TEMPLE ISRAEL DOORPOST OCTOBER 2018

October 2018

Tishrei / Cheshvan 5779

From the Rabbi’s Study...

Dear Chaverim,

In his small booklet, Jewish Spirituality, Rabbi Bernard Raskas z”l, writes that “there is a beautiful saying that should be engraved on our hearts. The Rebbe of Kotzk once noted that a truly religious person is ‘one who goes beyond the letter of the law.’ He pointed out that according to the letter of the law, one should be honest in dealings with others. But a thoroughly honest person goes beyond the letter of the law, not only being honest with others but with her or himself as well.

“It is a kind of spiritual dishonesty that makes us scan the faces of a social set cringingly, searching for approval. Does the need for acceptance by Continued on page 2

Shabbat Service Leaders Friday, October 5 Rabbi Ira Korinow with musical guest Cantor Shira Nafshi Saturday, October 6 Rabbi Ira Korinow Followed by “Lunch and Learn” Torah study Friday, October 12 Rabbi Ira Korinow Saturday, October 13 Rabbi Ira Korinow Bar Mitzvah of Jack Sunshine Friday, October 19 Saturday, October 20

Lay Leaders Cantor Shira Nafshi

Friday, October 26 Rabbi Ira Korinow Note: service begins at 7:30 instead of 6:15 Saturday, October 27 Rabbi Ira Korinow Bar Mitzvah of Cameron Sakelarios

Sh’mini Atzeret Service 9:30 a.m. Monday, October 1, Sanctuary 11:00 a.m. (approximately) Yizkor Service House Committee Design Group Meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 2 Biblical Hebrew Grammar & Reading (Ruth) 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, Library Art Reception in the Shmooze 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 7 Ritual Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 9, Shmoozatorium Tree of Life Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 9 Basic Judaism Class with Rabbi Ira 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 10, Board Room Executive Committee Meeting 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 11, Virtual Meeting Development Committee Meeting 10:00 a.m. Sunday, October 16, Library

Theodore Bikel: in the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 14, Film in Social Hall Board of Directors Meeting 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 16, Board Room House Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, Shmoozatorium Basic Judaism Class with Rabbi Ira 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 24, Board Room Welcome New Member Dinner 5:30 p.m. Friday, November 2, Shmoozatorium

others blind us to the fact that God gave us intelligence to think for ourselves?

“It is important to a life of honesty to do what is right in the eyes of God and our conscience, not in the eyes of our neighbors. A life of honesty is achieved by a person who is less concerned with being socially acceptable and more concerned with being spiritually accountable.”

Each year after all the holidays, there seems to be a kind of let down - both a physical let down and a spiritual let down. Because of this, the rabbis called the month following the holidays, Cheshvan, “Mar Cheshvan” or “Bitter Cheshvan.” Cheshvan is the only month in the Hebrew calendar without a holiday, a day of fasting, a day of commemoration, or even a time set aside for preparation of a holiday.

While Cheshvan may not have any celebrations or observances, neither is it a month where we take a “vacation” from our Judaism. In fact, maybe there are no holidays during the month of Cheshvan because what we did and what we prayed during the fall holidays was just a beginning. Our spiritual accounting needs to continue well beyond Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret

and Simchat Torah and, in fact, throughout the year.

The Rebbe of Kotzk understood that. During the holidays, we have the opportunity to hone in on becoming at one with those we wronged. Spiritual honesty requires that we become at one with God in our lives.

The task of attaining spiritual honesty is an admirable one. But we also remember the words of Rabbi Tarfon in the Mishnah, “The day is short, and the task is great....You are not required to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to abstain from it.”

May this month and every month this year be one in which each of us grows more spiritually honest and closer to God. L’shalom,

Rabbi Ira Korinow

Kol Nidre Food Drive A note from Seacoast Family Promise Development Coordinator Tara Holmes Ball, after receiving 62 bags of donated groceries: “A huge thank you to the members of the Temple for your very generous food drive.”

