E-SHALOM: JUNE 2019 Bulletin

Temple Israel Reform Congregation of Staten Island

315 Forest Avenue

Staten Island, New York 10301

tmplisrael@aol.com

‌

Rabbi Michael D. Howald Student Cantor Jennifer Benrey

Co-Presidents Jerry Gross and Alan Siegel

E-Shalom - JUNE 2019

Temple Israel’s Electronic Bulletin

“Shalom, Welcome to Temple Israel....” is a phrase taught to us by Carole Lachman, a beloved, long-time congregant and bulletin editor who died in 2002. We named our bulletin in her honor and worked to realize her vision of Temple Israel as a community that welcomes the stranger and lets no one stand alone. As we move to a new version of this tradition of communicating with our Temple Israel family, we continue to forward Carole’s vision, love and devotion for our synagogue.

A Message from

Rabbi Michael D. Howald

The subject of abortion has remained one of the most heated political and moral issue in this country for decades. In all the words spoken and the word written about this subject, however, it is rare to find any discussion about abortion from the perspective of Jewish law and thought. Despite what some people claim, Jewish law does not ban all abortions, nor does it consider abortion murder except in a narrow set of circumstances. As our national discussion turns once again to this difficult issue, an understanding of the Jewish perspective on abortion can inform our discourse and remind us that different faiths do not balance the considerations involved in the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy in the same way.

The Mishnah, written around 1800 years ago, expressly permits abortion in order to save the life of the mother. M Oholot 7:6. In Jewish law, a fetus has no legal status until the moment of birth. Before the baby’s head crowns, the life of the mother, on whose life the fetus depends, is primary. Once the baby’s head crowns, however, Jewish law does not permit an intentional choice between one life and the other since each life has equal status at that moment. Jewish law, accordingly, does not turn on the religious question of when life begins, but under what circumstances we give priority to the already existing life of the mother. Until the moment of birth, under Jewish law, the mother’s life takes precedence.

Jewish law, moreover, relies on a case by case approach, focusing on the facts of each individual case rather than issuing an outright ban in all circumstances where the mother’s life is not immediately at stake. Some rabbinic courts, for instance, have permitted abortion when carrying the fetus to term would imperil the health, rather than the life, of the mother. Rabbi Jacob Emden, writing in 18 ^th century Germany, concluded that abortion was even permissible when it would “save her [the mother] from an evil associated with it that would cause her great pain.” Rabbi David Feldman, seeking to explain Jewish law in this area, refers to the Jewish principle of tz’ara d’gufah kadim, “avoidance of her pain takes precedence” as a guiding consideration in reaching a decision about abortion. When bringing the pregnancy to term would bring great anguish, Rabbi Feldman concludes, Jewish law favors the mother. As he puts it, “[t]he fetus is unknown, future, potential, part of the “secrets of God”; the mother is known, present, human, and seeking compassion.” [1]

Based on these and other rulings, the Reform movement has supported the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe vs. Wade as an appropriate balancing of considerations on this sensitive and difficult issue. In 1975, the General Assembly of the UAHC (now the “Union for Reform Judaism” or “URJ”) issued a resolution expressing “confidence in the ability of the woman to exercise her ethical and religious judgment in making her decision [about abortion]”. While recognizing the right of religious groups whose beliefs differ from Judaism to follow the dictates of their own faith in this matter, the resolution also vigorously opposed any attempts to legislate the particular beliefs of those groups into civil and criminal law as a “clear violation of the First Amendment.” This remains the position of the Reform movement until this day.

Knowing the Jewish position on abortion reminds us that not all faiths reach the same conclusions about the difficult issue of abortion. Understanding the Jewish perspective on abortion can help inform our private and public viewpoint as this issue once again comes into the forefront of American political life. Those who want to become even more knowledgeable or involved can consult the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center for further resources and information about current advocacy and activism.

_________________________

[1] https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-parameters-of-abortion-in-judaism/

A Message from

Co-Presidents

Jerry Gross & Alan Siegel

…. And another year has come and gone. It seems that this has been one of the most active years in recent history. Both Sisterhood and Brotherhood members have been involved in numerous activities that have provided wonderful interactions for our adults and children. We now have a revitalized Fundraising Committee that has successfully completed several “FUN-raising” activities that were well-attended.

As a Congregation, we have participated in several Shabbat Shalom dinners, a Yom Ha’Shoah observance, observed a wonderful Purim Spiel with many of our school children participating, enjoyed our Senior and Children’s Choirs at Erev Shabbat services and honored members of our Congregation for their service to Temple Israel as well as the Staten Island Jewish Community. In addition, we have been very fortunate to join together at our High Holiday Services as well as other Holiday Festival Celebrations.

Temple Israel has benefitted from the generosity of long-time member Dr. Ronald Avis who very generously funded the establishment of the ‘Avis Foundation’ whose focus is the support of Temple Israel. Past Presidents Bryn Biren and Terry Baver have dedicated themselves to identifying and welcoming new members as well as providing varied activities both on- and off-site to enable them to positively interact with other members of our Congregation. We are the grateful beneficiaries of Ron’s vision and the efforts of Bryn and Terry.

As you are reading this column, we have also most-appropriately honored our Immediate Past President Bryn Biren at our Annual Gala Event held at the Vanderbilt for her tireless service to our Temple.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the support you have offered us as Co-Presidents of Temple Israel. As we enter the next phase of ensuring the continued presence of our Temple as a home for Reform Judaism on Staten Island, your participation becomes more important in helping to reach that goal. Remain active, attend religious services, enjoy our social events and encourage your unaffiliated friends to visit with us and consider joining our Congregation.

