Ruth Abusch-Magder, Rabbi

Barbara Rothbeind, President

November 2022

Last August I opened an email on behalf of our congregation from the Carolina Foundation For Jewish Seniors. It congratulated our Sandhills Jewish Congregation on being awarded a grant to be used for programs for seniors. What a wonderful surprise!

A congregant had made us aware of this foundation, which focuses on funding ideas that enhance the lives of Jewish seniors in the Carolinas. We unexpectedly received a grant application last Spring. Since a “senior” is defined as anyone over 50, it was felt we had a wide range of options. I was fortunate to be part of a small but enthusiastic committee that got together to brainstorm. The foundation liked the plans that were presented.

The genesis of the foundation was the Blumenthal Jewish Home for the Aged, founded in 1962. It was sold in the 1990’s and the proceeds formed the Carolina Foundation For Jewish Seniors. The foundation’s objective is to distribute funds to “care for Jewish seniors in North and South Carolina”.

Initiatives financed by CFJS are varied. They include funds for Mitzvah Projects and Shabbat Services as well as dollars for social work/case management support. Grants can range from $2,000 to $50,000. In 2019, before the pandemic, $296,380, was dispersed to the four organizations in South Carolina and 22 in North Carolina that met the criteria to “enrich the lives of Jewish seniors”...through programs/projects that keep them active, provide socialization, and promote Jewish values and ideals. It is exciting that SJC-Beth Shalom was one of the 2022/2023 recipients. We are also excited about the three programs that we can now provide.

Transportation to shabbat services, especially during the winter months, was at the top of our list. Many in the congregation have expressed concern about driving as it is dark and the roads are unlit, with many curves. We have contracted Maurice Holland to pick up and return congregants to their homes. Riders can feel confident in his van. Many in our congregation have used his services.

It is a mitzvah when religious institutions can reach out to members who are experiencing medical or personal challenges and offer Meals on Wheels assistance. That is another way we are going to use the grant dollars. Leslie Philips of Thyme and Place Cafe has agreed to provide the meals. We know that they will be nutritious and delicious and it is a way to support both her efforts and the program.

Socialization is necessary to stay healthy at any age. What better way to do that than in a yoga class? The month of January is going to be yoga month at SJC. That is when Darie Davis will teach a weekly class at the Cannon Park Community Center in Pinehurst. If you have contemplated signing up for a class – this is the perfect time to give it a try.

Of course there will be some “growing pains” as we roll out all of the details. But this grant gives us the chance to get started. Thank you to CFJS for allowing us this opportunity. If anyone has other ideas, please let us know. Susan Parry is our Grant Chair. Reach out to her, Marcey Katzman or Barbara Rothbeind. And contact Susan to make arrangements for one of these services: susanparry1118@gmail.com. We hope this is just the beginning of some fabulous new ways to keep us all enriched and involved.

Marcey

13agree@gmail.com

It was not that long ago that Pinehurst was a place where exclusion clauses meant that Jews and Blacks could not own property. So even after individual Jews came to the area, it was an unlikely place for a synagogue. Yet twenty years ago, a group of Jews embraced the challenge and founded our congregation.

When I tell other rabbis that ours is a community that keeps dues low and functions without full-time staff, their eyebrows go up. Most congregations, even small ones, don’t come together like ours. When the ancient Israelites came together to create the Mishkan, the tabernacle that traveled with them in the desert, every person was called upon to donate their treasure, time, and talent. In the short amount of time, I have been getting to know our community, I have come to appreciate the level of commitment and care of community members. 

Every month during this special year, we will highlight the contributions of different elements of our community, beginning with those who were visionary pioneers. Individually and as a group, we will invite them to join me on the bimah and to be recognized for their contributions to our congregation. In honoring the various members of our community, I hope we will deepen the appreciation of what we have created together and what we are building for the future.

I look forward to a year of celebration and recognition of all that has been done and all that we will continue to do together.

Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder, Ph.D

(she/her)

Rabbi of the Sandhills Jewish Congregation

November 2022

During this season, of our secular Thanksgiving and 20th Anniversary, I have much for which I am thankful.

