Temple Israel Doorpost March 2018

March 2018

Adar / Nisan 5778

President’s Message Dear Fellow Congregants, I am very pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has made an agreement with Rabbi Ira Korinow to join the Temple Israel community as our interim rabbi.

Rabbi Korinow led the congregation of Temple Emanu-El in Haverhill for 36 years before retiring in 2017. Among his many accomplishments and Continued on page 2

Social Action Committee Meeting 10:30am Sunday, March 4, Library Richard Potter, America’s 1st Black Celebrity 2:00 pm Sunday, March 4, Social Hall Presented by Black Heritage Trail Portsmouth Ritual Committee Meeting 6:15pm Tuesday, March 6, Shmoozatorium “Second Friday” with musical guests Fran Berman and Jim Prendergast 6:15pm Friday, March 9, Sanctuary

Group Skate CANCELED 1:00pm, Sunday, March 11 Gesher Group Meeting TIME TBA Sunday, March 11 Executive Committee Meeting 7:30pm, Thursday, March 15, Virtual Meeting 4th & 5th graders participate in services 6:15pm, Friday, March 16, Sanctuary “Greatest Hits” of the Service 10:30am, Sunday, March 18, Social Hall Note: The Early Learning Center, Hebrew School, and Temple Office will REOPEN from winter break on Monday, March 5, 2018.

Preschool Registration is open for the 2018-2019 school year. The ELC is a unique preschool in the Seacoast area, the only place where Jewish values and concepts are integrated into everyday activities and Jewish holidays are woven into the curriculum. For more information, contact Laura Sher at: 436-5301, ext. 23, or preschool.director@templeisraelnh.org.

Board of Directors Meeting 7:00pm, Tuesday, March 20, Board Room History of Nosh 7:00pm, Thursday, March 22, Shmoozatorium Bat Mitzvah—Monique Baril 4:30pm, Saturday, March 24, Sanctuary Community Passover Seder 6:15pm, Saturday, March 31, Social Hall (please return signup form by Friday, March 16)

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awards, Rabbi Korinow is a past president of the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis, chaplain of the Haverhill Police Department, a member of board of directors of the National Conference for Soviet Jewry, and past president of the Haverhill Rotary Club. He has also taken an active role in seeking peaceful relationships between Jews, Christians and Arabs, traveling to Israel to meet with Arab Rotarians from Nazareth.

Rabbi Korinow has a number of commitments through the remainder of this winter and spring. He will begin a three-quarter time position at Temple Israel in June and will be providing us with rabbinical leadership for a year. He will have regular office hours for pastoral matters, will participate in lifecycle events, work with our education team for the Hebrew School and bar and bat mitzvah training and also lead most of our Friday night and Saturday morning services.

Between now and June, Rabbi Korinow and Cantor Nafshi will continue to lead services and provide guidance to our community in pastoral and educational matters.

Please join me in welcoming Rabbi Korinow to our community. In the meantime, This Week and the

Doorpost will provide regular updates about when Rabbi Korinow and Cantor Nafshi will be leading services.

Rabbi Ira Korinow

The search committee for a permanent rabbi also has begun its work. The community will receive regular updates about their progress and information also will be provided about opportunities to speak with the search committee as these are scheduled.

David Bachrach

Shabbat Service Leaders Lay Leaders

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

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Cantor Shira Nafshi Saturday, March 10, 2018 Cantor Shira Nafshi Saturday, March 17, 2018 Lay Leaders

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Rabbi Korinow

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Followed by “Lunch and Learn� Torah study

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Ritual Committee Purim and the month of Adar have passed which means spring is not far behind. Pesach arrives at the end of March. As the Seder is a home-based observance, more Jews attend a Passover Seder than participate in any other one observance, service or ritual.

Our community Seder is the second night of Passover, March 31st. A lovely catered meal again is planned. Come with friends and enjoy this festive occasion. You do not have to be a member to attend. Bring a few friends and make it an evening out. Contact the office for details.

Chag Sameach!

