Temple Beth Sholom
The Shofar ___________________________________________________________________ Iyar/Sivan/Tammuz 5777 May/June 2017 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reflections from Rabbi Estelle
Exactly thirty years ago, I graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s degree in history. Not exactly a “marketable” degree right out of college (I would have now told my own children, as it would require more study to enter a profession). Luckily my two oldest children had a little more sense, with the first just starting his first job as an engineer and the second graduating in two weeks with a degree in Health Care Finance and a good job in her field. My parents told me they expected me to continue to law school but that was never something I considered as an option, unlike my husband who did go law school before deciding he would rather be a rabbi. As I would write in my essay for admission to rabbinic school: entering the rabbinate was a natural transition. I had worked at the religious school at Temple Emanuel in Greensboro since tenth grade, had been a president of their youth group, and then a regional officer in youth group. In college, I taught at the local Reform congregation’s religious school, while spending my summers working at a Reform movement camp. Continuing to rabbinical school would allow me to keep doing what I enjoyed while making a career of it. I had spoken with Rabbi Task of Temple Emanuel and he had encouraged me. The year however was 1987 and it was exactly 15 years since Sally Priesand had been ordained as the first female Reform rabbi. There were female role models in the field after 15 years of having women as reform rabbis but not a lot of them. It was still a time when if you told people you were studying to be a rabbi, they would ask “What kind of job is that for a nice Jewish girl?” (Continued on page 2) 1
As one colleague wrote “the assumption of many Jewish parents is that their child will enter the legal, financial or medical profession. Entering the clergy deviates from this pattern. Studies suggest a rabbi is simply not a popular job for American Jewish boy” and at the time it was even less so for a girl. But the composition of my entering rabbinic class was half women and half men, although only three of the women were, like me, coming straight from undergraduate degrees. This Thursday May 4th, I will receive my honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute for Religion for 25 years of service as a rabbi. As I receive this degree, a young woman from St. Louis who I had the honor of officiating at her Bat Mitzvah and serving as her childhood rabbi will receive her Masters of Hebrew Letters after four years of rabbinic study and next year will be ordained a rabbi. It will be very special for me to share this day with her. I entered the rabbinate out of a love of Jewish teaching and learning. Twenty-five years later, I still am uplifted when I witness Jews of any age excited about being a part of a congregational community and when I teach a class engaged in Jewish learning. I have had the privilege of being a part of peoples’ lives as they experience some of life’s most joyful moments and as they deal with incredible grief. I have also been uplifted by the way I can touch peoples’ lives. Jacob Neusner wrote “people look to rabbis for inspiration, guidance and a sense of the sacred. It does not matter that for every task rabbis perform, there is probably someone more qualified. A therapist can give better counseling. A politician can give better speeches. A university professor can be a more erudite teacher. An executive can be a better manager. Yet, for an affirmation that life has meaning, for a faith in ancient wisdom and timeless, for an understanding of who they are and where they come, people still look to the rabbi.” I feel privileged to have served in that role for the last 25 years. As a rabbi, I am part of people’s lives during the joys of celebrating a child’s birth to the sadness of funerals. I again share the words of a colleague who stated the following; “The truth is, there is a little mourning and a bit of joy in everything. At the birth of a child, people are missing those who have died who are not there to see it. And at the funeral of a loved one, people tell stories and even jokes celebrating the life that is completed. Every person’s life is a package deal, both bitter and sweet. It is an honor to be an intimate part of other people’s lives”. At the beginning of next month, I will have the honor of officiating at the ceremony of Bernard Baker becoming a Jew. As he celebrates that moment, I too will celebrate this milestone with him and his family and this congregational community. He will not be the first person for whom I take through conversion, and I hope he will not be last one for whom I assist in conversion. Yet, it will be a moment to say the Schecheyanu prayer to express thanks to God for allowing him to reach this joyous occasion. I look forward to celebrating many more Schecheyanu moments over the coming years and this is certainly why I continue to love my chosen occupation. 2
