Temple Israel Doorpost January 2018

January 2018

Tevet / Shevat 5778

Memorial Service for Rabbi Senter 2:00pm Monday, January 1, 2018, Sanctuary Lay Leaders lead Shabbat Services 9:30am Saturday, January 6, 2018, Sanctuary Social Action Committee Meeting 10:30am Sunday, January 7, 2018, Library Temple Israel Grief Group (4 Sunday meetings) 1:00pm –2:30pm January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2018 Ritual Committee Meeting 6:15pm Tuesday, January 9, 2018, Shmoozatorium Rabbi David Rafael Senter

Executive Committee Meeting 7:30pm Thursday, January 11, 2018, Virtual Mtg Musical Guests Fran Berman, Jim Prendergast 6:15pm Friday, January 12, 2018, Sanctuary

From the Rebbetzin

Cantor Shira Nafshi leads Shabbat Services 9:30am Saturday, January 13, 2018, Sanctuary

Dear Temple Family, What a 2017 it has been. As you know, Rabbi David was diagnosed with Metastatic Prostate Cancer on February 27, 2017 which ended his life on December 1st, 2017 at the Hyder Family Hospice House in Dover, NH. Thank you for taking this long journey with us, reading the emails he sent along the way and responding with your thoughtful calls, notes, and texts. Rabbi and I talked a lot while he was getting treatment and during all the travels back and forth to NYC. One of the things we discussed was that the Senter family and our Temple family will need time to heal.

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Board Meeting 7:00pm Tuesday, January 16, 2018, Board Room Brotherhood “Guys Night Out” 6:30pm Thursday, January 18, 2018, Paddy’s Grille Rabbi Ira Korinow leads Shabbat Services 9:30am Saturday, January 20, 2018, Sanctuary Sisterhood Meeting 10:00am Sunday, January 21, 2018, Social Hall Bar/Bat Mitzvah Parents of 6th Graders Meet 9:15—10:00am Sunday, January 21, 2018, Chapel Cantor Shira Nafshi leads Shabbat Services 9:30am Saturday, January 27, 2018, Sanctuary

Dear Fellow Congregants,

(continued from page 1)

Despite having suffered a major loss, our community must continue to pursue its Jewish life with a sense of purpose for ourselves in the present and for our children and grandchildren in the future.

Although we have only been Rabbi and Rebbetzin of Temple Israel for 3.5 years, it feels as if we have been here for 25 years, and we have developed many long-term relationships. If any of you have been curious, I am planning to remain on the Seacoast and continue with my work as the Chaplain of Portsmouth Hospital. My goal is to move closer to Portsmouth.

A central part of this process is ensuring that our congregation has rabbinical leadership both now and over the long term to meet all of our community’s needs on the bimah, in the school, for life cycle events, and in providing day to day spiritual counseling and leadership.

On Tuesday night, the eighth night of Chanukah, the board of directors met to discuss this crucial issue and established a road map that will lead to our congregation employing a full-time rabbi as our spiritual leader.

Over the near term, visiting clergy including Rabbi Korinow and Cantor Nafshi, will continue to lead Shabbat services, including all of those on which bar and bat mitzvot will be celebrated. Both Rabbi Korinow and Cantor Nafshi have begun meeting with our bar and bat mitzvah students and their families and will continue to do so over the next several months.

To meet our long-term need for a full-time rabbi, the board of directors has voted to establish a rabbi search committee, which will begin its work in January. If you are interested in learning more about what is involved in serving on the rabbi search committee, please contact me directly by the 10th of January.

As a congregation, we have faced and overcome challenges in the past, and we shall persevere now as well. We are strong, united in our faith and love for Judaism, and in our love and support for each other. We will go from strength to strength.

David Bachrach

I want to personally thank each and every one of you who cooked for us, drove us to and from Boston, Dover, and around the Seacoast for various appointments, visited us and offered unconditional love during our medical journey. A big thanks to Heather our Office Administrator and to the Board of Directors for standing by our sides in support of our family.

Rabbi loved what he did and lived his rabbinate 24/7. We are blessed to call you our family and so grateful for how you have embraced me, Tracy and our family during Shiva and our mourning period.