Unveiling of Headstone for Rabbi David Senter 1:00 p.m. Sunday, October 28 at Riverside Cemetery in Saddle Brook, NJ

2

Tuesday afternoon 5:30 p.m.

Friday night 6:15 p.m.

Saturday morning 9:30 a.m. followed by kiddush and lunch

Dear Fellow Congregants, It was a joyful and moving experience to see so many of you, old faces and new, at services during the High Holy Days, and to feel the energy of a thriving community gathering together. I want to offer the enormous gratitude of the board of directors, and my own thanks to all of those who worked so hard to make the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services such a success. Many dozens of people were involved in wide variety of preparations, but I want to acknowledge especially the absolutely beautiful singing of our Hazzan, Doug Danforth, and the amazing job done by Rabbi Korinow. I also want to say that one of my favorite moments during the entire service was seeing all of the new members come up for an aliyah on the first day of Rosh Hashanah.

Finally, in the spirit of the High Holy Days, I would like to ask that you consider carving out a little more time from the crazy, hectic schedules that we all have, and find a place in your week or month for Temple Israel. Try one of our musical Friday nights and then go out into the bright lights of Portsmouth for dinner. Bring a friend to services on a Saturday and stay for our delicious luncheon. Come to a minyan on a Tuesday night or attend Rabbi Korinow’s Jewish education course. Or, if you would like, start your own study group or book club, and meet in the Shmoozatorium or library. I believe that you will never be disappointed if you do.

David Bachrach

As we begin this new Jewish year, it is my hope that we can harness some of the energy from the High Holy Days and invest this in our community and synagogue between now and next Rosh Hashanah.

As you all know, we are in the process of searching for a new full-time rabbi. The more participation that we can have from members of the congregation in meetings with the search committee, the better our chances of finding a spiritual leader who meets the diverse needs of our community. In addition, as I mentioned in my address to the congregation on Rosh Hashanah, the board is engaging in a process of envisioning our future as a community, where we are now, and where we want to go. We need your help in this effort. Please send your thoughts about services, cultural events, educational opportunities, and any other issue of importance to you, either to me or to any member of the board of directors. It is crucial for the continued flourishing of Temple Israel that we meet your needs as congregants, so please tell us what moves you.

3

Shalom everyone!

Shana Tovah and Happy Fall! I, for one, am ready for apples, pumpkins and crisp cool days!

Hebrew School started on Wednesday, September 5th for the older children, and Sunday, September 16th for the Kindergarten through second graders.

This year we are pleased to have 79 students from about a dozen area towns! September was all about the High Holidays and getting to know one another.

Our theme this year is “Change!” It fits as we start the year with our new Dover families, our interim, Rabbi Ira Korinow, a new batch of enthusiastic madrichim, and even a couple of new teachers! Rabbi Ira has been leading most Hebrew School services with the assistance of the seventh graders and he is looking forward to getting to know all the students. We are all getting used to some different melodies and working on learning everyone’s names. It’s all good! Change can be scary and uncomfortable, but also exciting and fun!

The highlights of the month included shofar blowing presentations by the multi-talented Deborah Hirsch Mayer, visiting the Sukkah, during which students put up decorations that they made and then practiced shaking the lulav and etrog and enjoyed a popcorn snack. The Kindergarten through second

4

graders also had their first library session with the lovely Margie Fisher, mother of our Kindergarten teacher, Jodie Aviles.

Coming up in October is a very special field trip to the Mayyim Hayyim mikvah in Newton, MA for the sixth and seventh graders. More about that in the November Doorpost!

As always, please feel free to call or email me with questions, comments or suggestions at 603-969-2984 or egt9@aol.com.

L’shalom, Elian Tackeff, Head of School

October

5

5:58 p.m.

October

12

5:46 p.m.

October

19

5:35 p.m.

October

26

5:24 p.m.



Welcome new members: Alan & Elizabeth Moses of Portsmouth, Elaine Dolph of Lee, Sara Anderson of Madbury, Judith Rubenstein of Portsmouth, Elliot & Dorothy Matthews of Durham.



