ןייטשדלוג ש׳׳ע יתליחק זכרמ תסנכ תיב הינתנ תיזנכשא תימואל תיתד הליהק McDonald International Shul ORTHODOX ASHKENAZI COMMUNITY NETANYA ד׳׳סב Pesach 5782 | 2022 ב׳׳פשת חספ Pesach 5782 | 2022 ב׳׳פשת חספ
New Synagogue of Netanya 7 McDonald Street P. O. Box 1115 | Netanya 42262 | office 09 861-4591 email: macshul@netvision.net.il | www.macshul.org Rabbi Raphael Katz: Office 09 887-5079 | Mobile 054 767-3421 Chairman: Jeremy Rosenstein – 077 962-8328 Vice Chairman: David Marriott – 058 455-8296 Hon. Treasurer: Colin Frankel – 053 530-5751 Hon. Secretary: Barbara Cardash – 09 861-5178 Gabbaim: Bernie Wolff – 054 433-3070 | Israel Shapira – 09 861-7608 Irgun Nashim: Chair: Betty Olswang Henry Koor Judaica Library: 09 884-0458 Open: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 am until noon Chair: Tsipi Wexler Magazine Team: Therese Berkowitz Judy Berger, Elizabeth Dorfman, Melissa Dubinsky, Rachel Shore, Laura Shuck Join the honorable company of our past and present community by linking your name, or the name of a loved one with the McDonald International Shul. Memorial Boards • Sponsorships Philanthropic Donations are all available and can be easily arranged through the shul office: 09 861-4591 • Monday to Thursday 8:30–11:00 am ןייטשדלוג ש׳׳ע יתליחק זכרמ תסנכ תיב הינתנ תיזנכשא תימואל תיתד הליהק McDonald International Shul ORTHODOX ASHKENAZI COMMUNITY NETANYA
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 3 Pesach 5782 | 2022 ב׳׳פשת חספ Contents Board Members / Committees ..............4 From the Editor Therese Berkowitz 4 Pesach 5782: Two Paths to Renewal Rabbi Raphael Katz..........................................6 Chairman’s Message Jeremy Rosenstein ............................................8 Why Moses’ Name is (almost) Absent from the Haggadah by Rabbi Dr Jeffrey M. Cohen 10 Shiurim 15 Time’s Up by Bernie Wolff .................................................16 Do Not Curse The Deaf by Rabbi Michael Plaskow MBE 20 “Journeys To Re-Birth” Yom Hashoah Memorial Event by Jacques Korolnyk ...................................... 22 Turning Lemons into Lemonade by Suzie Schwartz .......................................... 25 byRenewalTsipiWexler 28 Purim 5782 by Therese Berkowitz ................................... 30 Origami Jumping Frog Instructions 32 Community News Conversations with our Newest byMembersJudyBerger .................................................. 34 Cinnamon Balls for Pesach by Ruth Marriott 42 Our Synagogue Family 43 Ivrit Corner by Mitch Caller ................................................ 47 Diary of Future Events ........................... 50
Executive: Jeremy Rosenstein - Chairman David Marriott - Vice Chairman and Cultural Committee
Barbara **VolunteersCardashneeded Landscaping Committee: Susan Wolff Sharon Wilensky Therese Berkowitz Table Tennis (weekly): Nobby Smith Yizkor Book: Therese Berkowitz, Elizabeth Dorfman, David Marriott, Ruth Marriot McDonald International Shul Board Members and
Committees:
4 | Pesach 2022 When one of the members of our magazine team suggested the theme of “Renewal” for this edition, we all resoundingly agreed “yes!” It felt like just the right tone for a potential “postCovid liberation” and our annual celebration of Pesach—Chag Aviv—the spring holiday. I was certain we referenced the idea of renewal somewhere in our seder. So, I set out on a mission determined to find “renewal” in the Haggadah, but to no avail. Then, in unexpected places, I found references to renewal that gave me hope. In a beautiful article by Rabbi Shmuel Goldin in the Shabbat Shemini edition of Torah Tidbits entitled “The Road to Jewishness”, I found a reference to our theme: “At this time of the year, we renew our affiliation with our people and its destiny. We look back across the centuries and we realize that our first steps out of Egypt launched a people’s story in which we can take deserved pride.”There it was—the seder and the retelling of our story as renewal of From Editorthe Therese Berkowitz
Colin Frankel - Honorary Treasurer Barbara Cardash - Honorary Secretary Laura Shuck - Shul Secretary Management: Elizabeth Dorfman Ruth Marriott Betty Olswang - Irgun Nashim Bernie Wolff - Gabbai Israel Shapira - Gabbai Blank Committee: Michael Bliss, Barbara Cardash Colin Frankel - Chair Jacques Korolnyk, David Marriott Henry Koor Judaica Library: Tsipi Wexler Hospitality Committee: Jacques Korolnyk Good Neighbours SchemeVolunteer visits to housebound members
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 5 our very identity! The next day I received Rabbi Katz’s insighful article for our publication referencing beautiful and inspiring imagery of an eagle as metaphor for renewal.Still,the intention of our theme was to include many facets of the concept of renewal, not just at our seder table, or in our “Jewishness” as Rabbi Goldin refers to it, but also throughout our community.Forsomeof our members we are looking forward to seeing you again and renewing relationships that have been put “on pause” throughout the Covid pandemic. With that in mind, we are proud to introduce a new section in our magazine called “Community” which features articles about our members. We hope you will find this new section informative and inspiring. We welcome your feedback. We are also looking forward to renewing some of the operational protocol of our community, much of which has also been “on pause” during these Covid times. Additionally, this year will begin the 50th year of our shul. As our community begins to prepare in multiple ways to commemorate this milestone, we hope you will consider contributing in every way possible. Jeremy Rosenstein discusses some of these ideas in his article. Two members of the magazine team, Paulette Woolf, co-editor and Ed Pearlman, advertising sales manager, have decided to step down from their roles. I want to thank them personally for their time, energy, creativity and contributions over these last number of years. I am grateful for all their hard work. I am happy to report that two new volunteers have stepped up to the plate and are already proving to be wonderful additions to the magazine team. Rachel Shore is already making her mark soliciting adverts for our publication, and Judy Berger is a creative and “can-do” power-house. We are very happy to welcome them both to the magazine team. Please keep in mind that volunteers are always welcome! Renewing your commitment to our community can begin by seizing a new volunteer opportunity.Iwouldlike to personally thank our magazine team—Elizabeth Dorfman, Melissa Dubinsky and Laura Shuck—for their patience, creativity, integrity, diligence and humor. Together we wish you all a healthy and happy Sameach!
The metaphor of an eagle appears in two other places as a symbol of renewal and rejuvenation.
Pesach 5782: Two Paths to Renewal
This essentially is the essence of the Pesach message. Am Yisrael was on the 49th level of impurity and on the brink of losing their identity as the Jewish people and yet under those conditions Hashem redeemed the Jewish soul for eternity, indeed there is always
Hope.But why are the eagles chosen as a symbol of renewal? All birds molt and renew their feathers; some species change their plumage twice a year.Itappears that there is a second hint on the capacity to renewal—to connect to matters and thoughts which are majestic and lofty like the soaring flight of the eagle.
by Rabbi Raphael Katz In parshat Yitro, the Torah describes the miraculous manner in which Am Yisrael went out of Egypt and arrived at Har Sinai. “You saw what I did to Egypt and I bore you on the wings of eagles.”
strength, He increases strength. Now youths shall become tired and weary, and young men shall stumble. But those who put their hope in the Lord, shall renew vigor, they shall raise wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and notThetire.”verse in Yishayahu hints at one of the ‘secrets’ of renewal—“HOPE”!— “Those who put their hope in the Lord, shall raise wings as eagles.”
1) Tehillim 103; 5. “Bless Hashem … Who satisfies your mouth with goodness so that your youth is renewed like the himstrengththe“[Hashem]40;eagle’s.”2)Yishayahu29-31.givestiredandtowhohasno
6 | Pesach 2022
The metaphor of an eagle appears in two other places as a symbol of renewal and rejuvenation.
