Temple Beth Sholom
The Shofar Cheshvan/Kislev/Tevet 5778
November/December 2017
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Reflections from the President Jo Ann Howard Recently I shared a writing I came across in the book Jewish Spirituality and Faith by Rabbi Bernard S. Raskas. I feel that it is worth talking about again. Commenting on the verse “Taste and see that the ways of the Lord are good” (Psalms 34:9), the rabbis ask how it is possible for everything we experience to be good. Their answer is that it is in our power to find something positive in everything that happens to us. We must make up our minds that events and encounters in the coming year will make us stronger, wiser, more caring, more loving human beings. No matter what befalls us, we must have faith – faith in ourselves and in tomorrow. And that is just how this year will be for our Temple Beth Sholom Congregation. We all know that our doors are always open for Shabbat and Havdalah services, holiday observances and celebrations, and any opportunity we can find to be together. Yes, we are without a rabbi as our spiritual leader at this time, but that situation did not stop us in our tracks. Our High Holy Days services seemed to be even more meaningful as we all worked together. Congregants were eager to add to their usual participation, some members participated for the first time, and the Torah readings were successful. All of our Shabbat service dates are filled, holiday observances and celebrations are planned for, and life continues on for our congregational family. Yes, we will continue to show that we have faith in ourselves and in our congregation’s tomorrow. With such a positive attitude we can certainly be proud of what we have accomplished thus far in 5778 and what we will continue to do throughout the year.
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YAHRZEITS May Their Memories Be a Blessing November 3-4/14-15 Cheshvan 29 – Sayde S. Greenberg 1 – Samuel Costin 2 – Beatrice Hollins Berman 2 – Milton Greenspon 2 – Stanley Singer
Nov. 10-11/21-22 Cheshvan 5 – Mollye L. Harris 11 – Mary Halperin 11 – Sidney Kellam 11 – Jennie R. Macht
Nov. 17-18/28-19 Cheshvan 17 – Simon Goodfriend 18 – Isaac Hollins
November 24-25/6-7 Kislev 21 – Steven Nakdimen 22 – Jacob Silverman 24 – Rabbi Benjamin Kelson 24 – Jean Kushner
December 1-2/13-14 Kislev 27 – Blanche Sterne Bermann 28 – Irving Melnick 30 – Michael Friedman 2 – Dora Paul Kaplan 2 – Alvin Newman
December 8-9/20-21 Kislev 4 – Esther F. Kahn 5 – Mattie Greenberg 6 – Benjamin Arthur Rippe 6 – Harvey William Sater 9 – Gerald S. Gordon
December 15-16/27-28 Kislev 10 – Dr. Samuel R. Newman 11 – S. Harrison Kahn 12 – Mrs. Louis Kaufman 14 – Sigurd Navell 15 – Fred Feibelman 15 – Hannah H. Schreibfeder 15 – Herschel M. Stendig 15 – Sophie Golub Stendig 16 – Babette K. Hoffman 16 – Nancy Koplen
December 22-23/4-5 Tevet 18 – Florence F. Fuchs 18 – Adolph Kingoff 20 – Isabel Heiner Lipman 23 – Jacob “Jack” Jason
December 29-30/11-12 Tevet 25 – Ellis Halperin 28 – Nathan Lantor 30 – Julius Novakoff
January 3-4/14-15 Cheshvan 1 1 1 3 3 5 5 5 6 6 6 6
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Shirley Levy Ella Friedman Jacob Cohen Michael Becher Jacquie Koplen Aaron L. Bane Selig Heiner Kingoff Trudy Silverman Daniel Barrs Russell Denny Betsy Fresco Henry Nakdimen 2
Temple Beth Sholom Donations Lo Lehitalem (Building Fund) Jo Ann and Peter Howard Thank you to the Stendig Family for the landscaping and beautification at Green Hill Cemetery Thank you to Mira Becher for her part in the beautification at Green Hill Cemetery
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. Ronnie and Steve Mand In Honor of Faye Kushner on being a published author Kudos to Barry Koplen for all he is doing to benefit Danville
Jo Ann and Peter Howard In Honor of Joan Newman’s birthday
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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NOVEMBER Friday, 3rd
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service - Jo Ann Howard
Friday, 10th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Ronnie Mand & Susanne Singer
Friday, 17th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Friday, 24th
No Service Scheduled (Thanksgiving Weekend)
Monday, 27th
5:00 p.m.
