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Adar/Nisan 5778 -- President's Message
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Dear Friends,
Recently, our shul board met with a representative from the Jewish Community Legacy Project (JCLP), a resource to help small congregations insure their legacies when facing aging and dwindling memberships. While it seems that we are not yet ready to engage them, the meeting helped us to think seriously about our legacy. The shul holds so much of the community's history within its walls; it is our duty to preserve it for future generations.
In February, we held our full Torah service, reading parshat yitro. I am so proud that in our small shul, we have so many members able to leyn Torah! Witnessing our community participate so fully in this service was a delight! As always, many of us attend these Shabbat morning events to daven and enjoy our sumptuous Kiddush luncheon. We welcome all of you each and every Shabbat for our special Torah discussions, davening and kiddushes.
I look forward to seeing all of you at our Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, March 25th, at 10 AM. Each year we have at least 3 board seats open. This year, we must fill the seat being vacated by Danny Nerenberg (who has served for many years) and a one-year term: the seat that Gail Agata vacated. Two board members, Michael Roland and Barry Strock, wish to retain their seats for another term. Interested in running, or looking more information about what it means to be a board member? Please contact any board member, including me, to talk about it.
At the Annual Meeting, we'll discuss Nassau Synagogue's legacy and how to best insure it. The board seeks your input and ideas for strengthening the shul today and into the future. How appropriate, to talk about future generations as we approach Passover, when we tell the Exodus story to our children and teach them to remember to teach their children. L'dor v'dor!
Wishing you and your family pesach sameach!
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Annual Membership Meeting,
Sunday, March 25th, 10:00 AM
Please attend the Annual Membership Meeting, Sunday, March 25th, 10:00 AM, when we begin by sharing a delicious brunch. The formal meeting convenes at 10:30. One key topic on the agenda will be addressing lost funding from the Sidney & Beatrice Albert Foundation, from which we received a very generous grant for nine years. We must explore new ways to generate income and conserve our current resources; the board will seek input from shul membership about finances and other related matters at the meeting.
Three board seats are up for elections at this time including that held currently by Danny Nerenberg, who has been a board member since 1999 and the seat vacated by Gail Agata in December (this is a special election to fill the remaining year of her term). Barry Strock and Michael Roland have both expressed interest in retaining their seats on the board, and must be re-elected. These positions must be filled; this may be your opportunity to play an important role helping to manage the affairs of the shul.
If you are interested in serving on the board, you may let a board member know in advance. Nominations will also be taken from the floor at the meeting. (A member's 2018 dues must be fully paid in order to vote and/or to be nominated.)
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May his Memory be a Blessing
Ron Soloway, zichrono l'vracha, a longtime Nassau Synagogue member and invaluable trustee, passed away at the end of January. Ron resided in Averill Park for many years before moving to New York City. He was an extremely intelligent, mild-mannered man who concerned himself with the human condition. He dedicated his life to advocacy for civil rights, social justice, and systems change. Ron co-founded for the Center for Public Advocacy, and later, worked for UJA- Federation for 25 years. His wife, Rochelle, predeceased him in 2016. Ron is survived by his daughter, Hannah, to whom we send communal gratitude and condolences.
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As we approach spring members may participate in following Tikkun Olam opportunities.
Once again we will deliver matzah to Jewish residents at nursing homes. We simply deliver boxes to each place's front desk. The nursing homes appreciate that they can provide Jewish residents the matzah for Passover, and the residents are happy to have this tradition remembered. Please contact Pam to help deliver - a great mitzvah!
A shul team will participate again in the MS Walk on Sunday, May 20th, at the Valley Cat Stadium in Troy, Pam Tatar is team captain. Sign up on line to join the team and walk for MS research and support. While raising money is not mandatory, it is appreciated and is an amazing mitzvah. More details as the event date approaches. Google MS Walk Albany 2018 for details.
Our mitzvah knitters have been busy knitting hats, scarves, hats for IDF soldiers, and blankets. We have a new batch to donate to Joseph's house in Troy, and Barbara Neiman will take our IDF soldier hats to Israel when she travels there in April.