Please accept our best wishes for a pleasant, safe and relaxing Summer.

Jerrold Gross and Alan Siegel

Co-Presidents

CLICK HERE FOR THE END OF YEAR REPORTS PRESENTED AT THE CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HELD ON MAY 15TH

Notes from Student Cantor Jennifer Benrey

What a way to end this incredible year!

On May 31st, Kita Gimmel, my class of 5th, 6th, and 7th graders, will finally lead the service they have been working towards all year using the sissies they made, and I couldn’t be prouder. I spent the year teaching them a curriculum on prayer that I created for them that focused on spirituality and prayer leading. The students have created an incredible prayerbook that we hope to have in final draft form later this summer, which features drawings by our students and their unique interpretations of the Friday night prayers. This project has taken a lot of time and hard work, and the students have been meticulous in their work. I know that this project is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with prayer, and I hope that it will be the springboard for strong Jewish connections that the students will hold onto for the rest of their lives.

I’m very much looking forward to this busy month of June and all of the wonderful choral singing that the choir will be doing. Last month, we had so much fun singing and doing Israeli dance in the oneg celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut. I hope that there will be more dancing to come soon! There is, of course, much to celebrate this month, between Confirmation and Ethan Kaminsky’s Bar Mitzvah . We also get the opportunity to honor Bryn Biren, without whom all of our lives would be harder and certainly less fun. I can’t wait to be a part of the festivities at the gala.

Wishing everyone a Chodesh Tov.

B’shir,

Student Cantor Jen Benrey

Jodi Siegel & Shariann Ganz

Co-Presidents

Our end of year message in last year’s June Bulletin was so well-received, we hope you won’t mind just a few updates to reflect Sisterhood’s work during the 2018-2019 year.

______________________________________________________

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?

(Jonathan Larson, RENT)

As we reach the end of our fourth year as your Sisterhood Co-Presidents, we ask ourselves a similar question….How do you measure Sisterhood’s Year?

· In the thousands of chocolate gelt coins which filled our magnificent Chanukah mosaic mural?

· In the number of edits to our calendar because we keep adding events throughout the year?

· In Bingo cards and daubers and all the numbers called at our very first Bingo event ever at Temple Israel?

· In all the pins knocked down at our Bowling Bonanza chaired by one of our newest members?

· In the number of new glass coffee mugs we purchased?

· In the awards and acknowledgements our members receive because they go “above and beyond”?

· In the hundreds of questions asked as we learned “Everything We Always Wanted to Know About Shabbat But Were Afraid to Ask’?

· In the number of times we licked our brushes as we painted with chocolate at our “Wine & Chocolate Painting” Event?

· In the hours it takes to carefully apply for a WRJ Incubator Grant?

· In the amazing support we received from those men who have chosen to become “Friends of Sisterhood”?

· In the number of laughs provided by our guest comedian at our Paid Up Members Event?

· In the number of flyers created to advertise everything we do?

· In the organizations which benefited from our bi-monthly Tsedakah collections?

· In interesting and motivating programs presented at our monthly meetings?

· In the amount of cookies, cakes, fruit platters and cups of coffee at our beautiful weekly onegs?

· In the number of Chanukah candles which lit up our Chanukah/New Member Dinner?

· In hours of planning and set up for the Chanukah/New Member Supper, Tu B’Shevat Oneg, Passover Community Seder?

· In the number of times we update our SH membership list in order to add our new members?

· In the ‘Thank You’ notes and letters we receive from congregants and organizations?

· In the number of people who helped prepare meals to be served at local shelters?

· In the full agendas we have for every meeting?

· In conversations with custodians about correct set-ups for all events?

· In pounds of rummage sale items packed and unpacked and then packed up again to be shipped off for further donation?

· In the number of Shabbat Gift Bags presented to our new members?

· In Purim groggers and Simchat Torah flags?

· In the amount of steps taken at the Gift Show to find beautiful items for our Judaica Shop?

· In the conversations we have with Sisterhoods from other Temples to gain more knowledge and share new ideas?

· In the delight of our members as they received the most extraordinary and creative Shalach Manot gifts thoughtfully designed by our chairpersons?

· In the number of compliments our Sisterhood receives?

· In the hours of planning meetings with Brotherhood, the Rabbi, the Ritual Committee and the Temple Secretary?

· In the gifts purchased at our Judaica Fair?

· In the number of tablecloths laundered each week?

· In thousands of cups, plates, utensils we consistently provide for use by our entire congregation?

· In the names printed on our annual community New Year’s Card designed by a talented Sisterhood member?

· In phone calls and e-mails arranging for assistance with Sisterhood events?

· In traditions and rituals we try very hard to uphold at our Temple?

· In Shabbat and Yom Tov candles and blessings?

· In potato latkes, seder plates, apples, nuts and raisin packages?

· In contributions to the Youth, Education and Special Projects Fund of WRJ?

· In bottles of wine and juice for our Shabbat Kiddushes?

· In Raffle tickets sold for our fundraising events?

· In yards of aluminum foil and plastic wrap used for meals and platters and donations?

· In the number of tables filled with our members as we honor our members at community events?

· In all the Good & Welfare updates sent out to our members?

· In stamps for hundreds of mailings?