With Torah Blessings, Elissa Kaplan Senter mobile 516-450-5171 Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain, cherish the moment, live, laugh, love, forgive & forget, life's too short to be living with regrets.

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Temple Israel

A special Thank You to our Kiddush Sponsors

Grief Group

Deborah and David Cline in honor of Debbie’s father Vernon H. Byus, Jr.

Sundays in the Temple Library January 7, 14, 21 and 28 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Adult Biblical Hebrew Reading & Grammar Advanced-Intermediate Level

This group is open to anyone in the congregation who could use support in dealing with Rabbi Senter’s death. Psychologists Arlene Brewster, PhD, and Mark Moses, PhD, will lead the group. Both are experienced therapists in the Seacoast area. Arlene is a member of the congregation, and Mark has attended services at Temple Israel.

Meets Tuesday evenings 6 PM – 7:30 PM, in Nancy Mae Shaines Memorial Library right after Minyan.

For more information, contact instructor Kathryn Mulhearn, isogloss@outllook.com or the Temple office.

Please sign up for the group with Heather in the Temple office (603-436-5301 x10 or templeoffice@templeisraelnh.org) so we have an idea of how many plan to attend. The group will be limited in size and will be confidential.

(right) Master woodworker Jeffrey Cooper with the Lion Menorah. Jeff has created many beautiful pieces for Temple Israel, including the Chapel’s Ark.

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Ritual Committee As the secular year draws to a close we pause to reflect on the loss of our Rabbi. So many of us, including me, were deeply moved and inspired by him in the short time of his tenure. The legacy of his inclusiveness to all, empathy for the individual, devotion to Torah and ethic of hard work to make our kehillah a beacon of Yidishkeit to the community will continue to inspire us for years into the future.

Herman, Jeff Salloway, David Bachrach and Ken Kowalchek for organizing and hosting such a wonderful event.

Looking ahead there will be more opportunities to celebrate and build community. On January 12th there will be a musical Friday night service. Later in the month, look for details for the Tu B’Shevat Oneg. Come join us for a Tuesday or Friday night Minyan or a Shabbat morning service with one of the visiting clergy.

We mourn the loss of our Rabbi in these short dark days of December, but we hope for better times of joy and happiness in the days to come.

B’Shalom, David Olken

“Hands of Hope” with Menorah created by Sumner Winebaum

This was evident on the 8th day of Chanukah when there was a joyous Chanukah Community Candle Lighting and Prayer for Peace. Congregants from all the houses of worship in the Portsmouth Ministerium joined us in the courtyard for an outdoor candle lighting, followed by refreshments, singing and schmoozing in the Shmoozatorium. It was an event that Rabbi Senter would have thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Jenny Rosenson, Jen Beard, Marsha

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

January

5th

4:05 PM

January

12th

4:12 PM

January

19th

4:21 PM

January

26th

4:30 PM

(left) Approximately forty congregants enjoyed Dr. Tammy Bottner’s Among the Reeds book talk on December 10th, 2017.

WE REMEMBER Renee Goodman April 24, 1929 - November 21, 2017

Myrna “Cookie” Siegel October 3, 1936 - December 23, 2017

Robert Turner January 28, 1936 - October 14, 2017

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Shalom Everyone! Happy Winter and Happy 2018!

After a quiet November and a sad beginning to the month, Youth Group was ready for some much-needed fun. On Saturday, December 16th, from 6pm to 8pm, a nice sized group of 4th through 7th graders took over the Shmooze for the annual Youth Group Hanukkah Party!

The evening began with a short Havdalah service, followed by the lighting of the 5th candle. It was so cool to see some of the Hanukkiot that the children had made themselves at the October “make your own Hanukkiah” event at Firefly Pottery!

We continued the fun, with latkes that disappeared pretty fast, and settled in for a Yankee Gift Swap, complete with giggles and good-natured haggling!!

That was followed by the longest Dreidel Tournament EVER!!!

The semi-finals came fast enough, but just as Allie Rubin was about to defeat Jordan Caracoglia, he slowly came back from behind and by the time everyone else had finished their ice cream sundaes and the parents started to arrive, he miraculously won the tournament!! Talk about a Hanukkah Miracle!! There were many prizes of course!