Rav Shlomo Wolbe ztzl commented that in fact the eagle is a big and heavy bird! Why did the Tana refer to it as being light? [In fact, the eagle is relatively light—its wing span can reach 8 feet yet it weighs only about 2.5Thepounds.]lightness of the eagle is in its capacity to ‘defy’ gravity and soar to high altitudes. We also have wings, God given talents that help us to soar upwards and connect to all that is ‘Higher and greater’. In our various sources, Pesach is described as not only a time when Hashem skipped over the houses of Israel, but every Jew is able to skip and fly beyond his normal capacities and merit extra levels of purity and renewal. Pesach sameach to you and yourRaphaelfamilies,
Pirkei Avot 5; 23. “Rav Yehuda ben Teima says. ‘Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift like a gazelle and brave as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven.’”
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 7 Am Yisrael whilst still in slavery, encountered all that was noble and profound. They saw Hashem’s miracles [10 plagues], Providence, witnessed the Holiness and Righteousness of Moshe and Aharon and heard messages of their future role as being a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”.
All this enabled them to extricate themselves from despair and degradation of years of slavery.
Wherever I travel in the Jewish World, I always come across people who are familiar with “McDonalds” of Netanya—not referring to the restaurant of course!
As we approach the beginning of
As Chairman I am very proud of the way we have kept the Kehilla running over this time, managing to continue to conduct Services, Shiurim, social activities and of course regular kiddushim, all within the guidelines of the Health Ministry rules and regulations. We are starting to see new members joining our ranks, and seeing all the building and renewal going on in Netanya and specifically in the proximity of our shul, sense that there will definitely be a revival. These coming Chagei Tishrei, our Kehilla will be entering into its 50th year. Since being founded in 1973, this is very special for us, and we can be very proud of what we have achieved as a Kehilla over these years, how much we have helped Klitat Aliya in Netanya, how much Hachnasat Orchim we have shown to visitors from close and afar, and what an example we have shown to our fellow citizens of Netanya of how a Kehilla can behave.
Much work and energy goes into keeping our Kehilla functioning and I once again must thank all those who help. Thanks to our beloved Rav & Rabbanit Raphael & Ora Katz, Laura & Elizabeth in the office, Moshe, the caretaker, and Zvi our Baal Koreh, The Executive, Betty, and the teams from the Irgun Nashim, Bernie, our Chief Gabbai, Yisrael, for his support when needed, Meir and Ronnie for their leining during the week, Megilla reading, Teffilot and Chazanut that enhance the Services, Menashe, for his help in the building and a really special thanks to Susan, Therese, Sharon and Melissa for all they do, their new refreshing ideas, spirit and drive, support and advice to us all. I nearly forgot, Michael Ordman for keeping the regular “flow” of Whiskey every morning in the Bet Hamidrash!
8 | Pesach 2022 Chairman’s Message Pesach 2022 — ב״פשת חספ by Jeremy Rosenstein
Who would believe that two years have passed since the corona virus came to change our lives.
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 9 our “Golden Jubilee” year and in light of the major construction that is taking place near our Shul we are planning some needed activities to improve the infrastructure of the Shul premises and plan for the future. It is very important that our shortlytoareprojects.thesebeandmembersfriendspartofWeplanningsetupa“Golden Jubilee” committee to plan activities, and hope that members will feel that they want to be part of our plans and activities. We would also like to renew our governing protocols including holding an AGM this year, and hope you will attend and find ways to become involved. The last few months have continued to surprise us, whether it was the “Omicron variant”, the senseless war in the Ukraine and the resulting influx of thousands of Olim, the passing of Great Rabbanim, the important place that our leaders are being forced to play in trying to negotiate peace both with our neighbors and afar, and unfortunately (as I write these words), the terrorist attacks that have taken place close to us. We are definitely going through “most interesting times”, so being a strong Kehilla, together with our Tefillot, will definitely help us succeed and remain positive for the future. Keep healthy, keep smiling. Pesach Kasher V’sameach. Jeremy Rosenstein n These coming Chagei Tishrei, our Kehilla will be entering into its 50th year. Since being founded in 1973...we can be very proud of what we have achieved as a Kehilla over these years.
10 | Pesach 2022 The birth of the Israelite nation, and the slavery in Egypt that would be its precursor, were disclosed to Abraham at the םירתבה ןיב תירב (‘the covenant between the pieces’: Gen. Ch. 15). The sacrifices were hewn in pieces, but the pieces are made whole again, like Ezekiel’s dry bones when God passed between them. This was a symbolic foretelling of the fact that Israel would be history’s sacrifice, but God would ultimately make her whole, to achieve her destiny as the nation that would bring the greatest of benefits to mankind — וכרבתהו ץראה ייוג לכ ךערזב (‘And all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through you’: Gen Curiously,22:18).Abraham is made to fall into a deep sleep before being told the fate of his offspring: שמשה יהיו םהרבא לע הלפנ המדרתו אובל (‘…and, as the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abraham’: v.12). What, we may ask, was the purpose and significance of that sleep? I would suggest that it is not coincidental that that same somnolescent experience happened in the case of Adam, with the identical word, המדרת, being used to describe his sleepy experience when God removed his rib in order to create Eve: לע המדרת םיקלא ’ה לפיו םדאה (Gen 2:21)—literally, ‘God hurled a deep sleep on Adam.’ Surely, God could have extracted it painlessly from a conscious Adam! So the sleep has to be understood symbolically as an essential element of the dramatic narrative. I view it as a divine softening or cushioning of man from the traumas that suffering humanity would be heir to. If Adam had been fully conscious, and able to contemplate humanity’s eternity of toil and trouble, he might, arguably, have pleaded with God to set aside His plan to provide him with a partner forWhenprocreation!Jonahgave in to despair, and slept—not in order to replenish his reserves of faith, but, to the contrary, in order to give himself a respite from the exhaustion of his flight
Why Moses’ Name is (almost) Absent from the Haggadah by Rabbi Dr Jeffrey M. Cohen
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 11 from his mission—he was rudely awakened by the boat’s captain with the words םדרנ ךל המ, which can be translated, ‘how has your deep sleep availed you?’ Note the irony here: Jonah’s םדרנ is the same word as Abraham’s המדרת. But, whereas, for Adam and Abraham, their sleep served to cushion them from the traumas of two great creative enterprises—for the former, the birth of suffering humanity; for the latter, contemplation of the traumas of Israel’s future destiny—Jonah’s sleep was purely self-serving, to refresh him and embolden him to persevere in his act of fear and rebellion.So,why, then, when receivedMoses his mission to lead a nation that was destined to suffer an arduous 40 years of desert life—with no compensating Promised Land at the end for his generation— was it not conveyed within, and cushioned by, a similarly induced sleep?Wecan but speculate that the answer lies in the fact that he was not one of the Avot ha-umah, the fathers of the nation. He was its leader, Commander-in-Chief and lawgiver—not its father. A father has dreams for, and nightmares about, his children. They are an extension of him, and he wants them to aspire to and attain to even greater things than he himself has achieved. A father makes sacrifices for his offspring; he gives his life for them; and that is why God set up that bizarre Brit bein ha-b’tarim with its sacrifices all hewn in pieces and then made whole. A father is in an accessible and intimate relationship with his child. Moses, however, was ever a figure of distance and detachment, who even pitched his tent at a distance from the camp (See Ex.33:7).Ifweseek explanations for why Moses’ name does not appear directly in the Haggadah, one might be that he was not credited with those same depths of parental feeling for his people. When God told him at the burning bush to go to Pharaoh and rescue Israel, he made all sorts of excuses: ‘Who am I to negotiate with kings?’ (Ex. 3:11); ‘I don’t even know Your name, God, so, if they ask it of me, how can I speak confidently in Your name?’ (3:13). And even after God tells him what to say, and assures him that the redemption would be successful, culminating in the promise םירצמ תא םתלצנו (‘You ‘I don’t even know Your name, God, so, if they ask it of me, how can I speak confidently in Your name?’