· In the Tanakhs, texts and Torah Commentaries given as gifts to B’Nai Mitzvah and Confirmation Students?

· In the number of times the words “thank you” are spoken?

· In the dozens of cookies carefully selected for each Oneg?

· In money raised at fundraisers to support all that SH does for our Temple?

· In the thousands of dollars spent on Journal Ads honoring our members and clergy?

· In the steps taken as we walk together to fight Breast Cancer together?

· In the tens of thousands of dollars we donate to our Temple?

· In the amendments made to our Constitution to make sure that we are serving our members and our organization the best of our ability?

· In the women who happily pay their dues for next year at our End of Year Dinner this year?

· In the writing and reading of the detailed minutes of every meeting?

· In the women who are always there for each other in times of need?

· In the arguments that take place because we all care so much?

· In the number of opening and closing prayers which sometimes bring tears to our eyes because of our love for our sisters?

· In the dues we pay to Women of Reform Judaism?

· In the laughter heard at our End-of-Year celebratory dinner?

· In SH members who sit on every committee at our Temple?

· In the number of hours put into planning a very special Sisterhood Installation Service?

· In the thousands of minutes spent in meetings or preparing for meetings or cleaning up from meetings?

· In communications between Florida and NY so everyone can stay in touch all year?

· In the birthday and anniversary celebrations each month?

· In the hours spent in cars driving to temple while schlepping boxes and packages and children and supplies?

· In the number of edits of a monthly bulletin article?

· In phone calls and e-mails to order kitchen supplies or oneg bakery and fruit orders?

· In the time spent preparing budgets and financial reports?

· In the polishing of the silver as we ready ourselves for the High Holidays?

· In the number of Sisterhood checks written?

· In the number of e-mail reminders about Oneg Serving?

· In the bagels and salads and pounds of lox and hours spent preparing breakfast for our monthly meetings?

· In the pride we feel when our own daughters become members of our Sisterhood?

· In the careful thought of a nominating committee who works hard to make sure SH will continue to thrive?

· In the hopes we have that our younger members will become more involved?

· In the hours upon hours of time the women of Temple Israel dedicate to making sure Temple Israel is there for us now and in the future?

So, how do you measure a year in the life of the Sisterhood of Temple Israel?

You measure it in love.

Thank you all for another amazing year in the history of the Sisterhood of Temple Israel and for having enough faith in us to allow us to continue to lead Sisterhood for another year.

In Sisterhood,

Shariann Ganz & Jodi Siegel

fekete804@aol.com jsiegel23@aol.com

Co-Presidents

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DATES TO REMEMBER

Sunday, June 2 ^nd - 10:30 a.m. – Temple Israel Annual Gala Brunch honoring Bryn Biren

Friday, June 14 ^th - 8:00 p.m.-T emple Board Installation Service

Tuesday June 11 ^th - Sisterhood End of Year Dinner -7:00 p.m. (Scroll down for Flyer )

Friday, June 21 ^st - 8:00 p.m. - Sisterhood/Brotherhood Installation Shabbat Service

Monday, July 8th- 7:00 p.m.- Sisterhood Officers & Directors Meeting (Mandatory!)

Saturday, September 14th - Sisterhood Shabbaton

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED - Summer Picnic Bingo

JUST CLICK ON FLYER TO DOWNLOAD OR PRINT!

THE BROTHERHOOD

Temple Israel – Reform Congregation of Staten Island

brotherhoodpresident.ti.si@gmail.com

We held a Dinner meeting in May and formalized the nominations for our Officers and Directors for 2019-2020.

On May 22 we will be holding our annual Men’s Night Out/ End of Year dinner at Cielo Restaurant. Thank you to Jerry Mulnick and Irwin Magnus for arranging this for us. It is sure to be a great evening of friendship and camaraderie.

The end of our year is upon us Please look out for information on our Paid up Membership Breakfast tentatively scheduled for Sunday June 23. Details will be available shortly.

This has been a very productive year for Brotherhood. I want to thank all of our Brothers who made this year successful and I look forward to another great year. We started the year with erecting the Sukkah for all of our Religious School Students to decorate and enjoy. We held our annual Simchat Torah Ice Cream Sundae Oneg. In December we provided the opportunity for every congregant to wish fellow congregants a beautiful Holiday Season with our Fantastic Chanukah Card and the children were delighted to be part of our Chanukah Party. Of course our always successful Purim Carnival was held in March. The Yellow Yom Hashoah Candle remembrance package was given out. We also shared in the gift for the Confirmands on Shavuot. During the summer we will hold our annual Family Barbecue.

Brotherhood is a vital affiliate organization to the Temple. Together we are strong and make a difference to our Temple Family.

Please share your ideas with us to enhance the Brotherhood experience.

Yours in Friendship and Brotherhood,

Jeff Ganz

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JUNE 2019

F or calendar updates click here .

To print a copy of this calendar, click here .

Mazel Tov to...

Elizabeth Feuer & Joel Tanzer on their marriage.

Judy Scher who received the First Generation award at the Nancy Avis L'Dor V'dor Brunch.

Ruth and Dominick Andriani on the Bar Mitzah service of their grandson, Ryan Feldman earlier this month.

Karen & Jerry Gross on the Bar Mitzvah service of their grandson,

Ethan Unger.

Our Avodah award recipients: Jennifer Cortijo, Joyce Miller, Pamela Rogozin, Jim Rohan, Steven Scher and Alina Shteynberg.

