Temple Israel Reform Congregation of Staten Island
315 Forest Avenue
Staten Island, New York 10301
tmplisrael@aol.com
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Rabbi Michael D. Howald Student Cantor Jennifer Benrey
Co-Presidents Jerry Gross and Alan Siegel
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E-Shalom - AUGUST 2018
Temple Israel’s Electronic Bulletin
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“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.
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A Message from
Rabbi Michael D. Howald
The interaction between state law and religious principle asks all of us, each day, to decide what guidance we will follow. When they come into conflict, when Jewish tradition directs us in one direction and government rules and regulations point us in another, how do we resolve the clash between the two systems of regulating and advising our actions? In Christian tradition, some refer to a verse in Romans, chapter 13, verse 1, which counsels respect for the governing law of the state: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Do the sages and texts of Jewish tradition agree or disagree with this approach? As residents of the United States and Reform Jews, knowing the answer to this question may inform how we think about state and federal laws we both oppose and support.
Before the people of Israel demanded a king to rule over them, the God of Israel warned them that a mortal sovereign would take their sons as his charioteers and horsemen, and their daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. Even more, the divine prophecy continued, the king will seize your choice fields and a tenth part of your grain and vintage and you will become his slaves. (1 Samuel 8:11-14). The people nevertheless clamored to be like the other nations surrounding them and God reluctantly acceded to their demand for a monarch to govern and lead them. Even during the days of the kings and queens of Israel and Judah, however, the prophets repeatedly dared to challenge the sovereign when greed or lust led him or her astray. In response, the monarchs often asserted their civil authority against the prophetic voice but did not claim that religious law demanded obedience to edicts of the throne at variance with Jewish law.
When Israel lived among the nations, ancient Jewish communities asked their religious authorities if they were obliged to obey the law of foreign empires, particularly about civil matters and taxation. In ruling on this issue, Shmuel, one of the sages of ancient Babylonia, held that “דינא דימלכותא דינא,“ “
dina d’malchuta dina
--the law of kingdom is the law.” Jews, he ruled, were therefore required to pay duly levied taxes to the government under whose protection they lived, even if the taxes were calculated in a way different than Jewish law.
This basic ruling, however, did not end the issue. What if the taxes were calculated in an arbitrary way? Then, the Talmud rules, one may refuse to pay, even to the point of trickery or lying. A Jew living in exile should seek the peace of the city in which they live for their own security and protection yet they were not obligated, on that account, to obey laws which placed a discriminatory burden on the Jewish community. In trying to prize a principle from these rulings, later authorities concluded that the universally applicable laws of the state, at least about monetary, civil, and real-estate regulations, were binding on the Jewish community because the people willingly accepted the duly promulgated statutes and ordinances of the sovereign and they offered a valid alternative to Jewish law without violating religious principle.
The doctrine of
dina d'malchuta dina
, however, does not automatically validate all the laws of the state. To compel obedience as a religious obligation, Jewish law holds the laws must be just, equitable, and applicable to all citizens and residents of the state. Unjust and discriminatory laws, on the other hand, do not create a religious duty and may be passively or actively resisted consistent with other Jewish values. For that reason, most Jewish authorities hold that the rulings of despots and the unfair edicts of even duly selected leaders do not constitute a binding responsibility under Jewish law.
Many in the Christian community interpret their texts in a similar way, concluding that the verse in Romans cited above must be read in the context of other teachings on the law and justice. Perhaps the foundation laid by Jewish law may assist in their interpretation of their tradition. For the Jewish community, however, the doctrine of
dina d’malchuta dina
, “the law of the state is the law,” does not amount to a blanket endorsement of all rules and regulations issued by the government. As a people, accordingly, we will continue to wrestle with our conscience and our religious principles as we decide which laws we will willingly obey and those we will resist or oppose.
B’Shalom,
Rabbi Michael Howald
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A Message from
Co-Presidents
Jerry Gross & Alan Siegel
From a President’s view sometimes, it is hard to discern where one group’s work starts and another ends – kind of like one of those famous Escher designs….but that is not a bad thing.
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We are blessed at Temple Israel with dedicated people who carry out tasks behind the scenes.