Sisterhood Meeting – bring book recommendations
DECEMBER Friday, 1st
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service – Jo Ann Howard
Friday, 8th
7:30 p.m.
Shabbat Service –Jo Ann Howard
Tuesday, 12th First Hanukkah light
Friday, 15th
6:00 p.m.
Friday, 22nd
No Service Scheduled
Friday, 29th
No Service Scheduled
Shabbat Service and Hanukkah Celebration Ohev Zion Synagogue – Martinsville, VA
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WITH OUR CONGREGATION Mazel Tov to Bernard Baker on receiving the rank and decoration of Knight Commander Court of Honor for the Masons. Mazel Tov to Melanie Vaughan and Barry Koplen on the recognition they received at the Danville Art League’s annual fall juried art exhibition. Melanie’s painting “Tossed Salad” won third place award and Barry’s photograph “Deeply Rooted” won an honorable mentioned award. We are so proud of both of them! Be sure to stop by the Museum of Fine Arts and History to enjoy the exhibit which will be on display through December 22nd. Happy 88th birthday wishes go to Joan Newman. A toast to you, with white wine of course!
Congratulations to Barry Koplen on the publication of his newest book Whale of Grief - Wail of Joy. It is about Jewish life in a non-Jewish world as told with poems and stories. The book is available in paperback at Amazon and locally at Karen's Hallmark. You may have noticed a new face at services and events. Gordon Lyles is beginning his journey in Judaism. Let each of us help guide Gordon during this time of learning and commitment. Our wishes for good health are extended to Mildred Barth, Ben Fraifeld, Joan Fraifeld, Patrice Kramer, Esther Rippe, Charles Silverman, Samantha 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 November Birthdays: 1 – Dovie Melnick; 6 – Samantha Wills; 9 – Asher Caplan; 25 – Joan Fraifeld November Anniversaries: 1 – Harriette and Erwin Will; 5 – Susan and Hank Dufour; 18 – Melanie and Kevin Vaughan; 18 – Michelle and Robert Fryman; 21 – Bonnie and George Brumfield; 27 – Elisabeth and Mark Stanley December Birthdays: 16 – Steve Mand; 21 – Ben Fraifeld; 23 – Danny Jason; 26 – Karen Harris; 28 – Lynne Steinberg de Loper’ 29 – Jo Ann Howard; 30 – Alyssa Stanley December Anniversaries: 26 – Faye and Sam Kushner 5
WHAT WE DID IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER
We were certainly busy during the Fall Holy Days! Rosh Hashanah services, lunch at the Howards, Tashlich at the river, Yom Kippur services, Break-the-fast, Sukkot service and hors d’oeuvres in the sukkah, and Simchat Torah filled our calendars!
Thank you to those who supported our Tzdekah project for God’s Storehouse Malcom Huckabee Backpack program. Our $405 contribution will provide students with food for the weekends. We may be small, but we can make a difference!
HAVDALAH AND DINNER The Howards enjoyed hosting the October 21st Havdalah and Dinner. There was an intimate group of eleven members who wished Shabbat good-bye, and then enjoyed each others’ company over dinner. It’s always nice being with family!
TREE PLANTING AND RECEPTION Thank you to the Stendig family and to Mira Becher for the landscaping that has been done at Green Hill Cemetery. The Stendigs also had two sets of stairs with railings built so that the area has easy access. What a peaceful and beautiful setting we now have when we visit our deceased loved ones. A reception followed the ceremony at the home of the Howards.