Pamela Carlton & Pamela Rogozin who were recognized as the Temple Israel honorees at the UJA Breakfast.

The Hand family on Skylar’s graduation.

The Rogozin Family on Shannon receiving her Master's Degree from

Seton Hall.

The Smith-Levine family on Alec's acceptance into NYU Medical School.

The Ricci Family on Gillian receiving the ETHOS award for her work at the Success Academy .

Get Well Wishes to...

Deborah Chernoff

Karen Frey-Gamoran

Rachel Pedicini, daughter of Linda & Alan Brill

Thinking of You...

Linda Scher

Susan Weinman

Pamela Carlton

SATURDAY, JUNE 8th - 7:30 p.m.

EREV SHAVUOT SERVICE & CONFIRMATION

SUNDAY, JUNE 9th - 10:30 a.m.

SHAVUOT SERVICE (Yizkor & Healing)

followed by a Bring a Dairy Dish to Share Luncheon

Click here for Shavuot Customs & Rituals

Click here for Shavuot History

Click here for Shavuot Food & Recipes

Click here for Shavuot Family Activities

$$$ EASY fundraising

1.Go to Smile.Amazon.com

2.Select "Change Your Charity"

3.Type in “Temple Israel Reform 4.Congregation of Staten Island"

5.Click Search

6.Click Select

7.Order as usual.

Temple Israel benefits!

If you have any questions about your membership or if you know a potential new member please contact our Financial Secretary Jennifer Straniere at tmplisfinsec@aol.com .

Please consider becoming a member of our KAVOD SOCIETY.

It helps to make membership available to all our families. Speak to our Financial Secretary to upgrade your membership.

It appears that Spring has finally sprung, and summer will soon be here.

June is an exciting month at Temple. Our Confirmation Class including Phineas Larson, Landon Levine and Noah Miller will become Confirmed on Erev Shavuot, Saturday Night June 8 ^th at 7:30 PM and they will be celebrated at the Oneg that follows. The Confirmands will be consecrated prior at the Erev Shabbat Family Service on Friday June 7 ^th which begins at 7:00 PM. We congratulate all our Confirmands and their families. Our Shavuot observance continues on Sunday morning June 9 ^th with a Shavuot Service including Yizkor and Healing starting at 10:30 AM. A Bring a Dairy Dish to Share Lunch follows the Service in the Social Hall.

Also, in June, Ethan Kaminsky will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday Shabbat morning June 15 ^th at 10:30 AM. We congratulate Ethan and all his family.

Additionally, Erev Shabbat Services will include the Installation of our Temple Board on June 14 ^th and the Brotherhood & Sisterhood installation on June 21 ^st .

Join us for all these special and important times in the life of our congregation.

We note that Yom Hashoah was observed at Temple Israel on Wednesday May 2 ^nd starting at 7:30 PM and included a discussion on “Why Remember”. Our guests for this discussion included:

Bethany Friedman , Founder, Shir Levav for Holocaust Survivors, Jennifer Hermus , Holocaust Educator, Susan Wagner High School, and Lori Weintrob , Director, Holocaust Center, Wagner College.

Our 30 ^th Annual Memorial Service followed in the Sanctuary led by Rabbi Howald and Student Cantor Benrey. Special thanks to Rabbi and Cantor and to Lori Weintrob and Jerry Gross who were instrumental in arranging for the program and to all those who helped with the set-up and clean-up.

Temple Israel also participated in the Community Yom Hashoah Observance held at the Bernikow JCC on Sunday May 5 ^th at 6:30 PM. The Program was “Conspiracy for Goodness – How French Protestants Rescued Thousands.” The guest speaker was Renee Silver. Co-President Jerry Gross had a reading, Rabbi Howald presented our Holocaust Torah and passed it on to the “Next Generation” represented by our Confirmation Student Phineas Larson. All our students were invited to participate in the candle procession held during the beginning of the observance. We thank Phineas’s siblings for participating.

We look forward to seeing you often at Temple.

Linda Brill and Jeffrey Ganz

Co-Chairpersons

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE:

Thank you to the following congregants for their assistance with ushering during services as well as for honoring the congregation with their presence on the Bimah in May:

Deanna Feder, Barbara Feigelman, Shariann Ganz, Jeffrey Ganz, Beverly Mazer, Joyce Miller, Judy Lee, Judy Pessah,

Blanche Ricci, Muriel and Maurice Schlefstein, Jodi Siegel,

Inez Singer, Alina Shetyenberg,

Jennifer Straniere and Rhonda-Trontz Allen.

Nina Rohan

Ushering Chair

JUNE 7, 2019

Carol Lee Kaminsky

Phil Kantrowitz

Charles Levin *

Julia Davis Stewart

Doris Lipp *

Eugenia Gavarlynsh

Ida Gross *

Eleanora Lesiak

Reg Freedman

Samuel Gamoran

Stanley Leigh Harrison

Murray Ganz

Mildred Gold *

Salvatore Menna

Jack Berger *

Louis Silverman *

And we remember from the Holocaust:

STANISLAW JAWORSKI

LEONICA BRAYNER

SHMUEL OFMAN

MARGARETE KELLER

MANDEL KATZ

JUNE 14, 2019

Edward Hackett

Dorothy Salmirs Kaner

Ignacio Vinocur

Abraham Weinman

Gertrude Claire Gross *

Paul Kutell

Irving Chazanoff

Samuel Tatt

Victor Gross *

Siegfried Katz *

Carole Lachman *

And we remember from the Holocaust:

KARL SPIRA ANNA ANJSBERG EVA MANASSE SHMUEL MERDLER HERMANN SEIDEL

JUNE 21, 2019

Harriet Leimsider

Gertrude Claire Gross *

Esther Snyder

Marcia Klein

Bea Levine

Evelyn Collins

And we remember from the Holocaust:

MOISHE WENGLINSKI KAROL SLOWIACZEK LINA PINO RACHELA BIEDAK BERISH HERBERT

JUNE 28, 2019

Louis Dichter *

Victor Gross *

Aaron Kessler *

Bruce Harper

Steven Motelson *

Louis Sugarman

Oscar Liebowitz *

Brian Robert Motelson *

Jack J. Freedland

Eli Grossman

Bernard Samith

Max Feuerstein

Joseph Heiferman

Ellen Pisetzner

David Marks

And we remember from the Holocaust:

SIMON HERZOG WALTER ALEXANDE JOSEPH CORON ARTHUR STOLDT BER MACHELIK

* These names are on our Memorial Wall.

We are sorry if your name was inadvertently omitted. Please contact Lara at the Temple Office to update your membership information.

The Sisterhood of Temple Israel would like to help you celebrate birthdays and anniversaries for you and your family.

You can share the joy of Shabbat and your birthday and/or anniversary by helping to sponsor an Oneg Shabbat on the Friday evening when we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries for that month.

In addition to sponsoring the Oneg, the names of those celebrating appear in the Friday night program and celebrants are invited to the Bimah.

A contribution of $10 for birthdays and $18 for anniversaries is suggested to honor your special occasion and help the Temple at the same time.

Letters are sent out early in the month prior and payment would be appreciated before the first Friday of the month of the celebration.

Friday, June 7

FAMILY SERVICE AT 7:00 P.M.

CONSECRATION OF THE CONFIRMANDS

AND CELEBRATION OF

FEBUARY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

Friday, June 14

KABBALAT SHABBAT 8:00 p.m.

TEMPLE BOARD INSTALLATION

ADULT CHOIR SINGS

ONEG SPONSORED BY

THE KAMINSKY FAMILY

Saturday, June 15

SHABBAT SERVICE 10:30 a.m.

ETHAN KAMINSKY will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah

Friday, June 21

KABBALAT SHABBAT 8:00 p.m.

BROTHERHOOD/SISTERHOOD INSTALLATION

ADULT CHOIR SINGS

ONEG SPONSORED BY

MAXINE COHEN

Friday, June 28

KABBALAT SHABBAT 8:00 p.m.

Services

on the

1st Friday of each month

now begin at

7:00 p.m.

No Shush Shabbat begins at 5:45.

Spring is here!

JOIN OUR

GREEN THUMB COMMITTEE

If you’re interested in planting and gardening to help beautify our Temple grounds, please contact Alan Siegel at ajsiegel1@aol.com

Temple Israel Sisterhood Judaica Shop

EVERY HOLIDAY

EVERY LIFE CYCLE

EVERY SIMCHA

Just what you need and just what they want!

The only place on Staten Island for all your Jewish gifts.

Special Orders available.

Some featured items this month:

Contact branchtr@aol.com or call the Temple Office at 718-727-2231.

At our Congregational Meeting held on Wednesday, May 15th, the following was presented:

As we read in Deuteronomy, a community is too heavy for anyone to carry alone. We at Temple Israel have always been blessed with congregants who have brought to our community willing hands and loving hearts. Their loving work has sustained us. They understand and accept their obligation to this community and have worked to ensure that we remain a vibrant Beit T’Filah, House of Prayer, Beit Midrash, House of Study and Beit K’Nesset, House of Community Gathering.

With this in mind, we present AVODAH Awards each year at our Spring Congregational Meetings. AVODAH means service….in the broad sense…service as in work and service as in prayer. These awards represent our acknowledgment of the extraordinary holy service given by these congregants to our Temple community.

The following is the text of the presentations made on the evening of May 15th:

Albert Einstein said that the only thing you have to know is the location of the library. And Cicero said that to add a library to a house is to give the house a soul. Books tell stories, they give meaning to life, and books visibly displayed express our reverence and appreciation for learning. For a religion that lived in the diaspora for more than 1800 years, books took the place of temples, monuments and governments.

Here at Temple Israel, our library has had a rich history. Barbara Tepper and Arnie Grossman took over caring for our library in 1997. They catalogued all the books at the time according to the Dewy Decimal system. A former congregant and child of holocaust survivors, Dina Rose, gave us funding for the Holocaust collection. Many congregants donated books over the years. And the library was named for our former and beloved Rabbi Marcus Kramer. Time passed. Arnie started to winter in Florida and recently Barbara has moved away from the island. Our library became increasingly disorganized and unused. Enter Steve Scher. Anyone who knows Steve knows he is a lover of books. One just needs to visit his home and look at his extraordinary book collection. Steve actually worked during college at New York City’s main library branch at 42nd Street. And, it has been our good fortune that Steve recently retired, and that he volunteered to take over responsibility for our library.

Steve recently hosted a morning at the reorganized, cleaned up and newly managed temple library. Any of us who attended felt great joy to see how beautiful the library looked. We hope everyone uses it.

For his willingness to take over responsibility for the temple library, we present Steve Scher with an Avodah award.