First and foremost let me thank our most generous congregation for the outpouring of contributions to our Cantor Fund. I am overwhelmed with the response and I am so grateful and pleased that a majority of the congregation agreed that we need this fund going forward.

I am also grateful for the volunteers at SJC. Without your tireless work and incredible hours you donate we would not have this wonderful community that we call our Jewish home in the Sandhills. I welcome all of you who may be new to the community or have not yet volunteered to please step up. We have many committees that are looking for new members. Please let Marcey Katzman or me know your interests and we can point you in the right direction.

Of course, I am most grateful that so many of you are comfortable enough to come back to temple to worship in person. As I promised, I want everyone to feel included so we will continue to zoom our Shabbat services but remember we are now open for in person services so join us.

As always, I ask that you continue to support our greater Moore County community with your generosity to the Coalition and the Food Bank. While we are privileged to enjoy a rich and fulfilling life there are many in our community who find this time of year very challenging. There is much food insecurity in Moore County and as the cooler temperatures arrive many homeless need coats and gloves. Please don’t forget our neighbors.

Thanks to Mindy Fineman, we will be having our Interfaith Thanksgiving service again, this year. Please join us. If you have never been, I assure you that it will be a most uplifting community event.

Please remember to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I am always just a phone call or text away.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving!

Barbara Rothbeind

President SJC-Beth Shalom

November Events

Friday, November 18, 7:00 PM - Shabbat Service

During this Shabbat Service we will begin our celebration of SJC-Beth Shalom's 20th Anniversary when we honor our congregation's founding members.

Oneg Shabbat to follow the service.

In person and on Zoom, with link to follow. 

Saturday, November 19, 10:00 AM - Torah Study

Join Rabbi Ruth as she discusses this week's Torah portion.

In person only.

Saturday, November 19, 7:00 PM - Havdalah, Dessert & Discussion

Gather at the home of Darie Davis & Chuck Taubersmith, 17 Peachtree Lane, Pinehurst. Rabbi Ruth will lead us in Havdalah followed by a discussion of the Ethiopian Jewish holiday of Sigd. This holiday, which has been observed in Israel since 2008, celebrates the connection of the Jewish people to God and the desire for the return to Jerusalem.

RSVP required to darlinddavis @nc.rr.com. In person only.

Sunday, November 20, 4:00 PM - Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Our interfaith service of thanksgiving returns. It is the fifteenth year that SJC-Beth Shalom will be sharing this meaningful tradition with other local congregations. Please make every effort to attend so our Jewish community will be well represented.

Due to continued precautions, refreshments will not be served.

Congregational Church of Pinehurst

895 Linden Road

Please bring canned goods to the service to be

donated to the Food Pantry at West End Methodist Church

December Preview of Events

December 16, 7:00 PM - Shabbat Services

December 17

• 1:00 PM - Cooking with Rabbi Ruth
• 4:30 PM - Hanukkah Party

December 19, 10:00 AM - Brunch & Learn

Celebrating Our 20 Years

It is with a great deal of pride and sense of fulfillment that our

Sandhills Jewish Congregation-Beth Shalom has reached this milestone. Our commemoration begins by honoring our founding members at Shabbat Services. We are grateful to them for having the foresight and determination to plant the seeds of Jewish tradition, ritual and learning and to lay the foundation for a Jewish presence in the Sandhills.

Allen & Emily Averbook

Harriet & Karl Ecker

Jennifer Fox-Furie & David Furie

Carol & Larry Greenberg

Mollie Holtzman-Hipp and David Hipp

Vivian Jacobson

Ione Katz

Helen & Bob Kroll

Mary Silverman-Ormond

Ellen Mantel Pfann

Kathy & Georg Poteat

Teri Prince

Liz & Jonathan Richman

Barbara & Matthew Rothbeind

Sandi & Joel Shriberg

Lowell Simon

Myrna Spencer

Sam Trachtenberg

Nancy & Michael Weiser

Eleanor & David Zolov 

Book Club

Discussion of this book will take place

at 3:00 PM TODAY, Sunday, November 13

at the home of Harriet and Karl Ecker,

40 Oxton Circle, Pinehurst. RSVP 910-295-6988. 

Dinner, at a place to be determined at that time, will follow. 

