Messenger September 2017

MESSENGER

101

volume

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RABBI THECALENDAR SYNAGOGUE | CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH | TULSA | SEPTEMBER 2017 | NO. 9

TO BE REPLACED

HIGH HOLIDAYS ROADMAP | SEE PAGE 6

PERSONALS

ABOUT US

BIRTHS

THE MESSENGER September - Published Monthly | Bimonthly

Lucy Ethel Rosemary, daughter of Nina Fitzerman-Blue and Daniel Sterba. Maternal grandparents are Alice Blue and Rabbi Marc Fitzerman. Paternal grandparents are Wayne Sterba and the late Mary Sterba.

CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH 1719 South Owasso Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 Office: (918) 583‑7121 School: (918) 585‑KIDS Fax: (918) 747-9696 Website: www.tulsagogue.com

DEATHS Sue Heath Mother of Shelli Wright

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news. (Isaiah 52:7)

LET US HELP YOU

Daniel Raffkind Brother of Isabel Sanditen

CHILD CARE AT THE SYNAGOGUE

Valborg Heloy Cousin of Didi Ralph

Child care is always available at the Synagogue. All you have to do is to let us know two days in advance of an event or a service and we will be glad to help. We love having children in the Sanctuary and the Chapel, but sometimes they are uncomfortable with their surroundings and make it difficult for others to hear. Please let us help you strike the right balance between having your children at your side and making it possible for others to participate comfortably. Todah rabah!

Carolyn Kriegsman Mother of Karen Kriegsman Lerner, Mark Kriegsman, Ted Kriegsman, and Elyse Kriegsman Evans Betty Jean Jardot Mother of Leo Jardot MAZAL TOV Mazal tov to Matt Levitt on his new position as Chief Development Officer at Camp Ramah in the Rockies. Matt will be based in Tulsa and take the next step in his relationship with the Camps Ramah as a senior, full-time staff member.

Interested in Blowing Shofar this Year?

Please call Rabbi Fitzerman at (918) 583-7121 PRONTO. We’d love to

Congratulations to Sara Levitt on being accepted to the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute, a two-year professional development program for Jewish educators across the country. Sara will participate in ongoing conferences focused on strengthening Jewish community by developing educational leaders.

see you as a participant in our High Holiday Celebration this year.

Mazal tov to our members Matthew and Yara Amberg, who recently opened Oren, a new restaurant featuring a progressive American menu in the heart of Brookside. We’re delighted to salute their skills and ambition!

ON THE COVER One of the great highlights of the High Holidays at the Synagogue is the release of a hundred homing pigeons at our front door. The ceremony is our own turn on the tradition of Kapparot and it symbolizes our release of the hurts of the year concluding and embrace of new opportunities. Here, one of our students holds a bird which is about to take wing!

Mazel tov to Jeff Bonem on the completion of his home renovation. We know that it will bring both fulfillment and renewal.

Please make your reservation for Sukkot Dinner on October 6. Our thanks to the Brouse Family for underwriting this great Synagogue event. (continued on page 5)

2

RABBI MARC BOONE FITZERMAN

SISTERHOOD

NEW FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS It’s only the first week of September, but I thought you might be happy to hear that we have a new thought to share about the first night of the High Holiday season.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR

ENGLISH INSTRUCTION

CENTENNIAL NOTES

That service has typically been a somber affair­—the quiet gathering of a few dozen souls opening the High Holiday prayerbook for the very first time. I have always found that service meaningful, the moment before the great rush of emotion that comes with the service on the following morning.

Although our official year of celebration is now at an end, our unofficial efforts will continue in the months ahead. Look for additional publications, highlights from our archive, and SYNAGOGUE close attention toAT ourTHE history and the role of the Synagogue in the Jewish community of Oklahoma.

Please call Sara Levitt at (918) 583-7121

But there is clearly room to experiment with something new—a service that is more celebratory than before, with parents and children, music and storytelling, that more closely resembles some of the things we do during the year. Let’s call it Klay Kodesh Yom Tov: the High Holiday Version, with all that those words imply at B’nai Emunah.

if you are ready to volunteer.

I hope that you might choose to join us. The experience will begin with a holiday meal, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Please make your reservation as early as you can; we have room for exactly 80 people for dinner.

HOUSEKEEPING .

You can make reservations for any Synagogue event by calling Gwenn or Nicki at the Synagogue Office | (918) 935-3373.

You can also use the Reservations Page on the Synagogue website at www.tulsagogue.com.

At 6:15 p.m., the music will begin. You don’t need a reservation for the service; just come with family and friends. A large group of us, including Cantor Rafi Dworsky, will be singing the service as we always do. When it comes time to bless the children of our congregation, we will gather them beneath a colorful arch so that they can feel a rainbow of hope and possibility, a perfect accompaniment to the beginning of the year. In my mind’s eye I see beaming parents and children, ready to embrace the promise of the season.

On the back inside page of this edition, you’ll find the monthly calendar of the Synagogue, with candlelighting times, our regular service schedule, the Religious School calendar and other routine events.

MEMBERSHIP

If I’ve caught your attention, please think about joining us. We’ll conclude just a few minutes before 7:00 p.m. so that children can get home in time for bed and those who are planning to eat at home still have time to sit down for dinner. Either way, we’re going to do something new. I hope that strikes you as a worthy experiment.

Welcome newcomers! We are delighted to welcome you to the family of the Synagogue. Keep your eye out for these good people!

Terri Stidham 8418 South Phoenix Place Tulsa, Oklahoma 74132

ACTION

Ron and Tona Wilhoite 6451 East 165th Street Bixby, Oklahoma 74008

Please remember that the New Sanctuary Network continues to demonstrate each Thursday at noon at the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center. The focus is resistance against the wholesale deportation of persons without documents.