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In the first paragraph of the Shema Yisrael we read, “take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children.” The importance and value of education is strongly embedded in our faith and our culture. In 64 CE, six years before the destruction of the second temple, the high priest Joshua ben Gamiel, instituted a law that teachers should be appointed in every province and in every town and all children above the age of 6 or 7 were to be educated. After the Diaspora, universal literacy and emphasis on learning enabled us to survive. And to flourish. We have rightly glorified both teachers and students and we have always encouraged a life of learning. So the responsibility for our religious school has always been crucial to not only our survival as a congregation, but to our survival as a people.

Joyce Miller and Jennifer Cortijo are two congregants who have taken on the responsibility for our religious school here at Temple Israel. Joyce served as chair of the religious school for many years, working, at first, with Rebecca Hand. She was a quiet force always looking out for the intellectual and religious welfare of our children. She organized parent meetings, festival celebrations and was the inspiration for trips taken by our students. Jennifer is a new congregant, who has taken over the role of religious school chair. She first came to our congregation when she brought her children to our I-Shabbats. Fiercely dedicated to the education of her own children, she stepped up to help educate all our children. She is rallying the parents to create a strong committee taking our religious school into the future, working with Rabbi Howald to develop a new curriculum and working to continue the work done by past congregants who have cared so deeply about the education of our children. For their willingness to commit themselves to the transfer of the passion for learning on to the next generation, we honor Joyce Miller and Jennifer Cortijo with an Avodah Award.

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What can one say about Jim Rohan ? As Bryn says, he is a “GEM”. He is a talented musician, who volunteers so often and so lovingly and with such little worry or demands, that it is easy to take him for granted. But we do not.

Jim is a longtime choir member, an accompanist at Friday night services, the musician during the summer when we hold services in the social hall, the musician on Sunday mornings at the service for the religious school students and most lovingly, the musician at the I-Shabbats. He has served on the Cantor Selection Committee and helps to organize the Rock of Israel Band. He regularly attends Board meetings and supports every temple event.

Watching Jim with the children brings great joy to us all. They both respect and love him. It is a comfort to all of us when we see Jim in the sanctuary and know he will be a part of the service. Mother Theresa wrote, “I alone can not change the world but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”. For the many ripples Jim has created in our congregation and for his loving ways and the gift of music, we honor Jim Rohan with an Avodah Award.

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New congregant Alina Shteynberg , came to us with an idea. She wanted to introduce our children to the foods of other cultures, and in that way teach them about the way other people lived. We all know that food is imbued with significance beyond that of its nutritional value. It connects us to our identity, and plays a powerful role in how we think about ourselves and our family. Preparing food together and celebrating with the food allows people to connect with one another and create a deep sense of belonging. Especially in these times, learning about other cultures seems more important than ever. Learning about the foods of other cultures is a wonderful way to make new friends, deepen our appreciation and respect for others and have great fun in the process. Alina’s concept for her program has incorporated culture, personal family background and food preparation into an opportunity to learn about other nationalities.

Alina’s programs have been amazing. She has brought wonderful chef/teachers to our children. Her program, CulturEats, has been an exciting success. So many of the children loved it that Alina even presented one for adults. Innovative, creative, organized and a real “self-starter”, Alina has managed all the programs herself. She even had Aprons made for the kids with the Temple’s logo on them. She researched and prepared for each session and has agreed to continue the program next year.

For creating CulturEats and generously bringing the programs to our congregation, we honor Alina with an Avodah Award.

-------------------

The torah establishes chesed as one of the core values of human behavior. Some have suggested that it is hard to translate into English. It means something like “loving covenant obligation”. Acts of chesed are the active representations of a covenant among people. When we respond to others at a time of need we fulfill our humanity and can truly find the meaning of existence. No one exemplifies this value better than our next recipient, Pamela Rogozin .

In her role as chair of the Caring Community Committee Pam performs so many acts of kindness. Within the congregation, she arranges for visitors for those who are sick, she arranges for rides for those who need medical treatment, she prepares food for shivas and helps prepare homes for mourners when they return from the cemetery. As chair of the Social Action Committee, she arranges for cook-ins for Project Hospitality, helps collect and prepare backpacks for the children of the Silver Lake Headstart program, and is involved in any activity the congregation does that helps those in need.

Pam also cooks for sisterhood, cooks for meetings the Rabbi holds, helps out with the Adult Learning Committee and is always volunteering to help whenever she sense the need.

Past President Ann Targownik always said that a congregation was made up of people who had a mutual responsibility to each other and who were obligated to be there for each other; that we were in a covenant with each other. Pam embodies that value.

For her extraordinary dedication to acts of loving kindness, for her loving care for every member of our congregation, and for her belief in her responsibility to heal the world, we honor Pam with an Avodah Award.

REHEARSALS

Wednesday, May 29

Wednesday, June 12

6:45 p.m.

The Choir will be singing at services on

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

If you would like to join the Temple Israel Adult Choir, just come to any rehearsal...and all the rehearsals that follow!

The open Library hours will be

by appointment only

during the months of

June, July and August.

Contact Steve Scher at 347-683-0606 or stevescher12@gmail.com

Steve Scher

Chair

Thank you to everyone who helped and participated at for Night at the Races. We had a successful raffle and 50/50. Everyone had a wonderful time.

SAVE THE DATE

June 20, 2019

Enjoy an evening of good food at Jimmy Max and the Temple will receive a donation. See flyer below.