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The Sisterhood Rummage Sale was a HUGE success, netting over $7,000. Although this figure is staggering, much of it came from private presales, although we did well during the actual sale at the temple. Melanie and I thank everyone who had a part in this venture: from donating items, helping with sorting and setup, and working during the two day event. We couldn't have done it without you. A special shoutout goes to Noah Kramer and Sam Rippe for delivering, setting up, and retrieving the clothes racks, as well as for all of their help behind the scenes. These are two fine young men, truly committed to helping their temple. As mentioned in a previous article, Sisterhood voted at our May meeting to pay for new gutters and necessary woodwork around the religious school wing of the temple for a sum of $7,845. Due to the overwhelming success of the Rummage Sale, we were able to pay this amount without tapping into our investment account. We continue to be "small but mighty" and thank everyone for the support of our group and its projects.
Shabbat Service and Hanukkah Celebration Ohev Zion Synagogue Friday, December 15th 6:00 p.m. Let Jo Ann know if you are planning to attend this evening of fun. Carpooling can be arranged for those who do not want to drive. Be sure to bring your Hanukkah menorah and candles.
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Bonnie’s Book Beat Where She Came From: A Daughter’s Search for Her Mother’s History by Helen Epstein depicts the journey by the author to discover her mother’s, grandmother’s, and great-grandmother’s histories from the 19th century to present day. Her discoveries trace back to 19 th century Czechoslovakia, with historical details of Jewish life, and lead up to the Holocaust, where her mother was interred in camps, and her grandparents perished. Helen Epstein travels to Europe to unearth the mysteries of her family’s past, including their status in society and their accomplishments in trade. Although the book is more a documentary, glimpses into the author’s family history give the reader a rare glance into what life was like for the Jewish population over the centuries in central Europe. Accompanied with photographs and sketches, this is a fascinating journey. The Marrano Legacy: A Contemporary Crypto-Jewish Priest Reveals Secrets of His Double Life by Trudi Alexy will leave the reader breathless! During the Spanish, Portuguese, and New World inquisitions, lasting from the 15 th century to the 19th century, our people were forced beyond measure to convert to Catholicism or burn at the stake (dry wood if they confessed their heresy; green wood if they held on to their Jewish faith). It is no wonder that many chose to convert but remained secret Jews. Trudy Alexy’s earlier work, The Mezuzah in the Madonna’s Foot: Marranos and Other Secret Jews, is her own journey toward Judaism after ‘converting’ to Catholicism to escape persecution during WWII. In searching for secret Jews to research for this book, she begins a dialogue with Simon, a Catholic priest living in South America, who is a secret Jew. At age 12, Simon learned from his grandfather that he was a Jew, not a Catholic, as he had been raised. He was sworn to secrecy, not even allowed to tell his mother who was a devout Spanish Catholic. Thus, begins an email correspondence between Simon and Trudi that are filled with details of an existence that should not have to be endured during these modern times, but has been endured for the last 500 years by the descendants of Spain, Portugal, and the American Southwest’s Marranos. In every other generation, a youth is selected to become a priest in order to help the hidden Jews with the practice of their ancient faith. As puzzling as this is to the author, Simon elaborates on this deception for survival. His agony, in not being able to practice his faith in the open, and in having to minister to Spanish Catholics, is explained in his correspondence with the author. Quoting from Page 74, Chapter Five, Simon writes to Trudi, “…I was required to stay in the boarding school from Monday to Friday noon. Then I had the chance to visit my grandfather, and it was on those weekends I learned all about the secret life of the hidden Jews. It was then he taught me every detail of the Jewish faith…” And, referring to his studies in Catholic seminary, “…No ritual, no act, no song meant anything to me. All I wanted was to return every Friday afternoon to my grandfather’s house, to celebrate the Shabbat……how my heart rejoiced when my grandfather started to light the candles, when he began to sing the songs welcoming the Shabbat, with our faces turned to Jerusalem, the sun going down, saying the Shema….”