This is my last Tikkun Olam newsletter, as I will be relocating to North Carolina this spring. I have so loved being a part of Tikkun OIam group at the shul! Thank you, all.
by Kate Rachel Lozier
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Greetings from Rehovot, Israel, By Lynn Gross
David and I have changed our Kupat Holim to another insurance carrier, where our new primary care doctor is excellent and we receive better services. David has made an amazing recovery since the summer. So we have now returned to a normal existence in Rehovot, which has been very gratifying.
David and I are taking three courses this year. One is a course on all the prayers in the Orthodox Siddur taught by an American Rabbi from the Modern Orthodox synagogue we joined. We are also studying Gemora (Talmud), where I am the only woman in a classroom of 21. The teacher is a learned man who, by profession, is a police detective. He is dynamic and interrogates his students gently, as he transmits the very detailed sources we study.
The third course is being taught by the Rabbi of the Conservative synagogue. We are using a text entitled, The Observant Life and are focusing on the section concerned with deeds of loving-kindness and family relationships. The text teaches us how "to infuse life with timeless values and how to embrace the law while retaining an abiding sense of fidelity to one's own moral path in life." So far we have covered laws of reverence for parents, obligations of children toward parents, intermarriage, and many more topics relevant to us today. This topic provides the class a great forum for discussion; perhaps the shul's book club may want to consider tackling it, or another adult education class can be created just to explore this text.
David and I still sing in the Conservative synagogue choir, and this year I have become their accompanist, rehearsing many challenging choral works. I have also decided to facilitate monthly rhythm workshops for 1-1/2 to 6-year- olds who are being raised bilingually. I hope to start teaching beginning piano to 6-year-olds and older in the fall.
David volunteers for Rehovot's food pantry. He packs restaurant leftovers and delivers it to the pantry, where volunteers make Shabbat meals for needy families.
We have been attending interesting lectures at the Swiss Hayavot Community Center. We hope to go in a trip in March to the Yar Ilanot Forest in Sharona which contains 750 species of trees, and to the Hadera Museum.
We no longer attend a formal Ulpan, but I continue to study at home and I am trying to organize a weekly Hebrew conversation class.
Now that we have purchased a new car, errands are much easier to accomplish and we really appreciate the convenience.
We spend Shabbat with new friends or with Marissa, Aaron and Zoe, whom we are blessed to see three or four times a week. God willing, Marissa will be having a baby boy at the end of April, so we are preparing for that momentous occasion with much excitement.
Purim sameach
to all!
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The Nassau Sunshine Fund is a charitable group that makes emergency 0% interest loans to residents of the Town of Nassau, including the Villages of Nassau and East Nassau.
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Membership / Donation Form
The Nassau Synagogue tradition is that one need not be a member to attend Shabbat services or to participate in our events and programs. We do not sell seats for the High Holidays, nor do we auction aliyot. How have we been able to do this over the years and still keep membership dues so very low? It is through your continued support that is essential to keeping us strong. The Nassau Synagogue relies almost exclusively on the contributions of its supporters and on our membership dues. So please, help us with a donation, and/or consider becoming a member.
NAME________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS_____________________________________________________________
PHONE NO._______________________E-MAIL______________________________
MEMBERSHIP
Please note that at least one adult member of a membership unit must be Jewish by matrilineal descent.
Family Membership $300
Individual Membership $200
________I would like to renew membership in the Nassau Synagogue
________I would like to join the Nassau Synagogue
_____ If you are joining or renewing your synagogue membership, please check here if you would like your personal information included in the Membership directory.
By checking here you are agreeing to the terms and conditions as follows: that the main purpose of the directory is to make personal contact with other members to encourage social interactions, acknowledgement of celebrations and other meaningful events, and to encourage the promotion of shul related activities among those on the list. The list may not be shared with anyone who is not on the list, given to any organization without the prior consent of the Board, or used to promote political ideas or platforms.
