Temple Beth Sholom
The Shofar Adar I/Adar 11/Nisan 5779
March/April 2019
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Reflections from Rabbi Klirs
“Special” Shabbatot It has been common practice for millennia to refer to most Shabbatot (plural of Shabbat) by the name of the Torah portion read that week. The Shabbat on which we read B’reisheet is called Shabbat B’reisheet, etc. But throughout the year some Shabbatot are given additional significance through a special name – for instance, the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is known as Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath of Return or Repentance, based on the opening word of the Haftarah, or prophetic reading for that day. It just so happens that during the months of Adar and Nisan, roughly corresponding to March and April, there are more of these specially named Shabbatot than in the entire rest of the year. March 2nd is known as Shabbat Shekalim, the Sabbath of Shekels. In traditional congregations an additional Torah reading, describing the annual obligation of each Israelite to contribute a half shekel to the maintenance of the tabernacle, is added to the weekly Torah reading. The half shekel tax was collected at the beginning of the month of Adar; hence Shabbat Shekalim always falls on the 1st of Adar or the Shabbat immediately preceding it. In a leap year, such as this year, Shabbat Shekalim and the other specially named Shabbatot for Adar occur in Adar 2 rather than Adar 1.
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Two weeks later, on March 16, comes Shabbat Zachor, or the Sabbath of Remembering. The name is taken from the additional Torah reading reminding the Israelites never to forget the treachery of the Amalekites, who attacked the weakest of the Israelites at the rear of their ranks. Shabbat Zachor always occurs immediately before Purim, as Haman was described as a descendant of the Amalekites. March 30th is Shabbat Parah, the Sabbath of the Cow (no, it has nothing to do with the names of Chinese New Years). The additional Torah reading on this Shabbat describes the ritual of the parah adumah, or red heifer, whose ashes were used to purify those in an impure state. This ritual was necessary to perform before Passover on anyone in a state of impurity, or that individual would not be able to perform the mitzvah of eating the Paschal lamb on Pesach. The next week, April 6, is Shabbat Ha-Khodesh or the Sabbath of “This Month.” It is read on the Shabbat coinciding with or immediately before the first of Nisan. The additional reading refers to the month of Nisan, the month in which Pesach is celebrated, and begins with “This month shall be the first of the months for you.” This serves as a reminder that Pesach is fast approaching. Finally, on April 13, the Shabbat immediately before Pesach begins, comes Shabbat HaGadol – the Great Sabbath. The name comes from the Haftarah read on that day in which the prophet Malachi proclaims, “I will send the Prophet Elijah to you before the great (ha-gadol), awesome day of the Lord,” foreshadowing the role of Elijah in the Pesach seder as a harbinger of the future redemption. Historically, Shabbat Ha-Gadol was given added significance, as it was one of only two occasions when rabbis gave sermons – on Shabbat Shuvah to remind the people of the laws of Teshuvah, or repentance, in preparation for Yom Kippur; and on Shabbat Ha-Gadol to review the intricacies of the removal of chametz and the laws of Pesach. Each of the specially named Shabbatot in the coming months serves as a signpost and reminder of the holidays of Purim and Pesach, reinforcing the importance of the Jewish calendar and the holidays in Jewish memory, identity and continuity. Elisha joins me in wishing all of you a joyous Purim and a happy and memorable Pesach. Chag Sameach! Rabbi Tracy G. Klirs