SURELY THE MATTER IS KNOWN: What I originally found perplexing is now ‘known’ to me, namely in what way Israel was more sinful than the other 70 nations to have deserved to be subjugated by such hard labour. Now, however, I understand how much they deserved it! Abraham, however, was the very embodiment of those paternalistic emotions, a quality that his name Av-ram (‘exalted father’), and its extension, Avraham (‘father of a multitude of nations’), embodied, and with which he was invested even before he became a biological father. This was well demonstrated when God tells him that his offspring, at the end of their enslavement, would inherit the Promised Land (15:7). He immediately demands of God, המב
12 | Pesach 2022 will strip Egypt bare’: 3:22), Moses retorts יל ונימאי אל ןהו (‘But what if they won’t believe me or listen to your voice?’: 4:1). So, God had to give him some miraculous signs to convince him. And, even then, that reluctant liberator feebly says ינדא יב יכנא םירבד שיא אל (‘But I entreat You, Lord, I am not an orator, and never have been’: v. 10). And, finally, with a curious, almost callous, disregard of his people’s plight חלשת דיב אנ חלש (‘Send someone else, please!’: v.12). A father, on the other hand, goes to the ends of the earth to rescue his child in trouble. He certainly doesn’t turn his back when someone offers help to rescue that child, especially when that someone is God Himself! But Moses was a diffident,reluctant,leader, lacking self-confidencein or the assertiveness and passion of a father for the success of his child. For this critical assessment of Moses’ feelings for Israel we have the support of the Midrash (Shemot Rabb. 1(35)), quoted with approbation by Rashi (See on Ex. 2:14), which states: AND MOSES FEARED:- for the nation; as he saw among them many wicked people prepared to inform on their brethren. He thought, ‘that being the situation, perhaps they don’t deserve to be redeemed!’
AND MOSES FEARED for the nation; as he saw among them many wicked people prepared to inform on their brethren. He thought, ‘that being the situation, perhaps they don’t deserve to be redeemed!’
From a historical point of view, it should not be forgotten that Moses did not, in fact, experience, together with his people, the horrors of the servitude. He was cocooned in the royal palace of Egypt, and then among the idyllic pastures of Midian. As an ambassador and negotiator for a God, he was granted freedom of movement, with ready access to the royalTherepalace.was no reason, therefore, for God to have anaesthetised Moses, for, though he sympathised with what was happening to his brethren, he never felt anything approaching Abraham’s emotional trauma. Moses’ first thought, when summoned to God’s ministry, was not for them, but
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 13 הנשריא יכ עדא (‘How can I be sure that I’ll inherit it?’). Note the employment of the first person: ‘How will I know that I shall inherit it?’ Not, הושריי יכ (‘that they shall inherit it!’). Abraham so identifies existentially with his offspring of 600 years in the future that he is overwhelmed by the anguish of their servitude and later by the exhilaration of their deliverance.Significantly, that particular Abraham-God encounter began with a הזחמ, a mere ‘vision’ (15:1), wherein God told him that he would be blessed with offspring who would become numerous and inherit the land. But when Abraham probes, and, in that semi-conscious state, betrays anxiety and demands clarity regarding their fate and destiny— ‘How can I be sure?’—God increases the anaesthetic, to enable him to bear the next disclosure, that of the slavery and oppression. Hence, from communicating to him הזחמב (‘in a dream’), God proceeds to plunge Abraham into המדרת, a much deeper level of oblivion, to enable him to cope with his תלפונ הלודג הכשח המיא וילע (‘dread and deep darkness’), or, as we would dub it, profound depression. And, because Abraham was authentically able to sense the anguish and horrors of the slavery and trials suffered by his offspring, he remains, throughout our history, our first and foremost patriarch. Although at the individual level, Moses, when he first ‘went out to his brethren’ (2:11), was quick to intervene to resolve an Israelite dispute, and, subsequently, to forcefully protect a defenceless Hebrew; yet he did not possess Abraham’s depth of compassion or trans-generational concern. For Moses, the Israelites were his ‘brethren’; for Abraham, they were his ‘children.’ Brothers exhibit rivalry and jealousy—as the book of Bereshit continually demonstrates; parents, to the contrary, personify the truth of proverbial truism, ‘love covers all transgressions’ (Pro. 10:12).
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ShiurimShiuriminEnglish
English - with Rabbi Baruch Taub (on Zoom at the moment)
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 15 – יכנא ימ – for himself and what he perceived as his inevitable failure. And this, we suggest, may account for why the name of Moses appears only once in the Haggadah (in an indirect quotation from Ex.14:31), whereas, at the outset—in the הלחתמ וניתובא ויה הרז הדובע ידבוע and ךורב לארשיל ותחטבה רמוש passages—the historical background of God’s promise to Abraham at the ‘Covenant between the Pieces’ and the descent of Jacob and his family into Egypt, are given pride of place. n
- with Rabbi Raphael Katz Weekdays after Mincha Mishna
Sunday–Thursday after Shacharit Gemara Express (Beit Midrash & Zoom) Sunday 19:30 Shiur (on Zoom at the moment) Tuesday 10:00 Shiur (on Zoom at the moment)
Many of our lectures and presentations and Rabbi Katz’s Parashat HaShavua talks are recorded and available under the “Video” and “Parashat Hashavua” menu items on our homepage at: www.macshul.org
Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Cohen retired from the rabbinate in January 2006 after a distinguished career, the last 20 years of which he was rabbi of Stanmore Synagogue in N.W. London, with the largest membership of any Orthodox congregation in Europe. He is the brother of our long time member Victor Cohen.
Videos
Monday 19:00 Parshat HaShavuah
Wednesday 19:00 Halachah topics Matan Shiur for Ladies in Ivrit in the Social Hall Wednesday 8:30 various 10:00 various 1 1:30 various Matan Shiur in English with Gina Junger Alternate Tuesdays 11:00 (on Zoom at the moment) All dates and times are subject to change. Please check for updates in our weekly newsletter.
16 | Pesach 2022
Time’s Up by Bernie Wolff
Once upon a time... so the story goes. I have often been asked by visitors, “Why does the Shul have four clocks”?Wellthis is not quite an accurate question. The Shul actually has eight clocks!!There are four in the main sanctuary, one in the entrance lobby, one in the Bet Midrash, and two in theSo,hall.the question really should be —why does the Shul have eight clocks?Whydo we have clocksanyat all, you might ask. watchpossesseseveryoneToday,aorsome time piece, so why does the Shul need clocks, and why four in the main sanctuary? Are we so punctual that we might start too early, or finish too late? Are we afraid that we might pass the latest time to reciteMaybeShema?it’sbecause our whole scheduling and existence revolve around the concept of time, which is backed up by the device called the clock. For the Romans, time was measured by the changing shadows on structures based on the position and movement of the sun, which further advanced to mechanized water clocks, candle clocks, oil lamp clocks, sundials, hourglasses, clock towers, astronomical clocks, pendulum watches, hairspring watches, pocket watches, electric or electromagnetic clocks, wristwatches, alarm clocks, digital clocks and so on. Maybe it’s just that with such a strong background and history, our Shul clocks simply elicit visitors to joke around, just to “tick us off”. I’ve heard the following puns from a number of people... “If I throw the clocks out of the Are we so punctual that we might start too early, or finish too late? Are we afraid that we might pass the latest time to recite Shema?
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 17 window, will time fly?”
“I saw a billboard with a clock on it. I think it was a sign of the times”.“What is the best time on a clock... 6.30 hands down”. The truth is that none of the above has anything at all to do with the clocks in our Shul. So, let me tell you how it all started.
