Temple Beth Sholom
The Shofar Iyar/ Sivan/Tammuz 5778
May/June 2018
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In Honor of Israel’s 70th Birthday: “Mine, In Every Sense” By Barbara Cohen Itzkowitz
My eyes…wandered in the wilderness over the same crags and hazy-blue distant peaks that countless numbers have viewed before me. My hands…touched Herod’s stones, cold in the Shabbat night air, yet warmed by the prayers of centuries. I tasted…my own tears for the military heroes, 13, 17, 18 years old, row upon row, and for the named and nameless victims of a horror that chilled and numbed me. I smelled…the cool pine of forests lovingly planted tree by tree, and marveled at the expanse of barren land still untouched. Pride swelled my heart…as a thousand blue and white flags snapped in the wind and the roar of F-15s overhead vibrated my very being. Shame touched me…for our marshmallow existence contrasting so sharply with the sacrifice of pioneers past and present. Joy overcame me…tickled me, made me laugh watching young and old celebrate freedom in song and dance. Awe grabbed me…beckoned me, pulled at me, realizing how many have struggled and yet will struggle for survival of an ideal, a principal, a homeland. At every turn my senses were bombarded, saturated. My cup ran over with abundant milk and honey and I savored every overwhelming drop. I felt a struggle, a war with my own senses, longing for rest, yet unable to resist the treasures awaiting me. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem…How could I possibly? You are mine in every sense. 1
YAHRZEITS May Their Memories Be a Blessing May 4-5/19-20 Iyar 2 – Edith M. Cornblatt 2 – Nathan Newman 2 – Wildred Santerr 3 – Margaret Heiner Kingoff 3 – Jeanne Gabriel Kaufman 5 – Herman J. Cornblatt
May 11-12/26-27 Iyar 6 – Gloria Calisch Gallagher Dr. Luis Fraifeld (22 Iyar) 8 – Sarah Rebekah Whitten Kushner 8 – Louis Sager 9 – Samuel Jacobs 9 – Isaac Rosenstock
May 18-19/4-5 Sivan 12 – Edwin Rosenstock 15 – Lorraine Lester 17 – Lee Evan Howard 18 – Phillip Greenberg 19 – Samuel Cassoy 19 – Daniel Sechtin
May 25-26/11-12 Sivan 20 – Mattie Kaufman 23 – Jay Newman Macht 25 – Sidney Johnson, Sr. 25 – Joseph Vatz 26 – Esther Cohen 26 – Leo Kaufman 26 – Eileen Stendig
June 1-2/18-19 Sivan 28 – Charles Miller 29 – Rebecca W. Berman 30 – Rabbi Arnold Shevlin 31 – Shirley Kellam 1 – Jacob Berman 1 – Joe Bermann
June 8-9/25-26 Sivan 3 – Arthur Goldstein 5 – Tillie K. Rubin 6 – Annie Rebeccah Vatz 7 – Raynell Lantor
June 15-16/2-3 Tammuz 10 – Hyman Sater 11 – Harry Binder Stein 12 – Samuel Gold 13 – Elizabeth Rose Hausman 15 – Riva Lea Kingoff 16 – Zev Becher 16 – Sam Heiner
June 22-23/9-10 Tammuz 17 – Ernest Freudenthal 18 – Robert Lehr 19 – Lee David Howard 19 – Alan Bermann 20 – Esther Berman Fishman 20 – Theodore Harris 21 – Herman B. Kushner 21 – Ben Klaff 21 – Eleanor Howard 23 – Murray “Buddy” Rippe
June 29-30/16-17 Tammuz 25 – Alice Heiner Kingoff
July 6-7/23-24 Tammuz 1 – Abe Koplen 3 – William Albert Nakdimen 6 – William Marks
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Temple Beth Sholom Donations In Memory of Heather Silverman – Charles Silverman A little something for the pushkee – Eric Steckler In Honor of Michael Caplan’s birthday - Stuart Caplan and Bill Badertscher In Memory of Esther Rippe - Melanie and Kevin Vaughan, Julia and Milton Cornblatt
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 and Continued Recovery to Faye Kushner Steve and Ronnie Mand, Melanie and Kevin Vaughan, Jo Ann and Peter Howard Speedy and Continued Recovery to John Wills Steve and Ronnie Mand, Melanie and Kevin Vaughan, Jo Ann and Peter Howard Speedy and Continued Recovery to Gordon Lyles Steve and Ronnie Mand, Melanie and Kevin Vaughan, Jo Ann and Peter Howard In Memory of David Howard, Miriam Sager Saffer, Marilee Sager Jo Ann and Peter Howard
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 3
MAY Friday, 4th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Friday, 11th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Ben and Sam Rippe
Friday, 18th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Monday, 21st
5:00 p.m.