Help us enact one of the traditional preoccupations of Jewish history: protection of the stranger in our midst.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOST STUDENTS OR NEWCOMERS FOR THE HOLIDAYS? PLEASE CONTACT VALERIE HENDERSON AT THE SYNAGOGUE TO OFFER A PLACE AT YOUR TABLE. 3

THE SEPTEMBER CALENDAR AT B’NAI EMUNAH 8

BIBI-DIBI—BABIES AND TODDLERS

17

Very young children and their parents are invited to join us for another soft and cuddly Shabbat experience. Parachutes, rattles and toys sit at the center of our circle while parents and kids share in the blessings of peaceful Shabbat. A delicious, kid-friendly Shabbat dinner accompanies this program. It all gets started at 6:00 p.m. Please call or visit our website by Thursday, September 7, to reserve your spot on the floor.

9

From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Synagogue Sukkah, join other Jewish millenials in an afternoon dedicated to bees and honey. Lunch in the garden will be followed by a visit with the Tulsa Urban Bee Company to learn all about honey, bees, and their enormous environmental importance. Afternoon includes lunch, garden games, honey tasting, and more. Don’t miss your chance to stock up on local honey for the High Holidays. Cost is $10 per person. Contact Sara Levitt for more information and to RSVP at slevitt@bnaiemunah.com or call 918-583-7121.

MOM’S NIGHT OUT AT PINOT’S PALETTE

Join other mothers from B’nai Emunah schools on Saturday evening, September 9, for a night of fun, schmoozing and painting! Each mom will leave with a painting of her own.

The cost is $35 per person, and space is limited. RSVP to Sara Levitt at slevitt@bnaiemunah.com or call (918) 5837121.

10

20

ROSH HA-SHANAH FOR EVERYONE

Community, brisket and joyful musical experiences are quintessential aspects of welcoming the Jewish New Year.

Join friends and family for a communal Rosh Ha-Shanah meal followed by a musical holiday celebration led by members of Klay Kodesh. Bring the whole family for this inclusive and kid-friendly service experience. As always, the service is free and open to the public, but please make meal reservations by calling the Synagogue office or visiting our website.

Cost is $14 for a brisket dinner, with scaled down pricing for kids and families. Vegetarian options available. See Rabbi Fitzerman’s article for details.

DOING JEWISH: LITURGY WALK-THROUGH

Open the Ark? Close the Ark? Have an Aliyah? Lift and wrap the Torah? Whether a regular Shabbat morning or the peak of the Holiday season, there are quite a few opportunities for honors and involvement in services. If you have ever wanted to learn this choreography and take a closer look at these honors, join us at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary for this workshop in practical Jewish living. We extend a special invitation to this event for those participating in our High Holidays for the first time this year. For questions or more information, please contact Rabbi Kaiman.

16

OH, HONEY, HONEY FOR MILLENIALS

21/22

ROSH HA-SHANAH DAYS I AND II

No tickets, just you. All you have to do is walk through the door. There are no admission requirements of any kind for High Holiday services at Congregation B’nai Emunah. Sit where you like and bring friends who might appreciate a spirited observance of this Jewish New Year. We’ll be waiting for you just inside. Rosh Ha-Shanah daytime services begin at 9:00 a.m. Sermons will be delivered around 10:45 a.m.

Music, ideas, and spending time with community is a powerful way to start the New Year. We hope to see you there.

SELICHOT

A traditional prelude to the High Holidays, Selichot is part of the season of turning, a transition which calls for focus and readiness. The evening begins with a final Shabbat meal at 6:30 p.m. This meal serves as the congregation’s official welcome to all who have affiliated in the previous calendar year. We will also offer special tribute to those who volunteer their time to our community throughout the year. The evening will culminate with a short, beautiful service which introduces the motifs of the High Holidays and sets the musical mood of the liturgy. It is punctuated by the blowing of the shofar by a large group of volunteer shofar blowers. Reservations for this meal may be made by calling the Synagogue Office or visiting our website.

22

THE BOLUSKY LUNCH

Of the many ways we gather to mark holidays, the warmth of home and the generosity of a meal table stand out above all else. For many years, Emily and Richie Bolusky have opened their home on the second day of Rosh Ha-Shanah for a special holiday meal experience for young families, millennials and Tulsa newcomers. The meal takes place immediately following the conclusion of services. To make your meal reservations, call the Synagogue Office or visit our website. Cost for the pescatarian meal is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. fice or visiting our website. Cost is $14 for a brisket dinner,

Please be generous with Hurricane Harvey Relief.

(continued on page 5)

4

TODAH RABAH

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

(continued from page 4)

The summer months bring a heightened focus to arrangements, logistics, and coordination of our Shabbat services as vacation and travel schedules unfold. Thank you to Brian Brouse and Dennis Johnson for reliably serving as gabbaim each week. Special thanks to Rabbi Chaya Spencer for capably leading Shabbat services in late July.

24

KAPPAROT

An ancient practice through which we symbolically transfer our transgressions from the year past in preparation for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Our version of this ritual requires that we release one hundred homing pigeons from the front door of the Synagogue. You won’t want to miss out on this once-a-year event. Join us at 11:45 a.m. A community shofar blast marks the culmination of the morning.

The Seventeenth Street Deli continues its trajectory of growth and experimentation. Thank you to Tim Wood and Matt Levitt for leading our kitchen efforts. Thanks, also, to Tony Pavlicek and Matt Katz for contributing time and effort to this project. If you would like to take part in these ongoing efforts, please contact Rabbi Kaiman.

29/30

Todah rabah to a crew of hard-working women who continued to help stock the shelves and deliver goodies through the month of July to those in need of comfort and meals. Our summer team included Nancy Cohen, Sally Donaldson, Jackie Lasky, Terry Marcum and Joan Niedell.

Many thanks to three talented knitters for their beautiful Elijah’s Cloaks: Vellie Bloch, Cheryl Wallace and Dr. Linda Young. Interested in helping to cook or deliver food or make a lap quilt for community members in need of some TLC? Contact Sara Levitt at slevitt@bnaiemunah.com or call (918) 583-7121 to learn more. .