You have all seen the Bulletin articles by the Ritual Committee after the High Holy Days that thank over a hundred congregants for participating in the services, but did you ever think about the time and effort it takes to get the cues and parts to the participants? And beyond that, the work of weaving together the efforts of those who mail out the tickets, put the Memory Book together, organize the Tashlich bread & cake and the Break-the-Fast nosh, choir rehearsals, and the Sukkot dinner, as well as coordinate with the custodian the different setups for each special service from Selichot to Simchat Torah -- and there are FOURTEEN of them (we counted!). And that doesn’t include putting up and decorating the Sukkah, polishing the silver, cleaning the Torah covers and many other facets of preparation for the holidays.
And while the upcoming flurry of activity may revolve around the Holidays, please do not forget our other Temple committees – Caring Community, Social Action, Membership, Adult Learning, Liheyot, etc., etc., etc., who work year-round.
We are grateful to those who are already active, and to Brotherhood & Sisterhood who play key parts in much of the Holiday preparation and ritual, as well as every day in the congregation.
It takes a village to run Temple. And we have a spot for your talents and experience. Just ask!
Sincerely,
Jerry Gross and Alan Siegel
Co-Presidents
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Notes from Student Cantor
Jennifer Benrey
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Shalom, Temple Israelites!
For those whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jennifer Benrey, and I am incredibly excited to be your student cantor beginning this September!
I was born and raised in Miami Beach, FL, and come from a diverse Jewish background. My mother is a Hungarian Ashkenazi Jew and my dad is a Cuban Turkish Sephardic Jew. I am what we in Miami refer to as a "Jewban". My Judaism is influenced by both my Reform Jewish upbringing and also by the customs and culture of my Cuban Turkish Sephardic family. I am fluent in Spanish and grew up reading the haggadah for both Rosh Hashanah and Pesach in 4 languages: English, Hebrew, Spanish, and Ladino.
I am currently in my 4th year of cantorial school at the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at HUC-JIR. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Florida State University in 2013, where I earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree in Choral Music. I had the pleasure of teaching Jewish and secular music (and math) in Miami in various capacities prior to my cantorial studies while also serving as the assistant conductor of two Jewish community choirs and leading services regularly at several synagogues across Miami. Choir is a huge passion of mine, and I am very much looking forward to working with the adult choir this year!
I am currently spending my summer as the cantorial intern at Central Synagogue in Manhattan and have served as the cantorial intern for the past two years at Temple Beth-El in Jersey City. I have been very lucky to have had incredible clergy mentors and congregants in these communities and in other communities where I have served. I currently live in Jersey City and am engaged to my fiancé, Dan, who is from St. Louis. He is also a cantorial student and very much looks forward to meeting you all soon!
I consider myself extraordinarily fortunate to be able to grow as a cantor at Temple Israel and am excited to get to know you all and your families and to rejoice together in song!
B'shirah,
Student Cantor Jennifer Benrey
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Jodi Siegel & Shariann Ganz
Co-Presidents
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WITHOUT YOU, WE ARE ONE PERSON SHORT!
The
Sisterhood of Temple Israel would like to encourage every woman (and man) to join Sisterhood this year. Your Sisterhood dues will provide necessary financial support for our Temple and your Sisterhood. When you join Sisterhood you become part of a national and international network of 100,000 women in 14 countries (
Women of Reform Judaism
) who work to create a stronger worldwide Jewish community. We need you to help continue our commitments to our Temple, our community, our youth and ourselves.
For our Temple, we coordinate all Shabbat Onegs, run the Judaica Shop, sponsor all kiddushim, arrange Yom Kippur break-the-fast, organize holiday dinners, hold monthly meetings with programs, sponsor special events and activities throughout the year, provide all kitchen and social hall supplies, create and provide amazing Shalach Manot, maintain all ritual judaica, make annual monetary donations to support our synagogue....just to name a few.