A guest Rabbi was invited for Shabbat as scholar-in-residence to our Shul, and as was normal practice at that time, was asked to give a Dvar Torah before Musaf and again after kiddush. He was a very eloquent speaker, but our members had one complaint with his Musaf drasha—he spoke too long—for around twentyfive minutes. By the time he was finished half the congregation were slumbering in their seats. After being confronted by several members at the kiddush, our Chairman kindly requested the visiting Rabbi to shorten his Dvar Torah after kiddush. “Please Rabbi, all you have to do is watch the time on the clock in the centre of the wall above the air conditioning units at the entrance Returning to the Shul after kiddush, the Rabbi duly ascended the pulpit in front of the Aron Kodesh to deliver his second Shiur. We all noticed that no matter how he tried to see the time, moving first to the left of the lectern then to the right, it was obvious that his view of the clock was impeded by the large white pillar directly in front of the first section of seats. He spoke for almost an hour —many of our members were yawning or slumped over in their seats. Our advice had fallen on deaf ears!Our erstwhile Chairman, not short on ingenuity, decided during the following week to consult with Moshe theThecaretaker.following Shabbat when taking our places for Kabbalat Shabbat, we
18 | Pesach 2022 noticed that the clock had now been shifted to its new position on the left side of the Perfect—nowwall.all visiting scholarsin-residence and guest speakers could see the time. However, several members complained that the clock was not symmetrically placed on the wall, and looked out of place, something for which Salvador Dali would have been proud. Not to be deterred, the following week our janitor found an identical clock and proceeded to place one clock on each side of the wall exactly equidistant from the offending pillar. What a perfect solution—we had regained symmetry, and all resident or guest speakers could now see both clocks whether looking to the right or left from the lectern. Everyone was happy... or so we thought. Happiness was short lived. The ladies sitting on both sides of the Shul complained that they couldn’t see either of the clocks—and we all know how vocal ladies can be to make their views known! Not to be deterred, our faithful Chairman requested the caretaker to find, and place, a third clock below the air conditioner on the left side of the ladies’ section, and a fourth clock below the air conditioner on the right side of the ladies’ section. Oh happy days! Everyone rejoiced. Unity had been restored to the Shul and the voices of discontent had been quelled.Nowyou know why we have four clocks in the main sanctuary. Have we all lived happily ever after? Not quite. Now everyone complains that none of the clocks are synchronized and all show a different time!Well, why worry—in many hotels you will find four clocks adorning the wall behind reception. One will show local time, a second London time, a third Paris time, and the fourth New York“Whytime.shouldn’t our Shul do the same?” you might ask. After all, we are called McDonald International Synagogue, and we boast of having members from 25 different countries. While our local members might be confused and disturbed by the thought of four different times being displayed, at least all our international visitors should certainly feel at home. As the saying goes…. “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.Asfor the other four clocks in the building—THAT’S FOR ANOTHER TIME. n
20 | Pesach
Society’s2022behaviour
towards the deaf is very odd when compared with its behaviour towards the blind, and this oddity is reflected in the words of theTheTorah.verse in םישודק Leviticus 19:14 reads; “Do not curse the deaf and do not put in front of the blind something that he might stumble over...” There are two directives here. It is well-established that a “stumbling block” is not only a physical entity, i.e. a stone upon which someone could trip, but an abstract entity also, i.e. making it possible for someone else to violate the halacha. The halachic ramifications of this abstract aspect are many and well-documented. The prohibition against cursing the deaf has similar halachic substance and the two directives are similar in this sense. But they are dramatically unequal in the manner each directive is expressed. Concerning the blind, one is adjured from causing minor mishap, a stumble; concerning the deaf one is commanded not to curse them. Society makes provisions for the blind; it treats them as normal people who are sadly afflicted. The deaf, on the other hand, are not always treated as being normal people. Frequently, they are dealt with as if they were somewhat less than human. Persons who find themselves unable to easily communicate with a deaf individual will often deny to themselves that there exists a human being and they will ignore him, moving on to the next person. This voiding of the deaf person’s worth is included in the commandment not to curse the deaf.
The Hebrew word for “curse” is derived from a root which means “to make light of”. Thus one is enjoined not to bring about minor harm to the blind, for that is all a person’s bad nature may incite him to. But one is commanded concerning the deaf with vehemence, “Do not curse”, because society is fully capable of cursing the deaf and negating their intrinsic human worth. Deafness knows no boundaries. It affects all ages and all communities Do Not Curse The Deaf by Rabbi Michael Plaskow MBE former Chaplain to the Jewish Deaf Association in London
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 21 cutting off the principle lines of learning and communication. This has profound implications as regards speech, education and social contact. Deafness suddenly inflicted or contracted in the prime of life can place enormous strains on families and relationships. A hearing loss can make a person seem isolated, irritable andDeafnessindifferent.has menacing implications for Jews. A deaf Jew who wishes to pursue the aspirations of his soul will find that a wall of silence obstructs him from his spirituality. The pleasures which the hearing world take for granted are denied him. Normal conversation, shofar blowing, zemirot, hearing a Rav give a shiur or a Chazan davening are totally inaccessible.Wemustseek to reach out to hearing parents of deaf children and encourage participationtheirin Jewish life from a very early age. It would also parent-childencouragecommunication within the family situation. Let me give an example how this can be put into operation. Would it not be a wonderful idea for each community to seek out a deaf family or a hearing family with deaf children? Let them observe our rich treasury of visual symbols either on Shabbat or other occasions such as the Succah, lighting the menorah or at a seder. I am positive that this is the answer to the usual questions such as how we can serve the deaf Jew who may be isolated in a hearing community. Or, to put it another way, how can we help to alleviate the feelings of loneliness and religious exclusion?Sometime ago, the Beth Din of London completed its consideration of halachic and technical aspects for the use of “Loop Systems” on Shabbat and Yamim Tovim to help the hard of hearing to follow synagogue services. Subject to the conditions issued by the London Beth Din, it is permissible to install loop systems in synagogues and elsewhere and also to permit the use of modified hearing aids on Shabbat and Yamim Tovim. I had the great pleasure in co-operating with the London Beth Din in these matters in my capacity as Chaplain from 1985 to 2000. I was also happy to converse with these wonderful people in sign language.Letusalways remember that the absence of a deaf person’s Torah is the absence of that deaf person’s Judaism. Thus, the problem of how to provide Or, to put it another way, how can we help to alleviate the feelings of loneliness and religious exclusion.
22 | Pesach 2022 Torah education for the deaf cannot be disregarded. This is a dilemma that demands delivery. This is a plight that pleads for provision. “DO NOT CURSE THE DEAF”. The Torah speaks of humanity and it knows whereof it speaks. n
This year, a highly professional team has produced three very special films which will be shown for the first time and which relate to miracles of survival. “Journeys To Re-Birth” is the common denominator. The focus is on the painful Shoah memories of members of our two kehillot and their survival. One story tells the incredible tale of the father of one gabbai of McDonald Shul. Registration Is Essential It is extremely important for the organisers to know in advance the number of participants in order to be able to take the appropriate health precautions. Therefore, registration for this evening is essential. Details for early written registration will be sent to the members of both congregations at the beginning of April.
“Journeys To Re-Birth”
Yom Hashoah Memorial Event by Jacques Korolnyk
For a number of years the Yom Hashoah Memorial service has been a significant joint event of Young Israel of North Netanya and McDonald International Shul. This year’s special event will take place indoors on Wednesday, April 27 at 19:30. It will be in full compliance with the current Corona guidelines. Wearing masks will be compulsory. The event will be held at McDonald Shul. Projection of 580 Names in Memory of Victims of the Shoah As every year, we will project the names of family members of both congregations who were victims of the Shoah as well as the names of survivors who were members of our communities but have passed on. Three Short Films About the Miracle of Survival
Chairman of the New Synagogue “McDonalds“ Netanya You will be guided through the evening by Leslie Portnoy Sound of Siren K’El Male Rachamim Rabbi Meir Lev accompanied by Menashe Cibulka Journeys towards Re-Birth
Sound of Siren Jeremy Rosenstein speaks about
Ani Ma’amin Rabbi Meir Lev accompanied by Menashe Cibulka ClosingHatikvahaddress 3 movies on "Journeys towards Re-Birth" 13Re-BirthtowardsMoves
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 23 Wednesday, April 27 2022, 19:30 at McDonald International Shul, 7 McDonald Street, Netanya Projection of Names of Family Members (Victims and Survivors of WW2) RabbiMinchaMeir Lev Rinat Israel Siddur page 143 - Koren Siddur page 207
Joint Yom Hashoah Event Young Israel of North Netanya and McDonald International Shul 3 movies on "Journeys towards Re-Birth"
The GoldenlastCointowardsRe-Birth towardsShoeboxTheSecretRe-Birth
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXJeremyRosenstein
ד’’סב
This year, a highly motivated team has produced three very special films which will be shown for the first time and relate to miracles of survival. "Journeys towards Re-Birth" is the common denominator. The focus is on the painful Shoah memories of Shul members. Registration is essential
It is extremely important for the organisers to know in advance the number of participants in order to be able to take the appropriate health precautions. The event will be in full compliance with the current Corona guidelines. Wearing masks will be compulsory.
Members of both congregations will have received all details for written registration. If not please get back to your shul office.