YOM KIPPUR

Kol Nidray/Yom Kippur Evening services will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday evening. The next day services begin at 9:30 a.m., and observances will last throughout the day. A sermon will be delivered around 12:15 p.m. The concluding service of this holy day will begin at 6:20 p.m. At the conclusion of Yom Kippur services, please join us for a generous break-fast for the entire Jewish community sponsored by the Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation. There is no cost to attend, but please make a reservation in advance by calling the Synagogue Office or visiting our website.

We're deeply grateful for the strength and talents of our newest members. Welcome to one and all at Congregation B'nai Emunah!

The High Holiday Meals Schedule

Selichot Dinner in Honor of New Members and Volunteers | September 16** Rosh Ha-Shanah for Everyone Dinner | September 20** Luncheon in Memory of Charles and Bessie Goodall | September 21 Young Jewish Professionals Lunch at the Boluskys | September 22** Sharna and Irvin Frank Break-Fast | September 30* Dinner in the Biggest Sukkah in Oklahoma | October 6** Simchat Torah Dinner in the Biggest Sukkah in Oklahoma | October 12* Zarrow Families Luncheon in the Biggest Sukkah in Oklahoma | October 13* Please join us for any or all of these meals at the Synagogue.

Call (918) 583-7121 or go online to make your reservation.

Two asterisks mean that reservations are necessary and there is a charge.

One asterisk means there is no charge, but we need your reservation.

5

FEATURED EVENTS

OCTOBER AT A GLANCE

HIGH HOLIDAYS ROADMAP The High Holiday season is an ambitious undertaking with many and varied opportunities. There are great big prayer books, binders and leaflets, handouts and takeaways.

There is language that is foreign alongside language that is familiar. There’s music that resonates and, of course, music that jars and awakens. There are many different ways to enter and experience this season of meaning and renewal. What follows is our effort at a roadmap. This guide is designed to provide a comprehensive frame to navigate the High Holiday season as it unfolds here at the Synagogue.

Selichot In a moment of prelude and introduction, these penitential poems and prayers are recited in the period leading up to the High Holidays. In the Ashkenazic tradition, a public recitation of these prayers takes place on the Saturday night before Rosh Ha-Shanah. The date is September 16.

This is the first opportunity to plug in to the traditional musical modes of the holiday season. The evening culminates with shofar blasts to awaken our hearts and minds.

Our community practice is to use this moment of gathering as an opportunity to formally welcome new members of the congregation who have joined us in the past year.

An end-of-Sabbath dinner precedes the Selichot service at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome, and one can make meal reservations by calling the Synagogue Office or visiting our website.

Rosh Ha-Shanah for Everyone

1

BAMBOO HARVEST

4

THE BEGINNING OF SUKKOT

6

BIG SUKKAH BANQUET

8

UNVEILING: MILTON WOLFF

9

SISTERS IN THE SUKKAH

12

SHMINI ATZERET

12

SIMCHAT TORAH DINNER + DANCING

13

ZARROW FAMILY SIMCHAT TORAH LUNCH

15

SEVENTEENTH STREET DELI

21

BAT MITZVAH OF CLAIRE BUTKIN

27

BIBI-DIDI: BABIES AND TOTS

29

SISTERHOOD MEMBERSHIP BRUNCH

30

ADULT INSTITUTE OPENING NIGHT Please let us know if you need counseling assistance. Rabbis Fitzerman and Kaiman would be glad to arrange help at no charge.

In the spirit of our monthly “Shabbat for Everyone” gatherings, the opening service of our Rosh Ha-Shanah observance will now follow a familiar model. For families and individuals eager to dine together, we offer an optional (continued on page 7)

ROSH HA-SHANAH FOR EVERYONE DINNER SEPTEMBER 20 ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE HIGH HOLIDAYS | CALL (918) 583-7121 FOR RESERVATIONS.

6

FEATURED EVENTS | HIGH HOLIDAYS ROADMAP (continued from page 6)

the first time. The cantor offers a public prayer of supplication and then the congregation is given space for silent reflection. Traditionally, the words of the Mahzor are recited at this time, but this is also a space for private prayer and personal introspection. At the close of this silent portion of the service, one of the Rabbis will offer a sermon. Following this moment of teaching and learning, our musical ensemble and cantor resume leadership of the service, and we sing a public version of the prayers found in the Mahzor. This is the final part of the service and it generally concludes by 12:30 p.m., culminating with blasts of the Shofar.

holiday brisket meal which begins at 5:30 p.m. With familiar smells and tastes, our hope is to make it easy for families and individuals to plug into an authentic holiday experience. Following this communal dinner, we will gather in the Sanctuary at 6:15 p.m. for a kid-oriented musical Rosh Ha-Shanah celebration. Please see Rabbi Fitzerman’s article for additional details. The service will conclude by 7:00 p.m. to allow for those who prefer to gather for the holiday meal in their homes. This year, Rosh Ha-Shanah for Everyone will take place on Wednesday, September 20.

At that time, the entire community is invited to partake in a Kiddush Lunch generously sponsored by the extended Goodall family. For those who wish immediately to partake in the Tashlich ritual, where one symbolically casts crumbs of bread into a body of water, bags will be available in the front lobby of the Synagogue. A group will walk together to Swan Lake at 1:00 p.m. Later in the afternoon, at 5:30 p.m., a short afternoon and evening service will take place as we round out the day of prayer and reflection.

Rosh Ha-Shanah Day I It’s the Jewish New Year! A formal worship experience serves as the backbone of this day. Beginning at 9:00 a.m., we work our way through a special Holiday prayerbook called the Mahzor. Since our current version only offers Hebrew and English, we have crafted supplementary materials to offer full transliteration, as well as additional readings, reflections and meditations. The supplements are found in the three ring binders placed at every seat.

Rosh Ha-Shanah Day II

The morning starts with a series of prayers led by our cantor, Rafi Dworsky, who is assisted by our Rabbis, Marc Fitzerman and Dan Kaiman. A musical ensemble supports the experience, adding depth, flourish, and meaning to the various parts of the prayerful morning.