For our Community we give tsedakah to worthy organizations on a monthly basis, participate in charity events across Staten Island and beyond, organize food preparation events and provide meals to feed hundreds, hold the most beautiful community Passover Seder on Staten Island, collect non-perishable food to supply food pantries, hold rummage sales making gently used clothing and household goods accessible to all, we support Project Hospitality, The American Cancer Society, and The WRJ Yes Fund supporting the Youth, Education and Special Projects including the education of our Student Cantors and Rabbis.
For our Youth, we provide b'nai mitzvah and confirmand gifts, support the Head Start program housed in our building with supplies and volunteers, we welcome all our new religious school students with gifts, assist with and support all school-related holiday celebrations including Sukkot decorations, Simchat Torah, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot.
For ourselves, we offer funding for those members of our leadership who attend URJ and WRJ Events, a variety of programs such as membership dinners, social and cultural activities, walking clubs, mah jongg groups, and much more. We offer complimentary membership for the first year to all our new Temple members.
Our programming becomes more extensive every year – just check our calendar. All fundraising events and activitities, including Judaica Shop purchases, support our Sisterhood. Building toward a better future requires involvement from us all. We need you to become an active member of our Sisterhood Family. Please send your separate $40 dues check (made out to
Sisterhood of Temple Israel)
when you send back your commitment package. And for all the men of our congregation, please join us as a Friend of Sisterhood for only $36. This entitles you to participate in all our meetings and programs!
To our many loyal and dedicated members, we thank you for your commitment to Sisterhood. To those of you who haven’t yet joined us, please know that we need you in order to maintain all our Sisterhood traditions and to to help us create new ones!
In Sisterhood,
Shariann Ganz &
Jodi Siegel
Co-President
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For all Sisterhood Calendar Events August-December 2019,
click here
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SISTERHOOD’S
PAID UP MEMBERS’
DINNER AND PROGRAM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18TH
7:00 p.m.
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THE BROTHERHOOD
Temple Israel – Reform Congregation of Staten Island
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Our Annual Summer Barbeque was held on Sunday July 15. Everyone that came had a great time and enjoyed the delicious food that was served. A big thank you goes to Kevin Lipsitz for spearheading this event, and being the grill master of the day. Thanks also go to Larry Flaum, Larry Hanibal, my wife Shariann and everyone else who helped with set up and clean up.
As we enjoy the balance of our summer time weather, any vacations you may have planned or just chilling, let’s look forward to another exciting year for Brotherhood.
Brotherhood dues are only $45 and cover many of the events and celebrations that we sponsor for the Congregation and the children of our Temple. You can submit your dues now so that you are assured of being part of our wonderful affiliate of our Temple.
I look forward to seeing everyone at our Kick Off Breakfast on Sunday September 16
th
AT 10:00 A.M. This will be a joint Breakfast with Sisterhood and then we will have our own meeting after we enjoy Breakfast together.
Brotherhood is a vital affiliate organization to the Temple and I strongly urge everyone to become a member. We hold monthly meetings to take care of business, but more importantly to offer a bonding experience with your fellow men of the Temple Family.
Please share your ideas with us to enhance the Brotherhood experience….
Yours in Friendship and Brotherhood,
Jeff Ganz
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AUGUST
2018
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Mazel Tov
To Maxine Cohen on the marriage of her son Jesse Blum to Alina Keating on July 11.
To Rochelle Maltz on the engagement of her son, Jonathan Maltz of Haifa, Israel to Elisheva Ackerson of Netanya, Israel.
To Jenna Rose Silberman, daughter of Janice Gross, on her engagement to Dr. Jeremy Semeiks.
Thank You
To Jim Rohan for being the musical voice of Summer Shabbat Services.
Get Well
To Laura Glatt, recovering from a stroke.
To Nina Rohan, recovering from foot surgery.
Welcome
To Student Cantor Jennifer Benrey,
who has started rehearsing the choir for the High Holy Days.
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By this time you should have received your notification of Annual Commitment and family verification updates. If you did not receive your packet please call the Temple Office and ask Lara to send another packet to you. Please make sure she checks your address to make sure it is correct.
If you have any questions about your individual commitment please contact me at
tmplisrfinsec@aol.com
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I am available to review any questions or concerns you might have.