Sisterhood Meeting
Friday, 25th
No service scheduled – Memorial Day Weekend
Wednesday, 30th
7:00 p.m.
Congregational Meeting
JUNE Friday, 1st
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Saturday, 30th
7:30 p.m.
Dessert and Havdalah at the Howard’s
Torah Portions You might want to check out the Torah portions when we do not have Shabbat services May 25/26 June 8/9 June 15/16 June 22/23 June 29/30
Naso: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89 Shelach: Numbers 13:1 – 15:41 Korach: Numbers 16:1 – 18:32 Chukkat: Numbers 19:1 – 22:1 Balak: Numbers 22:2 – 25:9
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WITH OUR CONGREGATION We are so glad that Faye Kushner is doing so well after her March 19th surgery. It has been wonderful to see her up and around and back at temple! Our heartfelt condolences have been sent to the Rippe family on the death of long time member Esther Rippe. She was our beautiful lady in pink and she will truly be missed. A big mazel tov goes to Rabbi Estelle on her upcoming pulpit at Temple Bat Yam in Ocean City, MD. She begins on July 1 and is very excited about her move. Welcome to Emily Scholl who is a recent graduate of JMU. She is living in Halifax and working with child protective services. We hope to see her at temple again soon! Welcome back to Danville to Cheryl Terry. She is living on Country Club Drive and hopes to become involved with us at temple. Our wishes for good health are extended to Mildred Barth, Carol Caplan, Patrice Kramer, Faye Kushner, 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 May Birthdays: 4 – Stuart Kramer; 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; 25 – Ben Rippe; 27 – Julian Koplen; 30 – Sam Rippe June Anniversaries: 13 – Belinda and Bernard Baker; 16 – Ronnie and Steve Mand; 17 – Jo Ann and Peter Howard 5
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MAY and JUNE
Shabbat/Shavuot Service will be held on Friday, May 18th. Plan to attend…everyone will have an opportunity to participate! Shavuot is the Hebrew word for “weeks” and refers to the Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which occurs seven weeks after Passover. Shavuot, like many other Jewish holidays, began as an ancient agricultural festival that marked the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. In ancient times, Shavuot was a pilgrimage festival during which Israelites brought crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, it is a celebration of Torah, education, and actively choosing to participate in Jewish life. Traditionally, the Book of Ruth, part of the section of the Bible known as Writings, is read during services on Shavuot. Ruth is a young Moabite woman who married an Israelite man. When her husband died, she followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel and adopted the Jewish faith and people as her own. To feed herself and Naomi, she gleaned in the field of Boaz, a rich man. Boaz is taken with her, and eventually they marry. Among their descendants is the famed King David. The theme of Ruth’s conversion to Judaism is central to this story. In Ruth 1:16–17, she states: “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following after you. For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. Thus and more may God do to me if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth is often considered to be the archetype of all who “choose” or convert to Judaism—accepting the Torah, just as Jews accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai—and this passage traditionally has been understood as her conversion statement. It is customary to decorate ones home with greens and fresh flowers on Shavuot as a reminder of the spring harvest and the ancient ritual of bringing the first fruits to the Temple. Many Jews prepare and eat dairy foods—often cheesecake or blintzes—on Shavuot as a reminder of the sweetness of Torah. (From urj.org website)
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Temple Beth Sholom Congregational Meeting Wednesday, May 30, 2018 7:00 p.m. A Time To ~ Be Informed ~ Reports from the 2017-2018 Year A Time To ~ Be Heard ~ Election of Officers New Business/Concerns A Time To ~ Plan to Attend ~ Your Presence and Input Are Important! Refreshments Will Be Served!