David Olken

Sisterhood Members gathered on February 11 and finalized the mission statement drawn up by Jewel Davis: Temple Israel Portsmouth, NH Sisterhood is a dynamic, inclusive organization for women in our synagogue and community. Our mission is to promote connections and Jewish values with women in our Seacoast area. Our goal is to serve our temple, support our community, and enrich the lives of people living in this region through social events, educational, cultural, and spiritual programs, and community service.

You’re Invited to Havdalah at Home The Membership Committee is organizing our community’s first-ever Havdalah at Home celebration on April 21. Informal gatherings will be held that evening at members’ homes throughout the Seacoast. This is a chance to get to know other synagogue members better while marking the division between Shabbat and the week ahead.

You might be wondering who will host these gatherings. Well … maybe YOU! Please think about opening your home that night to a few old and new friends. Hosts will have freedom to decide the time, duration and type of gathering (i.e. potluck dinner, dessert bar), and how many guests to include.

Whether you are interested in hosting or being a guest, please mark your calendar now, and watch your email for more information. Any questions, contact Margie Wachtel at may12@comcast.net (preferred) or 603-498-0473.

Going forward, the Sisterhood will run like a book club and pick a date on which a volunteer will sponsor an activity. For a list of proposed activities and detailed meeting minutes, contact the Temple office.

Please consider stepping up to participate in our Sisterhood!

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Shalom Everyone! Happy Adar & Happy March!

So many reasons to be happy about this month: Purim starts Wednesday evening, February 28th, spring is almost here, and Pesah begins at sundown on March 30th!

Here is what happened in Hebrew School in the very short month of February (and the last week of January): • K, 1st and 2nd graders celebrated Tu B’Shvat with a lovely family Seder.

• 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th graders had a fun and educational, kids and teachers only, Seder in the Social Hall.

• Many thanks to Jodie Aviles and Rachel Dennis for putting together special Seder booklets for each group!

• Kitah Vav (Grade 6) had their special class service on Saturday, February 3rd. They helped Cantor Shira Nafshi lead services and they were awesome!

• Miss Ozma Kasten picked the winner of the “Learn Something New Every Day” Challenge!

Congratulations to Miss Ginger Friedman for being the first monthly winner!

• K – 2 had their monthly visit to our wonderful Temple Library and enjoyed listening to stories read by the lovely Margie Fisher.

• Our Israeli Shlicha, Noam Wolf, visited us on Sunday, February 11th and introduced the children to Jerusalem and The Dead Sea, with a slide show, games, a dance, and more. We are so lucky to be part of this program! Many thanks to Gail and Tom LePage, Remi Young and Rowan Nabel for their emergency technical assistance!

• Lastly, I am happy to announce that our Hebrew School community came together and joined Jack and Alec Lehrer (Grades Preschool and 1st) in their quest to plant “many trees” in memory of Rabbi David. We collected enough money to plant a whole Garden of Trees (100 trees). Look for the framed certificate on the “Be a Mensch” bulletin board across from the school office!

Please feel free to call or e mail me at 603-969-2984 or egt9@aol.com with any suggestions or questions.

L’Shalom, Elian Tackeff, Head of School

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March

2nd

5:16 PM

March

9th

5:24 PM

March

16th

6:33 PM

March

23rd

6:41 PM

March

30th

6:49 PM

Many thanks to our February 9 musical guests Bashert and Rabbi Howard Mandell from Congregation Beth Israel of the Merrimack Valley.

For more information about Bashert and their music, please contact: mikenmerle@yahoo.com

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Shalom Everyone! Happy Adar and Happy March!

Is anyone happy that spring is almost here? Maybe that groundhog didn’t really see his shadow after all?

Youth Group celebrated American Heart Month, on Sunday, February 11th, with a very special “Have a Heart & Save a Life” event! A group of 4th through 7th graders spent a bit over an hour, learning how to save a life in case of an emergency like choking, a stopped heart, etc.

Under the guidance of Gail Klanchesser of Coastal CPR, they learned how to administer CPR, how to use an AED, and more. Did you know that we have an AED in our Temple? Do you know where it is? Do you know how to use it? Well, we now have at least one child in each grade (4-7) who knows what to do!

