The January Lamp

Temple Beth Sholom Monthly Newsletter

FROM THE RABBI FROM THE CANTOR

Ten years ago, Cantor Anna and I decided to reach out to our friends at the Berea Nyack Seventh Day Adventist Church in order to create a unique service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our hope was to create a service that reflected both of our congregation’s dedication to music and social justice. After meeting with choir director Joanne Turnbull and local civil rights hero Dr. Frances Pratt, we knew we had something special

This year, we will celebrate the tenth annual MLK Shabbat service between our congregations As a way adding even more spirit this year, we decided to coordinate the service with the arrival of our artist-in-residence

Coleen Dieker Coleen is a friend of our community, and will be playing the fiddle and singing alongside both choirs.

The dream of Dr. King is one that is waiting to be fulfilled – a day when there is true equality and justice for the impoverished.

Please join us on Friday night, January 13th at 7:30PM!!

Happy New Year to all. Of course January 1st is not “our” new year. We observe that on the first of TishreiRosh Hashanah, but we live in the larger world and are accordingly mindful of the “secular” or “civil” new year as well. Although it is technically not very secular at all, January 1st is New Year’s Day in the Gregorian calendar named after and instituted by Pope Gregory in medieval times… between us, it was originally a holiday set to commemorate Jesus’ B’rit Milah (Circumcision). It is the eighth day after his official birthday, December 25th - check your calendar.

In any event, it has become the calendar by which most of the world keeps time. I guess that is why it is easier to call it the “secular new year.” It is an important date for governments, for budgets, taxes and all the rest.

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FROM THE CANTOR (CONTINUED)

The secular New Year has its own set of rituals We can see the ball drop in NY, an orange drop in Miami, a peach ball drop in Atlanta In Ukraine and Russia, one of the most common traditions is to gather around the table right before midnight and say out loud the toasts –to honor our wishes and fulfill our dreams in the coming year. In Israel everyone wishes each other “Sylvester Sameach”

For me as a Cantor the best ritual of the secular New Year is “New Year’s resolutions ” They are the one part of the secular new year that reminds us of Rosh Hashanah I truly believe that some of these resolution themes derived exactly from the Jewish new year, which is a time for Cheshbon Hanefesh-(Count of the soul) increased self awareness and resolve to do better in the future In other words, it is an older and more serious version of secular New Year’s resolutions However, on Rosh Hashanah this resolve is a central focus of a very holy day, not a small aspect of a more festive one And also, we trust that our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur teshuvah will be more long lasting and have greater impact than the more casual new year’s resolutions Still, anything that makes us sit up and remember that time is passing and we had best spend it wisely is a good thing

One of a few noble things we do during this period – we make resolutions Resolution is basically a fancy word for a promise The impulse of making resolutions is a wonderful impulse But we need to think about this – we make resolutions with our best intentions on December 31st and maybe as you are having parties people like to share their resolutions:

“I am going to exercise at least two times a week and I am going to lose ten pounds between now and next year” “I promise that I am not going to watch TV two hours before I am going to sleep, But I am going to read all these twenty wonderful books” …“I am going to resolve this and that” etc And you know what happens: Maybe, in two or three weeks you will still remember your resolutions Therefore , it is important to think about the resolution – how I am actually going to stick to what I have said

There are some simple rules we can try to follow – make a resolution that is possible to do – no messianic resolutions, no major resolutions, no great resolutions like - my family is going to be a perfect family. Make resolutions that you can actually accomplish And this is a very hard thing to do Because, one of the reasons we make our resolutions very dramatic, it is a psychological way actually to avoid doing this We make a big swooping, generalized resolution, as an interior way of a much more difficult task taking the FIRST ONE STEP