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YAHRZEITS May Their Memories Be a Blessing March 1-2/24-25 Adar l 24 – Mayme Newman 28 – Julius Kaufman 28 – Annie Newman 29 – Jacob Goodfriend 1 – Beatrice Newman Stoner
March 8-9/1-2 Adar II 4 – George W. Brumfield, Jr. 4 – Robert Walter Norris 5 – Dorothy Greenspon 9 – Edward Novakoff
March 15-16/8-9 Adar ll 10 – Fannye Feibelman 12 – Samuel Kabat 12 – Harry Elias Macht 14 – Harry Berman
March 22-23/15-16 Adar ll 17 – Lenamay Simon Moskowitz 19 – Benjamin Vatz 20 – Louis Kaufman 20 – Dr. David Stoner 20 – Edna Wall 20 – Albert Steinberg 21 – Louis Berman 21 – Michael Plotkin 22 – Sylvia Baker Steinberg
March 29-30/22-23 Adar ll 24 – Zita Salamon 26 – Dr. Harry Jacobs 26 – Helen Elson 27 – Lillian Denny 29 – Rosa Berman 30 – Carree Hoffman 30 – Maurice Saperstein
April 5-6/29 Adar 1-2 Nisan 2 – William Margolin 2 – Arnold Manheim 3 – Stuart Harris 4 – Fred Bermann 5 – Abraham Lewis Platt 6 – Sol Goodman 6 – Ida Nakdimen
April 12-13/7-8Nisan 7 – August Kahn 9 – Esther Costin Rippe 11 – Frank Philip Heiner 11 – Adele Nakdimen 13 – David John Howard 13 – Alvin Silverman 8 Nisan – Heather Silverman
April 19-20/14-15 Nisan 16 – Annie A. Rippe 18 – Norman Schriebfeder
April 26-27/21-22 Nisan 26 – Clarice Sadie Simon 27 – Nat Becher
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Temple Beth Sholom Donations With loving memories of friends Helene Navell, Sonia Rippe, Bessie Berman, and Albert Koplen. In memory of maternal grandmother, Rosa Bane – Sam and Faye Kushner Thank you to Bonnie Brumfield, Sam Kushner, Ronnie Mand and Susanne Singer for conducting my scheduled Friday night services during my recovery period – Jo Ann Howard
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. Speedy Recovery to Carol Caplan – Mira Becher Speedy Recover to Charles Silverman – Mira Becher In Honor of Jo Ann and Peter Howard: Just Thinking of You – Steve and Ronnie Mand Mazel Tov to Jo Ann and Peter Howard on the New Arrivals (great nieces) – Steve and Ronnie Mand
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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MARCH Friday, 1st
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Peter Howard
Friday, 8th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Rabbi Tracy Klirs Susanne Singer, Sam & Faye Kushner Oneg Hosts
Saturday, 9th
10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. TBA
Nosh and Knowledge – Rabbi Tracy Klirs Adult Hebrew Class – Rabbi Tracy Klirs Havdalah
Friday, 15th
No Service Scheduled
Monday, 18th
5:00 p.m.
Friday, 22nd
No Service Scheduled
Saturday, 23rd
6:00 p.m.
Havdalah/Purim Celebration Carol Caplan & Ronnie Mand, Chairmen
Friday, 29th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
APRIL Friday, 5th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Bonnie Brumfield
Friday, 12th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Rabbi Tracy Klirs Mira Becher & Joan Fraifeld, Oneg Hosts
Saturday, 13th
10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. TBA
Nosh and Knowledge – Rabbi Tracy Klirs Adult Hebrew Class – Rabbi Tracy Klirs Havdalah
Friday, 19th
6:00 p.m. Congregational Seder – Peter Howard Jo Ann Howard, Ronnie Mand, & Melanie Vaughan, Chairmen
Friday, 26th
7:30 p.m.
Sisterhood Meeting and Book Review
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
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WITH OUR CONGREGATION Welcome to Joe Eisenberg and Melissa Laverack, who will be joining our congregational family. They will live in Danville during the bitter cold months New Hampshire is known for! Mazel Tov to Jo Ann and Peter Howard on the births of their two great nieces Emily Grace (born to Stephanie and Chris Harness) and Violet Eloise (born to Robin and Scott Agnew). Our wishes for good health are extended to Mildred Barth, Carol Caplan, Patrice Kramer, Charles Silverman 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.
