothed to a local brute. After she is violated by Russian soldiers, she discovers to her horror that she is pregnant. The townsfolk conclude that the Priest is responsible, but they fault Anna. Anna can find no solace in her dire situation except with Szymon, the Priest. As she comforts him following the murder of his father, he offers her kindness that flames into a love and yearning so strong that he considers leaving the priesthood. Her dreams and thoughts are to be married to him, in spite of being a devout Catholic. Although both face treachery and near death, yes, readers, there is a happy ending! Although Jews are mentioned less than a half dozen times within this narrative, the book is well worth reading if you are interested in this time period.
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A Bit of Humor So a Little Laugh Wouldn’t Hurt… Having Fun with Puns! The fattest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Circumference. He acquired his size from too much pi. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian. No matter how much you push the envelope, it will still be stationery. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie. The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large. When cannibals ate a missionary, 9
They got a taste of religion. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, “I’ve lost my electron.” The other says, “Are you sure?” The first one replies, “I’m positive.” There was a person who sent ten puns to friends with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.
March/April 2018 Danville As we celebrate the traditions of our Jewish holidays of deliverance, Purim and Passover, it is important to remember that we must continue to oppose anti-Semitism, especially by our support for Zionism. The Oxford English Dictionary defines Zionism as “a movement for (originally) the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel.” Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, continues to give us the opportunity to support Israel in a variety of ways through our donations to Hadassah Medical Organization and Youth Aliyah, among other programs in Israel, as well as combating the international BDS (Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions) movement which seeks to delegitimize the state of Israel. Hadassah also supports tikkun olam on the home front with its advocacy on issues as varied as gender equity in medical research, human trafficking, and affordable child care. Most recently, in response to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Hadassah reaffirmed the position it has advocated since 2000, that stronger gun control legislation and increased enforcement of current laws are needed to protect our communities and our nation from gun violence. As we munch our hamantaschen this Purim, please remember that Henrietta Szold named the organization she founded after the heroine of the Megillah who saved the Jewish people from destruction by the evil Haman. We may not have to put our life on 10
the line as Queen Esther did but we can support the good work of Hadassah here in the United States and of course in Israel. Our Danville chapter is planning a lovely celebration of our 100 years of service on May 20th, with distinguished guests Gail Moskowitz, President of the Southern Seaboard Region of Hadassah, and Leah Cohen, our Area Vice President. Details will follow, but mark your calendar and plan to join us for this special event. And what better way to honor our 100 year history than to make a significant donation to Hadassah! Martha Woody, President Danville Chapter of Hadassah
Keeping Up with our Members Flossie Tavss has just returned home from the hospital/rehab after a serious bout with the flu. If you would like her address to send a card, please let Martha know. Did we miss your news? Be sure to contact Martha Woody, 276-638-4316, and we’ll include you in our next newsletter!
Did You Know This About Our Danville Chapter? *Our Danville Chapter will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Our donor will be a special birthday gala! *There was an active Martinsville Chapter at one time, but it disbanded in 1964 and the members were invited to transfer to the Danville Chapter. We’re so lucky to now have Martha Woody (our chapter president) and Eydie Green as members! *Dovie Melnick joined the Danville Chapter in September 1964, served as chapter president beginning in 1978, and later became president of the Southern Seaboard Region in 1991. *In 1980, our Angels of Mercy project brought in $6,000. In 2017, we brought in a little over $15,000! Thank you to our members who participated, and the personals and business ads contributed by non-members.
What’s Happening with our Danville Projects Youth Aliyah – Did you forget to mail your card list and check to Susanne for our 2018 birthday/anniversary card project? You can still participate for the next three quarters. Let her know that it’s on its way or that you need another one. Just email her at susannesinger1@hotmail.com.
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No Show Ball – Invitations have been mailed and many of you have already returned your donations for this “non-event” to support the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower. If for some reason you have not received an invitation, please let me Jo Ann know (pkhlov@comcast.net) and another invitation will be sent to you. Be sure to join the fun and make a difference!
Candle Lighting – This is an opportunity for every Danville Hadassah member to participate in our beautiful candle lighting tradition! At the end of every meeting members light a Hanukkah menorah and share what is happening with their family and friends. Now, whether you can attend a meeting or not, you can light a menorah for just $18. Take this opportunity to support Hadassah and at the same time participate in a wonderful tradition! Send your check, made payable to Hadassah, and information, to Jo Ann Howard, 326 Rosemary Lane, Danville, VA 24541.
Happy 100th Birthday Danville Hadassah! Mark your calendar for Sunday, May 20th when will begin our celebration of Danville Hadassah’s 100th Birthday at our annual Donor event. Southern Seaboard Hadassah President Gail Moskowitz and Southern Seaboard Area Vice President Leah Cohen will join us on that special day. More information will be forthcoming. Make your plans to attend!!
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Break Esther’s Fast – Our annual Break Esther’s Fast was held on Wednesday, February 28th, at Cotton at Riverside Mill. Melanie Vaughan presented a very interesting program on Heart Health which included facts and myths, important signs to watch for, and how we should take an active role in our own health care. We need to remember not to be Haman and destroy our bodies, but rather to be like Esther and step outside our comfort zone to save what is precious to us.
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What’s Happening on Hadassah’s National Scene? Heart Disease: Six Insights for Women to Remember
From the wisdom of Dr. Donna Zfat-Zwas, Director, HMO *Many of us know what we need to do to be healthy, but we don’t seem to be able to translate this knowledge into our own daily reality. We need to empower ourselves to take action and take care of ourselves. *We need to learn how to interact with our medical care providers; to overcome the gender barriers to accurate diagnosis. *Women’s threshold for pain is higher and it takes women about an hour longer than men to seek help when they feel sick. So we must learn to take our symptoms to heart and differentiate everyday pain from dangerous heart symptoms. *Rather than be paralyzed by confusion because so many symptoms we experience can mean a heart problem is brewing, when we feel really bad, we need to check the situation out! This means that if we experience unusually severe pain and shortness of breath, for example, it’s time to see a doctor. * Studies reveal that, in general, women who are heavy but exercise regularly are healthier than women who are thin but don’t exercise. So exercise because it is healthy for your heart--not to lose weight. * If you are over age 18, the guideline is to try to get 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. Moderate means you can get a sentence out, but it is difficult to speak. It means that you are working hard and sweating!
Advocacy Update: Together We Can Make a Difference
On February 14, Americans woke up to the 18th school shooting to take place in 2018. These senseless acts of violence instill fear in the lives of families who are left wondering if their local school will be next. The value of all human lives is central to our mission as a women’s Zionist organization. In 2013, the National Board of Hadassah reaffirmed the statement it made in 2000 in support of stronger gun control legislation and enforcement of current laws to protect our communities and our nation from gun violence. There are several pieces of legislation that can work to prevent devastation like the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Critical legislation is passed only if constituents demand it from their legislators. In addition to writing letters, Hadassah offers our members a unique opportunity to voice their opinions and shape legislative agendas through Day in the District. It is more important than ever to bring this subject to the attention of your legislators. Let your voices be heard. Send an email advocacy@hadassah.org if you are interested in a Day in the District. We join our shattered hearts together to put an end to these terrifying acts.
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