Dessert and Havdalah – Mark your calendar for June 30th when we will meet at the home of Jo Ann and Peter Howard for dessert and a beautiful Havdalah ceremony. This gives us an opportunity to explore our senses, say good-bye to Shabbat, and be with our congregational family. A reminder will be sent out in June. Be sure to R.S.V.P.
WHAT WE DID IN MARCH and APRIL 7
We welcomed Shabbat together seven times during the months of March and April. We also had a Havdalah Service/Purim Celebration and our annual Congregational Seder which was on a Friday. Thank you to Michael Caplan for leading the March 16th service, Peter for leading the April 6th service, and Sam Kushner for leading the April 27th service. I lead March 9th and 23rd, and April 13th and 20th. Thank you to Eric Steckler for sharing some meaningful readings during each of the services and to Susanne Singer for her beautiful singing, especially the “new� Sholom Aleichem.
PURIM was a so much fun 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 and puns galore. A special thank you goes to Carol Caplan and Ronnie Mand for making this a fun-filled evening. Below are the photos you have been waiting for!
Be sure to visit our website tbsdanville.org
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Thirty-one congregational members and friends enjoyed this year’s Passover Seder. Everyone participated – whether it was asking questions, adding additional information, 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 who planned, organized, shopped, and cooked, to our own personal florist Debbie Rippe who adorned all the tables with beautiful arrangements, and to all who provided delicious side dishes and desserts. It’s always nice being with “family”.
Message from Ronnie Mand, Sisterhood President For those of you who attended our Sisterhood Shabbat Service, you may recall the theme of “Me, too” in reference to Sisterhood members wanting to be counted, wanting to do whatever they are capable of, physically and/or financially, to support our organization…….to ensure that Temple Beth Sholom Sisterhood not only survives, but continues to thrive for the betterment of the temple and the community. We provided meals for the doctors and volunteers at The Free Clinic last December, and many of our members said “Me, too” by joining a food team or offering financial support to help with expenses. Due to the generosity of those donors (and thrifty shopping by the teams), there were remaining funds. Thus, a few of us have stepped up again, and will be providing meals for two Tuesdays In May. This was an election year in Sisterhood, and every officer said “Me, too” when asked to serve another two year term. I am grateful and proud, to have the following women serve with me for 2018-2020: President: Ronnie Mand Vice-president: Melanie Vaughan Secretary: Bonnie Brumfield Treasurer: Jo Ann Howard Prayer Counselor: Carol Caplan At our March meeting, Bonnie Brumfield facilitated an interesting and lively discussion of Daring to Drive by Manal-al-Sharif, a courageous Saudi Arabian woman who wanted to improve the quality of life for the females of her country. After she so boldly drove a car, many females joined her movement, perhaps their version of the current “Me, too”. So it is with our Sisterhood members wanting to do what we can, in any manner that we can, to help sustain our beloved temple and to provide for others when possible. 9
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Bonnie’s Book Beat
DARING TO DRIVE, by Manal Al- Sharif, is the book Temple Beth Sholom’s Sisterhood selected for their annual book review. This book will take the reader on a journey never experienced, through the author’s telling of her childhood, radicalism, education, enlightenment, and her defying the Saudi rules of conduct for women (i.e., driving a car!). Growing up in poverty and family violence, the author questions why, why, why does her father slap her for no reason; why, why, why does her mother erupt into violence over minor infractions. She excels in school, much to her mother’s pleasure, and after graduating from high school at the top of her class; she attends college and completes a degree in computer science. This lands her a prestigious job at ARAMCO, an employment oasis, similar to an American work environment. In spite of sexist separation and housing and learning discrimination, she thrives, and actually learns to drive a car. Driving only on the premises of her workplace, she yearns to test the law (which does not actually forbid a woman from driving) and drive on the streets of her city. AHH, reader, as the book begins, Manal is being arrested for driving a car. Her time in jail is alarming. Her release from jail and her communication via social media bring the plight of the Saudi Arabian woman to the world’s attention. The book will capture the interest of men and women alike, and will give the reader a glimpse into a world that is foreign and unimaginable. A great read for everyone! Book will be in Temple library for your reading pleasure.