MinchaServices : 19:00 Ma’ariv: immediately after the event 2022 - ב’’פשת Alex Stuart Young Israel of North Netanya
e-mail:Forinsurance@pope-geri.co.ilTel:09-862-4824Excellence–Countrywide WE DO IT IN ENGLISH! HouseholdInsurance InsuranceBusiness InsuranceTravel InsuranceCar InsuranceLife InsuranceHealth Pension plans & Finances IPOPE-GERInsurance
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 25 I came back from a recent day trip to the Western Negev, specifically the area close to the Gaza border, with a renewed sense of inspiration and admiration for all that it contains. Our day was crammed with visits to various places that were of historical and natural interest. In the Shokoda Forest Reserve, we walked knee-high along paths surrounding fields of red anemone flowers in full bloom. It felt like a breath of fresh air after two years of on-off lockdown during the covid pandemic, and came as a much-needed boost to my spirits.Atthe Black Arrow memorial, we could pay homage to those who had sacrificed their lives to keep the State of Israel safe and secure its borders. We found a picnic bench in the beautiful Be’eri Forest to enjoy lunch outdoors and marveled at the regeneration of green vegetation that had all but eradicated signs of the fire damage caused by the balloon bombs launched from Gaza during last year’s hot, dry summer. We were able to visit the ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Armed Corps) memorial situated a few kilometers from the Gaza border. These brave soldiers with their horses set sail from Australian shores, coming from afar to join forces with the Allied campaign in the Middle East during World War 1. They became key players in taking back what was then Palestine from the Ottoman Empire and it was their victories in battle that helped pave the way for the establishment of the State of However,Israel.itwas the last stop, a settlement called Netiv HaAsara (meaning path of the 10 after 10 men who lost their lives in a mission) that was truly settlementOriginallytransformational.itstartedoutasaintheNorthernSinai but had to relocate to its current position after the Israel - Egypt peace deal signed in 1982. As the closest settlement to the Gaza border, it is
Turning Lemons into Lemonade by Suzie Schwartz
The project proved to be a great hit with the residents of Netiv HaAsara and became nationally and internationally promoted. It is still ongoing because there is so much of the wall to cover. For a nominal fee, visitors can choose a piece of mosaic, handmade in her studio and then
26 | Pesach positioned2022literally on the border, as two massively high, grey walls testify. Stopping at a beautifully presented home, on one of its numerous, tree lined streets, we were greeted by a friendly, middle-aged woman who came out to meet us and introduced herself as Tsameret. While enjoying a welcome cup of coffee under the eaves of her spacious veranda, she gave an account of what life is like when it is under constant attack from rockets and sniper fire from Gaza. A row of rockets that had fallen on the moshav were prominently displayed amid her potted plants and ceramic sculptures as a reminder of the ever-present threat they had been living with for years. Tsameret went on to explain her mosaic mural project that involved first her own community in Netiv HaAsara and then the public at large.
Called Path to Peace-Creating Hope Together, pathtopeacewall.com),(https://www.she explained how it all began when she grew tired of the view from her veranda of a lifeless grey wall. She decided to draw some huge outlines of murals, including the Israeli flag and the word ‘Shalom’ for her community to fill in with mosaic tiles she created and fired in a kiln, already installed in her own ceramic studio.
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 27 drive or walk a short distance where they can stick it onto one of the designs on the wall. For some reason, I was overcome with emotion as I added my little piece. A watchtower, flying the green Hamas flag, loomed large and threatening above the grey wall on the Gaza side. We could clearly see a black silhouetted figure pacing about the platform and tracking our movements. We were not intimidated however, and continued with our Tsameret’stiles.idea has turned into a successful enterprise and there is a small gift shop alongside the veranda where one can buy her ceramic souvenirs made in her studio. Netiv HaAsara continues to flourish and grow. There is not a single vacant house neither for rent or sale in this tight-knit, close community. Indeed, there is a waiting list. Tsameret told us that Netiv HaAsara would not be uprooted again; this was home and they were here to stay. The way she had used her courage, imagination and creativity to turn lemons into lemonade was truly inspiring. She was smiling and happy and I left the warmth and peace of her home feeling my own strength renewed by yet another one of Israel’s unsung heroes. n wish all the Kehillah רשכ חספ גח חמשו www.pronat.co.il
28 | Pesach Renewal2022is making room for new growth. Renewal can be moving from one season or holiday to the next, i.e., replacing coats and boots with spring clothes. Clothes, as with our holidays, each has its appointed time. As I write, in this week’s Torah reading we finish the book of Exodus and begin Vayikra, Leviticus; the Daf Yomi cycle is moving from seder Mo’ed to seder Nashim. Although we move on, we later cycle back with renewed enthusiasm and understanding. Renewal and growth also encompasses moving from strength to strength, climbing upward. I did a quick search in the library catalogue for renewal. I expected to find some self-help books and teshuva. To my surprise, I got a selection of books on diverse subjects: HACHAMAHBIRCAS Blessing of the Sun – Renewal of byCreationDavid J. Bleich Calendar and cycles COVENANT CONVERSATION& A Weekly Reading of the Jewish byofDeuteronomy:BibleRenewaltheSinaiCovenantJonathanSacks Weekly Torah reading DAYS OF AWE A Treasury of Jewish Wisdom for Reflection, Repentance, and Renewal on the High Holy Days by S. Y. Agnon —High holidays Renewal by Tsipi Wexler
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 29 JUDAISM EVERYONEFOR Renewing your Life through the Vibrant Lessons of the Jewish Faith by Shmuley Boteach Judaism MODERN HEBREW LITERATURE Israel at 60 - Retrospective & Renewal by Ory Bernstein Literature RENEWING THE COVENANT A Kabbalistic Guide to Jewish Spirituality by Leonora Leet Kabbala RENEWING THE COVENANT A Theology for the Postmodern Jew by Eugene Borowitz Jewish thought THE SPIRIT OF RENEWAL by Edward Feld Holocaust Renewal is multi-faceted and encompasses our lives, seasons, holidays, the texts we learn, the country we live in, and our connection to G-d. Wishing everyone a happy and kosher Pesach. n
Many thanks go out to Betty and her Purim team: Barbara Cardash, Elizabeth Dorfman, Melissa Dubinsky, Shashi Ishai, Ruth Marriott, Laurette Pearlman, Rita Platzky, Flora Vuijsje and Sharon Wilensky.
These unusual Covid times of uncertainty called for unusual programming for our annual Purim Seudah and celebration. With Purim play rehearsals and preparation on hold, Betty Olswang and her team of capable and creative volunteers produced a wonderful meal of tasty homemade soup, yummy sides and plenty of wine, and a tuneful and participatory program capably led by Sharon Wilensky that had the whole room on its feet clapping and singing along.
The celebration began in our sanctuary with a beautiful reading of the Megillah by Meir Lev. It then continued into the social hall, and was followed the next morning with Megillah readings by Ronnie Lawrence at the first minyan, and Israel Shapira, who read for the ladies. A big thank you to all the volunteers who made this year’s Purim Celebration so enjoyable. by Therese Berkowitz
30 | Pesach 2022
5782Purim
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 31
1. Start with a rectangular sheet of paper. Fold it in half, and open out again.
3. Where the diagonal creases meet in the middle, fold the paper backwards, crease well and open.
32 | Pesach 2022 Origami Jumping Frog from Therese Berkowitz (When my kids were little we decorated our seder table with a plague of frogs. I resurrected these instructions for my grandchildren and thought I’d share.)
4. Hold the paper at the sides, bring these points down to the centre line, then flatten. The creases should do most of the work here!
7. Fold bottom of paper upwards so the end sits in the centre of the top diamond.
6. Fold sides in to the centre line.
5. Fold the uppermost triangles up to the top point.
9. Turn over and your frog is finished! To make him jump, press down on his back as shown.
8. Now fold the same part downwards, in half.
2. Fold both top corners to the opposite edge of the paper. Your creases should look like this.
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 33 Community Welcome to the new Community section of our magazine. We are delighted to provide you with news about our members. Our goal in establishing this new section is to share information that we hope will help fortify old connections and initiate new ones. Your feedback is welcome.
34 | Pesach 2022
Leah and Shaya Suffin, originally Californians, Leah from Napa Valley, Shaya from Los Angeles, were living comfortably for the past seven years since their retirement in Sarasota, Florida, but they became dismayed by the climate of intolerance and polarization in the States, and on June 10th 2021 they made Aliya, fulfilling a life-long dream. At the moment their three married children live in the States—a daughter in Parsipanny, New Jersey, a son in Lakewood, and a son in Baltimore—though Leah and Shaya hope their children will one day follow their example.