Don’t forget to complete
School Forms
for any children attending Religious School and Hebrew School and that Sisterhood and Brotherhood dues require separate checks payable directly to those organizations.
If you are sending in postdated checks please make sure they are dated for the 15th of each month. Please remember that our fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30th.
The last payment should be dated June 15, 2019.
The High Holidays are early this year so we are hoping to have your commitment arrangements settled so that we may provide your High Holiday tickets in a timely manner.
Please be reminded that your High Holiday Tickets will be sent to you upon your renewal of your annual commitment.
If you are in need of additional tickets for the High Holidays please send in your request with a check and the name of the person who will be using the ticket. The prices are on the payment schedule that you received in your packet. If you have any questions please use the email listed above. Additionally, if you know of anyone who is looking for a spiritual and meaningful high holiday experience, please let them know that tickets for our services are available to non-members as well. The Temple Office number is 718-727-2231.
We urge you to consider becoming a member of the Kavod Society or to upgrade your current status. This additional funding allows us to assist some of our other members.
Looking forward to a wonderful year.
Jennifer Straniere
Financial Secretary
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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.
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Happy August to all! As the summer continues the Ritual Committee along with Rabbi Howald continue to plan for the High Holidays. We will be using the Machzor Mishkan HaNefesh for all the High Holiday Services this year and this requires the updating of honors and cues.
You have received information by mail about the annual Memory Book that is distributed during the Yizkor Service on Yom Kippur afternoon. The Memory Book is an opportunity to remember family and friends. To participate in the Memory Book please follow the instructions provided in the mailing and return immediately to the Temple Office in the envelope provided.
The Ritual Committee thanks Jim Rohan for providing musical leadership for Erev Shabbat Services during the months of July and August. Please note our new Student Cantor Jennifer Benrey will be joining us for Services starting in September. In addition, we thank Jeffrey Ganz and Libby Gershansky for leading Friday night Shabbat Services with Jim on July 6
th
and July 13
th
respectively while Rabbi Howald was on vacation.
The lay leaders who led Saturday Morning Torah Study in the month of July were JR Rich, Muriel Schlefstein and Alan Tepper. The Saturday morning Shabbat Services were led by Muriel Schlefstein and Pamela Carlton. We thank them all for their dedication and generosity of time.
On Saturday July 21
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at 7:00 PM Rabbi Howald led a Tish B’Av Learning Session with the theme “Visions of a Temple Rebuilt”.
Finally, please note the preparatory High Holy Day evening Service of Selichot will be observed during the Labor Day Weekend on Saturday evening September 1
st
. More information will follow. Please plan to join us.
Jeffrey Ganz and Linda Brill
Co-Chairpersons Ritual Committee
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE:
We thank the following congregants for their assistance with ushering during services as well as for honoring the congregation with their presence on the Bimah during the since the last E‑Shalom:
Paul Bierman, Deanna Feder, Joseph Gamoran, Shariann Ganz, Beverly Mazer, Pamela Rogozin, Jodi Siegel and Inez Singer.
Nina Rohan
Ushering Chairperson
Jeffrey Ganz and Linda Brill
Co-Chairpersons Ritual Committee
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SELICHOT
Saturday, September 1
Light Repast
Havdalah
Learning, Music and Prayer
7:00 p.m.
(Open to Community)
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EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Sunday, September 9
8:00 p.m.
Service
*
ROSH HASHANAH
Monday, September 10
10:00 a.m.
Service
*
and
TASHLICH
(Supervised activities for young children Pre-K to 2nd Grade in room 7-8)
Tuesday, September 11
10:30 a.m.
Learning Service
(Open to Community)
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KOL NIDRE
Tuesday, September 18
Kol Nidre Service
*
8:00 p.m.
YOM KIPPUR
Wednesday, September 19
Morning Service
*
10:00 a.m.
Children’s Service
1:30 p.m.
(Open to Community)
Afternoon Service
*
4:00 p.m.
Yizkor/Neilah
followed by a light “Break-the-Fast"
5:30 p.m.
(Open to Community
)
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EREV SUKKOT
Sunday, September 23
Dairy-Dish-to Share Dinner
6:00 p.m.
Service
7:30 p.m.
