Temple Israel Doorpost August 2017

August 2017

Av / Elul 5777

From the Rabbi’s Study…

Why does God need our prayers?

One of the primary activities associated with religion is prayer. Webster’s dictionary defines prayer as “an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought”. This definition is certainly accurate however it is a non-comprehensive definition of prayer. Our liturgy contains petitions and addresses to God however the prayer experience (T’Filah in Hebrew) is much more than simply asking or begging God for our individual needs. If this were the sole function of prayer, prayer would then be inconsistent with the notion that God knows our needs and desires to fulfill those needs. Why would God need our shopping list if God knows our needs better than us? Why would Avinu She-Ba-Shamayim (our heavenly parent) need us to petition for parental assistance? Does any good parent wait for a petition from their children or do we, as parents, do our best to work in the interest of our children.

Prayer - L’Hitpallel The Hebrew verb for prayer is L’Hitpallel. Generally this verb is translated to pray, however the literal translation is to judge oneself. It is significant that this is a reflexive verb. When we stand in prayer requesting God’s grace, mercy and protection the process of self evaluation is initiated. Each time we ask for the goodness and mercy of God, we are forced to examine our own lives to determine if we merit such treatment. When we ask for God’s forgiveness, we are forced to evaluate those areas of our life of which we may not be proud. The concept of prayer as a springboard to self improvement is an essential component of the prayer journey.

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Bar Mitzvah of Sam Siegel 9:30am Saturday, August 5, 2017 Historic Sanctuary Executive Committee Meeting 7:30pm Thursday, August 10, 2017, Virtual Meeting Board of Directors Meeting 7:00pm Tuesday, August 15, 2017, Board Room Ritual Committee Meeting 6:15pm Wednesday, August 16, 2017, Shmoozatorium Bar Mitzvah of Ethan Caracoglia 9:30am Saturday, August 26, 2017 Historic Sanctuary

Tuesday Afternoon 5:30pm Friday Night 6:15pm Saturday Morning 9:30am Followed by Kiddush Luncheon

(Continued from page 1)

Prayer - Avodah The Talmud (tractate Taanit) tells us that prayer is the service or work of the heart. Prayer in the sense of service is an inspirational process that connects words with action. Our liturgy incorporates values and philosophies designed to inspire action. We discuss the attributes of God in a context that facilitates our actions consistent with the image of God in our lives. When we translate religious values into action we are putting prayer into motion. Words of prayer (service of the heart) are brought to fruition through action (service of the body).

Prayer – L’Tofel Tosfot, in his commentary on the Talmud, discusses the concept of prayer as a binding or attaching experience. L’Tolfel is literally translated “to bind”. This concept is broad based as it includes multiple facets. We have all heard the expression, “The family who prays together, stays together”. Family is the most essential and basic community unit. Shared values, hopes, aspirations and dreams are the foundation upon which marriages and families are built. Reaffirming our foundational values, dreams, hopes and aspirations strengthen the family unit. On a broader scale, communities who come together in prayer strengthen and challenge each other. We come together with different perspectives, different dreams, and varied value structures. Over time we learn about each other, strengthen each others dreams, and challenge each other regarding our values and our spiritual direction. This binding through prayer is an essential strengthening process in the prayer journey.

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As we approach the High Holiday season, may we experience the benefit of our prayer journey as a community family. May our prayers inspire us to live a more meaningful and spiritual lives within the greater community of humanity.

With Torah Blessings,

Rabbi David Rafael Senter

Rabbi Senter’s Office Hours Wednesday Thursday Friday Sunday*

10:00am-5:30pm 10:00am-3:00pm 9:00am-12:00pm 9:00am-12:00pm

* when Hebrew School is in session

Dear Fellow Congregants,

Greetings from the Education Committee!