To summarize Dr Shaya’s 30 page resume, he has degrees in Mathematics, Medicine and Business. He was Chief Laboratory Officer of a Fortune 300 Company and has many patents in the field of neuroscience. Leah has a Masters in Library Science and has worked in public and private libraries, including the World Bank and Library of Congress. Leah, an artist, works in acrylic and watercolors and is a calligrapher. Shaya is currently looking for a workshop to pursue his hobby of furniture making and wood sculpting. The Suffins have recently moved into their new apartment, where they are methodically unpacking boxes. They look forward to getting to know the Netanya community. by Judy Berger
Conversations with our Newest Members
Rita Potash Platsky and Basil Platsky moved from South Africa to Israel in stages. Rita made Aliya ten years ago, but stayed for only two months before returning to Seapoint, Cape Town. She made another Aliya in July 2018 and is now delighted to be living in Netanya. Basil was born in Kinross, which was the center of the largest number of Jewish farmers in the world between the 1900s and late 1940s, and where Basil’s father was working at that time. Later the family moved to Johannesburg. Sixty years ago, Basil traveled to Israel to attend Kerem B’Yavneh Yeshiva. He made Aliya in October 2020—with some difficulty due to Covid rules and regulations. Basil’s son made Aliya twenty-eight years ago and lives in nearby Tel Mond. Rita’s two sons live in Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel, and her daughter lives in London, England.
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 35
Basil worked as a Civil Engineer. He chose the field after Yeshiva because he wanted to contribute to building up the new country of Israel. A Bnei Akiva boy, and ever a fervent Zionist, he has always been involved in the Jewish community of Johannesburg. He was Honorary Treasurer in the Zionist Federation (SAZF) for many years and also worked in the Mizrachi organization. Rita worked as a legal secretary in addition to raising her children in Cape Town. She is proud to be a ba’alat teshuva and marvels at the serenity of Shabbat, Chagim and happy family time. She is on the kiddush rota for McDonald’s shul and Basil’s connection to the Rabbi’s father and siblings dates back to early days in Jo’burg.
Rachel and Josh Shore have been living in Israel all their adult lives. Rachel was born in San Francisco, California. Her family have lived in the States since 1849, dating back six generations. Rachel went to Bnei Akiva and
36 | Pesach 2022
Chana Moyal Photography Mark the magic moments in life. Small family affairs—birthday parties of all ages, bat mitzvah, and more Tel Aviv and Netyana • Hebrew and English when she was eighteen she came on her own to Israel on Hachshara at Kibbutz Lavi. She went to Orot College in Elkana, and while there she applied for Aliya. Josh was born in Philadelphia and moved with his family to Israel when he was ten. He attended Rehovot high school, completed Army service and graduated from Bar Ilan Kolel with a degree in Biochemistry. He then took computer training courses at IBM, where he has been working for twenty-six years. Rachel trained as a teacher at Orot, received her Real Estate License and sold real estate for three years until 2008, then changed direction and became a travel agent in 2010, becoming a Certified Travel Agent in 2012, working on incoming tourism for twelve years. She was in charge of operations, logistics, accounts and staffing for well over 150 groups a year, mainly European Christian tourists, who were visiting Israel. In October 2019 she started towards her MBA degree at Ariel University. Her timing was fortunate because while the tourist industry came to a standstill, she
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 37 continued and completed her studies on zoom. She has now resumed working in Tourism, for the time being.
Colin is a software entrepreneur, and worked for many years for the New York Stock Exchange. He says he’s “essentially retired”—but he has in mind a project or two, which he’s hoping to develop. Meanwhile he’s committed to three days a week Ulpan classes and is soon to be volunteering for the Leket Foundation. Colin, a young at heart widower living on his own, has taken on the challenge of exploring Netanya, and further afield in Tel Aviv, because he enjoys going out, and he enjoys meeting people.
Colin Goldberg, originally from Durban, Cape Town, South Africa, made Aliya in July 2020 from New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York, where he had been living for 40 years. Colin, was born in 1948 and was given the name Israel Shalom from his grandfather, and for as long as he can remember he has felt a strong personal connection to Israel and has been a fervent Zionist. Colin has three married children and seven grandchildren in the States: a daughter living outside Philadelphia, a daughter in west Connecticut and a son in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He says it is his “hidden agenda” that his children will move here.
Rachel and Josh have lived for twenty-eight years in Yakir, near Ariel in the Shomron, where they raised their three children, Noam 28, who’s single and living in Givat Shmuel, Chana 25, living with her family in Tel Aviv and Meir 21, a soldier. Finding themselves empty nesters they decided to relocate to Netanya in December 2021, join the shul, and start a new chapter in their lives. In her spare time Rachel volunteers for AACI, Laniado, and luckily for us, McDonald shul.
Hans’s parents married in 1943, the last Jewish wedding performed in Amsterdam during the war. The couple knew they would have to go into hiding and wanted to be together. While in hiding Hans’s mother joined the Resistance. She passed on stolen food-coupons, which kept alive the starving hiding Jews in the winter of 1944. According to Hans Vuijsje, who worked in Jewish Social Services for thirty-six years, the past twenty as the Director, there were 140,000 Jews living in Holland before the Shoah. 104,000 perished, leaving 36,000 survivors. The Jewish Social Services worked mainly with Shoah survivors who stayed in Holland, providing social work, home care and ongoing volunteering. There are now 52,000 Jews in Holland. Over the years refugees have come to the Netherlands from Iraq and Iran, from Hungary in 1956 and from Russia in the 1980s. Jewish Social Services helped Jews who wanted to settle in Israel or the States as well as those who remained in Holland.
38 | Pesach 2022 Hans and Flora Vuijsje (Faushe) made Aliya on June 13th 2021 from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where Hans’s family has lived since the seventeenth century. Holland took in Jews at the time of the AshkenaziInquisition,SpanishaswellasJews,such as Hans’s family who came from Germany and Poland, in the 1600s. Flora’s family has also lived in Holland for generations. Her maternal grandparents survived the war, but her father, who had survived Auschwitz, was alone after the Shoah. He met Flora’s mother, who had survived Bergen Belsen, and they married after the war in Amsterdam, where Flora, the fourth of five children, was born.
Flora was a teacher in the Montessori school, where children ranged from Kindergarten to twelve years old. She also worked in a variety of positions
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 39 such as teaching, observing and guiding students (Montessori) to become teachers. She then coached beginner, and experienced, teachers and assessed student teachers for their examinations. Flora was a longtime board member for the Jewish Educational Center in Holland.
Despite a full and varied life in Amsterdam, the Vuijses made Aliya to fulfill a dream to live in Israel, and to be with their two sons and families. One son made Aliya eighteen years ago, and lives in Kfar Yona. The other son made Aliya twelve years ago, and lives in Yaffa. While they miss family and friends overseas, they found a warm welcome in McDonald’s and they enjoy participating in the IOH, a Dutch group in Israel. Flora has volunteered for AACI and is on the McDonald kiddush rota, and Hans recently spoke to the IOH group about his hobby—finding and discussing novels written mainly, but not exclusively, by Jewish writers, all of which feature a Jewish detective. While Hans has been working as the Director of Community Development, a department he initiated, to help survivors and their children who were fearful of being Jewish, he became conscious of the importance of Jewish identity, and his hobby—discovering Jewish detectives—emerged from his work with them.
Eileen and Ken Goldblatt arrived in Israel on Aliya on May 10th 2020 from Cleveland, Ohio, where they had been living since 2015. “It was part of our five-year plan” they said, outlining a story in which Fate and Self Determination played alternating roles.
Eileen’s parents and Ken’s father had lived near each other, in Long Beach, California. They went to the same school, and Ken’s father and Eileen’s mother even went out on a date together to their Prom. Both grandparents were part of the same circle and played cards together. But Ken was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, because during the Korean War, Ken’s father enlisted in the Navy and stayed back East for a while, where he met Ken’s mother and in Washington DC. When Ken’s father was accepted into Optometry School, the family returned to California. Meanwhile Eileen’s family were living in Huntington Beach, Orange County, and while the families lived nearby and stayed in touch over the years, Eileen and Ken only met for the first time in their early twenties. They dated, and when Ken’s father was diagnosed with Colon cancer, a small wedding was arranged, for eighteen people, so Ken’s
40 | Pesach 2022
wishes The McDonald Synagogue Chag Samech Fresh ready-made food every day and for Shabbat Open Monday - Friday 2 Shmuel Hanatziv Netanya 09-8349567 • 052-5254362 father could be present. He died ten days later.