Thank you so much to Kellisue Friedman and Rachel Farber Caracoglia for chaperoning, serving food and cleaning up, all the parents who remembered to bring Cans for Crossroads Family Shelter and Sam Berg for carrying said cans to my carl You’re all awesome!

Stay tuned for the January event later in the month and, if you are a parent, please RSVP as soon as you receive an email flier. Post Hebrew School ice skating in the works…

As always, please feel free to call or email me with any suggestions or questions at 603-969-2984 or egt9@aol.com L’Shalom, Elian Tackeff, your friendly youth group person

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This past month began with a deep sadness. With the passing of Rabbi David, the children, Elian and I lost a great friend and colleague, and a true believer in the holy task of nourishing the minds and souls of young children. His joyful and playful spirit, patience and kindness touched us all, whether in the classroom, on our playground or on our field trips around town. He will live forever in our memories and in our hearts.

Laura Sher Director, ELC

And in this darkest and coldest of months, we moved forward and began to spread light and joy as we celebrated the holiday of Hanukkah. With paper puppets we retold the story of the Maccabees’ victory over King Antiochus and his army, and the miracle of one drop of oil that lasted for eight days. The children also had fun “lighting” our giant floor menorah (made from foam pool noodles!) and designing their own menorahs using plaster of Paris, sea glass, and polished stone. We hosted a wonderful family Hanukkah celebration, and our guests included parents, grandparents, and even a new (two week old) baby sibling! We built friendships and community as we ate delicious latkes (hot off the griddle) with homemade applesauce. We lit our menorahs, sang prayers, danced and spun like dreidels.

Elian and I (along with several teachers from the Hebrew School) had the opportunity earlier this month to attend the 8th Annual Early Childhood Jewish Education Conference at Hebrew College in Newton, MA. The theme of this two-day conference was Am Ha’Sefer, People of the Book. From the many workshops we attended, whether on storytelling, early literacy, creating a sense of belonging, or Jewish values, we learned that no matter where you are in your professional or personal life journey, you could always gain guidance and wisdom from the Torah. We returned with renewed inspiration to guide and nurture our children of the Early Learning Center.

Wishing you a healthy and peaceful month ahead!

L’Shalom, Laura

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Shalom Everyone!

December 2017 was a bittersweet month for the Hebrew School.

On December 1st, about 160 adults and children came together as a community for our annual Kabbalat Shabbat dinner and service. After a lovely dinner planned and cooked by volunteers, we enjoyed a service led by the children of the Hebrew School. None of this would have been possible without a lot of help!

HUGE THANKS to: Emily Schoonmaker, planner-in-chief, Kellisue Friedman, shopper-in-chief, Liz Jacobs, Vic Sunshine, Marge Gruzen, Kim and Jeremy Kasten, Laura Rubin, also Jennifer Lehrer for purchasing and donating the beautiful napkins, Tammy Medanich, David Jernigan, Heather Tomlinson, and, of course, all the teachers, the madrichim, and the children who prepared so diligently! Lastly, BIG THANKS to Ira Schwartz and the Cultural Endowment Fund, as well as Kellisue and Jeffrey Friedman for their very generous donation, and all those who sent in their donations towards the evening.

On December 1st, an hour after we all went home, we lost our beloved Rabbi David. Kudos to all the parents who prepared their children for the inevitable ahead of time and many thanks to Laura Rubin, Seth Wizwer and Deborah Hirsch Mayer who met with the children, madrichim and teachers for some much appreciated grief counseling sessions.

On December 17th, we came together again for the annual Community Hanukkah Event. We lit hanukkiot, ate delicious latkes that the Brotherhood made, and sang Hanukkah songs led by Deborah Hirsch Mayer. It was wonderful to see the different generations kibitzing, playing dreidels and enjoying each other’s company.

The teachers also did some learning this past month. I was delighted to be able to attend Limmud Conference with some of our older grade teachers and the Early Childhood Conference for Jewish Education at Hebrew College with the younger grade teachers. They were both amazing and we returned energized and ready to share our newly acquired knowledge with each other and the children.