Welcome back to Nina and Ira Berlin, returning to Durham from the wilds of Vermont. Also re-joining the congregation are Ian Kaner and his children Aspen and Scarlet of Portsmouth, Rebecca & Darryl Seskind and their children Colette and Louis, of Stratham.



Mazel tov to Shel and Elaine Krasker, celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary!



Refuah Shleima Wishing a speedy recovery from surgery to Kenneth Hirshberg.



Condolences to Leonard Baer and his family on the death of his wife, Roberta.



Condolences to Sally Cohen and Rick Robbins on the passing of Sally’s mother, Etta Auerbach.



Coming soon: an updated Temple Israel Membership directory will be mailed out to members in October. If you’ve dropped a land line for a mobile phone, please notify the office. Thank you!

5

Ritual Committee The High Holidays and Sukkot are behind us and Chanukah and the winter season are still months ahead. This is a good time to pause and reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going. First, I want to thank a few of the many individuals and groups who helped create such warm and inspiring High Holiday services. Thank you, Rabbi Ira, for leading us with such sensitivity and insight in our first Yom Kippur without Rabbi Senter. Doug Danforth, our shaliach tzibor, thank you for once again keeping us in tune with your heartfelt recitation of the T’filot and an especial thanks for arranging the musical accompaniment through all the services. Many thanks to all the singers for creating such a reflective atmosphere for us during the services and for the beautiful Kol Nidre service.

Thank you to our Haftarah readers Jennifer Beard, Jenny Rosenson, Fran Berman, and Nate Cowen, and our Torah reader Amy Hyett, who read along with myself. Thank you to Jodie Aviles for leading the children’s and family services. Once again thank you to Dick Grossman and the ushers for keeping track of all the comings and goings. A big thank you to Joanne Samuels and the House Committee for getting the facility looking beautiful, and to Heather Tomlinson, now in her second year, for great organizational support from the office. We appreciated the lovely flowers for the bimah, contributed by Gloria and Harold Moldoff. Thank you to the Cultural Endowment Fund for supporting Break-the -Fast, which was attended by over 80 individuals.

Thank you to the Yizkor Book Committee, Ellen Fineberg, Sharen Eidelberg Spratt, and Heather Tomlinson, for putting together such a beautiful book and for keeping this successful fundraiser for the Temple going for now the fourth year.

6

Most importantly, thank you for coming to services and being part of this K’hal Kodesh. There is nothing more uplifting than looking out from the bimah and seeing all your shining faces!

Looking ahead, let’s continue to build on this positive energy from the High Holidays. The Ritual Committee and the Rabbi will continue to explore how we can make our worship more meaningful to all our congregants and how best to generate ruach and build community moving forward. Your thoughts, comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

B’shalom, David Olken

New Widow / Widower Social Group Meets: Sunday, November 11, at 1:00 p.m., Temple Israel’s Court Street vestibule For: People who have lost their partners within the past 5 years. Open to all, to socialize and develop friendships. Temple Israel membership not required.

Please RSVP to group leader Elissa Kaplan Senter via email at ekapsent@aol.com or via phone / text at 516-450-5171 by October 15.

The children have settled well into the class and are making new and renewing current friendships.

The new children are adjusting nicely to the Montessori environment. Everyone is eager to explore every area of the classroom!

Tammy Labonté The theme for the month of Director, ELC September is “Grace and Courtesy.” We are using our “please and thank yous” while learning about good manners. We are practicing good table manners at snack time and at lunch. Sharing and caring for your friends is key in class and outside. The children are being polite and making every attempt to practice their good manners and add their names to our Mensch board.

I hope everyone enjoyed Rosh Hashanah, and shana tova u'metukah for a “good and sweet new Year!”

We all had fun eating apples with honey for Rosh Hashanah and using apples for stamping in different colors of paint! We made paper chains to decorate the Sukkah in the playground. For Yom Kippur we made cards to ask for atonement for things the children thought they didn’t use their best manners to handle. We talked about how “I’m sorry” means more than just two words you are expected to say when you wrong or hurt someone. It’s about the feeling of empathy and putting yourself in another person’s perspective, which at this age is a developing skill.