The second day of Rosh Ha-Shanah follows roughly the same format as Day I. The public readings are different and a different set of individuals is honored with participation throughout the service. The morning begins at 9:00 a.m. and by 9:30 a.m. we are chanting Torah. Again, a sermon is delivered at 10:45 a.m. and we’ve nearly completed our service by noon. On this second day, our congregation follows a special custom where we offer baby blessings for each new child who has joined our community in the past year. Grandparents, parents, siblings and relatives receive these blessings on behalf of the new arrivals, who bring so much joy to our lives. If you are the parent or grandparent of a newborn and would like to partake, please email vhenderson@bnaiemunah.com so that we can prepare to include you. Again, this service concludes by 12:30 p.m. and is followed by a Cookie Kiddush sponsored by the Fitzerman-Blue and Kaiman-Gold families.

By 9:30 a.m., we begin the formal chanting of the Torah service. This participatory event involves a public reading of a section of the Torah. The Torah is read aloud in Hebrew with translations available in your prayer books. Members of the congregation are called up throughout this part of the service with honors and blessings. A special honor is reserved for the person who chants the selection from the Prophets, which follows the completion of the public Torah reading. During this part of the service, the Rabbis will offer an opportunity for prayers of healing. Should you or someone you love be in need of prayers of healing, please come forward and share either the English or Hebrew name of the person which you would like to include.

Alternatively, if you would like to submit a name prior to the Holiday, please email vhenderson@bnaiemunah.com so that we can include it at each of these opportunities throughout the Holiday season.

For those wishing to observe Rosh Ha-Shanah with another communal meal, Emily and Richie Bolusky have opened their home for a special Holiday meal experience for young families, millennials, and Tulsa newcomers. The meal takes place immediately following the conclusion of

After the Torah is returned to the ark, the liturgical drama of the morning continues. The shofar is sounded for

(continued on page 8)

7

FEATURED EVENTS | HIGH HOLIDAYS ROADMAP

points of emphasis. Around 8:15 p.m., a sermon is delivered, and the service concludes around 9:30 p.m.

(continued from page 7)

services. To make your meal reservations, call the Synagogue office or visit our website. Cost for the pescatarian meal is $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Yom Kippur Day At 9:30 a.m. the next morning, we begin chanting Yom Kippur service. As on Rosh Ha-Shanah, we participate in a public reading of a section of the Torah around 10:00 a.m., followed by a chanting of the Haftorah (a selection from the Prophets).

Kapparot A major theme which runs throughout the period of the High Holidays is the notion that we let go of past errors and find paths to renewal and forgiveness. There are many different ways we manifest this theme. A thrilling way to symbolically mark this transition is by participating in our Kapparot ceremony. Each person is invited to take a homing pigeon in hand and ritually release the bird so that it flies home to its nest. In doing so, we remind ourselves of the power of freedom and our individual potential.

During this part of the service, the Rabbis will offer an opportunity for prayers of healing. Once again, please come forward and share either the English or Hebrew name of the person which you would like to include. Alternatively, if you would like to submit a name prior to the Holiday, please email vhenderson@bnaiemunah.com so that we can include your loved one throughout the Holiday season.

The informal ceremony takes place on Sunday, September 24, at 11:45 a.m. at the front door of the Synagogue building. A public shofar blast concludes the experience.

After the Torah is returned to the ark, we continue in the familiar pattern. At the close of the silent version of the Amida, one of the Rabbis will offer a sermon. Following the sermon, the congregation will hold a Yizkor (Memorial) service for loved ones who are no longer with us. The names of those who have died in the past year are read aloud.

The Days In Between The time period that lasts from Rosh Ha-Shanah through Yom Kippur is called the Ten Days of Repentance. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, stands in contrast and complement to the days that mark the Jewish New Year.

Lasting 25 hours, Yom Kippur is a time to ask for forgiveness and spend time in intensive prayer and reflection.

From sundown on Friday, September 29, to sundown on Saturday, September 30, adults refrain from eating and drinking, bathing, wearing leather, anointing themselves with perfume or lotion and marital relations. These activities are human and corporeal, but by setting these limits we focus inward on the spiritual tasks of the day.

Following this moment of reflection, our musical ensemble and cantor resume leadership of the service, and we sing a public version of the prayers found in the Mahzor.

This is the final part of the service, and we generally conclude by 1:30 p.m.

Private Prayers before the Ark Following the close of service, many choose to go home for a short rest. However, those who wish are welcome to remain in our building throughout the day. Beginning at 2:00 p.m., the Ark will be opened and individuals are welcome to take a moment to offer private prayers before its open doors. Should you wish to participate in this manner, we simply ask that you wait until those before you have completed their time and then silently approach one at a time.

Kol Nidray Yom Kippur is inaugurated at 7:30 p.m. with the Kol Nidray prayer. As on Rosh Ha-Shanah, during this service we use a Mahzor, a special prayer book, which outlines (and fills in) the liturgical frame for the day. While our current edition only has Hebrew and English on its pages, a supplementary binder is always available which has full transliteration, poems, and reflective readings.

This evening service, led again by our cantor, Rabbis, and musical ensemble, moves through the prescribed structure of the service with familiar musical highlights and

THE 2017 YIZKOR BOOK please call us if you have a name to include. (continued on page 12)

8

A CONGREGATION OF IMMIGRANTS

This photo celebrates three generations of the Borg Family and spans the Old World and the New. Left to right are three close first cousins: Richard Borg, Rosalie Childs, and Rosalyn Borg. The picture at the center was brought to Tulsa

by Rosalyn for a photo shoot at the Synagogue. In the back row are grandparents Rose Borg and Harry Borg. Flanking the image of the young Leah Borg Friedman are her brothers, Irving Borg and Joe Borg.

We’re happy to report that Leah Friedman just celebrated her 95th birthday this week, and we send her blessings for a still longer life and good health. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming edition of the Messenger with a photograph of your own ancestors, please contact Valerie Henderson in the Rabbis’ Office so that she can set you up on our photographic schedule.

9

FROM MORAH SARA LEVITT | JEWISH LIFE AND LEARNING RENEWAL

far away, or visit the residents at the Tulsa Jewish Retirement center as a family.