Respectfully submitted,

Rhonda Trontz-Allen-, Karen Frey-Gamoran, Lissa Winchel

Co-Chairs

Electronic Copies of this flyer will be accepted.

Click HERE to print or download.

We have just brought to a close an exciting and productive academic year at the Temple Israel Religious School. Many thanks to our excellent educators Brooke Lopez, Joanna Meltzer and Daniel Meltzer, Shariann Ganz, Student Cantor Jennifer Benrey, and Rabbi Michael Howald.

On May 19th, the Committee on Religious School selected its leadership for the coming academic year, who will serve from June 1st, 2019 through May 31st, 2020.

Continuing as Chair: Jennifer Cortijo

Fundraising Organizer/Treasurer: Marissa Solomon-Garcia

Recording Secretary: Marnie Blit

Corresponding Secretary: Samantha Sherer

Volunteer Liaison: Deborah Young

Assembly and Event Coordinator: Michelle Lee

Chesed Coordinators: Felicia Otto and Alina Shteynberg

Thanks to all who have taken on these responsibilities. There will be plenty of additional avenues for active committee participation going forward.

One of our classes, Kitah Gimmel, will be conducting a very special Shabbat service on May 31st at 8:00pm. They’ve been working for months on their own siddur. You won’t want to miss seeing the results of their hard work!

Mark your calendars for Saturday evening, June 8th, Erev Shavuot, which is also our Youth Confirmation. Please come to celebrate Shavuot and to support our confirmands Noah Miller, Phineas Larson, and Landon Levine.

If you have any questions or ideas, or would like to become more involved, I welcome your email emails: ti.si.school.bd@gmail.com

B’shalom

Jennifer Cortijo

Chair

Committee on Religious School

T he Social Action Committee at Temple Israel tries its best to help with things that our congregation and Rabbi are involved with in the community. This year we were involved with the Communities United for Respect and Trust Anti-Violence/Anti-Bias Summit held in October by helping to develop and organize the summit, distribute flyers and prepare a meal for the attendees. We attended and hosted the Loving Staten Island dinners, which is an interfaith program bringing together members of our community who want to enjoy a bring a dish to share meal and special programs with those from our community who have different religions. This program meets each month in a different house of worship, let us know if you would like more information about this program. We helped collect and deliver food and personal items to Coast Guard Employees. While the Government Shutdown was in effect we collected food and personal items at the temple to donate at Ft. Wadsworth to help those in the Coast Guard who were in need. We have attended meetings about things that are occurring within our community and in the world and been to services to pray for those who have been cruelly attacked.

Our Social Action Committee continues to provide Backpacks at the end of the year to the Silver Lake Head Start program graduates who use our classrooms during the week for their program. Thanks to generous donations by our congregants we have been able to do this mitzvah now for a number of years and hope to be able to continue for years to come. We will be attending their graduation ceremony on June 20 ^th and welcome anyone from the congregation who wishes to join us in congratulating these students on their “step up”.

We have provided food for the poor numerous times this year including dinner for 2 centers on Christmas day. This mitzvah is only accomplished with the help of congregants who give of their time to prepare and deliver food for those less fortunate than ourselves. We are blessed to have congregants who come whenever there is a need.

We continue to collect diapers, although we have not had too many contributions of this type recently. If you have diapers to donate, please leave them at the Temple at any time.

Of course, none of the things Social Action does could be accomplished without the generous donations of our congregants. Please help us continue our important work for our community by donating both your time (for food prep events if you are available) and funds. Thank you so much for your support!

The Social Action Committee is always ready to hear about a social cause that you would like to help with. Please do not hesitate to let us know your ideas.

Pamela Rogozin , Committee Chair

The Adult Learning Committee met on May 16th at Judy Pessah's home. Thank you Judy for hosting. We held a book discussion of "The Lemon Tree," by Sandy Tolan. This is a non-fiction telling of the Middle East conflict using the story of an Arab and a Jewish family who once lived in the same house. It's a fascinating history of the competing claims for Israel and Palestine and we highly recommend it. May was a busy month.

On May 21st we had the opportunity to tour the Noble Maritime Collection at Snug Harbor and then heard a fascinating presentation on Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean by Sherrie Baver who has done research in this area. Thank you Sherrie and special thanks to the Avis Foundation which supported this delightful evening.

On May 30th we visited Urban Glass in Brooklyn for a tour of this glass making facility. We followed this with a delicious lunch at Juniors.

We are in the process of planning many events for the fall. One of the most exciting will be a mini Yiddish course.

For more information or if you have suggestions for programs please contact

Cheryl at cherylmlevine@gmail.com , or Judy at judithpessah@gmail.com .

Thank you.

Cheryl Levine

Judy Pessah

Co-Chairs

It has been a difficult year for our Temple Israel community. We have lost many friends and relatives and our hearts go out to all of the families of the departed. May their memories be a blessing.

We want to thank all of those at Temple Israel who help when we ask. You truly make our Temple a Caring Community.

At Temple Israel we take pride in our ability to come together to help our members in times of need. Whether it be for a Shiva, for an illness or for a hospitalization, we do our best to help our fellow congregants, our Jewish Family.

When illness or other misfortune strikes a member of our community, we try to help by arranging with volunteers to provide rides to doctors and hospitals, driving family members to visit patients, visiting those who are homebound, picking up needed items or asking members to cook for those who need to feed their families during an illness.

