Temple Beth Sholom
The Shofar Adar/Nisan/Iyar 5780
March/April 2020
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Reflections from Rabbi Klirs
Purim and Pesach are separated by exactly a month – Purim falls on the 14 th of Adar (or the 15th if you live in a historically walled city) and Pesach falls on the 15 th of Nissan. They occur during the full moon, a typical time for harvest, planting or otherwise agriculturally-focused celebrations. They both involve commemorating redemptions from our enemies through the reading of ancient texts that recount those events, and, to some extent, re-enacting them; through the use of special rituals and ritual objects unique to each holiday; through the giving of tzedakah and sharing our celebration with others; and through feasting and rejoicing. However, despite these surface similarities, these two holidays and their deep messages could not be more different. In the Purim story the Jews were free subjects interspersed throughout the vast Persian Empire. It would seem that they were highly integrated into Persian society certainly in terms of dress, language and other outward signs. In the Torah and the Haggadah’s depiction of the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites were an enslaved and oppressed people, living in a separate region of Egypt (Goshen), and easily distinguishable from the Egyptians by their language and dress. In the Megillah (the Book of Esther), while the King of Persia, Achashverosh (Ahashuerus) was self-absorbed and egotistical, he bore no malice towards, or suspicions of the Jews. In the book of Sh’mot (Exodus) and in the Haggadah, the King of Egypt, Pharaoh, was a brutal tyrant and heartless oppressor, who from the beginning
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was fearful of the growing numbers of Hebrew slaves, and hence treated them with contempt. In the Purim story, at the urging of her guardian Mordechai, Esther hid her Jewish identity. In the Exodus story, Moses’ confrontation with Pharaoh, the plagues, and every step of the Israelites’ struggle for liberation, were done openly. At no point were they asked to hide their identity, to masquerade as Egyptians. In the Megillah, God is not mentioned directly even once, while in the Exodus story, God is the main character, speaking directly to Moses, fighting Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and leading the Israelites to freedom. On Purim our celebration mirrors the narrative and the themes of the Megillah – we dress in costumes and masquerade to hide our identities. We attempt to obliterate Haman’s name with our groggers. We are bidden to drink to excess – until we can no longer distinguish between the hero and the villain – and there are no dietary restrictions except for those of kashrut. On Pesach there are no costumes or hidden identities. Rather than trying to blot out Pharaoh’s name, it is Moses’ name which is excluded from the traditional Haggadah. Rather than rejoicing at or mocking our enemy’s downfall, we spill drops of wine to reduce our enjoyment and underscore our sympathy for the Egyptian’s plight with the reciting of each plague. And though we are to drink 4 cups of wine at the seder, the goal is never to get drunk. And finally, aside from fast days like Yom Kippur, Pesach requires the most extensive food restrictions of any holiday on the Jewish calendar. Implicit within both the stories and the observances of these two very disparate holidays are several messages which I believe continue to be relevant to this very day: --Whether we are highly assimilated and integrated into modern society, or completely separate and visibly distinct, as Jews we are always vulnerable to accusations of being “different” and therefore are suspect. --Whether ruled by a self-serving autocrat who feeds on flattery and sycophancy, or a paranoid and iron-fisted totalitarian, our fate, and that of all minorities, is never secure. Only in a true democracy, with representative government and a leader who upholds and strengthens the norms and institutions of democracy, can we be secure. --Neither hiding our identity by completely blending into the surrounding culture, nor strengthening our identity by completely separating ourselves from that culture will afford us complete protection. We need to continue to fight for a society which accepts us and all other minorities for who we are, without the demand that we sacrifice our uniqueness and sever all ties to our history and distinctive way of life, so long as we are good citizens working for the common good. --We can fight for and celebrate continued redemption, equality and justice without demonizing our opponents or ignoring their suffering. Wishing everyone a joyful and fulfilling Purim and Pesach! Rabbi Klirs 2
YAHRZEITS May Their Memories Be a Blessing March 6-7/10-11 Adar
March 13-14/17-18 Adar