It is much easier to say that “I am going to go to gym two times a week for the whole year, than to say: “No, my resolution is that next week I am going to gym for just one day, and then after I am finished, I am going to ask myself – how do I feel now? And, if I feel better, I am going to promise again – one more day next week It is a lot easier to say – I am going to resolve all conflicts in my family – It is very noble, but it might be better to say –“By January 15th, I am going to make one phone call to the uncle that I did not speak to for two years And I am not making anything bigger than that I am going to ask myself when I hang up the phone – how do I feel after making this call And if I feel better, I am going to promise myself to make one additional resolution

It turns out that it is actually a Jewish way is the way of Halacha, which means “The way” or “The path” It is a very step by step path – it says – let us start with a one day, just one day, to be a little better than others The Halachic method is one step at a time If you take just one step to accomplish something, there is such a gratification and reward, that the next step becomes a little bit easier To make a promise for a giant task of mankind in a single moment, it is impossible By the second week of January we become cynical of ourselves and our own promises that we made on January 1st with such great nobility

Best wishes to you and “Happy New Year”, Shanah tovah a good new year. It will be that if we make and keep good resolutions and humble promises

With Love, Cantor Anna

FROM THE PRESIDENT

As the New Year begins, we tend to reflect on the year past. Instead, I would like to look towards the year ahead and many of the exciting upcoming events. On January 13th we will once again have our MLK service with the Berea Nyack Church, our choirs and guest artist Coleen Dieker.

On Friday, January 27th the Shabbat Service will feature our 6th graders and on Saturday the 28th there will be a 7th grade Shabbat. There are also 2 book clubs meeting in January, on the 10th in the evening and on the 19th during the day. February events include an evening to raise funds for BeYachad on Saturday the 4th, cooking with tahini on the 5th and the annual Israel Bonds breakfast on February 12th where we will be honoring our congregant Jen Klotz Zales. In the upcoming months we will also have a Texas Holdem Night and a Night at the Races. For more information on these and other events, please refer to the Lamp. Looking forward to seeing you at one or more of these events.

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.

From Our Schools

Chanukah celebration at BeYachad, with the Time Flies Circus, Sufganiyot, Latkes and much more.

From Our Schools

Chanukah and yoga at Shalom Rockland Early Childhood Center.

From Our Teens

WHY I STAY INVOLVED, RUSSELL BERNSTEIN 10TH GRADE

I’ve been going to TBS since I was born, I was a little baby in preschool when I started. After preschool I attended Hebrew school on Tuesday’s and Sunday’s Once it was time for me to have my Bar Mitzvah and I was all ready, it got delayed and delayed over and over from COVID. I finally had my Bar Mitzvah when I was 14, and I thought after that I was completely done with Hebrew School.

Yet when I learned about the programs they have for high schoolers, I continued Every week me and my friends go to the temple We do one of few things, we either do Teen Council, Youth Group, or Confirmation During Teen Council we organize events for families to participate in across the temple We organize food drives, toy drives, or any other events to help those in need In Youth Group we partake in fun events to help connect each other more socially.

We’ve done a Hanukkah themed cookie baking challenge (I unfortunately did not win), we’ve gone to Rockland Lake, and other gatherings. In confirmation we learn about the Torah and history of the Jewish people We also learn about the current struggles of the Jewish people today

Last meeting we learned about anti semitism and how it affects people today. I always look forward to any event TBS has in store for us I like seeing my friends and having a fun time with them We know when it’s time to be serious, and time to be kids and have fun It’s great that even after my bar mitzvah I get to remain so connected with the temple, and I enjoy helping those that are in need.

Members of our youth group gather to make food for Thanksgiving

Teen Council meeting to discuss this month's programming

Matt Fetterman and Andrew Jaynes decorate cookies at our Chanukah cookie decorating contest

Social Action

Temple Beth Sholom is an active participant in RAC-NY, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's NY lobbying and community-organizing arm. The letter below was sent to us by Ben Elkins, RAC-NY's lead organizer.