YAHRZEITS May Their Memories Be a Blessing May5-6/9-10 Iyar 2 – Edith M. Cornblatt 2 – Nathan Newman 2 – Wildred Santerre 3 – Margaret Heiner Kingoff 3 – Jeanne Gabriel Kaufman 5 – Herman J. Cornblatt 6 – Gloria Calisch Gallagher
May 12-13/16-17 Iyar 8 – Sarah Rebeka Whitten Kushner 8 – Louis Sager 9 – Samuel Jacobs 12 – Edwin Rosenstock
May 19-20/23-24 Iyar 15 – Lorraine Lester 17 – Lee Evan Howard 18 – Phillip Greenberg 19 – Samuel Cassoy 19 – Daniel Sechtin 20 – Mattie Kaufman Dr. Luis Fraifeld – 22 Iyar
May 26-27/1-2 Sivan 23 – Jay Newman Macht 25 – Sidney Johnson, Sr. 25 – Joseph Vatz 26 – Esther Cohen 26 – Leo Kaufman 26 – Eileen Stendig
June 2-3/8-9 Sivan 28 – Charles Miller 29 – Rebecca W. Berman 30 – Rabbi Arnold Shevlin 31 – Shirley Kellam 1 – Jacob Berman 1 – Joe Bermann 3 – Arthur Goldstein
June 9-10/15-16 Sivan 5 – Tillie K. Rubin 6 – Annie Rebeccah Vatz 7 – Raynell Lantor 10 – Hyman Sater
June 16-17/22-23 Sivan 11 – Harry Binder Stein 12 – Samuel Gold 15 – Riva Lea Kingoff 16 – Zev Becher 16 – Sam Heiner 17 – Ernest Freudenthal
June 23-24/29-30 Sivan 18 – Robert Lehr 19 – Lee David Howard 19 – Alan Berman 20 – Esther Berman Fishman 20 – Theodore Harris 21 – Herman B. Kushner
June 30-July1/6-7 Tammuz 25 – Alice Heiner Kingoff 1 – Abe Koplen
21 – Ben Klaff 21 – Eleanor Howard
23 – Murray “Buddy” Rippe
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Temple Beth Sholom Donations Lo Lehitalem (Building Fund) In Memory of Arnold Manheim – Ronnie and Steven Mand, Jo Ann and Peter Howard, Julian Koplen, Dr. Frederick and Karen Maute, Sam and Faye Kushner, Jay Berman, Carol, Mike, Aaron, and Asher Caplan, Eddy and Joan Fraifeld In Memory of Michael Becher – Julian Koplen, Jay Berman, Eddy and Joan Fraifeld In Memory of friends Alvin Silverman and Gloria Calisch Gallagher – Sam and Faye Kushner Many thanks to Carol Caplan, Ronnie Mand, and Jo Ann Howard for a wonderful Purim celebration – Sam and Faye Kushner In Memory of David Howard, Aunt Miriam Sager Saffer, and Aunt Marilee Sager – Jo Ann and Peter Howard
Sisterhood Building Fund Contributions Susanne Singer, 822-1114 Please remember the Building Fund for such things as Sympathy, Mazel Tov, Thank You, and Speedy Recovery. The list is endless. Your contributions are used to beautify our temple. Mazel Tov to Joan Newman on the birth of her great grandson Samuel Nathan – Jo Ann and Peter Howard, Ronnie and Steven Mand Speedy Recovery to Sam Kushner – Jo Ann and Peter Howard 4
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(If you are unable to conduct your service, it is your responsibility to find a substitute)
MAY Friday, 5th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service: Peter Howard
Friday, 12th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service: Jo Ann Howard
Monday, 15th
5:00 p.m.
Sisterhood Meeting – Home of Melanie Vaughan
Friday, 19th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service: Rabbi Estelle Mills Ronnie Mand, Oneg Chairman
Saturday, 20th
10:00 a.m.
Nosh and Knowledge
Friday, 26th
No Service Scheduled
Wednesday, 31st
7:00 p.m.
Congregational Meeting - Sanctuary
JUNE Friday 2nd
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat/Shavuot Service: Rabbi Estelle Mills Bernard Baker’s Conversion/Bar Mitzvah Jo Ann Howard, Oneg Chairman
Saturday, 3rd 10:00 a.m. Friday, 23rd
Nosh and Knowledge
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service: Jo Ann Howard 5
WITH OUR CONGREGATION Our heartfelt sympathy has been extended to the family of Arnold Manheim, who passed away on April 3rd. Although Arnie hadn’t lived in Danville for quite a while, he continued to be a part of our Temple Beth Sholom congregational family as a member and supporter. He will be missed. Congratulations to Joan Newman on the birth of her great grandson Samuel Nathan Pokorney. We hope to see pictures of this latest bundle of joy! Our wishes for good health are extended to Mildred Barth, Ben Fraifeld, Patrice Kramer, Esther Rippe, 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 May Birthdays: 4 – Stuart Kramer; 6 – Judy Salamon; 12 – Terrie Lantor; 21 – Elisabeth Stanley; 25 – Erwin Will; 27 – Mildred Barth; 28 – Harriett Will May Anniversaries: 10 – Darcy and Michael Amick; 15 – Carol and Michael Caplan June Birthdays: 8 – Allison Gordon; 20 – Bryna Kramer; 25 – Ben Rippe; 27 – Julian Koplen; 30 – Sam Rippe June Anniversaries: 13 – Belinda and Bernard Baker; 15 – Judy and Stephen Salamon; 16 – Ronnie and Steve Mand; 17 – Jo Ann and Peter Howard
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Congregational Activities – Looking Ahead and Back Temple Beth Sholom This is Your Spiritual Home
Invest In It for Now and for the Future Keep our Temple and Judaism Alive!