Mi shebeirach Mi shebeirach avoteinu M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinu May the source of strength, Who blessed the ones before us, Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing, and let us say, Amen. Mi shebeirach imoteinu M'kor habrachah l'avoteinu Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah, The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit, And let us say, Amen.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES March Birthdays: 4 – Sadie Wills; 5 – Michelle Fryman; 9 – Kevin Vaughan; 12 – Rabbi Tracy Klirs; 15 – Eddy Fraifeld March Anniversaries/April Birthdays/April Anniversaries: none 6
Message from Ronnie Mand, Sisterhood President I am so proud of our “small but mighty” Sisterhood for continuing a 25+ year tradition of conducting an annual Shabbat Service. This year’s was extremely successful, perhaps one of our best, and the many kudos were appreciated and shared with all participants. On March 18, we will hold another annual Sisterhood event with our book review following the business meeting. This year’s unanimous choice for discussion is Stolen Beauty, a novel by Laurie Lico Albanese. Juxtaposing between 1903 Vienna and WWII, and taking the reader on a 100 year journey between an aunt and her niece, this extraordinary page turner should bring lively and thoughtful discussion among our members. Hopefully all congregants are diligently dropping coins in your “Silver for Sisterhood” box; once filled, simply give to Jo Ann (at home or at temple) and then you can start again. Remember that all proceeds from this project enable us to continue benefitting the temple in some needed manner. Thanks to everyone for the ongoing support of our organization.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MARCH and APRIL
On Saturday, March 23, 2019 we will have our annual Purim party. We’ll nosh and shmooze beginning at 6:00 p.m. which will be followed by Havdalah. Then it’s on to dinner with plenty of hamantachen, reading of the Megillah, and laughter galore with our Purim spiel. Wear a hat, a costume, and/or a mask. The cost is only $10 and you don’t have to bring anything! What a deal! However, you will need to R.S.V.P. (yes or no) by March 15th to Ronnie at 799-3434 or rkmand@comcast.net so that the chairmen can do their shopping. A flyer will be sent to you soon as a reminder.
Our annual Passover Seder will be held on Friday, April 19th beginning at 6:00 p.m. Each family is asked to bring their own wine and a covered dish. A committee member will call you to confirm the dish you will bring. The cost is $15 per person and should be sent to Melanie Vaughan by April 5th. The committee need to shop for those special Passover foods, so this is a firm deadline. A flyer will be sent to you soon with a reservation form. 7
HIGHLIGHTS OF JANUARY and FEBRUARY
We welcomed Shabbat together eight times during the months of January and February. Thank you to Ronnie and Susanne for leading the January 11 th and February 22nd services, Bonnie for leading the January 25th service, Sam Kushner for leading the February 1st service, the seven women (Mira, Bonnie, Carol, Jo Ann, Ronnie, Susanne, and Melanie) who conducted the Sisterhood Sabbath on February 8 th, and of course, Rabbi Klirs for leading us on the weekends of January 18 th and February 15th. I’m glad to say that I was able to conduct the service on January 4 th. Thank you to the congregants who volunteered to take my scheduled services after my surgery!
Our annual Tu B’Shevat Seder was held on conducted by Rabbi Klirs on Saturday morning, January 19th. This was the time to clebrate the New Year of the Trees by recognizing each of the four seasons with a glass of wine or grape juice, learning about and tasting foods from the four species of fruits and grains, reciting special prayers, reading and listening to meaningful selections, and engaging in joyful singing. The Seder concluded with a delicious dairy brunch and lots of schmoozing. A special thank you goes to Karen Mandel for baking a special bread that included the grains for this event.
Those of us who are participating in the Adult Hebrew Classes are truly enjoying ourselves. As I shared before, we have partnered with the National Jewish Outreach Program (NJOP) in their Read Hebrew America program. They provide the materials free of charge! We meet at least twice a month as a group, once with Rabbi Klirs who introduces the material and then with Jo Ann as a follow-up. Individual sessions are also scheduled with Jo Ann throughout the month. Those who are participating have varying degrees of skills…from learning to read for the first time to honing up on what was learned years ago! The end goal is to be able to read the Hebrew in the prayer book without the transliteration and with a better understanding of what is being read.