We also hope you will join us in planning this year's Refugee Shabbat, which will be taking place on February 3rd at 7:30PM. If you would like to join the committee that is working on it, please email Rabbi Leiken at bleiken@tbsrockland org

-Donna Sobel and Laurie Markiewicz ---------------------------------------------

Dear friends,

On behalf of RAC-NY’s leadership, I invite you to help us pick a campaign focus for the upcoming year. Please join us at an assembly of RAC-NY congregations on Wed, Jan 11 from 78pm on Zoom

As RAC-NY, we have committed to take meaningful action to combat climate change This fall, we helped pass a state ballot measure that will provide billions of dollars to protect our environment, expand green energy infrastructure and advance environmental justice. Now we are weighing what to do next - and are asking for your help in deciding

At the meeting, we will ask for your feedback on various campaign proposals for the upcoming year. We will consider options for advocacy in the state legislature and action within our congregations Your input is very important - so please join us.

Please bring others from your congregation Anyone who is a member of a Reform congregation in NY is invited to attend. You can register here.

https://urj tfaforms net/596? id=7014u000001RQnK&utm medium=e mail&utm content=2022 12 9

Ben Elkind Lead Organizer, RAC-NY

Sisterhood

Sisterhood has been very busy, making Chanukah candies for the congregation during Chanukah Our fashion show is being rescheduled Stay tuned for a papercut workshop in January!!!

Men's Club

Our men's club helped to organize a very successful Chanukah Dinner, which had upwards of 50 attendees. Our next meeting will take place on January 4th and will be with the men's club of the New City Jewish Center. We are looking to cosponsor a guest speaker with the Holocaust Center We are also planning our April Yom Ha-Shoah candle program and our June 14th end of year dinner.

Other items being considered are a bowling Night, a pickle-ball training and an actual game day

D O N A T I O N S

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund:

Marion & Robert Van Pelt

David & Donna Sobel

Bob & Lois Silverman

Melinda & Richard Levin

Mitchell & Laurette Klein

Nick & Sabrina Morea

Jeff & Ellen Kaiden

Barbara & Bruce Flanz

Bruce & Robyn Herbst

Cantor’s Discretionary Fund:

Ted & Myrna Arin

Donna & David Sobel

Bob & Lois Silverman

Barbara & Bruce Flanz

Temple Fund: Sally Winter

In memory of Walter Kurkela

In memory of Donald Winikoff Judy & Howard Weingart

Susan & Frank Richard

In memory of Jack Ehrlichman

Brian Migdol & Maddy Shair

Religious School Scholarship Fund:

Judi & Lenny Weiss

In memory of Walter Kurkela

A speedy recovery of Neil Rosenthal

In appreciation of Rob & Normalee Sirota

HIGH HOLY DAYS

Albert, Gary and Rosemarie

Astreicher, Harriett

Barabell, Mark & Francine

Bernstein, Suzanne

Bertin, Lenard & Lori

Bigman, Alan & Nancy

Bleifer, Sean & Allison

Blocker, Edward & Marilyn Brill, Sam & Susannah

Burns, Paul & Rachelle

Cantor, Norman & Gail

Cazes, Daniel & Amy Conques, Iris

Dale, Elena

Ehrnsperger, Eric & Amy

Friedman, David & Gail

Gandelman, Jay & Lori Garcia, Michael & Stacy

Gottlieb, David & Alyson

Haberman, Michael & Allison

Hertz, Ronny & Catherine

Hodrinsky, William & Eileen Kaplan, Betty

Kaufman, Frederick & Marsha Kaufman, Rhonda Keschner, Sherry

Kiel, Larry & Abbe Klein, Joel & Arlene Klein, Steven & Joanne Kolinsky, Keith & Caryn