Among other activities in this busy month, we enjoyed our recent visit with Grand Pals at Wentworth Senior Living and are looking forward to seeing the “Rainbow Fish” at the Music Hall in October.

Shalom, Tammy & Elian

Miss Tammy reads Germs are not for Sharing

by Elizabeth Burdick

Participants Needed for Study of Language & Jewish Life in New England A UNH researcher seeks participants for a study of language and Jewish life in New England.

Participation will take no more than 45 minutes, and will include a short interview, reading sentences and words out loud, telling a few stories, and answering some demographic questions and questions about language use.

You need to be 18 years of age or older to take part; you do not need to be native to New England.

People of all religious backgrounds (Jewish-bybirth, Jewish-by-choice, non-Jewish) are welcome.

There are no risks or benefits to participating in this study, and your participation remains anonymous.

You can stop participation at any time. Participants who finish the interview will be entered into a drawing for one of five $25 Amazon gift cards.

For any further questions, or to schedule an interview, please contact Rachel Steindel Burdin, either via email (Rachel.burdin@unh.edu ) or via phone/text message at (919)951-8975.

7

Bar Mitzvah of Jack Sunshine Saturday, October 13, 2018 My name is Jack Sunshine and I go to Berwick Academy. I like to ski race and play baseball and soccer. Judaism is important because it's part of my family's history and tradition. I look forward to honoring those traditions every day.

A special thank you to September kiddush sponsors Jeff Steber & Tammy Medanich Steber

8

Bar Mitzvah of Cameron Sakelarios Saturday, October 26, 2018 My name is Cameron Sakelarios. I attend Hampton Academy Middle School in Hampton New Hampshire. I enjoy playing soccer and basketball and have a big interest in the NFL. Judaism is important to me because it allows me to be part of a community with people from different places that have the same beliefs. It also makes me feel different from many others that I know. For my mitzvah project I will partake in several community service projects.

CULTURAL ENDOWMENT FUND Ben Hershenson. Barbara Levenson in memory of Roberta Baer. Laura & Sherwood Spelke. Shirley Fishbein in memory of her mother, Lillian Lessow.

Elliott & Shirley Fishbein in memory of Roberta Baer. Julie Whitehouse in memory of her father, Dr. Michael A. Mittelman.

DINNERMAN-ROTTENBERG EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT Peter & Jennie Dinnerman in memory of June & Maurice Dinnerman.

INSTITUTIONAL OPERATING ENDOWMENT FUND Beth & David Salzman in honor of the marriage of Rebecca Ruben and Chaim Miller. Alan & Marlene Rubin in memory of Roberta Baer. Evelyn Dickson. Nancy & Mel Alexander in memory of Roberta Baer. Mel & Cathi Cherry-Liston. Philip Ginsburg & Carolyn Anderson. Matthew & Leslie Allen. Ira & Jennifer Schwartz “in memory of the grandparents of our children.”

KIDDUSH FUND Alan Goldstein and Mary Levine in honor of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Chaikin. Lisa Stewart Krutter. Eliot & Christine Sorel, “Thank you for making us feel welcome on Labor Day weekend.”

In memory of Roberta Baer: Demetrius & Kathy Lalos, Nancy Winograd, John & Kelly Ornell, Marion Kepnes.

MUSICAL SHABBAT FUND Sharen Eidelberg Spratt in memory of Professor Harry Clor, “teacher and dear friend. May your memory always be a blessing.”

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Bill & Chris Goldberg in memory of Bill’s father, David S. Goldberg.

PRESCHOOL FUND Naomi & Arnold Fishbein in memory of Roberta Baer. Selma Freedman in memory of Roberta Baer. Arnold & Beverly Fine in memory of beloved wife, mother, and grandmother Roberta Baer. Mark, Amy, Ben, Amanda, and Cerena Johnson in memory of beloved Aunt Roberta Baer.

Cindy and Abby Fine in memory of beloved Aunt Roberta Baer. Myrna & Howard Promer, Dan & Tania and family in memory of Roberta Baer.