CONTRIBUTIONS
To the General Fund: $_______________ To the Hebrew School: $ _____________
To the Kiddush Fund: $ ______________
Or contact Barbara Neiman, 477-9580 or
[email protected]
, if you would like to sponsor a full Shabbat Kiddush
In Honor of_____________________________________________________________
In Memory of___________________________________________________________
PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO THE NASSAU SYNAGOGUE and mail with a printout of this form to:
PO Box 670, Nassau, New York 12123.
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Sponsoring Kiddush
By Kate Rachel Lozier
We at the Nassau Shul pride ourselves on serving delicious Shabbat kiddush/light lunches. We rely on member volunteers to prepare and sponsor each one.
Sponsoring a kiddush is a wonderful way to remember a loved one's yahrzeit or celebrate family events like engagements, weddings, births, birthdays, bnai mitzvah, just to name a few reasons to shep naches. Furthermore, it can be a meaningful tribute to lay leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to leading our Shabbat services.
To schedule a date for which you will prepare and/or sponsor kiddush, contact Barbara Neiman at [email protected] or 518-477-9580.
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JEWISH PHILOSOPHY BOOK CLUB
By Bruce Huttner
"Another Year of Philosophizing.
Y
et Still No Closer To the Absolute Truth!
Oy, What a Headache!"
The Nassau Synagogue Jewish Philosophy Book Group continues intrepidly to explore the shadowy byways and back-alleys of philosophy; fearlessly treading the path of reason, regardless where it takes us! Without bias to any creed or culture, we stumble forward! We enjoy consuming excellent spirits and fine chocolates while shooting the breeze around our "Table of Highfalutin' Discussion."
We've taken a bit of a turn toward the East this year (no, not that east; keep going ... further ... a little further... Stop when you wet your feet in that other ocean). We began by reading a book on Tiantai Buddhism: Emptiness and Omnipresence, by Brook Ziporyn. Tiantai is perhaps the most popular form of Buddhism practiced in the East. We were curious about what Buddhism actually teaches, and whether there are truths in that great religion that speaks to us as Jews and Westerners. We followed that by Why Buddhism is True, by Robert Wright, professor of psychology at U-Penn. This recent book on Buddhism views some of its key concepts through modern theories of psycho-logy, especially to research in his field, "moral psychology".
Both books proved fascinating, opening (at least) my mind to new views of the world and my place in it. Buddhist thought does seem to fit very neatly into modern intellectualism, with its insistence on empiricism and pragmatism. Mindfulness certainly provides a new way of approaching worship and prayer.
The question facing the group, as we prepare to start a new book this spring, is whether to continue our work on Buddhism, or turn our attention elsewhere. What we choose will probably be the last book before our summer break.
If you have any interest in philosophy, theology, or the study of religion (our own and others!), now is an excellent time to join us. We meet every Monday at 7:30 PM at the shul, and guests are always welcome. There are no prerequisites for joining; just healthy curiosity, and a willingness to tackle new (sometimes strange) ideas. Email me and I'll get back to you: [email protected].
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2018 ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
SUNDAY, MARCH 25TH
at the
NASSAU SYNAGOGUE
10:00 AM BRUNCH
10:30 AM MEETING CONVENES
THE AGENDA INCLUDES:
ACTION: ELECT 3 MEMBERS
DISCUSS: SHUL LEGACY,
FINANCIAL STRATEGY
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Jonah Kimmelstiel on his engagement to Julie Dorfman
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To all who are in need of healing, including
- Ann Blaustein
- Rose Ann Roth
- Maya Layton
- Myrna Paris
Please send names of those needing healing to Pamela Tater at
[email protected]. Editor's note: In Jewish tradition healing can mean many things; it is possible even with lasting ailments.
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Yahrzeits
February 16 - June 13, 2018 (5778)
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We have now recorded all of the names and dates on our memorial plaques in the synagogue. We created a list from which we will include upcoming yahrzeits in the corresponding newsletters and weekly announcements.