At our last board meeting, Rabbi Senter discussed a Jewish teaching about what should happen if a deceased person were found at the boundary between two villages. According to the medieval midrash, the leaders of the two communities were to be questioned about the person, but not because they were considered suspects. Instead, they were supposed to speak for their communities and state that this person had not been denied food, shelter, or any other need. The moral of the story is that we are judged not only by the actions that we take, but just as much by the actions that we should have taken but did not.

We hope you are enjoying your summer! We have a few important announcements to share. We are all looking forward to the upcoming semester of Hebrew School at Temple, and are very happy to let you know that Elian Tackeff has accepted the position of Head of School for us this year. Elian knows the religious school inside and out and has been hard at work already this summer ordering books, organizing curriculum, and in general, getting the school into shape for the first day of classes which will be on Sunday, September 10th, 2017 at 9am. If you would like to get in touch with Elian via email, she can be reached at headofschool@templeisraelnh.org and you can reach me as well at TIP.ED.VP@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you and will see you all soon (but not too soon- enjoy your summer!).

This idea that we have a responsibility toward each other, and particularly that it is both our burden and our great gift to help fellow members of the Jewish community is central to the identity of Temple Israel. Our congregation was founded on the idea of a community that looks after its own. We continue to hold to this principle today, and it is the commitment of the Temple board and our entire congregation that no member of the Jewish community will be turned away from our services, our activities, or our school because of a lack of an ability to pay.

Warm regards,

Sam Berg, VP Education, Samuelberg@gmail.com 603-828-4236

In recent weeks there have been some questions about membership dues and Temple Israel’s policy of adjusting fees to make them affordable for members of our community in need of support. If you have questions about dues and adjustments, there are a couple of options. You can call the Temple Office or speak with Rabbi Senter, and one of the members of the dues adjustment committee, which includes Jen Sebeny, Amy Borne, and myself, will call you at your convenience. Otherwise, you can contact any one of us directly by email. Either way, we will come up with an arrangement that works for you.

We look forward to seeing ALL of the members of our community at services, Temple events, and at school over the coming year.

David Bachrach

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Ritual Committee The hot humid days of July and August are here which means September and the High Holidays are not far behind.

Here is something to put on your schedule looking ahead to September. On Saturday evening September 16th there will be a special Selichot service at the Temple at 7:30 PM. After Havdalah, the Temple Israel Players will read from Merle Feld’s “The Gates are Closing”. This is a wonderful way to get into the reflective mood of the High Holidays. Come and relax and reflect while watching your fellow congregants act out this short play. The Selichot service takes place after the play and will be followed by light refreshments. There is no need to make a reservation and there is no charge.

On another High Holiday note, planning for this year’s Yizkor book is in full swing. If you participated in the last two years you should have just received a registration form for this year which included your previous year’s listing. Forms also went out in the annual dues packet and are also available in the Temple Office. Summertime is hectic with lots of activities, but I hope you can find the time to return the registration form and participate. The deadline is August 25th. Participating in the Yizkor book is a wonderful way to honor the memory of loved ones as well as an opportunity to support a project that is a vital component of fundraising at the Temple. Thank you in advance for your support.

B’Shalom, David Olken

Reach Out to New Members Fall is the best time of year to reach out to notyet-members and invite them to get to know Temple Israel. If you have Jewish friends, neighbors or coworkers who aren't connected to congregation, please invite them to come meet us at

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a special Kabbalat Shabbat evening on Friday, September 15. There will be schmooze time and refreshments both before services (5:30 to 6:15 p.m.) and after. Another way you can help is by agreeing to occasionally contact a new or prospective member and offer to answer questions and help them get connected. If you'd like to join the outreach team, contact Margie Wachtel, Membership Committee Chair, at may12@comcast.net.

SPONSOR A KIDDUSH One of the best parts of Shabbat morning services is sharing a meal together at Kiddush lunch.

People gather, share stories, laugh, joke, and meet new people. Kiddush helps us build the connections that make us a strong, vibrant community.