The next selection is:

A Broken Hallelujah: Rock and Roll, Redemption,

And the Life of Leonard Cohen

That discussion will take place on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at the home of Fred and Marcey Katzman.

Cooking With Carol



Cooking with Carol scheduled for Tuesday, November 15th has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled for December.

Member News

We welcome new members

Meet Sara and Andrew Maddox who recently joined SJC-Beth Shalom. They have moved here from Maryland. Sara is a part-time editor/writer and part-time artist. Andrew is a data storage engineer. Both have musical hobbies! Sara's is playing guitar and bass while Andrew's is playing the piano, although he also likes learning languages and running.

Together they have four daughters and two granddaughters. We extend a warm welcome to Sara and Andrew.

Please note the following changes to the calendar:

Teri Prince and Susan Eansor have moved. Please make note of their new address:

• 40 Agusta Drive, Pinehurst, NC 28374

Cemetery Committee Update

The Cemetery Committee has arranged with Pinelawn Memorial Park for a continuation of discounted pricing for grave spaces and columbarium niches in the Jewish Garden area of the Park. Additionally, Powell Funeral Home, an affiliate of Pinelawn, has agreed to a discounted pre-need planning program for funeral expenses in order to ease the family concerns at the time of need. Interested Congregational members may contact Robert Nunnaley, Director of Pinelawn, directly at 910-692-6801 or 910-947-2224 or Karl Ecker, Chairman of the Cemetery Committee, at 910-295-6988.

We remember our loved ones during our November Shabbat Services

11/02 Oscar Abt

11/02 Bernard Epstein

11/04 Sidney Lipton* **

11/06 Philip Spizer

11/10 Martha Jayne McNeilly-Clark

11/10 Clara Davidson

11/11 Dorothy Berger

11/12 Trudy Staler

11/14 Julie Cohen

11/14 Ida Koupf

11/15 Jerry Paskowitz

11/15 Harold Rainess

11/15 Abraham Schwartz* **

11/16 Nita Rothman

11/16 Ellen Levine

11/18 Belle K. Bassett

11/18 Joseph Harold Langfelder

11/18 Norman Arthur Levin

11/19 Lucille Gemson*

11/23 Solomon Fromer

11/24 Michael Cohen

11/24 Nettie Rozycki

11/25 Larry Cohen

11/27 Mary Packer

11/27 John Cockburn

11/30 Arvid Carlson

**Indicates Hebrew date

*Indicates Yahrzeit Donation

We remember those we have lost in the past year

Meryl Ross (12/2021)

Samuel Rothbeind (12/2021)

Stan Gelber (1/2022)

Arthur Gerstenfield (1/2022)

Karen Howell (2/2022)

Ron Kottler (5/2022)

Dr. Paul J. Carroll (5/2022)

Jill Fleisher (6/2022)

Seymour Sander (7/2022)

Thank you to those who made donations during the month of October

Please note that donations listed here are those that were received and processed by the end of the month listed. In order to guarantee inclusion on this list, please make sure that you send in your check by the 20th of the month. 

Donation Cards

• Mindy Fineman & Pete Sessler
• Vivian Jacobson
• Audrey & George Kessler

General Donations

• Terry Canter
• Robert & Sue Geller
• Scott & Tammy Greenblatt
• Vivian Jacobson
• Stuart Lutz, In Honor of Rabbi Kenneth Brickman
• Carol Pierce
• Scott & Marcy Pollock
• Shelly Rappaport
• Yvonne Sovereign

Yahrzeit Donations

• Sue & Robert Geller, Prepaid Yahrzeit
• Marcey & Fred Katzman, In Memory of Meyer Katzman, Betsy Woolf Birthday
• Lauri & Paul Michelich, In Memory of Nathan & Mattie Rubenstein, Jerry Paskowitz
• Rosalie & Richard Malter, In Memory of Ralph Jacobson
• Nancy Oderkirk, Prepaid Yahrzeit
• Amy & Chuck Walters, In Memory of Ellen Levine