March 20-21/24-25 Adar
March 27-28/2-3 Nisan
April 3-4/9-10 Nisan
April 10-11/16-17 Nisan
April 17-18/23-24 Nisan
April 24-25/30 Nisan-1 Iyar
May 1-2/7-8 Iyar
1 4 4 5
– – – –
22 24 26 26 27
13 13 16 18
Beatrice Newman Stoner George W. Brumfield, Jr. Robert Walter Norris Dorothy Greenspon
– – – – –
– – – –
Sylvia Baker Steinberg Zita Salamon Dr. Harry Jacobs Helen Elson Lillian Denny
David John Howard Alvin Silverman Annie A. Rippe Norman Schriebfeder
9 – Edward Novakoff 10 – Fannye Feibelman 12 – Samuel Kabat 12 – Harry Elias Macht 14 – Harry Berman
29 – Rosa Berman 30 – Carree Hoffman 30 – Maurice Saperstein 2 – William Margolin 2 – Arnold Manheim 3 – Stuart Harris 4 – Fred Bermann 8 Nisan – Heather Silverman
22 – Edwin Louis Rippe
17 – Lenamay Simon Moskowitz 19- Benjamin Vatz 20 – Louis Kaufman 20 – Dr. David S Stoner 20 – Edna Wall 20 – Albert Steinberg 21 – Louis Berman 21 – Michael Plotkin
5 – Abraham Lewis Platt 6 – Sol Goodman 6 – Ida Nakdimen 7 – August Kahn 11 – Frank Philip Heiner 11 – Adele Nakdimen
26 – Clarice Sadie Simon 27 – Nat Becher 2 – Edith M. Cornblatt 2 – Nathan Newman 2 – Wildred Santerre
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Temple Beth Sholom Donations Susan & Hank Dufour - In memory of Robert Mand; In memory of Eleanor Sager Peter & Jo Ann Howard - In memory Sam and Faye Kushner’s beloved friend Beverly Murphy; In memory of family members Cora Howard and Harold Rosenstein; In memory of members of our Danville family Michael Becher, Louis Calisch, Jane Carol Harris, Sonny Kingoff, Albert Koplen, Jacquie Koplen, Henry Nakdimen, Helene Koplen Navell, Trudy Silverman Harriette & Erwin Will - Wishes for good health to Joan Newman, Patrice Kramer, and Lynne Loper Bonnie & George Brumfield - Wishes for r’fuah sh’leimah to Carol Caplan
Sisterhood Building Fund Contributions Ronnie Mand, 799-3434 Please remember the Sisterhood Building Fund for Sympathy, Mazel Tov, Thank You, and Speedy Recovery. The list is endless. Your contributions are used to beautify our temple. Jo Ann & Peter Howard - Thinking of you Belinda Baker, Carol Caplan, Patrice Kramer, Joan Newman, Charles Silverman, Judy Lyles; In Memory of Melanie Vaughan’s Uncle Mort Bernard & Belinda Baker - In honor of and thank you to Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood Steve & Ronnie – “Hoping for better times soon" to Belinda and Bernard Baker; Thinking of you to Charles Silverman; In memory of your Uncle Mort to Melanie Vaughan Bonnie & George Brumfield – R’fuah sh’leimah to Carol Caplan
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 4
MARCH Friday, 6th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Peter Howard
Sunday, 8th
5:00 p.m.
“It’s Never Too Early for Purim” Carol Caplan and Ronnie Mand, Chairmen
Friday, 13th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Michael Caplan
Monday, 16th
noon
Sisterhood Meeting – Book Review Temple Social Hall – Bring Your Lunch
Friday, 20th
7:00 p.m.
Interfaith Shabbat Service – Rabbi Tracy Klirs Oneg Hosted by Congregational Members
Saturday, 21st
10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Nosh and Knowledge with Rabbi Klirs Hebrew Study
Friday, 27th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
APRIL Friday, 3rd
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Wednesday, 8th
6:00 p.m. Congregational Seder – Peter Howard Jo Ann Howard, Ronnie Mand, Melanie Vaughan, Chairmen
Friday, 10th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Sam Kushner
Friday, 17th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Rabbi Tracy Klirs Mia Becher & Debbie Rippe, Oneg
Saturday, 18th
10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Nosh and Knowledge with Rabbi Klirs Hebrew Study
Friday 24th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
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WITH OUR CONGREGATION Mazel Tov to Eddy Fraifeld who has finished his coursework and exams to be a ski patroller at Snow Shoe! He will be keeping the slopes and skiers safe. Our wishes for good health are extended to Belinda Baker, Carol Caplan, Faye Kushner, Patrice Kramer, Lynne Loper, Joan Newman, and Charles Silverman. 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; 12 – Rabbi Tracy Klirs; 15 – Eddy Fraifeld April Birthday: 30 – Joe Eisenberg
Message from Ronnie Mand, Sisterhood President Five Sisterhood members participated in our recent Shabbat Service which was another successful event for our small group. Those members who were out of town, as well as other congregants unable to attend, were truly missed. However, all of us who were together sang, prayed, and received an inspirational Learning Moment, followed by enjoying camaraderie during the oneg. At our March meeting, we will review The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict for our annual Book Review. Please bring your lunch; drinks and desserts will be provided. Please remember to continue putting coins in your Silver for Sisterhood boxes, and donate any children’s clothing, non- perishable food and toiletries for Haven. Let me know when you have items and I will deliver them. Our “small but mighty” group of women appreciates all support of our various projects and activities. Think Spring, Ronnie 6