SUKKOT
Monday, September 24
Morning Service
10:30 a.m.
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EREV SIMCHAT TORAH
Sunday, September 30
Service
Consecration of New Students and
Dancing with the Torah
Music from
Rock of Israel
followed by an Ice Cream Oneg
6:00 p.m.
SIMCHAT TORAH
Monday, October 1
Yizkor Service
followed by a Dairy-Dish-To-Share Luncheon
10:30 a.m.
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*
High Holiday Tickets are necessary for these services.
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CONGREGATIONAL CUSTOMS AND CONSIDERATIONS
FOR THE HIGH HOLY DAYS
As the High Holy Days approach, we would like you to be aware of how our ushers will be monitoring movement in and out of our sanctuary during services to maintain an atmosphere of prayer and worship.
As we do throughout the year, ushers will ask that congregants do not enter or leave the sanctuary when the congregation is standing, a silent meditation is in progress, or Rabbi is delivering a sermon.
And while we do not normally do this the rest of the year, due to the large attendance and full pews, at these services we ask that you refrain from movement in or out while the Cantor and/or choir are singing so as not to interrupt your fellow congregants’ appreciation of the musical pieces.
You are also reminded that Jewish tradition also calls on worshippers not to turn their back to the Ark when it is open or while a Torah scroll is open (during the actual reading). Ushers are instructed not to allow entry during those times, as well as holding those wishing to exit at the doors as well. Of course, exceptions are made for those unable to stand comfortably, or who have an urgent need to leave.
If you have a child with you, and he or she becomes restless or unhappy, we ask that if you cannot comfort them quickly, that you take the child outside for a few minutes until they are ready to quiet down again. Ushers will be happy to assist you if you need help with diaper bags, carriages, etc. Parents are also reminded that ushers do not monitor children who leave the services without supervision. Their safety remains your responsibility. Youngsters will not be permitted to remain in the lobby area if they become noisy, since that disturbs those seated near the doors.
Finally, please note that during the services, congregants are requested to stay off the patio area. Movement in this area is distracting to those seated near the windows.
We hope that this gives you a better insight into the ushers’ role in maintaining an undisturbed worship experience for our congregation.
The Ritual Committee wishes everyone a healthy and happy New Year.
Linda Brill and Jeff Ganz
Co-Chairs, Ritual Committee
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MISHKAN HANEFESH
As you may recall, two years ago a new prayer book,
Mishkan HaNefesh, Machzor for the Days of Awe
was introduced and used for the evening Service of Rosh Hashanah and for the Kol Nidre Service of Yom Kippur. Last year this prayer book was used not only for those Services, but also for the afternoon and Yizkor/Neilah Services of Yom Kippur. This year
Mishkan HaNefesh, Machzor for the Days o
f
Awe
will be used for all High Holy Day Services. This prayer book comes as a two-book set, one book for each of the High Holy Days and was published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis in 2015 through the CCAR Press. Please join us and continue to experience what this prayer book has to offer for our prayer experience.
The Ritual Committee of Temple Israel
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Click directly on the flyer to print or download.
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CELEBRATE A
SWEET NEW YEAR
WITH A
HONEY GIFT BAG
$10 each
AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR JUDIACA SHOP
Limited quantities available
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You have received information by mail about the annual Memory Book that is distributed during the Yizkor Service on Yom Kippur afternoon. The Memory Book is an opportunity to remember family and friends. To participate in the Memory Book please follow the instructions provided in the mailing and return it immediately to the Temple Office in the envelope provided.