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A Bissel of Yiddish You won’t believe how much you already know… The Yiddish language is a wonderful source of rich expressions, especially terms of endearment (and of course, complaints and insults). Jewish scriptwriters introduced many Yiddish words into popular culture, which often changed the original meanings drastically. You might be surprised to learn how much Yiddish you already speak, but also, how many familiar words actually mean something different in real Yiddish. There is no universally accepted transliteration or spelling. In the 1930s, Yiddish was spoken by more than 10 million people, but by 1945, 75% of them were gone. Today, Yiddish is the language of over 100 newspapers, magazines, radio broadcasts, and websites. 1. baleboste - A good homemaker, a woman who’s in charge of her home and will make sure you remember it. 2. bissel - Or bisl – a little bit. 3. bubbe - Or bobe. It means Grandmother, and bobeshi is the more affectionate form. Bubele is a similarly affectionate word, though it isn’t in Yiddish dictionaries. 4. bupkes - Not a word for polite company. Bubkes or bobkes may be related to the Polish word for “beans”, but it really means “goat droppings” or “horse droppings.” It’s often used by American Jews for “trivial, worthless, useless, a ridiculously small amount” – less than nothing, so to speak. “After all the work I did, I got bupkes!” 5. chutzpah - Or khutspe. Nerve, extreme arrogance, brazen presumption. In English, chutzpah often connotes courage or confidence, but among Yiddish speakers, it is not a compliment. 6. feh! - An expression of disgust or disapproval, representative of the sound of spitting. 7. glitch - Or glitsh. Literally “slip,” “skate,” or “nosedive,” which was the origin of the common American usage as “a minor problem or error.” 8. kibbitz In Yiddish, it’s spelled kibets, and it’s related to the Hebrew “kibbutz” or “collective.” But it can also mean verbal joking, which after all is a collective activity. It didn’t originally mean giving unwanted advice about someone else’s game – that’s an American innovation. 9. klutz - Or better yet, klots. Literally means “a block of wood,” so it’s often used for a
dense, clumsy or awkward person. See schlemiel.
10. kvetsh - In popular English, kvetch means “complain, whine or fret,” but in Yiddish, kvetsh literally means “to press or squeeze,” like a wrong-sized shoe. Reminds you of certain chronic complainers, doesn’t it? But it’s also used on Yiddish web pages for “click” (click here). Watch for more Yiddish words in our next issue of The Shofar. Thank you to Sam Kushner for sharing this with us!
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May/June 2018 Danville Paying attention to the daily news these days can be quite challenging to those of us trying to maintain some sense of optimism or hope. Most of us are in search of any point of light in what can seem like a very dark landscape, and fortunately for us, there’s Hadassah! As Israel celebrates its 70th birthday, Hadassah Medical Organization, including its Department of Ophthalmology and the Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Nursing, marks 100 years of providing medical care to those who live there, regardless of faith, race, or nationality. To quote National President Ellen Hershkin, “Since our founding, Hadassah has advanced a Zionist vision of building bridges to peace, ensuring the health and well-being of Israel and all its people.” In the process, through its research, the Hadassah Medical Organization has brought life-saving advances in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, agerelated macular degeneration, and other diseases that have benefited patients worldwide. As part of the “Celebration 100,” the Hadassah Women’s Health & Advocacy Conference will be held May 15 to 17 in Washington, DC. I am honored to be attending as the Danville chapter delegate and look forward to learning more about women’s health and technology, and having the opportunity to talk with our representatives on Capitol Hill. And speaking of our chapter, we too are celebrating our 100 th birthday this year! Founded not long after Henrietta Szold organized Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America in 1912, our chapter has a strong and active history, from sending medical instruments and baby food to Palestine in the early years to our longrunning Angels of Mercy campaign that provides much needed financial support to HMO at present. To celebrate this milestone, our chapter is planning a birthday party on Sunday, May 20th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the home of Ronnie Mand. Please join us! You can accept this invitation by emailing Ronnie at rkmand@comcast.net. Centuries ago, Hillel asked these famous questions: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?” Hadassah answers the first two questions. Your support answers the third! Please send a generous check to our treasurer, Jo Ann Howard, at 326 Rosemary Lane, Danville VA 24541. Thank you! Martha Woody, President Danville Chapter of Hadassah 12
Danville Hadassah’s 100 th Birthday Celebration And Donor Sunday, May 20, 2018 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. 235 Brandon Court R.S.V.P. to Ronnie Mand by May 10 th 434-799-3434 or rkmand@comcast.net
Join our special guests Southern Seaboard President Gail Moskowitz Area Vice President Leah Cohen Toast Danville Hadassah’s accomplishments over the last 100 years Make your Donor contribution in honor of this Centennial celebration (Mail to Jo Ann Howard, 326 Rosemary Lane, Danville, VA 24541) Keeping Up with our Members 13
Mazel Tov to Lindy Levey on the birth of her granddaughter Gemma Sloane Levey. She was born on March 17th to Dan and Julie Levey. Julie is a former member of our Danville Chapter. It is with great sadness that I share that Esther Rippe, the matriarch of our Danville Chapter, passed away on April 9th at the age of 97. She always supported our projects, even when she was unable to attend functions. May her memory be for a blessing. Did we miss your news? Be sure to contact Martha Woody, 276-638-4316, and we’ll include you in our next newsletter!