WHAT’S HAPPENING in MARCH and APRIL (Also refer to the Calendar of Events on page 5)
Sunday, March 8, 2020 5:00 p.m. It’s a Purim party with merrymaking and noshin’ then dinner, and plenty of delicious hamantachen! Wear a hat, a costume, and/or a mask We’ll read the Megillah and have a blast! There will be lots of laughter during our Purim spiel This all for $10.00, what a deal! R.S.V.P. (yes or no) by March 1st to Ronnie at 799-3434 or rkmand@comcast.net
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Temple Beth Sholom Annual Interfaith Service Mark your calendar
Friday, March 20 th 7:00 p.m. (Please note the earlier time and be sure to come early to help greet our guests) This will be a special evening as we share our prayers and songs with our neighbors Rabbi Klirs will hold a question and answer period in lieu of a sermon An oneg will be hosted after the service If you have friends that would like to attend, have them call Peter with their reservations 434-799-3505 8
Temple Beth Sholom Congregational Seder
Wednesday, April 8, 2020 The Haggadah Story will begin at 6:00 p.m. Use the form below to make your reservation and be sure to include your check $15.00/person Reservation checks must be received by March 18th 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 =================================================================
Reservation Payment MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE MARCH 18th No reservations will be accepted after this date The committee needs to shop for those special Passover foods This is a firm deadline
Name: ____________________________________________________ # attending _________________ x $15.00 = _____________________ Make your check payable to Temple Beth Sholom Mail to Melanie Vaughan, 235 W. Main Street, Danville, VA 24541 9
Remember to fill your Silver for Sisterhood boxes. You can do this when you empty your change out of our wallet or pockets and/or on Shabbat before you light the Sabbath candles. When you’re ready to turn in your money, just pour it into a baggie and give it to Jo Ann. This is an easy way to support the Sisterhood Building Fund which in turn benefits the temple!
WHAT WE DID IN JANUARY and FEBRUARY
We worshipped together six times during the months of January and February. Rabbi Klirs welcomed Shabbat with us the weekends of January 10 th and February 7th. February’s Torah reading was very special and we all gathered on the bema to see how this particular was set up to represent waves and then we sang “The Song of the Sea”. In January she continued with Nosh and Knowledge and Adult Hebrew class and in February we chose to enjoy the Tu B’Shevat seder just a little longer. Thank you to Ronnie and Susanne, Bonnie, Don, and Sisterhood members Mira, Bonnie, Jo Ann, Ronnie and Melanie for conducting the remaining services that were held.
Our annual Tu B’Shevat Seder was held on Saturday morning, February 8 . Rabbi Klirs led us in a very meaningful Seder to celebrate the New Year of the Trees. We drank four glasses of grape juice…one for each season, tasted the four species of fruits, had thought-provoking discussions and enjoyed joyous singing. We continued our discussions during a delicious brunch. We were so happy to have Martha Woody and Ruth Kravitz from Ohev Zion join us for this special celebration.
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A Little Humor is Good for the Soul! Jokes for Purim Why do some people drink so much on Purim? Because you’re supposed to Pour ’em. Why do we give out so much tzedaka (charity) on Purim? The Megillah says that this holiday is called Purim because of the PUR, the LOTS, that Haman drew. Therefore we give LOTS to the POOR!
Jokes for Pesach 10 ways to tell you have too many people at your seder 10. You can't find anywhere out of sight to hide the afikomen. 9. To recline while drinking the wine, you all have lean in unison. 8. You have to sketch your living/dining room on graph paper. 7. You have to use a microscope to divvy up the knaidlach. 6. When you rotate the verses of "Echad Mi Yodea?” someone ends up singing "Who knows 39? I know 39." 5. You start looking at ads for closed circuit TV and auxiliary speakers. 4. While waiting for everyone to wash their hands the second time, the matza rises. 3. Even the kids complain that they don't have enough maror. 2. When you recite the names of the ten plagues, the locusts really ring a bell. 1. When Elijah shows up and you have to give him his wine "to go”.