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Bonnie’s Book Beat Stolen Beauty, by Laura Lico Albanese, will be reviewed by the Sisterhood at its next meeting on March 18th. The book was suggested by Carol Caplan, and met with great enthusiasm by Sisterhood members at its November meeting. The 2015 movie, The Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds, was the inspiration for this 2017 book. The book is “fiction based on fact” and flips back and forth from early 20 th century Vienna and the life of Adele Bloch-Bauer to the 1930’s and the struggles of Adele’s neice, Maria Altmann, during the Nazi invasion of Vienna. Gustav Klimt painted Adele both as the Biblical Judith and the subject of his masterpiece, Woman in Gold. During the middle ages, Jewish women were required to wear yellow kerchiefs when they went out in public, and Klimt was determined to portray Adele in yellow, that is gold, using actual flecks of gold in his painting. As much as she wanted to have children, Adele was unable, and showered her neice, Maria, with her love and guidance. She gifted Maria the exquisite bejeweled choker that she wears in the painting. This book will be in the Temple library for your reading pleasure. Over the last few years, Bonnie’s Book Beat, has reviewed books of Jewish interest, particularly stories set during the Holocaust. There are many books available for your particular interest and reading enjoyment. This review is the final in the series of Bonnie’s Book Beat. It has been a pleasure, and I hope that you have taken advantage and will take advantage of the opportunity.
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Fun for Everyone! ANAGRAMS THE EYES When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE
ASTRONOMER When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER DORMITORY
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM
SLOT MACHINES When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME
ELECTION RESULTS When you rearrange the letters:
LIES – LET’S RECOUNT SNOOZE ALARMS
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z’S
ELEVEN PLUS TWO 10
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE
March/April 2019 DANVILLE If you are like me, you receive pleas for money on a daily basis, often for very worthy causes. Deciding what to support, and what to ignore, can be very challenging! And again, if you are like me and occasionally have lapses in memory, you may find that you contributed to the same organization in a short period of time, without intending to do so. We know that every member of Hadassah understands the importance of the organization’s work and provides support for that work as best they can. Hadassah is an important force in combating anti-Semitism, promoting practical Zionism, advocating for women’s health issues, supporting Youth Aliyah and Young Judaea, and more. The crown jewels, in my opinion, are the hospitals in Jerusalem, the newer one on Mount Scopus, and the older one at Ein Kerem. However, despite your support for Hadassah, you may well have felt some frustration, or confusion, when you receive another request from our Hadassah chapter to support yet another fundraiser. In an attempt to forestall any difficulties, following is an explanation of our fundraising calendar. This month you have received an invitation to our “No Show Ball” with the theme “Love Makes the World Go Round,” to support the 360 Degrees of Healing campaign, that will fund a complete update of the Round Building, the original inpatient center at the older Ein Kerem hospital. It’s not too late to donate! And if you have lost your invitation, simply send a check to Jo Ann Howard and note “No Show Ball” on the memo line. In May we will have our annual donor meeting, where yet again we ask for your financial support. The money we raise here helps our chapter to meet the fundraising goal set for us by the national organization - and let me just say that Hadassah was very optimistic about the amount of money we can raise! After a brief summer hiatus, our members will receive another request to participate in our Rosh Hashanah card project; those funds are used to support Young Judaea, the youth Zionist movement that includes summer camps (there's one in Hendersonville, NC) and Birthright Israel (which sends young Jews, ages 18 to 32, on 10-day trips to Israel - for free!), among other programs. Hard on the heels of the new year cards will come the request to support our Angels of Mercy campaign, our chapter’s longest running and signature campaign, our biggest fundraiser to support Hadassah Medical Organization. It is also our most highly visible project and serves as a reminder to the larger community about our Jewish presence here, 11
while giving them the opportunity to provide practical support to Israel. (continued on next page) Shortly after the completion of the AOM fundraiser, members receive a request to support our birthday/anniversary card project, whose funds go to support Youth Aliyah, a program begun in the 1930’s to save Jewish children from Nazism, and continues today to help young newcomers, especially from the former Soviet Union and Africa, to adjust to life in Israel. In addition, Youth Aliyah offers services to Israeli youth who are deemed to be at risk by child care authorities there. And so, at every season, Hadassah gives us the opportunity to contribute to tikkun olam, the healing of the world, through support for a number of worthwhile and successful programs. Should you ever have any questions about our fundraising efforts, please feel free to contact any member of our chapter’s board of directors - Melanie Vaughan, Ronnie Mand, Jo Ann Howard, or myself. Thank you in advance for your generous support in 2019! Martha Woody, President
Keeping Up with our Members Did we miss your news? Be sure to contact Martha Woody, 276-638-4316, and we’ll include you in our next newsletter!