RABBI DAVID SENTER MEMORIAL FUND Elissa Kaplan Senter.

HIGH HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS Donations are gratefully acknowledged from members, guests, and visitors, including Ari Rubenstein. Burt Wolf in memory of his grandparents, Abraham & Sarah Shapiro, and mother, Mollie Shapiro. Carole Krassner. Aaron & Gina Kahn, the Zippin family, Dara Klein, Richard Frank, Henry Brewster, Ruth Diengott, Heidi Randall, Marjorie & William Glater, Mark Coven & Judy Levenson Coven, Ruthie Silver, Daniel Silver, Hannah Gerstenblatt, Jason Schwartz, Nancy Scolnick, Elaine & Alex Talis, Michael & Lori Weiss, Judy Curran, Linda Wasserman, Judy Balansky, Stefanie Hertzog, Barbara Weismann, Barbara & Jerald Borne, Larry & Sheila Cohen, Molly Freeman, Howard Koiles, Michael Lane, Marc & Sydelle Sandler, Eve Kennedy, Roberta Tarsia, Marsha Brann, Paula Chalfin, Deborah Cohen, Linda Gerson, Mason Gomberg, Nahin Jorge, David Poskanzer, Lee Poskanzer, Donna Tobey, Ruth Kletnick, Grace Lessner, Howard & Karen Lazerowich, the McNeilly family, James Sagner, Mary Watt & Peter Schultz, Rebecca Salzman.

9

October Yahrzeits

22 Tishrei / 22 Cheshvan

1. Alfred Fluster, Debra Faye Jacobs, Forrest Krutter, Lena Bernstein

15. Abraham Cutler, Leonard D. Kaplan, Barney Grossman

2. Alice Sussman, Oscar Chaikin, Ben Benjamin, Margaret Jacoby

16. Eva Kramer

3. Sarah Applebaum, Jack Berman, Louis Wein, Robert Turner 4. David Borne, Sylvia Seperson 5. Thelma Walden, Joyce Belostock, Bernard Shamesman, David Saczyk 6. Florence Salden, Sophie Cohen Anderson, Ethel Goldstein, Melvin Harrison, Samuel Osher, Alex Siegel, Martha Shuldman

17. Evelyn Robbins, Jacob (Jack) Zeidman, Samuel Smokler, Evelyn Robbins, Sidney Kates 18. Ruben Novak, Samuel Koiles, Esther Bradbard, Marion Schwartz 19. Hyman Stromer, Helen Wyle, Abraham Kaplan 20. Robert Tober, Abraham Siegel, Abraham Richman

21. Rivka Meyerson, Philip Borwick, George Zitomer, Keven Miller, Yitzchak Rabin, 7. Morris Schwartz, Sherry Parsons, Gregory Mabel Philips, Harold Jacob Edelstein, Parsons, Gussie Shutzer, Henrietta Banner Abeles, Lorraine Goren Edward Black, Clara R. Fisher, Charles Schwartz 22. Samuel Taube, Paul Pollack, George Hooz, 8. Gloria LoPatin, Arthur Promer, Diane Franklin, Louis Cohen, Boris Traven, Patrick Zirpolo, Evangelos Kontarinis