August

4th

7:41 PM

August

11th

7:32 PM

August

18th

7:21 PM

August

25th

7:10 PM

Save the Date

Whose job is it to de-clutter Temple Israel?

By sponsoring a Kiddush, you participate in supporting and fostering that sense of community.

You can honor someone, remember someone, celebrate a simcha, or put together a group who all have something in common (for example, “Harry Potter fans�) to sponsor the Kiddush.

There are lots of reasons to sponsor a Kiddush. What are yours?

For information regarding sponsoring a Kiddush please contact the office

Ours!

Pre-Holiday Mitzvah Day Sunday, September 10 9-12 a.m.

Special Thank You to our July 22nd Kiddush Sponsors

followed by pizza Thirty members are needed to de-clutter our space.

Why not you?

David and Monika Olken

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Male singers needed for the High Holidays

Must be able to read music and sing in tune.

The primary need is for a piyyut in the Kol Nidre service. There would be minimal rehearsing needed (probably one or two run throughs after or before a Friday evening service), since you will have the music in advance.

If there are enough people who will commit to the Musaf service for both days of Rosh Hashanah and also for the Musaf service for Yom Kippur, there is another piyyut that we can do.

Lastly, there is one special piece that I'd like to do for the Musaf service for both days of RH that currently needs a bass. I already have a tenor, alto, and soprano. Rehearsing for this would be on a Shabbat morning after the service.

Please let me know if you are interested and what services you can commit to attending.

Reply to Doug Danforth at gm4dougd@gmail.com.

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Memorial Lights Remembering our dear departed is an important Jewish tradition. A beautiful way to memorialize our loved ones in perpetuity is with a plaque in our sanctuary. Memorial plaques can be reserved or ordered for $250.

TZEDAKAH (CHARITY) FUND If you know of a member of the community who could use financial assistance, please call the Rabbi at (516) 450-5117. We can provide short-term help for utility bill payments, etc. and will be kept in the strictest confidence.

Laura Sher Director, ELC windsock kites, smoothies. Our games.

Nine energetic and enthusiastic preschoolers joined us this past week for our action packed Summer Camp program. We spent 3 joyous days immersed in summertime fun! We pitched a huge tent, built a “fireless” campfire, “roasted” marshmallows and made the best ever s’mores! And we loved the hot sunny days, as they were perfect for wet and wild water exploration, that included water balloons, an improvised water slide and the most amazing giant bubbles ever created! Our campers also made sand candles, dream catchers and refreshing berry days were filled with laughter, stories, songs and

And what fun it was for Elian and I to spend our mid summer days reunited with our wonderful preschoolers!

Wishing you a healthy and happy rest of your summer!

L’Shalom,

Laura

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Sam Siegel, Saturday, August 5, 2017

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Ethan Caracoglia Saturday, August 26, 2017

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT FUND Elaine and Shel Kraskser have donated in memory of Elaine’s father Albert Sados KIDDUSH FUND Frances & Sigmund Westerman in memory of their daughter Sally Westerman-Jacoby CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND The following donations were received in memory of Susan Goldin: Myran and Howard Promer; Phyllis Heilbronner, Joan Jacobs, Adina and Allen Linden, Lisa Brachmanm; Ron Sussman donated in memory of Izzy Bratter; Sharen Eidelberg Spratt and Randy Spratt and sons in memory of Robert Bruce Spratt; Donation in honor of Mazal Tov to Rabbi and Elissa on the recent birth of their 11th grandchild

PRESCHOOL FUND Marcia Blacker and Cynthia Freedman in memory of their grandmother Annie Freedman; Selma Freedman in memory of her mother Annie Klaiman and her mother in-law Goldie Greedman Temple Israel currently has 3 Endowments with a particular purpose for each fund. As is usual with Endowments, principle investments are considered “untouchable” and are invested for perpetuity and it is only the interest earned that is spent annually.