Caring Community is financially supported by the generous donations of many of our congregants and is often funded through a “pay it forward” mentality by those who have been helped.

When a family suffers a loss, Caring Community is there to support the mourners. We help provide food for after the funeral, or just for the family, within an amount budgeted by Caring Community for each Shiva. If the family was active in Brotherhood, Sisterhood or the Temple Board additional food or refreshments may be sent to the family according to the policies of those groups.

When a Congregant loses a family member we try our best to help them in any way we can. If people (often including Temple members) are coming back to the house after the service we try to provide a repast for them. Sometimes we bring dinner just for the family. We discuss with the mourner what they want done and if it is within the budget for the Shiva, Caring Community supplies what is requested. If it is beyond that budget, we tell the family that we can supply what they want but they will have to contribute.

Some people don’t want much put out even when we offer, while others want a large amount of food available for anyone who visits. Sometimes additional food is provided by family or friends.

Often members of our Temple help to set up and clean up at the Shiva to take that burden off of the family so they don’t have to worry about anyone but themselves. They help by putting things out that were provided by Caring Community, that people bring or that the family has brought, keeping things tidy, setting up coffee, cleaning up at the end of the Shiva and doing what they can to make a difficult time easier for the bereaved. Caring Community does its best to help where we can.

So if you go to a Shiva and there is nothing on the table, it is because the family wanted it that way. If there is a table overflowing, it is because the family wanted it that way and we may have supplied it but didn’t necessarily pay for it. We do kosher or non kosher as the family requests. We try to do what we can to help ease the difficulty our congregants are struggling with when losing a loved one.

May you all be blessed with health and happiness.

Pamela Rogozin

Click here for information on No Shush Shabbats.

No Shush Shabbat Volunteers Needed

No Shush Shabbat is a half hour Shabbat service conducted by Rabbi Howald the first Friday night of each month for special needs children and their families (ages 4-14 are welcome). It has been highly successful and has been on going for about two years. A number of congregants have been our permanent “ helpers” at these services, and it is time to expand our pool of volunteers. Primarily the task is to be present to aid Rabbi with some behavior management and help serve the challah and juice at the end of the service. Of course the parents are present so primary responsibility is to also be role models during the service. We have established very positive relationships with these children and families a number of whom have joined our synagogue. It is open to the entire Staten Island Jewish community not just Temple members.

If you would like to be part of our volunteer corps please contact Judy Scher @ Drjudysi@gmail.com . It is a pleasant and rewarding experience for anyone who has experience with special needs children or would like to learn (young adults interested in this field are welcome).

Also, if you know anyone in the community who would benefit from this experience who are not Temple members, please let them know about this special service.

Thank you

Judy Scher, Joanna Meltzer, & Inez Singer

Click here for information about I*Shabbat!

FRIDAY, MAY 31

ORIGINAL SHABBAT SERVICE CONDUCTED BY

KITTAH GIMMEL - 8:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

NO SHUSH SHABBAT - 5:45 p.m.

FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE - 7:00 p.m.

Consecration of the Confirmands

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

EREV SHAVUOT SERVICE &

CONFIRMATION

7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

SHABBAT SERVICE with Temple Board Installation

8:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

SHABBAT SERVICE

10:30 a.m.

Ethan Kaminsky will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

EAT & RAISE SOME DOUGH

Temple Israel Fundraiser at Jimmy Max

Noon - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

I*SHABBAT - 6:00 p.m.

SHABBAT SERVICE with Brotherhood/Sisterhood Installation

8:00 p.m.

Are you stressed?

Do you want to build your core strength?

Join Us.

Wednesdays 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Sundays 6:00 -7:00 p.m.

Free for Temple Israel Members

Non-members - $15

Bring your own Yoga Mat

Both sets of classes are for

ADULT ONLY.

Both chair and mat students are accommodated at each class.

For more information, contact

Bryn Biren

718-727-2231

Click on flyer to download or print.

Contributions to Temple Israel as tributes, dedications or memorials are welcome and are published in the weekly Shabbat program.

Donations can be dedicated to the general Temple Israel Fund or to any of the following specific funds:

Adult Education Fund
Building Preservation Fund
Caring Community Fund
Carole Lachman Memorial Fund
Choir Fund
Estelle A. Gootenberg Memorial Fund (for Torah Repair/ Restoration)
Gerald J. Lustig Memorial Fund (for Ark & Ark Doors)
Liheyot Fund
Membership Fund
Prayerbook Fund
Rabbi Marcus Kramer Memorial Library Fund
Shoah Education Fund
Scholarship Fund
Social Action

A $5.00 minimum donation is requested for these funds. Checks for donations to any of these funds should be made payable to Temple Israel.

PRAYERBOOKS may be dedicated in honor or memory of a special person or occasion. For specific prayerbooks and donation amounts, look for the Prayerbook icons found in this bulletin

Please make checks for Donations to the RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND payable to that fund.

Donations in any amount may be made to SISTERHOOD OF TEMPLE ISRAEL or BROTHERHOOD OF TEMPLE ISRAEL with checks made payable directly to the affiliate organization.

For a leaf on the TREE OF LIFE in honor of a simcha, please scroll down.

For permanent MEMORIAL PLAQUES on our Family Memorial Wall or Original Memorial Wall, please call the Temple office at 718-727-2231.

To see list of all recent

Tributes and Program

Donations to Funds...

CLICK HERE

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