The Jewish new year is upon us! We are lucky enough to have two moments in our calendar (the Jewish and the secular) during which we can make an attempt to keep new year’s resolutions. As we enter the High Holiday season, a time when we hit the reset button for our Jewish year, it seems the perfect time to think about new things to try in our personal lives or traditions in our family. Looking for some ideas? Look no further! Judaism is ingrained with beautiful traditions and room to make them our own. At the Synagogue we are primed to help make this wish list become a reality. So, here it is, our top 8 things to try in 5778.

Eight. Make time for Shabbat. Our Jewish tradition carves out a special time every week to disconnect from technology and to connect with the people around us. Try making Friday night dinner a moment with less tech and more talk. Share moments in your week that were great and things you might be looking forward to, offer blessings to your children and let them do the same.

I look forward to hearing about all of the new things you have tried (off this list or on your own) to kick off this new year!

One. Institute bedtime blessings. Make bedtime special by singing the Shema together as part of your night-time routine.

Offer your wishes for your children or give them time and space to reflect on their day.

September is truly loaded with events in honor of the High Holidays. We will have Youth Services and programming for Pre-K to seventh grade throughout Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur, and we encourage your children’s participation in it all.

Two. Read Jewish books together. There is an incredible resource in our community called the PJ Library, which sends Jewish books monthly for families to read together. Sign up and enjoy reading and talking about the books together.

Check out the High Holiday schedule for more information and times for the busy month of celebration. Le-shanah tovah u-metukah, to a good and sweet year!

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Three. Try a new Jewish recipe! Whether it’s a dish you had as a kid around the Rosh Ha-Shanah table or something that you’ve always wondered how to make, take the time this Holiday season to look up a recipe and cook it as a family.

Our ESL classes are now up and running again, and we have a much more substantial program than before. We have added another group of students (Russian speakers from the former Soviet Union) and are looking for more volunteers to help us with this endeavor.

Four. Inquire about Shul School and Hebrew Language Lab. Ask your children what they did this week at Shul School or Hebrew Language Lab. Tell them why it is important to you that they attend, and encourage them with kindness and love to open their minds to learning about our rich tradition.

Help us further the growth and success of this important project of helping refugees in our community. Volunteers are needed both in the classroom with adults and in childcare with young children.

Five. Give back through Tikkun Olam. There is no better way to learn about repairing the world and helping others than by doing. Ask your kids what they care about, what they are interested in or even tell them what you care about and why.

Look for opportunities in the community to give back as a family and talk about how Jewish this act truly is.

Classes will meet Wednesdays and Fridays at the Synagogue.

Please contact Sara Levitt at slevitt@bnaiemunah.com or call 918-583-7121 for more information and to volunteer.

Six. Try a new service or event for High Holidays. The Synagogue is jam-packed with programming and services throughout the High Holiday season; everything from Youth Services and programming for the kids and yummy dinners and celebrations in the sukkah. There are many to choose from and something for everyone!

SPECIAL EVENT PAPERIE + MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS + DESIGN LAUREN ZELIGSON | 918.850.0815 | LGZELIGSON@GMAIL.COM | SPROUTDESIGNLLC.COM

Seven. Reach out to a friend or someone who needs some extra TLC. Take time to send notes to a loved one who lives 10

SISTERHOOD NEWS | JANET DUNDEE

UPCOMING (CONCLUDED)

ing new sports bras and men’s and women’s underwear in all sizes. Collection bins are placed near the Synagogue entrance. Consider bringing a donation of these items during the High Holiday period. Questions? Check with Jolene Sanditen at (918) 645-6433 or jolene@sanditenco.com if you would like to help with deliveries. More details forthcoming!

ANNUAL MEETING Save the following dates for the following terrific Sisterhood programs scheduled for the coming year: September 30 Sisterhood’s Annual Break Fast October 9 Sisters in the Sukkah

BREAKFAST AT IRON GATE

October 29 Sisterhood Membership Breakfast

Sisterhood continues to volunteer at Iron Gate on the fourth Sunday morning each month. Serving breakfast to Iron Gate guests has been a fulfilling volunteer opportunity. If you are interested in participating, contact Sarah-Anne Schumann at hennschu@gmail.com. You need to be at Iron Gate by 8:15 a.m. and must be 13 years or

December 10 Mahjongg Tournament January 15 Martin Luther King Parade March 10 Sisterhood Shabbat June 4 Sisterhood Annual Meeting In addition, Sisterhood is considering a monthly bookclub. Are you up for that? Let Jan Finer know.

Sisterhood is also involved in a number of social service programs. You can be a part of these programs by just letting us know what you would like to do. Think about Bikur Cholim baking and cooking for meals delivered to Synagogue congregants. Consider serving breakfast at Iron Gate Ministries. How about volunteering at the Day Center for the Homeless?

MITZVOT

Sisterhood provides a diversity of programming and volunteer opportunities. That’s what we are all about!

ART FROM THE HEART

APPLES AND HONEY, WHAT A TREAT

Imagine that you are just getting started again after a period of homelessness or dislocation. You have some tableware and a bed to sleep in, but your walls are bare and your apartment looks temporary. At the same time, you have to husband your resources and concentrate on the basics.

Sisterhood’s Gift Shop has a variety of honey bowls for Rosh Ha-Shanah. There can never be too many honey bowls for your holiday table. Stop by the Gift Shop and purchase a new honey bowl for your home or as a hostess gift, if you are invited for Rosh Ha-Shanah dinner. Honey and apples together symbolize your wish for a sweet new year.

Enter “Art from the Heart.” The purpose of this project is to give framed artwork to the residents of community-supported housing in the Tulsa area. The Synagogue has now been the conduit for a significant flow of contributions. All you have to do is drop your gift off at the Synagogue. For information about pickup of your artwork at your home, please call Dr. Melissa Weiss at (918) 260-2294.