The campaign for the funding of the Temple’s Endowment Fund is still underway. If you have not been already, you will soon be contacted by a member of the Board to set up an appointment to discuss the Endowment. Please welcome him/her into your home. The Endowment must be fully funded to provide funds for the maintenance of the Temple and to help insure its continuity. The Board rarely asks the Congregation for financial support above and beyond the payment of dues. But we must do so now. When you meet with your Board representative, PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY!
LET’S TOAST RABBI ESTELLE FOR HER 25 YEARS AS A RABBI! Mark your calendar for Friday, May 19th when Rabbi Estelle will lead us in worship to welcome Shabbat. This will give us an opportunity to toast her, not only for receiving an honorary doctorate for serving 25 years as a rabbi, but also for making a difference in the spiritual life of our congregation.
JOIN US FOR NOSH AND KNOWLEDGE
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Saturdays mornings with Rabbi Estelle continue to be a learning experience. In March we continued our study of Kabalah and in April we learned about different rituals associated with the Passover Seder. Join us at 10:00 a.m., on May 20th and June 3rd. It’s always a wonderful learning experience!
SISTERHOOD NEWS FROM RONNIE MAND, PRESIDENT Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood will hold its final meeting before summer hiatus on Monday, May 15th at Melanie Vaughan’s home. We’ll conduct our business, have some adult beverages and hors d’oeuvres, while enjoying the spring weather and each other’s company on the front porch. Please make every effort to attend this fun finale to another wonderful Sisterhood year. As you are aware from emails, Sisterhood will be holding a Rummage Sale on Thursday and Friday, October 19th and 20th. PLEASE start saving items for this event, but we ask you to keep them at home until a few weeks prior to the event. Our longtime treasurer, Mildred Barth, decided it was time to “pass the torch”. We thank Mildred for her many years of serving Sisterhood and keeping our financial records straight. Many thanks are extended to Jo Ann Howard for assuming the role of Treasurer, and to Bonnie Brumfield for taking over as Secretary, the position previously held by Jo Ann. Thanks, also, to the other officers for their willingness to serve another year: Carol Caplan, Prayer Counselor; Melanie Vaughan, Vice President, and Ronnie Mand, President. Additionally, deep appreciation goes to Susanne Singer for her steadfast role as chairman of the Sisterhood Building Fund, and to all of our members for the continued support of our “small but mighty” organization.
Our annual CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held on Wednesday, May 31 , at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. This is your time to be heard by casting your votes during the election of officers and board members, discussing new business and voicing your concerns. This is a time to be informed by listening to the chairmen’s reports for the 2016-2017 year. Please plan to attend this important meeting. Mark your calendar today for Wednesday, May 31st. Your presence and input are important! A social time will follow the meeting and refreshments will be served. st
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SHAVUOT SERVICE – FRIDAY, JUNE 2ND WELCOME SHABBAT WELCOME BERNARD BAKER AS HE BEGINS HIS LIFE AS A JEW
2017 RUMMAGE SALE: OCTOBER 19TH & 20TH WHAT WE WANT: Household items: such as kitchen utensils, silverware, appliances, antiques, glassware, lamps, sheets & bedding, dishes, serving pieces, decorative pillows, art work, chairs and very small furniture, knick/knacks. Personal items: clothing in good shape (on hangers if possible), handbags, jewelry, shoes, coats. Please make sure everything is in saleable condition: no chips, cracks or missing pieces. WHAT WE ARE NOT TAKING THIS TIME: NO specialized tee shirts, i.e. camps, family reunions, charity races (these do not sell and just take up space) NO TVs NO computers or components NO electronics NO VHS tapes or old records NO magazines NO specialized books (medical, legal, encyclopedias) These items do not sell and the local thrift stores will not take them. Please do not use our beloved temple as a “dumping ground” for any of these items. We appreciate everything you will contribute, but please save until 2 weeks prior to the sale. Nothing should be brought until that time. Start collecting! Help Sisterhood so we can help the temple. Melanie and Ronnie 9
PURIM was a blast this year! Costumed congregants mingled in a festive decorated social hall, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, and participated in a short Havdalah service. Then on with the show with a delicious meal, swirling of the graggers (Haman never had a chance of his name being heard), and endless laughter with Purim jokes galore. A special thank you goes to Carol Caplan and Ronnie Mand for making this a fun-filled evening.