After we were done practicing compressions on the dummies, a dozen of us braved the rain and icy sidewalks, and walked to Flatbread Company for some yummy Jay’s Heart Pizza and delicious ice cream. Impressed with the children’s interest in learning CPR, the manager took the pizzas off of our bill! Wow! The children, of course, made sure to thank him on the way out. If your family visits Flatbread’s, do let them know how much we appreciated their generous gesture! Big thanks to Carol Berg and Jonathan Young for chaperoning!

Due to Purim arriving during February school break, we will not have our annual Purim Carnival this year. However, Youth Group might be jumping for joy at the thought of a Blitz Event. Stay tuned for more about this.

As always, please feel free to call or email me with any questions or suggestions about new venues, at 603-969-2984 or egt9@aol.com L’Shalom, Elian Tackeff, your friendly youth person TZEDAKAH (CHARITY) FUND If you know of a member of the community who could use financial assistance, please call and leave a message at: 603-512-0090.

We can provide short-term help for utility bill payments, etc. and all information will be kept in the strictest confidence.

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The children of the Early Learning Center were busy earlier this past month preparing for the holiday of Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees, which occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. The mitzvah of Shomrei Adamah, partnering with G-d to be guardians of our planet (and all of our physical surroundings), is intimately connected to Tu B’Shevat and easily understood by young children. We celebrated nature and trees through stories, song, movement and yoga poses, rooting our feet Laura Sher into the earth and reaching our arms towards the sunlight!

Director, ELC And we expressed ourselves artistically painting with celery and broccoli stalks. The children also learned about the importance of nutrient rich soil for optimal plant growth, and created an edible soil horizon of weathered rock (crushed cookies), decomposed organic material (chocolate pudding), and living organisms (kosher gummies in the shape of lobsters, truly)! Of course, after this, we were ready to plant various herbs (parsley, sage, oregano and dill) and are diligently watering them with the hopes of successful sprouting by Pesach!

We also hosted a “Birthday Party for the Trees,” inviting family and friends to join with us in giving thanks for everything that grows on earth. We tasted 15 different fruits native to, and currently growing in Israel, including six out of the seven species mentioned in the Torah: wheat (in the form of a sweet wheat berry pudding), grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. According to the kabbalists, every fruit has the potential for new life, and if we eat fruit on Tu B’Shevat with blessing and gratitude, then we are symbolically helping G-d renew nature.

And lastly, we celebrated the birthday of our youngest classroom friend, as she reached the milestone of turning three years of age!

Registration continues to be open for the 2018-2019 school year. The ELC is a unique preschool in the Seacoast area, the only place where Jewish values and concepts are integrated into everyday activities and Jewish holidays are woven into the curriculum. We incorporate language arts, science, math, art, music and movement into all of our learning experiences. If you know of anyone who may be interested in joining our community, please have them contact me at: preschool.director@templeisraelnh.org or 436-5301, ext. 23.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy month ahead!

L’Shalom, Laura

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My name is Monique Alana Baril (“Elka”). I attend Hampton Academy Middle School. I enjoy rock climbing, drawing, and playing with my puppy. I like being Jewish because I’ve been fortunate enough to make some friends through the Temple as well as learn how to read and write Hebrew. I also like celebrating the Jewish holidays and traditions with my family and Temple Israel community.

For my Bat Mitzvah project, I’ve participated in many community service projects. Through Interact Club at school I did a Rotary park clean up, Blue Ocean Society beach clean up, assembled “breathing buddies” to help teach little kids breathing and relaxation techniques, and helped to raise money for water filters for people in Guatemala through Worthy Village. Over the summer I volunteered as a "reading buddy" at Lane Memorial Library. Most recently, I’ve been making no-sew fleece blankets for children in need through Project Linus.

Monique Baril, Saturday, March 24, 2018

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Mazel Tov to Dr. Karl Singer, medical director of the Rockingham County Nursing Rehabilitation Center.

The entrance and courtyard of the newly rebuilt, state-of-the-art rehab wing have just been named in his honor! Dr. Singer specializes in geriatrics, and has been an attending doctor at the facility since 1975 and the medical director since 1982.