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AUGUST 3, 2018
Roslyn Mendelsohn
Victor G. Bloom
John Garand Rowan *
Shirley Ann Hirsh *
Sylvia Marcus
Jacob Price *
Augusta Levinson
Shimonov Mashiach
Yetta Weiss *
Jimmy Smith
Stella Blumin
And we remember from the Holocaust:
BERTA SCHWARZ
STANISLAW KUCHARSKI
FRIMA SCHAECHTER
ZALMAN LEW
JOSEF HIRSCH
AUGUST 10, 2018
Jean Baruch *
Rose Jaeger *
Stanley Schuster
Augusta Straniere *
Augusta Straniere *
Marion Cohen
Emanuel Trachman *
Lila Avis *
Lila Avis *
Celia Holtz *
Isadore Marks Dumont
Louis Friedburg
Alter Pisetzner
Cynthia Roiter
Claire Eisen *
Celia Holtz *
And we remember from the Holocaust:
LOUIS FORTUIN
ZOFIA NABEL
ENDRENE SCHREIBER
RICHARD LEVY
WLADYSLAW CYMEK
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AUGUST 17, 2018
Solomon Jacob Gross *
Mina Dashman Katz *
Harriet Taylor
Lewis Dickar *
Jack Kleinman *
Vernon Scholar *
Ida Singer *
Morris Singer *
Gertrude Sappin *
Royal Slamow *
Sidney Wolchok
Fannie Feldhamer *
And we remember from the Holocaust:
BELANE NEU
ILONA WEISZ
BERTHA FRANKENHUIS
VROUKJE DWINGER
KAROLYNE JONAS
AUGUST 24, 2018
Renee Nadel
Norman Sorkin
Audrey Lasher *
Max Baskin
Yetta Kaplan *
Joseph Silberberg
Bertram Bleiman
Emil Checchi
Sarah Miriam Gross *
John David Muhlfelder *
And we remember from the Holocaust:
DAVID WERK
STANISLAW OLECHNICKI
DUCHON VASSILEWITSCH
AUGUST GERTIG
KLARA KRAUSZ
AUGUST 31, 2018
Eva Benjamin *
Hedy Friend *
Vera Armstrong
Lena Goldberg *
Sarah Miriam Gross *
Mary Krisburg *
Rose Lippman
Sylvia Chazanoff
Evelyn Ruth Konigsberg *
Louis Schlefstein *
Miriam Sugerman-Rosenblum
Sol Sparber
Solomon Jacob Gross *
And we remember from the Holocaust:
LUISE DANIEL
GENYA BLUMSZTAJN
GUSTAV ESSLINGER
META THAL
MICHAEL SIMON
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*
These names are on our Memorial Wall.
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We are sorry if your name was inadvertently omitted. Please contact Lara at the Temple Office to update your membership information.
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Special guest clergy,
CANTOR LAUREN BANDMAN will be joining Rabbi Howald to lead us in a joyous Shabbat service on Friday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m.
Services will be held in the Social Hall.
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Friday, August 3
Oneg sponsored in honor of Shabbat in celebration of those celebrating August Birthdays and Anniversaries.
Please join us for all our special summer onegs with home baked goods and personally provided goodies by these very generous Sisterhood members:
8/10: Pamela J. Carlton,Maxine Cohen
8/17: Rochelle Maltz
8/24: Nina Rohan, Linda Hanibal
8/31: Sarah Rachel Walters
_________________________
Birthday, Anniversary, Birth, Engagement, Wedding, Bat/Bar Mitzvah?
CELEBRATE ANY SIMCHA and share your joy with the Congregation at Services on any Friday evening.
Sisterhood will take care of everything for you!
To sponsor an oneg, just Contact Sisterhood through the Temple Office (718)727-2231.
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Birthday, Anniversary, Birth, Engagement, Wedding, Bat/Bar Mitzvah?
CELEBRATE ANY SIMCHA and share your joy with the Congregation at Services on any Friday evening.
Sisterhood will tak
e care of everything for you!
To sponsor an oneg, just Contact Sisterhood through the Temple Office (718)727-2231.
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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.
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Click directly on BINGO flyer to print or download.
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Sunday, September 9, 2018 - 9:30 a.m.
First day of Religious School
Important Parent Meeting and Orientation
There will be a
mandatory
parent orientation meeting on September 9th at 10:15 AM. There will be representatives from the Ritual Committee, Sisterhood, Brotherhood, the School Committee and
the Avis Foundation
to explain
expectations and programming
for the coming year.
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The Membership Committee for 2018-2019 will focus on hospitality, membership retention and recruitment. We will also focus on the coordination between various committees and other Temple organizations such Brotherhood, Sisterhood, Fundraising, Adult Learning and the Avis Foundation. The hope is a robust slate of activities for all age groups which will engage existing members and appeal to non-members, inducing them to join TI.