DAY CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS Sisterhood, in honor of the High Holidays, is partnering with the Day Center for the Homeless to help their clients with some very basic needs. Sisterhood is collect11

FROM RABBI KAIMAN

HIGH HOLIDAY ROAD MAP (continued from page 8)

WHAT COMES FIRST

Open Forum with the Rabbis

The Talmud has a generous and surprising way of finding relevance and meaning beyond its moment of creativity. Just a few days ago I came across the following debate. On one side of the argument is Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Nasi, the great sage responsible for redacting the Mishnah and influencing a generation of text learners. Stacked up against him were “the Rabbis,” a general characterization of a large group of scholars who seemingly agree with one another and can manifest their opinion in one voice.

At 3:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary, our Rabbis will hold an open forum for reflection and discussion. This is a meaningful way to engage in learning and explore new ideas as a community. All are welcome.

Yom Kippur Evening At 4:30 p.m., the formal afternoon service begins. A short public Torah reading is followed by the ritual chanting of the entire book of Jonah. We then chant the liturgical hallmarks of the afternoon service before taking another short break.

One side of the argument says that “the character of a generation parallels that of its leader.” Seemingly this would mean that moral and visionary leaders have the capacity to influence their followers, creating a more moral and visionary society. Likewise, a corrupt or bankrupt leader would have the capacity to corrupt and bankrupt an entire society.

Concluding Service for Yom Kippur

The other side of the argument states the opposite: “the character of a leader parallels that of his/her generation.” This would seem to make the case for the power of society. Only a moral and visionary society would have the capacity to create moral and visionary leaders. And corrupt and bankrupt societies would be able to produce only corrupt and bankrupt leaders.

A liturgical highlight of the year, the Ne’ilah (Concluding) service offers a thrilling end to a day of solemnity and introspection. Beginning at 6:10 p.m. the service is chanted by our Cantor, Rabbis, and musical ensemble.

The Ark doors remain open throughout the main section of this service; many stand throughout this liminal time period. The doors of the Ark serve as an important symbol of the themes of the day as we imagine the locking of the gates, and we make our best efforts to seek repentance and forgiveness in these waning hours. As the sun sets we mark the conclusion of the holiday with a Havdalah (Separation) service. Finally, the day culminates with blasts from the Shofar. It’s one long teki’ah gedolah, and then we are done.

What is fascinating about the disagreement is that both of these opinions express the belief that a leader’s character is causally related to that of his or her generation. This assumption of a relationship between leadership and community challenges us to think more critically about our own society.

As members of society, there’s no room to just throw up our hands and claim the world is beyond our control. Living in a democracy, we can sometimes feel either connected or disconnected from this reality, depending on how things are shaking out at any particular moment. However, what I think this text reminds us is that fundamentally we are required to be aware of the way the relationships between leaders and their communities evolve.

Break the Fast Immediately following the conclusion of our ritual services for Yom Kippur, the entire community is invited to participate in a Break-the-Fast meal. Generously sponsored by the Sharna and Irv Frank Foundation, this is a celebratory communal moment of achievement, relief, opportunity and possibility. While there will always be enough food for everyone, we do ask that those who are planning to be with us call or visit our website so we can plan for your participation.

In our rapidly changing world, it is hard to know what comes next, but by turning to the wisdom of our ancestors, we can remind ourselves that a long history demands our active participation in making this society better one day at a time.

This edition of the Messenger will arrive in your mailboxes in the days preceding our High Holiday season. I hope the days ahead bring about the opportunity for connection, community and meaning. From our home to yours, Rachel and I wish you a shanah tovah u’metukah, a sweet and happy New Year.

BIBI-DIBI - SHABBAT FOR THE ITTY-BITTIES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, AT THE SYNAGOGUE

.

Sukkot Teaser: Play Duck, Duck, Goose at the Synagogue!

12

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNAGOGUE Altamont Bakery Fund

Sally and Bob Donaldson Cindy and Michael Guterman

Ann Beerman Flower and Garden Fund

Randee and David Charney and Family Frieda Grossbard Cindy and Michael Guterman Betty and Keith Lehman Joseph Secan

Barbara Curnutt Preschool Fund Kelly Russell

Bernie and Sayde LeVine Music Fund Jonathan Kantor

Bikur Cholim Fund

Barbara and Dr. Rick Cohen Debbie and Barry Lederman Terry and Andy Marcum Barbara and Dave Sylvan

B’nai Emunah Preschool Ali and Jason Warner

B’nai Brith Youth Education Fund Ira Smith Linda Zoblotsky

Building Renewal Endowment Fund

Mark Goldman and Dr. WC Goad

Camp Ramah Scholarship Fund Klara and Stan Klein

Chevra Kadisha Fund

Barbara and Dr. Rick Cohen Janet Dundee and Jeff Darby Terry and Andy Marcum

Dave Sylvan Joyful Music Fund Barbara and Dave Sylvan

Edgar and Isabel Sanditen Preschool Fund Norman Levick Jolene Sanditen

Education Endowment Fund Sandi and Mike May

Irvin and Sharna Frank Endowment Fund Barbara and Dave Sylvan

Joe and Dorothy Katz Senior Adult Fund Brenda and Jerome Katz

Joe Kantor Hebrew School Fund Cheryl and Ed Shane

Julius and Mildred Sanditen Pilgrimage Fund Barbara and Dave Sylvan

Lenny Seigel Playground Equipment Fund Sharon Markman

Lubell Family Social Activism Fund

Patty Hipsher and David Blatt

Meyer Rozen Prayerbook Fund Carla and Les Weston

Mizel Family Philanthropic Fund Susan and Jerry Sokol

Morris and Edith Sylvan Transportation Fund Jan Brickman Barbara and Dave Sylvan

Norman and Shirley Levin Fund for Prayerbook Publication Linda Dubois Karen Neuwald Barbara and Dave Sylvan