TEMPLE ISRAEL CULTURAL ENDOWMENT The fund was established in 1988, and currently supports multiple cultural and educational events taking place at the Temple and in the community each year. Recent examples include, Klezmer bands at the Simchat Torah, Community Passover Seder, Break the Fast after Yom Kippur, bus trips to cultural events in Boston, “Lunch bunch”, speakers at Yom Hashoah and multiple requests from Sisterhood and our Hebrew school.

DINNERMAN-ROTTENBERG EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT The interest on this fund directly supports the part of the annual budget that supports our Hebrew school. Substantial growth of this fund may eventually allow our Hebrew school to be free for all students.

Institutional Operating Endowment The interest earned on this fund directly supports the operating budget of the Temple Israel. The principal will never be sent. This fund will assure the continued presence of a Jewish community on the seacoast in perpetuity.

PLANNED GIVING Financial planning experts can show you how estate plans can be structured to earn our donors substantial incomes and also support vital Jewish community interests in future decades.

Respectfully, Ira Schwartz

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August Yahrzeits

9 Av / 9 Elul

1

David Fleischman

16

Isaac Blankenberg

2

Bella Jaffe

17

Leonard Rosenson

3

Israel Bradbard, Harry Smith

18

Perry Sussman, Monroe Albert

4

Sarah Spack, Alice Forman, Melvin Goodman, Anna Zitomer, Sally Jacoby, Judy Pedell

19

Abram Kushious, Eli Diament, Max Goodman

5

Anna Segal, Fannie Gerber, Saul Berman

20

Lewis Levine

6

Nathaniel London, Sylvia Brown, Irving Paul

21

Simon Shapiro

7

Ida Stone, Nathan Handler, Flori Isselbacher, Gertrude Reinhart, Irma Dansky, Ida Stone

22

Kenneth L. Downs, Ethel Feldman, Charles Cohen

8

Charles Katz, Zelda Wagman Harrison

23

Beatrice Gelman

9

Sylvia Collier, Arthur Saklad

24 25

10

David Jaffe, Miriam Fox

Ida Belostock, Estelle Ross Ada Rammer, Moses Silfen, Charles Gouse, Max Fluster

11

Rose Cohen, Laurie Schwartz

26

12

Israel Belostock

27

Baby Alkon, Annie Freedman, Samuel Gerstein, Frank Moroze Celia Goldman, Milton Klaiman, Michael Davis

13

Henry Gerber

28

Eleanor Sorrell, Helen Miller

14

Lillian Rubin, Jeanette Rosenfield

29

Eleanor Goodman Sorrell

15

Sam Wiseman, Earle Fox, Dorothy Bailey

30

Ruth Kovnit, Abraham Isaac Feldman, Bette Weissman Joseph Feitelson, Bertha Levenson, Fannie Salloway, Herbert Kahan, Fanya Mason

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When you are observing a family member’s Yahrzeit, you are welcome to say Kaddish not only at the Friday night or Saturday morning service, but also at the 5:30pm Tuesday minyan and Wednesday or Sunday when school is in session.

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Temple Israel Portsmouth Board of Directors David Bachrach, President Fran Berman, Immediate Past President David Olken, VP Ritual Joanne Samuels, VP House Sam Berg, VP Education Beth Salzman, Recording Secretary Jennifer Sebeny, Financial Secretary Amy Borne, Treasurer

Amy Hyett, Director Steve Sacks, Director Ira Schwartz, Director Margie Wachtel, Director

OFFICE HOURS 200 State Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 603-436-5301

Temple Israel

If you know of a member of the community who could use financial assistance, please call the Rabbi at (516) 450-5117. We can provide short-term help for utility bill payments, etc. and will be kept in the strictest

Robert Bradbard, Director

Monday 8:30am –1pm Tuesday 8:30am –1pm Wednesday 11am-5pm Friday 8:30am-12pm

TZEDAKAH (CHARITY) FUND