A sub-committee will be formed to work closely with the Avis Foundation to have regular Shabbat Shalom Dinners. Dates selected will be coordinated with the Avis Foundation to allow new families to be part of these experiences, allowing them to grow more comfortable with the idea of a deepening commitment to temple life. The plan is to have “themed” dinners that will change from month to month and the 1st several will be free to members with a small fee for nonmembers.
Other possibilities to enhance membership and stimulate attendance at our religious services include musical Shabbat services with lunch on Saturdays and involving children from Hebrew school with holiday projects that can be shared on erev Shabbat services bringing families along with them. Also planned is “bring a Buddy” to Torah study, so that new attendees will feel welcome to participate on a more regular basis.
We look forward to a year that will be more welcoming, engaging and meaningful for all concerned.
JR Rich
Membership Chair
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HIGH HOLIDAY REHEARSALS
Wednesdays
August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
September 5, 12
6:45 p.m.
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If you would like to join the Temple Israel Adult Choir, just come to any rehearsal...and all the rehearsals that follow!
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Walk with
Sisterhood
on
Sunday, October 21.
More Information to Follow...
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FOOD PREPARATION EVENT SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 14th
AT 9:30AM.
Tikkun Olam, to heal the world, is one of the basic tenets of Reform Judaism. Therefore, the work of our Social Action Committee is important to us, to identify more closely with our faith, to the community and to show others what is important to us. There are many activities at Temple Israel that you can take part in to help our community.
FOOD PREPARATIONS
We have been able to schedule a food preparation event this summer for Tuesday, August 14
th
at 9:30am at the temple. We will be preparing simple things so it should not take us more than a few hours. Please come and help us with this great Mitzvah to feed the poor.
BACKPACKS
If you would like to contribute to our fund for backpacks for the Head Start classes we are now collecting for next year’s graduating class. If you prefer to donate school supplies, we usually make about 30 backpacks and use pencil cases, pencils, erasers, crayons, colored pencils, rulers, scissors, glue sticks, composition notebooks, spiral notebooks and folders with pockets. And, of course, we also need the backpacks themselves. All donations are greatly appreciated by the children.
DIAPERS
Did you know that neither WIC nor food stamps cover the cost of baby diapers? In order to help, we provide packages of diapers to Project Hospitality to be distributed to mothers of infants. Please buy diapers or make a donation to Social Action to support this cause.
DONATIONS
Of course, none of the things Social Action does could be accomplished without your generous donations. We have been able to feed thousands of people less fortunate than ourselves and hope to feed thousands mor
e,
thanks to you!
We have given hundreds of backpacks to children who might otherwise not received them, and hope to give hundreds more, thanks to you! We have diapered hundreds of babies helping hundreds of families, and we hope to help hundreds more, thanks to you! 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!
Pamela Rogozin
Social Action Chair
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Our committee has been very busy. On August 19th sixteen people enjoyed a wonderful performance of "Fiddler On The Roof" in Yiddish at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. We were also able to view the exhibits at the museum and some of us attended a mini Yiddish lesson before the show. As a follow up some of us will be attending "After Anatevka" a one night performance at the Minetta Theater on August 13th featuring Sheldon Harnick. We are planning several future events including a backstage tour of the St. George Theater and a trip to the NY Historical Society to view "Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow." We will also host the Rabbis Gerald and Bonnie Sussman presenting a program on the "Lost Tribes of Israel." We are also so happy to be co-sponsoring many events with the Avis Foundation.
We look forward to having you join us for all of our programs!
Cheryl Levine ad Judith Pessah
Co-Chairs
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Since the last bulletin, our temple community was again saddened by the passing of Sanford Duskin, the brother of Jay Duskin, Esq. May his memory be a blessing.
This committee is a very special and important part of our Temple community. Please let me know if you would like to help in any way with this most rewarding mitzvah.