Rabbi Arthur Kahn Culture Fund Bonnie and George Kennedy Susan and Jerry Sokol

Rabbi Daniel S. Kaiman Discretionary Fund

Rebeca Shalom and Rabbi David Kaiman Barbara and Dave Sylvan

Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Discretionary Fund

Sheila and Samuel Harding Laura and Tim Howard Fran Jacobson and Ada Middlebrook Helen and Henry Katz Terry and Andy Marcum Jill and Howard Mizel Madelyn and Franklyn Moskowitz Phyllis Raskin Isabel Sanditen Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation

Robinowitz Library Fund Genny Seletsky

Rose Borg Sukkah Fund

April and Richard Borg Rosalyn Borg (St. Louis) Bonnie and Louis Spiesberger

Sam Plost Matzah Fund Barbara and Dave Sylvan

Schlanger-Blend Kitchen Furnishings Fund Andrea Schlanger

Scott Foreman Zarrow Rabbinic Endowment Sally and Bob Donaldson Julie Frank Debbie and Barry Lederman

Scott Sanditen Memorial Community Service Fund Laurie and Bob Berman Dr. Harvey Blumenthal Harold Sanditen

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SYNAGOGUE Sharna Frank Music Fund Barbara and Dave Sylvan

Sidney & Jenny Brouse Family Shabbat and Holiday Fund Vellie Bloch

Synagogue Endowment Fund Maxine Milgrim Phyllis Raskin

Synagogue General Fund

Ellen and Dr. Stephen Adelson Bernard Backer O’Neil Cobb Joe Degen Ryan Donaldson Jeanette Fishman Jennifer Flexner Karen and Alan Goldsmith and family Cindy and Michael Guterman Helen and Henry Katz Vicki and Dr. David Hurewitz Bonnie and George Kennedy Cheryl and Greg Myers Mara and Jeremy Rabinowitz Phyllis Raskin Eve Unterman Tona and Ron Willhoite Jan Winzinger Debbie and Garrett Zelkind and family

The Religious School Fund Jerry Borofsky Ira Smith

In Loving Memory Florence Andelman Julie Andelman Yale Andelman Ann Beerman Mildred Bermack

Martin and Helaine Blatt Sandy Blumenthal Isaac Borg Joe Borg Estelle Borochoff Esther and David Borochoff Larry Borofsky Valerie Borofsky Marion Brodsky Phyllis Brodsky Mitsu Cohen Joann Darby Jan Degen Basja Dundee Martin “Sully” Farfel Thomas C. Gridley Audrey Grubman Alan Guterman Gertrude Hart Otto Hart Fritzi Haskell Hyman and Mary Jacobson Yetta Kassel Dr. Allen Katz Judy Kleiner Ludwig Kraus Yehuda Kraus Leonard Krisman Mollie Krisman Steve Lederman Frances Melton Charlotte and Harry Miller Joe Miller Harry Moskowitz Sophie Nadel Bea Newman Joseph Panken Daniel Riffkind Dick Raskin Howard Raskin David Rich Lillian W. Roberts Myer L. Roberts

Scott Sanditen Jack and Rose Schlanger Benjamin Schwartzberg Pearl B. Sellinger Bertha Serlin Irving Shalom Darrell and Sylvia Smith Emily Smith Lucille Sobel Mildred and Fred Sokol David M. Spector Sheldon Tilkin Maynard Ungerman Regina West Morris Weissbord Scott Zarrow Danny Zeligson Irma Zimmerman

In Honor Of

Ellen and Dr. Stephen Adelson, on their anniversary David Biespiel Matthew Biespiel B’nai Emunah Sisterhood Sally Donaldson, in honor of her birthday Sally Donaldson, in honor of her presidency of Congregation B’nai Emunah Jon Glazer Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Leah Friedman, on her birthday Rabbi Daniel Shalom Kaiman Klay Kodesh Betty Lehman Dr. Jonathan Levine Greg “Skee” Raskin Adina and Harrison Shane

Speedy Recovery Of Ms. Suzanne Ablon Ms. Nancy Broudy David Finer Larry Schreier

Please help us welcome newcomers to the Synagogue on the High Holidays!

september | elul-tishray Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

1

10:00 AM ESL Class and Childcare 5:30 PM Service 7:31 PM Candles 7:51 PM Sunset

3

5:30 PM Service

4

5:30 PM Service

5

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service

6

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 10:00 AM ESL Class and Childcare 3:30 PM Hebrew Lab 5:30 PM Service 7:00 PM Midrasha

7

5:30 PM Service

8

10:00 AM ESL Class and Childcare 5:30 PM Service 6:00 PM Bibi-Dibi 7:21 PM Candles 7:41 PM Sunset

Preschool and Offices Closed Labor Day

10

9:00 AM ShulSchool 9:00 AM Sisters in the Kichen 11:00 AM Doing Jewish 5:30 PM Service

11

5:30 PM Service

Saturday

2

8:30 AM Siddur Study 9:00 AM Shabbat Service 8:00 PM Closing Service 8:15 PM Havdalah

9

Torah: Ki Teitzei

8:30 AM Siddur Study 9:00 AM Shabbat Service 7:50 PM Closing Service 8:05 PM Havdalah

Torah: Ki Tavo

12

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service 7:00 PM Board of Directors

13

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 10:00 AM ESL Class and Childcare 3:30 PM Hebrew Lab 5:30 PM Service 7:00 PM Midrasha

14

5:30 PM Service

15

10:00 AM ESL Class and Childcare 5:30 PM Service 7:10 PM Candles 7:30 PM Sunset

16

8:30 AM Siddur Study 9:00 AM Shabbat Service 5:30 PM Service 6:30 PM Welcome Dinner 7:30 PM Selichot 8:00 PM Havdalah

Torah: Nitzavim-Vayeilech

17

9:00 AM ShulSchool 1:00 PM Millennials: Honey 5:30 PM Service

18

5:30 PM Service

19

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service

20

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 5:00 PM Afternoon Service 5:30 PM Dinner 6:15 PM Rosh Ha-Shanah for Everyone Service 7:04 PM Candles 7:24 PM Sunset

21

9:00 AM Morning Service 10:45 AM Sermon 12:30 PM Kiddush Lunch 1:00 PM Tashlich 5:30 PM Service 7:22 PM Sunset 8:00 PM Candles