Korn, Jerry & Carole

Koss, Alan & Gail

Levine, Ellen

Levinger, Stanley & Ellen

Manne, Kenneth & Katina

Marcus, Joel & Judith

Mathios, Adam & Tobi

Milich, Scott & Adrienne

Mittman, Melissa

Moldovan, Leonard & Leah

Nagel, Marc & Pearl

Nelson, Mathew & LibermanNelson, Tara

Newman, Jarrod & Jacqueline

Osterlitz, Alfred & Marion

Papo, Mark & Marquith, Susan Pollak, Craig & Aimee Pollak, Gerald Rutstein, Martin & Brenda Schiff, Irwin & Terry Seid, Paul & Mary Seidenberg, Ivan & Phyllis Sherman, Kenneth & Karen Silverman, Robert & Lois Small, Marty & Judy Sobel, David & Donna Stein, Spencer & Debra Taragano, Matt & Melissa Topchik, Brad & Karen

Van Pelt, Robert & Marion Van Pelt, Scott Weingart, Howard & Judy Weingold, Rita Weiss, Lenny & Judi Wolf, Lawrence & Carolyn Zales, Fred Zuckerman, Tzvi Allen & Mindy

KAVOD MEMBERS

: Abraham, Ronald Bigman, Alan & Nancy Bittman, Mitchell & Marcia Braunfotel, Keith & Joan Burns, Paul & Rachelle Eker, Dogan & Tamra Flanz, Bruce & Barbara Garcia, Michael & Stacy Herbst, Todd & Robyn Hirsch, Bruce & Cheryl Kahn, Steven & Dana Kanter, Kenneth & Devra Klein, Steven & Joanne Koss, Alan & Gail Kuperman, Barry Leventhal, Irwin & Leslie Mathios, Adam & Tobi Newman, Jarrod & Jacqueline

Pollak, Craig & Aimee

Schwartz, Adam & Renee

Seid, Paul & Mary

Seidenberg, Ivan & Phyllis Simons, Eva Smith, Brian & Andrea Smith, Joshua & Sherri

Steinberg, Ronald & Renee

Taragano, Matt & Melissa

Taub, Peter & Joyce

Topchik, Brad & Karen

Van Pelt, Robert & Marion

Weingart, Howard & Judy Weiss, Lenny & Judi

Zales, Howard & Klotz, Jennifer

a

DONATIONS

Thank you for sustaining our community and bringing back

Cantor Anna

Abramson, Stewart & Katherine

Bernstein, Jason

Bernstein, Kenneth & Arleen

Bernstein, Suzanne

Bigman, Alan & Nancy Blocker, Edward & Marilyn

Blotner, Steven & Jennifer

Burns, Paul & Rachelle Eker, Dogan & Tamra

Feldstein, Alan & Shari

Fetterman, Craig & Jessica Garcia, Michael & Stacy Gilden, Lance & Shari

Kanter, Kenneth & Devra Klein, Mitchell & Laurette Klein, Steven & Joanne Kolinsky, Keith & Caryn Korn, Jerry & Carole

Leventhal, Irwin & Leslie Levinger, Stanley & Ellen Lifson, Peter & Joan Mandel, David & Ellen Mathios, Adam & Tobi Nagel, Marc & Pearl

Osterlitz, Alfred & Marion Papo, Mark & Marquith, Susan Pierce, Alan & Shelley

Pollak, Craig & Aimee

Rhein, Michael & Marian

Rottenstein, Arlene Rutstein, Marc

Rutstein, Martin & Brenda Scheichet, David

Schimko, Mitchell & Lauren

Seid, Paul & Mary Sherman, Kenneth & Karen Simon, Myron & Isabel Simons, Eva Sirota, Robert & Normalee Small, Marty & Judy Sobel, David & Donna Stein, Spencer & Debra Steinberg, Ronald & Renee Taragano, Matt & Melissa Taub, Peter & Joyce Topchik, Brad & Karen Van Pelt, Robert & Marion Weingart, Howard & Judy Weingold, Rita Weiss, Lenny & Judi Winter, Sally Zales, Howard & Klotz, Jennifer