Cantorial Fund

• Cynthia & Michael Africk
• Alexa & Michael Ascher
• Sue & Steve Bloom
• Rabbi Kenneth Brickman
• Jennifer & David Furie
• Bonnie Gillman & Nick Christopher
• Michelle & Manlio Goetzl
• Tammy & Scott Greenblatt
• Vivian Jacobson
• Julie Kampf & Andy Langfelder
• Anonymous
• Susan & Carter Parry
• Jackie & Bernie Rosenblum
• Barbara & Matthew Rothbeind
• Mary Silverman
• Myrna Spencer
• Sara Sutton
• Anne & Matthew Weinshel

High Holiday Collections (Other)

• Bonnie Gillman & Nick Christopher

Traditional Donation Card

Sending a donation card is one way to support SJC-Beth Shalom.  Our cards are $10.00, and that includes postage. Or buy a package of ten for $100.00. That way, you always have one in reserve.

Donation Card Packages

Members can now purchase packages of five cards (pictured below, slightly smaller size) for personal use. The cards are blank and sell for $25.00 for a 5 card package. Members will be able to write a personal message and send the cards themselves.

For more information contact

Bonnie Gillman: 910-420-2609 or bongee7@aol.com

Security Policy



For the protection of our members and guests, the Board has put in place the following security precautions:

-all members are asked to wear their name tags

-our doors will be locked at 7:15 so congregants are urged to arrive on time

-anyone arriving after 7:15 will have to knock until a congregant opens the door 

-when members see someone they do not recognize, reach out - to both make them feel 

 welcome and to be aware of unfamiliar faces in our building (unless a member's guest)

-Oneg hosts (one or two) are asked to be greeters, hand out prayer books, name tags

-one greeter is to remain in foyer until 7:15 when doors are locked and sit in the back

*Local Realtor Betsy Auster is affiliated with NextHome In The Pines. She has experience working with new construction, investment properties, and resales. Betsy will donate 5% of her commission from each referral or sale she receives from Temple members to SJC! Please give her a call at (609) 707-3047, or email her at betsy@nhpines.com.

NextHome In The Pines is at 105 Bradford Village Ct. , Southern Pines, NC 28387

*Companion Care Offered: Dottie Bevilacqua has over 20 years of experience and offers services for seniors including running errands and taking people to appointments.  She is available part or full time in the Pinehurst/Southern Pines area. Reach Dottie at 347-339-5167.

* Sue Deutsch has created a website that provides a single source for listings of events, happenings and activities in the area. Please visit www.ThePinesTimes.com and like The Pines Times on Facebook.  

* Members Susan and Tom Miles have relocated their company Belevation to Biscoe, NC. Manufacturers of direct to consumers support garments for expectant moms, Belevation can be accessed from its website belevation.com or Amazon, or you can like Belevation on Facebook.

* Marks Tax Professionals are now located at 169 Beverly Lane, Fresh Market Plaza, Southern Pines NC 28387. Phone is 910-585-6800. We have been providing a better tax experience in the Sandhills for over ten years. You worked hard to earn it, we help you keep it. Call or email for an appointment, markadel@taxgurusofpinehurst.com, or visit our website at www.taxgurusofpinehurst.com.

*Jennie Sessler is a stylist at Fantastic Sams (next to the Harris Teeter on 211). If you need a haircut stop in to see Jennie or call for an appointment: 910-420-1686

Board of Directors

• President: Barbara Rothbeind - barbara.rothbeind@gmail.com
• Vice President/Communications: Marcey Katzman - 13agree@gmail.com
• Secretary: Audrey Kessler - audhaykes@hotmail.com
• Treasurer: Kevin Price - pinehurstkp@gmail.com
• Immediate Past President: Bernie Rosenblum - bernie.rosenblum7@gmail.com
• President Emeritus: Lowell Simon - lsimon@nc.rr.com
• Building/Grounds: Wendel Kronis - wendelrama@aol.com
• Community Outreach: Paul Rogow - progow@outlook.com
• Education: Michelle Goetzl - mbgoetzl@gmail.com
• Membership: Amy Walters - aswalters101@gmail.com
• Religious Programs: Mindy Fineman - mfineman@nc.rr.com
• Social/Program: Bonnie Gillman - bongee7@aol.com
• Board Member at Large: Sharyn Korwin - sharynkorwin@gmail.com