Mazel Tov on the birth of Israel Eilis Grossman, daughter of Jonathan & Rachel Grossman, granddaughter of Tammy Grossman, and great-granddaughter of Lorrie and Dick Grossman.

Our condolences to the family of longtime Temple member Estelle Israel. Estelle is remembered by her many friends here for her kindness and spirit. 

Our condolences to Joanne Goodman on the loss of her aunt Inez R. Silverstein from Palm Beach, FL and Hull, MA. 

(photos, left to right) Israel Eilis Grossman; Estelle Israel

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CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND Jewel Davis in memory of her mother Frances Lowe Davis.

LIBRARY FUND Al & Adina Linden in memory of Adina’s sister Nordia Kay, also in memory of Estelle Israel.

DINNERMAN/ROTTENBERG EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND Joyce Meenes in memory of her father Sam Rottenberg and grandmother Bessie Abrams.

Barbara Fox in memory of her grandfather Jacob Segal. Arline Coles in memory of her mother Sarah Simmons. Ira Stone in memory of his mother Elizabeth Stone.

TZEDAKAH FUND Jacqueline Ross in memory of her parents Arthur & Jeannette Black. Goldie Fink in memory of her brother Irving Bratter. Donations received in memory of Estelle Israel: Marlene & Al Rubin; Renee Levy; Rose Ann Favinger; Sherry Ranta; Eleanor & Stanley Israel; Stephen & Susan Scolnik; Lorrie & Dick Grossman.

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT FUND Stuart & Donna Levenson in memory of Stuart’s mother Shura Levenson. Shel & Elaine Krasker in memory of Shel’s mother Mollie Krasker, also in memory of “our beloved friend Estelle Israel.”

Nancy & Mel Alexander in memory of Nancy’s mother Ruth Sussman. David & Marianne Forman in memory of David’s father Louis Forman.

PRESCHOOL FUND Naomi & Arnold Fishbein, in memory of Arnold’s father David Fishbein and also in memory of Estelle Israel, and also in memory of Richard Kanterman.

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Howard Steinberg in memory of his father Joseph Steinberg. Kurt Isselbacher in memory of his parents Albert & Flori Isselbacher.

RABBI DAVID SENTER MEMORIAL FUND Michael & Ann Pearlman in memory of Estelle Israel.

Hello Library Lovers!

The library has been hopping with activity this month, with class visits from grades K-2 with Margie Fisher, adult education, Hebrew learning, and packed study spaces! We have two meeting areas in the library and two MacBook workstations for your use, as well as comfy reading areas.

Please note that as I get the collection in order, I am coming across nearly one hundred books and DVDs that are unaccounted for. Please check your home, car, and classroom or office for items marked “Nancy Mae Shaines Memorial Library” or “Temple Israel” and return them as soon as possible. It is too costly to replace all these missing items.

Thank you!

For more information about film festival screenings, visit www.nhjewishfilmfestival.org

Sara Lesley Arnold Warner Nancy Mae Shaines Library librarian@templeisraelnh.org

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March Yahrzeits 1

Minnie Brown, Solomon Levine, Robert Leavitt, Alexander Vero, Richard H. Goldberg, Joseph Fritz

2 3

4 5 6 7 8

9

10 11 12

13

14 15 16

14 Adar / 15 Nisan 17

Lore Kauffman, Irene Trott, Harry Klein, Sam Leiderman

Hester Schwartz, Lena Gorman, Shirley Ginsberg Sylvia Kahn Hillson, Louis Boxer

18

Eunice Cohen, Jeffrey Gutin, Helen Hirsch

19

Abraham Taube, Morris Saitz, Sara Cohen

Morris Greenfield, Dorothy Schwartz, Milfred Kniaz Joseph Greenberg, Ann G. Schwartz, Elaine Rosenfeld Jacob Krasker, Susan Freedman Knussen, Norman Geller Sarah Greenberg, Rose Koiles, Harriet Berman

20

Minnie Zeidman, June Singer, Sidney Trubowitz Ida Grossman, Lee Rosen, Frieda Schramm