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MARCH - APRIL 2020 Danville
Martha Woody, President The days are getting longer, Daylight Savings Time is almost here (a boon for some, a curse for others), and as I look out my window I can see daffodils in bloom in my front yard. But winter has not released its grip, as evidenced by recent snow and bitter cold. What can warm our hearts and souls as we wait for spring’s renewal? As American Heart Month (aka February) comes to a close, we can delight in Hadassah’s accomplishments in this area of health. Hadassah has led the way in medical research that has identified the ways in which women’s heart disease differs from that of men, and because of that, more investigation is being done to determine early warning signs of cardiac issues in women, as well as gender specific recommendations regarding prevention and treatment. A woman is ten times more likely to die from heart disease than from breast cancer! We can bask in the glow of the work that Hadassah is doing in promoting cardiac health and gender equity in medical research. Hadassah is also working to eliminate congenital heart defects that can threaten the lives of babies and small children. Two Hadassah pediatric cardiologists, Dr. Asaf Ta-Shma, an observant Jew, and his Arab colleague, Dr. Ibrahim Abu Zahira, are examining genes from blood samples taken from extended families with multiple instances of congenital heart syndromes. Due to cultural issues and especially the stigma surrounding genetic testing, Dr. Ta-Shma works with Jewish families and Dr. Abu Zahira with Palestinian families to obtain the blood samples in order to do the research. As Dr. Abu Zahira has said, “Palestinians, Israelis – that’s irrelevant. We’re all working to save lives.” What a wonderful commentary on the Hadassah Medical Organization, an island of peace and healing in the Middle East. And to boost your spirits a little further, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Never Again Education Act in January. This act would establish a fund at the U.S. Department of Education to help teachers develop and improve Holocaust education programs to counteract increasing anti-Semitism and other forms of xenophobia in our country. Now it’s time to get the bill passed in the Senate; please call your Senator and ask her/him to vote for S. 2085. Taking action can help to warm you too! And as always, thank you for supporting your Danville Hadassah chapter and the work 12
of Hadassah in tikkun olam –
Coming soon on your computer…an Evite to sip a little kosher wine and to hear our own Danville Hadassah member Beth Socol speak on “Women of Faith: What Real Leadership Looks Like”. Evites will be sent to those within driving distance. When: Sunday, March 22nd at 3:00 p.m. Where: Temple Beth Sholom, 129 Sutherlin Avenue, Danville R.S.V.P. by March 15th to Melanie Vaughan Let’s meet Beth… Beth Socol has served as the spiritual leader of Congregation Ohev Zion in Martinsville since 2002. She lives in Greensboro, NC, with her husband Alan, affectionately known as RebbitzMan. In addition to her rabbinic duties Beth has worked in Jewish education for most of her career, first at B'nai Shalom Day School, then at the American Hebrew Academy, and finally at Beth David Synagogue, all of Greensboro. She is currently chair of the Religious Life Committee at Beth David where she is a long time member. Beth holds an undergraduate degree from Guilford College and has studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Beth is the proud mother of two and the even prouder grandmother of two more!
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Did you forget to remember to send your No Show Super Bowl Contribution? Our No Show Super Bowl Event is our chapter’s only fundraiser for the 360 Degrees of Healing: The Full Circle Campaign. Thank you to those of you who have already shown your support! Let’s see why this is so important. 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, oncology, and dermatology departments. We also need to remember that what happens at Hadassah doesn’t stay at Hadassah. HMO’s health care innovations and cutting-edge research is shared worldwide! YOU can make a difference today by mailing your check (made payable to Hadassah) of $18 or more to Jo Ann Howard, 326 Rosemary Lane, Danville, VA 24541. Thank you!
Hadassah’s Holistic Hospice: A Small Haven with a Big Heart www.hadassah.org | News & Stories Guided by a holistic approach, the hospice at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus helps patients and their loved ones meet the challenges of end-stage illness with dignity, physical ease, and emotional comfort. Dr. Daniel Azoulay, director of Hadassah’s palliative care services, explains, “Each patient receives personalized care. We don’t go to extreme measures to extend the patient's life, and we also take care not to shorten their lives.” Physiotherapy, reflexology, dancing, singing, walks in the garden, and family outings are all part of the holistic program, with the goal of helping patients enjoy time with their loved ones. Ezra, whose mother is a patient at Hadassah’s hospice, calls the staff and volunteers “a gift from G-d.”
Hadassah Doctor Flies to Japan to Look After Israelis with Corona virus
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www.hadassah.org
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News & Stories
At the request of the Israel Health Ministry, Hadassah Medical Organization microbiology and infectious disease specialist Prof. Ran Nir-Paz is traveling to Japan to care for the three Israelis said to have tested positive for the corona virus. The Israelis were among thousands of passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were quarantined by the Japanese authorities. More than 350 passengers have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Two of the Israelis are reportedly hospitalized, with a third confirmed case awaiting hospitalization. “The reason for the trip is to ensure that the Israelis are getting the right treatment,” explains Dr. Nir-Paz. “We have to be certain that they can come home healthy without affecting the people they travel with or anyone back in Israel.” Currently, there are no reported cases in Israel, and Hadassah-trained Dr. Nir-Paz hopes it will stay that way. Even if a few cases were to occur, Dr. Nir-Paz emphasizes that there is no cause for panic. “I’m not worried about going. It shouldn’t be a dangerous mission,” says Dr. Nir-Paz. “My family is naturally concerned, but I sat with them and showed them the numbers of people affected, and they saw that the risk is not big. I received their blessing for a safe journey.”
It’s About Compassion It’s About Healing It’s About Life It’s About You
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