ha
H desh Fall 2023
Elul 5783 – Kislev 5784
From Rabbi Lerner Two Stories and Two Ways to Strengthen to our Vibrant and Diverse Community
Simh.at Torah Honorees
Each year at Simh.at Torah, we complete the Torah reading cycle and start our reading again with Bereisheet (Genesis). There was once a simple Jew who Amidst the celebration showing our love of Torah is a special prayed with the great Rabbi, the Ba’al ceremony honoring two people who have devoted themselves Shem Tov, on the High Holy Days. The to many aspects of Temple Emunah. This year we honor Sandra man had a son who was unable to read Levine – Kallat Torah, and Helen Marcus—Kallat Bereisheet. Over many decades, these extraordinary women have Hebrew; he could not decipher even sustained our community with their kindness and warmth. the letters, let alone the meaning of They have been regular participants at Shabbat and hagim the holy words of a prayerbook. (holidays) and reached out to countless members of our comHis father did not understand munity. In particular, they have chaired our Bereavement the situation; he simply did not take Committee, which supports members who have lost loved him to the synagogue on those most ones. They and their amazing group of volunteers perform sacred days. But when he became the age of a Bar Mitzvah, an invaluable mitzvah and we hope that more members will the father took his son along on Yom Kippur. He felt he had join them to help others. to since he might eat on the fast day simply because he did Please celebrate with us when they are honored on Simh.at not know any better. Torah morning (Sunday, October 8). They will also receive an The boy had a small flute which he always played when aliyah on Saturday night at our Klezamir led Simhat Torah . he sat out in the fields to herd the sheep. He had taken the dancing, but their honor will be on Sunday morning, followed flute with him to the synagogue in the pocket of his jacket; by a kiddush lunch. We hope you can join us for both. Mazal his father had not noticed it. The boy sat in the synagogue for tov to Sandra and Helen and their families! hours without saying a word. But when the Musaf - the additional service – commenced, Sandra Levine he said, “Father, I have my flute with me. I want to play it.” The Sandra and her husband Ralph have father was greatly upset and told him to do no such thing, and been Emunah members since 1962. Their the boy restrained himself. three children celebrated their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs here. Sandra ran the kitchen for When the Minh.ah - the afternoon service – began, he said many years, overseeing Donor Dinners again, “Father, let me play my flute.” His father became angry and catering Bar/Bat Mitvahs. She ran the and said, “Where did you put it?” And when the boy told him, Meat Coop, participated on the Religious the father laid his hand on his son’s pocket so that the boy Committee, tutored children in the could not take it out. (continued on page 24) Hebrew School, and most recently, ran the Bereavement Committee. Helen Marcus Helen and her husband Steve joined Temple Emunah in 1975 and she has been an active member ever since. Her daughters attended the religious school and celebrated their B’not Mitzvah at Emunah. A longtime Sisterhood Board member, Helen co-chaired the accommodating service and led programs, mostly relating to her crafting hobbies. She helped organize the first Rosh Chodesh group and is active in the current group. Helen was one of the original students (continued on page 5)