Lt. Albert N. Edelstein

23. Anna Borwick, Fred Kaplan, Evelyn Trotsky, Adrienne Saltz, Albert Gordon

9. Bessie Salden, Charlotte Meenes, Stanley Rosenfield, Jakki Wiese, Norman Stein, Marc Goldsmith

24. Ida Levine, Harry Bratter, June Feldman, Donald Martin

10. Samuel Cohen, Irving Shultz, Ruth Rosengard, Inez Sherman, Sylvia Pedell, Leon Hirsch

26. Nellie Willar

25. Harry Cutler, Lydia Wills

27. Harold Kellner, Bruce Fox, Martha Wein, 11. Lillian Goldin, Debbie Natansohn, Katherine Edelstein Anita Freedman, Janette Krasin, Thelma R. Hooz, 28. Florence Seidner, Rosilyn Steinberg Estelle Cooperman, Florence Pastor 29. Solomon Bernat, Burton Golub, 12. Mindel Winebaum, Rose Hirshberg, Ruth Morris, Hyman L. Pindrus William Gross 30. Samuel Weisner, Abraham Baisuck, Frieda Boxer, 13. Rose Riback, Rachel Wener, Bernie Davis, Bessie Lichten, Ethylene Golub, Herbert Cohen Alice Weismann 31. Ida Feldman, Tania Moroze, 14. Baby Spousta, Fred Linden, Maurice Lifson Barbara Kates Comenitz When you are observing a family member’s yahrzeit, you are welcome to say kaddish at services Friday night, Saturday morning, Sunday morning (when Hebrew School is in session) or at Tuesday minyan (5:30 p.m.).

10

We have had a wonderful and eventful start to the school year here at the temple. We made it through the High Holidays and I can honestly say seeing the students interact and participate in the temple activities this past month has been wonderful.

I’d like to discuss some upcoming initiatives. The first, which I’m very excited about, is the return of the Best Attendance award for the student who attends the most Temple services in addition to Hebrew School. This includes Friday night and Saturday morning services. All students will have their names listed on index cards kept in the back of the Sanctuary. When students arrive for services, they will take their card from one box and transfer it to the “attended” box. This practice will avoid students writing on Shabbat. Later in the week, we will collect the names and tally attendance results.

Parents can participate in this contest too! At the end of the year, the parents who attend the most services with their child(ren) will receive a discount on their child’s b’nei mitzvah fee.

I am always looking for assistance with programming for the youth of our temple and if any member is interested in joining the Education Committee, please feel free to contact me. We can use all the help we can get.

In addition to supporting the children of the Hebrew School, I am hoping to reach out to the post-bar and bat mitzvah teens and engage them in Temple life.

This could include reinstating our USY chapter, which would also give our community’s teens access to and interaction with other Jewish teens in the region. I look forward to continuing the progress that we have made and making some more positive changes as we move forward.

Respectfully submitted, Seth Wizwer, Vice-President for Education

Adult Hebrew Classes—Fall and Winter All classes are open to the general public and guaranteed to be fun! Interested youth are encouraged to attend. Tuition is $18 per semester.

To register and reserve a textbook, please contact the Temple office at 603-436-5301 or via email at templeoffice@templeisraelnh.org or instructor Kathryn Mulhearn, isogloss@outlook.com or via phone / text 207-351-5654.

Learn to Read Hebrew for Beginners & Tuneups meets on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. from October 9 through December 4, 2018, in the Temple library. Text: Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew (EKS, Simon & Anderson), $15.00 or purchase on your own. Pre-registration is desired to order enough textbooks. Learn the Alef Bet, how to pronounce the vowels, and begin the Kaddish. A methodical approach includes group oral recitation, writing, and reading. Multi-generational – bring your parents and teenage children. Interfaith – bring your friends!

Biblical Hebrew Grammar & Reading (Book of Ruth) - will meet this month on Wednesday, October 3rd, at 6:00 p.m., and monthly on other Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m., dates to be determined.

Text $40.00. For more information, please contact instructor. This is a more advanced class but anyone is welcome to try it out.

Prayerbook Hebrew will meet on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in the Temple library, beginning in January 2019. Text $30.00.

Temple Israel Portsmouth Board of Directors David Bachrach, President Fran Berman, Immediate Past President David Olken, VP Ritual Joanne Samuels, VP House Seth Wizwer, VP Education Beth Salzman, Recording Secretary Jennifer Sebeny, Financial Secretary Amy Borne, Treasurer Robert Bradbard, Director Tobey Harman, Director Marc Hiller, Director

The Adult Education Committee presents a film screening of

Mel Prostkoff, Director

Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem

Steve Sacks, Director

on Sunday, October 14, at 2:00 p.m. in the Social Hall.

This event is free and open to the public.

Ira Schwartz, Director Margie Wachtel, Director

Proud member of USCJ Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Summer schedule may vary; please call first if you need to meet in person.

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

Temple Israel