CONGREGATIONAL PASSOVER SEDER – A HUGE SUCCESS! Why was this seder different from all of our other seders? We had new items on the Seder plate. An orange and an artichoke symbolized the inclusion of others who are not always readily accepted by others, whether in the population as a whole or within a religious community. The ten plagues were made even more meaningful as they were acted out by Maya and Sadie. Everyone participated – whether it was asking questions, reading, and/or singing, which made it such a meaningful seder. Thank you to Peter Howard for conducting the service, to our three chairmen Ronnie Mand, Melanie Vaughan, and Jo Ann Howard, to our matzah ball expert Bernard Baker, to our own personal florist Faye Kushner, and to all who provided side dishes and desserts.
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Visit the website at urj.org and you will be amazed at what you will find!
Check out our website: tbsdanville.org
Bonnie’s Book Beat Maggie Anton began her exploration of Jewish life in 11 th Century France with a study of the great Talmud scholar and commentator, Salomon ben Isaac, better known as Rashi. She learned that he had no sons, but three daughters, and began her research on their lives, in particular their learning of Talmud at their father’s table. Beginning with Book 1: Joheved, continuing with Book II: Miriam, and concluding with Book III: Rachel, Anton spins a provocative tale of the three girls’ desire to learn Talmud, their business acumen, their romances, their contributions to the community, and their family life. The reader will learn about bizarre superstitions among Jews, hospitality shown to Jewish travelers, yeshivas for young men where they memorize their lessons, medical practices, wine making, and the nontraditional roles of men and women. The reader will learn tractates from Talmud. Joheved is the oldest daughter and devoted helper to her grandmother, Leah, an able businesswoman who lives with the family. Salomon, having recently returned to the family after ending his studies in Germany, finds the family impoverished. He is a vintner by trade, but when his scholarship comes to the notice of the Jewish head of the community, his fortunes change. Finally Joheved gets a new bliant (jumper) in a beautiful wine color. As her marriage is arranged with the son of a wealthy sheep owner, she continues Talmud studies with her father and younger sister, Miriam. Out of curiosity, she dons her father’s tefillin, which brings greater meaning to her prayers. Her mother Rivka is aghast when she discovers her daughter wearing tefillin of all things! Rivka has strongly objected to Salomon teaching the girls Talmud, believing they will not find good matches, since no man wants a woman more learned than he. Miriam is the second daughter and quite different from the squeamish Joheved. Miriam loves to help her Aunt Sarah, the midwife, and soon becomes adept at recognizing the various herbs and concoctions needed by the midwife. (Even the rare and expensive spice, pepper, is used to advantage during labor) As she grows into puberty, she falls passionately in love with one of her father’s students and they become betrothed. Sadly, he dies in a freak accident in a wine vat. As time passes, she marries a young man who values her learning and scholarship. In addition to midwifery, she becomes a mohelet, scandalizing the community, but providing a much needed service, when no man will train for the job.
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Rachel is the third daughter and her father’s favorite. She is the most beautiful of the three, with curly black hair and emerald green eyes. Salomon is quite slow to betroth her, since he wants to keep her at his side for as long as possible. She finally marries, and along with her husband, she travels to Spain and the arab lands trading wool and cloth for spices and jewels. She and her husband amass great wealth. However, it is during her life that the Crusades begin with the total destruction of the Jewish population in Germany. Following her mother’s death, and her father’s stroke, she refuses to seek safer grounds, but remains in France. These three books are in your Temple library, ready for check-out and your reading enjoyment!