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A Bit of Jewish Humor So a Little Laugh Wouldn’t Hurt…
A Tree for Hanukkah Admiring the Christmas trees displayed in his neighbor's windows, Nathan asks his father, “Daddy, can we have a Hanukkah tree?” “What? No, of course not.” says his father. “Why not?” asks Nathan. Bewildered, his father replies, “Well, Nathan, because the last time we had dealings with a lighted bush we spent 40 years in the wilderness.”
Latkes for Hanukkah It was Hanukkah and the tiny village was in fear of not having any latkes because they had run out of flour. Rudi, the rabbi, was called upon to help solve the problem. He said, "don't worry, you can substitute matzo meal for the flour and the latkes will be just as delicious!" Sheila looks to her husband and says, "Mortey...you think it'll work?" and Mortey says, "of course! Everybody knows........................Rudolph, the Rab, knows grain dear!"
A Good Buy The day before Hanukkah, a Hasidic man, with a long beard, payis, a long black coat, and shtreiml (the traditional fur hat worn by Chassidic Jews), walked into a bar with a multi-colored parrot on his shoulder. The bartender asked: "Where'd you get that?" The parrot replied: "Brooklyn. There are thousands of them."
Hanukkah One-Liners Most Texans think Hanukkah is some sort of duck call. – Richard Lewis I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up…they have no holidays. Henny Youngman Even a secret agent can't lie to a Jewish mother. - Peter Malkin Let me tell you the one thing I have against Moses. He took us 40 years into the desert in order to bring us to the one place in the Middle East that has no oil. - Golda Meir 9
November/December 2017 Danville The Danville Chapter of Hadassah had a wonderful meeting in September on Melanie Vaughan’s porch, with a thought-provoking program provided by Jo Ann Howard on the “Then and Now” of our chapter which will celebrate 100 years of service in 2018! Our Angels of Mercy campaign is in its 68th year and continues to be our major fundraiser. We are one of the few chapters where most of our revenue comes from outside the Jewish community. The ladies who designed and implemented this campaign back in 1950 deserve much credit for thinking “outside the box” of our small Jewish community for raising funds for Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel. Our financial support of HMO remains critical so that its cutting edge medical research and care can continue. October was again Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Hadassah supports this effort in numerous ways. HMO is conducting stem cell research in the hope of finding a cure for this disease. Cancer stem cells are sometimes resistant to radiation or chemotherapy, and Hadassah’s researchers are working to detect the most aggressive breast cancer stem cells with a new set of biomarkers. Hopefully, a medical intervention can be found that will make these breast cancer stem cells more fully susceptible to chemotherapy. An example of good will in the Middle East, thanks to an agreement of cooperation between the health ministries of Israel and Cyprus, a liver donated by a woman in Cyprus saved a young woman’s life in Israel, with a transplant performed at Hadassah’s Ein Kerem Hospital. Mutual organ donation can occur between the two countries when no suitable organ is found locally, so that more lives can be saved. This is a wonderful example of friendship between neighboring countries in that troubled region. The days are growing shorter and colder and soon the holiday season will be upon us. Thanksgiving and the Feast of Lights and that other holiday are a time to rejoice with family and friends and to light one candle (or nine) rather than cursing the darkness. Please continue your support of Hadassah, a beacon of hope and healing that demonstrates “the power of women who do!” Martha Woody, Danville Chapter President
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Danville Hadassah’s Annual Hanukkah Celebration th December 13 235 Brandon Court
A flyer will be mailed out soon! Keeping Up with our Members Joan Newman celebrated her 88th birthday on October 29th. Mazel Tov! Shandra Levey gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Talia Naomi Levey on October 7 th. Olga Lobl, former Danville member, passed away on October 18th in Reseta, California at the age of 104. Did we miss your news? Be sure to contact Martha Woody, 276-638-4316, and we’ll include you in our next newsletter!
Did You Know This About Our Danville Chapter? The first meeting of the Danville Chapter was held in 1918. In 1948 the entire fiscal goal was $1,000. Today it is over $20,000. 1950 brought the first Angels of Mercy campaign raising $1,589 with 168 ads and received recognition from the National President of Hadassah. In 1954 a fashion show was held with local members and their children wearing Israeli clothing which was loaned for the fundraising event. The first mention of candle lighting was in 1956. There is more fascinating information to come next month!