As always, we hope that you will continue to support our Caring Community with your donations to help cover the costs of food, paper goods, tolls, parking, etc. used to assist those of our Temple Community who are in need. Our committee assists congregants who need help with a Shiva, rides to doctors when they cannot get there themselves and meals, when necessary. Thank you all for your generous donations.
Everyone please remember to stay cool and protected from the serious effects of the sun by using sunscreen when you go out this summer. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy month!!
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Rogozin
(917)607-0782
Chairperson
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CLICK DIRECTLY ON NEW YEARS CARD FLYER TO DOWNLOAD OR PRINT.
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 3
FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE
(Birthday/Anniversary Oneg)
7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 12
FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
with Pizza
5 PM - 7 PM
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19
FRIENDSHIP DINNER
5:00 p.m.
(See Flyer Below)
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Click directly on flyer to download or print.
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Are you stressed?
Do you want to build your core strength?
Join us.
Thursdays 7:15-8:15 p.m.
August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
(Sunday Yoga Classes will resume in October)
Members: $15
Non-Members $18.
Bring your own Yoga Mat
Both sets of classes are for
ADULTS ONLY
.
Both Chair and mat students are accommodated at each class.
For more information contact
Bryn Biren
1(718)727-2231
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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, scroll down to the bottom of 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...
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THE DR. RONALD AVIS FOUNDATION
We hope that your family is having a terrific summer. Although the Avis Foundation is taking a rest we have lots of activities planned for the Fall.
A tallit making class led by the fabulous Phyllis Elrich and co-sponsored by the Adult Education Committee had its organizational meeting on July 30th. The actual tallit creation will take place on Mondays nights, August 6,13,20,27 at 7:00 PM. It is not too late to join us. If you are an adult, or a student who is interested in making your own tallit, call 1(718)447-6225 immediately to enroll.
A National History of the Greenbelt Lecture followed by a one mile hike led by a naturalist will take place on Tuesday, August 21 at 7:00 PM. Meet at the Greenbelt Nature Center (700 Rockland Avenue). This event is for ADULTS ONLY and is co-sponsored by Adult Education. PLEASE RSVP to Terry Baver at 1(718)490-4428 or
Terryqbaver@gma
il.com
.
We are organizing a Temple Israel Youth Band in the Fall. If your child plays an instrument and would like to be part of this exciting project contact Bryn Biren at 1(718)447-6225 or at
MsBunny7@aol.com
.
We are hiring a professional music teacher to lead the group. Rehearsals will follow Religious School on Sundays. We hope that the band will play at Erev Shabbat services and with the adult Rock of Israel band.
We are organizing a Family Movie Night in August. We will notify you as soon as the plans are definite.
Get ready for fabulous cooking/ culture classes, robotics, art, music and yoga classes this coming season. This year we are also planning to enjoy a few Family Shabbat services on Saturday mornings with brunch following the services.
If you know of any family with young children that is looking for a spiritual home just let us know. We will reach out to them immediately.
Relax and enjoy this coming month because we return to full speed in the Fall.
Sincerely,
Terry Baver & Bryn Biren
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CLICK DIRECTLY ON CULTUREATS FLYER TO DOWNLOAD OR PRINT.
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CLICK DIRECTLY ON ADULT HIKE FLYER TO DOWNLOAD OR PRINT.
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CLICK DIRECTLY ON FRIENDSHIP DINNER
FLYER
TO DOWNLOAD OR PRINT.
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PLEASE PATRONIZE THESE BUSINESSES
WHO SUPPORT TEMPLE ISRAEL.
Be sure to mention that you saw their advertisement in our E-Bulletin.
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Sunset Hill Laser & Electrolysis
Fern L. Barris
Hair Removal Specialist
891 Bard Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10301
www.SunsetHillLaser.com
(718)390-0531
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If you are not receiving this Bulletin via a direct e-mail and would like to, please contact us at
TICOMMUNICATION@aol.com
to be added to our mailing list.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
718-727-2231
tmplisrael@aol.com
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ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
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Our E-Bulletin is shared with the entire Temple Israel Family and the Staten Island Community. If you are a local business or community organization and you would like to advertise in our monthly bulletin, please contact the Temple Office at 718-727-2231 or e-mail
TICommunication@aol.com.
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