To convert the Hebrew date to the Gregorian calendar, use this website:
https://
www.hebcal.com/converter/, or refer to a perpetual Jewish calendar.
It is traditional to mark yahrzeits with a charitable donation and/or to sponsor Kiddush in their memory. Please also let us know when you plan to say Mourner's Kaddish, so we can call for a minyan to assist you in honoring their memory of your loved one.
Adar
Gertrude Bogoslofsky 2
Ida Zuravin Miller 3
Philip Zuckerbrod 4
Morris Zweig 4
Ellen Snyder 7
Paula F. Pollack 11
Ethel Samuelson 11
Stephanie Dale Stambler 25
Irving Langbord 27
Adar Aleph
Abraham Joseph March 8
Stanley M. Srulowitz 15
Eli Lee Strock 28
Abby Fran Agata 29
Adar Bet
Jacob Joseph Samuelson 15
Nisan
Grace S. Fisher 1
Morris Cohen 2
Minnie Pollack 2
Lois Blomberg Seamon 2
David Schwartz 3
Fannie Paley 12
Jacob Foise 14
Fannie Brownstein 14
Donald Berl Lewanda 17
Sidney E. Levy 19
Edella Spiegel 22
Rose Cohen 27
Adele Gross 29
Lilyan L. Srulowitz 29
Iyar
Morris Mermelstein 1
Charles Becher 5
Edward Wilen 8
Manuel Berger 9
Morton Schips 9
Samuel Pollack 10
Harry Zweig 10
Leah S. Levy 15
Anna Koppel 22
Irving Huttner 23
Samuel Neiman 23
Max Miller 27
Harry Froim 28
Sivan
Mildred Hochberg 6
Max Honig 6
Isadore Paley 14
Edward E. Honig 15
George Berger 16
Theodore Seamon 17
Harry Pollack 19
Jennie Schips 20
Ella Berger 22
Thelma Huttner 24
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MANY THANKS FOR THE DONATIONS
- Irving and Myrna Paris, on behalf of Jack, Claudia, Lauren and Logan Paris of Hollywood, FL, for the spared lives of Lauren's friends, and in memory of her friends who were murdered.
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- Rita Marokko
- Barry & Janet Strock, Hebrew School fund
- Kenneth Strock, z"l, Hebrew School fund
- Adine Panitch, in Memory of David & Tillie Katzen, Max & Rose Panitch
- Arnold and Martha Proskin, in Memory of Paula & Harry Pollack
- Nancy Lord, in memory of Ruth Rosen & Kenneth Strock; in honor of David Fruchter's engagement to Amy Supraner
- Jesse Eisenheim, in memory of his father Kenneth Strock
- Sidney & Anne Richter, in honor of their grandchildren Seth & Ethan
- Laurie Kimmelstiel, Kiddush fund
- Fred & Ellen Levine, Judith Fisher Ehrlich, Ian & Judith Duckor, in honor of Jo Ellen Duckor's recent ordination as a Rabbi in New Zealand
- Cheryl, Dan & Alex Smith, general fund & Hebrew School fund
- Leslie Boyer, in memory of Ann Beth Deily
- Sid Markowitz, in memory of Ida & Jack Markowitz, Eileen Markowitz
- Brian and Karen Daniels
- (Sisters) Charlotte Ginsburg and Tillie Merrill, and (brother) Dr. Sam Schwartz, in honor of Ann Blaustein on her 90th birthday
- Sharon and Ben Cohen, Kiddush Fund
- The Sarachan Family in Memory of Ann Beth Deily
- William Panitch
- Irving & Myrna Paris, in memory of Morris Paris & in honor of Logan Paris
- Laura Schoenholt
- M&B Lewis Charitable Foundation, in honor of Margo Singer
- Rhonda Rosenheck & Max H. Jacobs, in memory of Kenneth Strock
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Laurie Kimmelstiel 914-260-8860
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Nassau Synagogue and Community Center
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12 Albany Avenue,
Nassau, NY 12123
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