In his Yom Kippur 5778 sermon, Rabbi David said, “I believe that my purpose in life is to help make this world kinder and softer, by bringing people together, to care for each other and bring the words of our Torah to life: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’”

My mission for our Hebrew School going forward is to nurture the seeds of kindness – chesed – in our children and community. Together, I truly believe we can make our community and our world a better place.

L’Shalom, Elian Tackeff, Head of School

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INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT FUND Bert & Deb Freedman in memory of Bert’s father Robert Freedman. David Cline in memory of his father Daniel D. Cline. Gloria & Harold Moldoff in memory of Rabbi David Senter. Thomas Slater; Barbara Levenson.

CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND Elliott & Shirley Fishbein in memory of Kiki Soros, also in memory of Rabbi Senter; also in memory of Lena Fishbein. Jeannette & Bernard Goodman in memory of Jeannette’s father Samuel Lederman.

David and Monika Olken in memory of David’s mother Charlotte Olken.

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Marjorie L. Cypres in memory of her mother Lillian Lorde. Betty Effron in memory of her mother Jeanne Slass. Kimberly & Jeremy Kasten. Brenda Johnston in memory of “dear friend, my Rabbi David Senter.”

DINNERMAN/ROTTENBERG EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND Barbara Fox in memory of her father Eli Borwick. Al Linden in memory of his mother Bella Linden. Laura and Michael Rubin and Family in memory of their grandfather (and great-grandfather!) Jerome Sorkin.

In memory of Rabbi David Senter: Barbara Levenson; Jennie & Peter Dinnerman; Bob & Marjorie Goldberg; Jim & Myra Fishbein; Shel & Elaine Krasker. Bill & Ellen McQueeney in memory of Rabbi David Senter and Hannah Landsman.

TZEDAKAH FUND Kenneth & Sylvia Hirschberg in memory of Renee and Sheldon Goodman. Rita Benjamin in memory of her brother Michael Emmer. Agnes Cabot in memory of her aunt Emma Frankl. Melvin Alexander in memory of his parents Marcia and John Alexander. Renee Levy in memory of Renee Goodman and also Cookie Siegel.

KIDDUSH FUND Debbie and David Cline in memory of Debbie’s father Vernon H. Byus, Jr.

LIBRARY FUND Paula & Karl Singer, in memory of Paula’s mother Mary McCrensky. The Ruben family in memory of father Maurice R. Ruben.

PRESCHOOL FUND Naomi & Arnold Fishbein in memory of Renee Goodman, also in memory of Rabbi Senter, also in memory of Naomi’s father Joseph Partoll and Arnold’s mother Lena Fishbein. Veta Stone in memory of her father Harold Berit.

RABBI DAVID SENTER MEMORIAL FUND Sharen & Randy Spratt, “His memory will always be a blessing in our lives.” Al & Marlene Rubin, “In loving memory of our Rabbi, David Senter. He taught us what kindness and tzedakah really mean.” Jack Mintzer; Larry & Barbara Tetenbaum; Helen Arnold; Laura & Robert Liss; Goldie Fink; Jacque Chadwick; Donald & Sharon Walker; John & Kristen Crosier; Lena Gaynes; Selma Freedman; Jeffrey & Judith Schutzer; Rabbi Alicia Magal; Steven Randall; Leila Sand; Sheila & Larry Cohen, Jeffrey Coen, Anna Cohen; Amy Schmidt; Bob & Judy Weisner; the congregation and Sisterhood of Temple Israel Dover; Harman & Paula Friedman, “In gratitude for Rabbi Senter’s positive impact to the lives of Jeffrey, Kellisue, Jonah, and Ginger.” Elaine Lampert, in memory of Rabbi Senter and also her parents Morton and Brina Lampert. Ethel Wolper; Jeremy Simon; Robin and Allan Kachel; Donna Lewallen; Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Rochman Advised Fund; Anonymous donor; Alissa & Stephen Holmes; Bruce & Katherine Freeman; Sheldon & Rosalind Licht; Jennifer & Ira Lehrer; Elissa Kaplan Senter; Lisa “Hershey” Hirschkop & Leigh Peake; Peter Sharfman; Elian & Mathew Tackeff; David & Linda Gerson; David Hirsch & Rochelle Lieber; Edward Case.