Eileen graduated in California as a registered nurse and worked for a while in neonatal intensive care obstetrics in West Virginia where she took care of high-risk babies born in the Appalachian Mountains area. She also assisted those infants who needed transportation by ambulance and helicopter down the mountains to facilities in larger cities. After they married and Ken graduated in California as a licensed Healthcare Administrator, the Goldblatts lived in Huntington Beach where Ken managed Nursing Homes till 1994, the year of the earthquake. Prior to the earthquake, Eileen remembers feeling very uneasy. Even though Ken phoned through to the Home and was told everything was fine, Eileen felt it necessary that Ken drive that night to the Nursing Home. He only just crossed the concrete bridge before it collapsed behind him. He continued along unlit roads till he got to the Nursing Home. The entire facade had broken away to reveal several stories of the building in which patients could be seen lying in their beds. Ken spent the night, aided by ten nurses, taking one elderly patient at a time, wrapped in sheets, down the back stairs to safety. No ambulance or police came to their aid in that frantic night, but some city buses arrived and transported the elderly to whichever facility would accept them. Incidentally, a month before the earthquake, Eileen suddenly felt it was imperative to sell their home. The sale went through and soon after the earthquake they were able to move to Colorado, where Ken managed another Nursing Home. The company sold the building three years later in 1977 and the Goldblattts moved to the San Fernando Valley, a city with a high Jewish population, where they lived till 2015, before moving to
Motti’s Delicatessen
Cleveland.Eileenand Ken grew up in very environmentsassimilatedwith almost no contact with Jews. During her teens, Eileen turned to her grandmother wanting to know more about what it meant to be a Jew. Eileen’s grandmother had been born in Lodz, Poland, and her parents and siblings all died in the Holocaust. Eileen joined B’nai B’rith girls, she met Shlomo Carlebach, and she decided over time to make it her mission to save Judaism in her family. There were difficulties not working on Shabbat as a nurse, so she went into Clinical Research in neonatal intensive care treatments, meds and procedures. She worked with Pharma companies in vaccine studies, such as the ‘shingles’ vaccine. Later she became Director of a Nursing Home, and Director of a Hospice. The Goldblatts made the decision to join and attend shul, they sent their children to Jewish day schools and the family became Shomer Shabbat. All three children are living orthodox Jewish lives. Their older son and his wife from Cleveland have four children. They live in Tel Mond. Their daughter married an Israeli, and lives in Ramat Gan. Their younger son is married with two children and lives in LA. In addition to her immediate family, Eileen persuaded her brother and sister to become committed Jews, and both sent their children to Jewish day schools and are now all Orthodox. Her brother and his wife live in Nahariya. Her sister’s family are actively involved in a Jewish community in Dallas. Eileen and Ken’s daughter-in-law’s parents—their machatonim—made Aliya last year. Their daughter-in-law’s
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 41
42 | Pesach grandparents2022 and two brothers also made Aliya. Altogether about sixteen extended family members have made Aliya in the past few years. Before making Aliya, Ken bought and continues to manage two nursing homes in New Mexico.
Eileen is retired. She began her career bringing babies into the world; she completed her career easing people out of the world. Eileen and Ken volunteer at AACI and Ken entertains people playing the piano.
n CINNAMON BALLS for Pesach From Ruth Marriott 3 egg whites – beat until very firm Add: 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 cups ground almonds 1/3 cup cinnamon 2 teaspoons cocoa powder Mix until well blended Oven – 170 deg 1 lg / 2 medium foil trays – line with cooking paper Roll into balls with wetted hands or wetted plastic gloves and place on tray Bake 10-12 mins Roll in deep bowl of sieved icing sugar (optional)
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 43 Births Rosalind & Leslie Artzi ......................great-granddaughter Brenda & Michael Bliss .....................2 great-grandsons Sally & Warren Cohen .........................granddaughter Elhanan Diesendruck ........................great- grandson Bella Feilding .........................................2 great-granddaughters Miriam & Edward Feigelman ..........great-granddaughter & great-grandson Bella Fielding.........................................great-grandson & 2 great-granddaughters Esther & David Friede ........................grandson Gill & Ian Fine ........................................granddaughter Liz & Gidon Fishman..........................great-granddaughter Andee Goldman....................................grandson Minnie Goldman ..................................great-granddaughter Philip Halperin .....................................granddaughter Rita & Gerald Levy ...............................great-granddaughter Miryam & Marcos Mashiah .............granddaughter Betty Olswang .......................................great-granddaughter & great-grandson Stephanie & Leslie Portnoy .............great-grandson Laura Shuck ............................................. 3 great-granddaughters & a great-grandson Rennie Swirski ......................................great-grandson Dr. Baruch & Shira Schmidt ............great-grandson Sadie Symon great-granddaughter Bar/Bat Mitzvah Philippa & Mitchell Caller granddaughter, Tamar Barbara & Henry Cardash grandson, Nadav Miriam & Edward Feigelman granddaughter Judith & Yitzchak Fineberg granddaughter Polina & Philip Halperin twin sons, Yossi & David Evelyn Isaacs granddaughter, Libi בוט לזמOur MazalFamilySynagogueTovtothoseenjoyingS’machot:
44 | Pesach 2022 Micol & Edoardo Marascalchi ........daughter, Ruth Helene & Arthur Opolion ..................granddaughter, Yael great-granddaughter,&Geffen Gene & Alan Portnoi ...........................grandson, Jake Keren & Avi Rosenfeld ........................son, Daniel Fernanda Shapiro ................................grandson, Amit Moshe Rennie Swirski ......................................granddaughter, Rachel Malka & Rabbi Baruch Taub ............Grandson Special Birthday Joseph Berger Margaret Berger Barbara Cohen Edward Feigelman Yitzchak Fineberg Joe Gemeiner Evelyn Klaff David Marriott Betty Warach Wedding Anniversary Elaine & Eddie Bielawsky Barbara & Victor Cohen Special Mazal Tov to Manfred & Shary Goldberg on the unveiling of Manfred’s portrait commissioned by Prince Charles with other Shoah survivors at Buckingham Palace. New Members Renanah & Joseph Gemeiner Rachel & Josh Shore Leah & Shaya Suffin Flora & Hans Vuijsje Thanks to the sponsors of Parshiot Videos & Lectures: Orit Cibulka Keren Kazachinsky Elizabeth Dorfman Evelyn Klaff Miriam & Edward Feigelman Bernard & Marcia Klein Miriam Bracha Heimler Ruth Marriott Aliya Anniversary Lynette & Michael Ordman Engagement Brenda Michael Bliss 2 grandsons Carmel Cutler to Leonard Fine Elizabeth Dorfman granddaughter, Tamar
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 45 Maureen & Colin Frankel granddaughter, Racheli Andee Goldman daughter, Sheri Vivienne Lauer son, Gary Marriage Judy & Joseph Berger grandson, Avishai Elaine & Eddie Bielawsky grandson, Nadav Elhanan Diesendruckg grandson Bella Fielding granddaughter, Gabi Monique & Jacques Korolnyk granddaughter, Alona Gene & Alan Portnoi son Joshua to Victoria Anna Rosenfelder granddaughter Sara & Jeremy Rosenstein daughter, Dana to Gilad Cyril Watson 2 granddaughters, Noah Sher & Avital Levita Maureen & Colin Frankel granddaughter, Rachelli Frankel David Frankel niece, Rachelli Frankel Kiddushim Beth Knesset (many times) Keren & Avi Rosenfeld Elaine & Eddie Bielawsky Sara & Avi Schwartz Polina & Philip Halperin Hillel Walters Micol & Edoardo Marascalchi Flora & Hans Vuijsje Betty Olswang Susan & Bernard Wolff x2 Sara & Jeremy Rosenstein x 2 Chanukah/Rosh Chodesh Kiddush: Therese Berkowitz, Menashe & Orit Cibulka, Gloria & Jeffrey Cohen, Yaffa, Solly & Dan Hurwitz, Monique & Jacques Korolnyk, Shulamit Lotter, Ruth & David Marriott, Lynette & Michael Ordman, Reeve Serman & 2 Anon Seuda Shlishit Beth Knesset (many times) Yaacov & Iris Bar Tov David Friede David Marriott Leslie Portnoy Jeremy & Sara Rosenstein x2 Israel Shapira Susan & Bernard Wolff
46 | Pesach 2022 Sincerest Condolences to: Eddie Bielawsky on the death of his sister Rene Cohen ל”ז
A phone call to the office with your “news” will ensure its appearance on the Family Page in the next issue.