Rosh Ha-shanah

24

9:00 AM ShulSchool 11:45 AM Kapparot | Doves 5:30 PM Service

25

5:30 PM Service

26

1:00 PM Altamont Baking 5:30 PM Service

27

9:00 AM Altamont Packing 10:00 AM ESL Class and Childcare 3:30 PM Hebrew Lab 5:30 PM Service 7:00 PM Midrasha

28

5:30 PM Service

22

9:00 AM Morning Service 10:45 AM Sermon 12:00 PM Baby Blessings 12:30 PM The Bolusky Lunch 5:30 PM Service 7:01 PM Candles 7:21 PM Sunset

Rosh Ha-shanah

29

10:00 AM ESL Class and Childcare 5:30 PM Afternoon Service 6:51 PM Candles 7:11 PM Sunset 7:30 PM Kol Nidray 8:15 PM Sermon 9:30 PM Closing Benediction

23

8:30 AM Siddur Study 9:00 AM Shabbat Service 7:30 PM Closing Service 7:45 PM Havdalah

Torah: Ha’aZinu

30

9:30 AM Morning Service 12:15 PM Sermon 12:45 PM Yizkor 3:30 PM Rabbis’ Forum 6:10 PM Ne’ilah 7:09 PM Sunset 7:15 PM Havdalah 7:45 PM Community Break the Fast

Yom Kippur

THE SYNAGOGUE

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID

CONGREGATION B’NAI EMUNAH

Tulsa, Oklahoma Permit No. 587

1719 South Owasso Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 P.O. Box 52430 Tulsa, Oklahoma 74152

YAHRTZEIT CALENDAR­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ — 10 ELUL THROUGH 10 TISHRAY Friday, September 1 - 10 Elul Gertrude Drissman Samuel Ettleman Ethel Golman Fell Mark Malkove Joseph Mandlebaum Reuben Getzel Prezma Louis F. Schnur Saturday, September 2 - 11 Elul Abe Alexander Aaron Goff Lawrence Siegel Sunday, September 3 - 12 Elul Lionel E.Z. Aaronson O.G. Bortel Dudley Gottehrer Sophia Marks Lilian Moran Harry Robbin Sharon Romer Chaya Schwartzblatt Jewell Steinberg Surloff Harry J. Weiner Monday, September 4 - 13 Elul Lillian Rae Krawitz Lillian Rubin Barry Saveth Tuesday, September 5 - 14 Elul Jack I. Brown Catherine B. Campbell Fannie Marks Allen Politzer Aaron Rabinovitz Sarah Roberts Kauffman Simon Selinger Wednesday, September 6 - 15 Elul Abe Charney Frank Goodman Sarah Magoon Nancy Sue Polishuk Ben Prezma Mike Robinowitz Evelyn Wolf Thursday, September 7 - 16 Elul Israel Friedberg Fannie A. Mizel Stockfish Louis Weiss Samuel Zolt

Friday, September 8 - 17 Elul Martin R. Abrams Rose Blacher Weinstein Saturday, September 9 - 18 Elul Jeanette Chucker Harold Guller Luie Kurtz Esther Milan Pearl Myers Herman Sternfield Sunday, September 10 - 19 Elul Samuel M. Kantor Abraham Krasne Monday, September 11 - 20 Elul Mary Louise (White) Young Harold Charney Chaim Plost Max Samuel Eva Spector Wittels Tuesday, September 12 - 21 Elul Celia Annette Albert Shirley Alcouloumre Miriam Davis Bluma (Lovie) Jacobson Wednesday, September 13 - 22 Elul Robert James Darby Tybie Mary Shavlow Herman Paul Taubman Nathan Tugenberg Thursday, September 14 - 23 Elul Mary Fedman Dorothy Teichman Friday, September 15 - 24 Elul Celia Kirsh Adler Myra Gock Louis Kerbel Charles Israel Lebow Leah Singer Janice Taubman Gertrude (Gete) Weisman Saturday, September 16 - 25 Elul Herbert Berger Harold Ingle Josey Harry Krawitz Elsie Sternfield Maurice Arthur Weinstein

Sunday, September 17 - 26 Elul Rose Brown Michael Carson Israel Prescott Monday, September 18 - 27 Elul Herman Appleman Ferd Falk Tuesday, September 19 - 28 Elul Sidney L. Frieden Helen Morrison Wednesday, September 20 - 29 Elul Florence S. Andelman Ben Budowsky Pessa Dittman Allen Galerston Leo Kopp Julian Rothbaum Louis Smith Milton Wolff Thursday, September 21 - 1 Tishray Esther Greenberg Leon Horowitz Frieda Lasky Max Meyer Lena Mizel Jack Williamson Friday, September 22 - 2 Tishray Minnie Kahn Louis Mandel

Tuesday, September 26 - 6 Tishray Miriam Cohn Phillips Joseph Grossbard Vicki Walzer Wednesday, September 27 - 7 Tishray Alvin Glass Louis Mizel Hilde Theresa Roubal Isaac Aaron Schuman Thursday, September 28 - 8 Tishray Sylvia Alexander Bertha Ettleman Phillip Fischbein Alexander Meyer Betty Newman Friday, September 29 - 9 Tishray Leah Katz Morgan Skyler Shiphrah Stockfish West Saturday, September 30 - 10 Tishray Jacob Chekofsky Raphael Donde Alvin Dundee Ann B. Freed Sylvia Hannah Jacobson Moshe Chaim Lifsics Sarah Lifsics Philip Trommer

Saturday, September 23 - 3 Tishray Felix Aaronson William Chucker Sam Marks Sadye Rubinstein Anna Shapiro Sunday, September 24 - 4 Tishray Bertha Berelowitz Jim Glass Monday, September 25 - 5 Tishray Freda Krawitz Esther Pastor Harry H. Rozen Etta Waldinger Borg

May their souls be bound up in the bond of life everlasting. Please note that each yahrtzeit begins at sunset on the day before the date listed.