A Bit of Jewish Humor More Chelm Stories AN EXPLANATION A young scholar of Chelm, innocent in the ways of earthly matters, was stunned one morning when his wife gave birth. Pell mell he ran to the rabbi. “Rabbi,” he blurted out, “an extraordinary thing has happened! Please explain it to me. My wife has just given birth although we have been married only three months! How can this be? Everyone knows it takes nine months for a baby to be born!” The rabbi, a world-renowned sage, put on his silver-rimmed spectacles and furrowed his brow reflectively. “My son,” he said, “I can see you haven’t the slightest idea about such matters, nor can make the simplest calculation. Let me ask you: Have you lived with your wife three months?” “Yes.” “She has lived with you three months?” “Yes.” “Together–have you lived three months?” “Yes.” “What’s the total then–three months plus three plus three?” “Nine months, Rabbi!” “So… what is the problem?”
FAILURE Moshe became a teamster, but he found the horse consumed all the profits. He determined to wean the beast from the habit of eating, and began by depriving it of oats one day a week, then two days, then three. After a month the horse seemed well on its way to learning how to get along with almost no oats at all, when it suddenly collapsed and died. Moshe was beside himself with grief. Standing over the beast, he groaned, “Woe is me! Just when my troubles were almost over, you have to give up and die!” 12
OH MY! The congregation’s wine barrel was running dry so the rabbi asked each person to bring a jug of wine from home and pour it into the barrel. However, Schlemiel didn’t want to part with his wine and decided to bring a jug full of water instead. Who could taste one jug of water mixed into a whole barrel? Unfortunately everyone else had the same idea.
May/June 2017 Danville I was privileged recently to attend a Tri-Region meeting in Charlotte, NC with Hadassah members from the ten states covered by the Southeastern, Southern, and Southern Seaboard Regions. The weekend meeting focused on the three pillars of Hadassah – Advocacy, Health, and Zionism – and the resources and opportunities that Hadassah provides in each area. Hadassah has been working to educate women about the importance of heart health with its Every Beat counts, Every Step Counts, and now Every Bite Counts programs. These emphasize both preventive care and the importance of knowing women’s distinctive cardiac symptoms. At the same time, Hadassah has been advocating for Gender Equity in Medical Research so that more can be known about heart health and heart disease in women. Hadassah’s Research in Service to Humanity is working to bring the cutting edge of medical research to address diseases such as Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, melanoma, and breast cancer. And of course, the two Hadassah hospitals Ein Kerem and Mount Scopus remain the best examples of diversity and cooperation that can be found in the Middle East, providing the most up-to-date and caring medical treatment to everyone, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Given all the good things we Zionists know about Israel, how is it that there are people who want to isolate and demonize the country and undermine its sovereignty? Avi Weinryb of the Israel Action Network provided a framework for understanding people’s attitudes toward Israel and how to engage with those who can be persuaded to be more supportive. In particular, he pointed out the need to build relationships through dialogue, to discover shared values and common ground, and to recognize the 13
importance of emotions in making moral choices. The situation in the Middle East does not have to be a zero-sum game, but rather we can work toward a win-win solution.
(Continued on next page) Rabbi Judith Schindler, Director of the Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice at Queens University in Charlotte, gave an inspirational presentation on Jewish values and how they can help guide us in providing not just social services to those in need, but in advocating for social justice as well. The Center provides Holocaust and human rights education and promotes advocacy to create positive change. Rabbi Schindler drew upon the Holiness Code in Leviticus (“Love your fellow as yourself”) as well as the wisdom of Hillel (“What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor”) to emphasize the need to create inclusion and acceptance for all. She pointed out that Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah all said to God, “Hineini, here I am.” The question then becomes, to whom or for what cause would we say “Hineini, here I am”? I hope that Hadassah inspires that response from you! Martha Woody, Chapter President
Happenings with our Members
Mazel Tov to Joan Newman on the birth of her great grandson Samuel Nathan Pokorney. Did we miss your news? Be sure to contact Martha Woody, 276-638-4316, and we’ll include you in our next newsletter!
You’re Invited to Hadassah’s Donor Brunch Sunday, May 21, 2017 11:00 a.m. At the home of Ronnie Mand 235 Brandon Court, Danville, VA Just as the wild flower seeds have been sown in Israel to beautify the land We can sow seeds for healthy and productive lives through our Donor contributions R.S.V.P by May 12th to rkmand@comcast.net or 434-799-3434
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Even if you are unable to attend, you can make a difference! Send your Donor check, made payable to Hadassah, to Jo Ann Howard, 326 Rosemary Lane, Danville, VA 24541
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