What’s Happening with our Danville Projects
No Show Ball – This project was a wonderful success. We surpassed our goal!. Thank you to all the participants of this “non event” for contributing over $1,450 for the Sarah Wetzman Davidson Tower.
Donor - This year is going to be a wonderful 100th birthday celebration, but it is alo an important fundraiser. Please be generous so we can reach our $2,300 goal. Our small chapter can make a powerful difference in so many lives that need our help!
Candle Lighting – Remember, 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.
What’s Happening on Hadassah’s National Scene?
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Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus Hosts Conference to Mark Annual World Down Syndrome Day www.hadassah.org | News & Stories Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus hosted 200 people at the annual World Down Syndrome Day conference, held at the hospital in late March. The speakers, including a number of Down Syndrome adults who lead active, productive lives, emphasized the need to focus on integrating Down Syndrome patients by ensuring that they are supported to reach their full potential. Among the sponsors of the conference were the Hadassah Medical Organization, Shalva (the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities), and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services.
Predicting Clinical Outcomes for Multiple Sclerosis Patients: CuttingEdge Research at Hadassah www.hadassah.org | News & Stories Groundbreaking research from Hadassah Hospital helps study clinical outcomes for newly diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis patients. More than two million people--two to three times more women--have multiple sclerosis (MS)--the leading cause of neurological disability among young adults. What is their prognosis? “We don’t really know what an individual’s prognosis will be when we first diagnose the disease,” relates Dr. Adi Vaknin, Senior Neurologist at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem. That is because there is so much heterogeneity in outcomes, she explains. While 15 to 20 percent of MS patients do very well, 50 to 70 percent need strong medicines to live a quality life. It is this uncertainty that has led Prof. Vaknin to start a biobank with which to study clinical outcomes for newly diagnosed patients. By identifying a set of proteins (biomarkers) within an individual’s peripheral blood, Dr. Vaknin and her research team have been able to predict, for example, a patient’s response to interferon, a common treatment for MS. The past 15 years have seen the development of very effective medications to treat MS. Currently, Dr. Vaknin reports, there are 10 medications available, but their effectiveness varies from person to person. “There is also a limited time window to start treatment,” Dr. Vaknin says, “because if you miss that window, some of the medicines are not very effective.” There are, however, two new medications on the market, she notes, specifically designed to treat progressive MS. One common thread in MS is the degeneration of myelin, the sheath that protects the nerve fibers. Dr. Vaknin is researching the ability of certain proteins, found in the fluid surrounding the brain, to renew damaged myelin. Being able to rebuild myelin in MS patients is only in the research stage--though she estimates that “it will happen in the next five years.” In the meantime, what advice does Dr. Vaknin have for those who suffer with MS? She recommends 2,000 units per day of Vitamin D--particularly found to be effective in preventing the occurrence of the disease in any offspring. Dr. Vaknin also suggests exercise and a healthy diet--and no smoking. She adds living a less stressful life to the list, but acknowledges that this “is not so easy to do.”
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