What’s Happening with our Danville Projects Youth Aliyah – It’s in the mail! Your annual Youth Aliyah Birthday and Anniversary card list should arrive any day now. Read it over carefully, make your selections, and return your completed form and check to Chairman Susanne Singer.
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This is a easy way to remember family and friends who have been included on the list, while at the same time supporting the Youth Aliyah programs and villages. Thank you ahead of time for your generosity!
Angels of Mercy – We’re ready to go to press with our Angels of Mercy thank you ad which recognizes all of our donors – businesses and personals. Watch this space in our next newsletter to find out how much money we were able to raise for our Hadassah hospitals.
New Year Card 5778 – A big thank you goes to our chairman Denise Johnson for taking on this chairmanship. Denise lives in Florida and despite the fact that she was evacuated due to the hurricane, the cards were out in time for Rosh Hashanah! Thank you also to the 35 participating families who helped to make this another successful project.
Candle Lighting - This is an opportunity for every Danville Hadassah member to participate in our beautiful candle lighting tradition! At the end of every meeting members light a Hanukkah menorah and share what is happening with their family and friends. Now, whether you can attend a meeting or not, you can light a menorah for just $18 to honor and/or remember family and friends. Send your check to Jo Ann Howard, Treasurer, 326 Rosemary Lane, Danville, VA 24541.
Life Membership – What a wonderful way to share Hadassah!
Make a family member or friend a member for life! The cost is still only $250. Contact Jo Ann Howard today via email or call her at 434-799-3505.
What’s Happening on Hadassah’s National Scene? New NICU at Hadassah: First of Its Kind in Israel
Tiny patients with big problems are now being treated in the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem—the first of its kind in Israel.
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The newest addition to Hadassah's Neonatology Department, located in the Charlotte R. Bloomberg Mother and Child Center, the innovative NICU combines advanced technology with private rooms and dedicated multidisciplinary health care professionals, including a nutritionist and physical therapist. Most babies admitted to the NICU are premature, have low birth rates, and/or special conditions that need immediate specialized care. Typically, they are so small you could hold each one in your palm--if they weren't attached to so many tubes and life-saving devices. The new eight-bed NICU doesn't just provide space and protection from infection to these atrisk newborns. It also allows parents to be integral parts of their care, explains NICU Director Prof. Smadar Eventov-Friedman. “Bonding with a sick infant is crucial," says Prof. EventovFriedman. "Parents need to be close at hand for feeding and bathing and to become part of the baby's care from the beginning." Therefore, in addition to the complex machinery, such as mechanical ventilators and monitors for every life function, there's an easy chair for mom and dad plus a small refrigerator to store supplements for the baby. When Prof. Eventov-Friedman was a medical student, she relates, few of these babies would have had a chance of surviving. But the huge leaps in neonatal care have enabled sophisticated interventions that save babies’ lives and give them quality of life. "A child born with low weight or the need for surgical or subspecialist intervention has as good a chance of survival at Hadassah as in any top medical center in the world," she says. Hadassah’s Neonatology Department includes well-baby care and two intensive care units—the other, at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus. Close to 13,000 babies were born at Hadassah last year. While the vast majority are healthy and go home in two days, because Hadassah is a referral center for high-risk pregnancy, there is a spiraling need for intensive care, explains Dr. Benjamin Bar-Oz, head of the Neonatology Department.
Hadassah’s Fetal Medicine Specialist on the Cover of Forbes Dr. Yuval Gielchinsky, Hadassah Medical Organization’s fetal medicine specialist, appears on the cover of Forbes Israel Magazine, in recognition of his lifesaving interventions with babies in utero. The issue of Forbes is dedicated to the best doctors in Israel. Whether it is a fetus with a life-threatening heart problem or crippling spina bifida, or twins with a faulty blood supply, Dr. Gielchinsky performs the miraculous procedures that ensure these babies a better quality of life —or life at all.
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