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January Yahrzeits

14 Tevet / 15 Shevat

1

D.H. Silverman, Sarah Alpers, Jerome Sorkin

17

Albert Levy, Arthur Black, Harold Fisher

2

Sarah Rottenberg

18

Alex Paul, Mollie Krasker, Lillian Rosenwald

3

Edith Brown, Joseph Kitrosser, Arthur Poster, Beverly Schneider, Arthur Leblanc

19

Samuel Hooz, Julian Meltzer

4

Jennie Levine, Melvin Heflich, Kathy Ramras

20

Rose Fisher

5

Samuel Lepoff, Gerald Bernheimer, Rabbi Abraham Heschel

21

Leon S. Fein, Samuel Vetstein

6

Jacob Landsman, Morris Rubin, Hyman Schwartz, Florence Levingston

22

Benjamin Goldberg, Eli Coles, Ann Hanan

7

Abraham Lampert, Arnold Katz, Alan Kaner, Bess Koach

23

Sarah Shapiro, Shirley Persin

8

Louis Zeidman, Allen Levenson, Arthur Reinhart, George Sherman, Harold Lampert

24

Ida Oshry

9

Anna Levitt, Harry Levin, Melvin Pedell

25

Harry Abelson, Robert Taylor

11

Fannie Woolfson

26

Esther Hooz, Benjamin Kisner

12

Ida Shapiro, Ruth Sussman, Garrett Aviles

27

Richard S. Levy, Ida Zeidman

13

George Hooz, Betty Prietz, Jack Lasky, BettyRose Leader

28

J.Z. Shafran, Shura Levenson

14

Burton Kreisworth, Rachel Promer, Frieda Beubis, John McGowan

29

Fannie Greenberg

15

Jacob Cohen, Samuel Greenfield, Dora Segal, Rose Chaikin

30

David Bauer, Nathan Roffman, Donald Leo Lebowitz

16

Lena Fluster

31

Jacob Simon, Anne Singer, Ronald Gross

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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Make a Difference in Our Community: Join the TI Social Action Committee Interested in working with others at Temple Israel for tikkun olam? The first meeting of the Temple Israel Social Action Committee will take place on Sunday, January 7, at 10:30 AM in the TI library.

Please come if you are interested in setting the direction for this new group. We will talk about our mission, how we want to operate, and what kinds of projects and activities we want to tackle in the next few months.

For information, contact Fran Berman, board liaison, f.berman@comcast.net or 603-502-9503.

What does Sisterhood look like in September 2020?

Come join us and catch up with friends, enjoy a bite to eat and let’s discuss what Temple Israel Sisterhood should look like in the future.

Sunday, January 21, 2018, 10 – 11:30 am Temple Israel Social Hall For More Information: Contact Amy Borne at TISisterhoodNH@yahoo.com

Call for your I could use your help to boost coverage of our community in the Doorpost!

Please send a short announcement and/or photo to the office via email or regular mail.

— Heather Tomlinson

Chesed Squad A group of Temple members have recently formed a “Chesed Squad.” These volunteers are available to assist members with needs that come up quickly and unexpectedly. For example, they can provide food and/or visits to members who may be ill, suffer a death in the family, or have a new baby. They can provide rides to doctor or other appointments, pick up prescriptions, help with errands, etc. They are available to transport members who don’t drive to services or Temple programs. Additional services could well be available from these volunteers as needs arise.

These volunteers will supplement the work of Lotsa Helping Hands, another Temple service through which members can provide ongoing assistance to other members and to the Synagogue. Advance notice is required for Lotsa Helping Hands, as it maintains a schedule so that members can look up when and what assistance is needed.

Any member in need of assistance from the Chesed Squad, or anyone who wishes to volunteer, should call the Temple office at 603-436-5301, extension 10. When the office is not open, please call Steve Sacks at 603-812-1427.

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 Robert Bradbard, Director Amy Hyett, Director Steve Sacks, Director Ira Schwartz, Director Margie Wachtel, Director Mel Prostkoff, Director Tobey Harmon, Director

Proud member of USCJ Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, Friday

8:00am—2pm 8:00am—2pm 11:00am—5pm 8:00am—2pm

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

Temple Israel