23

Gussie Landsman, Anne Baisuck, Herman Slass, Maurice Friedman Annie Cantor, Joseph Schwartz

Harry Rosen, Barbara F. Silverman, Jacqueline Boibeaux, Sarah Trubowitz, Ilene Levin, Melvin Intriligator Ira Goldberg, Seth Lampert, Henry B. Glick, Paul Rubin, Roslyn Albert Gus Cronheim, Megan DuPrie, Arthur Shaver, Reb Aaron Rosenbaum, Sarah Atkins Lucille Abelson, Isaac Rottenberg, Peter Dricker, Helen Eskin Morris (Mike) Levy, Ruth Heller, Irving Katz, Loretta (Lucky) Levy, David Rosengard, Ida Rubin, Libbye Halperin, Katherine Goldberg, Louis Poyourow Nathan Levine, Louis Schopick, Norman Freedman, Carol Schultz, Celia Weinberg, Irving Tober, William B. Hirshberg Bernard Levy, Abraham Prostkoff, Frances Dricker Abraham Grossman, Charles Johnston, Jack Naparsteck, Alvin Effron, Stephen Bauer Sarah Moldoff, Benjamin Tober, George Freedman, Harvey Ludwig, Stanley M. Epstein, John McQueeney

24

Belle Windt

25

Barnet Freedman, Rose Richman

26 27

Benjamin Green, Ronald Brass, Max (Manny) Weisner, Evelyn Berman, Harold McCrensky Rose Cohen

28

Rose Handler, Morris Silverman

29

Gertrude Grant, Barney Freedman, Aaron Warach, Frederick Gersh

30

Miriam Ackerman, Otto Salzman, Robert Lasky, Ruth Rome Lee Harrison, Sylvia Portman

21 22

31

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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Greatest Hits of the Service WHAT: Learn to chant some of the “greatest hits” of the Shabbat service, kiddush, and common prayers.

WHEN: Sunday, March 18th from 10:30-noon. Refreshments will be served.

HOW: Please sign up by emailing Amy Hyett at amyhyett@comcast.net. Six participants needed to run the class.

History of Nosh WHAT: Enjoy a tasting of Jewish desserts and learn how they came to be in our common experience.

WHEN: Thursday evening, March 22 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

HOW: Please sign up by emailing Alissa Gold at agjacobs3@aol.com. Baker’s dozen participants needed to run the class.

Hebrew Calligraphy Workshop WHO: This class is welcome to all!

WHAT: In this workshop you will make a decorated word in Hebrew calligraphy. The word can be someone’s name or simply “Israel” or “Shalom”, etc. You will go home with a set of drawings of the Hebrew alef bet both in simple form and in outline for decoration. Please bring a donation of $5 towards materials, any favorite pens or paints, and ideas of your favorite themes.

WHEN: Thursday evening April 5th from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

HOW: Please rsvp to Sue West to register at overbywest@gmail.com. Class size limited to twelve.

Jewish Poetry as a Path to Prayer WHO: Anyone thirteen years and older welcome. Come solo, come with family, come with friends. Come to one or both workshops. This class is open to members and non-members. We will read, discuss, write, and have the option of sharing poems and prayers. No poetry or writing experience necessary.

WHAT: Mary Anker, Temple Israel of Portsmouth member, and John Englander of Temple Kerem Shalom, will lead this workshop together exploring the relationship between prayer and poetry. Sources will vary and will include the siddur. Mary is an English teacher and performing poet. John is an educator and singer/ songwriter who will play his guitar to enhance our understanding of words and their potential depth.

WHERE: In Temple Israel's warm and inspirational library.

WHEN: Two Monday evenings, April 16 and 23, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. A salad and pizza dinner included.

HOW: Please sign up by emailing Mary Anker at mamanker@gmail.com. Workshop size limited to eighteen participants. Please let us know if you need a ride. It may be possible to arrange. There is no charge for this class.

Yom Hashoah Commemoration on Sunday, April 8, 2018, 3 PM Temple Israel Portsmouth Holocaust Remembrance Day will be observed with guest clergy Cantor Shira Nafshi and keynote speaker Professor John Sturtz of the Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College.

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 Harma,n 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