Danville Projects and Meetings
No Show Ball: Love Makes the World Go Round! What a fun way to raise funds for Hadassah’s 360 Degree Campaign. Every donation helps…from not needing a new lipstick to money saved not bidding on auction items… you can certainly make a difference. As Martha wrote in her article, just mail your check to Jo Ann Howard at 326 Rosemary Lane, Danville, VA 24541. If you would like another invitation and/or response card send an email to Jo Ann at pkhlov@comcast.net. It doesn’t matter if you make the deadline because it’s a No Show Ball!
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 20th from 4 – 6:00 p.m. at the home of Melanie Vaughan (235 W. Main Street)for our Purim celebration and feel like a queen for a day. Our program? Come and learn why our Chapter members are crown jewels! Please R.S.V.P. to Melanie at karma50@gamewood.net or 434-793-0577. 12
From Hadassah’s National News
Hadassah Medical Organization has always defined health care in Israel and now Hadassah has a 360degree vision for a changing world. It’s about compassion. It is about healing. It’s about life. Hadassah is the founder of Israel’s modern health-care system, and has been tireless in maintaining the highest standards for more than 100 years. Since 1960, the population of Jerusalem has tripled, and the demands on the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) and Hadassah Hospital at the Ein Kerem campus have grown exponentially. Hadassah must respond—and we must look forward. So HMO begins, first by completely reimagining the iconic Round Building, the hospital’s original inpatient center at Ein Kerem. With this renovation and expansion, the new Round Building will be an important healing center for Israel. It will significantly advance the services in its outpatient surgery, maternity, oncology, and dermatology departments.
Hadassah’s Vision:
The modernized Round building will allow HMO to serve far more patients far more comfortably and help us meet our own demanding standards for high-quality, compassionate care.
Priority 1: Round Building Infrastructure
200 new beds will significantly increase the number of patients HMO will serve. 17 renovated operating rooms with state-of-the-art equipment will improve efficiency and reduce waiting times for surgery. New construction will strengthen the building and protect the hospital from earthquakes. Safe rooms on each floor will protect patients from conventional, biological, or chemical attacks.
Priority 2: Medicine and Care
Upgrades will allow HMO to expand treatment offerings and provide more comprehensive services. Renovation will break down barriers between research and clinical services to accelerate the “bench to bedside” process. Larger rooms will give patients more privacy and reduce the risk of infection. Reconfigured and improved interior space on each floor will allow doctors and nurses to respond more quickly to patients.
Priority 3: Learning
A new state-of-the-art Simulation Lab will feature multidisciplinary facilities, resources, and capabilities. Numerous simulation spaces within the Lab will provide medical and nursing students with the opportunity for intensive, hands-on clinical training. 13
The reimagined Round Building ensures HMO will remain a world-renowned health care leader and a global destination for advanced care, continued innovation, and cutting-edge research.
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