The family of Joe Manasseh ל”ז on his death
Menucha Morowitz & all the family on the death of her father, Rabbi Natan Morowitz ל”ז
Sara A. Rosenstein on the death of her sister ל”ז
The family of Bernard Chazan ל”ז on his death
Ephraim Katzman on the death of his brother David Asher ל”ז
Renee Moss on the death of her brother, ל”ז
Yaffa Hurwitz on the death of her sister ל”ז
Sara Rosenstein on the death of her mother Esther Atiya ל”ז
Elhanan Diesendruck on the death of his wife and our member Nina ל”ז
The family of Jorgen Koenigshofer ל”ז
Lynette Ordman on the death of her mother Jocelyn Miller ל”ז
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 47
The first word I have chosen to discuss is םירצמ (Egypt). What does this word mean? We can learn quite a lot from the way in which the word is constructed. The essence of the word is רצ , which typically means “narrow”, though it can also mean “distress”. This makes sense to us since the Jewish people in slavery in Egypt were clearly narrowly limited in what they were able to do, given the demands of their Egyptian taskmasters. And we read in the Haggadah, of course, of the distress of the Jewish people in the Egyptian slavery.Sowhat does the first letter, מ, in םירצמ signify? Well, we know that a מ is often the first letter of a noun. So, adding מ to רצ gives us רצמ. Indeed, we know that the word רצמ can mean both distress and, for example, a narrow stretch of water (which is limiting because it is narrow). Think for example of the passuk in Hallel in which we read הכ יתארק רצמה ןמ — “In my distress, I called on the Lord”. Or the passuk in Eicha which refers to םירצמה ןיב, meaning “between the narrow straits”. This phrase, ןיב םירצמה, has come also to mean the period between 17th Tammuz and Tisha B’Av, a distressing period in the Jewish calendar, three weeks which are narrowly bounded by those two fast days. So, we see that the concepts of distress and narrow boundaries are inherent in the word םירצמ. Ivrit Corner by Mitch Caller
Chag Sameach everyone! I am honoured to have been asked to write the first contribution for a new feature in the McDonald’s Shul Bulletin—an “Ivrit corner”—in which the idea is to explore a little of the Hebrew language. On this occasion, I have chosen to write about two words relating to Pesach. This is not a Dvar Torah, but rather a gentle canter around what we can learn from either the construction of a word, or the use, in traditional Hebrew or modern Ivrit, of the same word’s root (שרוש). So here we go…. םירצמ
. Let me give you a different example of going sour. In Gemara Rosh Hashana (3b), we read that Coresh, the King of Persia, was once thought of as a good king but later on he was viewed as less good. How does the Talmud describe that contrast? Whilst he was good, he was described as ץימחהש םדוק (ie before he went
48 | Pesach 2022 So, what do the last two letters of םירצמ add to what we have learnt so far?The word םִיַרְצִמ ends with the classic plural of םי. And, more than that, the way in which the word is pronounced suggests also a reference to the number two. Accordingly, it has been suggested that םירצמ is the land of two things: distress and narrowly-bounded constraints. It is the place where boundaries are in place. In a further understanding of this duality, we can conceive of those boundaries as both physical and spiritual. The physicalandphysicallylimitedpeopleJewishwereby,indistress because of, the Egyptian slavery. Similarly, the constraints of being slaves in Egypt meant that the לארשי ינב were unable to achieve their spiritual potential without escaping that country’s culture and raising their spiritual level to be fit to receive the Torah on Shavuot.Allexplaining why םירצמ is so called… ץמח And now for something completely different… Without making any halachic statement, and put very briefly, Chametz ( ץמח ) is understood to mean any food product from one of 5 stated grains which has come into contact with water for a specific period of time and has thus been allowed to ferment and “rise”. And we are all in practice familiar with what is regarded as ץמח, which cannot be eaten on Pesach. Interestingly, though, the Hebrew language takes us in three additional directions from the three-letter root: 1 ץמח. To pickle (similar perhaps to fermenting) is ץומחל. Similarly, to go sour is ץימחהל. So, for those shoppers amongst you, vinegar is ץמוח. And for the falafel eaters amongst you, pickled cucumbers are םיצומח
...it has been suggested that םירצמ is the land of two things: distress and narrowlybounded constraints. It is the place where boundaries are in place.
ב׳׳פשת חספ | 49 sour) and when he was viewed as less good, he was described as ירחא ץימחהש (after he went sour).
opportunity”.
3. We have heard in the past two years far too much of a third derivative of: ץמח. The word ןצמח means oxygen. Why might that be? I am unsure, but it has been suggested that, just as ץמח causes the dough to rise or inflate, so oxygen allows the body to inflate. In the light of our collective experience over these past two years, I would also suggest— albeit without a source—that oxygen can also help a sick person to “rise” from his sick bed. So what do I conclude from this little journey around chametz? That there are clearly negatives about it, because we are commanded to remove it before Pesach. But it is not unremittingly bad. We enjoy challot with it during the rest of the year, and one of its Ivrit derivatives has helped many Covid sufferers recover! I wish all readers a חמשו רשכ חספ גח in good health! n Street
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2. Colloquially, in modern Israel, ץימחהל also has a perhaps more surprising meaning— תא ץימחהל תונמדזהה means “to miss the What is the connection with םיצומח?! Well, it seems that one is thereby letting an opportunity go sour! To add a contemporary, trivial, note, Israeli soccer commentators will often say, when a striker misses an open goal: ”!תונמדזהה תא ץימחה אוה”
50 | Pesach 2022 Diary of Future Events Date Time Event Speaker Tues April 5 10:00 Pre-Pesach Shiur Rabbi Raphael Katz Shabbat April 9 18:40 Shabbat Hagadol Drasha Rabbi Raphael Katz Wed April 27 Yom IsraelOrganizedMemorialHashoahServicebyYoung In our Beit Knesset Thur April 28 09:45 Library Holocaust Lecture Rabbi Raphael Katz Wed May 4 Evening Remembrance & Independence Day Service Thur May 5 08:30 Independence Day Breakfast for Members Wed May 18 Evening Lag B’Omer Annual Bonfire Sun May 29 08:15 Yom Yerushalayim –L’Chaim After 2nd Shacharit Motzash June 4 11:00 Tikun Leil Shavuot Wed June 15 20:00 Library: Therese Berkowitz interviews New Olim Sun July 17 Fast of 17 Tammuz Motzash Aug 6 Tisha B’Av Sun Aug 7 Tisha B’Av programme To be announced New Synagogue Table Tennis Tuesday afternoons 2- 4pm in the Social Hall. Contact Nobby Smith: 050 920 0049 Kiddushim & Social Events Now that Corona is, hopefully, on its way out, it is hoped that kiddushim and more social functions will take place. Ladies, specifically, are requested to take part in preparing the kiddushim, which is a good way of meeting other members and becoming involved. Please contact Betty Olswang: 054 205 7188
ןייטשדלוג ש׳׳ע יתליחק זכרמ תסנכ תיב הינתנ תיזנכשא תימואל תיתד הליהק McDonald
This fall, with Hashem’s help, the McDonald International Shul will begin its 50th year. We owe a debt of gratitude to our founding members who in 1973 had the forsight to invest in our Kehilah. We are also grateful to all the members throughout these 50 years that have contributed in countless ways to sustaining our community. As we all know, every property requires maintanence and repair, and our shul is no different. Currently, there are several upgrades and improvements needed to ensure our future, including: electrical, roof, kitchen and ground repairs. Our goal is to complete these renovations in time to celebrate this remarkable milestone on Shabbat Lech Lecha 5783. generous contribution towards this important mitzvah can be made by calling the shul office: 09 861-4591 • Monday to Thursday 8:30–11:00 am International Shul
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